In February, Johnson cited upgrades on the offensive line as a critical foundation stone he planned to have in place by the time the Bears opened the regular season. The acquisition of big-ticket free agent center Drew Dalman and trades for veteran guards Joe Thuney (Chiefs) and Jonah Jackson (Rams) set the Bears up with three new starters.

Jones' position was considered open as he recovered from a fractured left ankle that required surgery in December.

But Johnson said at the annual NFL spring meetings in April that the Bears also challenged Jones to add weight. Johnson's assessment of Jones was that he has the light feet for the position, ideal for his primary job of protecting quarterback Caleb Williams, but not enough mass to move bodies in the running game.

Jones, a fifth-round pick in 2022 who has played in 40 career games, and right tackle Darnell Wright will keep their jobs as the starting tackles, at least to begin the regular season.

Trapilo, the 56th overall pick in April who played at GM Ryan Poles' alma mater (Boston College), is slotted as the "swing tackle" for the Bears to begin the season.

He started 36 games at Boston College and spent the previous two seasons at right tackle (2023, 2024) after starting at left tackle in 2022.

Parsons, now a member of the Green Bay Packers, made it a priority to stay in Dallas, the agent said, and wasn't going to sit out the season after a sit-in at Cowboys training camp over dissatisfaction with his current contract.

"I think the most important thing is Micah wanted to be a Cowboy," Mulugheta said. "He grew up cheering for the Cowboys, wore the blue and white at Penn State, wore it in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. He wanted to be a Cowboy, and we did everything we could for him to remain a Cowboy."

Mulugheta said that despite the impasse in negotiations, Parsons, 26, would have played in the Cowboys' season opener on Thursday against the host Philadelphia Eagles. The agent said Parsons' camp never told the Cowboys otherwise.

"I mean, Micah loves the game too much," Mulugheta said. "He was going to play no matter what."

Green Bay quickly extended Parsons after trading three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027 to Dallas last Thursday. Parsons' new deal is a four-year, $188 million extension that includes $136 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history with a $47 million annual average.

The Cowboys and Parsons never officially got to that point, with team owner and general manager Jerry Jones believing he had a handshake agreement with the player following a direct conversation with him on March 18.

Parsons said that the team had to then deal with his agent, Mulugheta, and that's where versions of the story went different directions. Jones said he offered the most guaranteed money for a non-quarterback in league history, reportedly more than $150 million.

Parsons said the Cowboys refused to talk with his agent as months went by, so there was no deal. Mulugheta said he tried several times before and after Parsons' March meeting with Jones to ask about a new contract.

"To expect somebody like Micah Parsons to be one of the best defenders in the NFL and also a great lawyer when it comes to contracts, I think it's a bit unfair," Mulugheta said. "His job is to go out there and chase quarterbacks, and our job is to go out there and chase commas for him. I'm not sure exactly why it went this way, but we were always prepared and open to negotiating a contract with the Jones family."

The agent said his client never believed he was actually negotiating a contract, and whether or not it was a miscommunication, Parsons just listened and "nodded his head out of respect."

"Obviously there's a power dynamic that's a little different there," Mulugheta said. "One guy's the owner of the team and the GM, and the other one is Micah Parsons, a young 25-year-old football player."

The agent said the Cowboys talked to Parsons about a five-year extension, not four, which he estimated could have cost the player $60 million to $70 million in future earnings.

On the health front, Parsons is dealing with a back injury, though he practiced with the Packers on what appeared to be a limited basis on Monday.

Before the deal, the Cowboys had placed Parsons on a five-day plan of a corticosteroid to help back inflammation and had him on a physical therapy program. Parsons may need an epidural injection to play Sunday against the Detroit Lions, according to reports from ESPN, NFL Network and The Athletic.

"What I will tell you, is that Micah is going to do everything he possibly can to get on the football field, the same way he did when he was in a Cowboys jersey," Mulugheta said.

A Pro Bowl selection in each of his four seasons, and three-time first-team All Pro, Parsons has racked up 52.5 sacks through the first 63 games of his career. He was the 12th overall pick by the Cowboys in the 2021 draft and the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year that season.

Dart, selected 25th overall out of Ole Miss, is listed ahead of 10-year veteran Jameis Winston after a promising preseason and training camp. New York opens the regular season on Sunday on the road against the Washington Commanders.

The Giants had the day off Tuesday. Head coach Brian Daboll and Wilson are scheduled to meet with the media on Wednesday.

Dart, 22, was 32-of-47 passing for 372 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the preseason and rushed for a TD against the New York Jets, igniting optimism around a position that became a trainwreck in 2024.

Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen moved on from Daniel Jones in November after he requested his release in response to being benched. Daboll and the Giants ran into more trouble when Tommy DeVito, Drew Lock and Tim Boyle failed to produce. New York lost 11 of its final 12 games in 2024, when it finished 3-14.

Daboll has committed to 36-year-old Wilson, a free-agent signee on his third team in three seasons, as the Giants' starter. Wilson and Winston, 31, were signed for different roles, with Daboll and Schoen made clear early in the offseason.

The move will constitute a reunion for the team and Davis, who spent the first four seasons of his NFL career in Buffalo. Contract details were not disclosed.

He signed a three-year, $39 million free agent deal with Jacksonville Jaguars in March 2024.

Per ESPN, Davis will be on Buffalo's practice squad as he works his way back from a torn meniscus sustained last season with the Jaguars. They released Davis on May 7 in a move that saw the team absorb a $20.3 million dead cap hit to be spread over two seasons.

Davis, 26, caught 20 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games (nine starts) last season before he was injured on Nov. 17 in a 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Davis had 163 catches for 2,730 yards and 27 touchdowns in 64 games (47 starts) with the Bills, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of UCF.

His successor, Graham Glasgow, is on track to start the team's Week 1 matchup versus the Green Bay Packers on Sunday after missing time during training camp with a lower leg injury, head coach Dan Campbell told reporters on Tuesday.

Glasgow, 33, is in his second stint with the Lions after they selected him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent 2020-2022 with the Denver Broncos before rejoining Detroit in 2023.

He is moving over from the left guard spot, where he predominantly played last season. He did start one game at center for the Lions in 2024.

Glasgow has big shoes to fill in replacing Ragnow, who retired after just seven seasons due to citing he needed to prioritize his health and his family's future. He made four Pro Bowls and was a three-time second-team All-Pro center.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said Harmon won't play but linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring) has a chance to be ready Sunday and is trending in that direction.

Harmon, selected by Pittsburgh with the 21st overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, was carted off the field with a knee injury during the team's preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 21.

The Steelers later revealed that Harmon is dealing with an MCL sprain.

Harmon, 22, is expected to be a starter on the defensive line alongside Keeanu Benton and Cam Heyward. Isaiahh Loudermilk and rookie Yahya Black are likely to see increased playing time until Harmon returns.

Harmon spent three seasons at Michigan State before transferring to Oregon for his senior season in 2024. He played 14 games for the Ducks and posted 45 tackles (11 for loss), five sacks, four passes defended, two fumbles forced and two fumble recoveries.

On Tuesday, the NFC South rival New Orleans Saints announced Dimitroff will serve as a consultant. He is expected to assist executive vice president/general manager Mickey Loomis in all facets of the operation, per Sports Illustrated.

Dimitroff, 59, reportedly has spent time with the Saints through training camp.

He was named the NFL executive of the year in his first year with the Falcons in 2008 and again in 2010. He was fired by the team in 2020 after the team lost its first five games of the season.

Prescott was given some of the same lines during contract negotiations that Parsons heard from franchise owner Jerry Jones and the Dallas brass, specifically about performing in a contract year to earn another one with more security. There was friction between Jones and Prescott when the quarterback played the length of his rookie contract and subsequent franchise tag year before signing a four-year extension on the first game day of the 2024 season.

So when Jones pulled the plug and traded Parsons -- a two-time All-Pro pass rusher -- to the Green Bay Packers last Thursday, Prescott wasn't shocked. But he was surprised it unraveled so suddenly.

"I can't say I was completely surprised, but I definitely didn't think he was going to get traded, I'll say that," Prescott said. "But just with (how) their negotiations went down, obviously to some extent ... it seemed like it got personal on their ends, so that's why I wasn't surprised."

Prior to the trade, Prescott and head coach Brian Schottenheimer both expressed confidence Parsons would be on the field when the Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles kick off the regular season on Thursday night. He said he's glad not to be fielding questions about whether Parsons will play and is more comfortable knowing his former teammate is happy with the result.

"As much as anything, it's good that a solution happened. Micah got paid, got paid very well," Prescott said. "Great for him and his family. We'll see him here in about a month. Just honestly glad that, I can't say glad, but glad that we moved past that and everybody seems happy because of it."

Parsons, 26, continues to deal with a back injury that could impact his availability in Week 1 and beyond. The Packers visit the Cowboys for a Sunday night game in Week 4 on Sept. 28.

Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs still isn't prepared to see Parsons in another uniform.

"I think everybody was surprised," Diggs said of the trade. "I was really surprised, I really thought it was going to get done so we could just stay a family. Just him being here all his years, but unfortunately that's not what God had for him."

