JAHMYR GIBBS BACK ON THE FIELD FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE DETROIT LIONS TRAINING CAMP STARTED
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Jahmyr Gibbs was back on the field Thursday for the first time since Detroit Lions training camp started a week ago.
The Pro Bowl running back participated in the early walk-through session and team stretching period before moving to the sideline to work with trainers.
It was not a full practice, but it was a start as Gibbs and the Lions appear closer to a deal to finalize a contract extension. He did not speak to the media when walking off the field after practice, but he held his right arm high and gave a thumbs up when asked if a deal was close.
“He’s one of our best players. We always want him out there, but I know he’s going to be ready when the moment comes,’’ offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said before practice. “I’m not concerned about it.’’
Gibbs, entering his fourth season, has been at camp participating in meetings, but Thursday was his first day on the field. He rushed for 1,223 yards with 13 touchdowns and had 77 receptions for 616 yards and five scores in 2025.
Linebacker Jack Campbell, who called Gibbs a fantastic human being, said his return makes his job tougher.
“For me, when I saw him back out there I was like, ‘Gosh, now I have to go one-on-one against him in routes,’” Campbell said. “But it’s good to have Jah back. You know what he is, you know what he does for the team, he’s electric.’’
In the past two days, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (two-year, $44 million) and Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (three-year, up to $75 million) have reached contract extensions which could open the door for a Gibbs deal. Robinson is now the highest paid running back in NFL history.
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TITANS WR ELIC AYOMANOR INJURES SHOULDER IN PRACTICE
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Elic Ayomanor exited Thursday’s practice with a left shoulder injury.
Per Titans head coach Robert Saleh, Ayomanor sustained the injury after colliding with safety Kevin Winston Jr. during a red zone drill.
“It feels stable, but we’ll get more info later,” Saleh said of Ayomanor’s condition.
Ayomanor, 23, recorded 41 catches for 515 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games (14 starts) during his rookie season in 2025. The Medicine Hat, Alberta, native was selected by the Titans in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Tennessee.
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PACKERS RB JOSH JACOBS (GROIN) SITS OUT PRACTICE
Green Bay Packers star running back Josh Jacobs is not participating in practice Thursday due to a groin injury.
The injury was not deemed to be severe for Jacobs, multiple media outlets reported.
Jacobs dealt with numerous injuries last season, finishing with 929 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns in 15 games (all starts). He also had 36 receptions for 282 yards and a score.
Signed to a four-year, $48 million fre-agent deal in 2024, Jacobs is a three-time Pro Bowl selection (2020, 2022, 2024). He also was a first-team All Pro in 2022, when he led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,653 yards as a member of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jacobs, 28, has rushed for 7,803 yards on 1,840 attempts with 74 touchdowns in 105 career games (104 starts) with the Raiders and Packers. He has 269 catches for 2,072 yards and two scores.
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JETS COACH: ROOKIE TE KENYON SADIQ TO RETURN IN ‘COUPLE WEEKS’
New York Jets rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq is expected to be ready for the regular season as he works his way back from core muscle surgery.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn announced the news on Sadiq, saying Thursday that he’s optimistic Sadiq will be on the practice field later this month.
“We actually got pretty good news the other day,” Glenn said. “I’m just crossing my fingers, I’m going to say it’s a couple weeks still, but it’s not anything that’s going to keep him out of the regular season.”
Selected 16th overall in 2026 NFL Draft in April, Sadiq underwent surgery in May and missed a sizable portion of the team’s offseason program.
Sadiq, 21, played through the injury last season at Oregon, missing one game but still finishing with a team-high eight touchdown catches and 560 receiving yards, which ranked second.
He ran the fastest 40-yard dash time by a tight end (4.39) in NFL Scouting Combine history at February’s event.
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REPORT: TEXANS, LB HENRY TO’OTO’O AGREE TO EXTENSION
The Houston Texans and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o are in agreement on a two-year, $16 million contract extension, NFL Network reported Thursday.
