Player Notes

Cooper Kupp visiting specialists for hamstring injury, remains day to day: What this means for the Rams ·

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp remains day to day with a hamstring injury, coach Sean McVay said Monday. Here’s what you need to know:Kupp is visiting specialists in Minnesota to get some clarity on his hamstring.McVay expects to have more clarity Wednesday on Kupp’s status for the Rams’ Week 1 game against the Seattle Seahawks.Kupp hurt his hamstring a few days into training camp in August. ...

Plaschke: Should Rams tank for Caleb? ·

The quarterback is creaky. The running game is questionable. The receiving corps is inconsistent. The offensive line is uncertain. The defense is untested.The Rams enter the 2023 season with the league’s youngest team, one of the league’s most depleted rosters, and a brilliant but taxed coach who has been on the verge of walking away.Ah, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.That light is powerful ...

Our Packers beat reporters answer 4 burning questions ahead of the Jordan Love era in Green Bay ·

GREEN BAY − The Green Bay Packers launch a new era in franchise history on Sunday when they visit the Chicago Bears.While the Packers have had a run of Hall of Fame-worthy quarterback play since 1992 with two players, the Bears have started dozens in that time, none of whom will be considered for Canton.So, as the Jordan Love era starts, signaling a renewal at the quarterback position as well as the ...

What did Jerry Jones say about Dak Prescott’s contract, future with Dallas Cowboys? ·

Jerry Jones traded for quarterback Trey Lance a fortnight before the start of the 2023 NFL season without without telling coach Mike McCarthy or starting quarterback Dak Prescott because he has the team structure and authority to do so as owner and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys.That same Jerry Jones essentially said the deal has no impact on Prescott’s future with the Cowboys.According to a ...

Predicting the Panthers’ 2023 season: Can Bryce Young lead Carolina to playoffs in Year 1? ·

The Carolina Panthers will open the 2023 regular-season at 1 p.m. Sunday against the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. But before those NFC South foes can clash to begin the season, our experts wanted to weigh in on what is to come during the first season of the Frank Reich era.Below are The Observer’s predictions for the 2023 Panthers season, from beat writers Mike Kaye and Alex Zietlow ...

Why the silence on naming Titans' No. 2 quarterback? ·

Only days before the Titans open the season against New Orleans, Titans coach Mike Vrabel said Monday he hadn’t decided on which young quarterback — Malik Willis or Will Levis — will serve as Ryan Tannehill’s backup.What do we take from that?First, it’s hard to imagine a decision hasn’t actually been reached. What exactly will Willis or Levis show in the next few days of practice that’s different than ...

Titans' rookie TE Whyle a work in progress as season nears ·

In drafting Josh Whyle in the fifth round in April, the Titans hoped they’d found a tight end who could boost the position group in a couple of ways.The former University of Cincinnati standout had shown he was a pass-receiving threat in college, making 86 catches over his final three seasons.Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 248 pounds, Whyle was also big enough to offer at least some help in the running ...

Tennessee Titans back in the NFL playoffs? Our game-by-game predictions are in ·

The Tennessee Titans play the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season.Our game-by-game predictions for the Titans feature early key games vs. the Bengals, Browns and Ravens.Is The Tennessean picking the Titans to reach the playoffs in its 2023 NFL season predictions? It will likely come down to a couple AFC South showdowns at the end of the regular season.There's no such thing as an easy ...

5 things to know about the 49ers: Nick Bosa's holdout, George Kittle's injury loom large ·

The Steelers open their season against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. Here are five things to know about the NFC West foe ahead of Week 1.Nick Bosa is still holding out — As of Tuesday morning, the prolific pass rusher was still nowhere to be seen at Niners facilities as he seeks a long-term extension that would make him one of the highest-paid defensive players in football. ...

Tomlin Talks: Steelers healthy ahead of Sunday's opener against the 49ers ·

Heading into Sunday’s home game against the 49ers at Acrisure Stadium, head coach Mike Tomlin has a healthy roster of players at his disposal.The only significant injury of the preseason was to rookie cornerback Cory Trice, who was injured early in training camp and will spend the year on injured reserve. There were other injuries over the past six weeks, but all appear to be shorter term.“We had a ...

Recent Stories

NFL roster madness explained

Something always has to have a nickname. Like “Black Monday” in the NFL, when head coaches are fired the day after the end of the regular season, it was only a matter of time before someone slapped a name on the cutdown in the NFL. Some have called it “Black ...

CeeDee cashes in, sets stage for rookie WR class

Now that the Dallas Cowboys finally quieted the daily discussion about wide receiver CeeDeee Lamb with a massive contract, there is no doubt the trend is to covet these pass catchers second only to the almighty quarterback. The prolific All-Pro wideout agreed ...

Must-see 2024 NFL rookie QB battles

After the first 12 picks in this year’s draft were complete, the 2024 quarterback class was destined to be forever linked to that celebrated 1983 draft, which also saw six quarterbacks, including three Hall of Famers, taken in Round 1. With the countdown to the ...

Rookie IOLs with mettle to medal

Amid the Summer Olympics, the NFL season has officially begun with a full slate of preseason games. This is the time of year when the attention is typically on the skilled position players as fantasy football degenerates are fine-tuning their draft strategies to ...

When Life Choices Become Grave Mistakes

I'm deeply saddened to hear about the tragic "accident" that claimed the lives of three young men: Khyree Jackson (24), Isaiah Hazel (23), and Anthony Lytton Jr. (24). These childhood friends shared dreams and aspirations of becoming professional athletes. They ...

Running back: Devolution of a proud position

In this, the first in a series on the state of running backs, we discuss how a dramatic evolution has negatively impacted a once proud position. The series will look back at RBs selected in the 2024 draft, ahead to a 2025 class that seems loaded with runners and ...

Trump's forgotten charge: Killing the USFL

July 11, 2024, is already etched in history as the day former President Donald Trump will be sentenced for 34 felony convictions. Regardless of the outcome, I am reminded of July 29, 1986, when he actually won his battle in a New York court and lost the war. Trump ...

Larry Allen: A long road to respect

Arguably the most dominant offensive lineman in football history, Larry Allen died Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico. He was 52.   His life story redefined perseverance. It could have been the original plot line for Straight Outta Compton, but ...

Controversy: Are punters, kickers NFL-draft worthy?

Kansas City Chiefs’ placekicker Harrison Butker made an impression in 2023 by making 33 of 35 field goals. Last week, he made quite an impression at Benedictine College, where Butker, shall we say, pushed his commencement speech wide right.   Controversy and ...

Jim Otto, the original Mr. Raider, dies at 86

The original Mr. Raider has passed. Jim Otto, the first Raider to touch a football, died Sunday at his Auburn (CA) home, with his family at his side. He spent most of his 86 years sneering at the inevitable, enduring last rites three previous times. Otto is survived ...

2024 Draft: A next-gen affair

As we look forward to watching the 257 draftees selected last week in the 2024 NFL Draft, we also gaze in the rear-view mirror at those relatives who preceded them and established the family name long ago. Fathers, uncles, and brothers with names everyone ...

Calculating the 2024 Draft grades of all 257 picks

 2024 DRAFT: 32 TEAMS AND 257 PLAYERS GRADED Exhale. The 2024 NFL Draft did indeed conclude when Mr. Irrelevant, Jaylen Key (DB, Alabama) was drafted by the New York Jets with the No. 257 selection. We can break out the calculators and over analyze the selection ...