Indeed that is the case, as the Lions placed Rakestraw on injured reserve after he underwent shoulder surgery on Thursday. As a result, the 2024 second-round pick out of Missouri will miss the entire 2025 season.

Prior to his procedure, Rakestraw posted a picture of himself in a hospital gown to his Instagram story with the caption, "Road to Be back starts soon."

The shoulder injury was yet another setback for the second-year pro, who was already dealing with a chest contusion suffered during the first day of training camp. His rookie campaign, during which he recorded six tackles across eight games, was also shortened by injuries to his ankle and hamstring.

Aiyuk is battling back from a serious right knee injury that included tears to the ACL and MCL. He was injured in Week 7 of last season.

San Francisco general manager John Lynch told KNBR on Thursday that Aiyuk is making progress but the team isn't ready to put a date on his return.

"There's just steps that you have to continue to hit and I'll continue to say that Brandon is doing very well in his rehab," Lynch said. "Do we have an exact date right now? No. I don't think it'll be Week 1, but hopefully I'm surprised. We'll see -- continue to watch him work his way through his rehab. But we want him fully healthy.

"He had a significant injury, so you have to do a significant rehab. He's doing a really good job with that, and we got to continue to do so."

Aiyuk was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list prior to training camp. If he is still on the PUP list at the outset of the season, he will be required to miss at least the first four games.

Aiyuk, 27, had 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns over seven games last season after developing into a star over the previous two campaigns. Aiyuk caught a career-high 78 passes for 1,015 yards and a career-best eight touchdowns in 2022, followed by 75 receptions for a career-high 1,342 yards in 2023.

Also, rookie running back Jordan James will miss time after injuring a finger earlier this week.

"Jordan James broke his finger, so he's getting surgery on that," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. "He'll be out a couple of weeks."

James was a fifth-round pick in April's draft. He rushed for 2,215 yards and 31 touchdowns in three seasons at Oregon.

The 49ers also released veteran cornerback Eli Apple on Thursday, a little more than a week after signing him.

He expressed his thoughts on Daboll and other topics while speaking with reporters on Wednesday.

"Daboll's got a beautiful mind, how he sees the game, he's coached tremendous football players, he's won Super Bowls, he's been around winning -- national championships, all that stuff," Wilson said. "... I think that the best part is in terms of the knowledge and what we get to share back and forth is pretty cool.

"... Just over the years, all my experience, his experience, how we see the game the same way."

Wilson also sang the praises of assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, who will continue calling plays for the Giants in 2025.

"Obviously Kaf's played the game, played the position, he sees it like the quarterback does and he's got a great viewpoint of the game," said Wilson. "We get to spend a lot of time together in the quarterback room and I think Kaf is a really brilliant mind, too.

"I think the ability to share ideas, the collaboration, is what's really special here."

Kafka, with the Giants' coaching staff since 2022, also highlighted the importance of communication with his new pivot.

"Yeah, just opening up (those) lines of communication, having dialogue on plays that he likes, things that I like, things that are within the offense already, maybe there's some crossover, maybe there's some new thoughts," said the former journeyman QB. "It's just about opening those lines of communication."

After two down years with the Denver Broncos in 2022 and 2023, Wilson started 11 regular-season games for the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, posting a 6-5 record while passing for 2,482 yards (225.6 per game), 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He added another two scores on the ground.

Now the 2013 Super Bowl champion is adapting to another new team in New York and transitioning well.

"It's going great," said Wilson. "I think guys are working their butts off, man. We're battling every day, going against a really good defense every day, too, so it's even better.

"You always want practice to be harder than the games, that mentality of that. ... I think we're getting better every day."

Wilson has also expressed his eagerness to play alongside talented second-year receiver Malik Nabers.

"I mean, that was (the) first thing I told you guys when I watched him on film. ... It was just his explosiveness," said Wilson of the 2024 sixth overall pick out of LSU. "Once he catches the football, there's only so many people in the world that can do it like he can and I think he's one of the best in the world to do it.

"He's going into a second year of it all and it's all fresh and all new, but he's definitely experienced in terms of how he sees the game, his mentality attacking the football in the air. ... It's going to be a special thing. I'm excited to play with him, obviously."

At age 36, Wilson added that he's already enjoying playing for his fourth NFL team.

"I love this locker room, the guys, just the fellowship that we have together all the way from the lunchroom to the film room after practice," Wilson said. "...It's been great, man. I am truly grateful to be a New York Giant."

Rice is dealing with a groin injury, according to the team.

The third-year wideout was spotted working on the sidelines with trainers and receiver Hollywood Brown (ankle).

Rice, 25, sat out the majority of the 2024 season after suffering a torn ligament (LCL) in his right knee that required season-ending surgery. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had thrown an interception and dove into Rice's leg as they were attempting to make a tackle.