A fifth-round draft pick out of Alabama in 2023, To’oTo’o is entering the final season of his four-year, $4.08 million rookie deal.
The extension also includes $1 million in incentives.
To’oTo’o, a California native, has played in 46 games (35 starts) with the Texans.
He has accounted for 261 tackles (18 for loss), six quarterback hits and four sacks. He also has an interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The Texans begin the season with a key AFC game, hosting the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 13.
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REPORT: PATRIOTS WORKING OUT VETERAN G GREG VAN ROTEN
The New England Patriots hosted veteran guard Greg Van Roten for a workout on Thursday, NFL Network reported.
The 36-year-old free agent played every offensive snap for the New York Giants in each of the past two seasons.
Van Roten has only missed one game in the past five seasons and has played both left and right guard during his 11-year NFL career.
He has appeared in 144 games (105 starts) with the Green Bay Packers (2012-13), Carolina Panthers (2017-19), New York Jets (2020-21), Buffalo Bills (2022), Las Vegas Raiders (2023) and Giants. He played in the CFL from 2015-16.
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RAIDERS SIGN FORMER TEXANS RB DARE OGUNBOWALE
The Las Vegas Raiders announced the signing of veteran running back Dare Ogunbowale on Thursday. Terms were not disclosed.
Ogunbowale, 32, played the past four seasons with the Houston Texans, mostly on third downs and special teams.
He has rushed for 594 yards and five touchdowns and has 109 catches for 850 yards and two scores in 114 career games (nine starts) with Washington (2017), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2018-19), Jacksonville Jaguars (2020-21) and Texans.
Ogunbowale has accumulated 1,874 all-purpose yards and showed his versatility in Houston’s 39-37 win against the Buccaneers in Week 9 in 2023. After Ka’imi Fairbairn was injured, Ogunbowale converted a 29-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter.
With the Raiders, Ogunbowale will provide depth behind second-year running back Ashton Jeanty. Also on the roster are rookies Roman Hemby and Mike Washington Jr., as well as Dylan Laube.
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BRONCOS RUNNING BACK J.K. DOBBINS VOWS INJURIES ARE DONE, PROMISES 17 GAMES AND AN NFL RUSHING TITLE
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — J.K. Dobbins is counting on his flexibility and faith to outrun his injury history.
The Denver Broncos starting running back had a blown-out knee in Baltimore in 2021, a torn Achilles in 2023 and a broken foot last year in Denver. Yet, he’s pledging he’ll play all 17 games for the first time in his career and lead the league in rushing.
“A lot of people always get mad when I say the injuries are over, because I said it last year, but that one was pretty fluky,” Dobbins said of the Lisfranc injury that ended his first season in Denver after 10 games. “This year there won’t be any, and there won’t be anything for anyone to say about my injuries because I’m going to play all 17 games … I can pinky promise all of you right now.”
How can he be so sure that something fluky won’t happen again, given the inherent peril of his position?
“So, like, when I was younger, I could do the splits, right?” Dobbins said. “I think I lost a little bit of that flexibility. I just wasn’t paying attention to it as much. So now I’m back to that, and back to my college ways. And I did all the little things, and I’m doing all the little things that’s going to keep me, like — even if it’s some fluky stuff that’s about to happen — I’m going to be like Elasti-Boy, or Elasti-Girl, or something like that.
“I’ll be over there, bounce back up from it. Like, if I get hip-drop tackled, I can tuck my head to the back of my foot and I’ll get back up.”
That hip-drop tackle by former Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson caught Dobbins’ left foot underneath him and ended his blistering 2025 season in which he rushed for 772 yards, fifth-most in the league at the time, and gave Denver an explosive threat in the backfield for the first time in the Sean Payton era.
Dobbins also cited his faith for his confidence that he’ll play every game this season, even though he hasn’t played in more than 13 games since his rookie year.
