Two significant injuries mar Bengals’ joint practice in Chicago (2025)

The page has turned to Week 2 of the preseason as practices continue across the NFL this week.

Last week was all about the rookie quarterbacks and their preseason debuts. Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels went rouge, while Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams improvised, Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy exceeded expectations and Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix showed poise.

Joint practices continue across the NFL as well, although the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints won't meet in practice this week with the former dealing with too many injuries.

With joint practices come fights. There were more than enough skirmishes in joint practices between the Detroit Lions and New York Giants, to which the league fined both teams for. Sometimes, fights happen amongst teammates, like Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf displayed.

Meanwhile, there is still no resolution in sight for a few holdouts and hold-ins around the league, although the San Francisco 49ers and WR Brandon Aiyuk were back at the negotiating table at the start of the week. The Dallas Cowboys and WR CeeDee Lamb remain apart on a deal apparently, though.

Stay tuned here and be sure to keep refreshing the blog for what unfolds this week from The Athletic's NFL beat writers.

Required reading

• Preseason Week 2 schedule
• How Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels performed in debuts
• Dolphins are flipping the script with Tua Tagovailoa
• 2024 fantasy football draft kit

___

Find the best deals on tickets to see your favorite teams.

Two dark clouds hovered the Bengals’ rainy joint practice in Chicago on Thursday.

Running back Chris Evans and offensive tackle D’Ante Smith both were taken off with air casts on carts after suffering what looked like serious injuries.

First, on the final play of a long kickoff coverage period against the Bears, Evans went down and was quickly tended to by trainers. They put an air cast on his right leg and he was moved to a goal cart before leaving.

Moments later, on another field, Smith went to the ground screaming in pain. The entire team went down to a knee and practice stopped on both fields. Smith was able to get himself to the cart, but had an air cast put on his left leg before being driven off.

Smith was crying with his leg immobilized and kicked a towel in anger with the other leg.

Both Evans and Smith are 2021 draft picks squarely on the bubble and fighting for roster spots. Evans has returned kickoffs and played sparingly at running back in 34 games the last three seasons.

Smith has only played in three games since being selected in the fourth round in 2021 but was in the mix for the fourth offensive tackle spot this camp.

The Bengals and Bears practiced for two hours in the rain and will have a day off before playing a preseason game on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Here are notes from today's Giants' practice:

• This was very much a game prep practice. The offense and defense alternated as the scout teams for the other side. Practice moved at a fast pace as they worked through a variety of situations.
• My sense is coach Brian Daboll is taking a regular-season mentality into Saturday's matchup with the Texans. I expect the healthy starters to play the first half (if not a little longer).
• It certainly looks and sounds like WR Malik Nabers will play after a minor ankle sprain. He was a full participant in practice today. It also wouldn't be a surprise if C John Michael Schmitz plays. He took every snap with the first-team offense today.
• Rookie S Tyler Nubin is making his push. There was a three-man rotation at safety with the starting defense among Nubin, Jason Pinnock and Dane Belton.
• It sounds like Drew Lock (hip) will be available as the emergency QB. Imagine he'd just go in and hand the ball off if it gets to that point.
• Players I'm not expecting to play on Saturday based on their workload today: RB Tyrone Tracy (ankle), TE Lawrence Cager (groin), OL Jon Runyan (shoulder), LB Dyontae Johnson (ankle), CB Cor'Dale Flott (quad), CB Dru Phillips (ankle) and S Gervarrius Owens (knee). TE Tyree Jackson's status is TBD after leaving practice early today.

ESPN has fired “Sunday NFL Countdown” host Samantha Ponder and analyst Robert Griffin III, sources briefed on the moves told The Athletic on Thursday.

Griffin, who as recently as last year had been viewed as a rising star at ESPN, had two years remaining on his deal. The Heisman Trophy winner at Baylor and the 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year seems to have a good sense of humor about the ordeal as well.

Read more here.

AMES, Iowa — Taylor Mouser leaned forward in his office inside Iowa State’s football facility, digging through his computer’s files. The Cyclones’ offensive coordinator was looking for the practice tape of the play that started it all.

Brock Purdy is now the star quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, fresh off a season in which he led the NFL across the efficiency spectrum and finished as an MVP finalist. Just months from now, he’ll be eligible for what might end up being the NFL’s largest contract.

At this time six years ago, Purdy was a third-string true freshman grinding through his first college training camp. Mouser was reminiscing on Purdy’s meteoric 2018 ascent at Iowa State when he struck gold.

