Bo Nix’s Recovery Timeline Looms Large as Broncos Offense Takes the Field For OTAs

The Denver Broncos are back on the football field for the first time since losing the AFC championship game to New England with Bo Nix watching from a suite with his surgically repaired right ankle in a cast. Nix is still sidelined following a second procedure on his right ankle but he was on the field Thursday, throwing some passes but mostly watching backups Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger incorporate offseason acquisition Jaylen Waddle into the offense. "He's had a good week," coach Sean Payton said of Waddle, the speedy receiver the Broncos acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins this spring. "He's someone who picks things up real quick. He had a real good day yesterday and you can just feel his instincts and his quickness and his ability to not only run fast but to stop fast." Waddle is expected to work with Nix by the time the Broncos hold their minicamp in two weeks. "I mean, you don't see (Nix) in pre-practice, but he's been throwing and I do think in our third week .... you'll see more of a role," Payton said. The Broncos were the last team to actually take the field during their offseason training program, which for them has consisted of workouts indoors until Tuesday when they embarked on football drills. Before working on his chemistry with Nix, Waddle has been developing a rapport with his No. 1 wide receiver counterpart Courtland Sutton. "Yeah, it's been fun," Sutton said. "Being able to see him up close, he's a special dude. ... He has some qualities that only he can do. ... He has tremendous speed. His speed and acceleration paired together are top tier. His understanding of the offense, his understanding of football ... his run after the catch is top tier." Waddle said he envisions he and Sutton delivering a great 1-2 punch. "Courtland's an elite playmaker," Waddle said. "Anytime you have an elite playmaker on the other side, it just makes it easy, someone that the defense has to be looking for and vice versa." While he's eager to work with Nix on the field, it's apparent the two have already started developing chemistry. "Bo is definitely a competitor, he loves talking ball, he loves being around the guys," Waddle said. "I think he's a great leader. I can just see the traits from him day to day and if he sees something he's going to tell me about it and then we're going to pick each other's brains, try to get on the same page as best we can." Raise for Surtain The Broncos gave star cornerback Pat Surtain II a $5 million raise this season through a contract adjustment. Surtain also can earn another $5 million if he's an All-Pro or Pro Bowl selection. He's a two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler. "He’s obviously someone that we feel like is elite and at the top of his position," Payton said. "And part of that is the salary cap and how that fluctuates and moves, especially in the last three years." The Broncos are finally out from under the record $85 million dead cap hit they incurred by releasing Russell Wilson, allowing them to make moves as they did with Surtain. "It feels good," Payton said. "Look, it's important. It's hard to do that with dead money and when you do that with a record-setting amount, it's a credit to everyone, the young players, the coaches, the scouts, and so I don't know that anyone can feel or see it, but certainly it exists when it pertains to your budget." The ninth overall pick in the 2021 draft, Surtain has a dozen interceptions and 59 pass breakups in his five seasons as a pro. Surtain is entering the first season of a four-year, $96 million extension he signed in 2024, which at the time made him the league's highest-paid cornerback based on average annual salary. He has since been surpassed by Jaycee Horn, Trent McDuffie, Sauce Gardner, Derek Stingley Jr., and Jalen Ramsey. Tough opening stretch The Broncos open the season with a tough six-game stretch beginning with a game at Kansas City followed by five weeks of games against 2025 playoff teams, but Payton said he doesn't believe the league was being punitive. Asked if he's upset someone in the league office, Payton, cracked, "No, that happened a long time ago." Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 NFL season due to his involvement in the New Orleans Saints’ "Bountygate" scandal. After a visit to Kansas City, the Broncos host the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams before visiting the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers. After that, they host the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. "We'll get to see where we're at early," Waddle said. Reporting by the Associated Press.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/nVoQiJr

