NFC West

The Arizona Cardinals recently inked Kyler Murray to a contract extension, but they will be without their quarterback for at least five days in the early portion of training camp.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Monday that Murray tested positive for COVID-19. That means he will be sidelined for a minimum of five days.

Cardinals’ head coach Kliff Kingsbury gives us the latest on Kyler Murray testing positive for covid. pic.twitter.com/7OF64Ccu6Z

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 1, 2022

Arizona's first preseason game is scheduled for Aug. 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

It has been quite the offseason to this point for Murray.

The contract made headlines for more than just the $230.5 million, as it initially required four hours of "independent study" of film each game week. However, that clause was removed following backlash.

"After seeing the distraction it created, we removed the addendum from the contract," the Cardinals said in a statement. "It was clearly perceived in ways that were never intended. Our confidence in Kyler Murray is as high as it's ever been and nothing demonstrates our belief in his ability to lead this team more than the commitment reflected in this contract."

For his part, Murray told reporters it was "disrespectful" that some thought he wasn't a "student of the game" because of the clause.

The Oklahoma product was already going to be under the spotlight this season even before signing the contract extension after he struggled during the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams with zero touchdowns and two interceptions.

It was the two-time Pro Bowler's first postseason game, and he will be expected to take another step in what will be his fourth season as Arizona's starter.

For now, though, the 24-year-old will be sidelined as he recovers from symptoms that were deemed "minor."

Deebo Samuel's three-year, $73.5 million extension with the San Francisco 49ers includes $58.1 million in guaranteed money but also contains some solid incentives should the team continue to utilize him as a running back.

ESPN's Adam Schefter shared the details:

Deebo Samuel will receive $650,000 per year for each year he has 380 or more rushing yards.

Samuel also will earn $150,000 if he scores three rushing TDs in any one year.

He maxes out at $650,000 per year and 1.95 million over the life of his new contract.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 1, 2022

Because the 49ers were beset by injuries at the running back position last season—and because Samuel is so dynamic with the ball in his hands—the Niners often used him in a backfield role.

It worked—the 26-year-old Samuel rushed 59 times for 365 yards and eight scores, and the Niners advanced all the way to the NFC Championship Game.

Add in his 77 catches for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns, and Samuel was one of the most game-changing playmakers in football last year.

But that new role also didn't seem to sit well with Samuel. In April, after Samuel reportedly requested a trade, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said on The Rich Eisen Show that Samuel wasn't interested in playing both wideout and running back:

Deebo's trade request became public just after we hung up with @TomPelissero in our first hour so we had to call him back to explain what went wrong in San Francisco:#NFL #NFLDraft#FTTB pic.twitter.com/lveW0WP1fD

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) April 20, 2022

It sounds like there's multiple layers to this. But certainly one of them is Deebo Samuel wants to be a receiver and not a receiver/running back. His rushing attempts were significantly up last season from where they've been in the past. We all know that he's a really, really physical player, but there probably are some concerns here about longevity. The counterpoint to that, of course, is that part of the reason that Deebo Samuel is so valuable is because he's versatile. ... But in the big picture, it sounds like the role is part of the reason that Deebo wants to play somewhere else, where he may just be a true wide receiver and potentially tack on some years to his career.

The Niners didn't trade Samuel, however, and the two sides were able to patch up the relationship and work toward a lucrative extension.

Now, if the Niners continue to use Samuel in that dual-threat role, he'll have some financial incentives potentially coming.

Longtime NFL writer Peter King was astonished that the Arizona Cardinals originally put a clause in Kyler Murray's new contract extension mandating four hours per week of independent game-plan study.

King wrote for Pro Football Talk:

It's the dumbest clause I've ever seen in an NFL contract. Intentionally or not intentionally (and did someone inside the team actually want to embarrass Murray?), that clause calling for Murray to spend at least four hours studying the game plan in each game week was going to get out. It was too sensational to not get out. And so the result of that would be embarrassing for Murray and point out that the team was worried about whether the young quarterback was devoting enough time to his job.

After the clause was leaked last Monday and became a national story, the Cardinals removed it from Murray's contract:

#AZCardinals statement… https://t.co/XesLqSULsC pic.twitter.com/SXPwMbDyRT

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 29, 2022

Not before Murray publicly addressed the situation, however.

