The Las Vegas Raiders signed Justin Shorter off their practice squad in the wake of fellow wide receiver Amari Cooper's unexpected retirement, according to multiple reports Friday.

• A five-time Pro Bowler, Cooper informed the Raiders on Thursday that he is retiring, ending a 10-season career.

  The news came on the heels of Cooper telling reporters, "Trust me, I still have some juice left," last week after signing a one-year contract with the organization that made him the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

  Shorter, 25, played in 10 games last season for the Raiders.

  In his college career with Penn State and Florida, Shorter recorded 110 receptions for 1,552 yards and eight touchdowns in 48 games.

  He was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills but was placed on IR for his rookie season with a hamstring injury and then released in August 2024.

  Shorter was signed to the active roster of the Raiders last November and in those 10 games, he primarily saw action on special teams, recording no receptions.

  Cooper, 31, had 44 receptions for 547 yards and four touchdowns last season in 14 games with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills. All three categories were a career low for Cooper. He totaled 711 catches for 10,033 yards and 64 touchdowns in 154 career games (143 starts).

  --Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals center Ted Karras signed a one-year contract extension on Friday that spans through the 2026 season.

• Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team. However, NFL Network reported it was worth $5 million.

  "This is where I want to be," Karras told the team's website. "People here have been so great to me on and off the field, and the goal remains the same. To win a championship."

  Karras, 32, has started all 50 games in which he has played for Cincinnati over the last three seasons.

  A two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, Karras will make his 100th career start on Sunday when the Bengals play their season opener against the host Cleveland Browns.

  Karras has played in 143 career games with the Patriots, Miami Dolphins and Bengals since being selected by New England in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

  In March, Karras joined the executive committee of the NFL Players Association's board of player representatives as vice president.

  --Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles star defensive tackle Jalen Carter owned up to his "mistake" after he was ejected from Thursday's 24-20 season-opening victory over the visiting Cowboys after spitting on Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott.

• Carter was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct after he spat at Prescott after the two exchanged words while there was a stoppage in play following the opening kickoff.

  "You know it was a mistake that happened on my side, and it just won't happen again," Carter said. "I feel bad for just my teammates and the fans out there. You know, I'm doing it for them. I'm doing it for my family also but the fans, they show the most love. You heard them out there and not being able to start the game to finish the game just (expletive) me up, but it won't happen again."

  Just before halftime, NBC reported that Carter could face additional discipline, possibly including a suspension.

  While not specifically mentioning spitting, the NFL told teams this offseason that respect for opponents will be a bigger emphasis this season. NBC reported that Carter's actions could fall under this emphasis.

  "If I get that text or that call and have that conversation, we will handle it," Carter said.

  Prescott also found himself on the defensive after video replays showed the quarterback spitting in the direction of Carter prior to the incident.

  "I was just looking at him and I was right here in between two linemen," Prescott said. "I guess I needed to spit, and I wasn't going to spit on my linemen, so I just spit ahead.

  "He asked or goes, ‘Are you trying to spit on me?' At that point, I felt like he was insulting me. I wouldn't spit on somebody and I'm damn sure not trying to spit on you. We're trying to play a game and I'm wondering why you're trying to mess with the rookie (Tyler Booker). I step through and say the words, ‘Why the hell,' excuse me probably even more colorful but ‘why would I spit on you for?' He just spit on me in that moment, and it was more of a surprise than anything. The refs obviously saw it and threw a flag. I was like, ‘Hell yeah, we get 15 yards to start the game off.' I didn't realize he was getting ejected. Unfortunate that he did and hell of a player."

  Carter, 24, was a Pro Bowler last season after racking up 4.5 sacks among his 12 tackles for loss, plus six pass deflections and two forced fumbles.

  He slid to ninth overall in the NFL Draft in 2023 after legal troubles cropped up around the time of the NFL scouting combine. While in college at Georgia, Carter was involved in a street racing crash that took the lives of a player and a staff member. He turned himself in and later pleaded no contest to charges of reckless driving and street racing.

  --Field Level Media

The opening game of the 2025 NFL season between the host Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys was hit with a delay when lightning strikes were detected in the vicinity of the stadium Thursday night.

• The delay will last a half hour after the last strike within a certain radius of the stadium.

  The delay came just before 10:30 p.m. ET, with 4:44 remaining in the third quarter. The Eagles, who led 24-20, had just recovered a fumble by Cowboys running back Miles Sanders in the red zone.

  The game was already a wild affair that saw Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter spit on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and get ejected before the first play from scrimmage.

  Every possession by either side had ended in a score before Sanders' fumble. Philadelphia led 21-20 at halftime and kicker Jake Elliott nailed a 58-yarder midway through the third quarter.

  --Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers had a surprise addition on their Thursday injury report, listing star running back Christian McCaffrey as being a limited participant with a calf problem.

• On-site reporters also reported that McCaffrey was limited.

  That was a change from Wednesday's initial report that didn't have McCaffrey listed.