Cowboys' Brian Schottenheimer Shuts Down Drama Over George Pickens’ OTAs Absence

George Pickens isn't with the Dallas Cowboys during the opening week of voluntary offseason practices, while coach Brian Schottenheimer says the receiver is "taking care of his business" and their communication has been good. Pickens signed his $27.3 million franchise tag a little more than a month ago but has stayed away from the team. The Pro Bowler isn't required to show up until mandatory minicamp June 16-18. "Communicated with (Pickens) yesterday," Schottenheimer said Thursday. "He's got a football camp this weekend that he's doing. So communication is good, and as you guys know it's voluntary and he's taking care of his business." Pickens waited two months before signing the one-year contract that's worth three times what the 25-year-old earned on his four-year rookie contract. Pickens told the Cowboys before the draft in April that he intended to sign the franchise tag, prompting speculation that Dallas might try to trade him. The Cowboys made it clear they had no such plans. He signed the tag about a week later. Acquired last year in a trade with Pittsburgh, Pickens thrived alongside CeeDee Lamb, finishing with career highs in catches (93), yards receiving (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) for one of the best offenses in the NFL last season. Lamb is going into the second year of a $136 million, four-year contract that ranks him fourth among NFL receivers with an average annual value of $34 million. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones has said the club has long-term plans for Pickens, who has spent time in the offseason with quarterback Dak Prescott. "I'm not sure exactly what they do," Schottenheimer said. "You guys know Dak does a great job working with all the guys, whether they’re here, whether it’s this time of year, whether it is in the summer, they always go someplace. They’ll go someplace this summer and train and throw, and it’s a chance for them to develop their timing." Reporting by the Associated Press.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/NrDTmPY

Myles Garrett Odds: Will Star Pass-Rusher Dominate With Rams?

Arguably the NFL's best player just joined one of the NFL's best teams. Expect fireworks in L.A. The football world was shocked this week when the Los Angeles Rams traded for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. Garrett, 30, had spent each of his nine professional seasons with the Cleveland Browns, enjoying a surplus of individual success but only participating in three playoff games total. Let's check out the odds for how Garrett's first season in L.A. might go down, at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 4. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Myles Garrett regular-season specials To record 20+ sacks: +135 (bet $10 to win $23.50 total) To record over 20.75 sacks (Rams record): +190 (bet $10 to win $29 total) To record over 23.25 sacks (Single-season record): +440 (bet $10 to win $54 total) To record 5+ sacks in a single regular-season game: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total) To record 20+ sacks and Rams win Super Bowl: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total) To record 0.5+ sacks in every regular-season game played (Minimum 14): +5500 (bet $10 to win $560 total) Football fans are still wrapping their heads around this one. The Rams were just a game away from the Super Bowl last season, falling to NFC West rival Seattle in the NFC Championship Game by only four points. L.A. started this offseason by trading for star cornerback Trent McDuffie, and have now landed a two-time Defensive Player of the Year that many view as the best player in the league, regardless of position. Garrett is a five-time first-team All-Pro selection, seven-time Pro Bowler, and just last season set the single-season record for sacks (23). He has eight consecutive seasons of at least 10 sacks, and he led the NFL in tackles for loss each of the last two seasons. In terms of Garrett reaching 20 sacks, he's only done that once in his career (last season). Prior to that, his career high for a season was 16.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/5elqDaf

