NFC West

Seattle Seahawks strong safety Jamal Adams suffered a broken middle finger on his left hand Wednesday, but he's expected to return to training camp in early August and should be good to go for the beginning of the regular season on Sept. 12 against the Denver Broncos.

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

Per Jude, the injury happened after Adams accidentally got his finger twisted in a teammate's face mask during the team's Wednesday practice.

After practice, Adams flew back to Dallas to have his surgeon evaluate the middle finger. The good news is that the bone should heal within the next few weeks. Adams can opt to have surgery, but if he does, it would be after this season.

It's also presumed that Adams will wear a club on his left hand during practices and a "specially designed cast" over the finger when he plays during the regular season, per Jude.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network also confirmed the plan:

#Seahawks S Jamal Adams, who broke a finger during a recent practice when it got stuck in a helmet, is expected to be back practicing with a club and a special cast for games, sources say. If he has surgery, which is likely, the plan is for it to be in the offseason.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 29, 2022

This is a separate and new issue from his previously reported hand and finger issues. Adams told reporters in June that he had surgery to fuse the two middle fingers on his left hand and discussed how it's affected him:

"Been going through that for two years now. I mean, my first year when I got here, dislocated my ring finger probably about 10 times and the other one, probably about 12. So I’ve been dealing with that. I didn’t really say much. Let everybody talk about it, whatever. But you know, it’s good now and they’re in trouble. ... I played with one arm damn near for two years. But that’s no excuse. At the end of the day it was tape it up. Let’s go."

That's in addition to a twice-torn labrum, which landed him on injured reserve last season.

The 26-year-old has played five NFL seasons: three with the New York Jets and two in Seattle. In 2020, the ex-LSU star e set a record for the most sacks (9.5) by a defensive back despite missing four games.

He amassed 87 tackles, five pass breakups and two interceptions in 12 games in 2021.

There reportedly is no longer an "independent study" clause in Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray's contract.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the NFC West team removed the clause from the $230.5 million deal.

The Cardinals released a statement on the decision, per ESPN's Adam Schefter:

Statement from the Arizona Cardinals’ on Kyler Murray’s updated contract: pic.twitter.com/LQrzBHzDyc

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 29, 2022

This comes after Rapoport previously reported the Cardinals included an addendum in the contract that required four hours of "independent study" each game week:

Kyler Murray does 4 hours of game studying on his own, anyway. And similar to the team wanting him around for the offseason as the face of the franchise, AZ wanted a commitment in writing while going to a certain place money-wise. Thus, the clause 👇👇👇 https://t.co/2WjSXBCqtv

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2022

The clause drew plenty of attention, especially since one might see it as the team not trusting Murray to prepare for a game on his own. Yet Rapoport noted that including it in writing was simply about making something that already happened official.

Yet Murray responded to the backlash during a Thursday press conference, per Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.

He called it "disrespectful" that people think he could be a Pro Bowl quarterback in the NFL if he wasn't a "student of the game." The 5'10" playmaker also said, "I'm flattered that y'all think that at my size I can go out there and not prepare for the game and not take it serious."

It's hard to argue with Murray's assertions considering he already has an Offensive Rookie of the Year and two Pro Bowl selections on his resume in just three seasons. He was excellent again in 2021 while completing 69.2 percent of his passes for 3,787 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions to go with 423 yards and five scores on the ground.

However, he was also under the spotlight this offseason after struggling in the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams and with his contract status hanging in the balance.

The two sides were able to come to terms on a head-turning deal, though, and Weinfuss noted the average annual value of $46.1 million is second in the league and behind only Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers' $50.3 million.

It seems as if Arizona trusts him enough to study film while making that money because that clause is no longer in writing.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel established himself as one of the best at his position last season, and he's hoping to get paid as such.

Samuel has reported to training camp but is not practicing while he awaits a new deal. San Francisco is reportedly optimistic that a deal will get done soon, but it likely didn't help matters that he watched yet another one of his counterparts get paid before him Thursday.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Seattle Seahawks signed wideout DK Metcalf to a three-year extension worth $72 million with $58.2 million guaranteed. He reportedly received a $30 million signing bonus, which is the highest ever for a wide receiver.

Metcalf's deal makes him one of the highest-paid receivers in the league and puts him in company with the many wideouts to earn major paydays this offseason.

