🐺 Wolf Sports Weekly

The NFL is getting back into the swing of things, with all 32 teams beginning training camp by the end of the week. There’s some late breaking news this morning, with the NFLPA’s executive director Lloyd Howell telling The Washington Post that the NFL and NFLPA have begun discussions on an 18-game regular season before the end of the current CBA that expires March 2031.

🏈 Training camp storylines

We briefly highlighted five storylines to watch in last week’s newsletter, but there are storylines to keep in mind for every squad ahead of what should be another exciting season.

Go deeper: While we won’t overload you with all 32 here, you can dive into each storyline on wolfsports.com if interested.

🤔 Contracts situations to monitor

49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has requested a trade after he and the team could not reach a contract extension.

• The two sides have had a rocky relationship all offseason, which has included social media posts from Aiyuk and a recent in-person meeting with the organization.

• The prevailing thought is that the Niners have no desire to trade Aiyuk as they look to keep the roster together to go for a Super Bowl.

• San Francisco’s first training camp practice is this Thursday, and things will become even more interesting if and when Aiyuk doesn’t report.

Jets pass rusher Haason Reddick, who was acquired by New York via an offseason trade without a new deal in place, is holding out of training camp. Reddick is in the final year of his current contract and is set to make $14.5 million.

As they move close toward a lucrative contract extension, Packers quarterback Jordan Love is not practicing to begin training camp. So, this is basically a “hold in,” but Green Bay sounds fine with their quarterback not practicing—and general manager Brian Gutekunst told the media that the two sides feel like they are “close to a deal.”

Bengals owner Mike Brown says the team is unlikely to agree to a contract extension with star receiver Ja’Marr Chase this year, adding that they are going to “bend over backwards to get it done” but can’t say when—and that his deal is a challenge.

💰 Extensions and signings

Two big fellas received big contract extensions on the eve of training camp:

• The Broncos signed guard Quinn Meinerz to a four-year, $80 million extension.

• Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark signed a three-year, $64 million extension with the Packers.

And recent notable veteran additions are headlined by the Ravens adding safety Eddie Jackson, who was a First-Team All-Pro with the Bears in 2018 and former teammate of Baltimore linebacker Roquan Smith; the Dolphins brought back pass rusher Emmanuel Ogbah; and the Texans signed running back Cam Akers.

📝 NFL news and notes

Former Broncos and Buccaneers pass rusher Shaq Barrett, who won a Super Bowl with both franchises and was a Second-Team All-Pro in 2019, retired after ten NFL seasons. Barrett holds Tampa Bay’s single-season sack record with 19.5 during that 2019 campaign.

Veteran running back Kenyan Drake retired after eight years in the league. Drake had three seasons with 1,000+ yards from scrimmage, and among his highlights was the “Miami Miracle” where the Dolphins beat the Patriots on a lateral that he took to the house.

Longtime receiver Randall Cobb has joined the SEC Network as a college football studio analyst. However, he is not yet officially retiring from the NFL.

Transactions to start training camp include the Saints placing former All-Pro offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk (knee) on the reserve/PUP list, ending his season as a vested veteran placed on the PUP before final roster cuts. Other moves include:

• The Jets placed Mike Williams, coming off an ACL tear, on the PUP list.

• The Jaguars placed defensive tackle Arik Armstead on the PUP list.

• DB Brian Branch, DL DJ Reader, and OLB Marcus Davenport were placed on the PUP list.

• Packers receiver Jayden Reed was placed on the NFI list for a toe injury suffered at a youth camp, but he isn’t concerned about it.

• The 49ers placed rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall on the NFI list.

• The Panthers placed rookie running back Jonathon Brooks on the NFI list.

Saints receiver Rashid Shaheed signed a one-year, $5.2 million extension keeping him with the team through the 2025 season. Shaheed was an exclusive rights free agent.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh gave an emphatic defense of quarterback Lamar Jackson after the two-time MVP left practice with an illness. Harbaugh says their vision is that Jackson will become and “be recognized as the greatest quarterback ever to play in the history of the National Football League.”

Speaking of Lamar Jackson, he’s challenging Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman in a legal dispute over Aikman’s desire to use the number eight on apparel and bags. Aikman responded on X.

Fantasy-focused news to note:

• New Texans running back Joe Mixon says he trained harder than ever this offseason and expects to be among the NFL’s leaders in carries this year.

• Chiefs receiver Kadarius Toney is taking some running back snaps early during camp.

• Chiefs owner Clark Hunt says there have been no discussions with the league over potential punishment for receiver Rashee Rice yet. Many believe a suspension for his off-field issues will not happen in 2024.

The Jaguars unveiled throwback uniforms.

For the second straight week, we have Commanders front office news: Team president Jason Wright, the first black team president in NFL history, is moving on. Washington has gotten rid of their owner, president, general manager, head coach, and quarterback over the past year.

🙏 Honoring and remembering

Former Chiefs running back Abner Haynes, the first-ever AFL Player of the Year, died at 86.

The Vikings are honoring Khyree Jackson, who tragically died in a car accident earlier this month, with “KJ” helmet decals and pins during the 2024 season.

Other Sports Updates

🎆 The American League came back to beat the National League to win the 2024 MLB All-Star Game.

⛳️ Xander Schauffele (-9) won The Open for his second major of the year (PGA Championship). It’s the first time since 1982 that Americans won all four majors in a year.

⚾️ MLB news:

• Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies is out approximately eight weeks with a fractured wrist.

• Astros star Yordan Alvarez hit for the cycle.

• Insane: Nick Castellanos homered after President Biden dropped out of the 2024 race, continuing a trend of coming up clutch after massive, sometimes disastrous, world moments—and it came on the day when Thom Brennaman (where it all started) got a second chance to call college football with The CW. Just in recent weeks Castellanos has come through when:

  • The passing of Willie Mays was announced (walk-off, June 18).

  • There was an attempted assassination of President Trump (home run, July 13).

  • President Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and Thom Brennaman’s national comeback was announced (home run, July 21).

🙏 Ingrid Andress checked into rehab after a very bad National Anthem rendition ahead of the Home Run Derby. She says she was drunk, and that certainly explains the quality of her performance. We hope she comes back from this stronger.

🐺 Found on wolfsports.com

• 2024 Seahawks fantasy preview

• 2024 49ers fantasy preview

• 2024 Steelers fantasy preview

• 2024 Eagles fantasy preview

• 2024 NFL training camp storylines

• College Football 25 review

• Best teams to use in CFB 25 Dynasty Mode

• Latest MLB power rankings