Which NFL Teams Have The Best Skill Position Players? Ranking All 32 Groups ...

Nothing is more important in the NFL than the quarterback. But even the best quarterbacks need the right help. That’s why the best and smartest teams in the NFL understand that they have to surround their quarterbacks with as many quality skill players as they can — reliable receivers who can turn any throw into a big gain, big tight ends who can make the tough catches in traffic, and explosive running backs who can keep the ball moving on the ground. So, which NFL teams have the best skill players this season? We ranked all 32 groups across the league. De’Von Achane is one of the best, fastest and most dangerous running backs in the NFL. Dolphins fans might want to stop reading right there, though, because even though new coach Jeff Hafley refuses to admit this team is rebuilding, one look at the skill position group (or lack thereof) shows the truth. After trading away Jaylen Waddle, their best receiver might be … Tutu Atwell? Jalen Tolbert? Take your pick between those two. Malik Washington could be a good third receiver, but might be forced into a larger role. Miami did draft two receivers in the third round — Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas — so maybe they can do something. TE Greg Dulcich produced a 26-335-1 stat line over 10 games last season, so maybe he can give the Dolphins average production. But if they want to win any games this season, they better put the ball in Achane’s hands … a lot. It’s easy to see why the Raiders don’t want to throw rookie QB Fernando Mendoza in right away, because they haven’t exactly surrounded him with a stellar cast. TE Brock Bowers is really good, assuming he’s over the knee issues that cost him five games last season. But other than that? RB Ashton Jeanty has loads of potential, but he was also a pretty huge disappointment as a rookie and now might be dealing with an ankle injury to begin the season. And the receiving corps is a huge problem. Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor and Jack Bech are the top three options, but they’d all be No. 3 receivers with almost any other team. Right now, Bowers is the centerpiece — and really the only piece — of whatever new coach Klint Kubiak is trying to do there. For a growing team that’s a few years away from contending, they’re in a good spot. They have loaded up on young, talented and promising skill players. They got a small look at a better future last season with the emergence of RB Quinshon Judkins and TE Harold Fannin. And they have since added first-round WR KC Concepcion and second-round WR Denzel Boston. Add in enigmatic veteran wideout Jerry Jeudy and there’s a lot of talent — albeit mostly raw — for whomever is behind center. But the Browns' plan is really more about the future because all of these players — except for Jeudy — are short on production but long on potential. That’s better for winning games down the line than right now. Nico Collins is a No. 1 receiver. But beyond that, the Texans are short on promise. They used Day 2 picks on Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in 2025, with the former being their initial hope to take a big leap this season, but he's now out for the year with a torn ACL. That leaves Noel, who needs to somehow become a viable No. 2, since there’s no way to know if WR Tank Dell has anything to offer after missing all of last season with a devastating knee injury. The Texans do have a good, solid tight end in Dalton Schultz. And the trade for running back David Montgomery gives them a potentially decent backfield between him and Woody Marks. But it still looks like an offense that will lean heavily on Collins, which means it’s a team that will have to be led by its defense again. Carolina struck gold with Tetairoa McMillan, the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Beyond him, there is at least some hope for more. WR Xavier Legette was disappointing as a rookie, but he was their 2024 first-round pick. And WR Jalen Coker had a late-season surge last year.  But the Panthers are lacking at tight end, and while they do have the underrated Chuba Hubbard at running back, they lost their leading rusher (Rico Dowdle) in free agency. Maybe Jonathan Brooks, their 2024 second-round pick, will finally emerge. Beyond T-Mac, this is a skill group that has a ton of growing to do. If Garrett Wilson were almost anywhere else, he’d probably be considered one of the 10 best wide receivers in the league. And running back Breece Hall is a good player who can be one of the most explosive backs in the league when he gets in the open field. If this list graded only the top two skill players, the Jets would be much higher. But even the Jets have no idea what else they have. They have big hopes for two first-round picks — WR Omar Cooper and TE Kenyon Sadiq — to add some juice to their offense. They also have what Wilson called a "ticking time bomb" in WR Adonai Mitchell, a former second-round pick with the Colts whom the Jets acquired in a trade last year. But right now, all the excitement is about hopes and potential only. And the Jets have a long history of that not amounting to much. Their skill group looked barren until early August when they signed 32-year-old WR Stefon Diggs. He may not be what he once was, but he was still a pretty good No. 1 receiver for the Patriots last season. And the Commanders sure could use that kind of help, because the only other dangerous weapon they have is the underrated Terry McLaurin, who is coming off an injury-filled season and is about to turn 31. Beyond him, there is only speculation. WRs Luke McCaffrey and Treylon Burks have been huge disappointments. The Commanders think they found a gem in TE Chig Okonkowo, but he has big shoes to fill left by Zach Ertz. Washington liked Jacory Croskey-Merritt, but he’s a part-time back who’ll be splitting carries with newcomer Rachaad White, another part-time back. And good luck