Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Star running backs get big extensions
Saints’ Kamara, Vikings’ Cook net five-year contracts
Two 25-year-old Pro Bowl running backs, New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara and Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook, landed five-year contract extensions on the eve of their season openers.
Kamara agreed to a five-year, $77.133 million deal, with $34.333 million guaranteed. The extension’s average annual value match
NOTEBOOK
es that of Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott and trails only that of Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey among NFL running backs.
Kamara, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, has 4,476 yards from scrimmage since 2017, the league’s fifth-highest total.
Cook signed a five-year, $63 million deal, with $28 million guaranteed. He totaled
1,654 yards from scrimmage and ran for 13 touchdowns in 2019.
In other Vikings news, George Floyd’s family will attend Minnesota’s season opener and be recognized in a pregame ceremony meant to raise racism and injustice awareness. U.S. Bank Stadium is three miles from where Floyd, 46, died in police custody May 25.
■ Titans: Rookie offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson, Tennessee’s first-round draft pick, was arrested Friday and charged with drunken driving after he was spotted doing “donuts” in an intersection before crashing into a concrete wall. The 21-year-old is on the reserve/COVID-19 list for a second time.
Also, cornerback Adoree Jackson (knee) and linebacker Vic Beasley (undisclosed) were ruled out for Monday, along with linebacker Derick Roberson (knee), rookie running
back Darrynton Evans (hamstring) and offensive lineman (Jamil Douglas (hand).
49ers: Coach Kyle Shanahan remains hopeful the team can play its season opener Sunday as scheduled despite poor air quality caused by Northern California wildfires. San Francisco practiced Friday at its facility as scheduled with an Air Quality Index between 150 and 200. NFL rules call for postponing or moving a game if the AQI is expected to remain consistently above 200 at the stadium on game day. For updates, see Section C.
In other 49ers news, wide receiver Deebo Samuel (foot) was placed in injured reserve, meaning the 24-yearold will miss at least three games.
■ Browns: Quarterback Baker Mayfield, who during the offseason said he intended to kneel during the national anthem in protest of racial
injustice, changed his stance and plans to stand. “I have been showed that a gesture such as kneeling will only create more division or discussion about the gesture,” he tweeted.
■ Rams: Wide receiver Cooper Kupp agreed to a three-year, $48 million extension. The 27-year-old had team highs of 94 catches, 1,161 yards receiving and 10 TDs in 2019 and has 196 catches for 2,596 yards and 21 TDs in 39 NFL games.
■ Broncos: Kicker Brandon McManus agreed to a four-year extension worth $17.2 million, with $9.5 million guaranteed. The 29-year-old is second in team history in field-goal percentage (81.5) and third in made field goals of at least 50 yards (17).
■ Seahawks: Special teams coordinator Brian Schneider left the team indefinitely for personal reasons, coach Pete Carroll said. The 49-yearold is entering his 11th season with
Seattle. Assistant special teams coach Larry Izzo will fill in for Schneider.
■ Cardinals: Wide receiver KeeSean Johnson was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The 23-year-old had 21 catches for 187 yards and one touchdown as a rookie in 2019.
■ Texans: Running back Duke Johnson sustained a sprained ankle Thursday in Houston’s loss at Kansas City and is questionable for Week 2, ESPN reported.
■ Buccaneers: The status of threetime Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) was upgraded to questionable from doubtful for Sunday.
■ Dolphins: Wide receiver Preston Williams (knee) was a full participant in practice Friday after being limited the previous two days.
■ Eagles: Running back Miles Sanders (hamstring) will not play in Week 1, ESPN reported.