NFL – Winnipeg Free Press

FILE - New Orleans Saints holder James Burnip, left, places the ball for place kicker Charlie Smyth to make a field goal as Denver Broncos special teams player Quinton Newsome comes in to defend in the second half of an NFL preseason football game Aug. 23, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall, File)

Saints activate Northern Ireland native Charlie Smyth as their new kicker vs. Miami

Brett Martel, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:41 PM CST

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints have decided to let Charlie Smyth, a former Gaelic football player from Northern Ireland, take over place kicking and kickoff duties on Sunday in Miami, when he will make his NFL regular-season debut.

Smyth, who came to the Saints in 2024 as part of the NFL’s International Pathways Program, replaces Blake Grupe, who was cut on Tuesday after his two missed field goal attempts last Sunday raised his total of misses to eight.

Saints special teams coordinator Phil Galiano said Smyth's improvement in kicking an NFL ball since his arrival two offseasons ago is akin to “the difference between red and blue.”

“Never doing it in high school and never doing it in college is really a big deal,” Galiano said.

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Steelers place left tackle Broderick Jones on injured reserve, elevate cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Steelers place left tackle Broderick Jones on injured reserve, elevate cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.

The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 2:23 PM CST

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers placed left tackle Broderick Jones on injured reserve Saturday ahead of a visit from the Buffalo Bills.

Pittsburgh had already ruled Jones out with a neck injury sustained in the fourth quarter of last week's loss to the Chicago Bears. Jones will now miss at least the next four games for Pittsburgh (6-5).

Andrus Peat will start in place of Jones and will be in charge of protecting Aaron Rodgers' blindside against the Bills (7-4).

Pittsburgh also elevated cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. to the 53-man roster. The Steelers signed the four-year veteran to their practice squad earlier this month. Samuel had been a free agent after undergoing neck surgery in the spring.

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Yesterday at 2:23 PM CST

FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones (77) plays during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Coach Ben Johnson sees his Chicago Bears capable of winning in numerous ways after beating Eagles

Gene Chamberlain, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Coach Ben Johnson sees his Chicago Bears capable of winning in numerous ways after beating Eagles

Gene Chamberlain, The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 1:08 PM CST

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The message Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson hopes has been delivered is how confident his team has grown in its ability to win using whatever means are required.

The Bears have won about any way possible in taking nine of their last 10 games, including Friday’s 24-15 triumph over the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

“There’s no secret, man, there are no shortcuts,” coach Ben Johnson said. “We’ve got to go out next week and put in the same amount of work that we’ve been doing and we’ve got to continue to get better.

“We’re still not at what we’re capable of being yet as an entire team, and so we’re going to continue to strive to put that full 60 minutes of three phases of complete football together.”

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Yesterday at 1:08 PM CST

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4), left, and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) vie for a loose ball during the first half of an NFL football game, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Lions lose 4-time Pro Bowl C Frank Ragnow for year with hamstring strain after he ended retirement

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Lions lose 4-time Pro Bowl C Frank Ragnow for year with hamstring strain after he ended retirement

The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 11:11 AM CST

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Frank Ragnow's season is over before it started.

The four-time Pro Bowl center failed a physical because of a hamstring strain, days after coming out of retirement, the team announced Saturday.

The Lions say Ragnow reported to the team's training facility on Friday and an exam showed he has an injury that will prevent him from playing this season.

“Frank has always been a team-first guy and is a true warrior," the team said in a statement Saturday. “He will forever be a Lion.”

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Yesterday at 11:11 AM CST

FILE - Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow looks to block during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Detroit, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)

Can Nick Sirianni and the Eagles avoid another late-season collapse following 2 straight losses?

Dan Gelston, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Can Nick Sirianni and the Eagles avoid another late-season collapse following 2 straight losses?

Dan Gelston, The Associated Press 5 minute read Yesterday at 8:47 AM CST

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The slumping Eagles are on the brink of becoming the collapsing Eagles.

Seem familiar?

Eagles fans — and certainly coach Nick Sirianni and the players still around — can almost gag when they remember the 2023 season.

The Eagles were coming off a Super Bowl trip (like this year), started 10-1 (this year's Eagles were 8-2) before a massive meltdown nearly cost Sirianni his job. The Eagles spiraled with five losses in their last six games and were promptly bounced in their first playoff game.

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Yesterday at 8:47 AM CST

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) leaves the field after his team's loss to the Chicago Bears in an NFL football game, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Lions are lucky to be above .500 after a disappointing 5-game stretch

Dave Hogg, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Lions are lucky to be above .500 after a disappointing 5-game stretch

Dave Hogg, The Associated Press 5 minute read Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

DETROIT (AP) — Last year, the Detroit Lions went 15-2 and locked up the top seed in the NFC.

This season, they are lucky to be above .500.

