The Las Vegas Raiders placed defensive tackle Christian Wilkins on the physically unable to perform list Friday.

• Wilkins is working his way back from a season-ending injury to his left foot, suffered in the Raiders' 34-18 loss to the Denver Broncos on Oct. 6.

  He recorded 17 tackles and two sacks in five games (all starts) while playing in the first season of a four-year, $110 million contract with $84.75 million guaranteed.

  Wilkins, 29, totaled 372 tackles, 22.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries in 86 career games (82 starts) with the Miami Dolphins and Raiders. He was selected by the Dolphins with the 13th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Clemson.

  Players on the PUP list after the deadline for the 53-man roster must miss at least four games of the regular season before they can return to action.

  --Field Level Media

Lloyd Howell Jr. stepped down as executive director of the NFL Players Association on Thursday night following weeks of scrutiny for multiple blunders, including a reported conflict of interest, a decision to hide key parts of an arbitration ruling from the players and new revelations about expensing strip-club trips back to the union.

• "It's clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day," Howell said in a statement. "For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I am stepping down as Executive Director of the NFLPA and Chairman of the Board of NFL Players effective immediately. I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season.

  "I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish at the NFLPA over the past two years. I will be rooting for the players from the sidelines as loud as ever, and I know the NFLPA will continue to ensure that players remain firmly at the center of football's future."

  Last week, ESPN reported that Howell held a part-time role as a consultant for The Carlyle Group, one of a small handful of private equity firms that the NFL has approved to pursue minority ownership in franchises.

  ESPN's reporting included a former lead outside counsel for the NFLPA, Jim Quinn, calling it "an outrageous conflict for the head of a labor union to have an interest in a third party that is aligned with the NFL."

  It was not the first blow to Howell's reputation this offseason. And it might not be the last.

  ESPN reported Friday that receipts from a November 2023 trip taken by Howell -- whose salary was reportedly between $3.5 and $4 million per year -- showed car service and other costs billed to the NFLPA from Tootsie's Cabaret, which promotes itself as the world's largest strip club.

  ESPN also corroborated through receipts and independent reporting another strip club bill reviewed by union lawyers. The more recent incident was in February during the NFLPA summit. In the report, ESPN states: "Howell accompanied two union employees to the Magic City strip club for an outing that included $2,426 in charges including cash withdrawals, ranging from $200 to $525, from a club ATM, sources and documents show. They used two 'VIP rooms.'"

  In June, the "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast published an arbitrator's report from January, when the NFLPA and the league were at odds over potential collusion by team owners to tamp down the growth of quarterback contracts.

  The arbitrator, Christopher Droney, ruled that there wasn't sufficient evidence of collusion between owners -- but he went on to say that "by a clear preponderance of the evidence," commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL's general counsel encouraged owners to restrict guaranteed money in player contracts.

  Howell and the union reportedly had a confidentiality agreement with the NFL to keep the full report from getting out. Howell briefed the players but didn't provide them copies of the report, according to ESPN.

  Furthermore, Howell sits on the board of OneTeam Partners, a group licensing firm that is under investigation by the FBI.

  --Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions placed defensive end Levi Onwuzurike on the reserve/physically unable to perform list on Thursday.

• The move to the PUP list means Onwuzurike will miss at least the first four games of the 2025 season.

  The Lions didn't divulge the nature of Onwuzurike's injury.

  Onwuzurike, 27, started 10 of 16 games played last season and had 28 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He has 3.5 sacks in 42 games with Detroit since joining the club in 2021.

  He missed the 2022 season with a major back injury.

  The Lions also placed longtime starting left tackle Taylor Decker on the active/physically unable to perform list. Decker has started all 126 games played for the team since joining the franchise in 2016.

  Again, Detroit didn't detail specifics about Decker's injury.

  Detroit also placed cornerback Khalil Dorsey, guard Miles Frazier, standout defensive tackle Alim McNeill, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo on the same list. McNeill and Wingo each sustained season-ending knee injuries in 2024 with McNeill starting a four-year, $97 million extension this season.

  In addition, the Lions placed defensive end John Paschal and cornerback Stantley Thomas-Oliver on the active/non-football injury list and released running back Anthony Tyus.

  --Field Level Media

Star linebacker T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to a three-year, $123 million contract with $108 million guaranteed, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.

• The $41 million per year average will make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, topping the $40 million average that Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett agreed to earlier this offseason.

  Thursday's news will put a bow on contract talks that spanned several months.

  Watt, 30, initially caused a stir over social media in April by posting a picture in which he flashed two fingers. That left plenty open to interpretation about his future with the Steelers, with many questioning if he essentially was saying "peace out" to the team that selected him with the 30th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft?

