The Browns confirmed the release of wide receiver Cedric Tillman on Thursday afternoon and they also announced that they've replaced him on the roster with another 2023 third-round pick.
They have claimed cornerback Mekhi Blackmon off of waivers. Blackmon was cut loose by the Colts on Wednesday.
Blackmon entered the NFL with the Vikings and he was traded to the Colts ahead of the 2025 season. Blackmon appeared in 15 games as a rookie, missed 2024 with a torn ACL and played in all 17 games during his only year in Indianapolis.
Blackmon has 105 tackles, three interceptions, a sack and a fumble recovery for his career. ***** uming he makes it through Sunday's cut to 53 players, he'll try to add to those totals in his third NFL stop.

#blackmon #cedric #thursday #mekhi

The hope is that preseason action can provide some answers to pressing questions that a team may have. But for the Indianapolis Colts, Saturday's performance against Atlanta only raised more questions around three specific position groups.
The depth of the cornerback, defensive end, and offensive line units was brought into focus during that game and, if called upon this upcoming season, could be a potential problem for the Colts.
Whether or not those around Laiatu Latu can generate steady pressure this season has been an unknown all offseason. The preseason hasn't provided many answers either. The combination of Caden Curry, George Gumbs, Micheal Clemons, and Jaylahn Tuimoloau played a total of 58 pass rush snaps and generated three pressures. Tuimoloau and Clemons didn't have any.
Laiatu Latu will lead the way and Arden Key will start opposite of him, but defensive end is a heavily rotated position with four or five players seeing steady snaps. Can the Colts get consistent production from the rotational defenders at this position?
The depth of this unit was thought to be quite good during the offseason, but the preseason has proved otherwise. The trio of Mekhi Blackmon, Rob Carter Jr., and Johnathan Edwards all took their lumps on Saturday and throughout the preseason.

#latu #answers

The Florida State Seminoles had an impressive month of June with eight commitments gained in their 2027 recruiting class. However, just before that, on May 31, they lost four-star safety Mekhi Williams as he decommitted and then pledged to the Wisconsin Badgers.
Shortly after Williams left the program, he mentioned that he didn't want to completely close the door on FSU after he attended a 7-on-7 camp in Tallahassee in June. Per Zach Blostein of 247Sports, the Seminoles will do the same, as their pursuit of him hasn't stopped.
Florida State is still making an effort with Ruskin (Fla.) Lennard four-star safety Mekhi Williams, who flipped from the Seminoles to Wisconsin over the summer. Williams, however, says he is locked in with the Badgers and does not currently intend to take any other visits this fall.
Williams is the nation's No. 219 overall recruit and the No. 18 safety according to 247Sports composite rankings. He's ranked as the No. 24 prospect in the state of Florida as well.
FSU was able to add four-star Ta'Shawn Poole and shut down the recruitment of three-star Jemari Foreman at the safety spot. Plus, they added four-star athlete Za'Kari Johnson, who will play in the secondary as well. That clearly hasn't wavered them on Williams, and it'll be a situation to keep an eye on, especially if Florida State has a successful season.

#williams #Florida #four

The Wisconsin Badgers have compiled what 247Sports considers the nation's 25th-best recruiting class for the class of 2027, combining a strong mix of talent on both sides of the ball, with the highest-touted recruit being 4-star safety Mekhi Williams. Looking one year further, recent reports have surfaced that the Badgers are in for four-star class of 2028 offensive lineman Kajus Muralis, who currently attends Waubonsie Valley High School and is set to attend visits for both Wisconsin and the Badgers' week one opponent: Notre Dame.
With Muralis still having two years of high school football left to play, there is every chance he gets the consensus ***** p up to a four-star, rather than the back-and-forth situation his ranking is at right now. Currently, Rivals has him as a four-star while 247Sports lists him as a three-star.Muralis currently holds offers from power-conference schools including Illinois, Oklahoma State, Purdue, UCLA, the Badgers, and the Fighting Irish.Currently, the Badgers have two 2028 hard commits: three-star linebacker Cale Britt and three-star offensive lineman Brock Barrows.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin battling week one opponent for four-star offensive tackle

#wisconsin #four #class

Allen Park — Running back Isiah Pacheco was one of eight Lions who did not participate in Sunday's practice, missing his third consecutive session.
Also absent were wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr., offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, defensive tackle Aidan Keanaaina, defensive end Payton Turner (back), linebackers Damone Clark and Jimmy Rolder (hamstring), and cornerback D.J. Reed (groin).
Lions coach Dan Campbell on Sunday provided updates on Reed and Turner, saying Reed's issue was "not major" and Turner's back ailment is a "day-to-day type thing."
Some of Detroit's biggest stars seemed to be resting Sunday. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, tight end Sam LaPorta, offensive tackle Penei Sewell, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and linebacker Jack Campbell were each on the field but did not take part in team drills.
LaPorta, Campbell and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle) went inside midway through practice. Defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo (groin) and defensive end Derrick Moore (groin) also did not participate in team drills.