“Here it is,” Mouser interrupted himself. “I found it.”

He rolled tape of a goal-line rep from training camp. The Cyclones ran an option play they call “Bengal.” If the strong-side defensive end doesn’t crash inside, the quarterback typically flips the ball to a running back on an inside pitch. But there was nothing typical about Purdy.

The freshman wearing No. 15 stared down defensive end JaQuan Bailey, who’d earn All-Big-12 honors that year. Bailey didn’t crash, but Purdy didn’t care. He faked the pitch inside. Bailey bought it and lunged that way. Purdy exploded in the other direction. In a blink, there was space. He dove across the goal line.

Those on the practice field, including Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, stood stunned.

“It was a ‘wow’ moment,” Campbell said, sitting on the couch in his office this past May. “It was our (No.) 3 offense and they’re going against our (No.) 1 defense. Brock just has this elite way to maneuver his body, to set up the precise angle against the defensive end. You could almost feel the entire place erupt on that play.”

Read more here.

LATROBE, Pa. — A year ago at this time, Cory Trice Jr. pulled on his shoulder pads and put on his helmet, looking forward to his first padded practice with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Although he was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, his 6-foot-3, 206-pound frame and above-average testing numbers made him an intriguing player on the back half of the roster. Many talent evaluators, including The Athletic’s draft analyst, Dane Brugler, believed Trice could have been selected as high as the third round. There was optimism that the defensive back — whom coach Mike Tomlin calls an “Avatar” because of his impressive measurables — could become one of the steals of general manager Oman Khan’s first draft class.

Fate had a different thought.

Before Trice could flash his potential, he crumpled to the turf at Saint Vincent College. His knee injury was quickly diagnosed as season-ending. Just like that, his rookie year was over before it started.

“I was pretty (ticked) about it,” Trice said Wednesday. “But I knew today was gonna come. I felt bad for myself that night. Then from there on, they told me what the plan was. I knew what all I had to do, and I was just looking forward to rehabbing and getting back to where I’m at now.”

On Wednesday, after the Steelers held their final training camp practice in Latrobe, Trice stood on the same practice field where the injury occurred healed, healthy and ready to contribute.

Read more here.

Looking like a good bet to make the roster (4)

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, TE Quintin Morris, OT Tylan Grable, LB Edefuan Ulofoshio

Valdes-Scantling has shaken off a slow start and has settled into a role as a top-five receiver. Morris remains the team’s third tight end and one of the go-to special teams players this summer. Grable, a 2024 sixth-round pick, has shown enough athleticism and workable traits to warrant further development. The Bills took Ulofoshio in the fifth round this year and he’s likely to develop into a long-term special teams piece, making it unlikely they’d waive him in year one.

Read more here.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — A week ago, Patrick Mahomes did the thing again.

Mahomes, the Chiefs quarterback, perfectly executed a nifty behind-the-back pass to running back Isiah Pacheco during a red zone team period, the repetition ending in a short-yardage touchdown.

“It was a good day for the offense, especially that last period,” Mahome said of his trick completion after Thursday’s practice, the Chiefs’ final one of training camp. “Once you’re kind of having a good day, you have the freedom to try stuff like that. It was cool that I completed it. You want to get it in a live-type of atmosphere — and that’s as live as you’re going to get in practice.”

Mahomes acknowledged that the play the Chiefs ran last week was similar to their final play of last season, when he executed a play-action fake to running back Jerick McKinnon before completing an easy 3-yard, walk-off touchdown to receiver Mecole Hardman to win Super Bowl LVIII.

One of the reasons Mahomes attempted the behind-the-back pass last week was because the Chiefs’ defense blitzed. Safety Chamarri Conner attacked from the edge to take away Mahomes’ option of running with the ball on the perimeter. In a smooth manner, Mahomes swung his right arm around his back while he jumped, giving him the proper angle for his creative pass. Pacheco expected the pass, too. He caught the ball, spun to his right and entered the end zone untouched.

“The first thing he said was, ‘I’ve been telling you to do that for a while; That’s one of the plays I’ve been telling you that you can do it,’” Mahomes said of coach Andy Reid’s reaction. “He’s all for it. It’s me who’s the one that’s hesitant to do it in a game.”

Mahomes first started experimenting with a behind-the-back pass during the 2018 season, when he attempted the feat in practices, ones that were closed to fans and during team periods that were not observed by reporters.

