NFL NEWS
QB CAM WARD AND THE TITANS SHOWING GROWING PAINS NOW THAT PADS ARE ON IN TRAINING CAMP
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Cam Ward has thrown some very nice passes in his first full week of NFL training camp with the Tennessee Titans.
With the Titans in pads back-to-back days, there’ve been interceptions, tipped balls and dropped passes.
Or as the rookie graded the offensive performance: “Very mid.”
The No. 1 overall draft pick said Wednesday it all starts with him.
“I just don’t think we’re at where we need to be,” Ward said. “But we got a little bit of time. So every day we get better as a whole.”
Ward and the Titans have a week to work on improving and cleaning up their issues before a joint practice Aug. 7 on the road against Tampa Bay. Ward was picked off three times Tuesday, then he had a ball tipped by linebacker Cody Barton and intercepted by cornerback Roger McCreary on Wednesday.
The rookie quarterback connected with wide receiver Calvin Ridley with a nice deep ball earlier in Wednesday’s practice. He also hit Jha’Quan Jackson in the hands on another deep throw that was dropped.
After plays, Ward often can be seen talking with his receivers. He also spends time after each practice working to perfect plays that didn’t work in practice.
Ward said that’s what quarterbacks should do to make sure receivers know what he’s seeing and they understand what he’s doing.
He spent time talking with veterans Tyler Lockett and Ridley during Wednesday’s practice.
“Lockett, he’s a vet in the league,” Ward said. “He’s one of the best route runners at the slot position, always been productive in every stop he had. So we got to learn just where I’m going to put the ball.”
Titans coach Brian Callahan isn’t worried about Ward bouncing back from a rough practice. It’s one of the many reasons Tennessee drafted Ward out of Miami.
“It’s just sort of how he’s wired,” Callahan said. “Everything about his mental makeup and how he operates when he makes mistakes is everything you’d want to see from a coaching perspective.”
One early issue has been balls getting tipped, especially when Ward throws sidearm. The rookie said he’s been throwing sidearm since he was 6 and had those passes tipped during high school and college. He expects more of the same in the NFL.
“I’m not real worried about that,” Ward said. “It’s ball. How you bounce back the next play. You just got to keep on stacking good points on top of each other.”
That even-keel demeanor is what his teammates like about their quarterback. Tight end Chig Okonkwo said Ward has been composed since his first day with the Titans, always ready to go.
“I don’t think anything phases him,” Okonkwo said. “It’s just every day is the same with him.”
Notes
Callahan said he texted back and forth with Will Levis after the quarterback’s surgery Tuesday for his injured right shoulder. The Titans coach said Levis: “seemed in good spirits, and it sounds like everything went well.” … Ridley went inside with a trainer after coming up limping a bit with his right lower leg. The Titans said he was being evaluated.
REFLECTED IN HIS CHOICE OF CAR AND PLAY, SHAKIR PREFERS RELIABILITY OVER STYLE AS BILLS TOP RECEIVER
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Khalil Shakir’s rise to the top of the Buffalo Bills receiver pecking order is similar to the approach he took to buying his first car.
Both revolve around reliability for the fourth-year player who catches seemingly nearly every pass thrown his way, welcomes the opportunity to block downfield to open space for teammates, and refuses to get caught up in the trappings of the NFL spotlight by instead driving a plain white 2021 Subaru.
“Never been a car guy and realized that I needed a car. So I told my financial advisors, and they were like expecting me to say something crazy,” Shakir said, recalling his search for a car to get him to Buffalo after being selected in the fifth round of the 2022 draft out of Boise State. “I told them, just something good in the snow, and something to get me from Point A to Point B.”
Shakir has taken a similar workmanlike path in making the jump from bit player to Josh Allen’s most trusted playmaker. And it led to the 25-year-old being rewarded in February by signing a four-year, $60.2 million contract extension.
What Shakir lacks in flash he makes up with selflessness in symbolizing Buffalo’s so-called “everybody eats” share-the-wealth offensive philosophy.
“The guy is a true lunch-pail Buffalonian,” general manager Brandon Beane said. “He doesn’t say anything. He just shows up every single day. He’s Mr. Dependable.”
