Lady Raiders fall in Region Semifinals

Carolina Panthers first-round pick Xavier Legette is being held out of a mandatory minicamp because of a lingering hamstring injury, head coach Dave Canales said Tuesday. Canales also said edge rusher DJ Johnson, who was carted off during the first day of minicamp Tuesday, has a calf injury and will miss the rest of the session. The first-year coach said he expects both Legette, a wide receiver, and Johnson to be ready for training camp. The Panthers traded with the Buffalo Bills to obtain the 32nd pick and select the 6-foot-3, 227-pound Legette out of South Carolina. In five seasons, he caught 113 passes for 1,678 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Gamecocks. He had a career-best season in 2023 with 71 receptions for 1,255 yards and seven scores. Johnson, 25, started three of his 13 games as a rookie in 2023 and totaled 16 tackles with one tackle for loss. The Panthers selected him in the third round of the 2023 draft out of Oregon. Canales also said that linebacker Eku Leota has a calf injury and will miss minicamp; running back Miles Sanders has a heel injury that kept him off the field Tuesday as a precautionary measure; and linebacker D.J. Wonnum will be participating at his own speed while dealing with a quad issue. --Field Level Media

UConn flipped from the prospect of a mass exodus to being even stronger favorites to win a third consecutive national title with coach Dan Hurley spurning the Los Angeles Lakers to return to Storrs, Conn. UConn was installed at +1500 by BetRivers to win the 2025 national title the day after securing their second consecutive title in April. That was tied for the third-shortest odds at the time, with the prospect of Hurley being courted by the NBA or another college basketball program looming. After Hurley took himself out of contention for the Kentucky opening, it appeared likely that he would return to the Huskies. UConn's 2025 title odds had shortened to +1000 by last week, tied for the shortest at the book. When news broke late last week that the Lakers were preparing a massive offer to Hurley, UConn was suddenly faced with an uncertain future. Had he left for the NBA, it would have triggered a 30-day window for current Huskies players to transfer out of the program. BetRivers told Field Level Media that after news of Hurley's return broke on Monday, the Huskies' odds of winning the '25 title shortened to +700. By Tuesday, they were the clear favorite at the book, with the next shortest odds belonging to Kansas at +1100 followed by Duke at +1200 and Alabama at +1500. "I am humbled by this entire experience," Hurley said in a statement on Monday. "At the end of the day, I am extremely proud of the championship culture we have built at Connecticut. We met as a team before today's workout and our focus right now is getting better this summer and connecting as a team as we continue to pursue championships." Hurley, 51, has posted a 141-58 record while leading UConn to four NCAA Tournament appearances during his six seasons at the helm. He had a 38-23 record during two seasons as the head coach at Wagner (2010-12) and a 113-82 mark in six campaigns with Rhode Island (2012-18). --Field Level Media

Packers QB Jordan Love at camp, expects contract resolution soon

Packers quarterback Jordan Love anticipates signing a new contract in the weeks before he arrives at the start of training camp next month. "It's what I've heard," Love said Tuesday as Green Bay starts mandatory minicamp outside Lambeau Field. The Packers owe Love $11 million for the 2024 season under terms of the $13.5 million extension he signed with the plan of starting for the first time upon Aaron Rodgers' exit via trade in April 2023. Love, 25, said he likes to "be in the mix" in negotiations but was otherwise tight-lipped. He wouldn't confirm speculation the two sides are "close." Love had a modest start last season but guided Green Bay to the playoffs with a wild-card spot and completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The Packers are looking to reach a long-term deal with Love, a plan the front office has discussed since the season ended. "We're in those conversations right now," Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst told 97.3 The Game last month. "The nice part about this is none of these things are always easy or fast, but both parties want the same thing. We'd like to get this done before training camp for sure. "Both parties want to get a contract extension done. Stability at that position really allows you to have some security with the way we build our team. We're looking forward to getting that done, but it never goes fast." While other quarterbacks are avoiding camp with contract matters in limbo, Love has still been participating in voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) this offseason. The Packers selected Love in the first round (26th overall) of the 2020 draft out of Utah State. He appeared in just 10 games (one start) over his first two NFL seasons before taking over starting duties in 2023. --Field Level Media

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper was a no-show for the first day of a mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Cooper's absence was not excused. He did not confirm if the five-time Pro Bowl selection's non-attendance was contract related. Cooper, who turns 30 next week, is due a non-guaranteed base salary of $20 million in 2024, the final season of a five-year, $100 million deal he signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020. Stefanski said "there's been a dialogue" between the team and the agent for Cooper, who also was not seen at any of Cleveland's earlier OTA practices that were open to the media. Cooper caught 72 passes for 1,250 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games in 2023 after catching 78 for 1,160 yards and nine scores in 17 games in his first season with Cleveland in 2022. He has 667 receptions for 9,486 yards and 60 TDs in 140 games (133 starts) with the then-Oakland Raiders (2015-18), Cowboys (2018-21) and Browns. The Raiders drafted him No. 4 overall in 2015. --Field Level Media