“I prayed on it,” he said. “The storm can’t last forever. I’m from Texas, born in Houston, and we get hurricanes, right? The storm can be long. It can be very dangerous. It can be dark for a long time. You don’t know when you’re going to get power. But they never last forever.”
When healthy, Dobbins is one of the NFL’s most productive running backs on a per-touch basis. His 5.2-yard career average is the third-highest since his rookie year in 2020, trailing only Miami’s De’Von Achane (5.6) and Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs (5.3).
That, along with his magnetic locker room personality, led the Broncos to re-sign Dobbins to a two-year, $8 million deal last spring that could balloon to $20 million with incentives.
“He was a big part of why we won 14 games last year,” Payton said. “Sometimes that can get lost. The narrative is certainly that he’s been injured, and yet what we were able to do when he was healthy had a lot to do with where we ended up.”
Dobbins noted that all his major injuries — an ACL and MCL tear in 2021, an Achilles tear in 2023 and last year’s Lisfranc — all were on his left leg. He suggested whoever’s poking needles into his voodoo doll has run out of spots to jab.
“I keep saying it, and people think I’m crazy, but I’m going to be No. 1 (in rushing), and I’m going to keep it there for the whole year,” Dobbins said.
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JOSH SIMMONS IS BACK AT FULL SPEED, PROVIDING A KEY SHIELD FOR PATRICK MAHOMES IN CHIEFS CAMP
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Josh Simmons did everything the Kansas City Chiefs expected of him when they drafted him in the first round last year.
He won the starting job protecting the blind side of Patrick Mahomes in the offseason, and the former Ohio State standout held fast to it throughout training camp. He was a stalwart through the first five weeks of the season, not only living up to the expectations placed upon him but, at least to those watching from afar, exceeding every one of them.
Then things went haywire, much as they did for the team as a whole.
Simmons was gone for about a month for what the team would only call “personal reasons.” When he returned, he managed to play just a few more weeks before a fractured wrist in Week 13 landed him on season-ending injured reserve.
Well, the wrist is healed now. The ACL injury that ended his final season with the Buckeyes has long since healed. Simmons has put on weight, gone through an entire offseason at full speed, and he seems ready to finally step into a starring role on the offensive line.
“Yeah, I mean, I’m just trying to add off of last year,” Simmons said following a recent training camp practice on the steamy fields at Missouri Western State University. “Obviously I went against a lot of good defensive ends, and I have one year of familiarity with the playbook. So it was really just kind of stacking up on that, that way I can come into training camp ready.”
For the Chiefs to bounce back this season, there are few players more critical to their success.
The first reason is this: Simmons has the most important job in protecting Mahomes, who is coming off season-ending surgery of his own, albeit to torn ligaments in his left knee. Mahomes sped through his rehab, and has participated fully in camp, where his mobility seems to be unaffected — though he’s also wearing the comfort of a yellow no-contact jersey.
If Mahomes is to feel safe back on the field, Simmons will be providing his security blanket.
“He’s trying to work on all the small things right now. He’s got all the tools and he knows that,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said. “He got his weight up a little bit, and he’s got strength, and now it’s just a matter of being consistent with assignments and footwork and all that, which is so important on the offensive line. But he’s working like crazy to make sure he homes in on all that stuff.”
Simmons is listed at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, but that’s on the lower side of the NFL average, and may even be a bit generous. But the Chiefs would rather have an athletic Simmons than the alternative — “You don’t want cheeseburger weight,” Reid said.
That ability to move in space funnels into the second reason the Chiefs have such high expectations for Simmons: They signed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to a big free-agent contract in the hopes of revamping their running attack.
The Chiefs averaged just over 106 yards rushing last season, putting them squarely in the bottom third of the league. It also put more pressure on Mahomes and a young group of wide receivers that struggled to break through. The result was an offense that barely resembled the high-flying, high-scoring groups that propelled Kansas City to five of the past seven Super Bowls.
