BOLTS ADD TO EKELER’S CONTRACT
The Chargers have added $1.75 million in incentives to the contract of Austin Ekeler, according to a source not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
The development represents a truce in the running back’s dissatisfaction with the team over his current deal.
Ekeler is entering the final season of a four-year, $24.5 million contract that includes a 2023 base salary of $6.25 million. The deal ranks 13th in average annual value among NFL running backs.
Frustrated with the progress of talks on an extension, Ekeler was granted permission by the Chargers in March to seek a trade.
With little interest in a financially tightening running back market, Ekeler instead was able to secure the extra incentives. He’s scheduled to be a free agent after this season.
Ekeler, who turned 28 this month, has not been participating in the Chargers’ voluntary offseason program, which has been his standard approach in recent years. Coach Brandon Staley said Monday that he expects Ekeler to attend the team’s two-day mandatory minicamp in June.
During his six years with the Chargers, Ekeler has 3,727 yards rushing, 3,448 yards receiving and 63 touchdowns in 89 games. He tops the NFL with 38 touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Losing Ekeler would have been a blow to a Chargers offense that now has a new coordinator in Kellen Moore and increased hopes of being more explosive\.
Ekeler has become a fan favorite who celebrates his touchdowns by strumming an imaginary guitar.
Rodgers hurts calf
Aaron Rodgers never made it past warmups in his first New York Jets practice in front of the media.
The 39-year-old quarterback, acquired last month from Green Bay, strained a calf while participating in conditioning drills Tuesday. Rodgers watched drills and remained on the field during practice, but was without his helmet and threw no passes.
Fair catches
The NFL has pushed the kickoff return further toward irrelevance with a priority on player safety.
League owners voted Tuesday for a one-year trial of an enhanced touchback rule that will give the receiving team the ball at its own 25 with a fair catch of a kickoff anywhere behind that yard line.
Coaches and players argued the rule change will create uglier plays with squib and corner kicks that are impossible for fair catches.
Notable
Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL have agreed on the framework of a three-year contract extension that will keep him in place until 2027, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay confirmed at the league meetings in Eagan. Minn.
The Texans aren’t simply handing C.J. Stroud the starting job despite drafting the quarterback second overall in this year’s draft. The Ohio State star worked with the secondteam offense while last year’s starter Davis Mills ran with the starters.
The Denver Broncos severed ties with kicker Brandon McManus as they released the last holdover player from the team that won Super Bowl 50 over Carolina.