Travis Hunter made NFL history, but the Jaguars still left London with a loss originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Travis Hunter produced the kind of two-way performance Jacksonville hoped to see when it selected him second overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Jaguars still lost, but Hunter's day in London was historic.
Hunter caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Lawrence early in the fourth quarter, then intercepted Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud in the end zone on the Texans' next drive. He became the first NFL player since Brian Dawkins in 2002 to record both a receiving touchdown and an interception in the same game.
The Jaguars ultimately fell 34-31 when Houston kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn made a 49-yard field goal as time expired. Hunter's rare contribution helped Jacksonville stay within reach, but the Texans got the final points.
Hunter finished with four catches for 59 yards and the touchdown. His interception was his second of the season and came with Houston threatening to extend its lead.

#hunter

The Buffalo Bills will open the 2026 NFL season in a place where they have struggled to find success in recent years: on the road against the Houston Texans, who boast one of the league's stingiest defenses.
Since coming to the Bills as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Josh Allen has led the Bills into Houston four times. And in all four prior matchups, the Bills couldn't pull out the win.
Sunday will mark the third consecutive season where Buffalo has traveled to Houston, and today's edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by sharing the key matchups to watch and positional ***** ysis as the Bills look to snap that streak and begin the season with a big road win over a fellow playoff participant from last season.
Check out the ***** sments below and then let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments section.
Linked below: Breaking down the key story lines to watch, including dissecting the approach new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard will take to contain the Texans; how Joe Brady can better position Josh Allen and the offense for success against a Texans pass rush that sacked Allen eight times in last year's loss; why starting right tackle Spencer Brown thinks things will go much differently against Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, two of the game's premier pass rushers, now that both Brown and starting left tackle Dion Dawkins are fully healthy; how Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb need to generate more pressure on Texans QB CJ Stroud than the Bills have their last two trips to Houston (one total sack); and more!

#last

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith is coming back for a 15th season.
The Vikings announced Saturday that they had agreed to terms on a deal with the six-time Pro Bowl selection who has spent his entire career in Minnesota. Terms weren't disclosed.
Smith had indicated at the end of last season that he wasn't sure whether he would retire or play again in 2026, and his future was the subject of speculation thoughout the offseason.
The 37-year-old Smith is one of only four players ever to have 50 tackles for loss and 100 passes defended while playing at least 200 career games. The others are Charles Woodson, Brian Dawkins and Ronde Barber.
Smith has 21 1/2 career sacks and 39 interceptions. Barber is the only other NFL player to ever have at least 38 interceptions and 21 ½ sacks.

#smith #Career #least

Dion Dawkins still believes in Deshaun Watson. The NFL star delivered a strong message after the Buffalo Bills' joint practice with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday.
Dawkins, a veteran offensive tackle and five-time Pro Bowler, described Watson as "still him." He also backed the quarterback's ability to thrive with the right protection.
MORE: AFC power rankings for all 16 teams as the 2026 preseason rolls on
"Deshaun is still him," Dawkins said. "If you have a line that can protect the quarterback, then the quarterback is going to thrive. And he's been that guy. He is that guy. And the world tries to paint a crazy picture that's already painted. But let the past be the past. The kid ball(s). He's a baller. And he's here, and he shows it. He's a baller. But the battles are there, and they kept going."
"We're in practice, and if he's playing on Saturday, then he'll be balling again. There's a lot of talk going on."

#still #practice #thrive

BEREA ― Browns fans who are still missing Myles Garrett some two-and-a-half months since the June trade sent him to Los Angeles Rams, just know this. You have someone to commiserate with in Buffalo Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins.
Sort of. Maybe?
"I'm sad too," Dawkins said following the Aug. 20 joint practice with the Browns. "I'm sad too, man, because Myles is over there in LA and we got to see him. Week what, 5 or 6. So wish Myles was here."
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Although the guy the Browns received from the Rams in exchange for the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year isn't exactly someone Dawkins would say he's thrilled to go against. Jared Verse, also a defensive end, is a 25-year-old who already has two Pro Bowl appearances and was 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

