MIAMI — The Dolphins are signing outside linebacker Matthew Judon after his visit to team headquarters on Monday, a league source confirmed.

Judon gives the Dolphins a fourth skilled veteran pass rusher.

The sides had not discussed a contract as of Monday morning, but a deal was reached after his visit went well later in the day.

Miami ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Justin Jefferson traded his sunglasses and bucket hat back for his helmet with a reflective visor Monday.

The Vikings star receiver returned to practice for the first time since July 24. He’s been held out with a minor left hamstring strain.

“It feels great to get back into the normal routine,” Jefferson said after ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is back.

But to what degree remains to be seen.

Stafford, sidelined since the start of training camp because of a back issue, practiced Monday for the first time.

That qualified as an unexpected and momentous development for the Rams as they prepare for their Sept. 7 opener against the Houston...Read more

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Armed with more cap space than the rest of the NFL and three extra draft picks next year, the New England Patriots are better positioned than most teams to strike a win-now trade.

So with several big names potentially available — from Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin to Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons —...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — Mazi Smith’s job security with the Dallas Cowboys is a scathing indictment on the team’s position group, and probably the guy who drafted him, too.

If the team had anyone else of note it liked behind him, it’s highly doubtful the third-year pro would be on the Cowboys when roster cuts are announced on Aug. 26. He’s...Read more

DENVER — Sean Payton coddles Audric Estime the way Lucy Van Pelt coddled poor Charlie Brown.

Like Lucy, Payton keeps promising Estime the football. Like Lucy, Sunshine Sean keeps pulling the rock away at the last minute.

“We knew we wanted two-thirds of the game to get to Blake (Watson) and Audric, and I think we were able to accomplish ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Raiders wide receiver Alex Bachman believes he’s having the kind of training camp that will put him in position to make an opening-day roster for the first time in his seven-year NFL career.

He’s right, even though it might not matter.

Bachman has made plays just about every day from organized team activities through minicamp...Read more

BOSTON — This is where the New England Patriots stand heading into their final week of training camp.

Most of their 53-man roster — which should now include undrafted rookie darling Efton Chism III — is settled. Their starting defense hasn’t budged. Same goes for their top players at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Rams coach Sean McVay was not talking.

Aubrey Pleasant deferred to McVay. And Stetson Bennett was so busy leading a comeback victory, he said he did not notice.

No one in the Rams' organization could answer these questions:

How did Matthew Stafford's scheduled workout on Saturday play out? And was he at the Rams' 23-22 victory...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles added a receiver to training camp just nine days before roster cut down day.

A league source confirmed the Eagles acquired John Metchie III from Houston. According to ESPN, the Eagles sent the Texans tight end Harrison Bryant and a fifth-round pick while Houston paired Metchie with a sixth-rounder. The draft picks ...Read more

DENVER — For Bo Nix to graduate from small screens to more big swings, Sean Payton cannot run it back with last year’s offense.

He has to run the ball more. His biggest challenge this season — beyond which pair of Jordans to wear on game day — will be committing to the ground game.

Will he trust his running backs when it matters most? ...Read more

SEATTLE — As Andy Reid ambled off Lumen Field through the rain late Friday night after his Chiefs had been clobbered, 33-16, by Seattle in a preseason game, a rare and striking scene unfolded:

Following his terrific performance against his hometown team, Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock had hurried to intercept Reid before he could exit — a ...Read more

Mike McDaniel had a decision to make Saturday. He knows by now you can’t talk a team’s desired identity or reformed culture into existence. It has to be created with work, not words.

That’s why he practiced two days and played Saturday’s exhibition against the Detroit Lions. How better to move your identity from finesse to physical than...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Chargers gave up a last-gasp touchdown drive and were nipped at the wire by the Rams, 23-22, in a preseason showdown at SoFi Stadium.

Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett threw for 324 yards — including a 40-yard fourth-down connection with 5-foot-8 Brennan Presley, who outleaped a cluster of Chargers defenders — in a ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin talked about turnovers, self-inflicted wounds and penalties being a factor in defeat. But it’s the preseason, which makes most of his concerns secondary to what was most encouraging for the Steelers.

They saw a couple of their recent third-round draft choices make the types of plays they envisioned when they ...Read more

HOUSTON — The Carolina Panthers could be without rookie outside linebacker Nic Scourton for quite a while after the second-round pick was diagnosed with a collapsed lung before the team’s 20-3 preseason loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday.

Scourton, 20, left Thursday’s joint practice with what were called heat-related symptoms at the ...Read more

NEW YORK — Jaxson Dart took another step Saturday night toward grabbing the Giants’ starting quarterback job if Russell Wilson falters early this regular season.

Dart, 22, took first-team snaps in a game for the first time as a Giant — then led the second-string offense on two consecutive touchdown drives — in a primetime preseason 31-...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Rams defeated the Chargers, 23-22, in a preseason game on Saturday at SoFi Stadium.

Here are five takeaways from the game and the day:

Rams won’t comment on Matthew Stafford situation

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was scheduled to work out on Saturday, a chance for the 17th-year pro to test his injured back.

...Read more

NEW YORK — It was all good just a week ago for the Jets and Justin Fields.

Gang Green won their preseason opener against Green Bay last weekend, with quarterback Justin Fields and the offense having a successful outing.

However, it was a much different story for Fields and the Jets’ first-team offense during their game against the Giants. ...Read more