Clark Lea realized he needed to make big changes to help his Vanderbilt Commodores compete in a larger and more challenging Southeastern Conference.
Entering his fourth season, Lea put his alma mater through a major overhaul. He acknowledged that the program had fallen behind in using the transfer portal and in helping athletes get endorsement deals.
“I’m proud of efforts we made to position our program to get back on track,” Lea said.
Lea had little choice after Vanderbilt finished 2-10 for the second time during his tenure. His record stands at 9-27 after leaving his job as defensive coordinator at Notre Dame to try to revive the program he supported as a fan before playing for the Commodores.
Clark Lea speaks in the conference
He has taken over the defense, significantly revamped his roster, and brought in a new offensive coordinator along with other new coaches for his staff.
The challenge is that Vanderbilt hasn’t had a winning record since going 9-4 in 2013, when James Franklin left for Penn State.
Lea now has 53 new players on the roster, bringing the total to 120. This is an increase from 98 when he started coaching in 2021, with 106 of these players specifically recruited to play here. Lea initially focused on finding players who could be developed for long-term success, but the college game has changed.
“Our challenge now is to uphold our righteous standards while embracing a more short-term strategy of winning football,” Lea said. “This is the reality of our game now, what winning requires of us.”
Kalen DeBoer talks to the media after the practice
A lot has changed at Alabama since Jalen Milroe ran into a wall of Michigan defenders in the Rose Bowl, but the expectations remain the same.
Nick Saban won’t be coaching the team anymore. The new head coach is Kalen DeBoer, who led Washington to a national runner-up finish last year.
Milroe is back as quarterback, where he excelled after a slow start, but he will have a mostly new group of playmakers. The defending Southeastern Conference champion Crimson Tide will still start the season ranked No. 5 and are expected to make the newly expanded College Football Playoff once again.
What else is different? Quite a bit, but the sense of confidence around the football program remains. This is a team that won six national championships during Saban’s 17 seasons. If DeBoer’s description of his new staff in Tuscaloosa matches the players, it could be a good season.
Jalen Milroe in the practice drills
“They’re beyond motivated,” DeBoer said. “They’re driving to be great, driven to uphold the standard of Alabama football.”
The team should be highly motivated by how last season ended. Alabama was eliminated from the playoff when Milroe was stopped well short of the end zone in overtime.
“I think about the Michigan game almost every day,” Tide safety Malachi Moore said. “Even fresh off of wake-up, 6:30, it’s the first thing on my mind coming to work every day. I think that’s one of our main driving factors. Everybody that was here has that bad taste in our mouth that we didn’t finish and we were right there.”
DeBoer also had his season end against Michigan. He led his Huskies to the national championship game, but they lost 34-13.
Lane Kiffin is used to being part of a top-ranked team with lots of talent and big expectations.
At Mississippi, though, this level of hype is new. Usually, the team hasn’t had to deal with such high expectations before.
This time, things are different.
The Rebels are coming off their first 11-win season and are ranked No. 6 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25, their best starting rank since Archie Manning’s time in 1970. Kiffin wants his players to stay focused and not get distracted by all the excitement, using the “rat poison” strategy from his former boss Nick Saban at Alabama.
“Even players who have had previous success here or other places, that doesn’t mean anything either,” he said. “Just making sure that they understand … how that means nothing and those can always be exact opposite a lot of times from what happens at the end of the year.”
Tre Harris in the conference
There is a lot to be excited about for a team coming off its second New Year’s Six bowl appearance in three years.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart is returning for his third year as the starter and will be working with a group of wide receivers including Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins, and South Carolina transfer Antwane Wells.
Kiffin and the Rebels also made a significant addition with 23 Division I transfers, including Southeastern Conference defensive linemen Walter Nolen (Texas A&M) and Princely Umanmielen (Florida), along with former Washington offensive linemen Nate Kalepo and Julius Buelow.
Tyler Reddick concluded a difficult week with his second NASCAR Cup Series win this year.