2026 NFL Offseason: The Biggest Question Facing Every NFC Team Entering Summer

Summer break is fast approaching for NFL teams. Over the next two weeks, they’ll be wrapping up their offseason programs. During the long wait for football’s return, what will be the top question lingering over every club? I pick one key query for each NFC team (stay tuned for the AFC edition Friday): NFC East On paper, the Dallas Cowboys are much improved on defense. Five of their seven draft picks were used on that side of the ball — most notably first-round picks Caleb Downs, who’s been touted as a generational defensive back prospect, and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence. Dallas also traded for standout edge Rashan Gary (7.5 sacks last season). Safety Jalen Thompson and cornerback Cobie Durant headline their free-agent acquisitions. But it will be up to the 34-year-old Parker, a first-time defensive playcaller, to put all the talent together into a competent unit. The Cowboys’ hopes of returning to the playoffs, and a potential postseason run, could hinge on the former defensive backs coach. Dart is learning a new system, with former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy taking over as Giants OC under new head coach John Harbaugh. There’s also a question of whether New York has enough firepower around the 2025 first-round pick. The biggest concern is star receiver Malik Nabers, who, after tearing his ACL last season, had a cleanup procedure earlier this offseason. Nabers' availability for the start of the season remains unclear, and fellow receiver Darius Slayton has also been sidelined with a core muscle injury. The signing of Odell Beckham Jr. is nostalgic for New York fans, but at 33 years old, there’s no guarantee that he even makes the roster. [Odell Beckham's Giants Reunion A Futile Trip Down Memory Lane] For months, the Philadelphia Eagles had been preparing their roster for the eventual departure of three-time All-Pro receiver Brown, who was officially traded to the New England Patriots on June 1. Philadelphia drafted USC’s Makai Lemon with the 20th overall pick, signed veteran receivers Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency and traded for wideout Dontayvion Wicks. But can they fill the void left by Brown, who posted four straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Eagles? More will be asked of DeVonta Smith as quarterback Jalen Hurts’ top target. After missing 10 games due to injury last year, the Washington Commanders QB said he has a "bitter taste" in his mouth. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year will look to get back on track with a new offensive coordinator in David Blough, who was Washington's assistant quarterbacks coach the previous two seasons. NFC Central If you thought this past year couldn’t have been any better for Williams, who led the Chicago Bears to an NFC North title and a playoff victory over the Packers last season, he was announced as the cover athlete for "Madden NFL 27" in early June — the first-ever Bear to claim that honor. Williams & Co. face big expectations to build on what was Chicago’s first playoff appearance since 2020 and first division crown since 2018. A fourth-place schedule in 2026 could help the Detroit Lions return to double-digit wins in the 2026 season. But the play of the offensive line, which was an issue last year, will go a long way to Detroit reestablishing itself as a dominant team. The revamped unit has All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell flipping from the right to left side. No. 2 running back David Montgomery is out of the picture, having been traded to the Houston Texans. The pass-rush help for Aidan Hutchinson and the health of the secondary is paramount for the Lions, too. Starting defensive backs Terrion Arnold, DJ Reed and Brian Branch missed a combined 20 games in 2025. Recovering from a torn ACL suffered in mid-December, Parsons told reporters in early June that he’s about four months away from playing, which would put his return around October. But even if that timeline holds, there’s a question of how long it’ll take the superstar edge rusher to truly get his feet back under him. Green Bay will need Parsons at full strength down the stretch for what is expected to be a playoff push. The Vikings signed veteran quarterback and former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray to compete with J.J. McCarthy to be QB1. Murray may have the slight advantage — the stakes are high in Minnesota after GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s firing in January — but the two quarterbacks have been splitting first-team reps in offseason practices. NFC South Michael Penix Jr., who’s making his way back from a third torn ACL, and former Miami Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa, who signed with Atlanta in March, are in a full-fledged competition to be the Falcons’ QB1. Penix has not yet been cleared for 11-on-11 work, so Tagovailoa has had the early advantage in reps with the starting offense. Carolina picked up the fifth-year option in Young’s rookie deal, keeping him under contract through 2027. But the former No. 1 overall pick will need to build on an encouraging 2025 campaign to justify a long-term deal. He posted career-best passing numbers last season — a 63.6% completion rate for 3,011 yards and 23 TDs with 11 INTs — leading the Panthers to their first playoff appearance since 2017. Shough finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting last season, despite starting just nine games. And he has ideal circumstances to build off his promising 2025 campaign. The former Louisville standout is entering Year 2 with coach Kellen Moore, and the Saints prioritized bolstering the surrounding offense. New Orleans signed running back Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency and used the No. 8 overall pick on wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. Mayfield had his worst season with Tampa Bay in 2025, and the Bucs failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The former No. 1 overall pick will have his fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons with the Bucs in Zac Robinson, and franchise legend Mike Evans — one of Mayfield's favorite receiving targets — departed in free agency. NFC West Despite the uncertainty at quarterback — Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck are the options — new Arizona Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur has plenty of talent on offense. But there are questions about whether the team has enough on the offensive line to give Love, the running back picked at No. 3 overall, a chance at success. For two seasons, receiver Harrison has failed to live up to the hype as the No. 4 overall pick of the 2024 draft. LaFleur was a wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator with the Niners before working as an OC the past five seasons, so perhaps he’ll bring an approach that can unlock Harrison’s talent. After the blockbuster trade for superstar defensive end Myles Garrett, the Los Angeles Rams have surged as the favorite to win Super Bowl LXI. They had already acquired former All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie in what’s been an aggressive offseason. According to FOX Sports Research, it will mark the first time that a reigning MVP (Matthew Stafford) and DPOY (Garrett) will play on the same team in the following season (excluding Lawrence Taylor and Alan Page, who won both awards in 1986 and ‘71, respectively). Anything less than a Super Bowl trip would be a disappointment for Los Angeles. [Ranking The Top 10 Moves After Myles Garrett, A.J. Brown Trades] Injuries have been a recurring issue for the San Francisco 49ers for years, and health could shape their fortunes once again in 2026. Stars George Kittle (Achilles), Nick Bosa (ACL) and Fred Warner (ankle) all enter the new year coming off season-ending injuries. Darnold beat the bust label years ago. But how he responds to a larger workload in 2026, coming off a Super Bowl victory, remains to be seen. The two-time Pro Bowler no longer has the luxury of having Kenneth Walker III in the backfield, and Zach Charbonnet is expected to miss the start of the season with a torn ACL. And with a first-time offensive coordinator in Brian Fleury replacing Klint Kubiak, Darnold may need to take greater ownership of the Seahawks’ offense.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/4nLyJIF