After a 5-2 start, coach Dan Campbell's Lions have lost three of five and needed a 59-yard field goal from Jake Bates to avoid a home loss to the New York Giants.

On Thursday, they lost 31-24 to the Green Bay Packers with an unusually sloppy performance. Detroit (7-5) is two games behind the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears (9-3) and a game-and-a-half behind the Packers (8-3-1).

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Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Micah Parsons (1) sacks Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the second half an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo will keep his job after Hurts, Barkley struggle again

Dan Gelston, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo will keep his job after Hurts, Barkley struggle again

Dan Gelston, The Associated Press 5 minute read Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The chants started early from fed-up Eagles fans, and they were booming as the inept offensive plays piled up in yet another loss.

“Fire Kevin! Fire Kevin!”

Eagles fans made their vote to dump offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo heard throughout Friday's 24-15 loss to the Chicago Bears.

Coach Nick Sirianni made yet another call the fans won't like: Patullo is staying.

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Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

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How an injury hiatus turned the Broncos’ Pat Surtain II into a football fan

Arnie Stapleton, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

How an injury hiatus turned the Broncos’ Pat Surtain II into a football fan

Arnie Stapleton, The Associated Press 3 minute read Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Pat Surtain II focused on faith, family and just being a football fan during his monthlong hiatus from the Denver Broncos' lineup because of a strained left pectoral muscle.

The NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year is set to return to action this weekend when the Broncos (9-2) put their eight-game winning streak on the line at the Washington Commanders (3-8), who are are also coming off a bye week.

“It feels great, honestly,” Surtain said of returning to practice this week. “It's been a long couple of weeks not being out there. But I'm grateful and blessed to be back — to be back healthy.”

Surtain got hurt making a tackle in Denver’s 44-24 rout of the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8. Although Surtain is the fulcrum of coordinator Vance Joseph's defense, the Broncos went 3-0 in his absence, limiting the Texans, Raiders and Chiefs to an average of 13.6 points.

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Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

FILE - Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II looks on before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Oct. 26, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)

Browns’ Myles Garrett is thinking about when, not if, he will break the NFL sack record

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Browns’ Myles Garrett is thinking about when, not if, he will break the NFL sack record

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 5 minute read Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

Myles Garrett is not thinking about if he can break the NFL's single-season sack record.

The Cleveland Browns All-Pro pass rusher is convinced it's a matter of when.

Garrett leads the league with 18 sacks and needs five in Cleveland's final six games to surpass the 22 1/2 by Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, who did it in 2001 with the New York Giants, and Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt, who tied it in 2021.

“I don’t even think about it as a want — I just think about something that I’m going to knock down,” Garrett said Friday as the Browns prepare to host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. “It’s already been written in my mind that it’s going just how far I’m going to take it. So, just going to go out there and do what I do, and whatever number I end up at.”

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Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

FILE - Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Nov. 9, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

Ben Johnson flexes shirtless in locker room after Bears’ 5th straight win, 24-15 over reeling Eagles

Dan Gelston, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Ben Johnson flexes shirtless in locker room after Bears’ 5th straight win, 24-15 over reeling Eagles

Dan Gelston, The Associated Press 6 minute read Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — After beating the Eagles on the Super Bowl champions' home turf, it was time for rookie Bears coach Ben Johnson to bare arms. Oh, and go bare-chested.

Johnson tore off his shirt inside a jubilant locker room and flexed like a professional wrestler as the victorious Bears danced, hollered and chanted in a circle around him.

“Good, better, best. Never let it rest till your good gets better and your better gets best," the Bears and Johnson shouted.

One of the surprise teams in the NFL, the Bears had every reason to go wild following a vintage rushing performance that echoed their famous Super Bowl-winning 1985 squad.

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Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4) scores a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Chargers host Raiders as both teams seek improvement in stretch run for vastly different reasons

Dan Greenspan, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Chargers host Raiders as both teams seek improvement in stretch run for vastly different reasons

Dan Greenspan, The Associated Press 6 minute read Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The message is the same, even though the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers find themselves in very different places going into their game Sunday: It’s time to get going.

The Raiders (2-9) have lost five in a row and eight of their past nine in head coach Pete Carroll’s first season. The playoffs are out of the question, and after firing two coordinators in the past three weeks, any sign of improvement is needed to justify not sweeping out the whole regime.

“We need to make progress, right from the get go,” Carroll said. “I mean, every game, we go out, we try and win every football game and we’re going to continue to only look at it in that manner. But we need to make progress, we need to get cleaner, we need to make sure that we’re functioning at a really high level. And if somebody can beat us doing that, then they do.”

The Chargers (7-4) are coming off their worst regular-season performance under head coach Jim Harbaugh, a 35-6 rout by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 16. They are currently holding onto a postseason berth but need to find their form to maintain it and make a push for the Super Bowl once there.

