Tag: LSU in NFL

Highlights from Jayden Daniels’ first NFL preseason start with Commanders

Jayden Daniels led Washington on a touchdown drive during his brief preseason debut on Saturday, giving the ball to his mother in the stands after finding the end zone.

The Washington Commanders began their preseason slate on Saturday afternoon, and rookie quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] received the starting nod against the New York Jets.

The second-overall pick and former Heisman winner at LSU didn’t get to see a ton of action before he was pulled from the game, leading just one drive. It was an impressive one, however, as he led the team down the field and capped it off with a rushing touchdown, after which he ran into the crowd and gave the ball to his mother.

He finished the game 2 of 3 for 45 yards passing, with much of that coming on his first career completion, which came on a deep ball to Dyami Brown.

Daniels is expected to be Washington’s Week 1 starter, so it remains to be seen how much action he will actually see in the remainder of the preseason. However, it’s likely the Commanders give him extended playing time in one of the next two exhibition games.

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Former LSU star BJ Ojulari suffers torn ACL at Cardinals training camp

BJ Ojulari’s second season in the NFL has reportedly been cut short.

There was optimism that [autotag]BJ Ojulari[/autotag] would have a breakout Year 2 with the Arizona Cardinals after the former LSU outside linebacker and second-round NFL draft pick came on down the stretch as a rookie last season.

However, it seems Ojulari’s sophomore campaign has been cut short as he reportedly suffered a torn ACL during training camp on Friday, according to a report from NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe.

It’s a tough blow for Arizona, which was expecting Ojulari to play a significant role in his second season as a pro. The First-Team All-SEC selection in 2022 was the 41st overall pick in 2023, appearing in all 17 games with no starts.

However, he recorded 40 tackles and four sacks on the year, leading to some optimism he could play a bigger role this fall.

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NFL insider says Jayden Daniels has likely already locked up Commanders Week 1 starting job

ESPN’s Dan Graziano doesn’t think Jayden Daniels is in a real competition with Marcus Mariota.

The Washington Commanders have high hopes for rookie quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], the former Heisman winner from LSU who they took with the second pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Daniels currently finds himself in what is at least nominally a quarterback competition with veteran Marcus Mariota, who Washington also signed this offseason. How real that battle actually is, however, is a matter that’s up for debate.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano broke down NFL quarterback battles, and he said that based on his understanding and that of his sources, Daniels has already essentially locked up the starting job and will get the nod in Week 1, assuming he’s healthy.

I’m not buying the idea that it’s a competition in Washington between second overall pickĀ Jayden DanielsĀ and former No. 2 overall pickĀ Marcus Mariota, and neither does anyone else I talk to about this. I think Daniels starts Week 1 as long as everyone’s healthy. If there’s a question in Washington, it’s about the offensive line and his protection.

Daniels had a very productive two seasons at LSU after transferring from Arizona State, and he found himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the draft. Alongside a new coaching regime led by Dan Quinn, the Commanders hope Daniels represents the future of the franchise.

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Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase among 10 highest rated receivers in Madden NFL 25

Madden started its Ratings Week by revealing the top-10 receivers in the upcoming installment.

While we’re all still buzzing about the release of College Football 25, EA Sports’ revival of the beloved college football video game franchise, it’s also almost time for a new Madden NFL installment.

LSU has produced some of the biggest current stars in the NFL, and as ratings for Madden 25 start to be released, it’s no surprise to see that former Tigers [autotag]Justin Jefferson[/autotag] and [autotag]Ja’Marr Chase[/autotag] are among the highest-rated receivers in the game.

Jefferson comes in at No. 2 at a 98 overall while Chase ranks seventh with a 93 overall.

The former has stated a strong case so far for being the NFL’s best receiver, leading the league in receiving yards in 2022 and finishing with 1,000 yards again in 2023 despite playing in just 10 games. Chase, meanwhile, has also turned in 1,000-yard campaigns each year since turning pro as he’s paired with his former college quarterback [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag].

Speaking of Burrow, we’ll have to wait until later this week to see where he ranks among NFL passers in the game.

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Watch former Cor’Dale Flott break up a pass to Malik Nabers at Giants training camp

The former LSU teammates are joining forces once more with the New York Giants.

[autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft out of LSU, is impressing so far at New York Giants training camp.

But when Nabers ran up against his former LSU teammate [autotag]Cor’Dale Flott[/autotag] during drills on Friday, it was the NFL veteran that got the better of the rookie as Flott managed to break up a pass that was underthrown to Nabers, who had a slight lead on Flott with his route.

ā€œ(Corā€™Dale) Flott made a good play recovering,” Nabers said per Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic. “Itā€™s just what practice is for. Me and Flott, since LSU days, weā€™re going to compete. Just got to hit those next time. Going to try my best to make those plays when Iā€™m out there.ā€

Flott was a third-round pick for the Giants back in 2022, and he has appeared in 25 games over the last two seasons while starting 13 of them. Now, he’ll be going up against his former teammate every day in practice as the two look to improve together.

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Watch Malik Nabers show off with impressive touchdown grab at Giants training camp

The Giants will hope Malik Nabers becomes an instant impact rookie.

The New York Giants desperately need to improve their passing game entering the 2024 season, and they’ll hope former LSU receiver [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] will be the big-play target quarterback Daniel Jones has been searching for.