#campbell #back #groin #sunday

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This week's query was simple one. After the 2025 season, the Huskers staff looked at a talented but inexperienced running back room and decided their lead back (or backs) was already on the roster and put their portal recruiting efforts at other positions. The choices included three returners, none of whom reached 30 carries in 2025, a Penn State transfer who had three and headed to Iowa Western CC where he was found by the staff, and a true freshman from North Carolina:
Mekhi Nelson – So. – Consensus recruiting ranking/score *** – 85.62
Isaiah Mozee – So. – **** (WR) – 90.18

#recruiting #three #click

Allen Park — Multiple Detroit Lions were either absent from Thursday's practice or left early to be evaluated for potential injuries.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, running back Isiah Pacheco, offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and cornerback D.J. Reed — all of whom did not have any previously known injuries — were not spotted Thursday.
Running back Sione Vaki (nose, eye) and linebackers Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle) and Jimmy Rolder (hamstring), as well as defensive ends Derrick Moore (groin) and Payton Turner (back), also were not spotted, though we know each of the injuries they're dealing with.
Vaki will be "out for a little bit," Lions coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday; Rodriguez left early from Tuesday's practice; Rolder will be down for "a while;" Moore is expected to be back within the next week or so; and there's no been no update on Turner, who popped up with a stiff back after Detroit's first session of training camp July 29.
Defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo (groin) and cornerback De'Shawn Rucker (ankle) were early exits Thursday. It was an extremely humid day in Allen Park, and a number of players were either absent or limited due to cramping.

#back #early #lions #rodriguez

With Detroit Lions players less than two weeks away from reporting to training camp, it’s the last opportunities for players to post their workouts. In normal situations, these workout videos are nothing more than expressions anticipation for the upcoming season. But in the case of Lions rookie defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard, he also showed off something that is truly a remarkable feat for an athlete.
In a series of three Instagram stories, Gill-Howard flashed the crazy athleticism he has that likely have Detroit intrigued about his ability to use that explosiveness in his pass rush. But what is truly mind-blowing is the final of the three stories. Gill-Howard executes a “kip up”—already a tough move, especially at 280 pounds—but he does it with a 45-pound plate on his chest. Check it out:
The move was so outstanding that even his teammate had to give it up. You may notice in the video a comment near the bottom that says “boy WTF.” That is from Lions defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo.
Gill-Howard is already an awesome story. Hopefully this level of ridiculous athleticism can translate to the field and help Detroit’s defensive line take their game to the next level.
Gill-Howard wasn’t the only Lions rookie posting some of the hard work he’s putting in ahead of training camp. Here’s Lions second-round pick Derrick Moore grinding:

While the World Cup showcases soccer's biggest stars, three young brothers from Pearland are just beginning their own soccer journey.
LaShay Williams is the mom to Gianni, 11, Mekhi, 10, and the youngest, Xyiel, at age 7.
"Gianni started playing soccer at recess in second grade," LaShay remembers. "He's been playing ever since, and his brothers have been following in his footsteps."
Gianni told ABC13 that his favorite skill is the curve shot. Mekhi prefers the roulette to get away from defenders. As for Xyiel, his unforgettable memory is scoring a goal during a free kick.
"I didn't come from a family that played much sports, so when I see them on the field playing sports I get very excited," LaShay shared with us.

Between now and training camp, we will be going through the Indianapolis Colts' full 90-man roster, previewing each player.
Up next is cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, who wears No. 29.
Profile
Height: 5-11
Weight: 178

Earlier this month, four-star cornerback Mekhi Williams became one of the biggest recruiting wins of all time for the Wisconsin Badgers, being their highest-rated defensive back commit in 26 years.
This week, he hit the headlines for a completely different reason: a highlight reel play in 7-on-7s that went viral and caught the eyes of several NFL players.
Playing at a Florida camp, Williams made an incredible play in coverage, securing an insane one-handed interception after flipping his hips and showing off some elite closing speed. But, the entirety of his rep was to perfection.
The defensive back started the play backtracking, flipping his hips quickly to cover the inside receiver and closing well there before flipping his hips again and closing with great speed on the targeted wideout after the ball was in the air. Then, of course, came the incredible Odell Beckham Jr. esque catch with one hand that Williams secured as he fell to the ground.
The four-star, who is ranked the No. 122 player in the country and the No. 1 safety in the state of Florida by 247Sports, took to X to showcase his impressive play.

Former FSU Seminoles football commit cornerback Bryce Williams has found his new home, committing to the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, according to Zach Blostein of 247Sports.
Williams is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and committed to the Seminoles back on April 1, 2025, after the Seminoles issued him a scholarship in February of 2025. While they fought to hold onto his recruitment, the four-star prospect ultimately decommitted from FSU on Dec. 9, 2025, shortly after they fired defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain.
He is ranked as the No. 315 overall player and No. 36 cornerback in the 247Sports composite. He is also the No. 27 player from Florida.
FSU has had four players decommit from their 2027 recruiting class after back-to-back poor seasons on the field. Four-star cornerback Jaylen Scott flipped to the Auburn Tigers but is now committed to the Oklahoma Sooners, Mekhi Williams flipped to the Wisconsin Badgers, and three-star wide receiver Kaneilius Purdy committed to the UCF Knights.
FSU's 2027 recruiting class has seven commitments, with just two four-star prospects committed. The Seminoles will have a chance to add to the group over the next few weeks as they host several top targets on official visits.