Undervalued production
Shakir’s production last season wasn’t exactly eye-popping. His Bills-leading 76 catches ranked 27th among NFL players, and 821 yards ranked 40th, while he scored just four touchdowns.
What stands out is Shakir leading the league in catching 79% of passes thrown in his direction since 2023. And coach Sean McDermott noted how Shakir’s value was measured by his absence because of an ankle injury sustained in the opening half of a 35-10 loss at Baltimore in Week 4 last season.
Shakir then missed the following week’s 23-20 loss at Houston in which Allen threw three straight incompletions from the Buffalo 3 on the Bills final possession, allowing the Texans to win on Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 59-yard field goal as time expired.
“He’s one of the main guys that can drive our football team to another level,” McDermott said.
Joe Brady’s influence
Shakir’s ascension coincided with Joe Brady’s promotion to offensive coordinator after Ken Dorsey was fired 10 games into the 2023 season. Brady placed an emphasis on a more balanced approach by adding more runs and getting more receivers involved in the passing attack.
In Brady’s play-calling debut, Shakir had three catches for what still stands as a career-best 115 yards, including an 81-yard TD.
Buffalo’s offensive production didn’t skip a beat in finishing second in points scored last season despite Stefon Diggs being traded to Houston.
“I have nothing but love for Joe,” Shakir said. “I’ve always said, my career took off once Joe took over. He was somebody who just believed in me every single day.”
The affection is mutual for Brady, who credits Shakir for being just as eager doing the grunt work — blocking and running routes to clear space for others to get open — as he is making catches.
“He makes my life so much easier,” Brady said. “Khalil just embodies the ‘It doesn’t matter what I have to do, I’m doing to do it.’”
Though the Bills have upgraded their receiver group with the offseason additions of Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore, Shakir’s role isn’t expected to diminish.
It was evident in practice Tuesday when Allen threw an interception during third-and-long drills. On the next play, Allen bounced back by finding Shakir on a quick out in the backfield.
“He knows his playbook. He doesn’t talk. He doesn’t try to do too much. He just comes out and makes plays,” left tackle Dion Dawkins said, before noting Shakir’s choice of cars. “He’s like more of a Ford, bro. He can just get in and it’s going to turn on and it is going to go. And that’s the beauty of it.”
Keeping the Subaru
Shakir has since purchased a new car, but won’t reveal the make because of the attention the Subaru attracted. He’ll only say the new car isn’t fancy, while noting his old one is staying in the family.
“I’m never getting rid of that. Now I feel like it’s a part of me,” Shakir said.
“I have a loving, beautiful wife, got two wonderful puppies and a baby girl on the way. I have an amazing team, an amazing quarterback, an amazing organization,” he added. “I’m blessed. So for me, I don’t need much.”
CHIEFS PLACE WR XAVIER WORTHY IN CONCUSSION PROTOCOL A DAY AFTER HE BANGED HIS HEAD IN PRACTICE
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs placed wide receiver Xavier Worthy in the concussion protocol Wednesday, one day after the second-year pro banged his head while trying to make a catch during training camp at Missouri Western State University.
Worthy is expected to be a big part of the Kansas City offense after a dynamic rookie season in which he took advantage of the long injury absences of Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice to put up some big numbers. He finished with 59 catches for 638 yards and six touchdowns, then had 19 catches for 287 yards and three more scores in three playoff games.
Brown also missed practice Wednesday after hurting his ankle the previous day. So did fellow wide receiver Skyy Moore, who is dealing with a hamstring injury that could make it more difficult for him to make the team.
The Chiefs breezed through a quick workout Wednesday before getting Thursday off. They return for three more days of practice before another day off Monday. Those breaks could give some of their injured players, including offensive lineman Jawaan Taylor (knee), an opportunity to recover ahead of their preseason opener on Aug. 9 in Chicago.
BROWNS CORNERBACK MARTIN EMERSON JR. IS OUT FOR THE SEASON WITH A RUPTURED ACHILLES TENDON
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. will miss the coming season after an MRI confirmed that he ruptured an Achilles tendon.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said before Wednesday’s practice that Emerson will have surgery, but a date has not been determined.