Just three days before his victory at Michigan International Speedway on Monday, Reddick’s mentor, Scott Bloomquist, died in a plane crash.
“I can’t help but sit here in victory lane and think of Scott Bloomquist,” Reddick said. “Huge mentor to me, and an incredible role model and legend of dirt racing and motor sports.
“The last couple of days have been tough. This really helps it. This win should go for him, his family and friends.”
With this win, Reddick moved past Kyle Larson in the Cup standings, and since he was one of the 12 drivers already in the playoffs with a victory, his win created another playoff spot.
This leaves four spots open with the remaining races at Daytona and Darlington.
Reddick also won at Talladega four months ago driving his No. 45 Toyota for 23XI, the team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. Jordan, who is a Basketball Hall of Famer and former Charlotte Hornets owner, was at Michigan on Sunday when the race was halted after 51 laps due to rain.
Tyler Reddick celebrates after winning the race
“This is a fun hobby for him, fun business for him,” said Hamlin, who started in the pole position with his No. 11 Toyota and finished ninth. “This fills a lot of gaps of the competitiveness that he has lost by not being part of the Hornets anymore.”
Martin Truex Jr. caused a yellow flag on lap 194 when he got loose in the No. 19 Toyota, leading to a restart with six laps remaining.
Reddick was in the lead on the first restart, but the race went into a second overtime after Ross Chastain, running 11th, was involved in a crash that brought out another yellow flag.
William Byron led the second restart, but Reddick passed him for the 26th lead change of the race. Byron finished second in the No. 24 Chevy, and Ty Gibbs was third in the No. 54 Toyota, which helped his chances of making the playoffs even if he doesn’t win one of the next two races.
Larson, who was favored to win the race by BetMGM Sportsbook, lost control of the No. 5 Chevrolet on lap 115, leading to a multi-car wreck.
TheMinnesota Vikings have finally put together a strong group of cornerbacks after facing several challenges. Stephon Gilmore is the latest and most significant addition.
“A lot of guys came up to me already, asking me for pointers and stuff,” Gilmore said. “I’m here to help whoever try to get better. Whatever I can do, man, on the field, off the field, that’s what I’m here for.”
The Vikings signed the 13-year veteran Gilmore on Monday after agreeing to a one-year, $10 million contract with $7 million guaranteed the day before. The five-time Pro Bowl selection and 2019 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year joined his fifth team in the past five seasons, with Minnesota needing him more than any other team.
“It’s been a little tough, but it’s part of the business. You can’t play the game forever, so you’ve got to take advantage of all your opportunities,” Gilmore said. “Not too many guys can play the game as long as I have and be successful, so I look at it in a positive way.”
Gilmore began his career with Buffalo after being drafted 10th overall in 2012 and has also played for New England, Carolina, Indianapolis, and Dallas.
His past two seasons were notable, providing leadership and skill to the NFC East champion Cowboys’ secondary, especially when cornerback Trevon Diggs was injured. Gilmore had a career-high 68 tackles, two interceptions, 13 passes defended, and one forced fumble in a career-high 17 games.
Stephon Gilmore (NFL)
Following the tragic death of rookie Khyree Jackson last month, the Vikings lost promising second-year player Mekhi Blackmon for the season due to a torn ACL on the first day of practice. Shaquill Griffin, their major spring addition, injured his hamstring on the second day and has not practiced since, though he is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener.
“We’ve been able to sustain, even though we’ve had some things at that position throughout the summer and into training camp,” coach Kevin O’Connell said.
“Obviously through some setbacks and some significant losses, we feel good about where that group’s looking now.”
Familiarity with defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who coached him with the Patriots for two Super Bowl seasons, was a key factor in Gilmore choosing the Vikings over other offers.
“He’s got an unbelievable opportunity to impact our team with the type of person and player and leader that he’s always been,” O’Connell said.
The team’s lack of confidence in their current cornerbacks led them to bring in four new players before Gilmore, making him the fifth addition.
“I told him when he first got here,” Griffin said, “‘You’re the piece that we actually need in this room.’”