#dawkins #defensive #someone #berea

Minnesota Vikings training camp 2026 has one burning question on every fan's mind: do the Vikings have a quarterback who can win in the NFC North? After nine practices, Two Old Bloggers — Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano on Vikings 1st & SKOL — are sounding the alarm. The honest answer, delivered with trademark candor, is unsettling: both Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy have been, in the words of reporter Tyler Forness, "just fine." And fine may not be enough to beat Jordan Love, Jared Goff, or Caleb Williams.
The quarterback competition has dominated Vikings coverage, and for good reason. Murray has received roughly twice the first-team reps as McCarthy, raising legitimate questions about whether Kevin O'Connell has already decided the outcome. But rep count aside, neither signal-caller has seized the moment. As Darren put it bluntly: "The second worst outcome is what we have right now — both guys are so-so. ****** ody's really running away with it." Dave echoed the concern, noting that a viral tweet framed it perfectly: Kyler should be proving he's light years ahead of J.J., not the other way around. A Mike Sando survey of 50 NFL coaches and executives reinforced the worry — Murray ranked 23rd overall (Tier 3), McCarthy 34th (Tier 4), and every NFC North rival QB ranked ahead of them.
Beyond the QB room, however, genuine reasons for optimism are emerging — and Two Old Bloggers covered them all.
Charles Demmings (CB, 5th round) is making plays daily against Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings — the Vikings haven't drafted and developed a quality corner since Xavier Rhodes in 2013
Caleb Banks (DT, #18 overall) is fully participating with no reported foot issues — a massive win after multiple surgeries; he's being worked in gradually alongside Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jaylen Redmond, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

#mccarthy #bloggers #darren #caleb

We've been talking about Johnny Dawkins's clutch plays for a couple of days now, and we thought that it was time to get closer to the present and take a look at one of the great clutch plays in recent history: Isaiah Evans's game winner last year against Florida, then the defending national champions. Duke was trailing 66-64 with time running out.
As you'll see or possibly remember, Evans screened for Cameron Boozer, who was obviously the first option. But the Gators naturally double-teamed him, so Evans swung over to the left, behind the three-point line, and was wide open.
As the defenders followed the ball, he could have tossed it back to Boozer, who might have gotten a shot in the lane to tie it, but Evans, with the confidence of a deadeye shooter, stepped up and nailed the three, which gave Duke a one-point lead.
Good defense wrapped the game up, but Showtime Slim gets full credit for a masterful clutch shot.
Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a lineESP

#duke #time #three #shot

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers saw T.J. Watt take a few steps back last season. Well, the rest of the NFL apparently saw his regression, too.
On Friday, Watt was revealed as No. 41 in the peer-voted NFL Top 100 Players of 2026, falling 30 spots from his No. 11 placement in 2025.
In the hype video for the No. 41 selection, fellow NFL players complimented Watt's level of play, including guest speakers like Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, and Steelers teammate Alex Highsmith.
Watt didn't have the 2025 season he was hoping for after landing a historic $123 million extension with Pittsburgh, recording just seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 14 games.
Still, when healthy, Watt is capable of completely wrecking the game plan of opposing offenses and will be looking to turn back the clock in DC Patrick Graham's new defense.

#steelers #Friday

The Eagles' second practice featured a cameo from Brian Dawkins, an illuminating news conference from Vic Fangio, and my realization that Makai Lemon is partial to blue raspberry water ice from Rita's.
For a comprehensive breakdown of everything that happened at practice, be sure to watch or listen to our Thursday show, which detailed essentially every play from practice and much more, but here are a few big-picture takeaways I left the Jefferson Health Complex with:
After an opening practice mostly defined by the new-look Eagles offense showing some encouraging signs, things were much more even between the offense and defense on Thursday. I usually attribute "muddy" practices where you don't have as many notes to a strong defensive line causing more broken-down plays, but the Eagles' secondary also deserves plenty of credit for the number of passing plays that wound up with scrambles or check downs to the flat.
What did stand out amidst the stalemate were two of the players central to it: DeVonta Smith and Quinyon Mitchell. Smith got the better of Mitchell on consecutive plays early in practice, the first coming on a slant route where he beat Mitchell to the inside for Hurts to find him in rhythm. The next play, Smith broke toward the sideline and made a nice, leaping catch over Mitchell and seemed to get his feet in bounds along the sideline, although his defensive teammates in close proximity protested the catch.
Seeing these flashes from Smith when matched up against Mitchell isn't an entirely new phenomenon, but Mitchell's most competitive moments in each of his first two training camps came against A.J. Brown, not Smith. And, as we're evaluating whether Smith is truly ready to step into a No. 1 receiver role for the Eagles this season, being able to create separation against an All-Pro cornerback who so seldom allows it on Sundays is an important box to check.

