Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is cleared for contact, coach Kevin Stefanski said Sunday. Watson will take the majority of snaps in two joint practices with the Vikings this week, but he will not play in Saturday’s second preseason game. Watson watched yesterday’s preseason game against the Packers from the sideline. The Browns close out the preseason against the Seahawks on …

Editor’s Note: Derrick Henry is No. 6 on the Times-Union’s Top 100 list of athletes from the Jacksonville area. Drive along U.S. Highway 1 south from the Georgia line, and the bold-lettered sign is unmistakable. “Welcome to Yulee, Home of Derrick Henry, 2015 Heisman Trophy winner.” For many, the 30-year-old running back is the man who has put Northeast Florida’s …

Eric Williams NFC West Writer INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Yes, it was just a preseason game.  And in his first appearance on an NFL sideline as a head coach in a decade, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh appeared in his element. Wearing Jordan cleats and receiver gloves, the hands-on Harbaugh caught passes for his quarterbacks as they got their …

Caleb Williams best QB in preseason, per 1 advanced metric originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago Caleb Williams passed the eye test when he made his Bears preseason debut against the Bills on Saturday. Turns out he’s passed the analytics test, too. According to Warren Sharp, an analyst who runs a site fueled by his custom predictive metrics, Williams has …

Many Florida State football fans believe coach Mike Norvell can be the next Bobby Bowden for the Seminoles. Rick Stockstill sees the similarities, too. “I was fortunate enough to play for coach Bowden. I see a lot of coach Bowden in him,” Stockstill said. “He’s has a tremendous work ethic. The biggest thing is he’s authentic. He gives this program …

The New York Giants returned to practice Sunday for the first time since their preseason opener against the Detroit Lions and welcomed back offensive lineman Evan Neal. However, first-round draft pick Malik Nabers left practice late with a possible minor sprain to his left ankle. It was not clear how Nabers was hurt, but the No. 6 overall pick in …

Bo Nix hadn’t played in a football game and not been a starter since eighth grade, he told reporters this week. He came off the bench on Sunday, but he hopes that’s a temporary feeling. Nix, the Denver Broncos’ rookie first-round pick, is battling Jarrett Stidham to be the team’s starter. Stidham got the start in Sunday’s preseason opener against …

Few, if any, outside the Texas Tech football team’s inner circle were allowed to see the Red Raiders’ first preseason scrimmage on Saturday. Anyone near Jones AT&T Stadium heard it, though. Subjecting his players to game-like pressure was one of Tech coach Joey McGuire’s takeaways from his trip to see Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell. McGuire said last month he …

49ers rookie Mustapha enjoyed first taste of NFL success vs. Titans originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area NASHVILLE, Tenn., — Malik Mustapha’s welcome-to-the-NFL moments were felt throughout the 49ers’ 17-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans. During Tennessee’s third drive of the game, quarterback Mason Rudolph had his offense poised to score, driving 78 yards down the field. But on …

Vanderbilt football held its first preseason scrimmage Saturday at FirstBank Stadium. It had a little bit of everything, with all six scholarship quarterbacks getting some reps. Based on the scrimmage, coach Clark Lea and offensive coordinator Tim Beck are hoping to cut down the competition from four — Diego Pavia, Nate Johnson, Blaze Berlowitz and Drew Dickey — to two. …

Defensive lineman Dean Lowry has been cleared for action at Steelers training camp. Lowry signed with the Steelers this offseason, but has been on the physically unable to perform list since camp got underway. Lowry has been recovering from a torn pectoral muscle. Lowry spent last season with the Vikings and started four of the nine games he played. He …

Ranking SEC coaches riles up my readers. If you believe I under-ranked your coach, that’s a good sign. It means you’re happy with the program’s direction. Unsurprisingly, no Arkansas and Florida fans weighed in to say I undervalued their coach. I did hear from Alabama and Auburn fans, though, who thought Kalen DeBoer and Hugh Freeze should be higher on …

Eagles training camp observations: Quinyon Mitchell vs. DeVonta Smith originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia Before heading to New England for a joint practice against the Patriots on Tuesday, the Eagles went for over 1 1/2 hours at the NovaCare Complex on Sunday morning. They were in shorts and shells for this practice but will obviously be in full pads …

UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers talks with reporters during Big Ten conference media days at Lucas Oil Stadium on July 24. (Doug McSchooler / Associated Press) It didn’t matter that this was just a practice in the early stages of preseason training camp, or that it was UCLA’s third-string offense going against the third-string defense. Before the final snap Saturday morning, …

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) wore the guardian cap against the Broncos in the NFL preseason on Sunday. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) The NFL has been using the guardian cap during training camp practices for a while. You’ve likely seen them in photos. It’s a huge pad that goes over the regular football helmet, and it is designed to prevent …