Tag: Allen

Reports: Philip Rivers to interview for Bills’ head-coaching job

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After coming out retirement to play three games at the quarterback position, Philip Rivers reportedly is throwing his hat toward one of the NFL’s vacant head-coaching jobs.

Multiple media outlets reported Rivers is interviewing for the Buffalo Bills’ opening on Friday.

Rivers is not alone. Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel also is meeting with the Bills on Friday, per The Athletic, with the expectation that he will become the offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers if he is not hired for any of the league’s available top jobs.

Rivers, 44, has been the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Ala., since he announced his initial retirement from the NFL after the 2020 season.

NFL Network reported Rivers and Buffalo star quarterback Josh Allen have a strong friendship. Bills owner Terry Pegula noted this week that Allen will be involved in the coaching search on the heels of Sean McDermott’s firing.

Rivers came out of retirement last month after the Indianapolis Colts lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones to a season-ending injury. He made three starts — all losses — and was quick to note that he was returning to coach at the Alabama school where his son, Gunner, will be the senior quarterback in the fall.

Rivers was a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist prior to embarking on the comeback. His candidacy now resets and he will next be eligible for induction in 2031 due to the five-year waiting period after retirement.

He spent 16 seasons with the Chargers (13 in San Diego, three in Los Angeles) and one season (2020) with the Colts before his initial retirement.

Rivers ranks sixth all-time in passing TDs (425) and eighth in passing yards (63,984) in NFL history.

–Field Level Media

49ers’ Christian McCaffrey, 4 QBs finalists for MVP award

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen, fellow quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford, and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey are the finalists for The Associated Press 2025 MVP award.

They were announced Thursday, as were the finalists for seven other season-ending AP awards that will be handed out Feb. 5 in San Francisco at the annual NFL Honors ceremony. That night, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 also will be presented, and the new Protector of the Year Award to honor the league’s best offensive lineman in 2025 will be given out.

McCaffrey also is a finalist for Offensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year, making him the first player in the running in three categories in the same season. Maye and Lawrence each are finalists for two awards.

All five MVP candidates led their teams to the postseason, with Maye and his New England Patriots and Stafford and his Los Angeles Rams to play in conference championship games on Sunday.

In the Coach of the Year category, the list includes three coaches in their debut season with their teams — two of them first-year head coaches.

The finalists:

Most Valuable Player
Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

Coach of the Year
Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears
Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots

Assistant Coach of the Year
Vic Fangio, Philadelphia Eagles
Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings
Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos
Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks
Josh McDaniels, New England Patriots

Comeback Player of the Year
Stefon Diggs, WR, New England Patriots
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

Defensive Player of the Year
Will Anderson Jr., DE, Houston Texans
Nik Bonitto, LB, Denver Broncos
Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions
Micah Parsons, DL, Green Bay Packers

Offensive Player of the Year
Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Defensive Rookie of the Year
Abdul Carter, LB, New York Giants
Nick Emmanwori, S, Seattle Seahawks
James Pearce Jr., DE, Atlanta Falcons
Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns
Xavier Watts, S, Atlanta Falcons

Offensive Rookie of the Year
Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
Tyler Shough, QB, New Orleans Saints

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) runs against Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (39) in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Chargers WR Keenan Allen fastest in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Los Angeles Chargers receiver Keenan Allen became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 1,000 career receptions during Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders.

Allen’s second catch of the game – a 4-yarder from Justin Herbert in the second quarter – was No. 1,000 and it came in his 159th career game. The previous record was held by Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, who caught his 1,000th pass in his 167th game.

Allen became the 16th player in NFL history to haul in at least 1,000 catches. He and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce are the only active players in this club. The Baltimore Ravens’ DeAndre Hopkins (991 catches in 183 games) and the Los Angeles Rams’ Davante Adams (979 receptions in 169 games) are next in line.

Allen, 33, is in his 13rd season, 12 coming with the Chargers.

He played four seasons in San Diego (2013-16) before the franchise moved to the north. The Chargers traded him to the Chicago Bears following the 2023 season, but he returned to the Chargers as a free agent last March.

Allen, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, has five seasons of 100-plus catches and five campaigns of more than 1,000 receiving yards during his career.