identifying the No. 3 WR on this team. The Commanders desperately need Diggs and McLaurin to defy Father Time. QB Cam Ward had nothing to work with as a rookie, and the Titans did a good job of trying to fix that in the offseason. Their big move was drafting WR Carnell Tate, who could be the next in a long line of Ohio State wideouts to star in the NFL. They also added WR Wan’Dale Robinson, a 5-8 dynamo coming off his best season (and a weapon that new OC Brian Daboll knows how to use). If veteran WR Calvin Ridley is healthy, Ward won’t have any excuses. They also have a solid, if unspectacular, RB duo in Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. This crew isn't enough to win games for the Titans, but it should keep the chains moving. This is a group that underachieved last season behind a crumbling offensive line that has the potential for a huge turnaround under new OC Mike McDaniel. It will be led by WR Ladd McConkey, who finished strong after a slow start last year, and RB Omarion Hampton, if he can shake off an injury-filled rookie season. Leading wideout Keenan Allen is gone, though, which means McDaniel needs to finally be the one to get more out of 2023 first-round receiver Quentin Johnston. There are other intriguing pieces, such as TE Oronde Gadsden and second-year WR Tre Harris. But McDaniel will have to get the top pieces going in the right direction first. If the Giants are sure that both WR Malik Nabers and RB Cam Skattebo will be ready for the start of the season, this group could be ranked higher. But Nabers is still in the process of returning from a torn ACL and Skattebo is dealing with an ankle injury, so while the early reports are encouraging, the longer-term prospects are at least a little murky. Nabers is the real key because he’s far and away the Giants’ most dangerous weapon. They’ll piece together the rest of the receiving corps with Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin and rookie Malachi Fields, and maybe what’s left of Odell Beckham Jr. New York is also hoping for a leap from TE Isaiah Likely, a John Harbaugh transport from Baltimore who often thrived in limited action behind Mark Andrews. Liam Coen is so good at running an offense that it’s almost a given that the Jaguars will be more than the sum of their parts. Still, those parts have some work to do. WR Brian Thomas had a terrible season to follow up on his stellar rookie campaign. WR Parker Washington was good in his place, but miscast as a No. 1. Jacksonville did get strong production from WR Jakobi Meyers after a midseason trade, but it remains to be seen if he can sustain that. The real question, though, is at RB where the Jags let Travis Etienne walk after an 1,100-yard season. Coen has a lot of faith in Bhayshul Tuten and newcomer Chris Rodriguez, who has a history with Coen from their time together at the University of Kentucky. Coen thinks he has the pieces for an offensive juggernaut. But that might depend on how well Thomas rebounds. James Cook is a phenomenal RB and one of the best ground weapons in football. So that’s great. But nothing else about Josh Allen’s weapons comes close to matching that level. As always, his WR group is lacking. The Bills brought in DJ Moore, who is 29 and in decline. Beyond him, their best hope is Khalil Shakir, who is a decent No. 2 receiver. Buffalo does have a nice TE duo in Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, who combined for decent numbers last season (75-988-9). But it remains one of the NFL’s great mysteries why the club has ignored saddling its MVP-caliber QB with a better No. 1 receiver since trading Stefon Diggs after the 2023 season. Without that elite go-to guy, this team's firepower is all about Allen and Cook. Maybe that’s enough. But the Bills sure could have made their lives easier. WR Emeka Egbuka looked to be a lock for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award before a late-season fade cost him the vote. It didn’t help that injuries to most of the rest of the offense put too much of a burden on his young shoulders. The Bucs have high hopes that he’ll be back on track quickly this season, though it’s a little concerning that he already has a toe injury and coach Todd Bowles’ has cast doubt on his availability for Week 1. Egbuka's health is obviously important, but he also could use a healthier group around him. The Bucs have a good group of skill players with WRs Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan, and RB Bucky Irving could again be a good lead back (with new addition Kenneth Gainwell as his handcuff). But none of them were healthy last season. They all still have to prove that they’re fully back. The outlook for the Saints looked a lot rosier before the news that rookie Jordyn Tyson, who some scouts thought was the most explosive WR in the NFL draft, could be out until October with a hamstring injury — something he frequently dealt with in college, too. That’s a significant blow to a young, improving team that coach Kellen Moore is building around young QB Tyler Shough. The second-year starter does still have a true No. 1 WR in Chris Olave. He also already has a vastly underrated tight end in Juwan Johnson. And newly signed RB Travis Etienne, who ran for 1,000 yards in three of his first four NFL seasons, gives the Saints a reason to move on from aging and injured Alvin Kamara. It’s still a promising group, but it sure would look better with Tyson. Without him, New Orleans will be hoping Devaughn Vele, a fourth receiver at best, can step into a much bigger role. The trade for WR Jaylen Waddle provided a huge boost to a really good team that was remarkably lacking in reliable weapons. With Waddle and Courtland Sutton, the Broncos have the potential for a really good top two at the WR position, and Tony Franklin could be one of the best third receivers in the league. The problem is things thin out after that. J.K. Dobbins is a good RB when healthy, but he’s never healthy. RB R.J. Harvey scored 