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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Why 'Purposeful' Titans Rookie Carnell Tate Is The Receiver Cam Ward Needs

In November 2019, during a Chicago-area high school football playoff game, a 14-year-old Carnell Tate couldn’t be stopped. Starring for Marist High School, the freshman receiver caught eight passes for 92 yards against Loyola Academy, a perennial national power and the defending Illinois state champions. When Tate scored the late touchdown that helped Marist push the game out of reach, his teammates went crazy. But not Tate. "Our senior wide receiver came up to me and he's like, 'He won't even celebrate!,'" Matt Shalvis, Marist’s offensive coordinator, told me. "He was humble, so it was hard to get him to react at all out there. He was like a robot — just out there playing the game, consuming everything. Great teammate — not like he was shut off to his teammates — he just didn't like to boast or celebrate his touchdowns or anything. … You could tell he was excited, but he just didn't want to show anybody up or show it." Nearly seven years later, not much has changed. For the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, equanimity appears to be a defining attribute. Tate has stayed emotionally neutral throughout his first training camp with the Tennessee Titans. It doesn’t matter how big of a play he makes. He even kept his cool during a physical, chippy joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers last week. "You got to know how to control your emotions and not let your emotions control you," Tate said after a few weeks of his first NFL camp. "When you’re able to do that, you’re able to consistently play at a high level." That’s what the Titans will need from Tate, of course. He is expected to develop into a No. 1-caliber wide receiver, one who will accelerate second-year quarterback Cam Ward’s development as Tennessee's franchise quarterback. After a catch-less preseason debut last week against San Francisco, Tate will look for his first NFL reception when the Titans host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night (8 p.m. ET on FOX). "I thought he was very physical in the run game," Titans coach Robert Saleh said of Tate’s performance in the preseason opener. "… He played physical, he played fast. He was winning his one-on-ones when he was getting those opportunities. As time goes, we’ll find ways to give him the ball." ‘That’s The Level Of Expectations He Has’ During his time at Ohio State, former Buckeyes offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline would point out "MAs" — missed assignments — when his receivers blocked the wrong guy. But Tate took it a step further. An MA for him came from blocking the right guy … but using the wrong kind of leverage or the wrong shoulder. To Tate, if he didn’t make contact with the proper play-side leverage, then he didn’t know the play. So that's a mental mistake. Now the head coach at the University of South Florida, Hartline explained that Tate was simply holding himself to a higher standard. "That’s the level of expectations he has," Hartline told me. Before transferring to Florida’s IMG Academy, Tate got straight A's as a freshman at Marist. Every day, he made the long commute from home on the west side of Chicago to Marist, a private Catholic school on the south side. "He was up early, and he was taking buses by himself and putting in that work to make sure he was there," Titans rookie offensive lineman Pat Coogan, Tate’s teammate at Marist, told me. Added Ron Dawczak, his coach at Marist: "There was no detail too small." During Tate’s freshman year at Ohio State, there was one game week when one of the Buckeyes’ top receivers, current Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Emeka Egbuka, was sidelined due to injury. Tate was up to fill the void in the slot — a position he’d never played to that point. But Hartline watched him fit into the offense seamlessly, a testament to the preparation he’d done to understand the entire scheme. When Tate entered the Buckeyes’ loaded wide receiver room, which included Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr., he peppered his older counterparts with questions — about Ohio State, playing college ball and football at large. He was a willing blocker. Hartline always knew he could count on Tate in any given play call. No matter if he was banged up or out of gas, Tate had a way of compartmentalizing any feelings that took away from his ability to perform. He embraced constructive feedback and applied it to the field almost immediately. Tate became vocal in the meeting room with seniority, not afraid to call out players at other positions. "He's a quiet kid at heart," Ohio State wide receiver Brandon Inniss told me. "But when he opens his mouth, people listen because they see his potential and abilities on the field." Hartline describes Tate as "very purposeful." "He doesn't like to watch people do half-assed things," Hartline explained to me. "Carnell doesn't do well with stupidity. Carnell doesn't do well with laziness. Carnell doesn't