  Watt, is entering the final season of a four-year, $112 million extension he signed in 2021. He will receive $21.05 million in 2025.

  A seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Watt recorded 11.5 sacks last season to reach double digits for the sixth time in his eight-year career. He also registered an NFL-best six forced fumbles in 17 games.

  Watt has 108 career sacks in 121 games (all starts) with Pittsburgh. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 when he had a career-high 22.5 sacks to match the official league record (since 1982).

  --Field Level Media

Wide receiver Mike Williams has informed the Los Angeles Chargers that he is retiring from the NFL after eight seasons, the team announced on Thursday in the opening day of training camp.

• Williams, 30, was placed on the physically unable to perform list earlier this week.

  Injuries have been a common occurrence for Williams since he was selected by the Chargers with the seventh overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Clemson. He injured his back in both 2017 and 2022 and sustained a torn ACL in 2023, an injury that likely limited him in 2024 when he split 18 games with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers.

  Williams totaled just 21 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown last season. He had 12 receptions for 166 yards in nine games (three starts) with the Jets before being traded to the Steelers for a fifth-round pick of the 2025 draft.

  "I want what's best for Mike. He's always been there for us, and we're going to be there for him," said quarterback Justin Herbert, who spent four seasons with Williams on the Chargers.

  "It's obviously a tough situation. I've got so much respect for him as a teammate, as a friend, as a receiver, as a player and the man that he is."

  The Chargers posted a photo of Williams with the words "Thank You" on X, formerly Twitter.

  Williams, who re-signed with the Chargers on a one-year, $6-million contract in March, also was expected to face competition from unsigned wide receiver Tre Harris out of Ole Miss. The latter was selected by the Chargers in the second round of the 2025 draft.

  The Chargers feature Ladd McConkey and are expected to involve Quentin Johnston in their aerial attack.

  Williams caught 330 passes for 5,104 yards and 32 touchdowns in 106 career games (67 starts) with the Chargers, Jets and Steelers.

  Also on Thursday, the Chargers signed offensive tackle Ryan Nelson, who appeared in 28 games (22 starts) over the last three seasons with the UFL's Michigan Panthers.

  --Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson's right shoulder is ready to go for training camp next week, ESPN reported on Thursday.

• Richardson did not participate in a minicamp last month after the team said he was experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired throwing shoulder.

  He had season-ending surgery to repair his right AC joint in October 2023 and has been limited to 15 starts since the Colts drafted him with the No. 4 overall pick in 2023.

  Richardson sought outside medical opinions from experts who agreed with the Colts' cautionary approach to this offseason. He has been working with personal coaches in Florida and throwing with velocity, ESPN reported.

  It's possible that Richardson could be on a pitch count early in training camp to allow him time to get up to speed, per the report. Players are required to report by Tuesday.

  Richardson, 23, faces competition from former New York Giants starter Daniel Jones, who signed a one-year deal for $14 million in March.

  Richardson's accuracy and durability will be in the spotlight entering Year 3. In 15 career starts, he has completed 176 of 348 pass attempts (50.6 percent) for 2,391 yards with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The mobile QB has 635 rushing yards and 10 additional scores.

  --Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice will serve 30 days in jail and five years of probation for his involvement in a Texas multicar crash last year, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.

• The sentence followed his guilty plea to two third-degree felony counts: collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury.

  The Dallas district court judge who issued the sentence ruled Rice's jail time can be served at any juncture during his five-year probation.

  Per ESPN, Rice likely will be suspended by the NFL for multiple games after the Lamborghini SUV the wideout was driving struck a retaining wall in what the police called a "chain reaction collision" on March 30, 2024. The end result was a six-car crash in Dallas that left seven people with injuries.

  Police said Rice was going as fast as 119 mph on a Dallas freeway.

  "Last March, I was involved in a high-speed accident in Dallas," Rice said in a statement released by his attorney, Royce West. "There have been a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole. I urge everyone to mind the speed limit, drive safe and drive smart. Last and certainly not least, I am profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property. I fully apologize for the harm I caused to innocent drivers and their families."

  He has paid more than $115,000 in restitution to the victims for their medical expenses, the Dallas County District Attorney's office said.

  Rice is continuing his recovery following season-ending surgery on his injured right knee. He sustained the injury after colliding with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in a Week 4 road win against the Los Angeles Chargers last season.

  A second-round draft pick in 2023, Rice set the Chiefs' rookie record for receiving touchdowns (seven) and receptions (79) that season. Rice recorded the second-most receiving yards by a rookie in Chiefs history (938), trailing only Dwayne Bowe (995 in 2007).

