Best of Friday at NFL training camps: Patrick Mahomes’ cereal a hit, Lamar Jackson running less?
The first five questions to the NFL MVP in Friday’s news conference were about Mahomes Magic Crunch, a cereal that’s available in the Kansas City area. (1:13)
One day after the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons kicked off the preseason schedule in the Hall of Fame game, the hot topic taking the league by storm is … Mahomes Magic Crunch.
While most of the teams were preparing for their preseason openers, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was answering questions about his new cereal that began selling this week at a Kansas City-area grocery chain.
Elsewhere, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said he doesn’t expect to carry the ball as much as he did during his rookie season, contradicting a statement by coach John Harbaugh, and the Philadelphia Eagles kept busy on their off day, agreeing to terms with veteran safety Johnathan Cyprien.
Here’s what you need to know from camps across the league:
Jump to the best of Friday: Photos | Videos | Quotes
Lamar Jackson says he expects to run less this season
Harbaugh recently said Jackson will run just as much this fall as he did in 2018. Jackson, who set the NFL single-season record for rushing attempts by a quarterback with 147, said on “The Rich Eisen Show” that he’s added weight but expects this season to be “totally different.”
In May, owner Steve Bisciotti told Ravens season-ticket holders that he expects Jackson to run less, saying, “I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised that Lamar is not going to be running 20 times a game.”
Eagles sign veteran safety Johnathan Cyprien
Cyprien is coming off an ACL injury suffered almost exactly one year ago. He is being viewed as a low-risk depth addition who has the ability to play dime linebacker in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s scheme, if he makes the team.
More:
‘Disappointed’ Gruden hopes AB’s practicing soon
Jerry Jones confident Cowboys will reach a deal with Ezekiel Elliott
Patriots sign ex-Saints WR Cameron Meredith
Watch 14-year-old Calder Hodge, from Houston, throw a touchdown pass at Ford Field. He’s a double amputee whose favorite player is Matthew Stafford. After the TD to Marvin Jones, the Lions players mobbed him. He had both his legs amputated at age 3. His goal is to become the NFL’s first double amputee quarterback.
Jason Witten had two touchdown catches in Friday’s practice and the excitement he had after one was clearly evident when he let out a loud, “Boom.” After practice, the media surrounded the veteran tight end who is making a comeback after a year away with ESPN’s Monday Night Football. “I think the biggest reason why I love it is just I see myself improving and getting better. There’s a lot of things I’ve still got to clean up with my footwork and technique, but I know I can do this,” Witten said. “I know I can do it to the level I expect to do it, so that gives me a lot of confidence. This isn’t just come out here and be a cheerleader and ride off into the sunset. It’s to help this team win games in whatever way I can. That’s what I’m enjoying. Great group of guys. It’s nice when you can make a play here and there.”
Odell with the circus grab
“Saints long snapper Zach Wood is the lowest-rated player in Madden”
Here’s what he thinks of @EAMaddenNFL 😂
Ratings boost 👀 pic.twitter.com/AQ16gf990w
ALL IN. ALL. IN. https://t.co/T8kcqi8MWP
Always working. It’s special teams period but Logan Ryan, Kenny Vaccaro, and Malcolm Butler focusing on some details of coverage with DB coach Kerry Coombs.
Willis McGahee retired as a Raven today. McGahee ran for 8,474 yards while playing for Bills, Ravens, Broncos and Browns. “I chose this place to be my home because it was family-like with the players and the coaches,” McGahee said.
Walkthrough in the bubble for Dolphins today. Just shells setting up for tomorrow’s scrimmage that Brian Flores says will be similar to a game with additional situational periods. Kalen Ballage is back out here participating in drills. pic.twitter.com/kekcY3i7oa
Early morning Jaguars practice in TIAA Bank Field. CB A.J. Bouye, RB Thomas Rawls among those not practicing.
Football guys.#BrownsCamp pic.twitter.com/Ay9P9PP2Ay
Upset about the number of pre-snap penalties, Ravens coach John Harbaugh sent Cyrus Jones to the sideline after the cornerback jumped offside, saying, “We don’t need dumb.” When Jones said something back, Harbaugh kicked him out of practice. Harbaugh then heard Marlon Humphrey talking on the sideline and asked him to repeat it or leave. Humphrey chose to jog off the field. “For a second, I thought it was a baseball game after seeing guys get ejected,” defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said.
New C Ryan Kalil won’t practice tomorrow and it may be a few days before he’s on the field. Adam Gase said they will bring him along slowly. Conditioning will be a big issue for Kalil, 34, who came out of retirement. Gase said he’s “fired up” to have Kalil. Sam Darnold (pictured) echoed that sentiment, saying he has heard “great things” about Kalil from friends who reached out. They both attended USC, 11 years apart. Darnold said Kalil will be a big help in the film room and on the field. “There’s so many things such a vet center can do,” he said.
The most significant news for the Patriots on Friday was LT Isaiah Wynn (Achilles) upping his level of participation, and then answering questions from reporters after. “It felt great,” Wynn said, adding that he hasn’t had any setbacks.
Family Night practice ends with a 63-yard field goal by Sam Ficken and the crowd sends the team off with “Go Pack Go” chant after a one-hour and 43 minute practice.