do well with lack of excellence from people, like coaches. It doesn't matter. If you're talking and it's not good, he's gonna tell you it's not good. If you're playing football and you're on his team and it's not good, he's gonna tell you it's not good. "He just calls a spade a spade. He's got his boys. He's really tight with his boys. But when it comes to work and football, it's just more of a matter of fact. He doesn't need the [pat] on the back." ‘He Really Doesn’t Drop Nothing’ During a two-minute drill near the end of Monday’s practice, the Titans’ offense faced a fourth-and-long near midfield. Ward connected with Tate deep down the right sideline to move the chains. It was an impressive catch for the rookie receiver, who stretched his arms wide to make the grab and held on despite a mid-air collision with Titans safety Kevin Winston Jr. It added to Tate’s growing list of highlight-worthy plays since the offseason program. He’s been a primary target for Ward on third downs and other got-to-have-it situations. "He really doesn’t drop nothing," Ward said in May. That was the case at Ohio State, too — he didn’t register a drop last season, according to Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Tate is a sure-handed, crafty route runner who glides in and out breaks. He’s smooth. He’s a ball tracker and proficient at making contested catches. Whatever he lacks in suddenness, he makes up for with long speed that enables him to get behind the defense at a high rate. "No, he doesn't have 4.2 speed, and he doesn't have a 40-inch vertical," Egbuka told me. "But when it comes to making separation, running clean routes and catching the ball, he does all those things at a very, very high level. And that's what we get paid to do." Statistically, Tate was Ohio State’s second option behind Jeremiah Smith last season. Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin didn’t see it that way, though. "I like to tell people we had two number ones when he was here," Sayin told me. "When you're a quarterback, you have a lot of trust in him." It’s not like being Ohio State's No. 2 or even No. 3 receiver has prevented anyone from becoming an NFL star, either. Egbuka, who was 62 yards short of 1,000 receiving yards as an NFL rookie last year, was the Buckeyes’ No. 2 option to Smith in ‘24. New York Jets star Garrett Wilson, the NFL's 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year, and New Orleans Saints All-Pro Chris Olave ranked second and third for Ohio State in receiving yards, respectively, in their last college season in 2021. The Buckeyes' wide receiver room is regularly filled with guys who, because of all the talent, never get to show what they’re fully capable of in college. The Titans are counting on Tate to add to that list. But at the moment, he’s not actively seeking out the guidance of former Ohio State receivers starring in the NFL. Instead, he’s zeroed in on being the best possible receiver for Titans OC Brian Daboll's offense. "I’m leaning on the guys who’ve been around Dabes," Tate said earlier this month. "Like, Wan’Dale [Robinson] has been with him with the Giants. So I’m trying to learn as much as possible from Wan’Dale. He’s played every position in Dabes' offense. He’s been with Dabes the past four years. And then Rid [Calvin Ridley] is familiar with the offense as well. I just be trying to learn from those two guys." So Tate is focused. You could even say purposeful.

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New Dolphins HC Jeff Hafley Sets Tone At Line of Scrimmage, Doing So Unconventionally

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — All coaches have their preferences and quirks, and new Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley has one: He doesn't like 7-on-7 drills in practice. They're great for wide receivers and defensive backs, and some coaches like that it gives the big guys on both lines a period of relative rest, but Hafley, laying out the ground rules for Thursday's joint practice with the New York Giants, insisted there would be no 7-on-7 work. "We want to play real football," he told reporters before practice, "and I want to see if we can block them, if we can pick up the pressures and our protections, if the quarterback can get rid of the ball on time, if the receivers can run the right routes so the ball can get out on time. So it's going to have to be a team thing." It's a bold move against a talented Giants front — there were plenty of would-be sacks whistled dead Thursday — but if you're trying to stress the importance of winning the line of scrimmage, the message was appreciated there. "Absolutely," said center Aaron Brewer, a second-team All-Pro in a breakout season last year. "I can't play 7-on-7, so whenever we're out there and all working, that's what it's going to be. I feel like it translates from practice to the game. There are no days in a game where you're running 7-on-7." That's echoed by defensive tackle Zach Sieler, the longest-tenured Dolphins player, here since 2019 and a leader in a locker room loaded with new arrivals. "My thing is, how do we play on Sundays? It's 