FORMER LSU AND LOUISIANA TECH WIDE RECEIVER DEVONTA LEE HAS PASSED AWAY AT AGE 27 DUE TO CANCER

 

Former LSU and Louisiana Tech wide receiver Devonta Lee has passed away at the age of 27 after a battle with cancer.

Lee’s mother, Lacresia Brown, confirmed her son’s passing.

“He was a fighter, and he loved everybody. [Devonta] was a good kid [and would] do anything for anybody. He loved football [and] he gave his all in anything he did. He worked out every day [and was] a very hard, dedicated player [who] never gave up in football. [I will miss] my son.”

Lee was on the LSU roster from 2019 to 2021, recording 11 receptions for 112 yards and one touchdown during his time with the Tigers.

Lee transferred to Louisiana Tech in 2022.

MONDO DUPLANTIS WORLD RECORD PREAS CONFERENCE | WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP | TOKYO 25

 

EAGLES URGED TO GO 'ALL IN' ON $15 MILLION FORMER FIRST ROUND PICK

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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson.

Every year, in ever sport you love, teams win championships with an unexpected boost from a player no one was counting on.

Sometimes it’s really big, crazy moments. Like when New York Giants wide receiver David Tyree’s famous “Helmet Catch” against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. That followed a regular season in which Tyree had just 4 receptions for 35 yards and no touchdowns.

Sometimes it’s not as flashy but just as meaningful. Like what Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson did in the team’s run to winning Super Bowl LIX.

After just 19 receptions for 216 yards and no touchdowns in the regular season, Dotson had a touchdown catch in an NFC Wild Card Round win over the Green Bay Packers, then set up the Eagles’ first touchdown with a 28-yard reception in the first quarter of a 40-22 Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs on February 9.

While Dotson may have grossly underperformed for most of the regular season, if we look at the last 5 games he played last year — 4 playoff games and the regular season finale — we can see a player who looks like a viable WR3 option for Philadelphia in 2025.

If you spread out Dotson’s averages over the last 5 games he played in over a 17-game season, it comes out to roughly 34 receptions, 500 yards and 4 touchdowns — pretty much what any team is hoping for out of a WR3.

With his postseason success and the fact they’re only on the hook for $2.7 million in 2025, it’s becoming more and more clear the Eagles plan to go all in on the former first round pick as their WR3 option.

Dotson Carried Burdened of First Round Expectations

The original sin with Dotson was is he was selected in the first round to begin with, with the Washington Commanders and former head coach Ron Rivera taking him No. 16 overall in the 2022 NFL draft.

Playing on a 4-year, $15 million rookie contract, Dotson struggled through his first 2 seasons — in relative terms — with 84 receptions, 1,044 and 11 touchdowns in 2022 and 2023 combined. That’s bad production for a first round pick but pretty solid production for a WR3.

Fortunately for Dotson, the Eagles were looking for a WR3 behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith when they traded for him in August 2024. That deal included a 2025 third round pick, 2025 fifth round pick and 2025 seventh round pick to the Commanders in exchange for Dotson and a 2025 fifth round pick.

After having his fifth year option declined by the Eagles on April 23 — one full week before the deadline — if Dotson can show he is a competent WR3 he could be looking a pretty solid payday in 2026 free agency. That might mean something along the lines of the 1-year, $10 million contract wide receiver and Dotson’s former Commanders teammate Dyami Brown signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2025 free agency cycle.

If the 2025 NFL draft is any indication, the Eagles are full speed ahead with Dotson as WR3 in 2025. Philadelphia didn’t use a single one of its 10 picks on a wide receiver or tight end — great news for the skill position players at those spots already on the roster.

- Tony Adame

 

FORMER LSU WIDE RECEIVER KYREEN LACY HAS DIED AT 24

 

COWBOYS GREAT TROY AIKMAN RIPS LAZY $136 MILLION STAR, FELLOW WRS

Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb (middle)

In terms of personnel, Cowboys backers are aware of the attrition that struck in the last seven months, with the team allowing key free agents to leave and not doing all that much to replace them. Don’t mention past transactions to Jerry Jones, of course, but when it comes to Cowboys great Troy Aikman, you might get a more honest assessment of what’s going on with the messiest 3-3 team in the NFL.

Offseason moves aside, Aikman said on Thursday that the Cowboys problems are not limited to the players who are no longer on the team—there’s plenty to worry about with the players who are still around.

Speaking on Dallas sports radio, 96.7 The Ticket, Aikman laid into one of the units that is not supposed to be all that bad for the Cowboys: the receivers.

And he started with star playmaker CeeDee Lamb, who was given a four-year, $136 million contract after missing training camp and most of the preseason, but has not been up to snuff yet this season.

“I think the routes are terrible. I think they run terrible routes,” Aikman said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “And I’ve thought that beyond this year. I think CeeDee (Lamb) has got to improve in his route running. As a quarterback, if you’re not certain where guys are going to be consistently, it’s hard to play the position. That’s what I see”

CeeDee Lamb Not the Only WR at Fault

The criticism was not limited to Lamb, either. The Cowboys’ No. 2 receiver, Brandin Cooks, has been out with an infection in his knee that will cause him to miss four games (he has missed two). Not having his veteran leadership has hurt, but the problems go beyond Cooks.

Said Aikman: “I see guys lazy coming off the line of scrimmage. Sometimes they run, usually if they do, it’s because they’re anticipating they’re going to get the football on that play, but if they’re not, they don’t. And it all ties together. I’m not impressed with that part of it.”