  A calf issue cropped up for the three-time Pro Bowler last fall as well, which was eventually diagnosed as an Achilles sprain. That injury caused him to miss the first eight games of the season, then he lost five more games to close the year with a PCL sprain.

  McCaffrey finished with career lows in rushing yards (202), rushing touchdowns (zero), receptions (15) and receiving yards (146).

  The 49ers open their season Sunday at the Seattle Seahawks.

  --Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected before playing a down in the NFL season opener Thursday night when he was caught spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

• Not long after the host Eagles raised their second Super Bowl championship banner, Philadelphia kicked off to the Cowboys and had a special teamer, Ben VanSumeren, go down with an injury on the play.

  The Dallas offense and Philadelphia defense walked onto the field while VanSumeren was being attended to. Suddenly, an official tossed a penalty flag and, after a discussion, Carter was handed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a disqualification.

  TV replay footage soon showed Carter having words with Prescott as they stood waiting, followed by Carter spitting at Prescott.

  Just before halftime, NBC reported that Carter could face additional discipline, possibly including a suspension.

  While not specifically mentioning spitting, the NFL told teams this offseason that respect for opponents will be a bigger emphasis this season. NBC reported that Carter's actions could fall under this emphasis.

  "We just have to play by the rules, respect your opponent, respect your teammates and play the game in between the whistles," NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said in a video sent to teams in the offseason.

  With Carter out of the picture, the Cowboys had little trouble marching down the field and scoring a touchdown on the first drive of the game.

  Carter, 24, was a Pro Bowler last season after racking up 4.5 sacks among his 12 tackles for loss, plus six pass deflections and two forced fumbles.

  He slid to ninth overall in the NFL draft in 2023 after legal troubles cropped up around the time of the NFL scouting combine. While in college at Georgia, Carter was involved in a street racing crash that took the lives of a player and a staff member. He turned himself in and later pleaded no contest to charges of reckless driving and street racing.

  --Field Level Media

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll revealed Thursday that offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will take play-calling duties off his hands this season.

• Kafka called plays during the preseason and Daboll confirmed that that will be the setup going forward. Kafka previously handled play-calling for the Giants' offense in 2022 and part of 2023.

  "It's just about getting with the players, giving them the stuff that they like and then just going through evaluation," said Kafka, 38. "The preseason is obviously a bigger evaluation tool, but just getting back into the flow of it. We've been doing it throughout training camp and throughout the spring. Just making those reps has been good."

  ESPN reported that Kafka had play-calling duties revoked due to "noticeable discontent" during the 2023 season, the Giants' second year with Daboll in charge. Daboll was in charge of calling plays in 2021, and New York sank to 3-14 with the second-worst scoring offense in the NFL (16.1 ppg).

  Kafka takes over a unit with a new look and the potential to be much improved. Daniel Jones was the Giants' quarterback for Daboll's and Kafka's first three seasons, but Russell Wilson will start this season as QB1. Wide receiver Malik Nabers will try to build off a stellar rookie season, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. starts at running back after showing flashes as a rookie.

  "Mike's done a great job this preseason. He's done a good job with the staff," Daboll said. "Got a lot of confidence in Mike and the offensive staff. Up to this point, relative to all the preseason games and the meetings we've had, I've been very pleased with the offensive staff."

  The Giants open the season Sunday at the Washington Commanders.

  --Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles begin the 2025 season as heavy favorites to win their season opener Thursday night, but oddsmakers see significant threats in their pursuit of back-to-back Super Bowl titles.

• The Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens are the co-Super Bowl favorites at +600 at DraftKings, slightly ahead of the Eagles at +700. The Kansas City Chiefs are next at +850, with no other team having shorter odds than the Green Bay Packers at +1200.

  Meanwhile, BetRivers is offering the Ravens and Eagles as +650 co-favorites, followed by the Bills (+700), Chiefs (+800) and the Packers (+1300) along with the Detroit Lions.

  The New Orleans Saints are the biggest longshot at both books -- +30000 at BetRivers and +5000 at DraftKings.

  Philadelphia is considered to have a smoother path to the Super Bowl than its AFC counterparts. The Eagles are +350 to win the NFC title at DraftKings, ahead of the Packers (+600) and Lions (+650).

  The Bills and Ravens are the co-+330 favorites in the AFC, followed by the Chiefs at +400. That trio is well ahead of the pack, with the Denver Broncos owning the fourth shortest AFC title odds at +1100.

  Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson opens the season as the +550 favorite to win Most Valuable Player honors, ahead of Bills reigning league MVP Josh Allen and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow at +600. The shortest non-quarterback odds belong to Eagles running back Saquon Barkley at +6000.

  Las Vegas running back Ashton Jeanty begins the season as the +275 offensive rookie of the year favorite ahead of No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. The Tennessee Titans quarterback is being offered at +350, followed by Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton at +850 and Jacksonville Jaguars dual threat Travis Hunter at +1000.

  The shortest defensive rookie of the year odds belong to New York Giants pass rusher Abdul Carter at +225. He's well ahead of a trio at +1200 that includes San Francisco pass rusher Mykel Williams, Ravens linebacker Mike Green and Atlanta Falcons pass rusher Jalon Walker.

