NFL LIFTS GAMBLING BAN FOR BRONCOS DE EYIOMA UWAZURIKE
The NFL reinstated Denver Broncos defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike from his gambling suspension on Monday.
He was suspended indefinitely last July after being accused of betting on games he played in, both with the Broncos and while at Iowa State.
Uwazurike, 26, had also been facing gambling-related criminal charges in Iowa, but prosecutors dropped their case on March 1.
The fourth-round draft pick in 2022 is now free to join Denver’s training camp. The Broncos will need to make a corresponding move to put him on the active roster, but earlier reports said they planned to release safety Caden Sterns.
Uwazurike played in eight games during his rookie season and contributed 17 tackles and two quarterback hits.
REPORT: 49ERS HAVE AIYUK TRADE FRAMEWORK WITH BROWNS, PATRIOTS
The ball is seemingly in Brandon Aiyuk’s court.
The San Francisco 49ers have negotiated the frameworks of trades that would send the disgruntled wide receiver to the Cleveland Browns or New England Patriots, a source told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.
It’s now reportedly up to Aiyuk to decide if he will accept the contract terms from either of those teams. Cleveland and New England reportedly presented their best offers to the pass-catcher’s camp, and the 49ers already accepted their trade proposals. The Niners are expected to receive a veteran receiver and draft picks in a potential Aiyuk trade, notes Maiocco.
San Francisco gave the second-team All-Pro receiver permission to negotiate potential contracts with the Browns, Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Washington Commanders, according to Maiocco, who adds that Pittsburgh and Washington are no longer realistic options.
Washington apparently removed itself from trade talks with Aiyuk, while Pittsburgh declined to meet San Francisco’s trade terms. In June, the 26-year-old mentioned the Steelers and Commanders as the teams he could potentially see himself playing for if he left San Francisco.
Aiyuk – who’s entering the last year of his rookie contract – requested a trade from San Francisco on July 16. Teams contacted the 49ers last month, but Niners general manager John Lynch repeatedly said the team didn’t intend to move the two-time 1,000-yard receiver. San Francisco, however, started to have discussions in recent days regarding a potential trade, sources told NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.
It’s more likely that Aiyuk will be traded than sign an extension with the 49ers, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported Monday, according to NFL.com’s Nick Shook.
Aiyuk reported to the 49ers’ training camp in July but hasn’t been practicing amid stalled contract talks with the team. San Francisco reportedly shopped Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel in April but ultimately decided to keep the star playmakers. The team then drafted wideout Ricky Pearsall in Round 1.
Aiyuk caught 75 passes for a career-high 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games last season. The 2020 first-round pick’s 17.9 yards per reception ranked second in the NFL among eligible receivers in 2023. The former Arizona State star, who is set to earn $14.1 million in 2024, has a market value of $26.2 million per year, according to Spotrac.
Both the Patriots and the Browns have been looking for wide receiver help since early in the offseason. New England signed K.J. Osborn in free agency and drafted Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in the second and fourth round in April, respectively. The AFC East club also rosters DeMario Davis and Kendrick Bourne, who began training camp on the PUP list after sustaining a torn ACL last year.
The Patriots – who have the second-most salary-cap space in the AFC at the moment – would reportedly include Bourne in a trade package to land Aiyuk.
The Browns have already traded for a wide receiver this year, acquiring Jerry Jeudy from the Denver Broncos in March for a fifth- and sixth-round pick. Cleveland then gave Jeudy a three-year extension worth $58 million. The 25-year-old missed the start of camp due to injury but returned to the practice field this week.
In order to acquire Aiyuk, Cleveland would most likely have to send five-time Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper to San Francisco, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. The 30-year-old set a career high with 1,250 yards in 2023 and recently received a raise as part of a restructured deal. However, he turned 30 this offseason and has only one year left on his current contract.
BENGALS DE CAM SAMPLE (ACHILLES) OUT FOR SEASON
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cam Sample will miss the 2024 season with a torn Achilles, head coach Zac Taylor said.
Sample, 24, went down during 11-on-11 drills Thursday and was carted off the field.
A fourth-round draft pick by the Bengals in 2021 out of Tulane, Sample started two of his 17 games played last season, with 29 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks and eight quarterback hits.
In three seasons with the Bengals, Sample has 68 career tackles, five sacks and 20 quarterback hits in 47 games (three starts).
LIONS ROOKIE CB TERRION ARNOLD EVALUATED FOR CONCUSSION
Detroit Lions rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold was evaluated for a concussion after exiting Monday’s fight-filled joint practice with the New York Giants, the team announced.
The first-round draft pick from Alabama exited the morning session in East Rutherford, N.J., shortly after absorbing a massive block by Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas.
Arnold, 21, was selected 24th overall in April’s draft after registering five interceptions and 63 tackles in 14 games for the Crimson Tide as an All-American in 2023.
Lions guard Kevin Zeitler also departed with a shoulder injury, while tight end Sam LaPorta (toe) did not participate.
MRI CLEAN FOR PANTHERS WR XAVIER LEGETTE (FOOT)
An MRI on Carolina Panthers rookie receiver Xavier Legette’s foot revealed no fractures, and the first-round pick is expected to return to action this week.
Head coach Dave Canales updated Legette’s status on Monday after the wideout exited Sunday morning’s practice with a lower leg injury.
The Panthers traded with the Buffalo Bills to obtain the 32nd pick of the 2024 NFL Draft and select Legette, 23, out of South Carolina.
In five seasons, he caught 113 passes for 1,678 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Gamecocks. He had a career-best season in 2023 with 71 receptions for 1,255 yards and seven scores.
REPORT: RAMS RB PUKA NACUA (KNEE) WEEK-TO-WEEK
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is week-to-week after suffering an injury to his right knee during Sunday’s practice, ESPN reported Monday.
