12:41 PM ET Concussions among NFL players mandated to wear Guardian Cap equipment dropped by more than 50% this summer compared to the previous three-year average, according to data released Wednesday. For the first time, the league required offensive linemen, defensive linemen, tight ends and linebackers to wear Guardian Caps during practice between the start

3:24 PM ET KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker will not play in Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers because of an ankle injury. The Chargers, meanwhile, will be without starting wide receiver Keenan Allen, who suffered a hamstring injury in Los Angeles’ Week 1 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

4:46 PM ET EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants second-year wide receiver Kadarius Toney said he wasn’t disappointed to play just seven snaps in a 21-20 season-opening win at the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. His team won and, ultimately, it wasn’t his decision. “I get paid to play, not coach,” Toney said Wednesday. “I

12:41 PM ET PITTSBURGH — After the Steelers scored only 17 points off five turnovers in the wild overtime win against the Bengals in Week 1, quarterback Mitch Trubisky said Wednesday he and his unit have to be more aggressive. “When your defense is playing that well, and they’re getting turnovers, you just want to

8:54 AM ET FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The home fans chanted Mike White‘s name during the New York Jets‘ season-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but they’re not making a quarterback change this week. Joe Flacco, who started for the injured Zach Wilson, will remain in the lineup Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Coach Robert

2:03 PM ET EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants starting cornerback Aaron Robinson had his appendix removed Wednesday morning and will miss Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, coach Brian Daboll said. Robinson, a third-round draft pick last year out of UCF, was on the field for 57 of 60 defensive snaps in Sunday’s

12:29 PM ET Eric WoodyardESPN ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai underwent back surgery Tuesday in Dallas, according to coach Dan Campbell. Vaitai was placed on injured reserve ahead of the season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, but Campbell said Wednesday that the team is not ruling out the possibility of the

11:09 PM ET ESPN News Services An investigative report by Mississippi Today revealed Tuesday that former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant helped former NFL quarterback Brett Favre obtain welfare funds in order to help build a new volleyball center at the University of Southern Mississippi. The news organization reviewed text messages from 2017 and 2019 that

7:00 AM ET Stephen HolderESPN INDIANAPOLIS — The summertime family football games on the Jersey Shore were as competitive as they were physical. And, if we’re being honest, Matt Ryan had no business participating. He was the youngest of the cousins, brothers and uncles recklessly throwing their bodies around for bragging rights. In the grand

6:00 AM ET FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed was hyped. It was a new season, a new team, a new start. MetLife Stadium was packed with fans Sunday and filled with hope, and Reed — a big free-agent addition in the offseason — was about to run out into the