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🏈 The NFL Hall of Fame Game is this Thursday! There was a ton to pack into this week’s edition, so let’s go. Our 2025 fantasy football draft guide is out on Friday. Get Fantasy Consigliere for the PDF version when it drops.
💰 NFL contract extensions continue
Keeping with the theme from last week, there were more massive new contracts in recent days headlined by Chargers OT Rashawn Slater signing a four-year, $114 million contract.
Slater’s deal keeps him with the Chargers through the 2029 season.
At $28.5 million per year, the deal makes Slater the highest paid OL in NFL history in terms of annual salary.
The Broncos locked up WR Courtland Sutton, signing him to a four-year, $92 million deal. Sutton was entering the final year of his contract and is coming off arguably the best season of his career with an 81/1,081/8 line during QB Bo Nix’s rookie season.
Indy is singing OT Bernhard Raimann to a four-year $100 million extension.
Versatile S Josh Metellus signed a three-year extension with the Vikings worth up to $42 million. Metellus has 100+ tackles in each of the past two seasons.
The Cowboys signed TE Jake Ferguson to a four-year, $52 million extension.
👏 Multiple retirement announcements
A plethora of NFL retirements hit last week: S Tyrann Mathieu, TE Jimmy Graham, LB Jordan Hicks, OL Justin Pugh, and EDGE Lorenzo Carter.
Mathieu was a three-time First-team All-Pro, a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, and won Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs.
Graham led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2013 (when he was named an All-Pro) and was of course a top target for Drew Brees in a career that spanned time with the Saints, Seahawks, Packers, and Bears.
10 NFL seasons for Hicks included 952 tackles, 51 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, 11 fumble recoveries, six forced fumbles, and 53 passes defended in a highly underrated career. Hicks was one of many key injured players on the Eagles team that won Super Bowl LII.
Pugh started 131 games during his time with the Giants and Cardinals.
Carter recorded 21.5 career sacks while playing for the Giants and Falcons.
👀 Raiders cut Christian Wilkins
The Raiders released star DT Christian Wilkins out of nowhere—one year after signing him to a $110 million deal.
Wilkins is due $57.5 million in guaranteed money, but there’s apparently going to be a fight over that—with a previous disagreement over whether Wilkins should get foot surgery.
The Raiders called it “necessary” for the organization to move forward.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter says Wilkins “playfully went to kiss a teammate on the top of his head,” which the other player was not happy about.
Bottom line: A disruptive player at this age (29) is rarely available at this time of year, and it’ll be interesting to see where the former first-rounder lands when healthy.
😕 The latest injury news
The Titans waived/injured former first-round WR Treylon Burks, who was the selection by Tennessee after trading A.J. Brown, after he suffered a broken collarbone during training camp.
Out for the season: Seahawks RB Kenny McIntosh, Dolphins CB Artie Burns, and Bucs OLB David Walker tore their ACL during camp.
Players out for now due to injury include: Texans RB Joe Mixon (foot, out an extended period with an eye toward Week 1), Cowboys OT Tyler Guyton (knee, out about a month-plus), Browns QB Kenny Pickett (hamstring), Cardinals first-round DT Walter Nolen III (calf, out a while, Week 1 in jeopardy), Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (hamstring), Falcons WR Darnell Mooney (shoulder, out for a few weeks), Cowboys G Rob Jones (neck, 2-3 months)
QB injuries: Rams QB Matthew Stafford (back) is out again this week as LA plays it safe. Jets QB Justin Fields is thankfully OK after a scare with a dislocated toe.
49ers GM John Lynch says the team is not close to a set timeline on the return of WR Brandon Aiyuk from a torn ACL.
📰 Everything else
Finally: The Bengals signed first-round pick Shemar Stewart after a contentious contract negotiation.
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin reported to training camp but is apparently staging a “hold in” and is on the PUP list due to an ankle.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson (shoulder) is practicing during training camp after missing time earlier this offseason.
Rams RB Kyren Williams, despite seeking a new contract, is practicing and says there was “no decision.”
Recent signings: Now playing LB, Jamal Adams (Raiders); S Julian Blackmon (Saints); CB Jack Jones, CB Mike Hilton (Dolphins); DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (Eagles); DE James Houston (Cowboys); CB Eli Apple, WR Equanimeous St. Brown (49ers)
Veteran RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson broke the news that the Steelers released him… on his off day.
Breaking news❗️❗️❗️Pittsburgh Steelers release old washed up cordarrelle patterson on his day off!!!
— cordarrelle patterson (@ceeflashpee84)
3:42 PM • Jul 28, 2025
Quick hits:
Bengals QB Joe Burrow will play more this preseason after slow starts to previous years.
Broncos QB Bo Nix spent time with Drew Brees this offseason.
Eagles DT Jordan Davis says he’s lost 26 pounds and looks to be in incredible shape.
Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase couldn’t contain himself when asking a reporter about a banana outfit.
Recent uniform news: Bills (red helmets), Packers (throwback), Saints (gold uniforms), and Browns (alternate helmets)—plus the eight 2025 NFL Rivalries uniform matchups are out.
Game of Thrones uniforms? The Bills posted a White Walker themed tease—which was shared by GoT—for their Rivalries uniform.
Other Sports Updates
🙏 Rest in Peace: WWE icon Hulk Hogan and MLB legend Ryne Sandberg both passed away.
🙌 Colorado HC Deion Sanders revealed that he’s been cured from cancer.
📰 The U.S. Olympic Committee will comply with President Trump’s Executive Order allowing only biological women to compete against each other.
💪 The A’s Nick Kurtz hit the 20th four-HR game in MLB history.
😳 Phillies star Bryce Harper reportedly cursed out MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in the team’s clubhouse.
🏈 President Trump signed an Executive Order to “SAVE COLLEGE SPORTS,” supported by Nick Saban—to, in part, curb “bidding wars” on players.