A Pro Bowl selection in each of his four seasons, Parsons has racked up 52.5 sacks through the first 63 games of his career. He was the 12th overall pick by the Cowboys in the 2021 draft.

Signed to a three-year contract worth up to $63.5 million in March, Diggs is working his way back from a torn ACL sustained while playing for the Houston Texans. He did not play in the preseason.

"As of today, he'll be out there," Vrabel said on WEEI 93.7 FM in Boston.

Diggs tops the team's depth chart among wide receivers ahead of Kayshon Boutte, Pop Douglas and Mack Hollins.

Diggs, 31, caught 47 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games (all starts) last season with the Texans.

He has 857 career catches for 10,491 yards and 70 touchdowns in 144 regular-season games (136 starts) with the Minnesota Vikings (2015-19), Buffalo Bills (2020-23) and Texans. He also owns 69 receptions for 909 yards and four touchdowns in 14 postseason games.

The 2025 NFL season kick offs Thursday when the host Eagles raise their Super Bowl LIX banner before entertaining their NFC East foes, currently the subject of derision for trading away one of the best defenders in the game.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and his locker-room leaders refuse to discuss the possibility of a repeat.

"We're not talking anything about a title or anything. We're talking about the Dallas Cowboys," Sirianni said. "How do we put ourselves in the best position to win this football game ... and how do you continue to get better as the year goes on? That's your habits. That's all we're thinking about."

Yet the Week 1 spotlight will shine less on the champs and more on their opponents.

Dallas owner Jerry Jones ended a contract standoff with sack master Micah Parsons by trading him to the Green Bay Packers a week before the season opener. The Cowboys acquired defensive tackle Kenny Clark and the Packers' next two first-round draft picks, but they surrendered an All-Pro pass-rusher entering his prime.

Jones defended his decision, envisioning a world in which Parsons nets future stars for Dallas the same way the Herschel Walker trade did early in Jones' tenure.

"Our fans, as well as my mirror, are saying, ‘Come on, let's change something up. Let's do something a little different here,'" Jones said.

But those draft picks won't help this season, and fans in fact were incensed that Parsons was traded. Not even franchise quarterback Dak Prescott tried to spin the move too positively.

"I'm not going to say we're better," Prescott said. "We've got to go out there and prove it. We'd have to prove it even if (Parsons) was on this team, so I'm not going to say that by any means."

The Cowboys' defense already was behind the 8-ball after allowing 27.5 points per game last year, second-worst in the league (at 17.8 ppg, the Eagles were second-best). Rookie defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku will join Clark and journeymen Dante Fowler Jr. and Solomon Thomas in a remade defensive front.

Dallas traded for mercurial receiver George Pickens to line up opposite CeeDee Lamb, but the run game will be another question mark. Rico Dowdle left in free agency after a 1,000-yard season, and the Cowboys will balance vets Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders and rookie Jaydon Blue out of the backfield.

They'll all have to come together under a new coach in Brian Schottenheimer after the team moved on from Mike McCarthy. Promoted from offensive coordinator, the career assistant gets his first crack as a head coach.

"Nothing's changed. My goals haven't changed. Our team goals haven't changed," Schottenheimer said after the Parsons trade. "I hit the players on that ... after I talked about the tough couple of days for all the guys. It doesn't change. The standard is the standard."

The Eagles won't look much different from the team that routed the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in February. Saquon Barkley will try to replicate the ninth 2,000-yard rushing season in league history, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith still lead the receiving corps and the defense remains chock-full of former Georgia Bulldogs.

Whatever his critics say, two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Jalen Hurts can call himself a Super Bowl champion as well. He threw for just 2,903 yards and 18 touchdowns in 15 starts last year, but had his fourth straight year with double-digit rushing touchdowns (14). No one will benefit more from the owners voting down attempts to ban the "tush push" play last spring.

Hurts' relationship with Sirianni, which appeared strained 12 months ago, has grown "day by day," per the quarterback.

"We obviously, both of us, love to work, love hard work, have a ton of grit to ourselves," Hurts said this week. "We're passionate about that. We express that through our work. So I think it's been able to grow and evolve."

The Eagles may not have three-time Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson (back) for the opener as he missed practice Monday. Backup quarterback Tanner McKee (right thumb) also missed practice, while linebacker Joshua Uche (groin) and rookie safety Andrew Mukuba (hamstring) were limited.

The only Dallas player to miss practice Monday was defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey (back). Star cornerback Trevon Diggs and left tackle Tyler Guyton, both dealing with knee injuries, were full participants.

