Latest news with #ProBowl
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Broncos' Nik Bonitto Could Lose Playing Time in 2025
Broncos' Nik Bonitto Could Lose Playing Time in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Linebacker Nik Bonitto heads into the 2025 campaign coming off a career year, during which he emerged as a leader on the Denver Broncos' defense. Advertisement Bonitto logged single-season highs in multiple statistics, including sacks (13.5), tackles (48), tackles for loss (16), quarterback hits (24) and forced fumbles (two). In addition to catching his first interception and scoring two defensive touchdowns, he was also named to his first Pro Bowl roster and to the NFL's All-Pro Second Team. Bonitto's year-over-year increase in snaps likely contributed to achieving career highs in many of those categories. Bonitto appeared in 15 games in 2023 (starting in four of them) and played 524 defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus; in 2024, that number rose to 761 after 15 starts (plus two more games in which he appeared off the bench). After increased playing time led to improved performance, it seems logical that he would receive even more next season, right? Not so fast, Broncos head coach Sean Payton says. Payton told reporters during mandatory minicamp that the team will need to be more mindful of Bonitto's snap count in 2025 to ensure he remains healthy for the entirety of the season. Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) following the win against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile Chenoy-Imagn Images "He's playing at a high level," Payton said, via Broncos Wire's Jon Heath. "We have to be careful of his snap count. If you went back and did any homework and you saw he's at a pitch count that's borderline too high. We have to be smart about that.' Advertisement Payton also expressed confidence in other up-and-coming players in the Broncos' linebacker room, which includes the likes of Jonathon Cooper, Dondrea Tillman, Jonah Elliss and rookies Johnnny Walker Jr. and Que Robinson. "We're in a young developmental league. So, to have young guys that we have a vision for is extremely important because it's hard for guys to stay healthy with a long season," Payton said. "Your depth — you're creating all of that.' Bonitto, originally a second-round pick (No. 64 overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft, has appeared in 47 total professional games. He is credited with 23 sacks, 92 tackles and 30 tackles for loss. Related: Broncos Newest Addition Expected to Get Bulk of Snaps in Offense This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jason Kelce compares Chiefs rookie Josh Simmons to Trent Williams
The Kansas City Chiefs spent their first-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft on Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons in the hopes of shoring up the left side of their offensive line. Jason Kelce acknowledged he is a big fan of the pick during a discussion with his brother, Travis, and Chiefs guard Trey Smith in a recent episode of the "New Heights" podcast. The elder Kelce brother referred to Simmons' tape from his lone season at Ohio State as "absurd" and had a lofty comparison for the 22-year-old rookie. "I've watched a lot of these linemen coming out the last few years," Kelce said. "This kid, I mean, he is the closest thing I've seen to like a Trent Williams – like that next level strength and athleticism. The only reason he fell to you guys is because of that (patellar tendon) injury." Williams has long been one of the NFL's top offensive tackles. The 37-year-old was the fourth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and has made 11 Pro Bowls and earned three All-Pro first team nods during his 14-year career. Williams graded as Pro Football Focus' 7th-best tackle among 81 qualified players at the position in 2024, ending a run of four consecutive seasons as a top-two tackle. With that comparison in mind, Kelce is excited to see if Simmons can win Kansas City's left tackle job, which the former Philadelphia Eagles center classified as "a revolving door" in 2024. The rookie's main competition for the job will be Jaylon Moore, who signed a two-year, $30 million deal with the Chiefs in free agency. OPINION: Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa faces massive pressure in 2025 The younger Kelce and Smith are also excited about Simmons' potential. Smith – who made his first Pro Bowl in 2024 in his fourth year as a starting guard for the Chiefs – hasn't seen Simmons in action yet but has heard the 6-5, 310-pounder is "unbelievably strong." Kelce came away with a similar takeaway after going head-to-head with Simmons when the rookie took some scout-team reps at defensive end. "I felt that man's hands grab me, and I was like, 'All right, I gotta come with it,'" Kelce said, laughing. "Even when he's just giving the looks, I gotta make sure I got my feet planted."