  Rice, 25, caught 24 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns in four starts last season before his injury.

  --Field Level Media

Micah Parsons knows how it all ends, this contract negotiation with the Dallas Cowboys stretching into a second year. He still wondered aloud why ownership is taking its time as the market jumps to new heights.

• "I'm just going to get mine no matter what," Parsons said at his youth football camp. "You know what I mean? Like, the markets change every year. Their salary cap went up, like, another 18 percent this year. So, if you want to know contracts, all the contracts are based off of percentage. Like, each player, a high-paid player, takes a percentage of the salary cap. So, it's not really the number. It goes off by the salary cap."

  As the clock ticked Thursday, T.J. Watt and the Steelers were reportedly hammering out the final lines of a three-year contract worth a record $41 million per season.

  To Parsons' point, the Cowboys have been here before.

  The waiting game ended with new contracts last summer for CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott pushed to the top of the market at both positions.

  Parsons, a two-time All-Pro pick with 12 sacks or more in each of his first four seasons, committed to being a part of the Cowboys' offseason and summer while waiting for his deal to be finalized. He said a coaching change, from Mike McCarthy to Brian Schottenheimer, and the arrival of new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus factored into his decision to be around the team.

  That doesn't mean he'll be on the field when the Cowboys start training camp. But Parsons pointed to owner Jerry Jones as the one with the power to determine just how quickly peace is restored.

  "We obviously wanted to get done early," Parsons said on the "Six Feet Under" podcast.

  "We want that relief off our backs. But, obviously, ownership is always gonna make it drag out -- make it more complicated than it has to be. Lack of communication and that standpoint. But, you know, I just always say, God has me this far, he ain't done with me yet, so, you know, I just keep working, keep going, and then when it comes, I'm gonna be ready. But, you know, ain't gonna be no drop off."

  Both sides know the cost of signing Parsons will not decrease, as the Watt deal amplifies. Earlier in the offseason, the Browns gave pass rusher Myles Garrett $40 million per season and more than $123 million guaranteed on a four-year deal in March. The Raiders signed pass rusher Maxx Crosby to a three-year extension worth $35.5 million per season and $91.5 million guaranteed.

  Parsons isn't afraid to point out the cost of the Cowboys delaying the certainty of his contract.

  "We wanted to do the contract last year," Parsons said. "They were just kind of like, ‘We want to do Dak and CeeDee.' Then you go out there and perform again and, you know, you would think, like, alright, we'll get it done early. We know there's some guys that's about to get ready to get repaid, like Myles (Garrett), you know, Maxx (Crosby) is gone. So you'd think like, hey, let's get ahead of that, you know what I mean?"

  --Field Level Media

Von Miller is set to join the Washington Commanders on a one-year deal as part of a rebuilt defensive front.

• A three-time All-Pro, Miller shared the news with a visual -- wearing a No. 24 Commanders uniform -- on social media, but the move was not official as of Thursday morning.

  "DC... What's good??," Miller's post to Instagram read.

  ESPN reported the deal was almost finished and NFL Network cited sources calling the contract all but done.

  Miller, 36, is the NFL's active leader in sacks with 129.5, but injuries and age are undeniable factors.

  Washington had 43 total sacks last season led by Donte Fowler (10.5) and linebacker Frankie Luvu (8.0).

  Miller was released by the Buffalo Bills in March. He had 6.0 sacks last season and has won the Super Bowl twice, once with the team that drafted him -- the Denver Broncos -- and also with the Los Angeles Rams.

  The Commanders acquired proven Pro Bowl talent in the offseason, trading for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel, after reaching the NFC Championship game in head coach Dan Quinn's first season in Washington.

  Miller had 110.5 sacks in his first 10 seasons with the Broncos, who drafted him No. 2 overall out of Texas A&M in 2011. He was Defensive Rookie of the Year and later the Super Bowl 50 MVP when the Broncos defeated Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers.

  In three seasons with the Bills, Miller never played in more than 13 games. The Bills signed him to a six-year, $120 million deal in 2022.

  --Field Level Media

Former NFL linebacker Bryan Braman died at age 38 after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in February.

• An undrafted free agent out of West Texas A&M, Braman entered the league in 2011 with the Houston Texans. He played three seasons there before spending the next four years with the Philadelphia Eagles. He also played at Idaho and Long Beach City College.

  Braman's final game was Super Bowl LII as a member of the Eagles, who defeated the New England Patriots. He proudly celebrated in the postgame celebration holding his daughters, Blakely (now 11) and Marlowe (eight), who survive Braman.

  Braman said after retirement that winning the Super Bowl win and his daughters were "the three greatest accomplishments in my life."