#smith #Eagles #plays #defensive

Dion Dawkins helped the Buffalo Bills make their debut on the NFL's top-100 players list ahead of the 2026 season.
Several outlets will rank the top-100 from the league, but the one released via NFL.com is considered the most important. That's because their list is voted on by the players themselves.
Dawkins is the first first Bills player to appear this offseason and he clocks in at the No. 57 overall slot:
That No. 57 position is down from his spot at No. 42 a year ago, but Buffalo's franchise left tackle is still his team's first representative.
In 2025, Pro Football Focus graded Dawkins a 74.1 overall for his efforts last season. That is good for the 26th best tackle grade handed out by the outlet last year out of 89 qualifying tackles.

#bills #year #last

The most outspoken member of the Buffalo Bills has made the NFL's Top 100 player list.
Not only is Dion Dawkins the second-most visible Bills player behind Josh Allen, he's long been one of the steadiest left tackles in football.
The former second round pick — in Sean McDermott's first year as head coach — began his career at guard before kicking outside to tackle, an unusual career arc for an NFL blocker.
He's been Buffalo's starting left tackle since 2018, and has logged over 1,000 snaps (including the postseason) in eight-consecutive seasons.
Here's the NFL's video on Dawkins inclusion in the Top 100 list at No. 57:

#bills #list #buffalo

Nick Dawkins was a three-star recruit when he joined Penn State’s 2020 recruiting class. He did not crack the starting lineup until 2024, but his impact was immediately felt on the offensive line. Dawkins earned All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2024 and won the Wuerffel Trophy for his leadership off the field. He was again named a team captain in 2025 and remained a key piece on the offensive line.
Dawkins did not hear his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft, but he signed on with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent. He will join former teammate Vega Ioane in Baltimore and compete for a spot on the Ravens’ 53-man roster in the fall.
Only 53 more days until Penn State’s season opener against Marshall!

Warriors predicted to steal Celtics' top $112 million trade target in Kristaps Porzingis trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Golden State Warriors are unlikely to acquire Anthony Davis from the Washington Wizards after the franchise’s general manager, Will Dawkins, expressed his desire to retain the 10-time All-Star forward.
What does that mean for the Dubs? They may not succeed in crossing off all the boxes necessary to bring LeBron James on board this summer. Could the franchise quickly pivot and steal the Boston Celtics’ top trade target in an attempt to convince James to spend the rest of his career in the Bay?
NBA reporter Evan Sidery thinks so, suggesting that the Dubs could trade Kristaps Porzingis, their NBA champion starting center, for the Boston Celtics’ top $112 million trade target.
“A potential trade framework between the Pelicans and Warriors for Trey Murphy III: Golden State: Murphy, New Orleans (Pelicans): Brandin Podziemski, Kristaps Porzingis, Moses Moody, future draft capital,” Sidery wrote on X/Twitter Thursday.