The injury is not believed to be serious, per the report.
Nacua, 24, left a joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers after a series against their defense, then watched in full uniform from the sideline with a bag of ice on his knee, The Athletic reported Sunday.
Nacua became a star in his debut season in 2023, named runner-up in NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and selected to the Pro Bowl.
He caught 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns while starting all 17 games. A fifth-round pick, he set NFL rookie records for receptions and receiving yards.
The Rams open the regular season on Sept. 8 in Detroit.
EAGLES SIGN VETERAN LB SHAQUILLE QUARTERMAN
The Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran linebacker Shaquille Quarterman on Monday. Terms were not disclosed.
Quarterman, 26, spent the past four seasons with Jacksonville after being drafted in the fourth round in 2020.
He played all 17 games for the third straight season in 2023, with 224 of his 232 snaps coming on special teams.
Quarterman recorded 54 tackles (one for loss) and a forced fumble in 63 games (zero starts) with the Jaguars.
The Eagles waived offensive lineman Jason Poe, 26, to make room for Quarterman on the training camp roster.
TITANS SIGN FREE AGENT S QUANDRE DIGGS
The Tennessee Titans agreed to a deal with free agent Quandre Diggs, the safety confirmed on social media.
Terms were not disclosed, but ESPN reported it was a one-year deal worth up to $5 million.
The move reunites Diggs with former Seattle Seahawks teammate Jamal Adams in the Tennessee secondary.
Diggs, 31, recorded a career-high 95 tackles and one interception in 17 starts with Seattle last season.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection has 24 interceptions and 580 tackles in 137 games (112 starts) with the Detroit Lions (2015-19) and Seahawks (2019-23).
GIANTS QB DANIEL JONES, GM JOE SCHOEN INVOLVED IN FIGHTS AT JOINT PRACTICE WITH LIONS
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Fights broke out so often Monday morning during a joint practice between the Detroit Lions and New York Giants, it was hard to keep count of how many there even were.
Three stood out above the rest, however, with the final side-clearing skirmish — during a red zone period — even drawing Giants general manager Joe Schoen into the fray to try to separate the brawlers.
Skirmishes are to be expected when teams get together for joint practices. However, it’s at least notable these same teams avoided any real fights last season on the first day of joint practice. But given how that 2023 practice played out — the Lions overwhelmed the Giants with their aggression and intensity on Day 1 — the Giants entered Monday determined not to let that happen again.
“They practice real hard. (Lions coach) Dan Campbell has them boys going over there. We know that,” Giants wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins said over the weekend. “We know that it’s going to be a physical practice, there’s going to be a lot of chirping and talking and everything. But it’s a different team this year. I think we’re going to be ready for it. (Giants coach Brian Daboll) has put a real good emphasis on starting fast.”
The fighting certainly started fast. It began less than an hour into Monday’s practice with the Giants defense and Lions offense on the field together. Lions All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a ball with rookie Dru Phillips in coverage before veteran safety Dane Belton appeared to knock the ball out of Brown’s hands after the play was over.
“I was trying to finish a play, and I feel like he wasn’t down, so I’m trying to get the ball out,” Belton said after practice. “Everyone talks about turnovers, you’ve got to do things like that. I was just trying to get the ball out. People who know me, I’m not a big fighter after the play. I hate getting penalties because that leads to losing and I love winning. I’m not going to fight anybody, but when that play is going, I’m going to go get that ball.”
Lions WR Jameson Williams saw Belton’s action differently and took exception. He shoved Phillips on his way over to Belton and Brown. Philips jabbed back at Williams, and the melee began.
“It was a really good rep by me, so I kind of expected him to get mad,” Phillips said. “I mean, I’m a rookie, so I would think I just did my job well, maybe he just didn’t like it. At the end of the day, like I said, we just out there competing. So, you know, I expected it.”
Over on the field with the Giants offense and Lions defense, a series of individual battles broke out, including when Lions cornerback Morice Norris laid out Giants running Eric Gray, knocking his helmet off.
Later on, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones got involved in a skirmish after a fight broke out between new Giants offensive lineman Greg Van Roten and a Lions defensive lineman.
“Situation happens, got to stand up for your guys,” the QB said after practice.
“I’m gonna need him to back up,” Giants edge rusher Brian Burns said with a laugh when he learned Jones had gotten involved in the fights. “(He should) let his O-line handle that.”
Needless to say, the energy was high, and it was without a doubt the most intense practice of the Brian Daboll era.
But to some players, Monday’s practice wasn’t really to far out of the ordinary.
“That’s part of football,” Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke said. “You can’t tell us to go out there and compete and grind and not expect for something like that to happen. It’s part of the game.”
Lions linebacker Jack Campbell agreed.
“Being on defense, you just gotta have the mindset of like kinda taking it right up to the edge but not going over, you know what I mean?” Campbell said. “When you go on the field nothing is — I don’t take nothing personal. Just go out there and play your game. And if you’re pissed at someone, then go compete with him the next snap.”
BROWNS DE ZA’DARIUS SMITH (KNEE) CARTED OFF FIELD
Cleveland defensive end Za’Darius Smith was carted off the field during the Browns’ Monday practice due to a knee contusion.
Smith was participating in red zone drills when the injury occurred. He is set to be re-evaluated on Tuesday.
In 16 games (all starts) last season, his first with Cleveland, Smith recorded 5.5 sacks, 27 tackles and a forced fumble.
Smith, 31, has played 123 games (80 starts) across nine NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2015-18), Green Bay Packers (2019-21), Minnesota Vikings (2022) and Cleveland. He has 60 sacks, 298 tackles, 15 passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his career.
The Browns open the preseason on Saturday against the Packers.