LAS VEGAS — It’s easy to forget Brock Bowers is still a rookie as he navigates through a record-breaking season.

The former Georgia star has made such a seamless transition to professional football that he makes it seem like he’s been around for years.

But every once in a while, even Bowers is reminded how much of an NFL neophyte he is. ...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions were on their way to a peaceful Thanksgiving Day win over the Chicago Bears.

And then the oven caught on fire.

After taking a 16-0 lead into the half, Detroit saw defensive starters drop like flies as the Bears chipped away at their deficit before a disastrous end-of-game sequence by Chicago’s offense let ...Read more

MIAMI — The Dolphins on Thursday decided that they would not take linebacker Shaq Barrett up on his offer to come out of retirement and play for them this season.

Miami also activated quarterback Tyler Huntley off injured reserve and placed linebacker Tyus Bowser on IR.

Per NFL rules regarding the matter, Miami faced a 4 p.m. Thursday ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Quarterback Aidan O’Connell was activated from injured reserve Thursday, setting him up to start in the Raiders’ game against the Chiefs on Friday.

O’Connell returned to practice this week after missing four games with a fractured right thumb.

Quarterback Gardner Minshew was placed on injured reserve after suffering a ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Brock Purdy remained limited in a Thanksgiving Day practice, keeping his status in doubt for the 49ers’ game Sunday at Buffalo.

Purdy missed last Sunday’s 38-10 loss at Green Bay because of a shoulder injury that’s impaired his throwing ability since the previous game’s loss to Seattle.

Brandon Allen started in ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has been mentioned as a head coaching candidate at North Carolina, where he played from 2001-06. But when he was asked about the possibility of leaving the Steelers to coach the Tar Heels on Thursday, Smith said he wants to remain with the Steelers.

"Obviously, that's my alma mater," ...Read more

After Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, league commissioner Adam Silver went to the Warriors locker room to commend the losing team on a great season and a brilliant five-year run.

Injured and defeated, Golden State coach Steve Kerr made a suggestion.

Could the Dubs take 2020 off and go to Italy to “ride bikes and sip wine” for a year?

The ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Steelers offensive coordinator is the third-most scrutinized position in town, ahead of anything Pirates- or Penguins-related and right behind Steelers head coach and Steelers quarterback. It beats Steelers defensive coordinator on the scrutiny meter because everybody thinks they can call plays.

And you know what? Anybody could ...Read more

CHICAGO — Adversity comes in unexpected forms during an NFL season, and when Caleb Williams’ rookie year is over and everyone involved has an opportunity to take inventory with a wide-lens view, how the No. 1 draft pick traversed the lows will be every bit as telling as the high points.

It has been arrow up for Williams the last two weeks, ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings are signing quarterback Daniel Jones to their practice squad, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

The Giants benched the quarterback on Nov. 18 in favor of Tommy DeVito, granting his request on Nov. 22 to be released. The Vikings quickly emerged as a candidate to sign the former first-...Read more

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups this week. Lines according to FanDuel Sportsbook (O/U = over/under). Record last week 8-5 (.615); season 115-64 (.642). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 5-8 (.385); season 95-82-2 (.537). Times Pacific. TV ...Read more

GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 13 THANKSGIVING DAY PICKS

BEARS (4-7) at LIONS (10-1)

Line: DET by 10.

Cote’s pick: DET, 34-16.

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET Thursday, CBS.

The traditional roasted bird will just about be going into the Cote oven Thursday when the opener of the NFL Thanksgiving tripleheader kicks off. This is proving not to be the season ...Read more

GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 13 PICKS

DOLPHINS THIS WEEK

Miami was 5-3 all time on Thanksgiving entering its eighth Bird Day game Thursday night in Green Bay, with wins in 1973, ‘77, ‘93, 2003 and ‘06, and losses in 1999 and 2011. Most notable was a 16-14 win in Dallas in 1993, which Dolfan old-timers may recall as “the Leon Lett game.” ...Read more

NEW YORK — Daniel Jones is planning to sign to the Minnesota Vikings‘ practice squad, a source confirmed to the New York Daily News on Wednesday.

Jones, 27, who recently requested his release from the Giants after they shut him down, now joins a playoff contender with a quarterback-friendly head coach in Kevin O’Connell and a need for a ...Read more

ARLINGTON, Tex. — In this, the year 2024, as the Giants’ celebrate their 100th season, their 2-9 team trudges into this Thanksgiving Day NFC East game against the Dallas Cowboys on a six-game losing streak.

Joe Schoen’s and Brian Daboll’s Giants have not led at any point in those six defeats, not since Oct. 6 in Seattle.

Their offense ...Read more

CHICAGO — On its first play of overtime Sunday, the Chicago Bears defense got exactly what it wanted.

Pro Bowl pass rusher Montez Sweat, singled up against Minnesota Vikings left tackle Brian O’Neill, won his one-on-one and did enough to turn the corner. And as quarterback Sam Darnold tried to find a deep shot down the field, he never felt ...Read more