The NFL is back: What you need to know from every training camp
Adam Schefter reports the Saints want to agree to a contract with Michael Thomas making him the highest-paid receiver, but he is unsure when the deal will get done. (0:41)
NFL training camps have officially begun — and so have the holdouts. So far, five players are not with their teams due to unhappiness with their situations.
Elsewhere in the NFL: A Bears running back honors Walter Payton on what would have been his 65th birthday; a Ravens defender went on a diet to get ready for camp; and the Dolphins’ quarterback battle has begun.
Here’s what you need to know from camps across the league:
Jump to the best of Thursday:
Photos | Videos | Quotes
Top stories: Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott and Saints WR Michael Thomas are no-shows.
• Elliott is not on the plane to Los Angeles with the majority of Dallas teammates and coaches for the start of training camp in Oxnard, California, according to multiple sources. That does not yet mean Elliott is a no-show for training camp. Players have to be at the team’s River Ridge Residence Inn setup by Friday morning in time for physicals and a conditioning test before they are considered late for camp and subject to a fine.
• Thomas has not reported to New Orleans’ training camp as the two sides continue to negotiate a long-term contract extension, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Saints veterans were scheduled to report to camp Thursday, with the first practice scheduled for Friday. Thomas, who is due to make $1.148 million in the final year of his rookie contract, is subject to a maximum fine of $40,000 per day for missing camp.
More:
Giants’ Sterling Shepard out with fractured thumb
Eagles won’t limit Carson Wentz, but will watch workload
Jets’ Le’Veon Bell: ‘I’m excited and I’m ready to play’
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin gets contract extension
Chargers’ Russell Okung: Blood clots caused pulmonary embolism
Jaguars’ Doug Marrone doesn’t expect long holdout from Yannick Ngakoue
Lions’ Matt Patricia wheels into camp after surgery
And it begins … A training tradition for all ages in Green Bay.
Jaguars coach Doug Marrone just happens to share a birthday with … Jalen Ramsey’s daughter Breelyn. Both spent their birthday at the Jaguars’ first training camp practice on Thursday, after which Ramsey got a visit from Deion Sanders.
Not the safest ride for an NFL player, but Tarik Cohen’s wheels are definitely the best at Bears camp. pic.twitter.com/Cl1pTNHCTZ
Tom Brady’s arrival for Day 1 of practice.
Odell Beckham Jr. takes the Browns training camp field to “OBJ” chants
Josh Allen just made Harrison Phillips day 😂
(via @BuffaloBills) pic.twitter.com/G8GSYZUxZ5
Here is Eli Rogers pulling up to Steelers camp in a big rig, ready to work (dumbbell and all). pic.twitter.com/sga014ETsU
Who let the dogs out? 🐶 🐕 @Titans cornerback @RealLoganRyan showing up for training camp with his arms full of puppies. He’s promoting the “Pup Rally” scheduled for August 3 before @Titans practice at @NissanStadium.
INFO https://t.co/i2fLc3ocxV@nashvillehumane#RARF pic.twitter.com/L087Cay4yw
When I had my first NFL practice, @K1 was 7 years old. Now I get to help him live his dream like I have for the past 16 years.
The start of camp is always special…grateful to be back out here with this group of men to embark on a new journey ✊🏾🙏🏾 https://t.co/QuJOcncgqq
Panthers. coach Ron Rivera was impressed with how well Cam Newton threw in his first practice of camp. From everything doctors have told him Newton is ready to go. Quarterbacks coach Scott Turner says Newton is ‘’healthy and ready to go.” Threw close to 40 passes in team drills.
It’s just Day 1 of training camp but the start of Dolphins QB battle today looked just like it did in the spring: Ryan Fitzpatrick being the best QB on the field. Josh Rosen had a rough start, which he admitted after practice, including a bad INT but he improved as the session went on. Fitzpatrick was consistent throughout practice. Expect this battle to continue deep into the preseason.
Le’Veon Bell says he’s in such good shape that he decided to run the conditioning test twice. Wouldn’t say how much he weighs. Seems pretty pumped up about the season. #Jets pic.twitter.com/Svifko6omN
Quarterback Dwayne Haskins was third in the rotation behind Case Keenum and Colt McCoy. But Haskins did get to work with the first line at times. He looked like he knew where to go but his accuracy at times was inconsistent, especially on throws to the flat. However, Haskins worked after practice with running back Derrius Guice, throwing him passes out of the gun.
Something you should get used to: DeSean Jackson pointing to Carson Wentz to throw it deep. pic.twitter.com/xOSX5JYQOi
All signs of late have pointed to Bobby Wagner and the Seahawks agreeing to an extension soon. The latest came from K.J. Wright, Wagner’s closest friend on the team, who said he believes it’s imminent. But with no deal done yet, Wagner was a spectator for the first practice of training camp as he was for all the offseason program. Interestingly, he was not wearing his jersey Thursday but instead an inside-out sweatshirt that showed no team branding. Asked if he senses frustration on Wagner’s part, Wright said: “No, I don’t think he’s frustrated. I believe that something will happen and I’m pretty positive. The organization knows what he means to us and it’s kind of, like I said back in OTAs, a no-brainer to get it done.” Asked if he gets the impression that a deal is close, Wright answered “yes.” Pete Carroll confirmed the team has been talking with Wagner but wouldn’t comment on how close the two sides are.
Bills giving out t-shirts to season ticket holders, family & friends of the team, and corporate sponsors.
Each shirt comes with its own branded lunch pail pic.twitter.com/aPOPN6hBTU