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The Las Vegas Raiders watched cornerback Jakorian Bennett gradually grow into one of the better cornerbacks in the National Football League last season. After an inconsistent and injury-filled rookie season, Bennett returned last season playing the best football of his young career.
Over the first half of last season, it was evident Bennett had improved, as he registered some of the best statistics of any cornerback in the league. However, just like his rookie season, Bennett was bitten by the injury bug and missed significant time last season.
In his two seasons in the league, Bennett has proven he can play with the best of the best. He even stood toe to toe with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver JaMarr Chase last season. However, Bennett has not proven he can stay healthy.
Following minicamp, Bennett explained his progression and development since being drafted. Now entering his third season in the league, Bennett aims to help out the rest of the Raiders' cornerbacks. There are few players the Raiders' defense is depending on more this season than Bennett.
"No, I wouldn't call myself an old man. It's good to have some experience, like I've been through a lot since I've been here. Third head coach, third DB coach in three years. I just try to drop down the knowledge to the guys, the young guys, because knowledge is power. So yeah, I'm just trying to do my due diligence, and just try to help everybody out," Bennett said.
"No, that's just the type of person I am. Just from those times in July, August, and training camp, just kind of building that bond, you see a lot of guys going through a lot of things, just playing through a lot of things, and I just so happen to have been playing through a lot of it. And so, it's just mentality, man, like, it's a difference between being injured and hurt. If I'm just hurting, it's cool, like, but if I'm injured, then you got to make some decisions. But, man, my mindset is just go out there, be the best version of myself, just be a dog, and just help the team win."
Time will tell if Bennett will be able to stay healthy this upcoming season.
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Saints quarterback has 'convincing lead' in training camp battle
The New Orleans Saints' three-way quarterback competition is narrowing before the team's first preseason contest against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Per Ross Jackson of Louisiana Sports, second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler has looked the best at training camp this summer, going 83-of-114 passing (72.8 percent) for eight touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and four interceptions. Rattler is beating out rookie Tyler Shough. The second-round pick has completed just 62 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and three interceptions. 2023 fourth-round pick Jake Haener has completed 69.6 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and one Interception. Jackson believes first-year head coach Kellen Moore is priming Rattler as the favorite to start in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals. "Over the team’s 10 practices, these three young passers have seen their chance to earn the starting role to begin the season in a rotation of first-team reps," Jackson wrote. "But there are decisions the Saints have made in the process that indicate a favorite. "After looking over individual performance stats, practice rep distribution and the team’s treatment of each quarterback throughout the important and highly-productive scrimmages on camp day 10, it’s become clear that Rattler is comfortably in the lead, for now." Jackson thinks Rattler can fend off his "convincing lead" for the starting job if he plays competently against the Chargers on Sunday. Rattler feels like the safe choice for Moore over Shough and Haener, at least to start the regular season. He appeared in seven games and started in six in 2024. Rattler played inconsistently as a rookie, throwing four touchdowns to five interceptions. However, he's had time to develop. Given his numbers in training camp, Rattler appears to be the most polished quarterback before the regular season. Shough could eventually develop into the Saints' best option, but the rookie's completion percentage against friendly competition at camp is low before he even faces live action in the preseason.
Rams share worrisome Matthew Stafford update ahead of preseason opener
Los Angeles Rams veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford has had a "week-to-week" designation throughout training camp as he deals with lingering back soreness. According to ESPN's Sarah Barshop and Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed on Sunday that Stafford won't participate in Monday's jog-through practice. "He’ll be doing a workout on his own during that time period," McVay said. "He is able to do a little bit more, which is good, and things are progressing well, but he won’t take part in the jog-through because he’ll be doing some other stuff." Stafford also won't take part in Los Angeles' joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday. Barshop noted that 2023 fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett IV, who has never taken a meaningful snap as a pro, "is expected to start for the Rams" in the team's preseason opener against Dallas this coming Saturday. It's unclear if Stafford will be available for the Rams' joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 13. The Rams play the Chargers on Aug. 16 and then end the preseason with a matchup against the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 23. "It’s static throwing," McVay said about what Stafford will do on Monday. "It’s some of the unloaded running on the treadmill. Sometimes it might even be walking. He’s able to do a little lighter cardio and able to do some good core work. It’s more just functional strength surrounding the area, making sure you don’t do anything to set yourself back based on the trajectory he’s doing. We are looking forward to getting him and easing him back into football, hopefully in the near future." It's no secret that the Rams at least considered trading Stafford to either the New York Giants or Las Vegas Raiders after he turned 37 years old this past February. While the Rams worked out an agreement to keep Stafford as their QB1, the club could part ways with him next offseason if his body betrays him or he looks like a player past his physical prime during the upcoming campaign. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Rams sixth among the betting favorites at +1000 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LX. Such information suggests Los Angeles may want to consider looking for an upgrade over current backup signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo, who hasn't shown he can be a winning QB1 with any regularity since the 2022 season.
Matt LaFleur sheds light on concerning Tucker Kraft situation
The Green Bay Packers continued work on the field on Saturday, with tens of thousands of fans in attendance watching amid the annual Family Night. However, one notable player who was not able to make it to the field and practice was tight end Tucker Kraft. The former South Dakota State Jackrabbits star is nursing a lower-body injury, forcing the Packers to take it easy on the tight end and keep him on the shelf rather than risk aggravation of the issue. Speaking to the media, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur opened up about Kraft’s status, via Green Bay reporter Rob Demovsky of ESPN. “MLF said Tucker Kraft has been dealing with a groin injury and powering through it for the last two days but they decided to give him a couple days off.” Kraft is expected to be among the major targets in the Packers’ passing attack in his third year in the pros. Selected in the third round (78th overall) by the Packers in the 2023 NFL draft, the 24-year-old Kraft is looking to surpass his production in 2024, when he posted 707 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 50 receptions.
Toronto Marlies sign Alex Nylander to 1-year contract
The Toronto Marlies signed three forwards to one-year contracts on Monday, including Alex Nylander. Nylander joined the Maple Leafs organization ahead of the 2024-25 season, recording 23 goals and 44 points in 64 games with the Marlies. The 27-year-old also played five games with the Maple Leafs, where he did not register a point. Nylander previously recorded 11 goals and 15 points in 23 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2023-24 campaign. He will be afforded a chance to make the Leafs’ roster out of training camp, but it will be an uphill battle given the team’s improved depth across their forward corps. Alex Nylander made his Leafs debut with his brother, William, during a November game against the Utah Hockey Club, where the entire team couldn’t help but be thrilled for the duo. “I think it’s great for sure,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of the Nylander brothers playing together in November. “You know, anytime you can play with your brother and play some shifts with your brother and be on the ice with him, that’s a special thing. Very happy with both of them and their dad, who was a player in the league for a long time.” Toronto also signed Brandon Baddock and Luke Grainger to one-year deals. Baddock joined the Marlies midway through the 2024-25 season, spending the past two seasons with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. He recorded one goal in seven games with the Marlies, after registering three goals and seven points in 38 games with the IceHogs. Baddock has played in one NHL game, with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2021-22 season. Grainger recorded nine goals and 21 points in 36 games with the ECHL’s Wichita Thunder. It’s been a busy offseason for the Marlies, who previously signed five players to one-year deals on July 8, with Marko Sikic as the headliner of the group. Cedric Pare and Sam Stevens are also coming back on one-year contracts. Toronto begins its regular season against the Rochester Americans in a home-and-home through October 10-11.
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