  --Field Level Media

The 2025 NFL regular season kicks off Thursday night with the Philadelphia Eagles playing host to the Dallas Cowboys after raising their Super Bowl LIX banner.

• It's a big early-season litmus test between the bitter NFC East rivals. That's especially true for the Cowboys, who have been the subject of derision for trading All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay last week.

  ODDS AND TRENDS

  The Eagles are the second-biggest consensus picks ahead of Week 1 as 8-point favorites -- only the Denver Broncos as 8.5-point favorites against the Tennessee Titans have a larger spread.

  Philadelphia has been backed by 74 percent of the tickets and 68 percent of the spread-line money at BetRivers. The Eagles' moneyline has been even more popular, drawing 80 and 83 percent of the action, respectively, despite the -480 line.

  PROP PICKS

  --Over 47.5 Total Points: Each of the past four meetings at Lincoln Financial Field have gone over the total points line, and Dallas' defense had plenty of question marks even before losing Parsons.

  --Eagles WR DeVonta Smith Anytime TD (+1400): Smith has scored at least one touchdown in six of his past seven regular-season home games and benefits from the attention A.J. Brown draws on the other side of the field.

  KEY STAT

  Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has not thrown an interception in his six career road games against the Eagles, while counterpart Jalen Hurts has not thrown a pick in his past eight home games overall.

  THE NEWS

  The Cowboys' defense already was behind the 8-ball after allowing 27.5 points per game last year, second-worst in the league (at 17.8 ppg, the Eagles were second-best). Rookie defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku will join Clark and journeymen Dante Fowler Jr. and Solomon Thomas in a remade defensive front.

  Dallas traded for mercurial receiver George Pickens to line up opposite CeeDee Lamb, but the run game will be another question mark. Rico Dowdle left in free agency after a 1,000-yard season, and the Cowboys will balance vets Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders and rookie Jaydon Blue out of the backfield.

  They'll all have to come together under a new coach in Brian Schottenheimer after the team moved on from Mike McCarthy. Promoted from offensive coordinator, the career assistant gets his first crack as a head coach.

  "Nothing's changed. My goals haven't changed. Our team goals haven't changed," Schottenheimer said after the Parsons trade. "I hit the players on that ... after I talked about the tough couple of days for all the guys. It doesn't change. The standard is the standard."

  The Eagles won't look much different from the team that routed the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in February. Saquon Barkley will try to replicate the ninth 2,000-yard rushing season in league history, Brown and Smith still lead the receiving corps and the defense remains chock-full of former Georgia Bulldogs.

  Whatever his critics say, Hurts can call himself a Super Bowl champion as well. He threw for just 2,903 yards and 18 touchdowns in 15 starts last year, but had his fourth straight year with double-digit rushing touchdowns (14). No one will benefit more from the owners voting down attempts to ban the "tush push" play last spring.

  Hurts' relationship with coach Nick Sirianni, which appeared strained 12 months ago, has grown "day by day," per the quarterback.

  "We obviously, both of us, love to work, love hard work, have a ton of grit to ourselves," Hurts said this week. "We're passionate about that. We express that through our work. So I think it's been able to grow and evolve."

  INJURY REPORT

  The Eagles received good news Tuesday with three-time Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson (back) able to practice. He was in doubt for the opener after missing time in training camp because of a right knee injury and not practicing Monday due to a back issue.

  Eagles backup quarterback Tanner McKee (right thumb) missed practice Monday and Tuesday and resisted using his right hand while on the field in a limited capacity.

  Dallas ruled out defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey with a back injury. Left cornerback Trevon Diggs and left tackle Tyler Guyton participated in practice all week and are no longer listed on the Cowboys' injury report.

  THEY SAID IT

  --"Our fans, as well as my mirror, are saying, ‘Come on, let's change something up. Let's do something a little different here.'" Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in defending the decision to trade Parsons for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and the Packers' next two first-round draft picks.

  --"We're not talking anything about a title or anything. We're talking about the Dallas Cowboys. How do we put ourselves in the best position to win this football game ... and how do you continue to get better as the year goes on? That's your habits. That's all we're thinking about." -- Sirianni, refusing to discuss the possibility of a Super Bowl repeat.

  PREDICTION

  Week 1 games against beaten-down division rivals are never guaranteed, and Dallas does have intriguing offensive weapons with Lamb now complemented by Pickens. But it's difficult to see one of the NFL's worst defenses from a year ago stopping Philadelphia with any consistency minus Parsons. --Eagles 30, Cowboys 24

  --Field Level Media

Four-time All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett sat out practice on Thursday with a hip injury, putting his status in question for the Cleveland Browns' season opener against the rival Cincinnati Bengals.

• Garrett's participation in practice on Friday will go a long way toward determining his ability to compete in Sunday's season opener in Cleveland.

  Signed to a four-year, $160 million extension in the offseason, Garrett has recorded nine sacks in his career against Cincinnati's Joe Burrow -- his most against any quarterback.