“It’s disappointing. Injuries are the worst part of our game, but he will bounce back, I know what he is made of,” Stefanski said. “Yesterday was a lot. He is sore today.”
Emerson, a third-round draft pick in 2022, got hurt while covering a wide receiver during a 7-on-7 drill Tuesday. He dropped to the ground in pain and screamed before being carted off the field with a towel covering his head. He has 202 tackles, four interceptions, a fumble recovery and sack in three seasons.
His loss is another blow to a Cleveland defense looking to rebound from a poor season and already short-handed with linebackers Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck injury) and Jordan Hicks (retired) ruled out.
With Emerson out, Greg Newsome likely will move into the No. 2 corner spot opposite Pro Bowler Denzel Ward. Both Emerson and Newsome also played some nickel back, covering slot receivers. Cameron Mitchell would be the top candidate for full-time nickel duties.
DOLPHINS CB KADER KOHOU TO GO ON SEASON-ENDING IR WITH KNEE INJURY
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins starting cornerback Kader Kohou will miss the 2025 season after suffering a knee injury in practice on Saturday.
Miami coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday morning that Kohou, a former undrafted player who quickly worked his way into a starting role, will go on injured reserve.
Kohou went down grabbing at his right knee after a one-on-one rep against receiver Tyreek Hill during practice. He remained down for a couple minutes while being looked at by trainers before walking gingerly but under his own power off the Dolphins’ practice field.
“I’ve seen him come into the league with nothing promised and earn his spot within this team,” McDaniel said. “And this year in particular, I saw him ascend to a different level trying to take the reigns of his career and get his game to an even higher level. For that, and the timing of it, I was crushed until I talked to Kader, and honestly Kader made me feel a little bit better about where he was at, simply by his mindset.”
Kohou signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and has recorded 180 tackles, one sack and three interceptions in three years.
It’s a significant blow to Miami’s secondary that has undergone significant changes since the end of last season. All of the Dolphins’ starters in the secondary — including All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who was traded, and safety Jevon Holland, who left in free agency — are gone.
Miami recently signed veteran cornerback Mike Hilton, who figures to be the likely starter in the slot this season. Former Raiders and Patriots cornerback Jack Jones also recently signed with Miami to compete for an outside cornerback spot. Other options on the boundary include veteran Kendall Sheffield, Cam Smith and Storm Duck.
McDaniel said he feels good about the Dolphins’ depth at cornerback right now, but did not rule out the possibility of signing another experienced player.
“If there was a situation in a week where I didn’t feel that we were good,” McDaniel added, “(general manager) Chris (Grier) and I would talk, and we would get something done there.”
Miami’s secondary will also be without Ashtyn Davis for a while after the safety suffered a noncontact injury in practice this week. McDaniel said the team is still evaluating the extent of the injury, but it isn’t expected to be season-ending.
BUCCANEERS STAR WIDE RECEIVER MIKE EVANS EAGER TO ‘PUT ON A SHOW’ AS HE SEEKS RECORD-SETTING SEASON
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Mike Evans streaked into the secondary, cut outside and leaped to catch a perfect post-corner toss from Baker Mayfield.
Fans at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ indoor practice facility roared.
They’re used to Evans making all the plays but No. 13 still manages to impress everyone watching.
The six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver makes it look so effortless the way he glides after the ball. His routes are smooth and precise, his hands soft. At 6-foot-5, 231 pounds, he has a powerful frame so he can outmuscle defenders or outfinesse them when he needs to.
Evans is the only player in NFL history to start his career with 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Only Jerry Rice had that many at any point. Evans is aiming for 12 in a row in a year when the Buccaneers celebrate the franchise’s 50th season. There are no signs the 31-year-old is slowing down and his team goals are bigger than his personal ones.
“I’m just happy that we have a really great team and we’re using this training camp to put everything together to have one of the best seasons for the 50th,” Evans said Tuesday. “I’m excited to put on a great show for y’all.”