12 touchdowns but averaged just 3.7 yards per carry as he struggled in situations as a lead back. Denver got nothing out of the TE position, where Evan Engram is in an obvious decline. If the RBs stay healthy and improve, the Broncos will have more than enough weapons for a Super Bowl run. But that might be a big "if." Their big hope for a dangerous skill group is that Rashee Rice stays out of trouble and stays healthy, in which case he could become an elite WR. Xavier Worthy has the speed to be dangerous, too, though he’s been underwhelming as a pro. Last year, in fact, TE Travis Kelce was still Kansas City's most dangerous weapon, despite being 36 and in obvious decline. He’s still useful, but a far cry from what he once was. The big boost for the Chiefs, though, should come on the ground after signing Kenneth Walker III in free agency, giving Andy Reid the kind of workhorse back that his aging core probably needs. Since QB Lamar Jackson doesn’t count as a skill player, this is really a two-man group. And it’s led by 32-year-old Derrick Henry, who remains one of the toughest, best and most durable RBs in the league. Eventually, he’ll start to decline, but that hasn’t happened yet. The Ravens also have a dangerous No. 1 WR in Zay Flowers. But beyond that? Not much. TE Mark Andrews is getting old and coming off his worst season. He also lost his sidekick in Isaiah Likely, who departed for the Giants. And former first-round pick Rashod Bateman is a study in unrealized potential. Baltimore has waited five years for him to develop into more than a decent third receiver being forced to play the No. 2 spot. They have surrounded 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers with some intriguing pieces for his theoretical NFL swan song. DK Metcalf hasn’t played like an elite receiver in recent years, but he’s still dangerous and capable of big plays. Adding Michael Pittman and drafting Germie Bernard in the second round gives the Steelers depth they didn’t have last year. And they have decent TEs in Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, whom they should find a way to use more. Their most interesting new piece, though, is RB Rico Dowdle, a Mike McCarthy favorite from his days in Dallas. Pittsburgh didn’t have much of a running game last year, but there’s potential with a Dowdle-Jaylen Warren tandem. There were times last season when the Seahawks offense was a two-man show, with WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba and RB Kenneth Walker III. JSN is still there, and he’s good enough on his own. But Walker left and backup Zach Charbonnet is recovering from a torn ACL. That could put a lot of pressure on first-round pick Jadarian Price, who was a backup himself at Notre Dame. Settle's other WRs are the aging, declining Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed, who is better as a kick returner. And A.J. Barner is a very low-impact TE. That likely means that JSN is often going to be a one-man show for the defending champs, especially early in the season. Justin Jefferson is coming off his worst season as a pro, and he still put up pretty good numbers despite some terrible QB play. That shows you he remains in the running as the best WR in the league once the Vikings’ QB situation gets sorted out. And he’s flanked by Jordan Addison and newcomer Jauan Jennings, which means double-teaming JJ isn’t necessarily an easy choice. TE T.J. Hockenson hasn’t been the same since his 2023 knee injury, but better QB play could also help him return to form. The real issue with this team is RB, though. Aaron Jones is 31 and injury prone and Jordan Mason is one-dimensional. Together, they form little more than one average back. There is potential for greatness in this group, but that’s always the case and it’s often unrealized. No doubt, Josh Jacobs is one of the toughest backs in the league, when healthy. Tucker Kraft was one of the NFL’s best tight ends before tearing his ACL last season. The Packers also have a potential No. 1 WR in Christian Watson, when he’s healthy, and former first-round pick Matthew Golden. And Jayden Reed could be a strong No. 2 or 3 if he’s over his foot injury. All of them have injury concerns, not to mention unfulfilled potential. So the ranking is probably lower than they’d like, but the ceiling is definitely high. This group of skill players is top-heavy, but it’s a pretty impressive top. It’s hard to find a better RB than Jonathan Taylor. TE Tyler Warren was one of the NFL’s best rookies last year. And WR Alec Pierce is one of the most dangerous deep threats in the league. The problem is he’s Indy's No. 1 receiver now, and it’s unclear if he can carry that load. He’s got a strong No. 2 in Josh Downs, but the Colts don’t go deeper than that. They were better before they traded away WR Michael Pittman. Still, the trio of Taylor, Warren and Pierce is a pretty good place to start. If the Cards can ever find a quarterback, their path to respectability might be pretty short, because that QB will be surrounded by an array of talented weapons. WR Marvin Harrison may be an underachiever so far, but he’s only 23 and was the No. 4 overall pick just two years ago. Michael Wilson has put up good numbers for a No. 1 WR while waiting for Harrison to develop. And Trey McBride is the best and most productive receiving TE in the league. Now Arizona boasts a RB room with a potential star in rookie Jeremiyah Love, former starter James Conner and solid backup Tyler Allgeier. That’s a lot, if only the quarterback position wasn't such a black hole. It feels like this was years in the making, but the Falcons finally saw their Big 3 come together last season. Bijan Robinson continued to show he’s the best RB in football. WR Drake London was on his way to a second straight elite season before missing four games with a knee injury. And Kyle Pitts, in his fifth season, finally had his breakout year at TE. The Falocons are pretty thin beyond those three, though. Their next