Recent Hall of Fame inductee Antonio Gates is the Chargers’ leader with 955 career receptions. Allen entered Sunday with 928 catches with the franchise. He had 70 in his lone season with the Bears.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (0) before the game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Jets take double-hit with RB-KR Braelon Allen placed on IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen was placed on injured reserve with a sprained MCL on Thursday, three days after he injured his knee in a 27-21 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Allen served as the primary kickoff returner and short-yardage back for the Jets, helping spare Breece Hall in those situations as part of the NFL’s third-ranked rushing offense (144.5 yards per game, 5.2 yards per carry).

Allen, 21, was hurt on a kickoff return in the second quarter after losing his first career fumble in the first.

Isaiah Davis has been used as the third-down back, but his role might expand.

The Jets (0-4) lost back-to-back games in Florida, 29-27 at Tampa Bay and the six-point loss to the Dolphins, and are at home to play the Dallas Cowboys (1-2-1) on Sunday. New York is looking to win for the first time under head coach Aaron Glenn.

The Cowboys allowed 123.3 rushing yards per game in the first month of the season.

Allen, who lost the fumble at the 1 at Miami in Week 4, has 18 carries for 76 yards this season. He’s averaging 25 yards on four kickoff returns.

Davis has five carries for 27 yards and three receptions for 24 yards.

Running back Kene Nwangwu, 27, would be a candidate to fill the return specialist spot but he was unable to practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury.

–Field Level Media

Sep 29, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (0) rushes the ball against Miami Dolphins defensive back Elijah Campbell (22) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Jets RB Braelon Allen out with ‘pretty serious’ knee injury

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen is not available this week against the Dallas Cowboys with what head coach Aaron Glenn described as a “pretty serious” knee injury.

Allen was injured on a kickoff return in the second quarter Monday night at Miami in the Jets’ 27-21 loss to the Dolphins. He was on crutches at the team facility on Wednesday and reports indicated he has a sprained MCL.

Glenn said the Jets (0-4) haven’t made an official move — or decision — on how to designate Allen’s roster status but he’s unlikely to play at all in October.

“We’ll see exactly where he’s going to be when it comes to designate whether he will be on the IR or not,” Glenn said.

Isaiah Davis has been used as the third-down back. but his role might expand. Allen returned kickoffs and was the Jets’ preferred short-yardage back behind starter Breece Hall.

With mobile quarterback Justin Fields contributing, the Jets are No. 3 in the NFL in rushing this season, averaging 144.5 yards per game and 5.2 yards per carry.

New York is at home to play the Dallas Cowboys (1-2-1) after losing back-to-back games in Florida, 29-27 at Tampa Bay and the six-point loss to the Dolphins.

The Cowboys allowed 123.3 rushing yards per game in the first month of the season.

Allen, who lost a fumble at the 1 at Miami in Week 4, has 18 carries for 76 yards this season. He’s averaging 25 yards on four kickoff returns.

Davis has five carries for 27 yards and three receptions for 24 yards.

–Field Level Media

Aug 17, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) during warmups before a preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Bills QB Josh Allen to sit out entire preseason for first time

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Josh Allen will sit out Saturday’s game against the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers, marking the first time in his NFL career that the Buffalo Bills quarterback will not play in the preseason.

Bills coach Sean McDermott announced Thursday that Allen would not participate in the preseason finale.

“(You’ve) got the reigning MVP, and I feel that he’s shown to this point that he’s in a good spot,” McDermott said.

Allen, 29, will be under center on Sept. 7 when the Bills open their season with a rematch of their AFC divisional round playoff game against MVP runner-up Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in Orchard Park, N.Y.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Allen completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns and a career-low six interceptions in 2024 while adding 531 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.

The other quarterbacks currently on the Buffalo roster are Mitchell Trubisky, Mike White and Shane Buechele.

–Field Level Media

Aug 4, 2025; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) throws the ball during training camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Russell Wilson to start preseason opener for Giants

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Russell Wilson will start at quarterback for the New York Giants in preseason action Saturday against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y.

That’s according to NorthJersey.com, which reported the news on Saturday morning.

The Giants don’t have a quarterback competition. Head coach Brian Daboll said on July 23 that the veteran Wilson, 36, is the starter for his team.

Mitch Trubisky will start for the Bills, while reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen will not play.

