NFL

6:00 AM ET NEW ORLEANS — The idea was to learn a little bit more about New Orleans Saints kicker Wil Lutz by tagging along during one of his daily rounds of golf. To explore why he is so drawn to activities that require impossible standards like perfection and a repeatable swing. Not only did

6:39 PM ET PITTSBURGH — On the eve of the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ first training camp practice, veteran inside linebacker Vince Williams informed the team of his retirement Wednesday. Williams, 31, played eight seasons with the organization after being selected in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL draft. Williams was initially released by the team

4:46 PM ET OXNARD, Calif. — Over the years, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has not been afraid to talk about Super Bowl dreams before the start of a season. But as the franchise’s championship drought pushes past 25 years, Jones stayed away from making headlines Wednesday. Still, making it to Super

4:28 PM ET OXNARD, California — The Dallas Cowboys will open training camp under stricter COVID-19 protocols because they did not reach the 85-percent threshold, but owner and general manager Jerry Jones does not believe it will impact the players’ preparedness for the regular season. “My opinion is it will absolutely will not limit us

1:36 PM ET Linebacker Darius Leonard is expected to make more than $19 million per year when he and the Indianapolis Colts reach a contract extension, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. In the wake of the San Francisco 49ers‘ reported five-year, $95 million extension with All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, Leonard is considered next in line

12:41 PM ET All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner and the 49ers agreed Wednesday on a five-year, $95 million extension that will tie him to San Francisco through the 2026 season, sources tell ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Warner, who was entering the last year of his current deal, will receive $40.5 million guaranteed as part of the extension,

6:00 AM ET CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Stephania Bell chuckled when told durability and size were factors in the Carolina Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey falling to No. 5 in ESPN’s recent ranking of the NFL’s top running backs based on input from league executives, coaches, scouts and players. Bell, ESPN’s football injury analyst, understands the Panthers star

6:00 AM ET TEMPE, Ariz. — It’ll be Christmas in July for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. And in August. And in September, October, November and December. And maybe deep into January, too. When the Cardinals report for training camp later this month, Murray will begin working in earnest with his new toys for the

6:00 AM ET OXNARD, Calif. — The Dallas Cowboys open 2021 NFL training camp Wednesday at River Ridge Residence Inn. Here’s a closer look at a few storylines: What bears watching regarding quarterback Dak Prescott‘s return from a fractured and dislocated right ankle? Prescott helped erase any questions about the stability of his ankle during

6:00 AM ET PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers open 2021 NFL training camp Wednesday at Heinz Field. Here’s a closer look at a few storylines: At 39 years old, does Ben Roethlisberger have another deep playoff run in him? Maybe. If Roethlisberger makes another deep playoff run, it will be because of his supporting cast

8:34 PM ET Associated Press In 2016, Brett Favre spoke for 36 minutes in one of the most memorable Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speeches ever, a mark that was topped by Tony Gonzalez’s 39-minute address in 2019. Nobody will challenge those marks next month when the classes of 2020 and 2021 are enshrined

6:28 PM ET ESPN News Services KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Veteran defensive end Alex Okafor has signed a one-year deal to return to the Kansas City Chiefs, just days before the first players begin reporting for training camp. The Chiefs did not disclose financial terms in announcing the deal Tuesday. The 30-year-old Okafor has 30

3:00 PM ET The Tampa Bay Buccaneers visited the White House on Tuesday to celebrate their victory in Super Bowl LV — the team’s first visit with the president since the Bucs did not go to Washington, D.C., following their 2003 Super Bowl win. How did the ceremony go for Tom Brady & Co.? Players

1:22 PM ET Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden welcomed Tom Brady and the Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the White House on Tuesday, the first visit by the reigning NFL champions since 2017. It was Brady’s first visit since 2005 with the New England Patriots when George W. Bush was in office.

12:02 PM ET New York Jets assistant coach Greg Knapp is battling life-threatening injuries suffered in a bicycling accident Saturday near his home in Danville, California. Knapp, 58, was struck by a single motorist at approximately 2:49 p.m., according to the San Ramon Police Department. Based on the preliminary investigation, drugs and/or alcohol were not

6:00 AM ET COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers won their last four games of the 2020 season but lost too many nail-biters before then to do any real damage, as they finished 7-9. They also broke in a new quarterback in Justin Herbert after Tyrod Taylor accidentally had his lung punctured before

10:38 AM ET Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers ruptured his Achilles while working out and underwent testing that confirmed the injury, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Akers is expected to miss the entire 2021 season. In 13 games last season, Akers was the Rams’ leading rusher with 625 yards and two touchdowns

9:41 AM ET Aaron Rodgers turned down a two-year extension offer from the Green Bay Packers this offseason, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal, sources said, would have tied the reigning MVP to the Packers for five more seasons and made him the highest-paid quarterback and player in football. Sources told Schefter in April