Vikings Introduce Former Seahawks Executive Nolan Teasley As New General Manager

The Minnesota Vikings are handing the keys of the franchise to one of the sharpest young minds in football. On Wednesday morning, the team officially introduced Nolan Teasley as their next new general manager. Teasley arrives in Minnesota after a 13-year tenure with the Seattle Seahawks working under general manager John Schneider. Long described as Schneider’s right-hand man, Teasley now gets his opportunity to run his own front office one season after helping the Seahawks win Super Bowl LX. "I want to thank the Seahawks organization and John Schneider for preparing me for this opportunity," Teasley said Wednesday at his introductory press conference. "They did that by allowing me to see high-caliber leadership in the building on a day-to-day basis. I was raised in this league by seeing it done the right way." Teasley’s unique journey began when his wife encouraged him to swap the security of a marketing career for his passion for football. He sent letters to every NFL team, but only the Seahawks answered the call, giving him his foot in the door as an intern. What started as a leap of faith has come full circle, with Teasley landing his first general manager role with the Vikings. "I always had aspirations of being a general manager," Teasley said. "It wasn't necessarily the goal. The goal was to be where my feet were and learn and progress in that way and so that's why I needed a minute. This is an amazing day, and I'm so very appreciative of being here." Teasley succeeds Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, whose roster-building strategy leaned heavily on data analytics. While he plans to utilize analytics, Teasley won't rely on them as strictly, choosing instead to prioritize the coaching staff’s vision for player development over pure numbers. "The way that we look at it is that we're going to be guided by evaluation," Teasley said. "We're going to be anchored by data. Then the final piece, kind of as we work through our three pillars of acquisition and evaluation, is that, what's really important, is the coach's vision for the player." This time around, Vikings ownership ran an exhaustive search. Following the firing of Adofo-Mensah in January, Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski steadied the ship, steering them through the offseason and the NFL Draft as the interim general manager. The finalists included internal candidate Brzezinski alongside assistant general managers Terrance Gray (Buffalo Bills), Reed Burckhardt (Denver Broncos), and John McKay (Los Angeles Rams). Teasley was the only external candidate without prior ties to the Minnesota organization. "I think we have it all put together in a great way," Co-Owner Mark Wilf said. "I’m confident that this is a great move for the Minnesota Vikings." Under the new front-office hierarchy, Wilf revealed that Teasley and head coach Kevin O’Connell will report to ownership, while Brzezinski reports to Teasley. Most notably, Teasley was awarded final say over the 53-man roster, a level of control Adofo-Mensah never had. Still, Teasley views this structure as no different from the collaborative environment he left in Seattle. "You’re anchored by process so that everybody understands the foundation of it all," Teasley said. "If you have disagreements, you go back to the beginning. You start over. We work together until we have that consensus." O’Connell, who is friends with Schneider, said he met Teasley three years ago at the NFL scouting combine and that he made a quick impact on the coach. Years later, that connection has evolved into a shared vision for the Vikings' organizational culture. "I know the responsibilities that I have," O’Connell said. "One of those is to build a unique relationship where it’s built on trust, and it’s built on a level of personal responsibility to be competent in your role for the greater good of others. Now, we support each other." Schneider’s endorsement carried significant weight, given the deep respect Vikings ownership and O’Connell have for the Seahawks. Now in Minnesota, Teasley plans to implement the same evaluation strategies he learned under his former mentor. "In terms of John [Schneider], anything we’re talking about here is building alignment and consensus and being collaborative," Teasley said. "That’s what we did in Seattle. That’s what we’re going to do here." For the Vikings' ownership group, importing that championship culture meant finding a leader who possessed both the right resume and the right personality. In Teasley, they believe they found both. "I have a lot of respect for the Seattle Seahawks organization," Wilf said. "John Schneider, the whole team over there, the coach, so, yes, that did have a factor to play in it. But that’s got to be along with the person."