At a position known for players with look-at-me personalities — Tyreek Hill, Michael Irvin, Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson — Evans lets his performance do most of the talking. He’s quiet, humble and community-oriented. Evans is a four-time NFL Walter Payton Man of The Year nominee for the work he does along with his wife, Ashli, through their foundation, which empowers youth, encourages education and stands against domestic violence.
Evans joined the Buccaneers in 2014 as the seventh overall pick and has become one of the greatest players in franchise history. Evans and Chris Godwin were a big reason why Tom Brady chose Tampa Bay in 2020 and the Buccaneers ended up winning a Super Bowl that season.
From catching passes from Josh McCown and Mike Glennon as a rookie to Jameis Winston to Brady to Baker Mayfield, Evans continues to produce. He has 836 career catches for 12,684 yards and 105 touchdowns.
Evans missed three games last season due to injury and didn’t reach 1,000 yards until he caught a 9-yard pass on the final play of a 27-19 victory over the Saints that the Buccaneers needed to secure their fourth straight NFC South title.
The reaction from Evans’ teammates and the fans after that catch showed how much he’s loved.
“He always has (put the team first),” Mayfield said afterward. “That’s why you love him. That’s why we appreciate having him. We’re lucky to have him and he’s underappreciated throughout the media, the league and he’s one of one. He deserves that. Obviously, you saw the stadium erupt, the sideline erupt. You can tell how much people care about him and what that means for everybody around him.”
Some veteran players are careful about mentoring young guys who will eventually replace them. Not Evans. Or Godwin for that matter.
The Buccaneers drafted wideout Emeka Egbuka in the first round out of Ohio State. They selected Tez Johnson from Oregon in the seventh round.
“It’s constant. They’re just so fortunate from Tez to ‘Mek’ (Egbuka) to Garrett (Greene) to be able to learn from them,” Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard said. “We just had a walk through this morning and we can coach it up, but Chris and Mike were coaching up the concept just as much as myself and (wide receivers coach) ‘B-Mac’ (Bryan McClendon) were. And that’s just on the field — I can’t imagine what they talk about off the field on how to be a pro and how to conduct themselves. They couldn’t have come into a better environment for people to learn from.”
BENGALS RELEASE VETERAN RB ZACK MOSS
The Cincinnati Bengals released veteran running back Zack Moss on Wednesday.
Moss, 27, agreed to a reworked contract for one year and $1.7 million in April with only $375,000 guaranteed.
He ran for 242 yards and two touchdowns in eight games (six starts) for the Bengals in 2024 before sustaining a season-ending neck injury in Week 8. He also caught 23 passes for 187 yards and one score.
Chase Brown seized the No. 1 running back role for Cincinnati last season, racking up 1,350 yards from scrimmage with 11 touchdowns in 16 games (10 starts).
A third-round pick by Buffalo in 2020, Moss has rushed for 2,318 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 98 passes for 710 yards and five TDs in 61 career games (17 starts) with the Bills (2020-22), Indianapolis Colts (2022-23) and Bengals.
Cincinnati also announced that center Seth McLaughlin has passed a physical and been cleared to practice. The 23-year-old undrafted rookie from Ohio State had been on the active/non-football injury list since July 19.
BENGALS DE TREY HENDRICKSON REPORTS, SAYS NOTHING NEW PER CONTRACT
Cincinnati Bengals star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson formally reported to training camp on Wednesday and said nothing has changed per his contract status.
Hendrickson has been seeking a new deal all offseason and isn’t going to practice with the team until the situation is resolved.
Hendrickson said nothing has changed regarding his contract. He is slated to make $15.8 million in base salary in 2025.
“There are plans on not having to play on the current deal,” Hendrickson said after Wednesday’s practice. “That’s something we have a common goal to get to. That’s the plan moving forward. No distractions. I am excited to be here.”
Hendrickson said the main reason he reported was so he wouldn’t be a distraction.
“I want to help the guys, the guys that have helped me along the way,” Hendrickson said. “(Teammates) Demario Davis, Cam Jordan, even Sam Hubbard helped me a lot when I was here. To be that, right now, I think that’s what’s most important. This (contract) narrative will kinda iron itself out as we continue to progress towards the season.”
Cincinnati star quarterback Joe Burrow was happy to see Hendrickson on the premises.