It only took leading the NFL in rushing yards, but ahead of next season Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has finally earned respect from CBS Sports.
The outlet ranked the top-100 players in the NFL heading into next year. Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins landed at No. 78 overall and Cook is Buffalo's next player to appear at 34th.
However, Dawkins cracked this ranking a year ago. Cook did not, but he finally has after leading the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards during the 2025 season.
Looking back, it was well overdue for Cook, but better late than never.
CBS Sports' breakdown on Cook at No. 34 can be found below:

Oh No He Didn't: Will Dawkins: "Can't comment on the Trae one just yet but we feel pretty good where that's headed. And with AD, he wants to be here, we want him here. We'll have that conversation in the middle of August when we can officially have that"
x.com
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: And with AD, he wants to be here, we want him here. …

With just over a month left until training camp gets underway, the Minnesota Vikings are likely in the process of deciding what final moves they need to make to shore up their roster before everyone gets together in Eagan to prepare for the 2026 NFL season. Lots of people have suggestions, but one outlet has suggested a move for a relatively big name that. . .well, might not be a terribly good move for our favorite team.
ESPN has an article up that suggests one last offseason move for each of the 32 NFL teams, whether that move be a free agent signing, a trade, a contract extension, or whatever it may be. In the case of the Vikings, the move that they suggest is signing edge rusher Haason Reddick, late of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and still floating around the free agency market. Here’s the logic behind their suggestion.
Another NFC North team, another questionable depth chart on the edge. The issue here is not Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel but rather the players behind them, led by 2025 fifth-round pick Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and 2024 undrafted free agent Bo Richter.
Reddick had only 2.5 sacks last season, the lowest of the three best available veteran pass rushers, but his 12% pass rush win rate was still impressive: similar to the Chargers’ Tuli Tuipulotu and just ahead of the Steelers’ T.J. Watt. Reddick’s history of playing in flexible 3-4 defenses makes him the best fit for defensive coordinator Brian Flores because he has more experience dropping into coverage on complicated zone blitzes.
It wasn’t that long ago when Reddick was one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers. In 2022, he racked up 16 sacks for the Philadelphia Eagles, was a second-team All-Pro selection, and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He followed that up with an 11-sack campaign for the Eagles, and was then traded to the New York Jets for a mid-round draft choice.

The Vikings are now off until training camp so the dog days of summer are here for football fans. It is going to be harder to generate any “click bait” articles. There will be folks searching for any players working out at high schools, parks, etc and, if they do, much will be made about it. The truth is there is not a lot going on and the players need to relax before the grind begins. I expect they will stay in shape (the smart ones) but other than that it is time to go to Cancun!
But we will not take a vacation and there will be the never ending back and forth about you know what all the way until training camp begin and ends, all through the preseason, and into the season. No matter who wins the job, all it is going to take is one bad game for the other side to start complaining loudly. It is going to be glorious if you like to see things burn which I do.
I wonder if the Vikings will sign an edge rusher. I know the outside opinion is that they should but Brian Flores thinks differently than most. The news that Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins has lost weight and is working at OLB some is interesting. Perhaps he has a discussion after the season and was told it might be his best fit? Either way, TID could be the answer and the remaining depth will be filled by the youts?
I kind of prefer Joey Bosa myself but that is going to cost 9M or so. I wonder if the new Sheriff in town would do this? To get an answer, I utilized yore AI friend, Gemini.
Ai Question
did the seahawks spend cap ***** e on external edge rushers after the draft while teasley was there

After trading Jonathan Greenard in late April to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Minnesota Vikings arguably need another outside linebacker for additional depth — and that man may already be in-house. A rookie from last year, defensive tackle Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, is flirting with a switch to OLB, or at least some form of hybrid duty.
If the experiment clicks, Minnesota won’t need any more free-agent power from the open market.
Ingram-Dawkins on the Change
Ingram-Dawnkins filled an EDGE role at organized team activities, and KSTP’s Darren Wolfson asked him about it.
“I just cleaned up my body a lot in the offseason. I mean, I’m still 280 pounds. Why was it important to clean up your body? You know, just trying to make a big, big jump from my last year. You know, I feel like that was one of the things that I could work on in my game. You know, developing a core and all that, that’ll help me in my techniques with all the versatile positions that I’m playing across the line,” he replied.

Bills' Dion Dawkins delivers harsh reality to players about 18-game NFL season

Recently named NFL Players ***** ociation executive director JC Tretter suggested via comments released earlier this week that the union is "not in a position to" begin speaking with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and team owners about what seems to be an inevitable switch to an 18-game regular-season format.
Veteran Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins has been in the league since the 2017 NFL Draft and seems to see the writing on the wall regarding what is to come for future players.
During a recent ch