Over the first three weeks, Rice was among the top receivers in the league with two touchdowns and 288 receiving yards (an average of 96 per game).

In 20 career games, the 2023 second-round pick out of SMU has recorded 1,226 receiving yards, 103 receptions and nine touchdowns over his first two seasons with the Chiefs.

Rice is still awaiting news of a potential NFL suspension after he caused a multi-car crash in Dallas in March 2024. He pleaded guilty in July to two third-degree felony charges of collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury. Rice was sentenced to five years of probation (deferred), 30 days in jail, and required to pay approximately $115,000 in medical expenses for the victims.

He also agreed separately to a $1.086 million settlement in a civil case.

"I've completely changed," Rice said at training camp. "You have to learn from things like that."

The NFL transaction wire was cited as the source of the suspension, but the NFL didn't reveal why Walker was disciplined.

If Walker joins a team, he wouldn't be eligible to play until Week 13 at the earliest.

Walker, 30, spent six seasons with the Detroit Lions (2018-23) before being released. He joined the San Francisco 49ers in August 2024 but didn't see any action before being released in late September.

Walker, a third-round pick in 2018 out of Louisiana, has 398 tackles, four sacks and three interceptions in 79 games (43 starts).

The nature of Meyer's injury was not disclosed.

Meyer is listed as the backup center on the depth chart the team released Wednesday.

"He's had a great camp, really stepped his game, and I'm very impressed with his play," McDaniel told reporters. "He will be out weeks, but he's built a strong foundation as one of the top performers if you want to talk about growth of game. One of the top guys from year one to year two that has made tremendous strides."

The Dolphins signed Meyer as an undrafted free agent in 2024 after a standout college career at UTEP. He didn't see any action for Miami last season.

The Dolphins also are currently without starting right tackle Austin Jackson (lower leg) and backup guard Liam Eichenberg (knee).

Pittsburgh opens its preseason schedule at the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, and Rodgers said he expects to have "an interesting conversation" with Tomlin regarding his reps in the matchup.

"I don't think it's in the plan for me to play this week," Rodgers said, "but whatever Mike wants to do, I'm fully on board."

The NFL's oldest active player, Rodgers, 41, appeared in an exhibition game for the New York Jets two years ago. But you would have to go back to 2018 to find his previous performance in a game that did not count.

Pittsburgh has four quarterbacks on its depth chart, with Mason Rudolph backing up Rodgers, who ranks fifth and seventh in career passing touchdowns and yards, respectively, and signed a one-year deal in June.

Rookie Will Howard is listed as the third-string QB, although the national champion from Ohio State will not be available on Saturday with a hand injury after smacking it against a helmet in Tuesday's practice. Skylar Thompson is QB4 on the depth chart.

While Rodgers said he's "totally on board" with playing preseason reps if Tomlin requests him to, he told 93.7 The Fan that "preseason football is not necessarily real football, because defenses don't really do a lot."

For his part, Tomlin was non-committal about Rodgers' participation in the exhibition opener.

"I can't see past Wednesday at this juncture," Tomlin told reporters. "At this stage of development, Saturday is a long way away. Seriously, we're just trying to have good days."

During a joint practice with the Washington Commanders in Foxborough, Mass., the first-year Patriots coach jumped into a pile of players and came away with a bloodied cheek.

The scrum occurred after New England rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson went to block a blitzing Commander, which quickly escalated into multiple players piling up on the field.

Vrabel, who turns 50 on Aug. 14, later needed a bag of ice on his right cheek, but his actions drew praise from Patriots players.

"That's what we're trying to build and it starts with the head coach -- intensity, bringing it every day, taking no crap when we're out there on the field," New England quarterback Drake Maye said. "The mentality, I like it. That's what you want."

Maye added that the Patriots will review the film of Vrabel getting involved in the squabble, which was quickly de-escalated. Washington and New England are set to open their preseason schedules against each other on Friday.

ESPN's draft rights had expired after the 2025 event in Green Bay.

The extension came in the wake of this week's news that ESPN is selling a 10 percent equity stake to the NFL.

The NFL confirmed a "multi-year extension" on Wednesday but did not provide a specific end date.

The year 2030 is significant as it will mark the 50th edition of the draft on ESPN, which launched in 1979 and began broadcasting the event the following year.

Starting with the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Disney+ and Hulu will also begin streaming draft coverage.

Kittle interrupted an NFL Network interview at training camp on Tuesday to "air a grievance" about the policy.

"Our team had a memo today that smelling salts and ammonia packets were made illegal in the NFL, and I've been distraught all day," said Kittle, who added that he uses the substances on "every drive."

Starting this season, teams are prohibited from "providing or supplying ammonia in any form" on game days either on the field or in the locker room, according to the league memo.