  A six-time Pro Bowl selection and the winner of the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award, Garrett has totaled 102.5 sacks, 20 forced fumbles, 200 quarterback hits and 116 tackles for loss in 117 career games (114 starts).

  He is the only player in NFL history with 14 or more sacks in four consecutive seasons (2021-24).

  --Field Level Media

Five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper informed the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday that he is retiring, ending a 10-season career.

• Cooper informed head coach Pete Carroll of his decision, Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said.

  "It's unfortunate, because I think the world of (Cooper)," Kelly said. "He's a heck of a football player, he's had a heck of an NFL career. But he knows in his heart what he wants to do, so I wish him the best, and I've always been a big fan of his."

  The news comes on the heels of Cooper telling reporters, "Trust me, I still have some juice left," last week after signing a one-year contract with the organization that made him the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

  Cooper, 31, played for the then-Oakland Raiders from 2015-18 before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys during the 2018 season. He was traded two more times (to the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills) before becoming a free agent following the 2024 season.

  He had 44 receptions for 547 yards and four touchdowns last season in 14 games with the Browns and Bills. All three categories were a career low for Cooper.

  Cooper totaled 711 catches for 10,033 yards and 64 touchdowns in 154 career games (143 starts).

  --Field Level Media

A one-game margin separated the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos from the Chiefs the last time Kansas City failed to finish a season first in the AFC West.

• That Peyton Manning-led outfit ruled the roost with 12 wins in the regular season, and then Kansas City began its current nine-year run as the best in the AFC West.

  Having Andy Reid on the sideline and Patrick Mahomes at the controls of the offense might be a decided edge. But neither one of those things are expected to change any time soon.

  Is there a team capable of shifting the pecking order in the division?

  "They've been the bully on the block for a long time," Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said ahead of Friday's season opener against Kansas City in Brazil.

  The Broncos were a surprise team in 2024, crashing the playoffs on the back of a playmaking defense and steady rookie quarterback Bo Nix. During training camp, head coach Sean Payton said he previously coached six teams he felt entering the season had a chance to win the Super Bowl.

  "This is my seventh team that I think has that," Payton said.

  Las Vegas changed head coaches again, hiring Pete Carroll to turn the Raiders the right direction.

  Here's how we envision the West being settled in 2025:

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-5 predicted record)

  Schedule

  W1 Fri Sep 5 vs Los Angeles Chargers (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

  W2 Sun Sep 14 vs Philadelphia Eagles

  W3 Sun Sep 21 at New York Giants

  W4 Sun Sep 28 vs Baltimore Ravens

  W5 Mon Oct 6 at Jacksonville Jaguars

  W6 Sun Oct 12 vs Detroit Lions

  W7 Sun Oct 19 vs Las Vegas Raiders

  W8 Mon Oct 27 vs Washington Commanders

  W9 Sunday Nov 2 at Buffalo Bills

  W10 Bye

  W11 Sun Nov 16 at Denver Broncos

  W12 Sun Nov 23 vs Indianapolis Colts

  W13 Thu Nov 27 at Dallas Cowboys

  W14 Sun Dec 7 vs Houston Texans

  W15 Sun Dec 14 vs Los Angeles Chargers

  W16 Sun Dec 21 at Tennessee Titans

  W17 Thu Dec 25 vs Denver Broncos

  W18 Sun Jan 4 at Las Vegas Raiders

  Still the man in the middle: Defensive tackle Chris Jones was a rookie in 2016 when the Chiefs started their active run of dominance in the division. He had one of his best seasons to date in 2024 with a position-best win rate slightly below 20 percent. The Chiefs credited him with 29 forced incompletions, which was second best among defensive tackles last season.

  Safety valve: Jaden Hicks inherited a lot of responsibility jumping into a starting role, and the strong safety earned the promotion with preparation according to Steve Spagnuolo. Hicks had three interceptions as a rookie last season to gradually earn more responsibility. The Chiefs are only planning to further expand his role in 2025.

  2. Denver Broncos (10-7 predicted record)

  Schedule

  W1 Sun Sep 7 vs Tennessee Titans

  W2 Sun Sep 14 at Indianapolis Colts

  W3 Sun Sep 21 at Los Angeles Chargers

  W4 Mon Sep 29 at Cincinnati Bengals

  W5 Sun Oct 5 at Philadelphia Eagles

  W6 Sun Oct 12 at New York Jets

  W7 Sun Oct 19 vs New York Giants

  W8 Mon Oct 26 vs Dallas Cowboys

  W9 Sunday Nov 2 at Houston Texans

  W10 Thu Nov 6 vs Las Vegas Raiders

  W11 Sun Nov 16 vs Denver Broncos

  W12 Sun Nov 23 Bye

  W13 Sun Nov 30 at Washington Commanders

  W14 Sun Dec 7 at Las Vegas Raiders

  W15 Sun Dec 14 vs Green Bay Packers

  W16 Sun Dec 21 vs Jacksonville Jaguars

  W17 Thu Dec 25 at Kansas City Chiefs

  W18 Sun Jan 4 vs Los Angeles Chargers

  First in the secondary: Quarterbacks all but refuse to throw in the direction of All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II, which boosted the need for a second magnetic cover man. The Broncos drafted Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron in the first round and consider him a fit in multiple roles -- cornerback, nickel corner and dime safety. If Barron meets expectations, opportunities to make plays should be plentiful.

