Kaden Feagin adjusting well to moving to the tight end room
Cam Lewis takes pride in being a team player. Whatever the Chicago Bears need from him, he is ready to go. Right now, that’s free safety. Lewis has been filling in for Coby Bryant since he left practice Monday with an apparent left leg injury. The 29-year-old Lewis signed a two-year contract with Chicago in free agency. Depending on how long Bryant is sidelined, Lewis could take on a more expanded role early in the season. The Bears also are missing nickel back Kyler Gordon, who is on the physically unable to perform list with a calf issue.
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has signed a two-year contract extension worth $44 million, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person requested anonymity because the team had not made an official announcement and does not release contract terms. The deal keeps Taylor, the 2021 NFL rushing champ, off next spring's free agent market. Taylor had repeatedly said he wanted to remain with the Colts for the rest of his career. Last week when he reported to training camp, Taylor said he was optimistic a deal would be completed before Indy's Sept. 13 season opener against Baltimore.
2026 high school football season kicks off with first practices
Stefon Diggs is signing with the Washington Commanders, a person familiar with the agreement tells The Associated Press. The move gives quarterback Jayden Daniels and the offense a proven, experienced wide receiver. Diggs joins Washington for a 12th year in the NFL after playing last season with New England. Diggs had 99 catches for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns in 21 games, counting the Patriots’ playoff run to the Super Bowl. Diggs previously played for Minnesota, Buffalo and Houston during a career that included him being an All-Pro selection in 2020.
The Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences have finalized a settlement over “poaching” and exit fees. The two conferences announced that all sides have reached final agreements to settle all pending litigation. The statement included Boise State, Colorado State, Utah State and The Board of Trustees of the California State University on behalf of San Diego State and Fresno State. The conferences announced an agreement in principle in May. The Pac-12 and some of new the schools joining the conference filed a lawsuit in California in 2024, claiming the poaching clause the league agreed to when it signed a scheduling agreement for its football teams was invalid. The clause called for payments to the Mountain West for a total of $55 million.
Illinois football is ranked just outside the top 25 at No. 29 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll.
Illinois opens up fall camp ahead of 2026 campaign
Standout right tackle Darnell Wright has agreed to lucrative contract extension with the Chicago Bears. A person familiar with negotiations says Wright has agreed to a four-year, $116 million contract. The deal includes $93 million guaranteed. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details had not been announced by Wright or the team. Wright was the 10th overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Tennessee. He anchored an offensive line that helped the Bears rank third in the NFL in rushing last season and win the NFC North.