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Browns' Jerry Jeudy Trying to Stay Flexible Amid QB Troubles
Browns' Jerry Jeudy Trying to Stay Flexible Amid QB Troubles originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Cleveland Browns are the team in the NFL that has the most quarterbacks on their roster with five. Even though Deshaun Watson is injured, there will still be four guys competing for the starting spot in 2025. Advertisement And that is not exactly an easy thing for a wide receiver to deal with. In a recent interview with ESPN, Browns Pro Bowl wideout Jerry Jeudy talked a bit about what it's like dealing with a QB situation like this. And he did not leave anything out, as he said how he truly feels. "It is pretty difficult because you want to always build that relationship with a quarterback and have that consistency throughout the years," Jeudy said. "But as a receiver going through that, you just got to keep working and you got to learn how to adjust no matter what. Some situations ain't going to go as planned, so you just got to figure out how to just keep going and stay on the right path." The importance of a good connection between a quarterback and a receiver cannot be understated. But having to get build that kind of connection with four guys cannot be an easy task. Advertisement But despite some less-than-stellar quarterback play from the Browns this past season, Jeudy was still able to be one of the better receivers in the NFL. He finished with 1,229 yards, which placed him sixth in the league, as well as four touchdowns. Jeudy will be looking to follow up his Pro Bowl season with another good year in 2025, no matter who it is throwing him the ball. Related: Ex NFL Wideout Solves Browns Quarterback Dilemma Related: Browns Fans Dealt Bad News in Latest Record Predictions This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Post
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Sauce Gardner opens up on how LeBron James played role in him meeting Ice Spice
LeBron James, even if unintentionally, helped play the role of matchmaker for Sauce Gardner's rumored relationship with rapper Ice Spice, the Jets cornerback told TMZ. Gardner appeared on an April 2024 episode of 'The Shop' — a podcast featuring James — alongside rapper Travis Scott, former NFL wideout Chad Ochocinco and star Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez, and Gardner told the outlet he believes that's when the couple met in person for the first time. They seemingly became Instagram official just over one year later in a post shared by Ice Spice with her and Gardner posing in front of a bathroom mirror. Advertisement 3 Ice Spice and Sauce Gardner are pictured at the Knicks' game May 16. AP While Gardner told TMZ that he wasn't 'trying to speak too much on it' when approached in Los Angeles, he did acknowledge that he and the rapper are 'cool' — and proceeded to reveal a bit about their relationship. 'We just be having a good time,' Gardner told the outlet. 'Two young individuals, you know. She from New York. I play in New York. She talented, real talented, when it come to what she do. Same thing for me. Two people that get hated on that's really good at what we do, so we got a lot in common. We cool.' Advertisement 3 LeBron James is pictured at Fanatics Fest on June 21. Getty Images Before Ice Spice's post, the duo had been spotted out in public on different occasions, and Gardner appeared to tease the relationship earlier in April by sharing a photo on Instagram that showed them standing next to a car in New York City. When they attended a Knicks playoff game at the Garden in May, they received a loud ovation from fans in attendance as they watched the Knicks close out their second-round series against the Celtics. Gardner, 24, will enter the 2025 campaign off a rough season and is entering the last year of his rookie deal, but he still attended the Jets' mandatory minicamp instead of holding out, getting fined and attempting to make a contract statement. Advertisement 3 Sauce Gardner addresses reporters during a June 12 press conference. Bill Kostroun/New York Post 'I just wanted to show my teammates and the coaches how much I'm bought into this,' Gardner told reporters on June 12. 'I want to win. I want to be a part of changing the organization.' He earned consecutive First-Team All-Pro appearances in his first two NFL seasons — as well as winning Defensive Rookie of the Year and securing a pair of Pro Bowl spots — but failed to even make the Pro Bowl last year.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Cowboys lineman projected for $76 million deal to run numbers up if they wait too long
The Dallas Cowboys haven't struck gold in the first round since 2022. While it's still a bit early to call DT Mazi Smith a bust and way too early to say such things about Tyler Guyton, the club hasn't nailed a pick out the box since drafting Tyler Smith. The club had a clear plan for the young lineman, and even when that went up in smoke due to an injury to his linemate, Smith proved to be everything the team had imagined, and is already revered as one of the NFL's best lineman. Smith was drafted to be an eventual replacement for Tyron Smith at left tackle, but the club intended on him playing guard until the elder Smith retired. A major injury towards the end of 2022 training camp moved Tyler Smith outside to tackle a year early, and he acquitted himself very well there. He moved back inside for 2023, earning All-Pro honors in his second year. Despite moving back outside for a game and a half, the staff seems committed to allowing him to thrive on the inside for now and the immediate future. Rundown Position: Offensive Guard Age: 24 Height: 6-foot-6 Weight: 332 pounds Hometown: Ft. Worth, TX High School: North Crowley College: Tulsa (Film Study Video) Draft: 2022 First-round pick (No. 24 Overall) Acquired: 2022 Draft Contract: Four-year contract (2022), $13.4 million 2025 Base Salary: $2.5 million | Cap Hit: $4.3 million Career Earnings: $4.3 million (per Over TheCap) Profile Dallas loved what Smith did on the interior so much, they drafted Guyton in the first round in 2024 to man the outside after saying goodbye to Tyron Smith in free agency. And despite Guyton's clear struggles, the road is paved for him to get another season there. It will always exist in the back of everyone's mind that Smith is more than a serviceable player on the outside, and until Guyton establishes himself as a plus starter, the option will always exist for Smith to be pushed back outside. And perhaps the front office, while not trying to undercut Guyton's confidence, prepared for that possibility. The team added four players capable of starting at guard this offseason in ERFA Brock Hoffman, veteran FA Saahdiq Charles, veteran OT/OG Hakeem Adeniji and drafting Tyler Booker in the first round. Booker will start at right guard unless something goes wrong, but all are capable of playing left guard if the best move for Dallas is to push Tyler Smith back outside to left tackle. In addition, Smith is on his way to a well-deserved new contract. The Cowboys have a fifth-year option invoked that will keep Smith with the team in 2026 for $21.2 million, but he's eligible for a contract extension now, and the club may want to buck their trend and pay him now instead of drawing things out. Spotrac projects him as being worth a four-year, $76 million extension, or $19.1 per season now, and that price tag will only increase with another Pro Bowl or All-Pro season. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