But judging by training camp, the Chiefs fully intend to run the ball more. And when they do pass, Walker’s ability to catch the ball out of the backfield — coupled with Rashee Rice’s explosiveness in the screen game — is tantamount to a running play as well.
Making it all work? That falls on the shoulders of Simmons and the rest of the offensive line.
Notes: The Chiefs held a shortened practice without full pads on Thursday. They’ll be back in pads for two more days before getting Sunday off. … WRs Cyrus Allen (bone bruise) and Xavier Worthy (shoulder), LBs Drue Tranquill (back) and Jeff Bassa (groin), CBs Kristian Fulton (hip flexor) and L’Jarius Sneed (knee) and DL Ashton Gillotte (hamstring) were held out of practice. CB Mansoor Delane (shoulder) continued to wear a yellow jersey.
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BILLS SAFETY C.J. GARDNER-JOHNSON RESUMES PRACTICING 5 DAYS AFTER STRAINING CALF AT TRAINING CAMP
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson resumed practicing on Thursday, five days after requiring help off the field with what was diagnosed as a strained lower right calf.
“Feel like I’m 100% ready to go,” the eighth-year player said.
Gardner-Johnson was eased back on the field by splitting time with the starting defense. That’s much better than initially anticipated after the player went down on both knees in what appeared to be a non-contact injury on Saturday.
Gardner-Johnson was initially unable to place any weight on his right leg, before taking a few steps on it in being escorted to the medical tent. He was then carted off to the locker room for tests.
Gardner-Johnson missed only two practices.
“Stay positive. I don’t really get too negative,” said Gardner-Johnson, an offseason free-agent addition who is competing for a starting job opposite Cole Bishop.
“I’ve been at this point before. I was in Detroit, I tore my pec second game, so I think it’s moreso being mature, understanding that it’s early in the year,” he added. “It wasn’t no season-ending injury, thank God, so it’s really staying focused.”
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JETS RUNNING BACK ISAIAH DAVIS SIDELINED A COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH A MINOR KNEE INJURY
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis will be sidelined “a couple of weeks” with a knee injury, head coach Aaron Glenn announced Thursday.
While he didn’t specify the nature of the injury, it didn’t appear Glenn thinks it’s serious or will affect Davis’ availability for the regular-season opener at Tennessee on Sept. 13.
“He had a minor knee (injury),” Glenn said after practice. “He’ll be out maybe a couple of weeks, but he’ll be back. I’m confident that he’ll be just fine going into the regular season.”
Davis, entering his third NFL season, was in uniform at practice — without a helmet — but watched the entire session from the side while standing with other teammates on the offense.
The 24-year-old Davis was a fifth-round pick by the Jets in the 2024 draft out of South Dakota State. He is expected to have a complementary role behind starter Breece Hall and backup Braelon Allen. Davis had career highs with 236 yards rushing and 21 receptions last season in 16 games before missing the season finale with a concussion.
In two seasons, Davis has rushed for 410 yards on 73 carries — an impressive 5.6-yard average per carry — and a touchdown with 30 catches for 261 yards and a score.
Jets get good news on Sadiq
Glenn confirmed that rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq will return before the start of the regular season after suffering a setback in his recovery from offseason hernia surgery.
The coach said Tuesday that Sadiq, the No. 16 overall selection in April, will be sidelined “a little bit” but was confident he would be available for Week 1.
“Actually got pretty good news other day, you know, and I’m just crossing my fingers and still I’m going to say it’s a couple of weeks still,” Glenn said. “But it’s not anything that’s going to keep him out of the regular season.”
Sadiq, who suffered the injury during the college season at Oregon last year, was on what Glenn called “a maintenance program” at the start of training camp. Sadiq practiced the first three days of training camp, but hasn’t participated since.
Ponds working his way back
Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds has yet to practice during training camp, but Glenn said the second-round pick out of Indiana is progressing in his return from a strained calf.
