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Jaguars
Jaguars HC Liam Coen and DC Anthony Campanile spoke about Travis Hunter taking some defensive reps during OTAs.
“It was good,” Coen said of Hunter playing defense. “He’s still learning. He’s been learning a ton defensively and offensively, as we know. But that was more so fundamentals, techniques, it wasn’t a ton of 11-on-11, 7 on, it was fundamentals, techniques, communication, that was what last Wednesday was. He’s been learning with those guys and meeting with them extra as he’s needed to.”
“Fired up to have him out there, and he did a very good job getting out there,” Campanile added. “He’s done a great job with coach Milus, coach Lascari, and a couple of the other coaches on staff, just spending time, and he’s doing extra every day. So I have a ton of respect for everything he’s done.”
Texans
The Texans are set to square off with the Panthers and Lions in joint practices ahead of their preseason games. DeMeco Ryans is excited to get reps for their starters in a controlled setting against both teams.
“Excited to work against those teams, you get different defensive looks from both teams,” Ryans said, via Aaron Wilson. “Different offensive looks and you get to do it in a competitive environment where you’re not live on the quarterback. It’s the safest way and I feel like we can get really good work for our starters against other teams. I’m excited to go against the Panthers, excited to go against the Lions. Two head coaches, who I respect a lot Dave has done a great job there, so I’m excited to see him. I think they’re on the rise and has done a really good job with what he has had so far, so I’m excited to see that team come in.”
Ryans reiterated he believes they’ll get “a lot out of both practices.”
“We know what the Lions are about,” Ryans said. “Coach Campbell and his energy and spirit as a head coach it’s just second to none. I’m excited to work with both guys and I think we can gain a lot out of both practices.”
Titans
Titans HC Brian Callahan said during his press conference that he will continue to rotate all the quarterbacks throughout OTAs and training camp. So far, there’s been a pretty healthy division of labor between first-round QB Cam Ward and backup QBs Will Levis, Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle.
“As far as quarterback and quarterback reps and how that’s all going to work is, I’m not going to sit up here and give you guys weekly and daily updates as to who takes reps and when. Right now, there’s a whole lot of rotation going on at all positions. So there are guys that you might see out there with the ‘ones’ or with the ‘twos’ — it’s really irrelevant at this point in time,” Callahan said. “All guys are rotating. They’re all going through the process. There is no ones, twos, starters — all that stuff is what you see is going to be a rotation. Whatever you see today might be different tomorrow. So, I wouldn’t read too much into who goes when and why at this point. It’s sort of irrelevant to our process. There’s a plan in place for all the quarterbacks. So, just so we don’t have to do this every day, I’ll save you guys the questioning and just understand that there’s a time and a place for the guys to rotate, and that’ll be what it is. Whoever’s first, second, or third doesn’t really matter at this point. We’re still teaching and getting ready to go compete in training camp.”
More must-reads:
- Bears GM speaks out after superstar goes down with injury
- Aaron Rodgers responds to criticism from Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw
- The 'Single-season sack leaders by NFL team' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Already Has A New Favorite Target
The Pittsburgh Steelers know that it will take quite a while to get strong chemistry on the offensive side of the ball with new quarterback Aaron Rodgers, as he is in a brand-new system with a bunch of players that he has never played with before. Luckily, it's just the beginning of training camp, so there is still some time to get the kinks worked out and get everyone on the same page. Pittsburgh's new passer, historically, likes to find a couple players and target them specifically, so many weapons have to compete for that attention. Rodgers may have already found one of his favorite targets. So far in training camp, fans and analysts have noticed that he has paid a lot of attention to tight end Darnell Washington all throughout practice. In Arthur Smith's tight end-heavy offense, Washington is expected to see plenty of playing time. The big 6'7" mountain of a man has primarily been a blocker in his two seasons in the NFL, but he has had a few moments as a receiver, including lining up wide and catching the Steelers' first touchdown of the 2024 season. There is definitely potential there, especially since he towers over almost every defensive back in the NFL. Rodgers has connected with Washington multiple times early on in training camp, including during a critical part in Saturday's "Seven Shots" drill. The big tight end may not be much of a route runner, but he can still be useful over the middle as a safety valve, as well as an option out wide to simply out-reach the defensive back. Either way, "Mount" Washington could easily set career highs in pretty much every statistical category. On top of that, Rodgers has thrived in multi-tight end sets in recent years, which perfectly fits with Smith's scheme. Even with Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith already on the roster, the former third-round pick should see an increase in snap count and targets. His frame is perfect for red zone routes, where Pittsburgh struggled in during the 2024 season. Him receiving a handful of touchdowns in 2025 is not out of the question. One man's fortune is another man's misfortune. Jonnu Smith was acquired to be a versatile receiver for Rodgers, but he missed the first two days of training camp for undisclosed reasons. That gave Washington and Freiermuth more time to work with the 41-year-old passer. Freiermuth has seen some attention from his new quarterback as well, but the supposed blocking tight end of the group has been especially highlighted during team drills. Everything is set up for Rodgers and his tight ends to thrive. Even with Washington being the main player at that position receiving targets, there is still over a month of practices and preseason games to go for the whole group to develop that chemistry. Arthur Smith may love the multi-tight end personnel groups, but he may be forced to go to that more than even he is used to just to give Rodgers the best chance to thrive with his targets. Steelers' Game Plan Could Slow Down Top Offenses Obviously, when the tight end group is a featured part of the offense, the plan is not to get splash play after splash play and score in five plays. DK Metcalf may make that happen occasionally, but the plan is to wear out opposing defenses with 10+ play drives. That will also keep opposing offenses off the field. The Cincinnati Bengals will have a tough time putting up 38 points if they only have six offensive possessions.
