Browns’ Deshaun Watson practices again, tests shoulder to maybe face Cardinals
CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson practiced Thursday for the second straight day, and signs point to him starting Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals after missing most of the past month with a right shoulder injury. Watson was the first Cleveland QB to take reps in passing drills, an...
Bills’ Damar Hamlin expects to be excited, emotional in return to Cincinnati
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Whether he plays or not, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin says he has nothing to worry about in preparing to return to Cincinnati for a game against the Bengals on Sunday night so long as he stays true to himself. Cincinnati might be where Hamlin nearly...
Browns QB Deshaun Watson back at practice from shoulder injury, starter for Cardinals game unclear
BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson returned to practice Wednesday after being sidelined for three starts and missing most of four games with an injured right shoulder. It’s a significant step for Watson, who didn’t practice at all last week because of the injury sustained on Sept. 24....
Bears fire running backs coach David Walker, leaving Eberflus down 2 assistants
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears fired running backs coach David Walker on Wednesday, leaving coach Matt Eberflus down two assistants after defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned in September and raising more questions about the team’s culture. Walker was in his second season with the Bears. He was hired...
Falcons bench Ridder, announce Heinicke as starter against Vikings
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Taylor Heinicke has moved past turnover-plagued Desmond Ridder as the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. Coach Arthur Smith said Wednesday the decision to start Heinicke was made “with all the variables considering everything.” Smith would not commit to Heinicke keeping...
Raiders fire coach Josh McDaniels, GM Dave Ziegler
HENDERSON, Nev. — When the Las Vegas Raiders hired Josh McDaniels in January 2022, he said he had learned from his first stint as an NFL head coach. But McDaniels’ record actually was worse the second time around than it was with the Denver Broncos in 2009 and 2010, and...
Chiefs and Patriots compete for fans and influence in Germany ahead of games in FrankfurtVideo
The Patriots have the history. The Chiefs have the juice. New England is bringing its six Super Bowl trophies. How about a yacht? Kansas City has that, not to mention the star quarterback and tight end. They’re all headed to Frankfurt to take part in two weeks of American football...
Commanders trade Chase Young to 49ers, Montez Sweat to BearsVideo
The Washington Commanders on Tuesday traded Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears for a 2024 second-round draft pick and Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers for a third-rounder, according to multiple reports. Sending away their top two pass rushers signals a major shift for the Commanders under new ownership....
Vikings acquire QB Joshua Dobbs from Cardinals in fallout from Kirk Cousins injuryVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings agreed to acquire quarterback Joshua Dobbs in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals in the hours before the NFL trade deadline Tuesday, adding another player with starting experience following the season-ending injury to Kirk Cousins. The deal was pending completion of a physical for Dobbs,...
Lions lean on Jahmyr Gibbs’ legs, Jared Goff’s arm in win over offensively challenged Raiders
DETROIT — The Detroit Lions can trace their turnaround to hitting more than missing in the draft. Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta are the latest examples. Gibbs ran for a season-high 152 yards and a touchdown, LaPorta had eight receptions for 57 yards with a score, and the rookies helped...
Interceptions helped Ravens shake off uneven start against Arizona and extend AFC North leadVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After an unusually sluggish start, the Baltimore Ravens forced a couple of turnovers that helped jump-start their offense. Again, Geno Stone was part of a big play on defense. Stone’s NFL-leading fifth interception gave Baltimore a short field in the second half, and the Ravens went...
Stefanski’s call backfires on Browns, who may need to find another backup QB while waiting on WatsonVideo
CLEVELAND — Kevin Stefanski trusted his quarterback. The wrong one. With a chance to possibly seal a gritty win in Seattle on Sunday, Cleveland’s coach turned to his starter — his franchise QB was standing on the sideline in street clothes nearby — to make the right play in the...
Analysis: Rookie QB Will Levis’ performance gives Titans optimism heading into Steelers gameVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Rookie quarterback Will Levis turned in an NFL debut for the ages and should start Thursday night when the Tennessee Titans visit the Pittsburgh Steelers. Levis matched Pro Football Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton (1961) and Marcus Mariota, the Titans’ own No. 2 overall pick in 2015,...