Ponds is expected to compete for a starting slot cornerback spot with Jarvis Brownlee Jr., a fifth-round pick of Tennessee in 2024 who was traded to New York during the season last year. Brownlee was mostly solid for the Jets before suffering a season-ending hip injury against Baltimore in Week 12.
“Ponds is getting close,” Glenn said. “He’s moving around. The thing is, I don’t want to put a date on it just yet, but again, he is another guy that I know he’ll be ready in the next couple of weeks, I would say that. But he’s moving around.”
Regarding other injuries, Glenn said edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare is day-to-day with an ankle issue and cornerbacks Nahshon Wright (hip strain) and Brandon Stephens (undisclosed) will “be just fine.”
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ERICK ALL JR. IS BACK FROM A KNEE INJURY AND SHINING IN BENGALS TRAINING CAMP
CINCINNATI (AP) — Tight end Erick All Jr., who hasn’t played in a game since the 2024 season, has immediately made his presence felt at Cincinnati Bengals training camp.
All, a fourth round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has only played in nine NFL games. After missing nearly two full years with a knee injury, he’s back to full strength and making a strong impression.
“It’s great to have him back,” quarterback Joe Burrow said. “Obviously, he had a lot going on with his knee but you wouldn’t know it by looking at him. He looks fit, fast, explosive. He’ll play a big role for us this year.”
All’s injury history goes back to his college career as he dealt with significant back and knee issues during his time at Michigan and Iowa. The injury history led to him being available in the fourth round of the NFL Draft in 2024, and the Bengals had a vision for how his versatility could help their offense.
That vision immediately came to life that season. He was a standout tone setter as a blocker, created wide running lanes for running back Chase Brown and also made impressive catches in space down the field. All quickly became a starter for the Bengals.
Then on Nov. 3, 2024, All tore his ACL. He suffered a setback in his recovery and ended up missing the entire 2025 season.
Now, he’s back and playing with the Bengals’ first-team offense.
“It feels great,” All said. “I need to calm myself down because I get upset about a lot of things. You’ve got to work back into it. I need to understand that. But it’s a part of who I am. When I mess up, I can’t take it too hard.”
Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki is mostly used as a receiving threat. Tight end Drew Sample is a blocker who hasn’t offered the Bengals a ton as a receiver. There isn’t another player quite like All on the roster.
“Erick is built a certain way physically and mentally,” Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said. “He’s a (tail) kicker. He’s violent. He loves that. It’s not that we don’t have big, strong and tough guys on this team. There are a lot of them. Erick is up there at the top.”
The Bengals are heavily featuring All in training camp so far with both his blocks in the run game as well as his ability to make plays in the passing game. His teammates can tell how excited he is to make an impact.
“No one wants to play football more than him right now,” Sample said. “He has done a fantastic job. He has been in here for the last year and a half grinding away.”
All is much stronger than he was in 2024. He spent the offseason doing specific weight training designed to improve his power as a blocker. It was the most normal, injury-free offseason he has had since 2021, which gave him extra time to build up his strength.
He worked a lot on pull-down machines in the weight room.
“On offense, when you’re blocking someone, you’re pulling them to you and the defense is trying to extend you away,” All said. “You’ve got to (pull) as strong as possible.”
His work has shown up in a big way.
“He’s a really physical football player,” Gesicki said. “What he does in the run and pass game and the things defenses have to account for when he’s on the field, he’s very versatile. I’m excited to get him rolling. I don’t think he has scratched the surface.”
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2026 HOUSTON TEXANS PREVIEW
Scheme Changes ::
Offense: OC Nick Caley returns for his second season in Houston after improving from 22.0 points per game in 2024 to 23.7 points per game in 2025. That said, the team averaged similar total offensive output compared to the previous season with Bobby Slowik at the helm.
Defense: HC DeMeco Ryans and DC Matt Burke retained their positions.