WR deals this offseason include:
▫️Davante Adams: 5-yrs, $142M
▫️Tyreek Hill: 4-yrs, $120M
▫️A.J. Brown: 4-yrs, $100M
▫️Stefon Diggs: 4-yrs, $96M
▫️Cooper Kupp: 3-yrs, $80.1M
▫️Terry McLaurin: 3-yrs, $71M
▫️D.J. Moore: 3-yrs, $61.884M
▫️Mike Williams/Chris Godwin: 3-yrs, $60M

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 28, 2022

So what does Metcalf's deal mean for Samuel? Both of them were second-round picks in 2019 with Samuel being selected at No. 36, 18 picks before Metcalf. They both have made similar impacts in their first three seasons, as Metcalf was named to the Pro Bowl in 2020 and earned second-team All-Pro honors that year, while Samuel garnered a Pro Bowl selection and first-team All-Pro honors last season.

While Metcalf's receiving production exceeds Samuel's, the latter has a versatility that is unmatched. San Francisco uses Samuel in a variety of ways, making him one of the more dangerous weapons in the NFL. He has 11 career rushing touchdowns, recording eight in 2021.

Based on Samuel's value and usage as a receiver-running back hybrid, negotiations for an extension can be tricky. The 26-year-old also has an extensive injury history, having never played a full season in his first three years.

It can be expected that Samuel's extension will compare favorably to Metcalf's, but San Francisco likely will include some protection for itself in a new deal. Samuel will likely receive similar guaranteed money and a similar average annual value, with possibly another year added to the deal. An extension in the range of four years and $100 million could be enough to entice Samuel to sign.

San Francisco should hope to get a deal done soon. The team is turning to second-year quarterback Trey Lance as its starter this season, so he will need all the weapons he can get. The 49ers will have their first padded practice Monday, so having Samuel present and happy with a new deal will go a long way toward San Francisco's preparations for the upcoming year.

With quarterback Russell Wilson now on the Denver Broncos, wide receiver DK Metcalf is the face of the Seattle Seahawks.

And it seems it will be that way for the foreseeable future.

On Thursday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Metcalf signed a three-year, $72 million contract extension. The deal includes $58.2 million in guarantees and a $30 million signing bonus, the highest ever for a wideout.

Metcalf can become a free agent at 27, so another megadeal may eventually be in store.

The deal will be added to an adjusted salary cap that Spotrac noted was $217.2 million.

That Metcalf received such a lucrative offer comes as no surprise, as it's been an offseason of such deals for the wide receiver position, with Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown and Terry McLaurin among those who have inked massive contracts.

Metcalf hasn't missed a game in three seasons, registering 900 receiving yards as a rookie and following it up with a Pro Bowl 2020 campaign with 83 catches for 1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns.

He and the team took a step back in 2021 (75 catches for 967 yards and 12 touchdowns), but the Ole Miss product figures to be crucial in 2022 with Geno Smith or Drew Lock under center and who knows what in the years ahead.

Seattle Seahawks strong safety Jamal Adams will miss an undetermined amount of time because of a hand issue.

Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic relayed the news from Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, who revealed it to reporters at training camp Thursday:

Jamal Adams will be out for a bit getting some additional opinions on a hand issue, Pete Carroll says. Jamal had broken fingers he had surgery on in the past. Pete says the current issue is on the same hand. No timetable on Jamal’s return. Also no word on potential surgery.

— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) July 28, 2022

Adams, 26, is entering his sixth NFL season. He amassed 87 tackles, five pass breakups and two interceptions in 12 games last year. The three-time Pro Bowler set an NFL record in 2020 with nine-and-a-half sacks, the most all-time by a defensive back.

Adams has suffered numerous injuries over the past three years that have led to missed time. A sprained left ankle sidelined him for two games in 2019, a groin strain kept him out for four more in 2020, and a torn labrum ended Adams' campaign after 12 games in 2021.

However, those ailments don't account for whatever else Adams played through to suit up as much as he could on a weekly basis. In June, it was revealed that Adams was dealing with hand and finger issues.

The star safety said he had surgery to fuse the two middle fingers on his left hand. He also stated he wouldn't be able to completely straighten those fingers ever again and told reporters how those injuries have inhibited him during this recent stretch:

"Been going through that for two years now. I mean, my first year when I got here, dislocated my ring finger probably about 10 times and the other one, probably about 12. So I’ve been dealing with that. I didn’t really say much. Let everybody talk about it, whatever. But you know, it’s good now and they’re in trouble. ... I played with one arm damn near for two years. But that’s no excuse. At the end of the day it was tape it up. Let’s go."

In late June, Adams believed he would be full speed for training camp, per ESPN's Brady Henderson. However, he'll now have to step away to address this setback with his hand.

Arizona Cardinals star Kyler Murray dismissed concerns about his work ethic, a topic of discussion when a notable clause in his five-year, $230.5 million contract was revealed.

"There's multiple different ways to watch film. Of course we all watch film," he told reporters Thursday. "That doesn’t need to be questioned. I refuse to let my work ethic and my preparation be in question. I've put in an incomprehensible amount of time in what I do."