Analysis: Bengals roar out of bye week, set tone for rest of seasonVideo
CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals came out of the bye week looking like contenders again. The calf injury that slowed the star quarterback early in the season seemed to be a distant memory on Sunday as Burrow passed into tight windows, ducked out of sacks and scrambled...
Struggling Giants trade DL Leonard Williams to 1st-place SeahawksVideo
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The struggling New York Giants traded defensive end Leonard Williams to the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks for a pair of draft picks, according to multiple reports. The Giants will receive a second-round draft choice in 2024 and a fifth-rounder in 2025 for Williams, who had a...
Vikings confirm QB Kirk Cousins out for season with torn Achilles tendonVideo
EAGAN, Minn. — Kirk Cousins has a torn right Achilles tendon that will end his season, the Minnesota Vikings announced Monday after his first career injury put a somber tone on their three-game winning streak. The Vikings announced the MRI exam on Cousins confirmed their initial fear of a tear...
Gus Edwards runs for 3 TDs to help 1st-place Ravens down CardinalsVideo
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Gus Edwards ran for two of his three touchdowns following interceptions by Baltimore’s stout defense, and the Ravens beat the Arizona Cardinals, 31-24, on Sunday. A week after blowing out Detroit, 38-6, the AFC North-leading Ravens (6-2) labored offensively. The Cardinals (1-7) prevented Lamar Jackson from scrambling...
Joe Burrow throws 3 TD passes to lead surging Bengals past 49ersVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Joe Burrow threw three touchdown passes, Cincinnati intercepted Brock Purdy on back-to-back passes in the second half and the Bengals beat the San Francisco 49ers, 31-17, on Sunday for their fourth win in five games. After being hampered early in the season by a calf injury,...
Geno Smith throws late TD pass as Seahawks top BrownsVideo
SEATTLE — Geno Smith threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 38 seconds left, and the Seattle Seahawks rallied for a 24-20 win over the Cleveland Browns after blowing an early 14-point lead Sunday. After struggling for long stretches against the best defense in the NFL, Smith was...
NFL Week 8: Rookie Will Levis throws 4 TDs in his debut as Titans beat Falcons
NASHVILLE — Rookie Will Levis threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns in his NFL debut, and the Tennessee Titans scored their most points since 2021 in beating the Atlanta Falcons 28-23 on Sunday. The Titans (3-4) capped an alumni weekend wearing Houston Oilers’ throwback uniforms down to an oil...
Rams QB Matthew Stafford leaves homecoming game at Cowboys with thumb injury
ARLINGTON, Texas — Matthew Stafford didn’t make it to the finish of his homecoming game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Los Angeles Rams quarterback injured the thumb on his throwing (right) hand on a failed 2-point conversion pass in the final seconds of the first half Sunday. Stafford ended up...
Chiefs add Patrick Mahomes to injury report with flu-like symptoms, but he’ll play against Broncos
DENVER — Patrick Mahomes was added to the Kansas City Chiefs’ injury report Sunday with flu-like symptoms, but the team said he’ll still start against the Denver Broncos. Patrick Mahomes is 12-0 against the Broncos, whom the Chiefs have defeated 16 consecutive times going back to 2015. Mahomes took the...
QB Brock Purdy cleared to start for 49ers against BengalsVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers showed they could win lopsided games when they raced out to a 5-0 start and were barely challenged in the second half in any of those games. Pulling it out down the stretch in a tight game has been a different issue....
Giants QB Daniel Jones to miss 3rd straight game; Tyrod Taylor to face JetsVideo
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Giants quarterback Daniel Jones will miss his third straight game with a neck injury, and Tyrod Taylor will start Sunday in the MetLife Stadium bragging rights game against the Jets. Giants coach Brian Daboll said Friday that Jones and backup running back Gary Brightwell (hamstring) will...
Jaguars rule out WR Zay Jones for Sunday’s game against SteelersVideo
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Zay Jones won’t play at Pittsburgh on Sunday because of a lingering right knee injury. Coach Doug Pederson ruled Jones out Friday, saying he will miss his fifth game in six weeks. Since the Jaguars (5-2) have a bye after facing the Steelers, Jones...