With the top three cornerbacks—Gilmore (13th year), Griffin (eighth), and Byron Murphy Jr. (sixth)—having significant experience, they offer strong support, assuming they stay healthy and effective.
Fabian Moreau warms up before the game
Akayleb Evans, who started 15 games last season, is also a key player in his third year. Fabian Moreau, a recent addition who has practiced with the first-team defense, is entering his eighth year. Safety Harrison Smith, another 13-year veteran, adds to the experience.
“Adding him to this group, I feel like, is going to do wonderful things for us,” Griffin said. “We have a lot of young guys who can learn from a guy like that. Shoot, I’m one of them.”
Murphy will be one of the two main starters again after a strong performance with the Vikings in 2023, but his strength is in the slot, so Griffin will likely team up with Gilmore on the outside in nickel packages during passing plays.
This setup gives Flores better options for his defensive strategy. He prefers using more man-to-man and press coverage to complement his aggressive blitzes.
Last season, injuries and inexperience at cornerback limited his defensive play-calling and led to a decline in performance. The Vikings have ranked no higher than 24th in passing yards allowed since 2019.
Jayden Daniels stands on the sideline in the 2nd half of the game
Jayden Daniels has been chosen as the starting quarterback for the Washington Commanders.
Coach Dan Quinn announced on Monday that Daniels will be the starter after observing him through two preseason games and several joint practices. Daniels completed 12 of 15 passes for 123 yards against the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.
The No. 2 pick from LSU was expected to be Washington’s Week 1 quarterback. However, Quinn wanted to see how the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner performed during training camp before making the final decision. Daniels, with guidance from veteran Marcus Mariota, performed well.
“He went through the whole thing,” Quinn said. “He didn’t miss a beat. He hit all the targets we put in front of him. He’s ready, and he’s earned the right to do that.”
The Commanders will start the regular season on Sept. 8 at Tampa Bay.
Jayden Daniels stands back to pass the ball
Daniels will be Washington’s eighth different Week 1 starting quarterback in as many years.
“Everything in life is, you’ve got to earn it,” Daniels said. “Nothing’s given. So, what (Quinn) and them preach here is competition, and you’ve earned your right to stay.”
Quinn mentioned he has not yet informed the team about Daniels being the starter. He also shared that rookie linebacker Jordan Magee had knee surgery, but it is not season-ending.
Other roster battles are still ongoing, including positions on the offensive line protecting Daniels and in the secondary, where 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes is competing for a starting spot.
The NFL’s new dynamic kickoff rule is meeting its goals in the preseason by increasing the rate of kick returns and the chance of big plays, following years of rising touchbacks.
It’s still unclear if this will continue into the regular season, when coaches might focus more on avoiding risks rather than experimenting with the new rule.
The average starting position through the second full weekend of preseason games is the 28.3-yard line, up 4.4 yards from the same time last season.
This change has led to discussions that teams might choose to kick deep into the end zone during the regular season to avoid the risk of a long return, even though it means the opponent starts at the 30-yard line instead of the 28.3-yard line.
The NFL does not expect to move the touchback spot to the 35-yard line, as originally proposed by the competition committee. Instead, the spot will remain at the 30-yard line, as approved by owners for a one-year trial in March.
Michael Penix Jr. aims to pass the ball in the preseason
“It would be not likely,” Dawn Aponte, the NFL’s chief football administrative officer, said Monday. “The way that we passed this and discussed it with the competition committee as well as membership at large was really about continuing to evaluate. It is a one-year rule change, so we anticipate to evaluate this throughout the season.”
There have been some minor adjustments this summer as officials and teams discuss the rule, such as allowing the kicking team to have a 12th player on the field as a holder if the ball falls off the tee twice. This player must leave the field immediately after the kick.
Aponte mentioned that there might be other changes before the season starts but doesn’t expect any adjustments once the season begins on Sept. 5.
Mike Williams is getting closer to being fully ready to play for the New York Jets.