“Whenever you can have a guy like that in the building, who’s not (playing), it’s good to see his face, it’s good to have his presence,” Burrow told reporters. “He’s going to be a big, big part of this team this year. Just to have him around made a big difference in the energy around here.”
The four-time Pro Bowl defensive end has been seeking a big contract extension.
Hendrickson, 30, led the NFL in sacks last season with 17.5. He has 35 over the past two seasons and 57 in four seasons with the Bengals.
The two sides have been in a stalemate all offseason. In mid-May, Hendrickson told reporters he wouldn’t play this season unless he received a bump in pay.
Hendrickson apparently craves an increase in pay that will place him in the higher echelon of defensive players. Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt just landed the highest annual average salary ($41 million) in history for a defensive player.
Over the offseason, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett ($40 million AAV) and Los Angeles Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby ($35.5 million) also landed huge deals.
“This is the guy that has the most sacks over the last two years,” Burrow said of Hendrickson. “Production is value in this league. I know you can think you’re such a good player, but to not have any production doesn’t really matter. So when you have a guy like that, you want to reward him.”
Hendrickson has been a Pro Bowl selection in all four of his seasons with Cincinnati. He played his first four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, serving as a backup for the first three campaigns.
Hendrickson has 77 sacks, 220 tackles and 14 forced fumbles in 110 games (81 starts).
DOLPHINS RAVE ABOUT PICK NO. 231, QB QUINN EWERS
Tua Tagovailoa tossed touchdown passes of 30 and 60 yards on Tuesday but the training camp performance of a position group peer is grabbing the quarterback’s attention.
Rookie Quinn Ewers, the 231st overall pick in the 2025 draft and a three-year starter at Texas, is putting on a show of his own in a competition with former top-5 pick Zach Wilson.
“Quinn Ewers is doing great,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said. “He has a personality that players gravitate to.”
The competition is likely to play out in preseason games in August. Tagovailoa said he’s not above playing in the exhibitions, but given his injury history, the Dolphins have little to gain exposing him to meaningless hits before September.
Placing Ewers and Wilson, who was drafted by the Jets and spent last season with the Denver Broncos, in game-like situations will probably take precedent for Miami. Because Tagovailoa missed six games last season and the Dolphins were entirely dormant offensively without him, there’s added focus on finding a productive passer behind him. In five NFL seasons, Tagovailoa has played in 64 total games.
“I think Quinn Ewers has been balling,” Tagovailoa said.
In one red-zone drill on Monday, Tagovailoa was one of the most vocal cheerleaders as Ewers threw three touchdown passes and set social media ablaze with his accuracy.
“I think, realistically, Quinn’s development is all him,” McDaniel said. “But it’s as much as coaching and from the quarterback coaches and Zach and Tua as well. They’re creating a good environment that he has to keep up with because the other two are rolling.”
Ewers threw for 9,128 yards and 68 touchdowns at Texas.
RAVENS TE ISAIAH LIKELY HAS SMALL FRACTURE IN FOOT
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely could be ready for Week 1 if he recovers as expected from a small fracture in his foot, according to reports.
Likely was injured in a non-contact play during position drills on Tuesday while going one-on-one against safety Sanoussi Kane. He was taken off the field on a cart.
The 25-year-old is expected to miss “a few weeks,” coach John Harbaugh said.
Tests on Likely’s foot and ankle were done Tuesday and Harbaugh said the team would wait until Wednesday for full results to know “exactly what needs to be done. But it’ll be a few weeks. It’s good that it’s this early in camp.”
Likely is in the final year of his rookie contract and No. 1 tight end Mark Andrews, who also signed a contract in 2021, would also be a free agent at the end of the 2025 season if his deal isn’t extended by the Ravens.
Likely played in 16 regular-season games (nine starts) last season and caught 42 of 58 targets for 477 yards and six touchdowns. He also had seven receptions on nine targets for 126 yards and one TD in two playoff games.
He has 108 career receptions for 1,261 yards and 14 TDs in 49 regular-season games (19 starts), and another 11 catches for 176 yards and two scores in five postseason games (one start).
The Ravens selected Likely in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Coastal Carolina.