Last year in a non-padded camp practice, Mahomes executed a play-action fake with running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire to set up a behind-the-back screen pass for receiver Skyy Moore. Another practice last year ended with Mahomes wowing fans with his trick. While standing at the 20-yard line, from the right hash, Mahomes, while in full pads, launched his behind-the-back pass, the ball traveling more than 30 yards in the air before landing just beyond the corner of the end zone.

After showcasing his rare skill yet again, the lone question left for Mahomes is this: Will he attempt the trick during the Chiefs’ season opener on Sept. 5 against the Baltimore Ravens or at some point later in the season?

“There definitely is a possibility of it,” Mahomes said, smiling. “If you do it, it’s got to work.”

The Las Vegas Raiders offense showed some progress in the team's open practice at Allegiant Stadium on Wednesday night. Davante Adams caught a deep pass from Aidan O'Connell and clearly looks more comfortable with the second-year QB.

Read more here.

The Athletic's Zac Jackson has more on the Browns and Vikings both showing physicality in their first joint practice, and Deshaun Watson having his share of ups and downs. Watson gets his first action against an opposing team since his season-ending shoulder injury last year.

Read more here.

Anthony Gould was all by himself. All Anthony Richardson had to do was let it fly.

So, he did.

Gould took care of the rest, hauling in Richardson’s deep ball and racing down the sideline for a 60-yard score. Perhaps it was a busted coverage or perhaps Gould simply has a knack for getting open, but the rookie fifth-round pick continues to impress throughout training camp, reminding his teammates and coaching staff that Richardson isn’t the only “Anthony” who can be a game-changer.

“Anthony is super fast, and he’s been great on all of our deep crossers and deep balls,” Pittman said. “He’s probably scored like five touchdowns in this training camp period, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is a lot in terms of, he only catches what he’s thrown. He’s been doing great, too.”

Gould is likely on track to be one of the Colts’ top kickoff and punt returners, a role he thrived in at Oregon State. He ripped off a 49-yard kickoff return in Indianapolis’ preseason opener, but he’s confident he can bring an explosive element to the Colts offense, too. Gould has been temporarily pushed up the depth chart with starting slot receiver Josh Downs sidelined with a high ankle sprain. Downs was in attendance Wednesday wearing a boot on his right ankle. While the Colts hope he can return sooner rather than later, Gould is making the most of his increased opportunities.

“I’m just trying to prove day in and day out that I can be a go-to guy if someone goes down or if need someone to fill in,” Gould recently told The Athletic. “It’s not gonna be any fall off putting me in.”

Read more from Colts-Cardinals joint practices here.

Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano tore his bicep, per a team sources, after Tuesday's practice. He will undergo surgery and be out indefinitely.

Read more here.

While it may have appeared the New England Patriots didn’t have much leverage in trade negotiations with Matthew Judon, they actually had their choice of suitors. The Chicago Bears also offered a third-round pick for the star pass rusher, according to league sources. The Patriots, of course, ended up accepting the Falcons’ third-rounder instead.

Judon had previously told the Patriots to trade him if they weren’t going to sweeten his contract, and teams around the league knew it. As for the Bears, they haven't been shy about bolstering the roster around rookie QB Caleb Williams, even with edge rusher Montez Sweatt having a monster summer.

Judon, who is open to playing out the season to earn the $6.5 million on his contract, had drawn serious interest from at least four teams, sources said. The Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans were also involved in trade discussions.

Chris Rumph II's injury could open a spot for Tre'Mon Morris-Brash, who has flashed in recent camp practices and the first preseason game. The Athletic has more on from Chargers camp on Morris-Brash seizing his opportunity.

Read more here.

Joint practices have been feisty this week, evidenced by a dust-up today in Charlotte with the Panthers and Jets.

The Baltimore Ravens will be without offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris for “an extended period of time” while he deals with an acute illness, the team announced Wednesday. The team said D’Alessandris, 70, was hospitalized over the weekend and will require ongoing treatment.

“Coach D’Alessandris is widely respected and cherished in our organization,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. “As he focuses on his health, we offer him unwavering support.”

Read more here.

First-year Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is excited about the prospect of having newly acquired pass rusher Matthew Judon this season.