"To think that I can accomplish everything that I have accomplished in my career and not be a student of the game and not have that passion and not take this serious is disrespectful, and it's almost a joke," he told reporters Thursday. "To me, I'm flattered. I want to say flattered that you all think that at my size, I can go out there and not prepare for the game, and not take it serious."

Albert Breer of The MMQB provided more context on the decision to add the clause, reporting that there has been "lingering questions about Murray’s leadership going back to when he was drafted, and his in-and-out participation in the offseason program the last two years."

Breer added that he doesn't believe "this is so much about Murray putting the time in as it is about how he allots his time," adding that the star quarterback has been "dogged for having a so-called baseball-player mentality (as a sort of independent contractor) more so than a quarterback mentality."

Either way, a story about the team and its franchise quarterback agreeing to a massive contract extension instead became the story of that unique—and odd—clause. It can't be the sort of headlines the Cardinals were hoping to make this summer.

The Los Angeles Rams have set up contingency plans at wide receiver given Van Jefferson's knee issues.

According to Albert Breer of The MMQB, "Jefferson's knee issues were a reason the Rams brought in Allen Robinson in March" during free agency.

But with Jefferson leaving practice Saturday and set to see a specialist for his knee, Breer wrote that "very clearly, the door's open for [Odell Beckham Jr.] to come back, with the hope that his most recent ACL surgery will bring a more positive result than the last one did. So the Rams have plenty of options at the position. They'll be fine."

Beckham, 29, thrived in his short time with the Rams last season, catching 27 passes for 305 yards and five touchdowns in eight regular-season games while adding 21 catches for 288 yards and two scores in the playoffs.

One of those touchdowns came in the Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, though Beckham also tore his ACL in that contest, leaving him likely out of action until the midway point of the upcoming season, if not later.

But with Cooper Kupp and Robinson already in tow, the Rams could make a late-season move for Beckham yet again if Jefferson's season is in jeopardy, once Beckham is cleared to play.

The Arizona Cardinals will be without DeAndre Hopkins for the first six games of the 2022 season because he is suspended for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy, but the wide receiver wishes there was more room for nuance in the rules.

He said he has never willingly broken any rules even after 0.134% Ostarine was found in his blood, surpassing the threshold of 0.100%.

"I've never taken any of that kind of stuff," Hopkins told reporters. "If you know about what it is, it can be in shampoo, it can be in a lot of different things. Obviously the NFL is very black and white, so of course, I wish the rule wasn't so black and white. It is what it is.

"It's hard to know when something gets contaminated at a trace amount when you're not working at the manufacturing company."

Hopkins dropped his appeal and will serve the suspension.

"It's hard to know what you can eat, what you can do when you're not in control of manufacturing anything or what goes through a conveyor belt, you know what I'm saying?" he continued. "So, obviously, I do think that rules should change. But like I said, that stuff, it'll work itself out, and I've never taken anything. I barely take vitamins."

The suspension means the Cardinals will be without their top pass-catcher for matchups against the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks.

The bad news is there are presumed Super Bowl contenders in the Rams and Chiefs and likely playoff contenders in the Raiders and Eagles. Playing well in that stretch without Hopkins will be difficult, although the good news is only two of the team's six division games come during his suspension.

Hopkins will have an opportunity to help Arizona make up ground in the NFC West when he returns.

While a knee injury limited the five-time Pro Bowler to just 10 games last year, his last healthy season in 2020 saw him tally 115 catches for 1,407 yards and six touchdowns. It marked his fourth straight campaign with more than 1,100 receiving yards.

Arizona's offense will surely take a step back while he is sidelined, especially since it also lost Christian Kirk to free agency, unless Rondale Moore, Marquise Brown and A.J. Green drastically elevate their own production.

Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams does not need surgery to repair his broken middle finger on his left hand, according to Gregg Bell of the News Tribune.

After suffering the injury in practice last Wednesday and seeing a hand specialist in Dallas over the weekend, Adams is expected to rejoin the team Monday.

The broken finger was one that was already surgically repaired this offseason. He accidentally got it stuck in a face mask during his first practice of training camp on Wednesday, per Bell.

The Seahawks have reportedly been confident he can return before long without any concern about missing the start of the regular season.

"Just a freak accident," a source told Adam Jude of the Seattle Times. "It's going to be fine."

Injuries are still a concern when it involves Adams after he has been limited to 12 games in each of his two seasons with Seattle.

