Football is finally back. With week 1 of the NFL season getting underway on Thursday, September 10th, excitement and anticipation run high. While the focus will be on the first week of games, there has also been plenty of buzz off the field. Let’s take a look at some of the major stories from around the league.
Several Extensions Of Big Names
With training camps ending, a plethora of significant extensions were announced by plenty of teams. The names sticking with their current teams for a while include:
Deshaun Watson – The standout Houston Texans quarterback signed a four-year, $177.4 million contract with $73.7 million guaranteed. Watson also negotiated a full no-trade clause.
Watson is coming off a remarkable season where he went 10-5 as a starter and threw for 3,852 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The dual-threat QB also ran 82 times for 413 yards and 7 touchdowns last season.
DeAndre Hopkins – Former Texans’ wide receiver Hopkins found himself a new home in Arizona and now got paid to go with the move. Hopkins negotiated his own deal, which features a record-breaking $27.25 million per season – the highest annual amount for a non-quarterback. In total, it is a new deal for two years and $54.5 million.
Last season, with Houston, Hopkins hauled in 104 receptions for 1,165 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Jalen Ramsey – The Rams also extended one of their best players in cornerback Jalen Ramsey. He signed a five-year deal worth $105 million. The contract sets a record for the highest paid cornerback.
In 2019, Ramsey played in 12 games (for both the Jaguars and the Rams) and had 33 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble.
Kareem Hunt – The Cleveland Browns locked up running back Kareem Hunt to a two-year extension worth just over $13 million.
In 8 games last season with the Browns, Hunt rushed 43 times for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns while also catching 37 passes out of the backfield for 285 yards and another TD.
Broncos’ Miller Could be Out For Year
Von Miller has had a rough 2020. In addition to battling COVID-19 earlier in the year, he suffered an injury at practice this week that could sideline him for the year.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Miller was diagnosed with a dislocated peroneal tendon. While there may be a tiny sliver of hope that he could return, chances are pretty high that the former Super Bowl MVP is done for the season.
Last year, with Denver, Von Miller had 46 tackles, 8 sacks, and 20 quarterback hits. The loss of the pass-rush specialist and locker room leader would be a massive blow for the Broncos’ defense.
Lions Sign Peterson
Adrian Peterson spent most of his early career in the NFL North terrorizing teams as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. Earlier this week, he gets to return to the division; however, it will be as a member of the Detroit Lions.
After being released by Washington, Peterson has signed a one-year deal with the Lions for 2020. Last season, Peterson rushed 211 times for 898 yards and 5 scores. While he may not be the player he was with the Vikings, the 35-year-old showed last year he could be a serviceable back.