11-on-11," he said. "When you put every piece together, that's how the game is played. You want to put game-like stress in practice, pushing us to the limits on every single play, and that's something we focus on a lot this year." Miami went 7-10 last year, but traded off key players as part of a rebuild that included hiring Hafley and a new general manager in Jon-Eric Sullivan. There are few NFL teams with lower outside expectations than the Dolphins, too. The oddsmakers' projected win total for the Dolphins is 4.5. However, you won't hear Hafley or his players use the low-hanging fruit of the perceived slight to fuel motivation. "I just believe that if that's what we're using to motivate, we're worried about the wrong things right now," Hafley said. "That stuff wears off after a while. There's only so much you can use it, only so much you can care about it. I want the motivation to come from within. I want the motivation to come because the players want to be great and the coaches want to be great, because they don't want to let their teammates down ... if you do that, it will last." Offensive guard is not a sexy position for a high draft pick, but the Giants and Dolphins both took guards in the top 12, with New York getting Miami (Fla.)'s Francis Mauigoa at No. 10 and Miami getting Alabama's Kadyn Proctor at 12. Proctor is massive, listed at 6-foot-7 and 360 pounds and already making a strong impression. "He's a big guy. He's fast, he's physical, and he's just a smart young guy," Brewer said of Proctor. "He buys in and gives his effort, so he's just a great football player." Miami left tackle Patrick Paul is 6-7 and bigger than the 326 pounds he's listed at, so Miami could have the largest left side in the NFL. "Overall, dominant. I feel like we didn't play to the standard that I hold us to, or our leaders hold our defense to because coming out as our first joint, trying to be smart, make sure everybody gets taken care of, but at the same time, they're not our team. So, when you have an opportunity to hit them, you hit them. And you hold them up and they get hit again. "We started to do that later on, towards the middle of the day and the rest of the day on. But we had splashes in the beginning, but I wanted to swarm from when we first got out here and it just took a little bit to get going, but I understand it's our first joint [practice]. But I let it be known, we don't wait to get punched in the mouth. That didn't happen, but we don't wait to get punched in the mouth to fire off on somebody." — Giants edge rusher Brian Burns on his team's physicality against the Dolphins.

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NFL Fines Cowboys, Saints $500K Each Following Joint Practice Altercations

The National Football League confirmed on Thursday that it has fined the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints $500,000 each on Thursday following a series of fights during a joint practice in Oxnard, California. "The Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints have each been fined $500,000 for the actions that took place at the joint practice between the teams earlier this week," the league said in a statement. "The Competition Committee has made sportsmanship — including in joint practices — a point of emphasis over the past several years. All clubs were reminded by memo prior to training camp of their responsibility in preventing unsportsmanlike behavior at joint practices that has the potential to result in injury." The altercations occurred throughout Tuesday's session, which prompted Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer to address his team's composure, or lack thereof. "Not the way we like to do business," Schottenheimer said. "Got to be better, but I've got to look at the film. We're certainly not going to take s--- from anybody." Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke to reporters about the league's decision. "There's certainly a very, very, let's say, strong opinion in the league that when we have these joint practices, everybody's aware of the competition, both individually as well as through the team," Jones told reporters. "We understand that you don't have the discipline of penalties that are real difference makers out here, and frankly, you probably don't have the officiating consequences." "All of that makes it a real focal point of the league to stay within good sport, and the taking of helmets off, swinging and hitting, and that type of thing is not good for anybody, and it's certainly not what we want to represent to our fans and as a league or as a team," Jones said. Jones added that the Cowboys plan to appeal the fine and the team will review the film and fine individual players involved in the scuffles. The NFL circulated a memo instructing teams that all personnel are expected to prevent unsportsmanlike behavior at joint practices to reduce the potential for injury. The Saints are preparing for a Saturday preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood. The Cowboys will travel to face the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday for their second preseason game.

