Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell did not think the hit that concussed quarterback Kyler Murray during Sunday's season opener was a dirty or malicious play by Green Bay Packers defender Javon Bullard.
The hit was penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness, and Murray is now in concussion protocol, but O'Connell was not willing to blame anyone for the resulting injury given Murray's slide at the end of the play.
"No. It was a violent, physical play," O'Connell said. "As fast as those things happen out there, it would be one thing it was a head-first slide and a clear declaration, but I don't put any fault on anybody there."
Murray slid late and sideways, and he ended up getting sandwiched between Bullard and Lukas Van Ness as he went to the ground.
Here's the play from Sunday's first quarter:

#o 'connell #play #first #minnesota

Packers safety Javon Bullard got a 15-yard penalty for the hit that knocked Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray out of Sunday's game. Vikings right tackle Brian O'Neill thinks Bullard should have gotten more than that.
O'Neill shoved Bullard after that hit, but after the game he said he wishes he had been more aggressive toward the opponent who just gave his quarterback a concussion.
"It was so bang, bang," O'Neill said, via ESPN. "You don't want to freak out if you're wrong. I was probably wrong to not freak out more than that. So I kind of wish I took a shot at him."
Bullard easily could have been ejected for the hit, and he'll surely at least be fined by the NFL, if not suspended. But he escaped the Vikings dishing out any justice on the field, something that O'Neill regrets about Sunday's game.

#o 'neill #bang #wrong #javon

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray exited the Vikings' win over the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter on Sept. 13 with a concussion after a scary hit from Green Bay safety Javon Bullard.
Murray was sliding at the Vikings 35-yard line nine minutes into the quarter when Bullard and Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness went to tackle him. Murray took a big hit. Bullard received a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty.
Murray's status isn't certain. He will have to pass concussion protocol before he returns for Minnesota. Carson Wentz replaced Murray at QB for the Vikings.
The Vikings were obviously frustrated with the hit, as was social media, with many slamming the Packers for the incident after the game.
Minnesota rallied from a 22-10 deficit in the third quarter to win 39-22.

#bullard

It's always tough navigating that first injury report coming out of preseason and training camp. Some injuries are downplayed and others weren't as serious as initially thought. We also get some surprises (we're looking at you Raiders and Brock Bowers).
But we've gotten through most of the action for Week 1 and can lookahead to which injuries we'll need to track going into the second slate of the season. Below is all the latest news and updates, plus some fantasy football ******* ysis to help with weekly lineup tinkering.
Kyler Murray, MIN (concussion)
Sam Darnold, SEA (hip)
Murray: It was a tough Minnesota debut for Murray, exiting early in the contest after a questionable hit from Packers S Javon Bullard. Prior to the hit, Murray had thrown an egregious interception into triple coverage. Murray did not return, finishing the game 3-for-5 for 18 yards and the INT, plus two carries for nine yards.

#bowers

Kyler Murray was knocked out of the Minnesota Vikings' Week 1 game against the Green Bay Packers when Javon Bullard delivered a dangerous hit to the quarterback's head. Referees threw a flag and penalized Bullard for unnecessary roughness, but it's the kind of play that the NFL will probably be looking at today to determine whether further action should be taken against the Packers' safety.
For ESPN's Tedy Bruschi, who spent 13 seasons playing linebacker in the NFL, there's no question that Bullard was trying to hurt Murray on the play. As Bruschi told the other panelists on "Get Up" Monday morning, "he knew exactly what he was doing."
MORE: Jets fans take over ***** ans stadium, taunt Robert Saleh with chants
"Let me tell you something I can do as a defender," Burschi explained. I mean I can remember this, I can pinpoint my helmet or wherever my hit is or my shoulder on any minute detail on your body. I can target whatever I want and going full speed I can hit it. Alright, I can be that accurate with my hit. That hit right there was to the head and neck area. He knew exactly what he was doing with that forearm. With that elbow because you can put it on the knees. You can put it in the stomach. He wanted to put it on the head and neck right there."
MORE: Vikings insider says team expected to move on from J.J. McCarthy

#Vikings #packers

Dallas Cowboys OT Ajani Cornelius (knee) and DT Jonathan Bullard (groin) fully participated in practice Friday, Sept. 11, and do not carry an injury designation for the Week 1 game against the New York Giants.
SOURCE: DallasCowboys.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Week 1 injury report for Cowboys

