NFL Training Camp

Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith still isn't practicing following a trade request, but he is reportedly no longer on the physically unable to perform list.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Wednesday that the Bears removed Smith from the list even though he is "not expected to begin practicing" as he continues his hold-in during the team's training camp.

This comes after the linebacker requested a trade, writing, in part, "unfortunately, the new front office regime doesn't value me here. They've refused to negotiate in good faith, every step of this journey has been 'take it or leave it.' The deal sent to me is one that would be bad for myself, and for the entire LB market if I signed it."

He said he didn't have much of a choice but to ask to be moved elsewhere:

General manager Ryan Poles spoke to reporters about the situation Tuesday and said, "Right now, my intentions are to make sure Roquan is on this team. At the end of the day, we have to do what's best for the team."

The decision to remove him from the PUP list means the team could enforce discipline for sitting out practices:

This is a major challenge for Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus, who are both in their first seasons of what could be a rebuild in the Windy City. The roster is far from loaded with talent, but Smith is a consistent performer who figured to be the face of the defense in 2022.

The Bears selected the Georgia product with the No. 8 overall pick of the 2018 NFL draft, and he finished with more than 100 tackles in each of his first four seasons.

Smith posted 163 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, three passes defended and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown, last season.

He is just 25 years old and could be someone the Bears build around for the foreseeable future, but that may not be the case with so much uncertainty surrounding his situation.

Dallas Cowboys star Trevon Diggs told reporters he left Twitter because of the "toxic" nature of the social media platform.

"I used to be on Twitter a lot, but I'm in camp," he said Monday. "I'm trying to focus. I'm trying to lock in and just be better every day."

Professional athletes have been subjected to undue levels of scrutiny for generations. Social media has made it even easier for fans to reach out directly to the target of their ire at any given moment.

Playing for the Cowboys can be a blessing and a curse because the microscope is bigger when you feature on one of the world's most recognizable sports franchises.

Diggs got a reminder of that recently when a video of him getting beat by teammate CeeDee Lamb on a deep route in practice made the rounds.

It was inevitable that a meaningless on-field sequence in the offseason would become part of the debate about whether Diggs is as good as his lofty interception numbers—he had 11 in 2021—would have you believe.

The 23-year-old told reporters Monday that "hate comes with success."

"All I can do is control what I can control on the field and let my play speak for itself," he said. "I can't respond to everybody; I can't reply to everybody. So I'd rather say nothing at all just perform on the field."

As the 2021 All-Pro prepares for his third season, going dark on social media is an understandable call.

Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt was working out with the team in 11-on-11 drills Sunday after having his trade request denied, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

Hunt, 27, is heading into the final year of his two-year, $12 million deal and seeking a contract extension. With that apparently not forthcoming, Hunt requested a trade, though the Browns didn't accommodate that wish.

"I'm not going to get into really anything that has to do with our players and conversations," Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters when asked about Hunt's trade requests.

The veteran running back skipped team drills Friday and Saturday but made his return Sunday.

Stefanski added that he wouldn't comment on whether Hunt would be fined for missing those drills.

Hunt has been an important playmaker for the Browns since joining the team in 2019 and was excellent in 2020, rushing for 841 yards and six touchdowns while adding 38 receptions for another 304 yards and five scores.

Last season, calf and ankle injuries limited him to eight games, 560 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. But he's generally served as an excellent complement to starting running back Nick Chubb, providing a touch of lightning to Chubb's between-the-tackles thunder.

Hunt told reporters in June that he was hoping to receive an extension with the team:

"Right now, I'm just taking it day by day, man," he said at the time. "I'm gonna see what they want to do with me. I'm just taking it day by day. Hopefully, I can be here long-term. We'll see what God has in plan for me."

"I hope I get paid," he added later in June. "Whatever they decide, they know I'm going to come out there and give it my all and I'll do whatever I can to help the team win."

Hunt's approach to getting that extension seemingly changed over the past week, with reports of a trade request, though his participation Sunday suggests that perhaps he's backing away from that tactic.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Saturday that quarterback Kyler Murray, who had been out since Aug. 1 after testing positive for COVID-19, would only do minimal work upon his return.

Murray had to sit for five days after testing positive, per NFL rules. He returned to training camp practice Saturday. However, Kingsbury stressed that the team would not rush him back into the mix.

Murray was seen stretching before the team's annual Red and White practice:

Kingsbury told reporters that Murray might do some individual drills and participate in the warm-ups but that the Cardinals would largely hold him out.

He did mention the importance of getting him back around the team to be with his teammates. However, it appears the team will ramp up Murray's activity Monday.

"Monday, I expect him to at least do something," Kingsbury said.

Murray is in Arizona for the long haul after agreeing to a five-year, $230.5 million extension. Entering his fourth NFL season, the former Oklahoma star led Arizona to an 11-win campaign and its first playoff appearance in six years last season.

Murray completed 69.2 percent of his passes for 24 touchdowns (10 interceptions) in addition to rushing for 544 yards and four scores.

Arizona added a new weapon for Murray in the form of wide receiver Marquise Brown, who landed in Glendale after being traded from the Baltimore Ravens in April.

He'll have a big role as WR1 right away with wideout DeAndre Hopkins suspended six games for a violation of the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy (Hopkins denies knowingly taking any substance to violate the rules).

The Cardinals also welcome back running back James Conner (1,127 scrimmage yards, 18 touchdowns) and left tackle D.J. Humphries, who were each signed to three-year deals.

The Cardinals will open up the season Sept. 11 at home when they welcome the AFC runner-up Kansas City Chiefs into town.