  The Eagles issued a statement Thursday.

  "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Bryan Braman," the statement read. "During his four seasons in Philadelphia, Bryan was a loyal teammate, a supporter of the community, and a valuable member of our Super Bowl LII-winning team. More importantly, he was a devoted father who passionately loved his family and everyone around him. We extend our deepest condolences to Bryan's family and all who are grieving his loss during this difficult time."

  Braman's agent, Sean Stellato, and former Texans teammate J.J. Watt also commented on Braman's passing.

  "Rest in Peace brother," Watt wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Gone far too soon."

  "My heart hurts. I love you Bryan," Stellato posted to Instagram.

  Braman, a special teams ace in his playing days, underwent multiple surgeries in the Seattle area this year. Watt was among the contributors to his GoFundMe effort, raising around $90,000 to help cover medical costs.

  Braman played 97 regular-season games and recorded 56 career tackles.

  --Field Level Media

Only two of 32 second-round picks in the 2025 draft are under contract with NFL training camp set to begin when Los Angeles Chargers veterans report Thursday.

• Wide receiver Tre Harris, the second-round pick of the Chargers, was a no-show when rookies reported to training camp earlier this week.

  A total of 30 players selected between picks 33 and 64 are unlikely to report without contracts in a standoff centered around one team's decision -- the Houston Texans -- to hand out the first ever fully guaranteed contract to a second-round pick.

  Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins signed the four-year, $11.7 million contract in May and would receive every penny of that deal even if he's released or injured.

  Team president Nick Caserio said the Texans moved up to get Higgins in part because they were surprised he wasn't selected in the first round as their team draft board projected.

  "Watch him play. Here is a guy that basically made himself into an NFL football player," Caserio said of Higgins, who began his career at Eastern Kentucky. "I mean, go watch him play. He went down to the Senior Bowl and he had a good week. Why did we pick him? Because he's a good player, he's a great kid, he's got the right mindset."

  The precedent of the guaranteed checks pushed the Cleveland Browns to do the same with the only player picked in the second round before the Texans drafted Higgins 34th overall. Cleveland, which began the trend of fully guaranteed deals for quarterbacks when they acquired Deshaun Watson from Houston (and handed him $230 million over five years), guaranteed the four-year contract with UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger. He'll pocket $11.8 million over the next four years.

  Portions of pay to NFL second-round picks have been guaranteed since the rookie pay pool and slotting wage scale went into effect in 2011. In last year's rookie class, four-year deals were anywhere from 50 percent to 95 percent guaranteed.

  The 35th overall pick in the 2025 draft, Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina), and No. 36, Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State), are extremely unlikely to fold in negotiations without elevated guarantees. From the 2024 draft class, the first pick in the second round -- Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman -- signed a contract that is all but fully guaranteed (at just under 96 percent) for four years.

  But despite Judkins' recent arrest, Cleveland's history of giving up leverage in these situations won't be dismissed.

  If there is a rookie picked in the second round with the most to lose on the field, it could be Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (Louisville). The 40th pick overall, Shough is competing to start in New Orleans following the release of Derek Carr. The breaking point could come down to Shough's view of the financial risk up front and the fallout involved with not reporting to training camp on time.

  The 40th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean, had $7,469,987 of his $9.2 million contract guaranteed by Philadelphia when he signed in May before rookie minicamp last year.

  --Field Level Media

Former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has been suspended from his position as a high school football coach in Miami while under investigation for allegedly providing impermissible benefits.

• Bridgewater, 32, confirmed his suspension by Miami Northwestern in a Facebook post on Sunday but said he remains committed to his alma mater.

  "The suspension came from MNW and it's impossible to suspend someone who doesn't work for you. So if im suspended from MNW im free to go to another school of my choice but IM NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

  "And if it comes down to it, I will volunteer from the bleachers like I used to in 2018 and 2019 when no one had a problem."

  Bridgewater led Miami Northwestern to a Class 3A state championship in his first season as the coach in 2024.

  He returned to the NFL in December to serve as Jared Goff's backup with the Detroit Lions but did not appear in a regular season game. In the playoffs, he completed his only pass attempt for 3 yards in a 45-31 loss against the Washington Commanders in the divisional round.

  According to multiple reports, Bridgewater posted earlier this month on Facebook that he paid for Uber rides, meals and recovery services for his players last season. He asked fans to donate to help cover such expenses this year.

  The Florida High School Athletic Association confirmed to Rivals on Monday that it is gathering more information.

  Bridgewater played for six NFL teams from 2014-24, compiling a 33-32 record with 15,120 passing yards and 75 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl after an 11-5 season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2015.