  Hand it here: Figuring out the No. 1 option in the Broncos' backfield might take time. Payton assured his running backs he'll find snaps for reliable options. Injuries have been the main detriment in J.K. Dobbins' career, but he's coming off of a strong season with the Chargers. Rookie RJ Harvey had a strong preseason and squarely is in the mix.

  3. Los Angeles Chargers (10-7 predicted record)

  Schedule

  W1 Fri Sep 5 vs Kansas City Chiefs

  W2 Mon Sep 15 at Las Vegas Raiders

  W3 Sun Sep 21 vs Denver Broncos

  W4 Sun Sep 28 at New York Giants

  W5 Sun Oct 5 vs Washington Commanders

  W6 Sun Oct 12 at Miami Dolphins

  W7 Sun Oct 19 vs Indianapolis Colts

  W8 Thu Oct 23 vs Minnesota Vikings

  W9 Sun Nov 2 at Tennessee Titans

  W10 Sun Nov 9 vs Pittsburgh Steelers

  W11 Sun Nov 16 at Jacksonville Jaguars

  W12 Sun Nov 23 Bye

  W13 Sun Nov 30 vs Las Vegas Raiders

  W14 Mon Dec 8 vs Philadelphia Eagles

  W15 Sun Dec 14 at Kansas City Chiefs

  W16 Sun Dec 21 at Dallas Cowboys

  W17 Sun Dec 28 vs Houston Texans

  W18 Sun Jan 4 at Denver Broncos

  No Joe: Joey Bosa was drafted third overall by the Chargers in 2016 and compiled 72 sacks for the Bolts. But he's gone after injuries made him more of a question mark than impact pass rusher. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter plans a deeper rotation off the edge while featuring Khalil Mack. Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree are the primary options on the right side.

  Running men: Harbaugh wants a hard-nosed team that can pound the ball on the ground in any situation. The Chargers used the No. 22 overall pick to select Omarion Hampton even after signing former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Najee Harris to breathe new life into the ball-control vision. Hampton might begin the season in third-down role because of his accomplished work in pass protection, but Harbaugh also praised his vision, agility and explosiveness, framing a situation that could lead to the Chargers using Harris as the late-game hammer and goal-line runner.

  4. Las Vegas Raiders (5-12 predicted record)

  Schedule

  W1 Sun Sep 7 at New England Patriots

  W2 Mon Sep 15 vs Los Angeles Chargers

  W3 Sun Sep 21 at Washington Commanders

  W4 Sun Sep 28 vs Chicago Bears

  W5 Sun Oct 5 at Indianapolis Colts

  W6 Sun Oct 12 vs Tennessee Titans

  W7 Sun Oct 19 at Kansas City Chiefs

  W8 Bye

  W9 Sun Nov 2 vs Jacksonville Jaguars

  W10 Thu Nov 6 at Denver Broncos

  W11 Mon Nov 17 vs Dallas Cowboys

  W12 Sun Nov 23 vs Cleveland Browns

  W13 Sun Nov 30 at Los Angeles Chargers

  W14 Sun Dec 7 vs Denver Broncos

  W15 Sun Dec 14 at Philadelphia Eagles

  W16 Sun Dec 21 at Houston Texans

  W17 Sun Dec 28 vs New York Giants

  W18 Sun Jan 4 vs Kansas City Chiefs

  Bring the "A" game: Ashton Jeanty was one of the five best running back prospects entering the league in the past decade based on the team evaluation, but Carroll repeated recently he will not "play one guy" as the position. Any time Jeanty spends off the field is sure to be short-lived. Carroll has built offenses around bell-cow backs before -- Marshawn Lynch, anyone? -- and Jeanty's speed gives the Las Vegas offense a home-run threat it otherwise lacks. The Raiders averaged 3.6 yards per carry and had one gain over 39 yards in 2024. At Boise State, Jeanty had 50 rushing touchdowns, led the FBS with 159.7 scrimmage yards per game and was the only FBS player ever to post 1,000-plus rushing yards and 500-plus receiving yards in a season (2024).

  Catching a steal: Dont'e Thornton can run, but he fell to the fourth round of the 2025 draft because NFL teams weren't convinced the former Tennessee wideout would consistently catch. Thornton (6-5, 205) might have already outperformed his draft slot in the eyes of Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. He'll be a starter -- or receive starter reps -- early in the season. If you missed him this summer, check out his 17-yard touchdown catch on a ball quarterback Geno Smith wouldn't throw to a player he didn't trust.

  --Field Level Media

Travis Kelce delivered his best voice impression of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and discussed being off the market as an engaged man following a light workout in Sao Paulo before the Chiefs open the season Friday night.