Personnel Changes ::
Traded OL Juice Scruggs to the Lions in exchange for RB David Montgomery, acquired LB Marte Mapu from the Patriots for a pick swap, and traded OT Tytus Howard to the Browns for a fifth-round pick.
Signed DE Dominique Robinson, S Reed Blankenship, OT Braden Smith, LB Jake Hummel, DL Logan Hall, TE Foster Moreau, and OGs Evan Brown and Wyatt Teller.
Drafted C Keylan Rutledge in the first and DT Kayden McDonald and TE Marlin Klein in the second.
Released RB Joe Mixon, DL Mario Edwards, DT Kurt Hinish, and DB Jimmie Ward.
P Tommy Townsend and DE Derek Barnett departed via free agency.
Schedule ::
Divisional Games (6)::
Colts x2, Jaguars x2, Titans x2
AFC North (4)::
Ravens, Bengals, @Browns, @Steelers
NFC East (4)::
Cowboys, Giants, @Eagles, @Commanders
Bills, @Packers, @Chargers
There are numerous aspects of this team to be excited about as we head into 2026, particularly as they relate to offensive expectations. First off, the Texans retooled an offensive line that ranked amongst the league’s worst units a season ago, having generated the third lowest adjusted line yards before contact while allowing an elevated 37.5 percent pressure rate. Both left guard Wyatt Teller and right tackle Braden Smith are established veterans with multiple years of elite production in their playing history. The Texans then managed to trade up with the Bills into the first round of this year’s draft to select interior offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge, a player many considered one of the top interior lineman in the class.
Speedy wide receiver Tank Dell is expected to be fully ready for the start of the 2026 season following one of the more gruesome knee injuries we’ve seen in recent history. He tore his ACL, MCL, LCL, and meniscus in Week 16 of 2024. It was one of those injuries that is difficult to watch on the tube, one of those where players from both teams take a knee and pray through abated tears. The good news is that Dell’s production has been nothing short of eye-opening when on the field during his first two seasons in the league. Dell gives the Texans a proven YAC threat that is also capable of stressing an opposing defense in the vertical, which, when paired with the skills of Nico Collins and the emerging Jayden Higgins, makes this wide receiver unit one of the more imposing trios in the league. All three players can beat you in the vertical, do magic with the ball in their hands, and get open off the line. Veteran tight ends Dalton Schultz and Foster Moreau add the intermediate-middle presence to truly stress defenses to all areas of the field.
Finally, Caley has proven to be one of the more adaptable offensive minds in the league, capable of tailoring the scheme and function of his offense to best suit the skillsets of his players. What I find most interesting in that is what it means for newcomer David Montgomery, who has long shown more burst and better results when running behind man/gap concepts. Caley had previously learned more zone in the designs of his offenses, that is, until last season, when he made a switch to incorporate heavier rates of doubles, down-blocking, and pulls. Those were always present in his offenses since his time with the Patriots, but they really took on greater emphasis in 2025. I am higher than consensus on Montgomery this season.
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2026 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS PREVIEW
Changes ::
Offense: HC Shane Steichen and OC Jim Bob Cooter return for another season in Indianapolis.
Defense: DC Lou Anarumo sticks with the Colts after his defense ranked 21st in points allowed per game (24.2) and 23rd in yards allowed per game (349.8) a season ago.
Personnel Changes ::
Traded LB Zaire Franklin to the Packers in exchange for DT Colby Wooden and traded WR Michael Pittman Jr to the Steelers for a sixth and pick swap in the seventh.
Signed DE Arden Key, DE Michael Clemons, DT Derrick Nnadi, S Juanyeh Thomas, S Jonathan Owens, CB Cam Taylor-Britt, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and LB Akheem Davis-Gaither.
Drafted LB CJ Allen in the second, S AJ Haulcy in the third, and LB Bryce Boettcher in the fourth. The Colts did not have a first-round pick, with their first selection coming at No. 47 overall.
