Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh had cardiac ablation, hip surgery

“The doctors can’t find anything wrong with me. A-grade,” Harbaugh said Tuesday.

Harbaugh, 61, said in mid-October that he previously underwent ablations in 1999 and 2012. The procedure treats irregular heart rhythms.

The heart issues attracted major attention during the Chargers’ 23-16 victory against the host Denver Broncos on Oct. 13.

Just before kickoff, Harbaugh said he experienced an “atrial flutter,” also known as arrhythmia, and was examined in the medical tent on the sideline.

Then right after the game began, Harbaugh walked off the field with team trainers. Once the situation was under control, Harbaugh returned to the sideline midway through the first quarter.

This was the second time Harbaugh experienced arrhythmia during a game. The other came on Nov. 19, 2012, when he was coach of the San Francisco 49ers during a 32-7 victory over the Chicago Bears on “Monday Night Football.”

Harbaugh met with his cardiologist on Oct. 14 and was placed on medication and wore a heart monitor for the following two weeks.

The Chargers went 11-6 during Harbaugh’s first season as coach before getting routed 32-12 by the host Houston Texans in an AFC wild-card game.

Patriots’ Stefon Diggs doesn’t comment on viral video

At the final practice of Patriots mandatory minicamp in Foxborough, Mass., on Tuesday, wide receiver Stefon Diggs spoke with reporters but did not address a viral video that has inspired speculation about his future with the team.

In the video, posted to social media, Diggs is seen enjoying himself on a boat with three bikini-clad women that included top-selling rapper Cardi B, but he’s also seen brandishing a plastic bag filled with a mysterious pink substance.

The 31-year-old Diggs has refrained from speaking about the incident, and did so again Tuesday despite some observers wondering if the four-time Pro Bowler could be in hot water with either his new team or the NFL at large.

First-year Patriots coach Mike Vrabel spoke recently on the importance of players making “good decisions.”

“I kind of keep my personal life personal,” Diggs said. “I had a conversation with Vrabel, obviously, and I’m going to echo everything that he said. Hope everyone makes good decisions. I had some conversations with people in the building as well. So, everything else is everything else, and the particulars are all internal.”

A First-Team All-Pro in 2020, Diggs signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the Patriots in March.

He has described his rapport with Vrabel as being positive and expressed admiration for Vrabel’s championship pedigree.

“I’m a huge fan of him,” Diggs said. “I can’t wait to play for him. He’s got that itch that you want to run through a wall for him. I look forward to it. Me and him go back and forth in practice, and I’m not even participating.”

A year ago, Diggs played in just eight games for the Houston Texans due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, breaking a string of six straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career. He has amassed 857 receptions for 10,491 yards and 70 touchdowns during his 10-year career split among the Minnesota Vikings (2015-19), Buffalo Bills (2020-23) and Texans (2024).

Reports: Broncos to sign RB JK Dobbins to 1-year deal

Free agent running back J.K. Dobbins agreed to a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos on Tuesday, according to reports, keeping the 26-year-old in the AFC West.

Per the reports, Dobbins’ contract is worth $5.25 million and brings a talented yet oft-injured rusher to an already competitive running backs room in Denver.

Following Tuesday’s minicamp practice, Broncos coach Sean Payton indicated that the team was “close” to finalizing an agreement with Dobbins, who played the first three years of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens before spending last season with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Dobbins visited the Broncos for two days last week, leading to speculation that he was set to sign with Denver.

Dobbins rushed for a career-high 905 yards and a career high-tying nine touchdowns over 13 games for the Chargers last season, which was shortened due to a Week 12 sprained MCL.

After allowing leading rusher Javonte Williams to leave in free agency, the Broncos drafted Central Florida’s R.J. Harvey in April’s NFL draft.

Outside of that, Denver featured Jaleel McLaughlin, who prepares for his third season to make him the most experienced running back with the team. Other backs include former Notre Dame standout Audric Estime, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 draft, and former undrafted players Tyler Badie and Blake Watson.

A second-round pick out of Ohio State in 2020, Dobbins has endured a slew of injuries since entering the NFL. After totaling 925 total yards and nine scores in his rookie year, Dobbins missed all of 2021 and half of 2022 with a knee injury. He also missed all but one game in 2023 with an Achilles injury.