• Kelce said his life has changed in some ways since he began dating Taylor Swift.

  "I got one more ring from it," Kelce said, drawing laughter from the atypical press conference audience. "Ever since I've been dating Taylor, life has been fun. It's been exciting. Obviously a lot more eyes and I accept that. But I'm living life, living on a high."

  Mahomes, seated to Kelce's right, interjected: "It's a dream."

  Kelce turns 36 next month and returned for the 2025 season after admitting he has contemplated retirement. Partially motivated to have a better season than 2024, Kelce reported to training camp in peak condition for his 12th season, all with the Chiefs.

  Asked Thursday in Brazil if this season is the "last dance," Kelce responded with questions of his own.

  "For who? For me?," Kelce asked. "Man it's the last one on the contract right now. But I'll tell you what, I'm feeling young and I'm ready to ride."

  Kelce has 90-plus receptions in seven consecutive seasons and 1,004 catches for 12,151 yards and 77 touchdowns in 175 regular-season games. With 97 career TD receptions, including the playoffs, Kelce is three away from becoming the fourth tight end in NFL history with 100 career touchdown receptions. Pro Football Hall of Famers Antonio Gates (118) and Tony Gonzalez (115) and Rob Gronkowski (107) are the others.

  --Field Level Media

Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Abraham Lucas agreed to a three-year, $46 million contract extension with the possibility to earn more via incentives, NFL Network reported on Thursday.

• Lucas, 26, was set to be a free agent after this season.

  He started 16 games during his rookie season in 2022 before being limited to just 13 over the last two years due to a persistent knee issue.

  The Seahawks likely expect a lot out of Lucas after releasing fellow offensive tackle George Fant in March. Fant signed in August with the Washington Commanders.

  Lucas was selected by Seattle with a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Washington State.

  --Field Level Media

New York Jets right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker will miss the upcoming season after sustaining a triceps injury this week at practice, head coach Aaron Glenn said Thursday.

• Glenn said Vera-Tucker's recovery time is about seven months. ESPN reported on Thursday morning that the 26-year-old lineman would have surgery on a torn triceps.

  While Xavier Newman is listed as Vera-Tucker's backup on New York's unofficial depth chart, it is possible center Joe Tippmann could move to right guard, with Josh Myers being plugged in at center.

  "When it comes to who's going to be up as far as the O-line, I'm still getting that evaluated." Glenn said. "... He was a big player for us, but we have to continue to keep rolling."

  Vera-Tucker was selected by the Jets with the 14th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Southern California.

  He was named one of the Jets' six team captains on Aug. 28.

  "Throughout my career, I haven't had the opportunity to do that," Vera-Tucker said at the time of his increased leadership role. "So more and more now I take advantage of those opportunities to be a vocal leader and lead not only O-line but the offense and the team as well, so it's cool. You never know when this game could be taken away from you, so you have to take advantage of it."

  Vera-Tucker has been prone to injuries in his career. After playing in, and starting, 16 games as a rookie, he played only a combined 12 in the following two seasons due to torn triceps in 2022 and a torn Achilles in 2023.

  Last season, Vera-Tucker appeared in 15 games, playing in 97 percent (915) of the offensive snaps. He has started all 43 of his NFL games, with starts at every position on the line except center, and has 10 career penalties.

  --Field Level Media

The Koch family, New York billionaires, plan to buy a 10 percent stake in the Giants at a reported valuation of $10 billion for the NFL franchise, multiple media outlets reported.

• The deal, first reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday night, requires approval from league owners. They could vote on the issue at their meeting in October.

  This valuation is the highest ever for an NFL franchise.

  Last month, the Chicago Bears were valued at $8.8 billion when the owners agreed to buy back a small stake in the team, per reports.

  The longtime owners of the Giants, the Mara and Tisch families, said in February that they were exploring the sale of a minority share of the team.

  Apparently, Julia Koch and her family submitted the winning offer.

  She is the widow of David Koch, who built a fortune through his co-ownership of Koch Industries, a diversified company with holdings that include an interest in chemicals, paper products and technology. Julia Koch and her family have a net worth estimated at $81.2 billion, according to Forbes.

  This is not their first foray into sports in the Big Apple. In 2024, the Kochs purchased 15 percent of BSE Global, which owns the NBA's Brooklyn Nets and WNBA's New York Liberty.

  The Maras have owned the Giants since 1925, later going into partnership with the Tisch family.

  --Field Level Media

After a breakout season in 2024, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto signed a four-year contract extension Thursday.

• Bonitto's agency, Athletes First, announced the contract is worth $106 million, and multiple media reports said the deal was worth up to $120 million with incentives and includes $70 million guaranteed.

  Bonitto, who was entering the final season of his rookie contract and due $5.3 million in base salary, becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback in Broncos history, per ESPN.

  He is coming off his first Pro Bowl season. He set career highs with 13.5 sacks (third in NFL), 48 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 24 quarterback hits, one interception (returned 71 yards for a touchdown), two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 17 regular-season games (15 starts) in 2024.