  --Field Level Media

John Elway will not be charged in the April incident in which his longtime business partner fell off a golf cart driven by the Hall of Fame quarterback and later died, a Denver television station reported.

• Jeff Sperbeck was 62 when he passed away in La Quinta, Calif.

  Chad Bianco, the sheriff in Riverside County, Calif., told 9NEWS that the investigation confirmed the initial findings of an accident and that the cause of death was blunt force trauma.

  "We've talked to everyone involved and we found nothing new," he told the station. "There was nothing criminal. It was what we've been saying all along that this was a tragic accident."

  An official announcement from the sheriff's department is due soon, according to 9NEWS.

  Elway, Sperbeck and their wives were in the desert to attend the Stagecoach music festival, TMZ reported in April.

  Elway, 65, and Sperbeck founded 7Cellars winery together in 2013. Sperbeck also was Elway's longtime agent.

  Sperbeck, certified by the NFL, represented more than 100 NFL players as an agent and business adviser over a 30-year career, according to his bio on the winery's website.

  "I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck," Elway said in a statement after Sperbeck's death. "There are no words to truly express the profound sadness I feel with the sudden loss of someone who has meant so much to me."

  Elway played for the Denver Broncos from 1983-98, winning Super Bowl championships in each of his final two seasons. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004. He returned to the team as an executive in 2011, working as the general manager through 2020 and as president of football operations in 2021.

  --Field Level Media

Ndamukong Suh announced his retirement from the NFL on Saturday, issuing a heartfelt statement on the first anniversary of his father's death.

• Crediting his father as "my idol, my coach, and my anchor," the defensive lineman relayed what he said was the final piece of advice from his dad.

  "It's time to let football go," he recalled his father saying. "You've done everything you set out to do. Now it's time for the next chapter."

  "That conversation stayed with me," Suh posted in his statement on social media. "So today, one year later, I'm honoring that wish.

  "I'm officially retiring from the NFL."

  Suh, 38, was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Lions. He spent five seasons in Detroit (2010-14), then played for the Miami Dolphins (2015-17), Los Angeles Rams (2018), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019-21) and Philadelphia Eagles (2022).

  He has been out of football the past two seasons. He won the Super Bowl with the 2020 Buccaneers.

  Suh made his presence known as a rookie, posting a career high of 10 sacks and being named an All-Pro and AP Rookie of the Year. It was the first of his three All-Pro honors, and he also was named to the Hall of Fame All-2010s team.

  He made 600 career tackles and 71.5 sacks, adding one interception, five forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries -- three returned for a touchdown. He appeared in 199 games, starting all but the eight he played with the Eagles in his final season.

  "I left it all on the field, and now I'm stepping away with peace and gratitude," he said.

  "Because I've been preparing for this moment for years. Football was my passion, but it was never my endgame."

  He now hosts the "No Free Lunch" podcast, in which he strives to share what he's learned about "navigating life and money," he said.

  --Field Level Media

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris sustained an eye injury in a Fourth of July fireworks incident but is expected to be ready for the start of the 2025 season, according to his agent, Doug Hendrickson.

• Harris was one of multiple hurt people in the East Bay town of Antioch, Calif., when the fireworks mishap occurred around 12:18 a.m. on July 5, according to Antioch police.

  Hendrickson released a statement Thursday after online rumors began making their way into the mainstream media.

  "Najee Harris was present at a 4th of July event where a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to several attendees," Hendrickson said. "Najee sustained a superficial eye injury during the incident, but is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season."

  Police said one person was in critical condition and four others were transported to hospitals in the illegal use of fireworks incident.

  Those transported apparently doesn't include Harris, a former star at Antioch High. According to the San Jose Mercury News, Harris initially went to a hospital in Concord about 15 minutes to the west before later going to Stanford hospital about an hour to the south.

  The Antioch Police addressed the incident in a statement on the afternoon of July 5.

  "On July 5, at approximately 12:18 a.m., the Antioch Police Department dispatch center received multiple calls reporting an explosion on the 2200 block of Spanos Street," the statement began. "When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered the aftermath of an explosion caused by fireworks.

  "... Several victims had already left the scene before the first responders' arrival and were treated at local hospitals. Antioch PD is working to find and speak with all individuals involved regarding this incident. This is an unfortunate accident, and our thoughts are with the family and all those affected during this difficult time."

  This past Fourth of July marked the 10-year anniversary of then New York Giants star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul losing 2 1/2 fingers on his right hand. He returned to the field with a heavily taped hand during the 2015 season but the incident overshadowed his on-field exploits.