While he progresses in his recovery from a torn ACL, New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones won't participate in team drills at the two-day minicamp, coach Brian Daboll told reporters Tuesday. "He's really right on point with where he needs to be," Daboll said. "But in terms of the team, we'll keep him out here the next few days and get him ready to go for training camp." Whether Jones is ready for training camp remains to be seen, but Daboll is pleased with the QB's rehab process. "Yeah, we'll see," the coach said. "We will give him another month here, but he's making progress." Jones, 27, underwent season-ending surgery on his right knee in late November after sustaining the injury in a 30-6 loss at Las Vegas on Nov. 5. Jones, who signed a four-year, $160 million contract last offseason, finished with two touchdown passes and six interceptions in six games in 2023. He also missed three games with a neck injury. Jones is 22-36-1 as a starter with 62 touchdown passes and 40 picks in 60 games (59 starts) since being drafted with the No. 6 overall pick in 2019. Daboll praised the work of free-agent signee Drew Lock, but stopped short of saying there will be a QB competition once Jones returns. "He understands his role," Daboll said of Lock. "I think he's come a long way. There is a lot to learn playing that position. There is a lot of vocabulary, there's new plays. One word means something to him in another system. He's been to a few different places. He has been a true pro. "He has definitely improved since he has gotten here. Good to get two more workdays here with the guys that he might not necessarily get as many reps with once we get to training camp." As for Darren Waller, who retired over the weekend, Daboll said he spoke to the veteran tight end on Monday and has kept in contact with him since last season ended. "I would say the first thing with Darren is my concern for him is more of a person than anything," Daboll said. "I'm glad he's doing well. Spoke to him yesterday. "That's his decision, we were going to respect the decision and give him as much time as he needed. Wish him well. Here for him if he needs anything. That's what happens in the NFL sometimes." Though Waller's retirement at age 31 leaves a void, Daboll is pleased with the work that first-year tight ends coach Tim Kelly has done with a group that includes Daniel Bellinger and Lawrence Cager. "They've done a really good job," Daboll said. "Tim Kelly has been a great addition to our staff. Really does a good job leading those guys. They're all conscientious guys, have good ability. They can play multiple positions, so it will be a good training camp." --Field Level Media

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and edge rusher Haason Reddick did not report to the start of the New York Jets' two-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, leaving both players subject to fines. Reddick, 29, who came over in a March trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, skipped all voluntary offseason workouts due to a contract dispute. In the final season of a three-year, $45 million contract he signed in 2022 with the Eagles, he's slated to earn a non-guaranteed $14.25 million in base pay. Meanwhile, Jets coach Robert Saleh told reporters that Rodgers' absence was "unexcused" despite the 40-year-old Rodgers telling him ahead of time that he had a prior commitment. Reddick, who had previously forfeited a $250,000 workout bonus, faces a $16,953 fine for missing the first day of the minicamp and an additional $33,908 if he misses the second day. The Jets were aware that Reddick wanted a new contract but made the trade for the two-time Pro Bowl player who has 50.5 sacks over the past four seasons They sent the Eagles a 2026 conditional third-round pick to complete the trade. The only player 29 and older to get an extension under Jets general manager Joe Douglas was tight end Ryan Griffin, who was 29 when he signed a three-year, $10.8 million deal in November 2019. --Field Level Media

49ers' Christian McCaffrey on cover of Madden NFL 25

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is the cover athlete on the Madden NFL 25 video game, EA Sports announced Tuesday. The video game will be released Aug. 16. McCaffrey is the first member of the 49ers to don the cover of the series. He also becomes the first running back to receive the honor since Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders graced separate covers of Madden NFL 25 in 2013. That video game was named as such to honor the series' 25th anniversary. "It's really humbling," McCaffrey told ESPN. "I feel really grateful because obviously stuff like this is a testament to my teammates, my coaches, people who have helped me be in the position to have success, and so I feel really grateful for that. "This is such a cool milestone for me, and to be on the cover, I think of those people who have helped me along the way, and obviously being the first 49ers player is really humbling when you think about how many greats have played for this organization. Definitely feel very fortunate." McCaffrey, 28, signed a two-year, $38 million contract extension last Tuesday. The deal included $24 million in guarantees for the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, who led the league with 1,459 rushing yards last season. With an average annual value of $19 million per season, McCaffrey raised his own bar for NFL running backs. His previous deal averaged $16 million per year. McCaffrey also led the NFL with 2,023 yards from scrimmage, and in 16 starts he shared the league lead with 21 rushing/receiving touchdowns, along with Miami's Raheem Mostert. A three-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first-team All-Pro, McCaffrey has rushed for 6,185 yards and 52 touchdowns. He also has 509 receptions for 4,320 yards and 29 scores in 91 games (84 starts) with the Carolina Panthers (2017-22) and 49ers (2022-23). McCaffrey was the eighth overall pick in 2017 by Carolina, who traded him to San Francisco on Oct. 20, 2022, for a package of draft picks. --Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end BJ Thompson was released from the hospital on Monday night, four days after he had a seizure and went into cardiac arrest, his agent told NFL Network. Thompson, 25, endured his medical ordeal on Thursday while at the Chiefs' practice facility in a team meeting. He received CPR from the Chiefs medical staff before being taken to The University of Kansas Health System. "The family thanks everyone for their prayers and wants to especially thank the Chiefs medical and training staff for their rapid response and professionalism throughout this situation," agent Chris Turnage said in a statement. Thompson recorded two tackles in one game as a rookie last season. He was selected by Kansas City in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Stephen F. Austin. --Field Level Media