NEW ORLEANS — Gameday Sean did something rare a few minutes before kickoff Thursday night.

He smiled.

Sean Payton, always intense and notoriously so on game days, briefly let his guard down along the visiting sideline. He hugged his kids and his former quarterback. He gave out some high fives. He shared a warm embrace with Saints owner Gayle...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Cooper Kupp was limited in practice again Thursday. If the Rams star receiver's left ankle is fully recovered by this weekend, he could play Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium.

Coach Sean McVay is expected to update Kupp's status Friday.

Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said Thursday that it was good to have...Read more

SEATTLE — In a perfect world for Jamal Adams and the Seahawks, he would currently be in the midst of another All-Pro season having long ago proven the worth of a contract they gave him in 2021 that made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history.

You may not need reminding that things didn’t work out long-term for either Adams or the ...Read more

BALTIMORE — By any number of metrics, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is playing perhaps the best football of his career.

Through the first six games, he has thrown for 1,529 yards with 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions while rushing for 403 yards and two more scores on 64 carries, numbers that are well ahead of what he produced ...Read more

NEW YORK — Giants rookie receiver Malik Nabers cleared the concussion protocol Thursday afternoon after being evaluated by an independent neurological consultant.

Nabers progressed to full practice participation after responding well to his limited work on Wednesday. So he is now on track to play Sunday when the Giants (2-4) host the ...Read more

Here’s a look back at Week 6’s action and fantasy advice for the week ahead:

WEEK 6 RECAP

49ers 36, Seahawks 24: Deebo Samuel’s 76-yard touchdown reception at Seattle made him the first wide receiver in NFL history to have 20 receiving TDs and 20 rushing TDs in his career.

Bears 35, Jaguars 16: Caleb Williams joined Tom Brady and Blake...Read more

NEW YORK — A day after he did not practice, wide receiver Mike Williams returned to the Jets facility.

Williams missed practice and was listed on the Jets injury report on Thursday for personal reasons.

However, there has been speculation on whether Williams will remain with the Jets. After they acquired Davante Adams in a trade with the ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Tom Brady, despite being approved as a limited partner of the Raiders on Tuesday, will still be allowed to broadcast the team’s games.

Brady is the color analyst on Fox’s lead announcing team. The NFL has placed significant restrictions on him given his status as a Raiders minority owner. For instance, he is not permitted to ...Read more

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups this week. Lines according to FanDuel Sportsbook (O/U = over/under). Record last week 11-3 (.786); season 56-36 (.609). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 9-5 (.643); season 49-42-1 (.538). Times Pacific. Off: ...Read more

Never going to turn down a week like our 12-2 straight-up, but the glimmer ‘n shine of that makes the 7-7 against the spread all the more disappointing. On the wrong side of too many tight lines. Example: Missed two games ATS by a half-point each and that’s how close 7-7 was from 9-5. But nobody knows close-don’t-count more than a gambler....Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers are keeping their decision on who their starting quarterback will be on Sunday night a secret for at least one more day, but all signs continue to point to Russell Wilson making his Steelers debut against the Jets while Justin Fields moves to backup.

If that happens, it will be 301 days between starts for Wilson, the...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Admittedly, I am living in my fears when I say Justin Fields should start Sunday. It's all based on his running ability.

I'd go with the quarterback who possibly has less of a chance of getting maimed and more of a chance of making plays with his feet behind a perforated offensive line.

I know that's not a great case, especially...Read more

NEW ORLEANS — It is approaching happy hour, which is any waking hour on Bourbon Street, the jazz bellowing from street musicians as tourists sip daiquiris from plastic contraptions.

Even on a windy midweek afternoon, this area is a kaleidoscope of beads, booze and beignets. Bars advertise that hangovers are installed — and repaired.

A ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Coach Kyle Shanahan conceded Wednesday there’s a certain amount of post traumatic stress that comes with reviewing the game film of last Feb. 11 in Las Vegas, but it was a necessary step for the 49ers to go back in time and review how and why they lost 25-22 in overtime in Super Bowl LVIII.

With that behind them, the ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Ryan McCollum breathlessly answered some questions, then threw on his “Girl Dad” hat and hustled to his next meeting.

As much as he has vowed to stay ready throughout his NFL career, the Steelers’ new starting center — at least until rookie Zach Frazier is back healthy — is a bit busier these days. What if someone would...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Running back Aaron Jones reported to Vikings headquarters every day throughout last week’s bye, putting his injured right hamstring through a litany of healing tactics in the hope of playing Sunday against the Lions.

“Lot of stretching, lot of deep tissue massage,” Jones said Wednesday. “Needles; I hate needles by the ...Read more

TAMPA BAY, Fla. — From the department of Questions We Never Expected to Ask:

Are the Bucs a running team?

On the surface, this is a wacky thought. Tampa Bay finished dead last in rushing in 2022 and 2023. It had been 30 years since an NFL team had done that in consecutive seasons and yet, today, this heretofore sad-sack group is sixth in ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt was the organization’s voice when the team released Kareem Hunt in 2018 after a video surfaced of him pushing and kicking a woman during an altercation.

In his first comments since Kareem Hunt rejoined the team last month, Clark Hunt said enough time had passed and remorse was displayed ...Read more

MIAMI — It’s no secret that Black quarterbacks have historically faced a separate set of challenges.

They’re constantly asked about switching positions. They’re not thought of as natural leaders. They’re often criticized for running too much. The list goes on and on.

And while the stigma is certainly changing, in part due to talents ...Read more