We’ll have to wait to see just how Nabers’ game translates to the next level, but the early returns are certainly promising. He’s been impressing at Giants training camp so far this week, and on Thursday, he made a spectacular touchdown grab facing tight coverage as he had to readjust to the ball in the air.

It hasn’t all been perfect for Nabers, who reportedly dropped a pass down the sidelines during Wednesday’s practice. But he’s still making an impression on his new quarterback after helping his previous one win the Heisman.

ā€œWe spent some good time this summer together,ā€ Jones said of Nabers, per the New York Post. ā€œI think itā€™s the first day, and he made some plays. ā€¦ Heā€™ll be big-time for us.

ā€œHeā€™s played well for us, played well in the spring. Itā€™s been good to be with him this summer, and Iā€™m sure heā€™ll have a good camp. Weā€™ll continue to grow and build chemistry the more time weā€™re out there together.ā€

The former sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft could have an immediate impact during his rookie campaign this fall.

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Joe Burrow reveals reason he changed his hairstyle

“I got bored. That’s about it,” Burrow said.

When Cincinnati Bengals players arrived for training camp this week, everyone was stunned to see [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag].

The former LSU star quarterback showed up with a completely different hairstyle, opting for a bleached buzz-cut look. The new style certainly caught the attention of NFL fans and even prompted a response from WWE star Cody Rhodes, who many compared to Burrow.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, he revealed the simple reason for making the change.

“I got bored,” Burrow said. “That’s about it.”

Burrow also added that it was part of a bet with defensive tackle BJ Hill, who promised he would follow suit if Burrow went through with it.

“We need the fans and the media to hold him accountable if he doesn’t do it,” Burrow said of Hill. “So I’m counting on you guys.”

Only time will tell if Hill follows through with his end of the bargain, but Burrow will hope the hairstyle isn’t the only thing different about this season as he looks to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2023 campaign.

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WWE star Cody Rhodes had a hilarious response to Joe Burrow’s new hairstyle

Cody Rhodes got in on the joke after fans said Joe Burrow’s new haircut resembles him.

As the Cincinnati Bengals begin training camp ahead of the 2024 season, star quarterback [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag] debuted a surprising new look.

Burrow has gone for a blonde buzzcut this year, and fans were certainly taken aback when photos of his new hairdo surfaced on Tuesday. Some fans compared him to rapper Eminem, while many thought he now resembles WWE star Cody Rhodes.

Rhodes got in on the joke on Tuesday night, posting a photo of Burrow on X with a photoshopped version of Rhodes’ iconic American flag/skull-themed neck tattoo and championship belt with the caption “Time to finish your story this season.”

Burrow will hope his hair isn’t the only thing that’s different about the 2024 season for him. After a red-hot start to his career, Burrow was limited by injuries last season and only appeared in 10 games before suffering a season-ending wrist injury.

Now finally healthy, he’ll hope to return to form and lead the Bengals on another playoff run this season.

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Joe Burrow debuts new hairstyle at Bengals training camp

What do you think of Joe Burrow’s new look?

[autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag] has certainly built quite a reputation for himself both on and off the field.

He’s one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL, and he’s also seen as having quite a bit of “aura,” earning the nickname Joe Cool. Whether he still possesses that aura will be up for the fans to decide, because ahead of Cincinnati Bengals training camp on Tuesday, Burrow debuted a significantly different hairstyle.

His new buzz cut, bleached blonde look certainly took some people by surprise, and many stunned fans compared his new hairdo to rapper Eminem and wrestling star Cody Rhodes.

After missing much of the 2023 season due to injury, Burrow is back in 2024 looking to prove that he is among the best quarterbacks in the league.

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Giants’ Darius Slayton compares Malik Nabers to Ja’Marr Chase

Malik Nabers will hope he can have the same kind of success Ja’Marr Chase has seen early in his career.

Former LSU receiver [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] is trying to make a name for himself with the New York Giants as a rookie.

The sixth overall pick in the draft, Nabers was brought in to help resuscitate a passing game that struggled quite a bit in 2023 as quarterback Daniel Jones returns from injury. Only time will tell how Nabers fares at the next level, but his teammate and fellow receiver Darius Slayton gave him a lofty comparison.

Slayton said the Nabers reminds him of a former LSU star: Bengals receiver [autotag]Ja’Marr Chase[/autotag].

ā€œHeā€™sĀ looked good,ā€ Slayton said, per On3. ā€œHonestly in my opinion he reminds me of Jaā€™Marr Chase, itā€™s like a clone. Malikā€™s about six-foot, theyā€™re about the same size,ā€ said Slayton. ā€œDimensionally, theyā€™re about the same, his body movements, itā€™s actually kind of weird watching him move around. Heā€™s really talented, heā€™s got good hands. For us, our system, the biggest hiccup as a rookie is trying to get down all these terminologies Daboll has for us. Once he gets all that down, you know I think heā€™ll have no problem having success.ā€

It’s certainly high praise, but it’s easy to see where Slayton is coming from as there are some similarities between the two. Chase has emerged as one of the NFL’s best receivers playing with his former college quarterback Joe Burrow, and Nabers will hope to be the next elite receiver LSU has produced.

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