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Patriots WR A.J. Brown Shows Eagles Who's No. 1 In Dominant Performance

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — A.J. Brown wears the number one on his jersey. And that made sense in just about every way during the New England Patriots’ joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles this week. He was the best receiver on either team during the sessions. He was the Patriots’ No. 1 weapon. He was worth a first-round pick — a "1" — in a trade between the two teams this offseason. And he was the No. 1 point of interest as fans and media members watched practices. It’s because of the trade, of course. It’s because of the drama that unfolded between Brown and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. It’s about Brown’s criticisms of the "passing game" when he was in Philly. It’s about Brown openly mocking his own lack of production in 2025. And it’s about the fresh start in New England. "He looks a little better, a little faster," Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell said after practice Wednesday. "He’s going to keep getting better. … He just gives you so many tough battles and tough assignments. It was really just great to go out there and compete with him again today." With Brown’s unpredictability, however, there’s always the wonder of: What will he do next — on the field and off it? (And will something go wrong?) That’s why a reporter asked Hurts if he’d give any advice to Patriots quarterback Drake Maye about getting the most out of Brown. "I think Drake has had a lot of success already, so I don’t know what my advice would do," Hurts said Wednesday. "I just think he needs to continue the progression that he’s on." Brown didn’t speak to Hurts before or after that first practice. Nor did Brown connect with Eagles WR1 DeVonta Smith on day one. But during the second day, Brown walked over to Smith to chat for a few minutes. Brown then found Hurts after practice on Thursday. "It’s not about no closure or anything," Brown said after Wednesday’s joint practice. "It’s love. I won a Super Bowl ring with them. It’s always going to be love no matter how anyone feels. I love Philly and I will always love Philly. But I’m here now and this is where my feet are and that’s where I’m focusing." It felt inauspicious when Brown started competitive drills on Wednesday in a one-on-one against former teammate Quinyon Mitchell. Though Brown created easy separation on a fade route, running directly downfield for the end zone, Maye underthrew the ball and Mitchell logged a relatively easy pass breakup. But Brown argued it wasn’t exactly clean. "Q got away with a little holding," Brown said with a laugh. "I won, he pulled himself back into the play, and I just have to finish the play. My right hand didn’t get to the ball quick enough. My left hand got on the ball. That’s on me. … That could have been a 40-yard bomb, but now it’s a long foul ball. Those are the things I’m focusing on." That play did not, however, prove predictive of how Brown would fare over the two days when he had more than 10 catches in team drills and countless touchdowns. He spent most of the two days running against Mitchell — with a few matchups against cornerback Riq Woolen, the No. 2 option in Philly. In one case, Maye’s ball placement to Brown proved simply impossible to defend, with the Patriots QB dropping the pass over Woolen for a big catch-and-run for Brown. Brown’s most dominant play came in an 11-on-11 red zone drill. He couldn’t get open in the end zone, trying to work to the sideline, where Mitchell had outside leverage (blocking Brown’s path). Maye looked at the situation and, while it was a no-throw look, the QB threw it that way anyway. Brown fought back for the ball and a touchdown. It was a sign of how much Maye has come to trust Brown. They had no business attempting — let alone completing — the play. They did it, anyway. The Eagles, meanwhile, were feeling Brown’s absence — and then some. Top receivers Smith and rookie Makai Lemon were both out with hamstring strains, which left Hurts to work with Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks and Britain Covey, among others. Hurts threw three interceptions in 7-on-7s on Wednesday and then threw two more in 11-on-11s on Thursday. This passing offense might require patience from the fans in Philly. I’m just not sure that we can expect patience from the fans in Philly. Other Observations From Patriots-Eagles Joint Practice: Saquon Barkley looked about as quick and explosive as I’ve seen him. This is the time of year when teams blow smoke about breakout players and resurgent players and best-shape-of-their-life players. But it’s not an exaggeration to say that the 29-year-old running back dominated the Patriots' defense on the first day of practice. He was solid on day two. It was all the more impressive considering the Eagles’ struggles in the passing game. It’s easy to imagine that, without Brown, Barkley could become the lifeblood of the unit, both as a runner and pass-catcher. "We'll see the Saquon of two years ago," Eagles tackle Lane Johnson said after day one. "We'll see the big plays. We’ll see him flexed out at receiver. We’ll see him in the screen game. You saw a bit of it [Wednesday]." If that’s