🐺 Wolf Sports Weekly

There is a ton of news around the NFL to get to this week, so let’s go.

✅ Big contract news

The Bengals and DE Trey Hendrickson have been trying to get a new contract done for months, and it finally came together yesterday—with the two sides agreeing a revised one-year contract.

• Hendrickson gets a massive $14 million raise, bringing his salary to $30 million for this season.

• It remains the last year of Hendrickson’s deal, so he can become a free agent in 2026.

• After not practicing all summer, the 2024 sack leader will look to quickly get up to speed with under two weeks until Cincy’s season opener against the Browns.

Earlier yesterday, the Commanders agreed with WR Terry McLaurin on a three-year deal worth up to $96 million—ending the holdout that turned into a hold-in that turned into him getting activated off the PUP to get in shape. Now, he’s back for Jayden Daniels and company.

For nice contracts to players who weren’t holding out: the Panthers extended star OT Taylor Moton through the 2027 season, and backup QB Tyson Bagent was emotional over signing a life-changing two-year extension with the Bears.

It’s not all great, though. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has made it clear in multiple interviews that he doesn’t care for Micah Parson’s agent.

• Jones says he and Parsons already agreed to a deal, and that the agent isn’t necessary.

• As for Parsons, he was the only Cowboy not wearing his jersey on the sideline during the final preseason game—and was seen relaxing on the trainer’s table.

• Then, potential future NFLPA president Darrelle Revis called out Jones with a statement.

We’re just over a week from Dallas facing Philadelphia in the Kickoff Game, with Parsons’ status looking legitimately uncertain.

🫨 Tracking the other biggest news

There’s a ton to know and track from the past week, and these are more of the top highlights beyond the contract news:

• The Colts officially named Daniel Jones their starting QB, with HC Shane Steichen calling Jones their “starting quarterback for the season”—no flip-flopping with former No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson.

• Texans RB Joe Mixon will remain on the NFI list and miss at least the first four games of the season while dealing with his mysterious ankle/foot injury.

• Raiders WR news: Amari Cooper is back with the team that drafted him, while Jakobi Meyers requested a trade.

• The 49ers acquired RB Brian Robinson Jr. from the Commanders, with HC Kyle Shanahan calling him their No. 2 RB. San Fran also traded for former Chiefs second-round pick WR Skyy Moore.

• Vegas is acquiring QB Kenny Pickett from the Browns for a fifth-rounder.

• The Vikings signed former No. 2 overall pick QB Carson Wentz.

• Dolphins add CB Rasul Douglas.

There were more trades, including the Eagles making three trades in one day: Philly acquired QB Sam Howell from the Vikings, brought back OT Fred Johnson from the Jaguars, and traded OL Darian Kinnard to the Packers; the Saints dealt a fourth-rounder to the Broncos for WR Devaughn Vele; Colts get DB Mekhi Blackmon from Vikings; and the Jets acquired DL Harrison Phillips and DL Jowon Briggs, while trading DL Derek Nnadi back to the Chiefs.

🏈 Preseason finale

Let’s start with the good from the final week of the 2025 NFL preseason. Giants QBs Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston, and Tommy DeVito combined for five touchdowns against the Patriots; watch every preseason completion from under-the-radar No. 1 overall pick Cameron Ward; and Buccaneers rookie WR Tez Johnson looked great—and did a backflip after a TD.

On the negative side, unfortunately Browns QB Shedeur Sanders—sacked five times—and S Shilo Sanders, who was ejected for throwing a punch and then waived by the Bucs, it was not a great final week. Shedeur is fully expected to remain with the Browns after the Kenny Pickett trade.

📰 Everything else in the NFL

The 53-man roster deadline is today at 4:00 PM ET. Early cuts include: Lions QB Hendon Hooker, Buccaneers QB Kyle Trask (injury settlement), Giants QB Tommy DeVito, Patriots G Layden Robinson (waived/injured, 2024 fourth-rounder), Dolphins CB Mike Hilton.

PUP news: Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs (knee) was taken off the PUP list and has a shot to play in Week 1; the Giants activated star OT Andrew Thomas; Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. will not start the season on the PUP list, but Tampa doesn’t expect him to play until October.

Patriots 2024 second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk (shoulder) is expected to be out for the season, but HC Mike Vrabel says he’s not sure and would like to find out who the “rats” in the building putting out these reports are.

More injury news: Falcons OT Kaleb McGary (knee, out a while), Bengals G Cordell Volson (shoulder, likely out for season), Steelers first-round DT Derrick Harmon (knee, week-to-week), Bucs WR Jalen McMillan (neck, likely out half the season), Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell (wrist, six-to-eight weeks).

NFL officials will crack down on gestures, call more unsportsmanlike penalties in 2025.

A bullet broke through Chiefs HC Andy Reid’s office in May 2024—with no arrests or charges made in the case.

Other Sports Updates

🏈 College football got underway with Week 0, headlined by No. 22 Iowa State beating No. 17 Kansas State in Dublin.

⚾️ Phillies ace Zack Wheeler is officially out for the season after surgery to remove a blood clot from his shoulder.

👨‍⚖️ Former Northwestern HC Pat Fitzgerald settled his $130 million lawsuit with the school two years after his firing.

⛳️ Finally: Tommy Fleetwood won the TOUR Championship for his first PGA victory.

📺 YouTube TV and FOX are in conflict, potentially creating an issue for NFL games airing for YouTube TV users if no agreement is reached before the season.

🤔 Boxing news: Jake Paul will face “Tank” Davis in a November 15 exhibition on Netflix.

🐺 Found on wolfsports.com

• 2025 fantasy football values in the top 100 (🔒)

• Fantasy Football Mock Draft 8.0: 12-team, 0.5 PPR

• YouTube: Ranking the NFL’s Franchise QBs

• Latest fantasy football rankings changes (🔒)

• Hard Knocks Episode 3 Superlatives

• College football power rankings