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/vqOPaHY

10-Time Pro Bowl QB Russell Wilson Announces Retirement In Emotional 'Thank You' Video

Russell Wilson has called it a career, officially. A few days after announcing his NFL broadcasting aspirations, Wilson released a video to coronate his playing career. The 13-year quarterback reminisced on his favorite NFL moments. He thanked the coaches and teammates who lifted him up along the way. He laid all the emotions out there. "Thank you, football," Wilson said to conclude the video. "I thank you, I thank you, I thank you." Wilson remembers "falling in love" with football while playing for fun with his father and brother. Eventually, he said, "my love for football turned from something more than a passion. It was an obsession." In college, Wilson led the Wisconsin Badgers to a Rose Bowl victory in his senior year of college, while leading the Big Ten with 33 touchdowns. He was then selected with the 75th overall pick in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson said he remains grateful to former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll for his role in that decision. "To coach Carroll, thank you for taking a chance on a young, 5-11, Black kid, from Richmond, Virginia, that was told ‘he was too small to ever make it in the NFL,’" Wilson said in his retirement video. "We knew what winning was like." Wilson and Carroll led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl XLVIII victory over the Denver Broncos. The Seahawks returned the following year, but lost Super Bowl XLIX to the New England Patriots. He won 104 games over 10 years in Seattle, while earning nine Pro Bowl selections. "To Seattle, you raised me," Wilson said. "Not just all the wins and crazy loud games. But also the forever memories after we won the Super Bowl." Wilson played four seasons outside of Seattle — two in Denver, one with the Pittsburgh Steelers and another with the New York Giants in 2025. While he didn't experience the same success as he did for the Seahawks, his teammates, he said, made an impact. "To every teammate I've had the privilege of sharing the locker room with, thank you for the sacrifices, the brotherhood, the memories." Wilson will remain in the living rooms of football fans, players and coaches everywhere, but his playing days will not soon be forgotten.