In parts of four NFL seasons spanning 37 games (21 starts), Dobbins has rushed for 2,252 yards and 21 scores along with 59 receptions for 330 yards and one touchdown.

Despite Dobbins’ injury history, Payton expects big things from the Broncos’ newest signee.

“It’s another good football player that we’ve seen firsthand,” Payton said. “I’ve seen him for a while. The importance of that position group, we really like the group we’re working with, (but) it’s just another opportunity to possibly bring in another good football player who can help us win.”

Aaron Rodgers on first day with Steelers: I’m married

It turns out joining a new team isn’t the only recent life change for new Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

On his first day with the Steelers after signing a one-year deal last week worth a reported $13.65 million, Rogers was asked about the black band on his left ring finger.

“It’s a wedding ring,” the four-time All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowl selection told reporters Tuesday, adding that the couple were married “a couple months ago.”

Rodgers did not reveal the name of his new bride, but said on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” in December that he was dating a woman named Brittani.

“I’m in a different phase of my life,” Rodgers said on the show. “I’m 41 years old. I’m in a serious relationship. I have off-the-field stuff going on that requires my attention. I have personal commitments not knowing what my future was going to look like after last year that are important to me.”

Per the magazine Us Weekly, Rodgers was spotted wearing the same ring on the same finger at the Barnstable Brown Gala in Louisville, Ky., on May 2.

As for Rodgers’ new deal, $10 million is guaranteed. He could earn another $5.85 million in play time and performance incentives, ESPN reported.

He has career earnings of $380.7 million, the most of any NFL player, according to Spotrac. Among active players, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has earned $364.3 million and is set to overtake Rodgers in all-time earnings this season.

Rodgers has a career record of 153-87-1. He has completed 65.1 percent of his pass attempts for 62,952 yards. He has 503 career touchdowns against 116 interceptions in 248 games.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie donates $50M to autism center

With a $50 million donation to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine on Tuesday, Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie announced the creation of the Lurie Autism Institute in Philadelphia.

“This first-of-its kind Institute aims to be a global hub for autism research that connects scientists, clinicians, families, students, and donors,” per an Eagles press release.

According to the release, Lurie’s single donation is the largest toward autism research made to U.S. hospitals.

The Lurie family has supported autism research going back to 1977, when Lurie’s mother founded the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation. That foundation led to the establishment of the The Lurie Center for Autism at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in 2009.

In 2018, Jeffrey Lurie started the Eagles Autism Foundation, which has raised more than $40 million, including over $10 million in 2025.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud resumes throwing

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was throwing without any limitations during the team’s first minicamp practice on Tuesday.

Stroud did not throw last week at Houston’s organized team activities, with head coach DeMeco Ryans referring to “general soreness” as the reason that the quarterback wasn’t testing his arm.

Stroud downplayed the situation with reporters on Tuesday.

“I was already throwing — before you guys see me out there — pretty normally,” Stroud said. “I think y’all don’t have much to talk about so everything just gets blown up in the offseason. I’m fine, man. I’m really OK.

“… I felt great. I’m very grateful to be back out on the field. A little rusty, made some throws, missed some throws. Just very grateful to be out there with the guys.”

Ryans explained his decision to sit Stroud as a means of protecting himself.

“C.J.’s a competitor,” Ryans said. “Last week, C.J. was adamant about going out and practicing. It just showed the type of person C.J. is. For me, as the head coach, it’s important for me to make sure that we’re protecting him. … Not really worried about the outside opinions of other people. Nobody knows the information about our players more than me. I’m going to make sure I always do what’s in the best interest of our players, first and foremost, with their health and wellness. So that’s why the decision was made with C.J. today and he looked pretty fine.”

Stroud, 23, followed up Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2023 by seeing his numbers dip in 2024. His yards per game dropped from 273.9 in 2023 to 219.2 in 2024, and his interception total jumped from five to 12.

In two seasons with the Texans, Stroud is 19-13 with 43 touchdowns, 7,835 yards and a 93.7 passer rating. The No. 2 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft also has two wild-card playoff wins under his belt.

Vikings TE Josh Oliver signs 3-year extension

Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver signed a three-year contract extension that spans through the 2028 season.

Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, however ESPN reported — citing Athletes First — that the deal is worth $23.25 million with a maximum value of $27.5 million. It also includes $11.9 million in new guarantees and $19.9 million in total guarantees.