two WRs are Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson and Brian Robinson is the backup running back. That leading trio is so strong, though, that it can carry Atlanta a long way in the NFL’s weakest division. There are age and injury issues, to be sure, but let's start with this: The 49ers will line up three skill position players headed toward the Hall of Fame: RB Christian McCaffrey, TE George Kittle and WR Mike Evans. And that’s before you get to another trio of wideout additions: second-round pick De’Zhaun Stribling, free-agent signee Christian Kirk and the returning Deebo Samuel. On talent alone, the Niners deserve a higher spot in these rankings. But the age and injury concerns are real. Evans is already nursing a quad injury, Kirk is already nursing a calf injury, and WR Ricky Pearsall, a former first-round pick who missed half of last season with a knee injury, is already lost for this season. The depth is there, but only if they can keep it. Not many teams can trade away a No. 1 receiver (A.J. Brown) and still have one on the roster (DeVonta Smith), but that’s exactly why the Eagles felt comfortable making that trade. They also added Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown this offseason and drafted Makai Lemon in the first round to make sure the position was still a strength. Of course, they’ve got lots of strength beyond that. Saquon Barkley is coming off a down year, but he remains one of the NFL’s best and most elusive running backs. And when Dallas Goedert is healthy, he’s a dangerous and reliable tight end that gives Jalen Hurts one of the best underneath options in the league. This group was better and deeper with Brown, to be sure. But it’s still fantastic without him. It takes a little speculation to rank the Bears this high. But with coach Ben Johnson directing things, every player here has a chance to be explosive. The way Luther Burden III played down the stretch last year, the Bears may have two No. 1s with him and Rome Odunze. Colston Loveland was one of the NFL’s most dangerous tight ends from November on. And the power duo at running back of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai gave Chicago one of the NFL’s best rushing attacks last season. Those are five near-elite weapons — or players st least capable of playing at an elite level. That’s more than enough to give defensive coordinators nightmares all season long. Let’s face it: If the Patriots had this group of skill position players last season, they might be the reigning Super Bowl champs right now. But they saw what was missing around their near-MVP QB, so they went out and added an elite No. 1 receiver in A.J. Brown and a pretty good No. 2 in Romeo Doubs. They already had an outstanding running back duo in TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson, and a reliable tight end in Hunter Henry. The Pats even have good No. 3 receivers (Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte) who should be productive in a reduced role this year. QB Drake Maye couldn’t ask for much more as he chases the MVP award and Super Bowl championship that he narrowly missed last year. Their 1-2-3 can match up with anyone in the NFL. Ja’Marr Chase is the NFL’s most talented receiver. And, with QB Joe Burrow healthy, Tee Higgins is going to put up No. 1 receiver numbers, too. Chase Brown has also proven to be one of the best all-purpose backs in the league over the past two seasons. That’s a Big 3 that few teams can match. It’s after that where things drop off a bit. The Bengals are OK with Andrei Iosivas as their third receiver, but tight end is a wasteland (Drew Sample, Mike Gesicki). Chase, Higgins and Brown are so good, though, that it may not really matter what other weapons the Bengals have. Dallas had one of the best offenses in the NFL last season, and it went way beyond QB Dak Prescott. He’s got two of the best, most explosive receivers in the NFL (CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens) — maybe the best duo outside of Cincinnati and the L.A. Rams. He also has an impressive array of No. 3 receivers that have been pretty productive, led by Ryan Flournoy and Kavontae Turpin. And while TE Jake Ferguson isn’t explosive, he’s proven to be remarkably reliable. Javonte Williams even finally gave the Cowboys the running game they’ve needed the past few years, proving he can handle an increased workload. So all the pieces are in place. There are no excuses for this team to not be an offensive juggernaut again. Amon-Ra St. Brown might be the most unheralded elite receiver in the league. Few can match his numbers the past four years. And Jameson Williams (17.2 yards per catch) is one of the best deep threats in the league. The Lions also long had the best 1-2 RB punch, and there shouldn’t be much of a drop-off now as Isiah Pacheco replaces David Montgomery as Jahmyr Gibbs’ sidekick. Detroit could easily be No. 1 on this list if TE Sam LaPorta bounces back with a healthy season and if third receiver Isaac TeSlaa builds off his strong finish to last year. Those are two "ifs" worth watching this summer. But even if everything doesn’t work out perfectly, this offense should still be explosive. Puka Nacua has been as productive as any receiver in football the past three years, when he’s been healthy. And while Davante Adams is 33 and not what he used to be, he’s still dangerous and became a touchdown machine down the stretch last season. The Rams are also backed by the 1-2 punch of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, which last season accounted for almost 2,000 rushing yards and 19 total touchdowns. Things thin out a little behind them, especially at receiver. But L.A. is deceptively good at tight end, where the trio of Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee and Davis Allen combined for 92-897-14 last season — elite numbers for that spot. If 38-year-old QB Matthew Stafford is healthy, he has everything he needs for one last Super Bowl run.