The experienced wide receiver was taken off the physically unable to perform list on Aug. 7 and has since been taking part in individual drills and running routes on the side. Williams feels good and is now aiming to reach the next step in his recovery from a torn ACL.
“I think next week I’m going to be doing some team (drills),” Williams said Monday. “Just getting in the rhythm of doing things with the team and lining up and going through some plays.”
Williams, who is 29 years old, was injured in the third week of last season while playing for the Chargers. He signed a one-year contract with the Jets in March, with the hope that he and Garrett Wilson could become key playmakers for Aaron Rodgers.
Williams is eager to get on the field for full practices and to play in games again.
New York Jets wide receiver Mike Williams speaks to reporters at the team’s NFL football training facility
“I’m always excited,” he said. “This is what we do. I mean, we play football. So whenever you get an opportunity to go out there, you’re itching for it. So I’m excited for the opportunity to get in, get some reps with the QBs and see how far this thing goes.”
During seven seasons with the Chargers, Williams caught 309 passes for 4,806 yards, averaging 15.6 yards per catch with 31 touchdowns. With the Jets, Williams hopes to be “another playmaker” and provide a reliable downfield option.
“I feel like I can make plays, whether it’s down the field, between the hashes, outside the numbers — it don’t matter,” Williams said. “Just make plays. Be a physical guy in the running game. Just add another element to the offense, another threat.”
Tua Tagovailoa throws in the first half of the game
Tua Tagovailoa made it clear that he enjoys playing for Mike McDaniel much more than he did for Brian Flores.
After recently signing a four-year contract extension, Tagovailoa said he values McDaniel’s positive coaching approach, especially after experiencing Flores’ negativity during his first two NFL seasons.
“To put it in simplest terms, if you woke up every morning and I told you you suck at what you did, that you don’t belong doing what you do, that you shouldn’t be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven’t earned this right. … And then you have somebody else come in and tell you, ‘Dude, you are the best fit for us, you are accurate, you are the best.’
How would it make you feel listening to one or the other?” Tagovailoa said in an interview that aired Monday on “The Dan LeBatard Show”.
Tagovailoa mentioned that the criticism made him feel so bad that he began to believe it. Even though he was the No. 5 draft pick in 2020 and won the starting job, he was taken out twice in the fourth quarter of games for Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Mike McDaniel speaks in the news conference
The next season, there was speculation that Tagovailoa’s future with the Dolphins was uncertain, with rumors that they were looking to trade for Deshaun Watson.
“I don’t care who you are. You can be the president of the United States. You have a terrible person that’s telling you things that you don’t want to hear or that you probably shouldn’t ever hear, you’re going to start to believe that about yourself. And so that’s sort of like what ended up happening,” Tagovailoa said.
The Dolphins fired Flores and brought in McDaniel for the 2022 season. Tagovailoa said it has taken two years to get rid of the negative thoughts. With McDaniel creating strategies to fit Tagovailoa’s abilities, the Dolphins led the NFL with 401 yards per game last season. Tagovailoa threw for 29 touchdowns and a league-high 4,624 yards.
If Lamar Jackson were to get injured, the Baltimore Ravens would face a significant challenge. Josh Johnson’s role would be to help manage that situation.
At 38 years old, Johnson is now Jackson’s main backup in Baltimore, following Tyler Huntley’s departure to the Cleveland Browns. Johnson, who has played for various teams, showed promise last weekend by completing all 11 of his pass attempts in a preseason win over Atlanta.
“I think I can handle everything that’s expected of me (with) regards to the operation of the offense,” Johnson said. “My style of play may not be as exciting as Lamar, but in terms of making the plays that are necessary, I can do that.”
The Ravens had Huntley as a backup, who was a year younger than Jackson and had a similar scrambling ability. Huntley even started a playoff game when Jackson was injured two seasons ago.
In December 2021, Johnson had to start a crucial game for Baltimore when both Jackson and Huntley were unavailable.
Josh Johnson passes in the 1st half of the game
Even though the Ravens lost, Johnson threw for over 300 yards and a couple of touchdowns.