Lost EDGE Kwity Paye, RT Braden Smith, S Nick Cross, EDGE Samson Ebukam, DT Neville Gallimore, and C Danny Pinter via free agency.
QB Daniel Jones is coming off the dreaded torn Achilles but is expected to be fully healthy for the start of training camp. He was reportedly playing through a broken fibula when the injury occurred, as well.
Schedule ::
Divisional Games (6)::
Jaguars x2, Texans x2, Titans x2
AFC North (4)::
Ravens, Bengals, @Browns, @Steelers
NFC East (4)::
Cowboys, Giants, @Eagles, @Commanders
Dolphins, @Chiefs, @Vikings
It was a tale of two seasons for the Colts in 2025. This team was 7-1 at the halfway point of the season before losing eight of their final nine games, something that simultaneously paints a clear picture of the bull case and bear case. The Colts were at their best when playing with a lead a season ago, capable of then leaning on Jonathan Taylor down the stretch. The team should continue to boast a top-10 offensive line, even with the departure of Braden Smith via free agency. The name of the bull case game will be playing with a lead as much as possible, like how the first half of the 2025 season went. If they can manage that, it’ll open up deep passing to Alec Pierce, underneath, chain-moving stuff to Tyler Warren, and unlock true ceiling for Taylor.
Daniel Jones earned himself a lot of money for that first-half performance in 2025, inking a solid two-year, $88 million contract extension with the Colts. That deal also came with $60 million in injury guarantees and $50 million in fully guaranteed money. He now enters another “prove it” campaign, one that could have him stick with the franchise for numerous years. Recent reports are that the team are expecting Jones to be fully healthy in time for camp, which is about five months after his torn Achilles. I’m not so sure of the weight of the fluff in those reports, but it is encouraging to hear, nonetheless. Either way, Jones provided stability at quarterback for the Colts for the first time since Andrew Luck retired and should be nearing full strength by the time the regular season starts.
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2026 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS PREVIEW
Changes ::
Offense: HC Liam Coen and OC Grant Udinski return for their second season with the Jaguars.
Defense: Anthony Campanile retained as defensive coordinator for his second season in Jacksonville.
Personnel Changes ::
The Jaguars had one of the quietest offseasons in recent memory.
Signed RB Chris Rodriguez in free agency.
Traded DT Maason Smith to the Falcons in exchange for DT Ruke Orhorhoro.
Lost RB Travis Etienne, LB Devin Llyod, S Andrew Wingard, WR Dyami Brown, DT Austin Johnson, and DE Dewuane Smoot via free agency.
Released TE Johnny Mundt and failed to re-sign WR Joshua Cephus.
Schedule ::
Divisional Games (6)::
Colts x 2, Texans x 2, Titans x 2
AFC North (4)::
Steelers, Browns, @Ravens, @Bengals
NFC East (4)::
Eagles, Commanders, @Cowboys, @Giants
Patriots, @Bears, @Broncos
The Jaguars have major continuity, something that is hard to come by in today’s game. They also had the second biggest increase in scoring in 2025, as compared to the previous season, clearly a function of the hiring of head coach Liam Coen and his forward-thinking offense. Coen is a master of personnel alignment manipulation, pre-snap motion, and play action, most of which should be attributed to his upbringing in the league under Sean McVay. The heavy use of dagger and deep crosser routes continually stresses the intermediate-middle of the field, routinely making life difficult for opposing linebackers and safeties. The run game leverages those models through a mix of outside-zone and power/trap concepts, something that led to Travis Etienne having his best statistical season since his rookie year.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence finally had his breakout season, easily setting career highs in touchdowns, touchdown rate, and QBR while finishing fifth in MVP voting following a 13-4 season. Continued growth in his second season under Coen could have this offense improving even further than they did a season ago. Finally, recent reports out of Jacksonville indicate second-year WR/CB hybrid Travis Hunter is likely to focus more on the defensive side of the ball in 2026, something that could leave the rest of the primary skill position players in a state of heavier concentration. Finally, one of the major turnarounds last season was the team going 5-3 in one-score games after going 3-10 in such contests the season prior, something that, to me, points to coaching and in-game decision-making.