"In 2024, the FDA issued a warning to companies that produce commercially available ammonia inhalants (AIs), as well as to consumers about the purchase and use of AIs, regarding the lack of evidence supporting the safety or efficacy of AIs marketed for improving mental alertness or boosting energy," the memo says, per ESPN. "The FDA noted potential negative effects from AI use. AIs also have the potential to mask certain neurological signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion."

Kittle, 31, is far from the only NFL player who regularly uses smelling salts. That includes athletes in other sports, including ice hockey.

The six-time Pro Bowler said he has always used them for a boost of energy, joking that the change made him consider hanging up his cleats.

"I considered retirement," Kittle said. "We have got to figure out a middle ground here, guys. Somebody help me out. Somebody come up with a good idea. That's all I had to get out there. Get that off my chest."

Coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the move on Wednesday.

The Browns have five quarterbacks in camp, but only two -- Sanders and newly signed Tyler Huntley -- are expected to play against the Panthers.

Kenny Pickett and rookie Dillon Gabriel are nursing hamstring injuries, and Stefanski and staff already know what 40-year-old Joe Flacco can do.

Stefanski said a number of veterans are unlikely to take the field.

"It's a great opportunity for all of our young players in that football game," he said.

The Browns selected Gabriel, 24, in the third round of the draft from Oregon and Sanders, 23, in the fifth round from Colorado. Sanders, who played for his father, Deion Sanders, in college, had been considered a first-round talent.

Huntley, 27, started five games last season with the Miami Dolphins in place of an injured Tua Tagovailoa. He had a 2-3 record, completing 86 of 133 pass attempts for 829 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions.

Stafford received an epidural to address a back injury and has been considered week-to-week by head coach Sean McVay.

NFL Network reported that Stafford is nursing an aggravated disc, however the former Super Bowl champion remains in the plan to take the field for the Rams' season opener against the Houston Texans on Sept. 7 in Inglewood, Calif.

Stafford, 37, completed 340 of 517 passes (65.8 percent) for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions while starting all 16 games that he played in 2024. He also was 45 of 71 (63.4 percent) for 533 yards, four TDs and no picks in two playoff games last season.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Stafford has completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 59,809 yards, 377 TDs and 188 interceptions in 222 regular-season games (all starts) with the Detroit Lions (2009-20) and Rams. The Lions selected him with the first overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft out of Georgia.

Stafford led the Rams to a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

He was on his way to training camp when the accident occurred at the corner of Mint and Morehead streets, just a mile from the team's training facility and in the shadows of their home field, Bank of America Stadium.

The Panthers said Horn was traveling alone and that no one involved in the accident was transported by emergency medical personnel due to injury. Team medical staff evaluated Horn's condition instead.

Horn, 25, is entering his fifth season with the Panthers, who selected him with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He played a career-high 15 games (all starts) last season and was named to the Pro Bowl. He had one interception, 13 passes defensed, two sacks and 68 tackles.

He signed a four-year, $100 million contract extension with the Panthers in March.

The rookie left practice early Tuesday after suffering the right-hand injury, which is believed to have occurred as he took the ball from the center at training camp in Latrobe, Pa.

NFL Network said Howard was having additional tests but would miss at least three weeks.

That timeline would knock Howard out of preseason games, where he had hoped to compete with Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson for the backup job to Aaron Rodgers.

Now, his preseason learning is likely to come by watching veterans Rodgers and Rudolph and not through getting preseason reps. Howard, 23, was expected to get a long look in the preseason opener on Saturday in Jacksonville.

Pittsburgh selected Howard in the sixth round of April's NFL draft out of Ohio State, where he led the Buckeyes to a national championship in his lone season at the school.

In four seasons at Kansas State and one at Ohio State, Howard threw for 9,796 yards, 83 touchdowns and 35 interceptions, including 4,010 yards, 35 TDs and 10 picks in 16 games last year.

The Chargers announced his return Tuesday evening. NFL Network reported Allen has agreed to a one-year, $8.52 million deal.

Allen was a six-time Pro Bowl selection during 11 seasons with the Chargers from 2013-23 -- the first four when the franchise was located in San Diego before the move to Los Angeles.

Allen ranks second in Chargers history with 904 receptions and 10,530 receiving yards, trailing Antonio Gates (955 and 11,841, respectively), in both categories. Allen (59) is third on the franchise's career receiving touchdowns list behind Gates (116) and fellow Hall of Famer Lance Alworth (81).

Allen, 33, ranks third among active NFL players with 974 receptions and has collected 100 or more catches on five occasions, including a team-record 108 in 2023. He is sixth among active players with 11,274 career receiving yards and eighth with 66 touchdown catches. He has played in 154 career NFL games.

Last season, Allen had 70 receptions for 744 yards and seven touchdowns for the Bears.

The deal, pending final approval by NFL owners and other conditions, will bring major NFL media properties under the Disney-owned network and expand ESPN's football offerings across both traditional and streaming platforms.