“The first time Josh was here with us, a couple of years back, I was so hyped to have him,” Jackson said Monday. “Just learning and knowing the type of offenses he’s been in and just hearing him speak and how he learn ball and how he know ball. It’s incredible for me to be in a room with a guy like him.”
That December 2021 game was Johnson’s ninth — and so far last — start of his career. Seven of those starts came during two seasons: 2009 with Tampa Bay and 2018 with Washington.
He was also part of San Francisco’s NFC title game appearance two seasons ago, taking over after Brock Purdy injured his elbow and then leaving himself in the third quarter with a concussion.
The Buffalo Bills are heading into the regular season with an increasing number of injured players, including receivers Curtis Samuel and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, safety Damar Hamlin, and backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
On Monday, Coach Sean McDermott said all four players are considered week to week. McDermott didn’t specify which players might miss the season opener against Arizona on Sept. 8, but he expressed concern that some could be at risk.
Samuel is out with a turf toe injury, and Hamlin is sidelined with a hamstring injury, both of which happened last week. Valdes-Scantling (neck) and Trubisky (knee) were hurt during a 9-3 preseason win against Pittsburgh on Saturday.
These injuries impact important players for the four-time defending AFC East champions, who are already dealing with several new starters due to a salary cap-related overhaul. Buffalo began training camp with 43 new players and only 11 from the 2020 season.
Marquez Valdes Scantling goes off the field
Adding to the challenges, starting linebacker Matt Milano is expected to miss at least the first few months of the season after tearing his left bicep in practice last week.
McDermott is so concerned about the injuries that he has decided to rest all of his projected starters for the Bills’ preseason finale against Carolina on Saturday and will also reduce practice time this week.
“It’s a challenge, but we’ll find our way through it,” McDermott said. “Right now, we’ve got to be solution-oriented.”
Samuel and Valdes-Scantling were veteran free agent additions meant to strengthen Buffalo’s receiving group after the Bills traded their top receiver, Stefon Diggs, to Houston and lost No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis in free agency.
This group also included Chase Claypool, who was released after reaching an injury settlement last week, having missed most of training camp with a toe injury.
Michael Penix Jr. aims to pass the ball in the preseason
Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has played in just one preseason game for the Atlanta Falcons. Coach Raheem Morris feels that’s enough.
Penix, who was the No. 8 pick in the NFL draft and is seen as the Falcons’ future quarterback, did not play in last weekend’s game against Baltimore. He will also be sitting out the preseason finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday night.
This decision to limit Penix’s playing time has surprised many, especially since starter Kirk Cousins isn’t playing in the preseason as he recovers from an Achilles tendon injury.
Morris explained that he has seen enough of Penix in practice, including during two joint practices with the Miami Dolphins, to assess his progress. The coach doesn’t want to risk Penix getting injured in a preseason game.
“You’ve seen the amount of reps that Michael’s been able to get without really taking away from our starter,” Morris told reporters on Monday. “He’s got a huge amount of reps versus our starting defense. And I feel really good about where he’s going and what he’s going to develop.”
Michael Penix Jr. speaks in a news conference
The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract, which includes $100 million in guaranteed money. Then, in a surprising move, they used their first pick to draft Penix, believing he was too talented to pass up.
Cousins, who turned 36 on Monday, is the current starter. However, it’s clear the Falcons are planning for Penix to eventually take over as the starting quarterback.
While it might seem reasonable to give Penix more time during the preseason, Morris said that’s not necessary. He mentioned that the team would have another chance to evaluate Penix during an intrasquad scrimmage on Wednesday.
“I could play him a little bit more if I needed something else,” Morris said. “But I don’t feel that way. And I don’t think any of the people that I would talk to in that circle of trust would feel that way or we’d be playing him a little bit more.”
In his only preseason game, Penix completed 9 of 16 passes for 104 yards against the Dolphins, with no touchdowns or interceptions.
Third-string quarterback Taylor Heinicke and undrafted rookie John Paddock handled all the snaps against the Ravens, and they will do so again on Friday.