"He's looked really good in practice," Harbaugh said at a press conference. "Cleared for contact. Just take it one day at a time."

The Chargers open the season Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs in Sao Paulo, Brazil. If Harris can't play, then first-round draft pick Omarion Hampton is expected to tote the majority of carries.

Harris missed the start of training camp and didn't begin participating in football drills until mid-August. He didn't play in the preseason, but was activated from the non-football injury list last Tuesday.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers running back suffered what his agent described as a "superficial eye injury" during a July 4 fireworks mishap. The Chargers haven't disclosed further details about the injury.

Harris topped 1,000 rushing yards in all four of his seasons with the Steelers and has 4,312 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns in 68 NFL games (all starts). The Steelers selected him 24th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and Harris made the Pro Bowl and the NFL All-Rookie team after that season.

Stafford missed the first several weeks of training camp, battling an aggravated disc in his back. According to ESPN, he has been a full participant in practice since Aug. 18, in both individual and team drills.

The 17-year veteran restructured his contract in the offseason, signing a two-year deal with cap hits of $47 million-plus in 2025 and 2026, according to Over The Cap.

Stafford, 37, played in 16 of 17 regular-season games for the 2024 Rams, who upset Minnesota in the wild-card round of the playoffs and lost a 28-22 decision to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

He threw for 533 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in those two contests after amassing 3,762 passing yards, 20 TDs and eight interceptions in the regular season.

The longtime Detroit Lions starter, Stafford led Los Angeles to its first Super Bowl championship in his first season of 2021. He is ranked 10th in NFL history with 59,809 passing yards.

McVay also believes left tackle Alaric Jackson, a Monday participant in practice, will start against Houston. He has been dealing with blot clots in his lower leg.

"I do believe that we'll be at our best with him out there," McVay told reporters.

The Packers acquired Parsons in a blockbuster deal with the Dallas Cowboys last Thursday and gave him the richest contract for a non-quarterback in NFL history, worth $47 million a year.

But before the deal, the Cowboys had placed Parsons on a five-day plan of a corticosteroid to help back inflammation and had him on a physical therapy program. Parsons may need an epidural injection to play Sunday against the Detroit Lions, according to reports from ESPN, NFL Network and The Athletic.

Monday was Parsons' first official day at Packers practice. He did not participate in practice with Dallas throughout training camp as he engineered a hold-in.

At his introductory press conference Friday, Parsons said, "Physically, I'm great."

A two-time All-Pro pass rusher and a Pro Bowl selection in each of his four seasons, Parsons has racked up 52.5 sacks through the first 63 games of his career. He was the 12th overall pick by the Cowboys in the 2021 draft but did not want to play 2025 on his fifth-year option, claiming that owner Jerry Jones tried to go around his agent.

"We have so much going on here," Sirianni said. "Obviously, we're getting ready to play the Cowboys, so he's on your thoughts of game-planning, but they still have guys that we have to prepare for. Obviously, they got Kenny Clark, who is a really good player and they have good depth at the defensive end group, so you don't get too wrapped up into that except for some of the things you're doing with the game plan. But also understand that they have a lot of good players still over there and get ready for those guys and shift your attention to that."

Mailata said he breathed a "sigh of relief" because Parsons is a player the Eagles always game-plan to slow down.

"I say that as a joke, but at the same time, it's just kind of crazy," he said. "The last four or five years that we've played the Dallas Cowboys, we've come up with a game plan because Micah's a gamer. It is a sigh of relief that you don't have to plan like that anymore. However, that is a talented D-line and a challenging defense. You've got to treat them with the same respect, with or without Micah Parsons. They've got Kenny Clark there. He's been in the league a long time. He's a great bloody player. So, now we've got to figure out how he affects our game plan and how we control that."

With 335 QB pressures since being drafted in 2021, Parsons caused problems for a lot of offensive linemen during his four seasons with the Cowboys.

Mailata and the Eagles' offensive line are getting more familiar with second-round rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku and have their own concerns on the offensive line.

Mailata said not having to contend with Parsons on Thursday night is a definite game-changer.

"It changes a lot. I'm gonna be honest with you, it changes a lot," Mailata said. "Eleven (Parsons) is a great player and we always have protection plans built in for great players and now we just have to figure out the players that they have on their defense, how can we stop them?"

Tight end Dallas Goedert said he always finds Parsons and wants to know where he is before each snap.

"Now that he's gone, they still have great players and they have a scheme that we haven't seen, so we have to prepare for everything," he said. "It's really about us being on our game and doing what we do."