"Since its launch in 2003, NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Whether it was debuting Thursday Night Football, televising the Combine, or telling incredible football stories through original shows and breaking news, NFL Network has delivered. The Network's sale to ESPN will build on this remarkable legacy, providing more NFL football for more fans in new and innovative ways."

Under the agreement, NFL Network and RedZone will be integrated into ESPN's upcoming direct-to-consumer streaming service while remaining available via cable and satellite. NFL Fantasy would merge with ESPN Fantasy, creating the official season-long fantasy platform of the league.

As part of a second agreement between the sides, ESPN will also gain rights to license three additional NFL games per season, while four games will shift from ESPN to NFL Network.

"This is an exciting day for sports fans," ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. "By combining these NFL media assets with ESPN's reach and innovation, we're creating a premier destination for football fans. Together, ESPN and the NFL are redefining how fans engage with the game--anytime, anywhere. This deal helps fuel ESPN's digital future, laying the foundation for an even more robust offering as we prepare to launch our new direct-to-consumer service."

The NFL will retain ownership of key properties including NFL Films, NFL+, NFL.com and the NFL Podcast Network, and will continue producing and distributing the digital version of RedZone independently.

The 54-year-old, who played for the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants in the 1990s, now faces up to 30 years in prison and fines totaling up to $1.5 million.

The charges stem from a years-long investigation into Johnson's operation, which authorities say was responsible for one of the largest dogfighting cases ever prosecuted in the U.S.

Federal agents seized 190 dogs from Johnson's properties in Broken Arrow and Haskell, Okla., calling it the largest seizure of its kind in a federal dogfighting case. Many of the animals were found to be injured or scarred. Investigators also uncovered equipment used to train dogs for fighting, including treadmills, bite sticks, steroids and detailed records of fights and breeding activity.

Prosecutors said Johnson operated under the name "Mal Kant Kennels," where he bred and sold dogs -- mostly pit bulls-- trained for fighting. Evidence presented at trial included financial records showing more than $400,000 in sales over four years, with transactions conducted via Cash App, some involving out-of-state and even international buyers.

This was not Johnson's first brush with the law over animal cruelty. He was previously convicted on state animal fighting charges in Oklahoma in 2005 but avoided prison time. Authorities believe Johnson may have been involved in dogfighting even during his NFL career, which ended in 1999.

Harrison's return means he may be available for Arizona's preseason opener Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said Tuesday that unlike last year, he will play his starters for some amount of time in the first preseason game.

Harrison, 22, missed practice on Thursday and Friday while dealing with knee soreness, then felt ill over the weekend.

He played in all 17 games for Arizona as a rookie (starting 16) and finished the year with 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns. He was the fourth overall pick of the 2024 draft.

Fellow receiver Michael Wilson, a projected starter, remains sidelined with a concussion.

Steelers beat reporter Mark Kaboly said Howard gave a thumbs up as he left the practice field and the injury isn't expected to be serious.

Pittsburgh drafted Howard in the sixth round of April's NFL draft out of Ohio State, where he led the Buckeyes to a national championship in his lone season at the school.

In four seasons at Kansas State and one at Ohio State, Howard threw for 9,796 yards, 83 touchdowns and 35 interceptions, including 4,010 yards, 35 TDs and 10 picks in 16 games last year.

Howard is competing with Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson for a backup QB spot behind Aaron Rodgers.

Richardson and veteran Daniel Jones are battling for the job and listed as co-No. 1s on the depth chart. Colts coach Shane Steichen is trying to make it an even competition.

For example, Richardson is slated to play 1 1/2 quarters against the Ravens with Jones finishing out the first half. But in the second preseason game against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 16, Jones will start and play 1 1/2 quarters with Richardson finishing out the first half.

"In a perfect world, that's how I want it to play out," Steichen said Tuesday following a joint practice against the Ravens in Owing Mills, Md.

Steichen has said he has no problem waiting until the three-game preseason is over before making a decision.

Richardson, 23, is 8-7 as a starter for Indianapolis since being selected with the No. 4 overall pick in 2023 out of Florida. He has endured multiple injuries that limited him to four games in 2023 and 11 last season.

Richardson has completed just 50.6 percent of his passes for 2,391 yards and 11 TDs with 13 interceptions. He has rushed for 635 yards and 10 scores.

Jones spent five-plus seasons with the New York Giants before finishing last year with the Minnesota Vikings. He signed a one-year, $14 million deal as a free agent with the Colts in the offseason.

Drafted No. 6 overall by New York in 2019 out of Duke, Jones compiled a 24-44-1 record as a starter for the Giants while passing for 14,582 yards, 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions and rushing for 2,179 yards and 15 scores.

Indianapolis opens the regular season with a home game against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 7.