  Bonitto, who turns 26 on Sept. 26, has 92 career tackles, 23 sacks, 30 tackles for loss and 47 QB hits in 47 regular-season games (20 starts) since 2022.

  Denver selected Bonitto in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma.

  The Broncos earlier this offseason agreed to four-year contract extensions with defensive lineman Zach Allen ($102 million) and wide receiver Courtland Sutton ($92 million).

  Denver opens the season at home against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

  --Field Level Media

Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers ran a comeback route, focusing on producing in the regular season after his trade request was denied.

• Meyers said Wednesday he met with decision-makers and decided dropping his trade request for taking the field was in the best interest of everyone involved.

  "I asked, they said no," Meyers said, chuckling at the reality of the situation. "That's where that stopped. I mean, I'm just going to keep doing my job until something shakes out either way, honestly. I don't know which way it's going to go, but I'll be ready for whatever."

  Meyers said, "I ain't tripping," and admitted he didn't know if the Raiders would extend a new contract offer.

  Unsettled and lacking clarity, Meyers said he's only back in the fold because of his teammates. There is no guaranteed money remaining on his deal beyond the $10.5 million base salary in 2025.

  "But you've got to find a way to separate yourself from all the business," he said, adding he was hopeful the Raiders would agree that he proved his worth last season. "I thought they would see it that way -- they don't."

  Meyers, 28, became the No. 1 wide receiver for the Raiders following the October 2024 trade of Davante Adams to the New York Jets. He caught 87 passes for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns.

  He plans to be in the lineup when the Raiders and new head coach Pete Carroll march into the regular season against the New England Patriots on Sunday.

  "It's a job," Meyers said. "At the end of the day, I'm happy to be doing my job with my boys, but I can be happy anywhere."

  --Field Level Media

Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout defensive tackle Vita Vea did not participate in Wednesday's practice due to a foot injury, according to the team's injury report.

• The news casts his status for the team's season opener Sunday at Atlanta into at least some doubt.

  Vea, 30, is coming off the best season of his seven-year NFL career. He made his second career Pro Bowl in 2024, with a career-high seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss (second and third-most on the Bucs defense, respectively), along with 42 tackles and 13 quarterback hits.

  He has 30.5 total sacks and 41 tackles for loss over his professional career, all of which has been played in Tampa after the Buccaneers drafted him 12th overall in the 2018 draft.

  Safety Christian Izien (oblique) and outside linebacker Haason Reddit (personal) also didn't participate in Wednesday's practice. Wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs (knee) had DNP tags, but neither of those is a surprise, as both are expected to miss the start of the season due to their injuries.

  Cornerback Benjamin Morrison (quad) and tight end Cade Otton (groin) were limited on Wednesday, while cornerback Josh Hayes (ankle) and running back Sean Tucker (hand) were full participants.

  --Field Level Media

Chargers running back Najee Harris completed another practice and will play when Los Angeles opens the season in Brazil on Friday night.

• Head coach Jim Harbaugh plans to use Harris and first-round pick Omarion Hampton in tandem, but wouldn't get into a pecking order or snap count plans two days before the Week 1 international game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

  "He says he's ready, and he looks ready to go," Harbaugh said. "Those are really hard to predict, play counts and things of that nature. Get in there, play football and have at it. That's kind of the mindset. Not kind of, that is the mindset."

  Harris will wear a visor to protect what he described as a "superficial" eye injury. Harris was hurt in a fireworks mishap on July 4 and only last week was activated from the Non-Football Injury (NFI) List to be added to the 53-man roster.

  Harris said in August he would focus on getting back into football shape and let the timeshare in the backfield play out.

  "I am feeling good, though, and we'll just see where it leads," he said.

  Harris topped 1,000 rushing yards in all four of his seasons with the 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 after that season.

  Hampton was the 22nd pick in the 2025 draft in April after two All-American seasons at North Carolina. He produced 38.5 percent of North Carolina's total offense -- 2,033 yards from scrimmage -- in 2024, and finished his college career with 36 rushing touchdowns.

  --Field Level Media

There are few feel-good memories at MetLife Stadium for Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but plenty of players he considers good friends dot the New York Jets' defense opposing Pittsburgh on Sunday.

• Rodgers, 41, spent the past two seasons with the Jets before an inglorious departure in March. His focus shifted to beating the Jets, and everyone else in the path of the Steelers, when he signed to pilot another new team.

  "This is the second new, so it's the new new," said Rodgers. "I'm loving being here."

  His first season with the Jets in 2023 lasted only one game -- the opener -- when he ruptured his Achilles. Rodgers started all 17 games for the Jets last season, but the team was in turmoil early, changing coaches in October and crashing to the finish line.

  A four-time MVP with the Packers who has won 10 or more games 10 times, Rodgers starts the 2025 season five touchdowns behind Brett Favre on the all-time regular-season TD pass list. Favre, the starter in Green Bay when Rodgers was drafted in 2005, has 508. Peyton Manning, who is in third place ahead of Favre, has 539.