  Harris, 27, signed a one-year deal, $5.25 million deal with the Chargers in the offseason that could be worth up to an additional $4 million if he meets all incentives for rushing yardage. Harris and first-round draft pick Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) are expected to be the team's main ball carriers.

  Harris topped 1,000 rushing yards in all four of his seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and has 4,312 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns in 68 NFL games (all starts). The Steelers selected him 24th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, and Harris made the Pro Bowl and the NFL All-Rookie team that season. He became a free agent after the 2024 season.

  --Field Level Media

While the Washington fan base discusses a throwback name, the Commanders confirmed the team is bringing back its "Super Bowl Era" uniforms this season.

• The Commanders, who formally changed the team name and logo in 2022 and plan to stick with it, reintroduced the uniform concept used from 1981-92 as an alternate option starting this season.

  They will debut the vintage look on Nov. 2 against the visiting Seattle Seahawks on "Sunday Night Football." They will wear it again for a Nov. 30 primetime date with the visiting Denver Broncos and at home on Christmas Day vs. the rival Dallas Cowboys.

  "We are excited to celebrate Washington's incredible history with these iconic, Super Bowl Era uniforms this season," team president Mark Clouse said in a statement. "Ever since Josh Harris and our ownership group acquired the team back in 2023, they've placed great value in finding ways to connect the past and present and honor those that made the burgundy and gold what it is today.

  "These uniforms recognize the most successful era of our franchise -- one that reflects a culture of excellence and encompasses many historical moments and special memories amongst our fanbase. Our coaches, players and the entire organization could not be more excited to celebrate our team's legacy while creating new memories in these uniforms this season."

  Washington wore the uniforms during its three Super Bowl victories and Harris, who grew up rooting for the team, said restoring as much of the tradition as possible without returning to the old Native American nickname and logo was part of the marketing plan.

  Harris repeated that the franchise is not considering reverting to the former team name despite recent suggestions from President Donald Trump that he wouldn't have changed the name.

  An image featuring NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, tight end Zach Ertz and safety Jeremy Reaves in the new kits was released by the team on Wednesday. The burgundy pants and helmet with three stripes and white jersey tops are most familiar to fans of the bygone era, with a "W" on the helmet above each ear hole where the old logo once was.

  --Field Level Media

The Buccaneers will be without All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs to start the season, ESPN reported Wednesday.

• Wirfs, 26, had arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday on the right knee he injured last season, per multiple reports.

  Wirfs will have to miss at least four games if he begins the campaign on the physically unable to perform list.

  A four-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first-team All-Pro, Wirfs started 16 games in 2024 and has started all 79 of his games since Tampa Bay drafted him 13th overall in 2020.

  Wirfs signed a five-year, $140.6 million extension last August. He carries a $11.5 million cap hit in 2025, a figure that jumps to $36.3 million in 2026.

  --Field Level Media

Longtime NFL executive Tim Rooney, the nephew of Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr., died on Tuesday morning after battling cancer. He was 84.

• A former coach at Villanova, Tim Rooney joined the Steelers as a scout in 1972 before becoming their director of pro scouting. As reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he was credited with drafting Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert after escorting then-coach Chuck Noll to watch Lambert at Kent State.

  After leaving the Steelers in 1979 to join the Detroit Lions, Rooney was hired by the New York Giants as director of pro personnel in 1985. He remained in that role until 1999 and later returned in a part-time position.

  All told, Rooney was part of six Super Bowl-winning teams.

  "He was a great guy," Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells told the Post-Gazette. "When you're a head coach, you need someone to tell you the truth. Tim was our pro personnel guy, and that was his job.

  "We had daily interaction every day talking about the roster. We had a lot of talks and became close. That enhanced our relationship. He understood me, and I understood him."

  --Field Level Media

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott declared himself a "full go" for training camp and fully recovered from season-ending surgery in November to repair a partial avulsion of the hamstring tendon.

• Prescott, 31, did not play in the final nine games last season and has yet to be given the green light from the Cowboys' medical staff, he said. Dallas was 3-5 at the time of his injury and finished the 2024 season 7-10.

  "I'm healthy as I'll be," Prescott told reporters at his youth camp in Southlake, Texas, on Tuesday. "I'll be full go for camp. I'm healthy. Yeah, I think soon here I'll probably get the official sign off from doc, but I'm healthy."

  Dallas reports to training camp in Oxnard, Calif., on July 20, where the Cowboys begin to assimilate to new head coach Brian Schottenheimer's system and the fresh faces acquired to fill in around Prescott.

  The Cowboys acquired wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers, drafted running back Jaydon Blue, signed veteran running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders and shuffled the offensive line.