true (and it looked like it might be), the Eagles will once again be dangerous, even without Brown. Be careful of what you see in one-on-one drills (like in the video below) — as opposed to what’s reported about team drills. They can tell two different stories. Don’t get me wrong, it’s incredible to watch the drama unfold in a one-on-one. But it’s also not exactly real football like an 11-on-11 or even a 7-on-7. (There’s also a reason you’ll mostly see one-on-one clips on social media. Because of team rules, it’s generally OK to record one-on-ones but it’s not allowed, league-wide, for reporters to record 7-on-7s and 11-on-11s.) So that’s all to say: Some guys shine in one-on-ones and then disappear in 11-on-11s … when it counts. And in these practices, Eagles receiver Dontayvion Wicks was one of those guys. Many members of the fantasy community have already turned him into their darling — or sleeper. I’d like to offer a word of caution: Wicks had every reason to shine in team drills, with Smith and Lemon injured — and Patriots cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis also injured. Yet in all his work with Hurts on day one, Wicks had two catches on three targets — and the missed pass wasn’t just an incompletion (in 7-on-7), it tipped off Wicks' hands and deflected into the hands of Patriots safety Charles Woods. On day two, Wicks had another drop and, later, he saw Marcus Jones undercut his route for an interception on Hurts. After the Super Bowl, there was as much interest in Patriots left tackle Will Campbell as any offensive lineman in recent memory — at least in New England. Campbell struggled mightily during the playoffs, and those issues culminated in the Super Bowl when he allowed 14 pressures and a sack against the Seattle Seahawks. It was a terrible performance by the rookie, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. But listen to what five-time All-Pro tackle Johnson had to say about spending the offseason working with Campbell. "Will just kind of reminds me of myself in a way. Just a country kid, drafted first round, so I know the kind of pressures that are on guys like that. And so, for me, I thought he had a really good rookie season," Johnson said Wednesday. "You can see him getting better. He looks thicker, bigger. He's healed up from his knee injury." I’ve referred to Gonzalez’s absence already in this postcard. The Pro Bowl corner was not on the field for any of the Patriots’ three joint practices with the Eagles and the Colts. It feels like it wasn’t that big of a storyline, because the opponents’ top receivers (Smith and Alec Pierce) weren’t on the field either. But Gonzalez is the Patriots’ most important defender. It’s a big deal he’s not there. It’s a bigger deal that New England still hasn’t exactly clarified why he’s not there. Head coach Mike Vrabel hasn’t outright said that Gonzalez is injured. The coach also hasn’t outright confirmed that Gonzalez is holding in. But that’s what’s clearly happening, even if no one will admit it. The cornerback wants a big contract, and while the Patriots and Gonzalez’s camps did discuss an extension back at the combine in February, per a source, there doesn’t seem to have been much progress. "Josh [McDaniels] is incredible, man. He's making my job a lot easier, and he's creating matchups for me, moving me around." — A.J. Brown, who worked with four different offensive coordinators in four years in Philly For the Eagles, it’s really about getting their top two receivers, Smith and Lemon, healthy. Barkley, Hurts and tight end Dallas Goedert are good players. But this offense will need help at receiver to truly reach its full potential. That isn’t to say Philly should rush Smith and Lemon back. The Eagles have the Commanders in Week 1 and the Titans in Week 2. Both are beatable — perhaps even without those two guys. But by Weeks 3 and 4, when they’ll have to face the Bears and the Rams, the Eagles will want their receivers healthy and in-sync with Hurts. Philly's defense is definitely going to be good — but maybe not transcendent. Given what we saw from the Patriots' offense (which posted really strong performances), it seems good teams will be able to move the ball on the Eagles. And so the offense won’t be able to rely quite as much on the defense. For New England, it’s really starting to look like Super Bowl or bust. The Patriots have now drubbed the Colts and the Eagles over three total days of joint practices. Drake Maye appears to have continued to progress in the ways the Patriots wanted. He had a boneheaded interception each day, so it's not perfect. But Brown makes life a whole lot easier. And defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones and receiver Romeo Doubs, both offseason additions, are quietly proving their worth, too. The Patriots still need some help off the edge. There are also some lingering questions about the quality they’ll get from their interior offensive line. But on the whole, this team will be in terrific shape when it gets Gonzalez and Davis back in the starting lineup. There’s continuity. There’s more talent. There might be a tougher schedule, but the Patriots took the time and spent the money to fortify themselves against the increased degree of difficulty.

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