The three-time Pro Bowler dealt with a groin injury that cost him four games in 2020, while a shoulder injury cost him five games in 2021. The offseason hand injury has also become an issue.

It's certainly not what you want from one of the highest-paid players in the NFL at his position. Adams' average salary of $17.6 million per year ranks second among safeties behind only Minkah Fitzpatrick, per Spotrac.

Adams has been an elite player for Seattle when healthy, tallying 9.5 sacks in 2020 while being named second-team All-Pro. Last year, he ranked fourth on the team with 87 tackles.

If he is unavailable, backup Josh Jones will have big shoes to fill.

Los Angeles Rams wideout Van Jefferson will reportedly see a specialist regarding ongoing knee issues, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Per that report, "Jefferson has been doing maintenance and faces the prospect of missing a few weeks. He’ll have more info following the appointment, including if he needs surgery."

Jefferson, 26, missed the team's practice at UC Irvine on Saturday.

"We're figuring that out right now, working through that," head coach Sean McVay told reporters at the time.

He heads into the 2022 season as the Rams' No. 3 receiver behind superstar Cooper Kupp and offseason signing Allen Robinson. It was believed coming into training camp that his knee issues were behind him:

WR Van Jefferson played through a knee injury through the last part of the Rams’ season. He had a small procedure to clean it up, rehabbed through the spring and is “100% healthy”, cleared and ready to go for year 3.

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) July 23, 2022

Jefferson thrived last season, catching 50 passes for 802 yards and six touchdowns in just his second year. He spent much of the campaign as the No. 3 option for Matt Stafford behind Kupp and initially Robert Woods. After the latter was injured, midseason acquisition Odell Beckham Jr. ascended to the No. 2 role.

Regardless, he's an important part of the team's passing game as it looks to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

The depth chart falls off after the top three at receiver, with a pair of second-year players—Ben Skowronek and Tutu Atwell—in line for a bigger role should Jefferson miss time. Skowronek caught 11 passes for 133 yards as a rookie. Atwell didn't record any receptions, though he did fill in as an occasional kick and punt returner.

And while Beckham remains a free agent, he isn't expected to play until until around the midpoint of the season or later after tearing his ACL in the Super Bowl.

If Jefferson misses significant time, the Rams could turn to other options in free agency or turn to Skowronek and Atwell hoping one of them takes a big step in year two. Either way, the status of Jefferson's knee has become a very big storyline for the Rams this summer.

Linebacker Reuben Foster reportedly has a workout with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday as he seeks a return to the NFL, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The 28-year-old spent two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, last appearing in a game in 2018.

He joined the Washington Commanders the next season but was carted off the field during an offseason workout, tearing his ACL while suffering additional damage. There was also reportedly artery damage in his leg from the May 2019 injury.

Foster's career had also been affected by off-field matters, including a November 2018 arrest on a domestic violence charge. Earlier that year, he was also charged with felonies for domestic violence, making criminal threats and weapons possession after an accusation of assaulting an ex-girlfriend, though the first two charges were later dropped.

The 49ers released him that November, while Washington was the only team to put in a waiver claim.

Foster was later fined two game checks but not suspended by the NFL following an investigation.

The former Alabama star had high expectations entering the league after winning the Dick Butkus Award as the best linebacker in college football. He was the leading tackler for the Crimson Tide in 2016, a defense that led FBS in points allowed per game (13.0).

San Francisco drafted Foster with the No. 31 pick in 2017 and he seemed like a steal right away, tallying 72 tackles in 10 games as a rookie. He finished third in voting for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Foster is now looking for a fresh start with Seattle, a team that ranked 28th in total yards allowed last season. The squad also released longtime linebacker Bobby Wagner this offseason, creating a need in the middle of the defense.

Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon ripped the Arizona Cardinals for putting a so-called "homework" clause in Kyler Murray's contract, calling it a "slap in the face to all African-American quarterbacks."

"It's something we were always accused of back in the day when they didn't let us play," Moon told TMZ Sports. "That we were lazy, that we didn't study, that we couldn't be leaders, that we weren't smart. So all those different things just kind of came to the surface after we had put all that stuff to bed over the years and just because of this deal that's going on between Arizona and Kyler."

"So yeah, very embarrassing."