Rangers Sign Former Stanley Cup Champion to Tryout Agreement
The New York Rangers are adding to their forward depth ahead of their upcoming training camp. The Rangers are entering a new chapter of their organization under new head coach Mike Sullivan. After missing the postseason last year, the organization is trying to rebound and respond accordingly in 2025 and 2026. Former Stanley Cup champion forward Conor Sheary is the latest player to join the new-look Rangers. The veteran forward agreed to a professional tryout agreement (PTO) with the club and will look to earn an NHL deal with his performance in training camp and the preseason. Sheary is a veteran of 593 NHL games. Originally an undrafted free agent, he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins after completing his collegiate career. Following a year with the Penguins' AHL affiliate, he forced his way onto the NHL squad after posting 36 points in his first 30 games of the 2015-2016 season at the AHL level. His debut NHL season went better than ever expected, and he was a key part of the Penguins' lineup that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. Sheary's coach at the time, both at the AHL and NHL levels, was Mike Sullivan. Now, he'll get the chance to reunite with the coach under whom he won two championships. In addition to playing for the Penguins, Sheary has played for three other NHL franchises. The Pens dealt him to the Buffalo Sabres before the 2018-2019 campaign, but he would return to Pittsburgh the following season at the trade deadline. After his second stint with the Penguins, he joined the Washington Capitals. He played three seasons in Washington, D.C. before landing with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he spent the past two years. Over his 593 career games, he's compiled 124 goals and 143 assists for 267 points. His best NHL season came during the 2016-2017 campaign, his second in the league. He scored 23 goals and added 30 assists for 53 points in 61 regular-season games.
Jonathan Kuminga Doesn’t Have Good Relationship With Golden State Warriors Coach Steve Kerr
Jonathan Kuminga doesn’t have a good relationship with Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, according to NBA insider Sam Amico of Hoops Wire. Kuminga is a restricted free agent. He doesn’t want to return to the Warriors. Kerr benched Kuminga for the final regular-season game of last season versus the Los Angeles Clippers and the play-in game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Kuminga played in Games 2 and 3 of the Warriors-Houston Rockets first-round postseason series, but that was only because Jimmy Butler was injured. Golden State beat Houston in seven games. Kuminga played in every game of the Warriors-Minnesota Timberwolves second-round playoff series, but that was only because Stephen Curry got injured in Game 1 and missed the rest of the series. Golden State lost to Minnesota in five games. The seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Kuminga played in 47 games for the Warriors last season. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 45.4% from the field, 30.5% from beyond the arc and 66.8% from the free-throw line. The Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings are interested in Kuminga, who has career averages of 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists. The forward, though, hasn’t gotten an offer sheet from the Suns or Kings. As a restricted free agent, Kuminga has three options: re-sign with the Warriors on a new deal, play next season on his $7.9 million qualifying offer with Golden State and enter unrestricted free agency next offseason or sign an offer sheet with a new team. If Kuminga signs an offer sheet with a new team, the Warriors can either match the offer sheet or let the 2022 NBA champion leave and work on a sign-and-trade deal. “We’re trying to be responsible,” a Warriors front office executive told NBA reporter Keith Smith of Spotrac. “With the aprons and hard caps and all of that, you can’t just throw money around. We still love Jonathan. We’re hopeful we can figure out a way to strike a balance that works for him and for us. “But we’re not going to compromise our roster-building ability now, or in the future. We have to be responsible in the way we build our team.”
New York Yankees Top Prospect Reportedly Drawing Serious Trade Interest
If the New York Yankees are looking to add in the coming days, they may have to part ways with some of the young talent rising through the ranks of their farm system. The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Thursday afternoon that catcher Rafael Flores was one Yankees prospect who has been coveted by trade partners. Flores was promoted from Double-A Somerset to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last Saturday. Flores hit .287 with 15 home runs, 23 doubles, 48 runs, 56 RBIs, six stolen bases and an .841 OPS across 87 games in Double-A. Through six Triple-A contests, the 24-year-old catcher is batting .208 with one home runs, three runs, three RBIs and a .720 OPS. MLB Pipeline has Flores ranked as the Yankees' No. 8 prospect, making him the only catcher in the organization's top 25. The Yankees already swung a blockbuster deal with the Colorado Rockies on Friday, acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon, parting ways with pitching prospects Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz in order to complete the trade. The following day, superstar outfielder Aaron Judge hit the 10-day injured list with a flexor strain. Those two moves could change New York's plans for the coming days, including their willingness to move Flores. The future of second-year first baseman Ben Rice, who has spent roughly one-seventh of his time at catcher this season, could also play a part in determining Flores' availability. The trade deadline is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on Thursday.
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