  Perennial Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin retired and the Cowboys invested their first-round pick in Alabama right guard Tyler Booker. There's pressure on the shoulders of left tackle Tyler Guyton, a first-round pick in 2024, to help prevent Prescott from missing time with injury for the third time in six seasons.

  After the quarterback pulled his new skill-position cast together in Georgia he said he's "excited as hell" to be the one tasked with keeping all of them happily involved.

  "We've just got to continue to grow that and continue to make sure that that's trending the right way," he said.

  --Field Level Media

Pettis Norman, a tight end on the football field and a civil rights advocate off of it, has died. He was 86.

• Norman played for the Dallas Cowboys (1962-70) and San Diego Chargers (1971-73). He was a member of the first Cowboys' team to play in the Super Bowl -- Super Bowl V in 1971, a 16-13 loss to the Baltimore Colts.

  Norman caught 124 passes with the Cowboys, including 14 touchdowns, and averaged 13.5 yards per reception. Only three tight ends in team history have averaged more than 13.0 yards per catch with at least 100 career receptions.

  During his first seven seasons in the NFL, he served in the Texas Army National Guard. And he was at the forefront of civil rights issues in the 1960s, both in the locker room and in the greater Dallas area.

  "We mourn the passing of former tight end and civil rights advocate Pettis Norman," the Cowboys said Monday. "Known for his selfless leadership, commitment to community, and dedication to creating equal opportunity, we were incredibly proud and grateful to share his remarkable story recently."

  Part of the story the Cowboys shared was Norman's effort in helping to break down racial barriers on the team. He was one of the players who went to head coach Tom Landry to convince him to stop assigning hotel rooms for road games by race, the team said.

  "I tried to do whatever I could do (to) help change the kinds of things that society had operated under for such a long time," Norman said, per the team website.

  Norman later became the first Black official at a bank in Dallas. In 1993, he also founded the Dallas Together Forum with an aim of increasing minority hiring and boosting contracts awarded to companies owned by women and minorities.

  Norman played in 162 games (122 starts) between the two franchises, making 183 receptions for 2,492 yards with 15 TDs.

  --Field Level Media

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow punted plans to purchase a $3 million replica of the Batmobile following a home burglary last season.

• The Cincinnati star revealed his level of concern and the lingering emotional toll of the break-in on the latest season of "Quarterback," a documentary streaming on Netflix.

  The home Burrow purchased for $7.5 million in 2023 is still listed in his name, but he discussed the reality of having his address made public during an investigation into the episode. The break-in took place one week after Burrow disclosed he was purchasing the Batmobile on a Monday night while the Bengals were visiting the Dallas Cowboys.

  "We'll see if I end up moving or not," Burrow said in a conversation with then-defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo in one segment of the show. "Now the whole world knows where I live now. But that hasn't been very fun to deal with."

  A security guard and a woman later revealed to be social media influencer Olivia Ponton were present at the time of the Monday night 911 call to police, who were first alerted by the woman's mother of the apparent crisis. The 22-year-old in the home told police she was an employee of Burrow's and was able to share information about missing items.

  A grand jury indicted multiple alleged perpetrators connected to what investigators said was a large criminal network targeting professional athletes.

  Burrow told "Hard Knocks" and "Quarterback" producers that he canceled the purchase of the showy Batmobile.

  "I just get very uncomfortable. My life is very public," he said. "That comes with the job, but there's certain parts of your life that are yours. Your house is one of those."

  --Field Level Media

Kirk Cousins believed he had all the facts and with no reason to doubt the Atlanta Falcons' vision with him as the centerpiece of a new offense, he signed a four-year, $180 million contract in March 2024.

• Weeks later, Cousins felt entirely different about the situation when the Falcons shocked the NFL -- Cousins included -- and used the No. 8 overall pick to select Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Most pundits projected Penix would be selected in the late first round or early second with an average of 25th to 35th overall.

  Cousins said on the debut of the latest season of "Quarterback" on Netflix that "it certainly would've affected my decision," knowing the Falcons would be drafting a quarterback that high in 2024. Two picks after the Falcons selected Penix, the Minnesota Vikings used one of their two first-round picks to draft J.J. McCarthy.

  Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, said he felt "a little bit misled" by the Falcons.

  "I had no reason to leave Minnesota with how much we loved it there if both teams are going to be drafting a quarterback high," Cousins said on the show. "But I've also learned in 12 years in this league that you're not entitled to anything. It's all about being able to earn your spot and prove yourself."

  Cousins said he made the "best decision" he could about his own health last season when, after a 6-3 start, he suffered a shoulder injury and attempted to play through the pain. He admitted on the documentary the move was more about preserving his starting job than self-preservation, fearing he would not reclaim the starting role if he tapped out for a week or two to fully heal.