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NFL Catchup: Jeanty Injured, Kittle Activated, Browns QB Drama & More

We're finally entering the last week of the preseason, which means the regular season is right around the corner. Sunday only brought us one preseason matchup, with the Tennessee Titans taking down the Seattle Seahawks. But there was also a bit of good and bad injury news on Sunday. The San Francisco 49ers got a couple of key stars back, while the Las Vegas Raiders might be without one of their promising young players to open the year. But the biggest news of the weekend might have come on Saturday, when Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson called out the team's fans after getting booed for his outing against the Buffalo Bills. As you begin your week, here are some of the things you need to know about what happened around the NFL this weekend. Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty left Sunday's practice with an ankle injury after colliding with cornerback Darien Porter while diving for a catch. However, the injury might not be as serious as initially expected. Jeanty is believed to have a high ankle sprain, according to ESPN. Jeanty remained on the ground before being helped off the field without placing weight on his right leg. Head coach Klint Kubiak planned to feature Jeanty as a focal point of the offense alongside tight end Brock Bowers. If Jeanty is forced to miss time, fourth-round rookie Mike Washington Jr. is listed second on the depth chart and would take over primary backfield duties. Jeanty recorded 975 rushing yards and five touchdowns in his 2025 rookie season. The Raiders open their regular season at home against the Miami Dolphins. The San Francisco 49ers activated tight end George Kittle from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Sunday. Kittle took individual reps in full pads for his first practice session since suffering a torn right Achilles in January. Running back Christian McCaffrey also returned to practice after sitting out sessions since August 10 due to tightness, participating in individual drills and team period work. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak spoke about the impact of having both players back on the field. "It definitely just gives us energy," Kubiak said. "It just changes things. You have two Hall of Fame-caliber players out there who are back out there and getting their work in, and they practice at a high standard, and they lift everybody up. It's good to see them back out there." Kittle expressed hope regarding his potential availability for the regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Rams while acknowledging the full length of the schedule. "I want to play in every football game that I possibly can play in but I'm also aware it's an 18-week season," Kittle said. "If you miss Week 1 and you're playing Week 2, hey, it is what it is. I'm just going to keep that as my goal and then we'll adjust from there if we need to." McCaffrey addressed his recent practice absence, explaining that the time off was part of a planned workload management strategy leading up to September. "Obviously when you don't practice, the way the media works now it's a firestorm," McCaffrey said. "But this was kind of part of the plan from the jump was to ramp up pretty big, get nine, 10 practices in, kind of come back down and then ramp back up so we're fresh for the duration. Our staff's done a great job of coming up with specific plans. And again, I feel great. I feel fresh, and it's good to be back out there." Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson addressed fan reaction after receiving boos during Saturday's 31-7 preseason loss to Buffalo. Watson completed 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards and an interception in his first home action since his 2024 Achilles injury. Watson called the crowd reaction personal. "I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance," Watson said. "It's a little bit more personal than that." Watson recalled the crowd's reaction when he suffered his Achilles injury in 2024 when evaluating his relationship with local fans. "Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. And that same fanbase, they cheered when I got hurt," Watson said. "So what does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city, and they cheer?" Our Greg Auman argues Cleveland should cut Watson, citing his bellow .500 winning percentage as the Browns starter, performance struggles, and fractured relationship with the fanbase, despite significant salary cap penalties. Asked if he held any regrets regarding his time with Cleveland, Watson doubled down. "I don't regret anything in my life," Watson said. Addressing the crowd atmosphere for the upcoming schedule, Watson noted that "maybe it's 17 away games" in terms of environment. Auman wrote that Cleveland should move on and cut Watson despite the financial impact, which includes $127 million in dead money against the salary cap over two seasons. Head coach Todd Monken told reporters he hopes to name a starting quarterback Monday, potentially bringing an end to competition between Watson and second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders ahead of Week 1. Cam Ward put up a respectable stat line for the Titans in their victory over the Seahawks on Sunday night, even if he only led Tennessee to three points. He completed 8 of 12 passes for 69 yards over three drives, setting his team up for a 55-yard field over his outing. But the Seahawks' offensive backups had a pretty strong night. Backup quarterback Drew Lock completed 12 of 14 passes for 102 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown to tight end Elijah Arroyo, as he got the start on Sunday. Running back Jacardia Wright added a 69-yard rushing touchdown, helping Seattle take an early 16-3 lead. Seahawks rookie safety Bud Clark left Saturday's preseason game against the Tennessee Titans in the first quarter after suffering a lower leg injury on the Titans' opening offensive series. Clark was carted off the field with what appeared to be an air cast applied to his leg following the play. The second-round rookie was expected to provide depth in Seattle's secondary during his rookie season. Head coach Mike Macdonald previously told reporters about Clark's development and workload during training camp. "Bud's one of those rookies that we're asking a lot of him right now, and I'm impressed with how he's handling it," Macdonald said. "It's not perfect, but how he goes about his business is what we're looking for." With Clark facing a potentially extended absence, Seattle will look to backup safeties AJ Finley and D'Anthony Bell to step into increased depth roles. On offense, rookie first-round running back Jadarian Price has positioned himself as the clear primary back following Kenneth Walker's free-agent departure and Zach Charbonnet's ongoing recovery from a torn ACL suffered late last season. Seattle has decided to sit Price for the remaining preseason games to protect his health. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton made a strong push for the backup job behind Dak Prescott during Saturday's preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. Milton started the contest, completing 9 of 13 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown before giving way to Sam Howell. "I was able to go out there and showcase what I got, what we've been working hard towards this whole camp, so it was great," Milton said. Milton, who joined Dallas in 2025, stated he feels a "major difference" in his comfort level with the offense compared to a year ago as he finds himself in a competition with Sam Howell for the Cowboys backup position. "That's out of my control," Milton said about the final decision. "The only thing I'm able to do is go out there and call the play, and just make sure the offense is moving. Whatever they decide, they decide." The Cowboys will evaluate both quarterbacks through the remainder of training camp before determining their Week 1 depth chart.

