Ravens Justin Tucker becomes NFL's highest-paid kicker in a new deal. Rams QB Stafford facing severe and abnormal injury, Saints QB Winston out with a tweaked foot, Panthers QB job goes to Mayfield for now, and more football news
Ravens Justin Tucker signs 4-year deal, is now NFL's highest paid placekicker
The Baltimore Ravens have signed a four-year extension deal with kicker Justin Tucker, which makes him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL, CBSSports reported. The deal is worth $24 million, with $17.5 million guaranteed, and averages $6 million per season. It now gives Tucker a salary that is $1 million higher than any other kicker in the league.
Tucker, 32, has played for ten seasons and also happens to be the most accurate kicker in NFL history. He holds the NFL all-time best field-goal percentage (91%) as well as the record for the longest field goal in history at 66 yards. He's a five-time all-pro and ranks first in NFL field goals made (326) and points (1,360). When it comes to clutch kicks, he is currently 16-of-16 on field goals in the final minute of regulation. He also has converted 58 straight fourth-quarter/overtime tries, which is the longest active streak in the NFL, ESPN reported.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford facing "severe" and "abnormal" injury
Quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams Matthew Stafford, 34, is dealing with an injury that has been described as "severe" and "abnormal." According to an NFL Network report, Stafford has "bad tendinitis" in his elbow. Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters that Stafford's injury is "a little bit abnormal for a quarterback," PopCulture reported. McVay lamented that, for any player, "I don't know if you're ever truly pain-free," but said the goal is to get Stafford back by September 8.
Saints QB Jameis Winston leaves practice with a "tweaked foot"
Jameis Winston, who became the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints in 2021 following Drew Brees' retirement, left training camp practice early on Monday due to what coach Dennis Allen referred to as a foot injury, NOLA reported.
"He kind of tweaked his foot a little bit," Allen said. "He went in for some evaluations. I don't have any update on that, but (he) was kind of rolling out."
Last October, Winston suffered a season-ending torn ACL.
Panthers giving QB job to Baker Mayfield for now
According to a recent NFL Network report, it appears that for now, the starting job of quarterback with the Carolina Panthers is in the hands of recently acquired Baker Mayfield. However, there is still an open competition with incumbent starter Sam Darnold, who are splitting reps, both getting an equal opportunity, CBSSports reported.