What you missed at NFL training camps: Record contracts, injuries and a RB debate
Credit to Author: ESPN staff| Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2023 03:59:33 EST
Kimberley A. Martin and Rob Ninkovich examine how Jalen Ramsey’s left meniscus injury will affect the Miami Dolphins’ defense. (1:59)
Welcome back, NFL.
Training camps for the 2023 season are officially underway this week across the league, and with it came plenty of news on contracts, injuries, holdouts and more to fill the offseason football void.
To summarize: Aaron Rodgers is seamlessly adapting to life as a New York Jet, Joe Burrow suffered a non-contact calf injury, Justin Herbert became the highest-paid player in NFL history, Saquon Barkley had an epiphany and a Vikings rookie was cited for driving 85 mph over the speed limit.
Here’s a quick recap of everything you missed this week:
Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert became the highest-paid player (based on average annual value) in NFL history Tuesday with a five-year, $262.5 million deal that ties him to Los Angeles until 2029.
Here are the other players across the league who signed extensions:
New York Giants OT Andrew Thomas signed a five-year, $117.5 million deal.
Dallas Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs signed a five-year, $97 million deal.
Chicago Bears TE Cole Kmet signed a four-year, $50 million deal.
Seattle Seahawks LB Uchenna Nwosu signed a three-year, $59 million deal.
Houston Texans OT Tytus Howard signed a three-year, $56 million deal.
Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson signed a one-year deal.
Wondering who the highest-paid players are in the NFL? Here’s a breakdown by position.
The New York Jets quarterback voluntarily reduced his salary by about $35 million over the next two seasons, a source said Wednesday, helping provide the team with financial flexibility. Rodgers will receive a $35 million roster bonus in four days, plus a $1.8 million salary. In 2024, his salary is $38.2 million. He’s now tied with Derek Carr for 12th among quarterbacks in average annual salary ($37.5 million), one spot below Daniel Jones ($40 million).
On Tuesday, Saquon Barkley signed his franchise tag, a revised one-year deal that included incentives, after a contentious offseason in which he was debating holding out for a new contract. Barkley showing up for training camp and signing the tag was unexpected (did he cave?), but the running back value discourse doesn’t stop with him.
Raiders running back Josh Jacobs has decided to hold out of camp while he waits for a new deal. With these two high-profile running backs not getting the deals they wanted, a larger conversation on running back value has been had on social media and apparently on a videoconference among the league’s top running backs.
Wednesday, Steelers RB Najee Harris added that he thinks running backs are devalued only in terms of pay, and on Thursday, Chargers RB Austin Ekeler said the players need to take back the narrative. This is worth keeping an eye on this season.
Four players have decided not to report to training camp in hopes of signing a new contract extension.
Chiefs DT Chris Jones did not report for the start of training camp, and the sides are “far apart” on an agreement for a new contract, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on July 22.
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs did not sign his franchise tag and, therefore, did not report to training camp this week. Because he does not have a signed contract, he will not be fined for holding out.
Representatives for 49ers DE Nick Bosa and GM John Lynch are working on a contract extension for Bosa. He is unlikely to attend training camp until the deal is done.
Cowboys G Zack Martin did not report for training camp and is facing a 50,000 fine for each day he misses. Martin is unhappy with his current contract and the team’s lack of interest in reworking the deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
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Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Friday that quarterback Joe Burrow will be sidelined “several weeks” after suffering a right calf strain in practice a day earlier. What impact will Burrow’s injury have on his season, contract and the Bengals? NFL Nation reporter Stephen Holder and injury analyst Stephania Bell answer these seven questions.
Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey will undergo surgery on his left meniscus, coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Friday, as the team prepares to spend at least the next couple of months without him.
Cowboys S Donovan Wilson could miss four to six weeks because of a right calf strain suffered in Wednesday’s practice, a source told ESPN.
Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney had surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus in his knee Tuesday morning, and it is possible he’s ready for Week 1.
Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson is day to day after suffering a right leg injury Monday.
Bills RB Nyheim Hines suffered an expected season-ending injury to his left ACL while away from the team’s facility, a source told ESPN.
Former Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner, who just signed this week with the New Orleans Saints, tore a quadriceps and is out for the season, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Minnesota Vikings rookie receiver Jordan Addison said he was driving 140 mph last week because his dog was having an emergency at home, according to a citation filed Monday with the Ramsey County District Court and reviewed by ESPN. Addison, 21, the No. 23 overall pick of the 2023 draft, issued a public apology a day later, saying he “made a mistake and used poor judgment.”
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Our NFL Nation reporters previewed camps for all 32 teams and also did early 53-man roster projections. A snippet of the biggest storylines:
How different will the Ravens’ offense look under coordinator Todd Monken?
Can Seattle’s restocked defense finally hit the ground running?
Can Cowboys QB Dak Prescott avoid the interception problem he had last season?
Who can help Aaron Donald rush the passer for the Rams?
Will QB Mac Jones resemble the player he was in 2021 for the Patriots?
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