Kalil ends a short retirement to play center for the Jets
Ryan Kalil wasn’t done playing football, after all. The five-time Pro Bowl center from USC came out of retirement Thursday and agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the New York Jets.
The 34-year-old Kalil, who started every game last season for Carolina after playing just six in 2017 because of a neck injury, will need to pass a physical Friday before signing his contract with New York.
Financial terms weren’t immediately available. NFL Network reported the deal is worth $8.4 million.
Kalil apparently had a change of heart in recent weeks and is expected to anchor an offensive line that had a question mark at the center position.
Jonotthan Harrison had been slated to start, but he has been mostly a backup during his six-year career.
Coach Adam Gase had recently raved about Harrison and his work with quarterback Sam Darnold, but the Jets decided to upgrade.
Hall of Fame game
Hours after visiting a hospital because of a kidney stone, Vic Fangio won a football game.
The new coach of the Denver Broncos saw a late interception set up rookie Juwann Winfree’s 15-yard touchdown catch, and his team edged the Atlanta Falcons 14-10 in the Hall of Fame game at Canton, Ohio, to open the NFL’s exhibition season.
Trey Johnson’s interception of Matt Schaub’s pass after the Atlanta backup quarterback was pressured set up Denver at the Falcons 38 with 5:21 remaining.
Rookie Brett Rypien hurled a pass into the right corner of the end zone, where it was deflected and Winfree latched onto it with 1:26 remaining.
Fangio also became the first coach to utilize the new rule allowing challenges of pass-interference calls. Late in the second quarter, Linden Stephens was called for a 43-yard defensive penalty. Officials upheld the call. Jaguars rookie hurt
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie linebacker Quincy Williams, a thirdround draft pick who showed enough over the last three months to lock down a starting spot, will miss four to six weeks because of torn meniscus in his right knee.
The older brother of Jets rookie Quinnen Williams tweaked his knee during drills Thursday and left practice early. The team says he will have arthroscopic surgery in the coming days. He still has an outside shot at returning in time for the Sept. 8 season opener against Kansas City.
“Our expectation is that he’ll be ready for the first game,” coach Doug Marrone said during his weekly radio show Thursday.
The Jaguars selected the 5-foot-10 linebacker from Murray State with the 98th overall selection, a pick that was widely questioned. But Williams has been the team’s best rookie by far.
Saints’ Thomas won’t rest on big contract
New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas took extra time after his first practice of training camp to catch footballs fired from a machine at close range, first while facing the machine, then while twisting his torso to the left and right as if he were in the midst of a crossing route.
Wearing bright white gloves, his hands enveloped each ball; he didn’t drop one.
“Now you’re the highest-paid, and now you’ve got to go earn it,” Thomas said a day after signing a five-year, $100-million extension that includes at least $61 million guaranteed. “So that’s the biggest thing I’m trying to do. I’m trying to earn every penny of it.”
The $20-million annual value of Thomas’ extension, which kicks in next season, gives him bragging rights over the most lucrative contract — on a per-season basis — for a receiver in NFL history.
Kicker Dawson retires
Kicker Phil Dawson retired from the NFL at age 44 after 20 seasons.
He spent his first 14 seasons with the Cleveland Browns and will sign a one-day contract to ceremonially retire with the franchise. Dawson played in 305 games — the seventh most in league history — and ranks 11th with 1,847 points.
Dawson scored 1,271 points with the Browns, trailing only Hall of Famer Lou Groza in team history. His 441 field goals are eighth on the NFL career list.