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Browns Waive TE Dae’Quan Wright, Paving Way For Him To Play At LSU In Historical Move

Tight end Dae’Quan Wright is set to make history in an unusual way. The Cleveland Browns are set to waive Wright and if the tight end clears waivers, he has a commitment in place to return to college and play for LSU in 2026, ESPN reported Sunday. If Wright does wind up playing for LSU this fall, it's believed that he'll be the first player to have ever played college football after being on an NFL roster, according to ESPN. Wright, who'll turn 23 in September, is one of a handful of players who have participated in an NFL training camp this summer and have also entered their names into the transfer portal. Wright is one of a few former Ole Miss players who were granted an injunction by a judge in Louisiana this past week that allowed them another year of college eligibility. The list of plaintiffs in the lawsuit featured 16 football players among student-athletes from other sports. The Philadelphia Eagles initially signed Wright as an undrafted free agent in May. However, they waived him on Aug. 10. The Browns picked him up a day later. Wright took part in warm-ups for the Browns ahead of their preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. He didn't play a snap in the game, but the fact that he was in pads while also considering a return to college made headlines. The situation with Wright also left Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken befuddled. "Man, isn’t this s--- crazy?" Monken told reporters. "I don’t even know what to say. As far as I know, he’s had a medical issue that wasn’t allowing him to practice. That’s a medical issue. It has nothing to do with me. He was cleared, so we dressed him just in case we had to have him." "I don’t know what to say. I wondered why [LSU head coach] Lane Kiffin reached out to me a week ago. Now I know. I didn’t call him back. I guess I should have." Wright played for Kiffin at Ole Miss over the last two seasons, logging 1,029 yards and nine touchdowns over his time with the Rebels. Now, if all goes to plan for Wright, he'll follow Kiffin to LSU after the head coach departed Ole Miss over the offseason.

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It's Time For The Browns To Move On And Cut Deshaun Watson

I keep making the mistake of thinking that things can't get worse for the Browns and quarterback Deshaun Watson. So far, the relationship has been marred by the remarkable trifecta of poor play on the field, terrible off-field red flags and an anchor of a $230 million contract that will continue to limit the franchise's ability to rebound, even after Watson is gone. Through all of that, to hear Watson speak to reporters after Saturday's home preseason loss to the Bills, there is somehow a complete lack of awareness, of remorse, of any ownership for where he is and why Browns fans booed him in his return. "I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance," Watson said. "It's a little bit (more) personal than that. I think that's a disrespectful thing." So, I'll say another thing he might consider disrespectful: The Browns need to move on and cut Watson. I say that not as an endorsement of second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who would presumably step in as starter if Watson is out of the picture. Not because it's a sound move to make from a financial and salary-cap standpoint. If you're trying to move on as a franchise, you don't let Watson be part of that rebuilding just because you agreed to pay him $46 million for this season in 2022. It's the Marianas Trench of sunk costs. The worst thing about Watson's $230 million contract with the Browns is that the team has barely accounted for half of it from a salary-cap standpoint. If Cleveland cuts him before the season, it would result in $127 million in dead money, which is money that counts against the salary cap from a player no longer under contract. It would cost the Browns $41 million this year and $86 million in 2027 to cut Watson before this season. Cleveland doesn't even have $41 million in cap space right now, so it would take reworking other contracts, at the expense of future cap space, just to be done with Watson. Watson took issue with Browns fans on Saturday because some of them cheered when he tore his Achilles tendon in 2024. It's a fair gripe to have, but beyond the idea that you should never cheer an injury, he had already used up whatever goodwill he had with fans in Cleveland. Consider what $230 million has gotten them, just from a football standpoint. Watson is 9-10 as a starter, with 19 touchdown passes in those 19 games, against 12 interceptions. Of the 50 quarterbacks who have thrown 500+ passes since the start of 2022, Watson ranks 42nd in QB Rating. That's below established backups like Desmond Ridder, Gardner Minshew, Will Levis and Aidan O'Connell. Watson's time with the Browns began with a list of accusers that grew and grew until he settled with them before going to trial, an 11-game suspension and a $5 million fine, an embarrassment that understandably hasn't faded for many of their fans. Asked on Saturday if he regretted signing with the Browns, Watson said, "I don't regret anything in my life," a line that very few people can pull off with a straight face. Cleveland not only gave him $230 million but gave up three first-round picks and more to the Texans, who have made the playoffs three years in a row as a by-product of moving on from Watson, to acquire him. "I had different thoughts on how it was going to be," Watson said of his time in Cleveland, a sentiment that could be echoed by nearly anyone who's had interactions with him in the last four years. You feel for Todd Monken, who gets to become an NFL head coach at age 60, but only by accepting a team that's 8-26 in the last two years and just traded away the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. You wonder if the Browns will have patience with him, knowing that any turnaround will not be immediate. You understand why Myles Garrett would relent and allow a trade to the Rams. The Browns are poised to take a quarterback at or near the top of the 2027 NFL Draft, and frankly, any success this year makes that less likely to work out. To that end, keeping Watson and accepting his poor play might help improve the quality of his successor. Sanders isn't likely to get in the way of that either. He ranked 44th out of 45 quarterbacks with 100+ passes last season when it comes to passer rating; he ranked last in completion percentage and third-to-last in interception percentage. Anyone would be more well-liked by Browns fans, but at least you can cite the chance of improvement with Sanders, 24, compared to Watson at age 31. Watson said Saturday that he gets a warmer welcome at road games, saying of the upcoming season that "maybe it's 17 away games" in terms of how the crowd makes him feel. "Sometimes, the tables turn," he said of his future. If he's already envisioning his revenge with another NFL team, good luck with that. And if he says he's keeping his true feelings about his own fans to himself, why force those fans to be divided about their team by staying with him, by keeping him as your choice at the most important position on the field? Has Watson ever given them a real reason to cheer? He went 5-1 as a starter in 2023, but even then, three of those wins had the Browns defense hold opponents to 3, 3 and 0 points. He was more there for the win, much more than being responsible for it. When he said weeks ago that he would consider re-signing with the Browns, it was cringeworthy, like a marriage that neither side's friends wants to see continue under any circumstances. So, rip the $230 million band-aid off. Get the pain over with and start the process of putting Watson in their past, right now. When another quarterback takes the field for Thursday's preseason finale in Cleveland, the crowd will cheer. You might not know who the quarterback of your future is, yes, but there's a value in knowing who you've chosen as the quarterback of your past.