#ajani #bullard

EAST LANSING – Alessio Milivojevic took a knee to run out the clock. Wide receiver Rodney Bullard Jr. gave his quarterback a quick hug and pat on the helmet.
It was a victorious opener for Michigan State football thanks a few big plays by that duo. Yet the Spartans' offense struggled to find the end zone for much of their 30-20 victory over Toledo on Friday, Sept. 4, despite giving itself plenty of opportunities to score more.
Eliminating the "self-inflicted wounds," coach Pat Fitzgerald said, is among the primary fixes for his new team between game 1 and 2.
COACH SPEAK: Michigan State football seeing early returns from toughness tests
"We gotta finish drives," Fitzgerald said during his weekly press conference on Monday. "The football gods will not allow you to kick field goals and win a lot of games the way we just did."

#wide

EAST LANSING – Alessio Milivojevic took a knee to run out the clock. Wide receiver Rodney Bullard Jr. gave his quarterback a quick hug and pat on the helmet.
It was a victorious opener for Michigan State football thanks a few big plays by that duo. Yet the Spartans' offense struggled to find the end zone for much of their 30-20 victory over Toledo on Friday, Sept. 4, despite giving themselves plenty of opportunities to score more.
Eliminating the "self-inflicted wounds," coach Pat Fitzgerald said, is among the primary fixes for his new team between game 1 and 2.
COACH SPEAK: Michigan State football seeing early returns from toughness tests
"We gotta finish drives," Fitzgerald said during his weekly press conference on Monday. "The football gods will not allow you to kick field goals and win a lot of games the way we just did."

#Football #fitzgerald #alessio #wide

EAST LANSING – Alessio Milivojevic took a knee to run out the clock. Wide receiver Rodney Bullard Jr. gave his quarterback a quick hug and pat on the helmet.
It was a victorious opener for Michigan State football thanks a few big plays by that duo. Yet the Spartans' offense struggled to find the end zone for much of their 30-20 victory over Toledo on Friday, Sept. 4, despite giving themselves plenty of opportunities to score more.
Eliminating the "self-inflicted wounds," coach Pat Fitzgerald said, is among the primary fixes for his new team between game 1 and 2.
COACH SPEAK: Michigan State football seeing early returns from toughness tests
"We gotta finish drives," Fitzgerald said during his weekly press conference on Monday. "The football gods will not allow you to kick field goals and win a lot of games the way we just did."

#michigan #fitzgerald

LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK)-- As the Carolina Panthers prepare to kick off their season in just a few weeks, the organization announced on Sunday that former Longview Lobo Haynes King has secured a spot on the team's 53-man roster.
While King's preseason with the Panthers was cut short due to a hamstring injury, his strong performance in the NFL Hall of Fame Game earlier this month was enough for him to earn a spot on the roster going into the regular season.
Bullard native Hagen Smith shows early MLB promise
During the Hall of Fame Game, King's NFL debut, he led the Panthers to a last-second win over the Arizona Cardinals, throwing for 180 yards and two touchdowns and finishing with zero turnovers.
King will now be the fourth Longview Lobo playing in the NFL this season, joining Trent Williams, JaMycal Hasty and Broderick Washington Jr.

#longview #panthers #fame #game

The Dallas Cowboys have a chance to go undefeated in the preseason for the first time in two decades if they can defeat the New Orleans Saints on Friday night. Given the culture forged by head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the team wants to make it happen. While preseason results don't matter in regards to the regular season and playoffs, for some on the bottom of the roster fighting for a spot, it's everything.
The Cowboys might not know who's making the team at the end of the depth chart at receiver, offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, cornerback, or safety. It's rare, but occasionally a great showing in the final preseason game can be the thing that pushes someone onto the 53-man roster over someone else who doesn't have a good showing.
The Cowboys have one of the best defensive tackle combos in the NFL. If Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark aren't the best, they're definitely top tier. Otito Ogbonnia is an impactful veteran run stopper, and then the cupboard looks bare.
Jonathan Bullard should be a good veteran, but he has been out all camp and could be a cut candidate who goes to the practice squad and then is called up once he is completely healthy. In 326 snaps last season, he had a run defense grade of 63.9, average at best.
The other three in the group include 2025 draft pick Jay Toia and undrafted free agent (UDFA) rookies D.J. Withers and Tommy Dunn. Through two preseason games, Toia's run defense grade dropped from 65.9 against the Seattle Seahawks to 23.1 against the Cardinals. Dunn was consistent with a PFF run grade of 66.8 in both contests, and Withers had a run grade of 70.2 in game one and 68.2 in game two.

