Bengals commit to Mixon, give him 4-year extension
The Bengals felt a backlash when they drafted running back Joe Mixon in the second round, acknowledging they were taking a risk.
Three years later, they’ve made a long-term commitment.
Mixon, the former Bay Area prep star at Freedom High-Oakley signed a fouryear, $48 million contract extension through the 2024 season on Wednesday, a vote of confidence for a player who has rehabilitated his image and evolved into one of the league’s top running backs.
“Upstairs they definitely value me in a way a lot of people probably won’t,” Mixon said, referring to the front office. “I just wanted to show my love to here and finish my career here.”
The Bengals drafted Mixon in the second round in 2017 out of Oklahoma, where he was suspended for punching a woman in the face. The Bengals drew a backlash with the choice, prompting owner Mike Brown to acknowledge they were “taking a risk” on Mixon because he’s so talented.
Mixon has avoided trouble and emerged as one of the NFL’s top running backs. He was entering the final season on his original contract.
Mixon has run for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons. CHARGERS’ LOSE JAMES FOR SEASON >> Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James will miss the season after having surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee, the team announced on Wednesday. James had surgery on Tuesday after he sustained the injury during a scrimmage on Sunday.
It is the second time in five seasons that James has had a season end due to a knee injury. He tore the meniscus in his left knee as a sophomore at Florida State in 2016 during the team’s second game and missed the rest of the year.
PAYTON: SAINTS, RB KAMARA IN ‘ACTIVE NEGOTIATIONS’ >>
Running back Alvin Kamara and the New Orleans Saints are inching closer to a new contract. Head coach Sean Payton said Wednesday, following Kamara’s first practice since reports of a holdout surfaced, the two sides are discussing a deal.
“We’re actively negotiating a contract with he and his agent. We’ll keep you posted if there’s any progress,” Payton said.
HASKINS WILL BE WASHINGTON’S WEEK 1 STARTING QUARTERBACK >>
Coach Ron Rivera announced Dwayne Haskins will be Washington’s starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Haskins got the nod over Kyle Allen, whom Rivera knew well from his time with Carolina, and veteran Alex Smith, who’s less than two years removed from breaking his right leg.
“Dwayne’s lived up to everything we talked about in January,” Rivera said. “He deserves the opportunity. He’s going to get the opportunity, and he’s going to get my support.”
Washington’s first-year coach joked he declared Haskins the starter now so he wouldn’t have to keep answering the question, but it’s also a statement by Rivera to his team with time running out before the Sept. 13 regular-season opener against Philadelphia.
COUSINS: NO VIRUS WORRY; WANTS TO ‘RESPECT’ OTHERS’ CONCERNS >>
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins said he’s unconcerned about catching the coronavirus, with a worry on a scale of one to 10 that’s “about a 0.000001.”
In a wide-ranging interview for an NFL-themed podcast released on Wednesday, Cousins said he wants to “respect other people’s concerns” about COVID-19 by wearing a face covering. He also said he’s counting on his health and fitness as safeguards against the disease.
“I’m going to go about my daily life. If I get it, I’m going to ride it out. I’m going to let nature do its course, a survival of the fittest kind of approach, and just say if it knocks me out, it knocks me out. I’m going to be OK,” Cousins told host Kyle Brandt, who’s also an NFL Network morning show personality, for The Ringer Podcast Network.
“Even if I die, I die. I kind of have peace about that. That’s really where I fall on it, so my opinion on wearing a mask is really about being respectful to other people. It really has nothing to do with my personal thoughts.”