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Running Back Nick Chubb Announces Retirement From The NFL After 8 Seasons

Running back Nick Chubb has announced his retirement from the NFL on Friday, he announced via Instagram. Chubb played eight seasons in the league, competing for both the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans. "Twelve year old me could never imagine this day, and 30 year old me is wondering where all the time has gone. I've known for some time now, but I'm finally ready to share that I'm done playing football," Chubb wrote on Instagram. "I wanted to end my career on a healthy note, and I was able to do that." The 2018 second-rounder instantly made his mark in his rookie year with Cleveland. Chubb rushed for 996 rushing yards, eight touchdowns and added 149 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air. On top of his impressive rookie campaign, Chubb went on to amass four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with the Browns, which led to four Pro Bowl nods. However, Chubb suffered an injury in 2023 — on the same knee he injured in 2015 at Georgia — sidelining him for over 20 games between 2023 and 2024. While Chubb signed with the Texans in 2025, his production did not match his early-career performances pre-injury. Chubb finished the year with 568 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Not only did Chubb succeed in the NFL, but he was a legend at Georgia. As a bulldog, Chubb recorded 4,769 total rushing yards, 44 total touchdowns, an SEC Championship title and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2017. Chubb also added a note to his teammates, alluding to the setback he faced when dealing with injury: "I say this to all my brothers still on the field, still in the heat of it: there's a life waiting for you after football. And health is the real wealth. I end my career in a great place."

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Sam Darnold Connects With JSN, But Titans Pack A Punch Of Their Own

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — During a break in 11-on-11 drills at Friday’s joint practice between the Titans and Seahawks, the quarterbacks from both teams gathered in the middle of the field at the Vanderbilt Health Football Center. Before Sam Darnold could even complain about the heat — mid 80s, plus humidity — Tennessee's QBs essentially thanked the Seahawks for the reprieve. "They’re like, ‘Oh, it’s a beautiful day! You brought the cool weather with you,’" Darnold said post-practice, laughing and shaking his head in disbelief. That pretty much summed up how the defending Super Bowl champions felt in the muggy heat, much different from the cool weather they’re used to in Seattle. Several Seahawks battled heat-related issues. On the practice field, the champs traded blows with a Titans team hoping for better days under new coach Robert Saleh. Despite their pedigree, the Seahawks have questions of their own. Perhaps the biggest one facing Seattle entering 2026: What will its offense look like? Darnold is a proven Pro Bowl quarterback. Superstar wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, is one of the NFL’s best players. The Seahawks had the league’s No. 3 scoring offense last season. But they have a first-time playcaller in Brian Fleury, who replaces Klint Kubiak, who was named the Las Vegas Raiders' head coach in February. Fleury spent the past seven seasons as an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers. "I think for him, it’s just like learning the flow of [playcalling]," Darnold told me. "When to call a certain play. When to get the play in. How much time we’re going to have on the play clock. When we want to get into tempo. … It’s tough sometimes to be the offensive coordinator, but he’s really, really smart and we know he can handle it." My takeaways from Friday’s joint practice: Titans quarterback Cam Ward gave the Seahawks’ elite defense fits in a Week 12 matchup last season, and he had more success against Seattle on Friday. In a red-zone period at the start of practice, last year’s No. 1 overall pick threw a short touchdown pass across his body to second-year receiver Elic Ayomanor. Ward also capped off a two-minute drive late with a touchdown pass to tight end Daniel Bellinger. Ward didn’t force shots deep, taking what Mike Macdonald’s defense gave him underneath for several short completions. It wasn’t all perfect — Ward threw a pick-six to Seahawks safety Ty Okada — but it was an encouraging day overall for the young quarterback, who hopes to make big strides in his second season with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Playing well against a Super Bowl defense is a great sign. After an uninspiring preseason opener last week, Ward has strung together a handful of strong practices. "He can extend plays, I think that’s a big part of his game," Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV said post-practice. "I think he was on time with his throws today, getting to his check downs. I think he’s growing and getting better." And it wasn’t just Ward playing well for the offense. Ayomanor drew an interference penalty to set up Bellinger's score in the two-minute drill. Running back Tony Pollard ripped off several great runs thanks to a great showing from Tennessee’s offensive line. Ward agreed with the sentiment that there were "A-plus" plays on the ground. "They made some holes for us, for sure. They were the first ones to the ball," Ward said. "I’m happy to have those guys in front of me." Not surprisingly, the All-Pro receiver was a standout on the day. With the Seahawks deep in negative territory during team drills, Smith-Njigba beat Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor with ease down the left sideline to catch a Darnold pass. Later in the