  Pittsburgh also went the veteran route last season, signing free agent Russell Wilson after he was released by the Denver Broncos, and acquired Justin Fields in a trade with the Chicago Bears. The results were largely positive with 10 wins and a playoff berth. But Wilson and the Steelers bombed after a 10-3 start and four consecutive losses to end the regular season and a fifth, 28-14 at Baltimore, in the wild-card playoffs. Fields led the Steelers to a 4-2 start before Wilson jumped into the starting lineup.

  Rodgers is 153-87-1 in his career as a starter, which equates to a .637 winning percentage. Only six quarterbacks with at least 150 career starts had a better winning percentage (Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, Terry Bradshaw, Ben Roethlisberger and John Elway).

  On the other side, Fields is the new guy under center for the Jets, meaning both defenses will know plenty about the opposing passer on Sunday even if Rodgers didn't suit up in the preseason.

  "I've been playing 20 years, so I know how to execute in a game situation," Rodgers said.

  The Steelers acquired a No. 1 receiver for Rodgers in DK Metcalf, who had 48 touchdown receptions in six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. The massive Metcalf, listed at 6-4, 229, and Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (6-7, 264) have Rodgers thinking big about Pittsburgh's red-zone potential.

  Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, for now, is eager to see Rodgers carry over what he was doing on the practice field in his first six weeks in uniform.

  "His arm talent is unbelievable," Tomlin said. "Not only in terms of arm strength and accuracy, but also in his ability to release the ball from a variety of places. His game management expertise and experience is very evident. His line-of-scrimmage play, weaponizing of cadences, et cetera, his above-the-neck game, is very unique. It's been a good process. But the proof is in the pudding. I'm sure he's excited to get into a stadium with us and quarterback for us, and I know I'm excited about seeing it."

  --Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys fullback Hunter Luepke has agreed to terms on a two-year extension worth up to $7.5 million, the team announced on Wednesday.

• Luepke, going into the final year of his three-year rookie contract, was set to earn $1.03 million against the salary cap this season, which starts Thursday night for the Cowboys at the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

  He becomes the third-highest-paid fullback in the league on a per-year basis, the NFL Network reported, with more than $5 million fully guaranteed.

  Luepke, 25, played in 16 games last season (four starts), rushed 12 times for 38 yards and caught 12 passes for 111 yards. He played on 37 percent of special teams snaps and 30 percent of offensive snaps.

  For his career, Luepke has 18 carries for 57 yards and one touchdown, and 15 receptions for 129 yards in 33 games (four starts) over the past two seasons.

  Dallas signed Luepke as an undrafted free agent in May 2023 out of North Dakota State.

  The Cowboys working a new contract with Luepke came three days after All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland agreed to terms on a four-year, $92 million contract extension.

  These two extensions were both announced within a week of Dallas trading two-time All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027.

  --Field Level Media

New England Patriots All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez won't return to the practice field on Wednesday, mere days before the start of the 2025 season.

• Pats head coach Mike Vrabel said as much ahead of that day's practice, although he still wouldn't rule out Gonzalez from playing in Sunday's season opener vs. the Raiders.

  "I wouldn't say he's (ruled out). He's continuing to work. He'll do some stuff on the side. I'm not going to rule anybody out ...," Vrabel said. "We'll continue to work and treat and do everything we can to help him, and he's doing everything he can to get back out on the field."

  Gonzalez has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury on July 28. The No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 draft, Gonzalez played just four games as a rookie before suffering a season-ending torn labrum.

  Last season, he started 16 games, recording 59 tackles, 11 pass deflections and two interceptions to earn a second-team All-Pro honor. He made his debut in this year's NFL Top 100 players list at No. 84.

  If Gonzalez is sidelined, Marcus Jones is listed as his backup on the Patriots' unofficial depth chart on the team's website.

  --Field Level Media

The Tennessee Titans signed veteran linebacker Kyzir White, a starter for the Arizona Cardinals last season, to the practice squad on Wednesday.

• In a corresponding move, the Titans released defensive lineman Isaiah Raikes, 24, from their practice squad.

  White, 29, started all 17 games for the Cardinals last season before becoming a free agent in March. A two-time team captain, he totaled 137 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one interception, eight quarterback hits and three passes defensed.

  The Los Angeles Chargers selected White in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of West Virginia. He has 615 career tackles, 7.5 sacks, six interceptions, 34 tackles for loss and 20 QB hits in 92 games (73 starts) for the Chargers (2018-21), Philadelphia Eagles (2022) and Cardinals (2023-24).

  --Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely is expected to miss the season-opening game at the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night as he recovers from a broken bone in his foot, NFL Network reported on Wednesday.

• Likely was injured on July 29, underwent surgery and did not practice for the rest of training camp. He was injured in a non-contact play during position drills while going one-on-one against safety Sanoussi Kane.

  Ravens coach John Harbaugh had said the next day that he expected Likely to miss a few weeks of camp. The first full injury report of the season will be issued by 5 p.m. Wednesday.

  Mark Andrews is listed as the starter on the depth chart, followed by Likely and Charlie Kolar.

  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.

  --Field Level Media