The Cardinals placed a clause in Murray's new five-year, $230.5 million contract requiring he put in at least four hours per week of independent film study outside team facilities. The requirement raised eyebrows around the league and with fans, leading to criticism of Murray's work ethic and widespread mockery on social media.

The Cardinals removed the clause amid the controversy.

"After seeing the distraction it created, we removed the addendum from the contract," the Cardinals said in a statement. "It was clearly perceived in ways that were never intended. Our confidence in Kyler Murray is as high as it's ever been, and nothing demonstrates our belief in his ability to lead this team more than the commitment reflected in this contract."

While the clause may no longer exist, the public damage to Murray's reputation is done. He addressed the media Thursday—a day after the team altered his contract—to express his own frustration with what he called a "disrespectful" narrative.

"I refuse to let my work ethic, my preparing, to be in question," Murray told reporters. "I've put in an incomprehensible amount of time and blood, sweat, tears and work into what I do, whether it's football or baseball. People can't comprehend the amount of time that it takes to do two sports at a high level in college, let alone be the first person to do it ever at my size. It's funny.

"But to those of you out there that believe that I'd be standing here today, in front of y'all, without having a work ethic and without preparing, I'm honored that you think that. But it doesn't exist. It's not possible. It's not possible."

There are a number of layers to this issue, starting with the fact that the Cardinals scored a massive own goal here. Even if they have concerns about Murray's film habits—no matter how valid they may be—there is almost no way for the team to prove he studied film on his own time, barring setting up a camera in his house and monitoring his activities. We're likely not talking about another JaMarcus Russell sting operation here.

Moon's point about the narrative surrounding Black quarterbacks—even as Black quarterbacks have soared to the top of the sport over the last decade—remains valid. Mike Sando of The Athletic recently ran a piece that included people in the NFL making veiled comments about Patrick Mahomes playing "streetball" and another defensive coordinator saying Lamar Jackson could never be viewed as a Tier 1 quarterback.

"He's so unique as an athlete and he's really a good football player, but I don't (care) if he wins the league MVP 12 times, I don't think he'll ever be a 1 as a quarterback. He'll be a 1 as a football player, but not as a quarterback," the defensive coordinator said.

Mahomes addressed the comments in a meeting with reporters last week, noting Black quarterbacks receive criticism not lobbed at their white counterparts.

"It always is weird when you see guys like me, Lamar, Kyler get that on them and other guys don't," Mahomes said. "But at the same time, we are gonna go out there and prove ourselves every day to prove that we can be some of the best quarterbacks in the league."

Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf signed a three-year, $72 million extension with the franchise this week, and he admitted that he "bluffed" about staying in Seattle during contract negotiations.

"No because ... something was going to get done," Metcalf said when asked if it was any more stressful watching other top receivers get paid, per ESPN's Brady Henderson. "It was going to be here ... as much as I bluffed to John [Schneider]. Just to let y'all know, I wanted to be here. I wanted to play here and I'm just glad that we got something done."

Metcalf was the latest wide receiver to sign a lucrative contract extension this summer, joining A.J. Brown, Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams. His $24 million per year salary is tied for sixth among wide receivers in the NFL with Buffalo Bills star Stefon Diggs.

Hill makes most annually at $30 million per year, while Adams makes $28 million per year. Brown's yearly salary worth $25 million ranks fifth among wide receivers in the NFL.

While the Seahawks are in an offensive rebuild with the departure of star quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, locking up Metcalf was one of the team's priorities this summer.

"We knew he was a guy that was going to be here and that we had to have here for a long time in order for us to provide for the 12s and a championship team," Schneider said Friday, according to John Boyle of the team website.

Schneider added that negotiations with Metcalf began during the NFL Combine in April. Those discussions continued into the start of training camp, and the star wide receiver skipped mandatory minicamp in June, which he said was difficult.

The 24-year-old, who has never missed a game, has been a staple in the Seattle offense since being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft.

During his rookie season, he caught 58 passes for 900 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games. He followed that up with 83 catches for 1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games during the 2020 campaign en route to a Pro Bowl selection.

Last season, he caught 75 passes for 967 yards and 12 scores in 17 games.

Metcalf is expected to lead the receiving group once again in 2022 alongside Tyler Lockett and Freddie Swain. However, he'll need to work on developing a connection with new quarterback Drew Lock, provided he wins the starting job over Geno Smith.