The game against Buffalo will gave Daboll and his staff their first chance to see Wilson since they signed him in March to a one-year, $10.5 million deal, plus incentives.

It remains unclear how many starters might join Wilson on the field against the Bills.

Rookie Jaxson Dart, selected with the No. 25 overall pick in the April NFL draft, is expected to see significant playing time, per the report. The Giants also have veteran backup Jameis Winston and one-time starter Tommy DeVito on the roster.

A calf injury limited Wilson to 11 games (all starts) with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, when he completed 214 of his 336 pass attempts (63.7 percent) for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions.

In his career, Wilson has started 199 regular season games for the Seattle Seahawks (2012-21), Denver Broncos (2022-23) and Steelers. He has a 121-77-1 record while completing 64.7 percent of his passes for 46,135 yards with 350 TDs and 111 interceptions.

He led Seattle to a Super Bowl championship in his second season.

The Giants open the regular season on Sept. 7 on the road against the Washington Commanders.

–Field Level Media

Nov 19, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown against Green Bay Packers defensive back Jonathan Owens (34) in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Keenan Allen reunites with Chargers on one-year deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Veteran receiver Keenan Allen has rejoined the Los Angeles Chargers after spending the 2024 season with the Chicago Bears.

The Chargers announced his return Tuesday evening. NFL Network reported Allen has agreed to a one-year, $8.52 million deal.

Allen was a six-time Pro Bowl selection during 11 seasons with the Chargers from 2013-23 — the first four when the franchise was located in San Diego before the move to Los Angeles.

Allen ranks second in Chargers history with 904 receptions and 10,530 receiving yards, trailing Antonio Gates (955 and 11,841, respectively), in both categories. Allen (59) is third on the franchise’s career receiving touchdowns list behind Gates (116) and fellow Hall of Famer Lance Alworth (81).

Allen, 33, ranks third among active NFL players with 974 receptions and has collected 100 or more catches on five occasions, including a team-record 108 in 2023. He is sixth among active players with 11,274 career receiving yards and eighth with 66 touchdown catches. He has played in 154 career NFL games.

Last season, Allen had 70 receptions for 744 yards and seven touchdowns for the Bears.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Tigers defensive linemen Jaylon Allen (22) shows off the takeaway belt during the second half against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Report: 49ers signing former UFL DE Jaylon Allen

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers are signing former UFL edge rusher Jaylon Allen, NFL Network reported on Tuesday.

Allen, 25, originally joined the Denver Broncos as a 2024 undrafted free agent but was later waived with an injury settlement.

Allen worked out with the 49ers last weekend following a similar tryout with the Arizona Cardinals, per reports.

He tallied 23 tackles, 21 quarterback pressures and 1.5 sacks in 10 games for the Memphis Showboats in 2025.

The 6-foot-2, 245-pound defensive end played college football at Memphis from 2019-23, recording 13 sacks, three fumble recoveries and 150 tackles in 60 games.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (93) celebrates after a tackle during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at NorthWest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Commanders GM: ‘Everything on table’ with DT Jonathan Allen

Posted on | by Field Level Media

INDIANAPOLIS — Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters signed off on a request from defensive tackle Jonathan Allen’s agent to allow him to seek a trade during the fast-paced NFL Scouting Combine, where decision-makers and agents intersect nearly every hour.

“That is true,” Peters said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine of reports Allen received permission to seek a trade.

“It’s going into the last year of his deal and his agent, Blake Baratz, he’s a great agent, came to us. They wanted to explore their options. Everything is still on the table.”

The Commanders have 28 free agents and Peters said difficult decisions would be part of the offseason. He said with Allen and other players, the charge is to always “do what’s right for the Commanders, but we also want to do right by Jon.”

Peters and Baratz have scheduled a meeting for later this week. Allen is entering the final season of a four-year, $72 million contract, and Washington would save $16.3 million in cap space if he is traded or released before June 1.

“We’ll stay in contact,” Peters said.

Allen, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, was Washington’s first-round pick (17th overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Allen, 30, has played 109 games (108 starts) in his tenure with Washington. He has 401 career tackles, 42 sacks and 118 quarterback hits.

He was limited to eight games in 2024 because of a torn left pectoral muscle.

–Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media