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Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguarse, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Brian Schottenheimer’s stewardship helps Cowboys shine through pain of Kneeland’s death

Schuyler Dixon, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Brian Schottenheimer’s stewardship helps Cowboys shine through pain of Kneeland’s death

Schuyler Dixon, The Associated Press 6 minute read Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Brian Schottenheimer has three consecutive victories over Super Bowl-winning coaches in his first year in charge of the Dallas Cowboys after 25 years as an NFL assistant.

The first winning streak of the season for Dallas has coincided with the club's return following the death by an apparent suicide of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland during the open week.

Star quarterback Dak Prescott said after a 31-28 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs — four days after the Cowboys beat last season's other Super Bowl team, defending champion and NFC East rival Philadelphia — that those three wins in just 11 days were no coincidence. Dallas had to wait almost two weeks to play while processing the loss of Kneeland.

“I just credit him for being the same, being consistent and it’s something that he talks about, but to actually watch him be consistent and be the same man through the adversity and now through some success, right?” Prescott said. “He’s a hell of a leader. He’s the right guy for the job. I know you all see clips of the emotions and guys follow him, but that’s just throughout the day. If you were in every team meeting, you would understand that’s who Schotty is.”

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Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Jets’ Kris Boyd says in Instagram post he’s back in hospital after recent shooting

Dennis Waszak Jr., The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Jets’ Kris Boyd says in Instagram post he’s back in hospital after recent shooting

Dennis Waszak Jr., The Associated Press 3 minute read Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — A post on New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd’s Instagram account late Wednesday night said he was back in the hospital after recovering from being shot in midtown Manhattan on Nov. 16.

Boyd wrote on his Instagram Stories — which has since disappeared from his profile because it is more than 24 hours old — that his “health issues” landed him back in the hospital and asked people to bear with him for not providing more updates.

“I was released but had to return to the hospital due to my health issues,” Boyd wrote. “I love and appreciate everyone of yall dearly who has prayed/reached out even if I can't get back to you.”

Boyd also wrote: “Head HIGH, God is not through with me yet!”

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Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

FILE - Houston Texans cornerback Kris Boyd, currently a player with the New York Jets, looks on prior to an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Nov 24, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker, File)

Bengals’ dominant win over Ravens sparks hope for late-season playoff push

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Bengals’ dominant win over Ravens sparks hope for late-season playoff push

Joe Reedy, The Associated Press 5 minute read Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

Zac Taylor said all it would take is one win for the Cincinnati Bengals to get momentum for a late-season run.

Taylor’s squad will have the opportunity to prove their coach right after playing their most complete game of the season, a 32-14 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.

Franchise quarterback Joe Burrow completed 24 of 46 for 261 yards and a pair of second-half touchdowns. But it was the defense’s performance that helped the Bengals snap a three-game skid and win for the first time in five weeks.

Al Golden’s much-maligned defense not only allowed a season-low 14 points, but it also forced five turnovers.

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Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) joined by safety Geno Stone (22), defensive end Myles Murphy (99) and center Ted Karras (64) talks with NBC Sports sideline reporter Melissa Stark, right, after NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Jets’ Breece Hall, Falcons’ Bijan Robinson to face off in matchup of star playmaking running backs

Dennis Waszak Jr., The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Jets’ Breece Hall, Falcons’ Bijan Robinson to face off in matchup of star playmaking running backs

Dennis Waszak Jr., The Associated Press 6 minute read Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Breece Hall is the New York Jets' do-it-all running back who makes the offense go, even with all the uncertainty at quarterback.

Bijan Robinson has that same vital role for the Atlanta Falcons, who rely on him to get the ground game moving while also being an invaluable outlet in the passing game.

The two square off on Sunday at MetLife Stadium when the Falcons (4-7) hit the road to face the Jets (2-9) in a matchup of struggling teams with playmaking running backs.

Hall went 2-0 with Iowa State against Robinson and Texas in college, but Robinson won the lone meeting in the pros when Atlanta beat New York in 2023.

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Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) hand off to running back Breece Hall (20) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Vikings to start Max Brosmer at quarterback against the Seahawks

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Vikings to start Max Brosmer at quarterback against the Seahawks

The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings will start rookie Max Brosmer at quarterback on Sunday at Seattle after J.J. McCarthy’s practice time was limited all week by the concussion protocol.

Coach Kevin O’Connell made the announcement after practice on Friday that McCarthy is out against the Seahawks. Journeyman John Wolford, who is on the practice squad, will be the backup to Brosmer.

“I have a ton of confidence in Max,” O’Connell said.

McCarthy reported symptoms during the team’s flight home from Green Bay last week. The 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft, who missed his entire rookie year after knee surgery, sat out five games earlier this season with a sprained ankle. His struggles through six career starts have been a burden on the struggling Vikings (4-7), who rank in the bottom five of the NFL in yards per game, interception rate and sacks allowed per pass attempt.

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Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

November 30, 2025

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