#cowboys #grade #game #withers

EAST LANSING – Rodney Bullard Jr. gave Pat Fitzgerald the first victory of his Michigan State football career, even before his Spartans coaching debut.
It's a chance for the senior wide receiver to play the game he loves for one more year.
MSU's compliance department received word Monday, Aug. 24, that the NCAA reconsidered Bullard's appeal for an extra year and overturned its previous decision that rendered him ineligible. Fitzgerald learned about it on the field shortly before the practice as the Spartans were stretching, informing Bullard in front of his teammates.
RELATED: Couch: 3 quick takes on MSU's football team as the season approaches
The decision comes three days before Bullard and his attorneys were set to take college sports' governing body to court while seeking a "preliminary and permanent" injunction and "a temporary restraining order (if necessary)." That preliminary show-cause hearing was scheduled for Thursday in the 30th Circuit Court in Lansing.

#bullard #spartans #court

The Green Bay Packers left Denver on Friday night with a 33-13 win over the Broncos in the second week of the 2026 preseason. Three different quarterbacks led touchdown drives, while rookie kicker Trey Smack hit all seven of his kicks, accounting for 15 of the team's 33 points. More importantly, a bunch of players competing for roster spots impressed against the Broncos.
So, who improved their chances of making the Packers' roster in Denver? A stock watch coming out of Friday night's win:
Say ***** o to your new backup slot defender behind Javon Bullard. Hadden, who played in his first game since suffering a gruesome ankle injury in late December of last year, made five tackles, including three notable open-field stops and two tackles for loss. Defending the run from the slot is a priority, and Hadden had one play where he diagnosed the run, shot the gap and made the play in the backfield. There were no obvious lapses in coverage, either. Hadden's stock is way up after a terrific week overall.
The top three running backs all look like roster locks, but it's possible Strong has made a compelling enough case for the Packers to keep four at the position. On Friday night, Strong turned eight rushes into a team-high 37 rushing yards while creating a 12-yard run and forcing several missed tackles. He also produced a highlight special teams play on a nifty kickoff return gaining 68 yards. Strong looks like a natural runner, with wiggle, burst and vision. While more likely a priority practice squad player at this point, Strong greatly improved his stock in Denver with an impressive all-around performance.
Is there any competition for QB2? McCord played well again on Friday night, while Tyrod Taylor has only been so-so as the true backup behind Jordan Love. McCord completed 12 of 19 passes and led the Packers to 13 points over four drives, including another two-minute drive resulting in points before the half. His completion percentage would have been higher had the Packers backups not dropped a pass or two. Cutting capable quarterbacks is always tough, and McCord is looking more and more capable as the preseason continues on.

#denver #points

Selma 20 - Sunnyside 14
Coalinga 31 - Roosevelt 14
Bullard 34 - Reno 33
Fowler 27 - Granite Hills 14
Monache 36 - Wasco 29

#coalinga #fowler

Selma 20 - Sunnyside 14
Coalinga 31 - Roosevelt 14
Bullard 34 - Reno 33
Fowler - Granite Hills
Monache 36 - Wasco 29

#roosevelt #reno

Wide receiver Rodney Bullard Jr. is taking the NCAA to court to get a season of eligibility back to play for Michigan State football this fall.
Bullard's attorney, William H. Horton, filed for a "preliminary and permanent" injunction and "a temporary restraining order (if necessary)" in 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County on Monday, Aug. 17, on Bullard's behalf, according to court documents.
A preliminary show cause hearing in front of Judge Wanda Stokes will be held Aug. 27 in Lansing at the 30th Circuit Court, per court records. MSU opens its season Sept. 4 against Toledo at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
A message left Tuesday for Horton was not immediately returned.
Bullard is a graduate student at MSU. Horton – a Troy-based attorney with the firm Giarmarco, Mullins and Horton – argued in his filing that the NCAA violated its rules by determining that Bullard is not eligible to play for MSU this season "because he used up his four years of eligibility by being a full-time student in the fall of 2021" at Valdosta State in his home state of Georgia. Horton countered that Bullard was a part-time student in the fall of 2021.