Kyler Murray makes a surprise media appearance to push back on the narrative that he doesn’t study. pic.twitter.com/KGoDQE05YJ

— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) July 28, 2022

Kyler Murray lists his accolades and accomplishments since high school. "Those things you can't accomplish if you don't prepare the right way and take the game serious."

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) July 28, 2022

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Murray's deal requires him to complete four hours of "independent study" in weeks when the Cardinals have a game scheduled.

Contracts are about give-and-take. One example from #AZCardinals QB Kyler Murray’s $230.5M contract: There is an addendum that requires 4 hours of “independent study” per game week. It was important to the team making a commitment at that level, thus it was important to Murray. pic.twitter.com/VqrkvoBQLJ

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2022

Rapoport added that "Murray does four hours of game studying on his own, anyway."

Still, two questions immediately arose when the clause was made public: If he did it already, why did the Cardinals want to put the "independent study" requirement in writing, and who stood to gain from this getting out?

Murray is understandably upset with how the clause is being perceived, but the reaction outside Arizona was inevitable. It gives the impression he either wasn't putting in the work before or was doing the requisite study yet needs a concrete incentive in order to continue doing so.

The Kyler Murray homework clause is a colossal blunder by the Cardinals. It makes him look bad for not studying enough, and it makes them look worse for giving him all that money even though he wasn't studying enough.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 25, 2022

Still bothered by Kyler Murray’s situation. He has already had to deal with short jokes his entire life. Some say he looks like a toddler out there running around and now the Cardinals give him a homework clause in his contract. WHAT IN THE READING RAINBOW IS GOING ON IN ARIZONA?

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 28, 2022

Sarah Kezele of 98.7 Arizona Sports pointed to an interview Murray gave to the New York Times' Ben Shpigel last December that doesn't exactly help his case.

"I think I was blessed with the cognitive skills to just go out there and just see it before it happens," he said. "I'm not one of those guys that's going to sit there and kill myself watching film. I don't sit there for 24 hours and break down this team and that team and watch every game because, in my head, I see so much."

Murray is unquestionably talented, and his ability to improvise sets him apart from many of his peers. You think you have him pinned behind the line of scrimmage and he pulls a rabbit out of the hat.

HOP CAUGHT IT!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/lyAG9gWYPn

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 16, 2020

But it might not be a coincidence his passing yards per game have steadily declined across each month throughout his career. He has averaged 286.2 yards across 10 September games to 238.2 yards in December and 196.7 yards in January.

As opposing teams inevitably adjust to Murray, he and the Cardinals aren't making the same kind of tweaks.

That could be more a reflection of head coach Kliff Kingsbury, whose teams teams in college and the NFL have consistently faded down the stretch.

The Cardinals had to know what would happen, though, when they included a "please, do your homework" condition in the nine-figure deal they signed with their franchise quarterback.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf is set for unrestricted free agency after the 2022 campaign, and he reportedly isn't practicing at the start of training camp with his contract status up in the air.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Metcalf was present at training camp but not practicing, just like Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers and Derwin James Jr. of the Los Angeles Chargers as they attempt to settle "unresolved contract issues."

There has been no shortage of developments at the wide receiver position this offseason with Davante Adams signing a five-year, $141.3 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders after they landed him in a trade with the Green Bay Packers and Tyreek Hill inking a four-year, $120 million extension with the Miami Dolphins after they acquired him from the Kansas City Chiefs.

Elsewhere, A.J. Brown signed a four-year extension worth $100 million with the Philadelphia Eagles after the Tennessee Titans traded him, and Terry McLaurin agreed to a three-year, $71 million extension with the Washington Commanders.

Those moves surely caught the attention of Metcalf, and his status has become one of the biggest storylines of Seattle's camp.

His health may also be a factor with the regular season still more than a month away.

"Metcalf had foot surgery this offseason, and that would be one reason for the team to ease him into a full workload early in camp," Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk wrote Wednesday. "Metcalf is also in the final year of his contract and looking for an extension that would keep him in Seattle for years to come, so the decision not to practice may not be solely related to caution about the condition of his foot."

While expectations may be lower for the Seahawks after they traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos this offseason, Metcalf's availability would greatly improve their chances of contending in the NFC West.

The 2020 Pro Bowler made 75 catches for 967 yards and 12 touchdowns a season ago and has never missed a game in his three years in the league.

He is also just 24 years old and figures to be a franchise cornerstone if he and the Seahawks come to terms on a contract extension.

While wide receiver Deebo Samuel is present at San Francisco 49ers training camp and isn't technically holding out, he isn't taking part in practice either.

According to David Lombardi of The Athletic, Samuel will do conditioning on the side Wednesday, making him a "hold-in" rather than a holdout. Lombardi added that the Niners are having contract talks with Samuel's agent, Tory Dandy, and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said he had a "great talk" with Samuel.

