NFL

3:29 PM ET CINCINNATI — Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has made up his mind: This will be the last season he wears No. 85. Initially, Higgins told Pro Football Focus’ “Fantasy Football Podcast” that he would switch to No. 5, his college number, if he scored 10 touchdowns this season. However, he removed that

6:45 PM ET OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Heading into Sunday night’s showdown, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson downplayed his winless record against Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Jackson is 0-3 against Mahomes — losing to him in each of the past three seasons — while going 30-5 (.857) against the rest of the NFL.

6:45 PM ET FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys defensive DeMarcus Lawrence sustained a broken foot in Wednesday’s practice that will force him to miss 6-8 weeks, according to sources. It is a giant blow to a defense that did not generate a sack in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and could also be

7:00 AM ET Mike Tannenbaum The NFL is back for the 2021 season, and Week 1 quarterback play brought a mixed bag of exactly what you would have expected and wild surprises. Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson picked up where they left off in wins, and Matthew Stafford shined for his new team. Jameis Winston

11:43 AM ET The New Orleans Saints have had five offensive coaches test positive for COVID-19, calling into question their status for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. However, one team source said, “We’ll be just fine.” Saints head coach Sean Payton said during the summer that the team’s

1:49 PM ET TAMPA, Fla. — Despite being benched after his second-quarter fumble against the Dallas Cowboys last Thursday night, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Ronald Jones II will start this week against the Atlanta Falcons, coach Bruce Arians said Tuesday. Arians also provided additional information on starting cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, who was placed on

4:30 PM ET The NFL Players Association determined Josh Gordon has successfully completed his NFL-monitored treatment program and has recommended to the league that he be reinstated, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Gordon, 30, is awaiting final approval from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, but he is vaccinated against COVID-19 and said to be ready to

6:45 AM ET NFL NationESPN This week’s edition of the 2021 NFL Power Rankings is all about first impressions, as after months of buildup and hype, we got to see every NFL team take the field for the first time in a game that counts. But first impressions from Week 1 go well beyond team

12:08 AM ET LAS VEGAS — As slow, clunky and as ugly as the Las Vegas Raiders‘ offense was early Monday night, it was just as efficient late. And as terrible as their defense was last season, it did just enough against the Baltimore Ravens. In front of a delirious Allegiant Stadium crowd of 61,756,

6:53 AM ET LAS VEGAS — In quarterback Lamar Jackson‘s third training camp practice this summer, he watched rookie wide receiver Rashod Bateman — the Baltimore Ravens‘ first-round pick — drop to the ground in pain, holding his groin while yelling “I popped that s—.” In Jackson’s first preseason game, he saw starting running back

2:07 AM ET Lindsey ThiryESPN Close Covered Rams for two years for Los Angeles Times Previously covered the Falcons Has covered the NBA and college football and basketball INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford faked a handoff, rolled to his left, then it fly. The SoFi Stadium crowd jumped to its feet

7:26 PM ET JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Despite losing Drew Brees to retirement and their home stadium to Hurricane Ida for Week 1, the New Orleans Saints and Jameis Winston got off to a stunningly dominant start in Week 1. Winston threw five touchdown passes in his starting debut with the Saints — with zero turnovers

first Quarter PIT BUF FG 13:34 Tyler Bass Made 37 Yrd Field Goal 4 plays, 5 yards, 1:30 0 3 second Quarter PIT BUF TD 0:22 Gabriel Davis Pass From Josh Allen for 3 Yrds, T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-R.Ferguson, Holder-M.Haack. 13 plays, 91 yards, 5:39 0 10 third Quarter PIT BUF FG 10:26

4:58 AM ET One of the many reasons why the San Francisco 49ers traded up to the third overall spot in this year’s NFL draft was their belief that the New England Patriots could trade up to No. 3 and beat them to Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, league sources told ESPN. San Francisco wanted to

9:48 PM ET EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The wait is over for Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants. Barkley was medically cleared and will be ready for the season opener Sunday against the Denver Broncos, a source told ESPN. Barkley, who tore the ACL in his right knee in Week 2 last season, is

12:49 PM ET The Philadelphia Eagles are signing left tackle Jordan Mailata to a four-year, $64 million extension, Mailata’s agents confirmed to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday. The deal, which runs through the 2025 season, could be worth up to $80 million and includes $40.85 million guaranteed, agents Jeff Nalley and Graylan Crain told ESPN.

5:18 PM ET NFL NationESPN Rejoice, football fans! The first Sunday of the NFL regular season is here! The 2021 season got off to a great start thanks to the thrilling game between the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The other 30 teams are making the final adjustments to their roster before Week 1,

4:38 PM ET Dallas Cowboys right tackle La’el Collins has been suspended five games for violating the NFL’s policy on substances of abuse, the league announced Friday. Collins, 28, missed all of last season with a hip injury. He had started 47 of 48 games from 2017 to 2019 and was coming off his best