11:44 AM ET Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. underwent surgery Wednesday morning to repair a meniscus injury and is likely to miss the season based on the 4-5 month recovery timetable, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Smith suffered the injury in the team’s preseason finale at Kansas City on Friday. Smith was primed
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11:45 AM ET PITTSBURGH — Cornerback Joe Haden is guaranteed to play the 2021 season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After that, though, the Pro Bowl corner will hit the free market, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday morning. Haden, who approached the team about a contract extension last month, has decided
9:01 AM ET FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Cam Newton‘s vaccination status wasn’t a factor in the team’s decision to release him. “No. Look, you guys keep talking about that,” Belichick told reporters Wednesday morning. “I would just point out that I don’t know what the number is, but the
9:35 AM ET EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Michael Strahan owns the single-season sack record and played his entire 15-year career with the New York Giants. That, along with his other career accomplishments, will get his No. 92 retired by the team this season. Strahan, currently a co-host on Good Morning America, will have his number
11:02 PM ET Brady HendersonESPN RENTON, Wash. — Pro Bowl free safety Quandre Diggs says he expects to play in the team’s regular-season opener and return to practice soon, once he finalizes an undisclosed personal financial matter. The 28-year-old Diggs is in a contract year. It’s believed that he and the team aren’t in negotiations
6:52 PM ET HOUSTON — The Texans cut their active roster down to 53 players Tuesday and quarterback Deshaun Watson remains on it. Watson, who is not expected to play for the Texans in 2021, will likely be a healthy scratch on game days if he stays on Houston’s 53-man roster. The Texans are prepared
6:13 PM ET During a team meeting Tuesday, Dolphins coach Brian Flores addressed recent reports tying Miami to a potential trade for Deshaun Watson, telling his players and staff that Tua Tagovailoa is “our quarterback” in a brief but poignant message, sources told ESPN. Flores was not overly expansive in his comments, and he didn’t
6:28 PM ET JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer said he and general manager Trent Baalke took a player’s vaccination status into consideration during final roster cuts. Meyer said Tuesday that it was considered because of the more stringent COVID-19 protocols imposed on unvaccinated players who test positive or are identified as high-risk
6:21 PM ET TEMPE, Ariz. — Cardinals cornerback Malcolm Butler was put on the reserve/retired list on Tuesday afternoon, a day after a report surfaced that said he was dealing with a personal situation and mulling retirement. Butler was not a Cardinals’ practice Tuesday morning and head coach Kliff Kingsbury did not want to speak
5:36 PM ET PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni named Jalen Hurts the starting quarterback Tuesday after weeks of declining to do so, citing the importance of creating competition at every position. “Jalen’s our starter. He’s done a great job,” Sirianni said shortly after the roster was trimmed to 53 players. “We wanted him