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/WM2mQ76

Transcendent Sean McVay Poised To Maximize Super-Talented Myles Garrett For Rams

LOS ANGELES — After appearing grumpy following the Los Angeles Rams' first-round selection of backup quarterback Ty Simpson on draft night, head coach Sean McVay was back to his chippy, enthusiastic self after his team consummated one of the biggest trades in NFL history, securing the league’s best defensive player in former Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett. Garrett sat sandwiched between jovial Rams general manager Les Snead and McVay during the opening moments of his introductory press conference. And then the duo got down to the nitty-gritty of a franchise-altering move that had been in the works for months, according to Snead. The Rams went from slight favorites over the defending champion Seattle Seahawks to the overwhelming pick to win the Super Bowl with Garrett in the fold. But Garrett isn’t getting too far ahead of himself, acknowledging his new team still must go out and do it on game days. Garrett said he found out a week ago about the possibility of landing in Los Angeles via trade. "On paper, I’m sure things look great, but we got to go out there and put the work in," Garrett said at the podium. "It starts in the field, starts in the classroom, and we’re not going to take a single day for granted. We’re not going to be looking at any odds or favorites. We’re going to win each game day-by-day." Those wise words from Garrett were music to McVay’s ears. "It’s one day at a time and I love everything that he said because I couldn’t be more in agreement," McVay said. "We’re not going to let the outside narratives affect our ability to be courageous every single day and go swing and see what the hell happens." Garrett has had four head coaches, 16 starting quarterbacks and just one playoff win during his time with the Browns. He’s finished with double-digit sacks for eight consecutive seasons in Cleveland, won the Defensive Player of the Year twice and is third among active leaders in the NFL with 125.5 sacks. An eight-time captain and five-time All-Pro, Garrett is the only player in league history to record at least 14.0 sacks in five consecutive seasons (2021-25). With the move to the bright lights of L.A., Garrett finally has a transformative head coach in McVay that matches his superstar talent. During that same time Garrett has been in the league, McVay has led the Rams to seven playoff berths and two Super Bowl appearances, winning Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. The Rams have had eight winning seasons with four NFC West titles under McVay’s guidance. At 40 years old, McVay is currently the fifth-youngest coach in the NFL, but he’s also the second-longest tenured coach behind only Andy Reid. By moving to Los Angeles, Garrett gets the stability and sustainable success he coveted in Cleveland. "They love playing the game and they love playing the game for this guy," Garrett said, motioning toward McVay during the press conference. "That means a lot, having a player’s coach lead you onto that field and wanting to give the extra effort and go the extra mile for him and for each other. That’s what you feel going on to that field now. These guys are going to war, not just as individuals but as a team. That’s how you end up playing those games later into the year." McVay already has proof of concept that he can coax the most out of extremely talented, high-maintenance athletes. Jalen Ramsey, Von Miller, Eric Weddle, Odell Beckham Jr. and Matthew Stafford are all players brought in by McVay who performed to their full potential in helping to lead the Rams to a Super Bowl victory. Garrett now joins that group as a hired gun for the Rams in a move made to help put this franchise over the top in winning a Super Bowl in their home stadium for the second time in league history. Yes, I previously stated the Rams would miss the playoffs as one of my five bold predictions earlier this offseason. But I must amend my prediction after this seismic move in securing the services of a future Hall of Famer in Garrett. And that move could lead to the return of another future Hall of Famer, as former Ram Aaron Donald is considering coming out of retirement. McVay was asked about the possibility during the press conference. "Aaron’s a guy that I stay really close in touch with, and I know the respect that he has for Myles," McVay said. "I talked to him about the opportunity to be able to bring [Garrett] on board. If Aaron decides he wants to dust them off at the age of 35, I bet you he could still do it at a pretty high clip." Garrett said he watched highlights of the Rams' fabled "Fearsome Foursome," led by Hall of Famers Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen during the Rams' heyday in the 1960s when he was a high schooler. Garrett is now in a position to chase that high bar set by those four and others like Donald. "I see a position to solidify myself here as well among the greats," Garrett said. "I still have plenty of great years in front of me and being able to cement that legacy not only as a football city here in L.A., but as an individual [winning Defensive Player of the Year] for a Super Bowl and more. Those things are definitely pressing on my mind, and I have a bit of urgency to do it and do it right away." The Rams need Garrett at his best, and they might have to make sure he's playing at a Defensive Player of the Year level right away. They have one of the toughest schedules in the league, starting with a season opener in Australia against their NFC West rivals, the San Francisco 49ers. That’s just the beginning of a five-game stretch that includes games at the Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles, plus a home game against the Buffalo Bills. Garrett will have some help around him, at least, even as the Rams decided to let go of promising edge rusher Jared Verse. Byron Young, who led the team in sacks last season, will complement Garrett along the edge, while Los Angeles has a few other formidable players in the defensive interior (Kobie Turner, Poona Ford). Of course, the Rams also made a major swing to improve their secondary this offseason, giving up a handful of draft picks (including a first-rounder) for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie before signing his Kansas City Chiefs teammate, Jaylen Watson. Still, Garrett will be the catalyst of the Rams' defense, and McVay's pleased to have the two-time Defensive Player of the Year leading that side of the ball. "He’s a pain in the ass to game plan against and I’m glad we don’t have to do that anymore," McVay said. "He makes other guys around him better and I know he’s excited to come in and be a big part of this culture and we can’t wait to get to work."

from Latest NFL News & Videos from FOX Sports https://ift.tt/R54tAuP