The Bengals may already have a proven kick returner in Charlie Jones, but special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons isn’t shutting the door on Ke’Shawn Williams. Simmons made it clear Jones has been productive, though he also pointed to availability as the key issue.
“I think Ke’Shawn did a good job in the limited opportunities he had last year,” Simmons said, according to Geoff Hobson of the team’s website. “Obviously, it’s no big secret that Charlie has been productive when he’s been on the field.
We just need him to stay on the field longer. I think Ke’Shawn has earned every opportunity to put himself right in the thick of the competition.”
In Cleveland, Browns general manager Andrew Berry came away encouraged after a recent visit with defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and said he’s hopeful the two sides can work something out. Berry also addressed the quarterback battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, making it clear the Browns won’t force a decision based on age or any other shortcut.
“I wouldn’t rule anything out. Ultimately we’re going to play the player who is the most productive… No need to make any decisions about the future right now. We will let it play out.”
Baltimore had plenty of its own news, starting with Lamar Jackson’s confidence in the offense and his dissatisfaction with how the 2025 season ended. Jackson said the group is still adjusting to new faces, but he likes what he sees.
“I believe just because we finished the season off in a way we wasn’t accustomed to,” Jackson said, via Ravens Wire. “New guys around, just a whole new team, basically.
I’m a vet now. It’s just overwhelming in a good way.
In a positive way. It’s fun.”
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said defensive tackles Travis Jones and John Jenkins could be back on the field at the end of the first week of August. Zay Flowers, meanwhile, was asked whether he’d want an extension done before the season begins and kept his focus on football.
“Honestly, I’m just working right now, I’m trying to get better. I’ll leave that to my agents, my representation.”
Derrick Henry also weighed in on his future, saying retirement never crossed his mind this offseason.
“I love the game.”
In Other News...
Steelers Just Sent A Concerning Message About Will Howard
Will Howard arrived with the kind of buzz that can make a rookie quarterback feel like he is already part of the plan, but the Steelers are heading into training camp with a different order than many expected. Mason Rudolph is positioned as the No. 2 quarterback for now, which gives Pittsburgh a more familiar face behind the starter and signals that the team is not simply handing Howard the backup job on potential alone.
Howard still has time to change that conversation once camp and the preseason begin, and that is where this gets interesting for the Steelers. A new coaching staff has every reason to take a long look at all its options, but it also has a veteran in Rudolph who already knows how to handle the role. For Howard, the next few weeks are less about hype and more about proving he can force the issue. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Face A Costly Joey Porter Jr. Problem
Joey Porter Jr. has spent much of the Steelers offseason on the sideline, and the timing has made his situation worth watching in Pittsburgh. The cornerback has not been a major participant in team activities, which matters even more for a defense that wants its young pieces moving in sync before camp fully ramps up.
The contract side only adds another layer. Pittsburgh still plans to get Porter extended before the season, but the cornerback market has been climbing, and Denzel Wards new deal in Cleveland has only pushed the price tag higher for top corners. For the Steelers, that leaves a familiar front-office balancing act: keep a key young defender in the fold without letting a rising market turn a straightforward extension into a costly standoff. [Read more 🡒]
Joey Porter Jr. May Be Pricing Himself Into A Steelers Standoff
Joey Porter Jr. has become one of the Steelers most important contract decisions, and the shape of the market around him is making the conversation harder, not easier. Pittsburgh and its young cornerback still have not bridged the gap on an extension, with the disagreement centered on average annual salary and how Porter should be valued against the leagues top corners.
Recent talks for other premium defensive backs have only sharpened the stakes, because every big number at the position gives Porter another reason to press his case. The Steelers also have to keep an eye on the rest of their extension pipeline, which means this one is not happening in a vacuum and could linger as Pittsburgh tries to balance present value with future cap planning. [Read more 🡒]