#horton #bullard #ncaa #lansing

It took until the 12th day of training camp, but we finally got some fights in practice in Green Bay. The first scuffle was between running back Chris Brooks and linebacker Zaire Franklin, but the second one was more involved. Defensive lineman Chris McClellan landed hard on running back Pierre Strong Jr., which led to McClellan and offensive tackle Travis Glover punching and shoving, and the sidelines clearing.
On top of that, edge rusher Barryn Sorrell, who has been starting opposite Lukas Van Ness all camp, pushed tackle Anthony Belton all the way into quarterback Jordan Love. Sorrell was ripped from the drill and was "tore into" by head coach Matt LaFleur, according to The Athletic's Matt Schneidman.
At some point during camp, players get tired of banging around with the same guys over and over again. Apparently, the Packers crossed that threshold today.
Beyond the chippiness, here's what happened at practice on Sunday.
The PUP list remains the same, with tight end Luke Musgrave (neck), defensive lineman Jordon Riley (ankle), edge rusher Micah Parsons (knee) and Matt Orzech (calf) still not being activated. The non-participants in practice, beyond the PUP list, were running back Josh Jacobs (groin), offensive lineman Darian Kinnard (ankle), edge defender Lukas Van Ness (shoulder), edge defender Dani Dennis-Sutton (illness) and safety Javon Bullard (foot). Notably, though, Bullard was no longer in a boot in practice, as he's making progress on his bone bruise.

#matt

The Green Bay Packers are planning on playing healthy starters against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, according to head coach Matt LaFleur. Before practice on Tuesday, LaFleur stated that even quarterback Jordan Love is expected to play versus the Steelers, though he added that he has the right to change his mind between now and kickoff.
Here's what you missed during the Packers' final practice of preparation leading up to their preseason opener.
Cornerback Domani Jackson's injury has finally been identified. Per LaFleur, Jackson had surgery to his core over the offseason, but he's hopeful that Jackson will "be out there shortly."
Receiver Jayden Reed (ankle), receiver Matthew Golden (toe) and tight end Josh Whyle (neck) all returned to practice today. I think we can all collectively exhale for the status of the pass-catching group. Cornerback Carrington Valentine (hamstring) is also back out on the field.
Running back Josh Jacobs (groin), edge defender Dani Dennis-Sutton (illness) and safety Javon Bullard (foot) join Jackson as injured players on the active list. Meanwhile, tight end Luke Musgrave (neck), edge defender Micah Parsons (knee), defensive lineman Jordon Riley (ankle) and long snapper Matt Orzech (calf) remain on the team's PUP list.

#lafleur #jackson #cornerback #ankle

Kay Adams of the "Up & Adams Show" was in Green Bay to visit with the Packers at training camp on Tuesday.
Adams, who is stopping by training camps across the NFL this summer, sat down for interviews with coach Matt LaFleur, quarterback Jordan Love and tight end Tucker Kraft during her one-day stay in Green Bay.
More from Adams at Packers training camp below:
The Packers coach talks his excitement about this group of players, what happened at Tuesday's practice, the experience of the 2026 team, competition in the wide receiver room, the maturity of Brandon Cisse, the importance of Javon Bullard, handling preseason snaps, facing his brother in a joint practice, hiring Luke Butkus, the genius of Jonathan Gannon, the pressure on the offense without Micah Parsons early in the season and what's next for Jordan Love.
The Packers quarterback talks going into Year 7, changing diapers at home, growing with Matthew Golden, what's next for this team, the return of Tucker Kraft, collaborating with Matt LaFleur, excitement about Jonathan Gannon's arrival, the three-safety defense of Gannon, scoring more points without Micah Parsons and life with a new baby.