“Anytime you can add a dog to your group, that’s exciting,” Morris said Thursday morning, one day after Atlanta sent a third-round pick to New England in exchange for Judon. “We have excitement for that. He has excitement for that. We have a lot of players who know him personally, and they are excited for that. His reputation precedes him.”

However, he’s not committing to anything beyond this year. The 32-year-old is playing on the final year of his contract, which has a $14.7 million cap hit this season. Judon’s frustration with not receiving an extension from the Patriots was one factor in New England’s willingness to trade him.

“I hate to say long term when you’re talking about a (32-year-old) player in general,” Morris said. “When you get a guy who has the ability to come in and be a gamer right away, you figure out those things.”

Morris compared the trade for Judon to Los Angeles’ trade for Von Miller midway through the 2021 season. Miller helped the Rams win the Super Bowl and then signed with Buffalo the following season.

“We wanted to re-sign him. We started into conversations with him,” Morris said. “Obviously, Buffalo came better, but it was a good time for the Rams. You never know what these things can turn into, but I know what we’re getting.”

As another NFL season nears its kickoff, the league’s best young players are working hard to continue their ascents. Some are already among the NFL’s elite. Others have exhibited promise and appear destined for stardom.

So, who are the NFL’s top 25 players who are 25 and younger? We reached out to 12 league front-office members, coaches or scouts for their thoughts, and they were granted anonymity so they could speak freely about the players. The participants were given a list of 35 potential players for inclusion and asked for feedback on where each might rank. Any player who met our age qualification and had earned All-Rookie, All-Pro or Pro Bowl honors was included for consideration.

Players had to be 25 or younger as of Week 1 of the 2024 NFL regular season. That criteria eliminated some talented young stars, including quarterbacks Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts, who both made this team last year but turned 26 in recent months.

Competition was thick, as every talent evaluator views players differently. But we narrowed it down to this robust group of players who have already established themselves as the game’s best, or are the closest to this accolade.

We also assembled an All-25-and-Under team, since the overall top 25 didn’t include a player at every position. You can find the All-25-and-Under team below as well.

4. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys. Age: 25 (4/8/99)

Lamb led the NFL with 135 catches while recording a career-best 1,749 yards last season, helping him earn first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his four-year career.

8. C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans. Age: 22 (10/3/01)

The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Stroud took the league by storm in 2023. He not only rewrote the rookie record books, he also ranked among the league leaders in passing yards, passer rating and completion percentage while directing a surprising playoff run.

Who ranks No. 1? Read more here.

Will the Lions carry two QBs or three?

There are four quarterbacks in training camp. That number will soon be three, and there’s a chance it could come down to two if the Lions believe that’s the best path to make the roster math work. Hendon Hooker is still very much in the “needs reps” phase of his development. His performance in the preseason game — albeit, a short one — was a good step. He looked much better than Nate Sudfeld. But Sudfeld is more equipped to handle the role of a backup, which, outside of playing, is helping the starter prepare week in and week out. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but it’s something the Lions clearly value.

Best guess: Three.

Read more here for nine other Lions roster construction questions.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Count Denver Broncos rookie outside linebacker Jonah Elliss among fans of the NFL’s new kickoff rules.

Why? It offers the kind of close encounters a man of his position relishes.

“Honestly, I look at it as a pass rush because you’re right there with the guy,” said Elliss, the 21-year-old third-round pick out of Utah. “That’s how I address it. It’s just another pass-rush down to me.”

Viewed in that context, the opening kickoff of Sunday’s preseason victory over the Indianapolis Colts counted as another pass-rush win for Elliss in a growing collection of them during his first NFL training camp.

The 6-foot-2, 247-pound linebacker quickly zipped by Trevor Denbow, the 5-foot-10, 208-pound safety for the Colts. Anthony Gould, the 5-foot-8, 174-pound receiver who turned into the lead blocker when the kick went to teammate Dallis Flowers, wanted no part of chipping the speeding linebacker. His path clear, Elliss finished the play by tackling Flowers along the sideline.

“Special teams is how I see that I’m going to earn my spot on the team,” Elliss said. “Get on those special teams, that gets me on the (team) plane, and then I go from there, however coach (Sean Payton) sees fit. So I’m focused on special teams, doing my job on special teams, making plays on special teams so that they can trust me. That’s what special teams is, it’s trust. If the coach trusts you, it’s going to work out. I’m trying to earn that trust.”

If Sunday’s performance was any indication, Elliss is earning trust in ways that extend beyond his work on kickoff coverage.

Read more here.