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2026 TENNESSEE TITANS PREVIEW
Changes ::
Offense: Fired former HC Brian Callahan and hired HC Robert Saleh. Brian Daboll was hired to be the new offensive coordinator.
Defense: Saleh confirmed he will call defensive plays for the Titans. Newcomer DC Gus Bradley is likely to have a heavy hand in the development of the defense.
Personnel Changes ::
Arguably no team had a busier offseason than the Titans.
Second-year QB Cam Ward gets improved weapons as the franchise attempts to bring a complete rebuild full circle.
Acquired DL Solomon Thomas from the Cowboys in a pick swap. Traded DT T’Vondre Sweat to the Jets in exchange for EDGE Jermaine Johnson.
Signed DT John Franklin-Myers, QB Mitchell Trubisky, TE Daniel Bellinger, WR Wan’Dale Robinson, CB Cor’Dale Flott, CB Alontae Taylor, C Austin Schlottmann, OG Cordell Volson, CB Josh Williams, DL Jordan Elliott, P Tommy Townsend, DE Malik Herring, DE Jacob Martin, S Tony Adams, TE Kylen Granson, LB Mohamoud Diabate, WR K.J. Osborn, QB Hendon Hooker, WR Lance McCutcheon, and RB Michael Carter in free agency.
Drafted WR Carnell Tate and EDGE Keldric Faulk in the first and LB Anthony Hill in the second. Drafted RB Nicholas Singleton in the fifth.
Lost EDGE Arden Key, TE Chigoziem Okonkwo, WR Van Jefferson, DL Sebastian Joseph-Day, and OG Kevin Zietler, amongst others, in free agency.
Released C Lloyd Cushenberry and CB L’Jarius Sneed, the latter of which was quite the shocker after the Titans traded for Sneed the year prior and signed him to a four-year contract extension that paid him $51.5 million in guaranteed money. Ultimately, the recurring injuries were not worth the squeeze for Sneed in Tennessee.
Schedule ::
Divisional Games (6):
Colts x2, Texans x2, Jaguars x2
AFC North (4):
Browns, Steelers, @Ravens, @Bengals
NFC East (4):
Eagles, Commanders, @Cowboys, @Giants
Jets, @Lions, @Raiders
Cam Ward goes from the relatively conservative play calling from Brian Callahan to the comparatively aggressive nature of new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. In addition to the expected boost to offensive identity, Ward sees his primary skill position players upgraded with the return to health (presumably) of Calvin Ridley, the signing of Wan’Dale Robinson, and the drafting of Carnell Tate in the first round. I would call the moves at tight end horizontal in that Chig Okonkwo is likely a slightly better real-world talent than Daniel Bellinger, but the team at least addressed the position by bringing in a true pass-catcher as opposed to simply letting their depth chart become stale. I would also say they upgraded their offensive line in a meaningful way after Lloyd Cushenberry vastly underperformed expectations a season ago. Finally, they made significant investments into the defensive side of the ball, signing no less than five new starters through free agency, not to mention the resources allocated to depth. In theory, this should be a vastly improved team all around in 2026.
Austin Schlottmann and Cordell Volson were added to shore up the interior of the offensive line. Schlottmann did not allow a sack in 2025, ranking 10th in pass protection and 13th in run-blocking metrics, per PFF. Veteran standout Peter Skoronski continues to grade as one of the top guards in the league. That said, that’s about where the positives with the offensive line end. More on this below.
But, hey, it’s not like this team can score fewer points than they did in 2025, right? RIGHT? They managed only 16.7 points per game a season ago, “good” for 30th in the league (ahead of only the Browns and Raiders). That was also accompanied by a 31st-ranked 259.6 total yards per game. There, quite literally, is nowhere to go but up with this team in 2026.
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