11:09 AM ET Alaina GetzenbergESPN The Buffalo Bills are taking care of one of Josh Allen‘s favorite targets just before the season is set to begin, reaching an agreement on a four-year extension with tight end Dawson Knox, it was announced Wednesday. The deal is for $53.6 million and includes $31 million guaranteed, sources told

1:07 PM ET Eric WoodyardESPN ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions have placed starting guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai on injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, Vaitai’s former team. Lions coach Dan Campbell confirmed Wednesday that Vaitai has a back injury, which occurred during the preseason finale in Pittsburgh on Aug.

2:42 PM ET As if there wasn’t enough juice to the season opener between the rival Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, one player who has switched sides gave it a little extra. Za’Darius Smith, who signed with the Vikings this offseason after three seasons with the Packers, criticized how his former team handled the

4:41 PM ET Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson will not play Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills. Jefferson, who had “minor” knee surgery in August, has not practiced since and was ruled out for the game on the Wednesday’s final injury report. Coach Sean McVay said last month that Jefferson’s injury is to

1:20 PM ET TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals placed backup quarterback Colt McCoy on injured reserve Wednesday, just four days before they open the season against the Kansas City Chiefs. In a corresponding move, Arizona promoted quarterback Trace McSorley from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. “It’s unfortunate,” Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said.

9:48 AM ET A record 46.6 million Americans plan to bet on the NFL this season, up 3% from last year, according to survey results released Wednesday by the American Gaming Association. As the NFL season kicks off Thursday, 31 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have launched legal betting markets, and a

6:35 AM ET Brady HendersonESPN SEATED NEXT TO his wife and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a luxury suite at Raymond James Stadium, Russell Wilson watched Super Bowl LV and stewed. To Wilson, who was in Tampa, Florida, to receive his Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, the game was an unsettling reminder

6:00 AM ET KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If it feels like 2019 all over to Steve Spagnuolo, there’s a good reason for that. The Kansas City Chiefs overhauled their defense again, much like they did three years ago, right after Spagnuolo joined the Chiefs as their defensive coordinator. This time, the Chiefs will have as

12:12 PM ET PITTSBURGH — Mitch Trubisky will start at quarterback for the Steelers in their Week 1 game at Cincinnati, coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday, confirming what’s long been the suspected outcome of the offseason quarterback competition. Trubisky, who was voted one of the Steelers’ five captains on Monday, won the job over 2022

2:58 PM ET PITTSBURGH — As part of a weekend-long celebration to honor the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, the Steelers will retire the No. 32 jersey of Franco Harris. The running back’s number is only the third to be retired by the Steelers, joining Ernie Stautner (70) and Joe Greene (75). Harris is