Per Cam Inman of 95.7 The Game, Shanahan expanded a bit further, saying: "Hopefully we can figure something out soon, but we're in a good place today."

In April, ESPN's Jeff Darlington reported that Samuel had asked the 49ers for a trade. The Niners have been resistant, however, and have instead been trying to sign him to a new deal.

While the initial assumption was that Samuel's trade request had to do with money since he can become a free agent at the end of the 2022 season, that may not have been the entire story.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the trade request actually stemmed from Samuel being unhappy with the way the 49ers have used him:

From NFL Now: For more than a week, the #49ers have been dealing with a major issue in their WRs room, as Deebo Samuel requested a trade. pic.twitter.com/PDuN2TsjHz

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 20, 2022

Perhaps no wideout in the NFL had more on their plate last season than Samuel, as he was often used at running back in addition to his duties at wide receiver.

Shanahan's utilization of Samuel paid dividends, as the 49ers surprisingly made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game, and Deebo had a career year that should help him land a big contract.

The 26-year-old appeared in 16 regular-season games in 2021, finishing with 77 receptions for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns while also rushing for 365 yards and eight scores, all of which were career highs.

Samuel led the NFL in yards per reception as well at 18.2, which was a jump of over six yards per catch from the previous season.

The Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro is perhaps next in line among receivers to get a fat, new contract, as Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, A.J. Brown, Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin are just a few of the big-name receivers who have gotten new contracts recently.

Samuel is key to the 49ers' success in 2022 and beyond, especially with second-year quarterback Trey Lance set to take over for Jimmy Garoppolo as the team's starter.

Lance would be devoid of a big-time weapon at wide receiver without Samuel, which is why the 49ers have almost no choice other than to offer him a deal that will convince him to remain with the team moving forward.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will not begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list after undergoing a physical Tuesday.

Doctors officially cleared Garoppolo for football activities following the physical, though it's unclear how active he'll be as training camp begins.

The signal-caller has spent the entire offseason recovering from offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder. His recovery massively limited his trade prospects this offseason, with several teams using the draft or trades with other teams to shore up the position.

The 49ers are planning to go into the 2022 season with Trey Lance as their starter after he sat behind Garoppolo last season. Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch met with the veteran Tuesday to inform him of their intention to move ahead with Lance.

"We have moved on to Trey," Shanahan told reporters. "... This is Trey's team."

Lance was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft and looked solid in limited work as a rookie, throwing for 603 yards and five touchdowns against two interceptions while adding 168 yards and one touchdown as a runner.

The 49ers are expected to continue exploring trade options for Garoppolo as camp gets underway across the league. It's also possible the team winds up releasing him if no amenable trade scenario arises.

Garoppolo has missed significant time with injury since his trade from New England to San Francisco in 2017. He has played a full season just once in his career.

The San Francisco 49ers have handed Trey Lance the keys to the offense.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Tuesday that he and general manager John Lynch spoke with Jimmy Garoppolo to make the team's plans clear.

"We have moved on to Trey," he said. "... This is Trey's team."

The comments merely confirm what almost everybody already knew.

People really shouldn't have needed Kyle Shanahan's multiple reconfirmations of the Lance/Garoppolo plan.

He and Lynch have been saying this 49ers' plan out loud for over a year

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) July 26, 2022

The Niners didn't give up multiple first-round picks to move up and select Lance in the 2021 NFL draft only to have him ride the bench for two or three years.

The writing was on the wall for Garoppolo the moment the franchise made the selection. He's in the final year of his contract and is clearly no longer in San Francisco's long-term plans.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on July 20 that the 49ers gave permission to Garoppolo's agents to begin looking for a trade. That would be their ideal outcome since his departure would give Lance a clear path and help them shed at least some of his nearly $27 million salary-cap hit while getting something of value back.

The 30-year-old's offseason shoulder surgery is likely depressing his trade market.

Some NFL teams have poked around about Jimmy Garoppolo but have been unwilling to seriously consider any trade until his shoulder heals. With his near $25M salary and questions about his health, the trade process could take a while.

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) July 20, 2022

"We think Jimmy would have been traded if the surgery didn't happen," Shanahan said Tuesday. "He needed to do it; there's no ill will there at all."

The Cleveland Browns eventually settled for a conditional 2024 draft pick in return for Baker Mayfield, and they assumed a majority of his 2022 salary to facilitate the deal. San Francisco isn't exactly negotiating from a position of strength.

At this point, it might make more sense for teams to simply wait and see whether the Niners release Garoppolo outright. Are they really going to keep him on the roster when cutting him will save $25.6 million?

Regardless of what happens with Jimmy G, Shanahan made the team's quarterback hierarchy clear.