Oliver, who is second on the team’s tight end pecking order behind Pro Bowler T.J. Hockenson, is heading into the final season of a three-year, $21 million contract.

Oliver, 28, recorded 22 catches for the second straight year in 2024 and finished with a career-best three touchdowns.

He has 70 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns in 67 career games (37 starts) with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens and Vikings.

LB Shaq Thompson signs with Bills, reunites with Sean McDermott

The Buffalo Bills bolstered their defensive corps on Tuesday by signing linebacker Shaq Thompson to a one-year contract.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed for Thompson, who will be reunited with head coach Sean McDermott.

Thompson was selected by Carolina with the 25th overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent the first two seasons of his NFL career playing under McDermott, who was the defensive coordinator of the Panthers from 2011-16 before becoming head coach of the Bills in 2017.

Injuries limited Thompson to four games in 2024 (torn Achilles) and two games in 2023 (broken ankle).

Thompson, 31, has recorded 752 tackles, 12 sacks, four forced fumbles and three interceptions in 123 games (112 starts) in his career, all with Carolina.

He helped the Panthers reach Super Bowl 50 during his rookie season and climbed to fourth place in team history in tackles, trailing Luke Kuechly (1,092), Thomas Davis (1,077) and Mike Minter (771).

Big deal? Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons at minicamp

Kumbaya continues to be the public framing of the contract push for Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is attending minicamp at the team’s Frisco, Texas, headquarters to keep his promise to first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

Parsons, 26, has 52.5 sacks in four seasons and is reportedly seeking a record-setting $200 million contract before he takes the field for another game.

But after a late-night phone call and homage to a social media trend of men dialing friends to surprise them with a “goodnight” message, Parsons and Schottenheimer appear to be on the same page.

“I know this is weird for everybody, but look, you’re handling everything the right way bro,” Schottenheimer told Parsons on the call recorded by the former Penn State linebacker. “This thing is going to get worked out.”

Parsons is in line to earn approximately $24 million in 2025 on the fifth year option from his original rookie deal.

“We’re building something special and you’re going to be a huge part of it,” Schottenheimer said to Parsons in the TikTok call.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the two sides are in agreement on “most of the issues” in negotiations.

Last summer, the Cowboys were beset with contract matters entering training camp, and Jones said the franchise would like to avoid a repeat. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb missed training camp entirely before he signed a four-year, $136 million extension in August and entered a short window to upramp for the start of the regular season.

Dallas also made quarterback Dak Prescott the highest-paid player in NFL history with a four-year, $240 million deal and $80 million signing bonus last summer.

Parsons worked out on his own last summer with permission from previous coach Mike McCarthy. But at the end of last season, he discussed the importance of attending workouts, minicamps and training camp.

“I’ve got to be around the guys,” he said. “There’s going to be rookies, there’s going to be free agents — guys that come here — you don’t know who’s going to be there, so there’s a chemistry part and people know what you can do, but people also got to see it from a leader aspect. So I still gotta be there for that part.”

Last season, Parsons dealt with an ankle injury but still recorded 12 sacks, 43 tackles and two forced fumbles in 13 games (all starts) last season.

A Pro Bowl selection in all four pro seasons to date and a three-time All-Pro, Parsons has totaled 256 tackles (63 for loss), 112 quarterback hits, 52.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 63 games (all starts).

Reports: Commanders WR Terry McLaurin skips minicamp

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin did not report to the start of the team’s mandatory minicamp on Tuesday as he seeks a contract extension, multiple media outlets reported.

McLaurin, whose contract expires after the 2025 season, was absent from Commanders’ voluntary organized team activities but did attend the first month of workouts.

Players who bypass mandatory minicamp practices are subject to daily fines with a maximum three-day penalty of around $104,000, per the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.

McLaurin skipped voluntary OTA practices as well as the mandatory minicamp in 2022 prior to signing a three-year contract extension. He has a base salary of $15.5 million for the upcoming season.

McLaurin, who turns 30 in September, recorded a career-best 13 touchdown receptions to go along with 82 catches for 1,096 yards in 2024. The two-time Pro Bowl selection has not missed a game since 2020.

He has 460 career receptions for 6,379 yards with 38 touchdowns since being selected by Washington in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.