  Instead his performance suffered, Atlanta's offense lagged and head coach Raheem Morris ultimately put Cousins on the pine in favor of Penix.

  "I remember reading Drew Brees' book back in 2010 when he first wrote it, how he made the point that he tried to never let his backup see the field -- even if it was somebody who was really no threat. He just felt like you should never do that. Doug Flutie taught him that," Cousins said. "So that was something I always was aware of, that in this league, if you give someone else the chance, if you want to get 'Wally Pipped' and there's Lou Gehrig behind you, that can happen at the time."

  Cousins, 36, is now banking $27.5 million this season from Atlanta to be Penix's backup. He said he'll be "an adult" but confessed it's painful to go to work as a reserve.

  "I feel sorry for myself and it's hard to do, but that's what you got to do," he said.

  --Field Level Media

Kansas remains in the running to provide the future home of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.

• A committee in the Kansas state legislature extended a deadline Monday for the NFL and Major League Baseball franchises to accept state financing for new stadiums.

  The original deadline came and went on June 30, but it was retroactively extended on Monday. Now the Chiefs and Royals have till June 30, 2026, but the committee is pressing for a decision from the teams by New Year's Eve.

  The Chiefs and Royals have long made their homes at Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium, respectively, in the same complex in Kansas City, Mo. They are among the oldest venues in their leagues and their leases with Jackson County are up in January 2031.

  In June, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed off on legislation that would authorize bonds to pay for up to 50 percent of the cost for the Chiefs and Royals to build or renovate a stadium.

  Not to be outdone, Kansas has had an offer on the table of using bonds to cover 70 percent of the cost of a new stadium if either of the teams chooses to relocate.

  "Together, we have the opportunity to bring the National Football League to Kansas, anchored by a world-class domed stadium, new team headquarters, a state-of-the-art practice facility, and a vibrant mixed-use and entertainment district," Chiefs president Mark Donovan wrote to Kansas Senate president Ty Masterson when requesting a deadline extension.

  The Chiefs previously unveiled renderings for a proposed multimillion-dollar renovation of Arrowhead Stadium. The Royals have said they want to move from Kauffman Stadium, preferably to a new ballpark downtown.

  In April 2024, voters in Jackson County rejected a sales tax measure that would have helped pay for Arrowhead renovations and a stadium for the Royals.

  --Field Level Media

Dan Orlovsky, who has served as an NFL analyst with ESPN since 2018, has agreed to terms on a long-term contract, Front Office Sports reported on Monday.

• Per the report, the former NFL quarterback will remain as a game analyst for the second-string team on "Monday Night Football" with Chris Fowler, Louis Riddick and Laura Rutledge. Orlovsky, 41, will also continue to appear on "NFL Live," "SportsCenter," "Get Up" and "First Take."

  Orlovsky's new contract is not final but he is apparently "at the 1-yard line" with the network, per the report.

  Before the holiday weekend, the former Detroit Lions QB posted a picture on social media toasting himself and on his Instagram story, he wrote, "Here's to what's next."

  He wrote on his X account on Monday: "Gotta keep working. Gotta keep proving yourself. Gotta stay hungry. It's always the journey."

  Orlovsky, whose NFL career began in 2005 and lasted until 2017, is a popular figure at ESPN who has apparently shown interest in becoming a coach in the NFL.

  "Dan's been talking to some teams and seeing if there's something that interests him and is worthwhile for him," ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter told Pat McAfee in an interview.

  In February, Front Office Sports reported that Orlovsky was "exploring his options" regarding potential free agency. Last month, it was reported by The Athletic that Orlovsky would likely return to ESPN.

  ESPN declined to comment on Monday's report.

  --Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys All-Pro kick returner KaVontae Turpin is facing misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana (less than 2 ounces) and unlawful carrying of a weapon.

• Turpin, 28, was arrested by the Allen (Texas) Police Department on Saturday, according to online records, and booked into the Collin County Jail.

  He posted $1,500 bond and was released from custody on Sunday.

  Turpin, who signed a three-year, $18 million extension in March, became the first Cowboy with punt, kickoff and receiving touchdowns in the same season in 2024. He finished with a career-high 31 catches for 420 yards and a pair of scores.

  A two-time Pro Bowl selection, he led the NFL return average (33.5 yards) in 2024 and took one back 99 yards for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders.

  In three seasons with Dallas, Turpin has played in 50 games (two starts) and compiled 44 receptions for 556 yards and five TDs. He has also rushed for 219 yards on 30 carries with one TD.

  --Field Level Media