The Dolphins announced their 2025 team captains on Monday, and for the first time since 2022, the five-time All-Pro wide receiver is not among them.

Hill, a controversial figure throughout his career, created a stir at the end of the 2024 season when he removed himself from a loss to the New York Jets in the season finale. He also suggested he wanted out of Miami, though he walked back those comments with an apology later.

The Dolphins players voted to return quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, fullback Alec Ingold and defensive tackle Zach Sieler as captains. Joining them are center Aaron Brewer as well as linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Bradley Chubb.

"We were focused on giving the keys to captaincy to guys that had earned it each and every day," head coach Mike McDaniel said, per ESPN. "That's what speaks to me the most is a football team that knows who it wants to be led by."

Hill, 31, spent the first six seasons of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs.

In 141 career games (123 starts), he has 798 receptions for 11,098 yards with 82 touchdowns. He has caught more than 1,100 yards six times, including an NFL leading 1,799 yards in 2023.

His agent, David Canter, posted the news on social media Monday, but no financial terms were released.

Warren was set to earn $5.3 million in 2025 but now will receive $7 million this year, NFL Network reported. The new deal includes $12 million guaranteed, per the report.

Warren is tops on the Steelers' depth chart at running back after backing up Najee Harris, who signed a free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Chargers in March.

The Steelers originally signed Warren as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

In 48 games in a reserve role, Warren has totaled 1,674 rushing yards with six touchdowns. He has added 894 yards on 127 receptions.

Behind him on the depth chart is rookie Kaleb Johnson, a third-round draft pick from Iowa.

The Steelers open the season Sunday at the New York Jets.

The Colts released a trailer to kick off the season on Sunday, narrated by franchise legend Edgerrin James, that remembered Irsay. He died at age 65 on May 21.

"This season hits different," James says in his opening remarks. "The big man ain't walking through that tunnel. Big man, you gave your heart to this city. Now it's on us to carry the weight, to carry your name, to carry your legacy."

The video shows city skyscapes, game action and Irsay cradling the Super Bowl trophy won following the 2006 season.

At age 24, Irsay was named general manager of the Colts when they relocated from Baltimore. He took over ownership of the team when his father, Robert Irsay, died in 1997.

"It started with one man," James says of Irsay, "but this ain't about one man. It's about all of us. ... This is foundation. A foundation built by the big man.

"This season. For the city. For the boss. For the (horse) shoe."

The Colts open the season at home against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 7, and will be inducting Irsay into the team's ring of honor during the game. Irsay's three daughters have taken over management of the team.

At $23 million per season, Bland's average annual salary is the fifth-highest among cornerbacks in the NFL, per Spotrac. According to media reports, the contract includes $50 million in guaranteed money.

Bland, 26, was due to earn $5.346 million in 2025 as he entered the last year of his rookie contract.

The reported signing comes three days after the Cowboys traded two-time All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027.

After leading the league in 2023 with nine interceptions -- including an NFL-record five picks returned for touchdowns, Bland totaled 41 tackles in seven games (all starts) last season. He missed the team's first 10 games while recovering from surgery to repair a fractured foot.

Bland has recorded 14 interceptions in 41 career games (30 starts) since being selected by the Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Fresno State.

Sanders found notoriety following the blow delivered to tight end Zach Davidson in the Buccaneers' preseason contest with the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 23. Sanders was ejected for the play, and Tampa Bay released the rookie free agent defensive back a day later.

"You can't throw punches in this league," Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said. "That's inexcusable. They're going to get you every time. Gotta grow from that."

The 25-year-old Sanders had been a long shot to make the roster, listed as a third-string safety on the team's depth chart. He contributed four solo tackles during exhibition play.

During six college football seasons -- two at South Carolina, two at Jackson State and two at Colorado -- Sanders appeared in 52 games with 33 starts. He amassed 217 tackles, six interceptions and five forced fumbles. Shilo played for his father, Deion Sanders, at Jackson State and Colorado.

Jordan was in hospice and passed away in Dallas of kidney failure, his son David told the Dallas Morning News.

A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Jordan was named to the Cowboys' Silver Anniversary team. He also was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor in 1989.

"With fearless instincts, leadership and a relentless work ethic, Jordan was the embodiment of the Cowboys spirt," team owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. "Off the field, his commitment to his community was the centerpiece of his life after retiring in 1976. His legacy lives on as a model of dedication, integrity and toughness."

A three-time Super Bowl champion, Jordan recorded 32 interceptions -- including three that were returned for a touchdown -- and 19.5 sacks in 187 career games (174 starts) with the Cowboys. He was selected by the team with the sixth overall pick of the 1963 draft out of Alabama.