NFL

Morton previously worked as a senior offensive assistant with Campbell’s 2022 Lions squad before serving as the Broncos’ pass game coordinator in 2023-2024. While Birkett expects “the Lions to throw the ball downfield more under Morton,” we can also safely expect Morton to continue featuring Jahmyr Gibbs in the passing game. Both Campbell’s 2022-2024 Lions offenses and the Broncos’ 2023-2024 offenses ranked top 12 in total targets thrown to the running back position annually. Gibbs should again contend for the overall RB1 spot in PPR formats.

Morton spent the 2022 season serving as a Lions senior offensive assistant before heading to Denver to serve as the Broncos’ pass game coordinator from 2023-2024. While Jared Goff (7.0) and Bo Nix (7.8) operated via similar aDOTs last year, Nix’s 126 passes thrown 15-plus yards downfield rank third among NFL QBs and hold a 23-pass edge over Goff, whose 103 qualifying attempts rank 13th. Increasing the Lions’ downfield passing frequency would benefit speedster Jameson Williams, who Morton talked up as a breakout candidate last week. Williams finished as the PPR WR22 last season.

Per Fowler, Conerly is “expected to sign Tuesday.” Unless something goes awry, Commanders fans can effectively count this as a signing. The deal is reportedly worth $15.68 million. It is unclear which position Conerly will play. He could compete with last year’s rookie LT Brandon Coleman for the starting right tackle gig, with former Texans LT Laremy Tunsil now in the fold, or perhaps, one of Conerly or Coleman will compete with LG Nick Allegretti. Regardless, the Commanders now have a sturdy offensive line group capable of protecting Jayden Daniels.

Williams’ stable rushing metrics have suffered since tearing his ACL and LCL, while also damaging the posterolateral corner of his knee. Over the last two seasons, Williams’ missed tackle forced rate (0.16) has dropped by 50.0 percent of his pre-injury form and his post-contact yardage average likewise decreased by 0.8 yards. Thus far in organized team activities, “Williams has been taking a majority of the first team reps at running back,” but as Yarrish notes, “there are a lot of bodies” in the Cowboys running back room. Per Williams, it remains unclear as to “what kind of rotation will be utilized” by new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, or “if there will be one at all.” Williams’ early first-team repetitions serve as a positive sign, but there is a long way to go before the depth chart is established. For now, Williams should only be viewed as a member of an unsettled committee.

Underhill described Rattler as being in “total control of the offense” and looked “really, really good” while hitting “throws with a high degree of difficulty.” Now, as Underhill also points out, a second-year player “should look better” than Shough, who was participating in just “his fourth practice with an NFL team.” Underhill does not know whether “this is going to lead to wins, or results,” but declared the competition “rejuvenating” for a team in need of leadership. While neither Rattler nor Shough is likely to produce fantasy football QB1 results, the starter could work his way onto QB2 streaming radar, aided by the Saints’ talented receiving corps.

Bair notes that there’s a “fan contingent pushing for Nick Chubb,” but he views Dobbins, who is “coming off a strong 2024 season,” as “a safer bet.” Those of us outside the Bears’ building cannot know what GM Ryan Poles plans to do, but Bair’s suggestion reflects a consensus that the Bears could benefit from adding “a physicality to the attack that’s beneficial to [head coach] Ben Johnson’s scheme.” If the Bears intend to sign Dobbins, they have until July 22nd, at which point the unrestricted free agent tender that the Chargers placed on him would give the Chargers “exclusive negotiating rights” on a new deal. Contract value is seemingly key here. Bair cites a prior Yahoo! Sports report in which “Poles said he didn’t have a running back graded highly enough when the Bears’ pick came up in the first six rounds.” They held firm, prioritizing offensive and defensive passing game players, rather than reaching for a running back. The Bears’ front office may be able to lower Dobbins’ asking price by offering him a role he will not find in a crowded Chargers running back room.

Rather than dish out even reps to his quarterback room this offseason, Stefanski said the goal will be “to give everybody enough reps where we can learn more about them and prepare them to get ready to play.” While it’s possible things still shake out more evenly than what’s being suggested here, it’s worth pointing out that veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett could find themselves on the shorter end of reps as rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are more likely to be the team’s long-term answer at the position. Stefanski will undoubtedly want to have his entire QB room prepared for the start of the season as he enters the season fresh off an underwhelming 2024 campaign that saw his team go 3-14, but giving two rookies ample reps in camp could bode well for his team’s outlook beyond this season.

Speaking at a press conference earlier in the week, Crosby said of his practice at Raiders camp, “It’s been incredible being out there with my teammates, just being able to fully be myself, not hesitate on any type of cut and just cut it loose.” The star pass rusher seems to be doing well after undergoing season-ending ankle surgery last season, and is hoping the team’s first year under Pete Carroll will bring better fortunes than last year’s 4-13 finish under Antonio Pierce. Crosby totaled 7.5 sacks for the Raiders in 12 games, but totaled 27 sacks and 45 TFLs in the previous two seasons combined. His being at 100 percent to start the season will be crucial to a defense that hopes to take a massive leap forward this season.

Irsay-Gordon previously assumed control of the Colts during Irsay’s six-game suspension in 2014, perhaps setting a precedent along the way. Florio adds that Irsay-Gordon’s sisters, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, will also remain co-owners, though their expected involvement has not yet been reported on.