#training #green #jordan #love

Fans of the Green Bay Packers are fortunate. An army of excellent beat writers cover the team, providing in-depth information and access during each and every training camp practice. In this post, we will gather the Infinity Stones of on-site Packers coverage all in one place so finding training camp information on your favorite football team is an easy endeavor this summer.
On Thursday in Green Bay, the big news was the return of Keisean Nixon, and standouts ranged from Matthew Golden to Javon Bullard to Johnathan Baldwin.
A roundup of the training camp practice recaps coming out of Thursday, July 30:
Five things learned, from Jonathan Gannon using safeties to Sean Rhyan long snapping at practice.
Camp insider highlights the return to practice from Keisean Nixon.

#thursday

Green Bay Packers safety Javon Bullard (7) greets fans as he walks to practice at training camp this week.
The Green Bay Packers held their second training camp practice on Thursday, another non-padded workout that lasted roughly 1 hour, 40 minutes.
Here's the good, bad and ugly from practice No. 2.
BULLISH ON BULLARD: Green Bay third-year safety Javon Bullard played 64.6 % of the snaps last season.
"I played more as a rookie," said Bullard, who played 72.8% his first season.

#bullard #practice #played

Evan Williams is one of the Green Bay Packers' biggest draft success stories in recent times as a fourth-round pick who had an impact on their defense almost immediately as a rookie and has since settled in as a valued starter.
Not one of the more heralded draft prospects, the Packers traded up to get Williams back in 2024 and were proven right in their conviction on the former Oregon and Fresno State safety.
After a strong first year, Williams followed it up in 2025, as shown by his percentile ranks at the safety position in his first and second seasons.
Williams only started seven games as a rookie, as he was originally behind Javon Bullard, before he made the move to the slot. From there, Williams never gave up the starting safety spot opposite Xavier McKinney, starting all but one game in 2025.
His snap count almost doubled from 533 to 979 between his first and second year, and even with the larger workload, there was no dip in Williams' performance.

#draft

Here's an interesting question going into training camp: Which Green Bay Packers rookie do you think will have the biggest impact in 2026? To me, there are probably three potential answers.
The first two are fairly similar. If there's any competition in camp for starting roles, it's on the defensive line or at cornerback.
On the defensive line, the **** umption is that Devonte Wyatt will be a starting defensive end in the Packers' new 3-4 defense. Javon Hargrave has played both end and nose tackle in the past, so the question is really which position he will play, rather than if he will start. That third defensive line spot could go to a multitude of candidates, though, including rookie third-round pick Chris McClellan from Missouri.
Cornerback is a similar story where it's **** umed that Keisean Nixon will be a starter (and safety Javon Bullard will be the starter in the slot). The other outside cornerback job should go to one of Carrington Valentine, free agent signing Benjamin St-Juste or rookie second-round pick Brandon Cisse.
The last player I think will be a popular answer is kicker Trey Smack, who the Packers traded up for in the sixth round. Smack had a little bit of an up-and-down spring, but Green Bay thought enough of him to make him the only drafted kicker in the 2026 class and released Brandon McManus shortly after his selection.

#packers #rookie #round

Multiple tornadoes tore through Illinois and Indiana Sunday, killing at least two people as severe thunderstorms continue to sweep through the Midwest early Monday, knocking out power for tens of thousands across the region.
More than three dozen tornado reports were logged Sunday into Monday by the Storm Prediction Center, as supercell thunderstorms roared across the region.
This came on the heels of another round of tornadoes just four days earlier that leveled buildings and caused widespread destruction across the region. The previous week's storms also turned deadly as repeated bouts of severe weather swept across the central US, killing multiple people across several states.
At least two people were killed Sunday in rural Jefferson County, Illinois, around 90 miles southeast of St. Louis, according to county Sheriff Jeff Bullard.
Both victims died in separate mobile homes that were destroyed about two to three miles apart, Bullard said. A third home was completely leveled and five other people were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Bullard said.

The Dallas Cowboys worked to reshape their defensive line this offseason to better fit the scheme of new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Parker is bringing a 3-4 front back to Texas with a twist, and centering his attack around two premiere tackles in Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. From there, they've taken great lengths to augment the personnel in the front seven.
One of those acquisitions was free agent Jonathan Bullard, the newest No. 98, most recently of the Minnesota Vikings. Bullard signed on for a year as the veteran replacement for Osa Odighizuwa as a potential starter on the defensive line next to Williams and Clark. He's a rotational run stopper who has played for six different franchises across his 10-year career.
Position: Defensive Tackle
Age: 32
Height: 6-foot-3