same period, he wiggled his way through the middle of Tennessee’s defense to find open grass, making a grab around the one-yard line. A two-time Pro Bowler, Smith-Njigba is coming off a season in which he led the league in receiving yards (1,793). He’s just 24 years old and his numbers have improved across the board in each of his three seasons, so he should continue to ascend — a scary proposition for opposing defenses. Early in team drills, Jeffery Simmons stuffed first-round running back Jadarian Price up the middle. The All-Pro defensive tackle proceeded to chirp at the Seahawks’ offense. It set the tone for what turned out to be a strong showing for Tennessee’s defense against a talented Seattle offense. "You see the aggression, you see kind of the pressure they put on the quarterback," Darnold said. "Their four-man rushes are really, really good, and then they bring five or six-man rushes. And even when they bring fire zones [blitzes], they’re really, really good. Their back end is really good at disguising right now. They’re showing a lot of different things defensively. … That defense is going to be really good this year." Taylor had a pick-six off Darnold in the first play of a two-minute period. Linebacker Cody Barton broke up a pass in the red zone. The Titans’ defensive front held up well in the run game. Tennessee’s secondary came under fire for a poor showing in last week’s preseason opener against San Francisco's backups, but the defensive backs — and the defense as a whole — bounced back against Seattle. Seattle’s backfield faces a bit of uncertainty entering 2026, with reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III departing in free agency for the Kansas City Chiefs and Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January. The Seahawks will need unproven players to step up at running back this season. At Friday’s practice, backup George Holani answered the bell. The third-year pro had a pair of touchdowns as a pass-catcher — one off a deep pass on third down, and another on a short catch and run. Price, who has missed time in training camp due to lower-body soreness, continued his ramp-up by participating in full contact work at joint practice. "They may be hungry, but we're starving. Let's continue to starve to get to where we want to get to." — Titans DT Jeffery Simmons after practice with the Super Bowl champs

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2026 NFL Odds: Back C.J. Stroud, Texans To Win AFC South; Fade Titans

Which teams will rise to the top of the AFC South in 2026? With a few preseason games out of the way, I'm feeling pretty confident about a couple of wagers when it comes to this division. Here's what I'm backing. 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. The Texans have the best defense in football. Their defense was first in yards averaged per game and second in points allowed. It was seventh in sack rate and second in defensive DVOA. It generated 30% of its pressures with just a four-man rush and allowed under two yards a play when pressuring. Just wildly good numbers. That defense should be elite again in 2026. It returns almost everyone, and it just drafted a few more defensive pieces. Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans has been at the helm for three seasons. He’s 32-19 and helped lead the squad to a division title in 2023 and 2024 before finishing just one game outside the division title in 2025. His teams are disciplined, tough, physical and are easy to root for. The question for the Texans is their offense and quarterback C.J. Stroud. The offense was nothing special in 2025. It was middle of the pack in total yards but poor on third and fourth down. It couldn’t rush the ball either, with just 3.9 yards per carry — which was 29th in the league. Stroud was up and down last season and ended with a dud in Houston's postseason loss to the Patriots. This offseason, the Texans went about fixing the offensive line through free agency and draft additions. It should be better. David Montgomery is the new running back and the Texans receivers are mostly healthy entering the season. So it all comes down to Stroud. I have faith in Stroud because he’s shown plenty in his career. Even for large stretches last season, he showed glimpses of the guy we saw as a rookie in 2023. Houston returns the same offensive coordinator in Nick Caley, which gives the offense some familiarity. An improved offensive line and running game should ease the pressure for Stroud, and he doesn’t have to do much with that defense. Just play within yourself. In the AFC South, the Texans will have to compete with the Jaguars once again, but the Jags have the tougher schedule with those three first-place games. Houston's roster is better. The Colts don’t worry me. They are not as talented as the Texans and quarterback Daniel Jones is coming back off injury. The Titans … well, they have no chance in the division. I want Cam Ward to succeed, but the vibes aren’t great at the moment. Reports out of camp are that Ward has struggled a bit. The Tennessee offense was bad in the first preseason game, joint practices haven’t been pretty either, and there is a new offense that does display some red flags. However, I like the Titans' running game and the draft pick of Carnell Tate to help Ward. You’d have to believe the Titans' defense will improve with Robert Salah in charge. However, I’m not sure that this group is an overly-talented unit. Looking at the Tennessee schedule makes me love the Under even more. There are just not a ton of winnable games for this team as it stands right now. Jets, Browns and Raiders stand out as winnable games. That’s about it. So the Titans would need to win those games and then four more. I just don’t see it.

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