Lamb is the most obvious target, though, because he is coming off a year in which he led the league and set a franchise record with 135 receptions, for 1,749 yards.  His yards per game have dropped from 102.9 last year to 77.8 this year, and he is catching just 58.2% of the balls thrown his way.

The team’s No. 3 receiver, Jalen Tolbert, has played well, with 24 catches and 290 yards, and a 70.6% catch rate. But he is inexperienced, as are the Cowboys’ other options, Kavontae Turpin and Jalen Brooks.

Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Putting up Subpar Numbers

Aikman offered his view of what’s happening with the Cowboys receivers as a defense of quarterback Dak Prescott, who is also collecting a major new contract, having landed a $240 million, four-year deal just before the start of the season.

But Prescott has been under pressure thanks to the Cowboys putting out two rookies on the offensive line, and combined with the lack of execution from the receivers, Prescott has been able to put up only eight touchdowns and six interceptions.

His 85.5 quarterback rating is the worst of his career.

“It’s hard to play the (quarterback) position if you’re not certain how guys are going to run routes or where they’re going to be,” Aikman said. “And I’m not speaking for Dak (Prescott). Dak may say, ‘Hey, I think (their routes) are amazing.’ But as a former quarterback watching it, it’s gotta get a lot better.”

- Sean Deveney

CHIEFS' OFFENCE CRUISES PAST SAINTS IN MNF AS KC MOVE 5-0

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs soared past the New Orleans Saints in a 26-13 win on "Monday Night Football."

Kansas City entered the contest with questions at wide receiver, but WR JuJu Smith-Schuster had his best game of the season and finished with seven receptions for 130 yards. Meanwhile, the Saints struggled to score and quarterback Derek Carr exited the game in the fourth quarter with an oblique injury.

Here are keys to know from the game:

Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)

The Chiefs at long last won a game by a comfortable margin. After winning their past seven games dating back to last season's playoffs by a one-score margin, they didn't have to push to the end to beat the Saints on Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium.

Instead, Kansas City claimed a 26-13 victory that pushed its record to 5-0. The Chiefs have now had a winning streak of at least five games in each of Andy Reid's 12 seasons as their head coach.

Silver lining: The Chiefs would not have signed Kareem Hunt had Isiah Pacheco not broken his leg. But Hunt is now helping the Chiefs stay afloat in Pacheco's absence and is playing well enough that he deserves significant playing time when Pacheco returns. Having both players available would give the Chiefs some nice depth. Hunt finished with 102 yards and one touchdown off 27 carries.

Describe the game in two words: Seeing red. The Chiefs were 2-of-6 scoring touchdowns inside the New Orleans 20. Kansas City lost a touchdown in the red zone when Smith-Schuster deflected a pass at the goal line that went for a New Orleans interception.

Most surprising performance: Smith-Schuster had just two catches in the Chiefs' first four games, but he had five against the Saints. Smith-Schuster filled the role Rashee Rice had been playing before his injury. He picked up a lot of his yards by running well after the catch (82 YAC). But he also deflected a pass at the goal line that went for an interception. -- Adam Teicher

Next game: at San Francisco 49ers (4:25 p.m. ET, Oct. 20)

New Orleans Saints (2-3)

Carr threw up a deep pass to wide receiver Mason Tipton on fourth down and got up slowly after it fell incomplete. He walked off the field clutching his hip, was evaluated in the injury tent and went to the locker room at the end of the fourth quarter with an oblique injury, capping a night for the Saints that went from bad to worse.

The Saints fell to the Chiefs after entering Monday night with a lengthy list of injuries. They needed to play a perfect game to match up with the Chiefs' offense. Instead, New Orleans fell into an early deficit after Carr threw an ugly interception six plays into the game, setting the Chiefs up for their first touchdown.

Although the Saints had some big moments, such as a 43-yard touchdown pass from Carr to wideout Rashid Shaheed, they couldn't muster the offensive output from their first two weeks, losing their third game in a row.

Pivotal play: The big-man pick. Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders had a number of friends and family in attendance to see him play his former team, including his brother Kameron, who is a backup dancer for Taylor Swift. The moves clearly run in family, as Saunders caught a one-handed interception in the end zone and ran it back 37 yards in the third quarter.

Troubling trend: Cornerback Paulson Adebo's penalties. Adebo had a late-game pass interference penalty against the Falcons last week that led to a game-winning field goal. He had another troubling late PI flag against the Chiefs that almost led to a touchdown late in the third quarter. Adebo's seven penalties are tied for fourth most in the league.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Saints couldn't run the ball efficiently behind an injury-hampered offensive line. The Saints' offense has worked best this season when they're able to run the ball at will. They weren't able to do that with any consistency against the Chiefs, relying instead heavily on low-percentage deep passes to try to move the ball. Carr attempted nine passes with 15-plus air yards tonight. He was 2-of-9 for 64 yards with an interception and a touchdown on those plays.

QB Breakdown: Carr was up and down until he left with his injury, finishing 18-of-28 for 165 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Jake Haener entered the game in his absence for his first true snaps this season, finishing 2-of-7 for 17 yards -- Katherine Terrell

Next game: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday)

- Adam Teicher and Katherine Terrell

BEARS, WIDE RECEIVER DJ MOORE REACH 4-YEAR, $110M EXTENSION

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears and wide receiver DJ Moore reached agreement on a four-year, $110 million contract extension, the largest in franchise history, his agents told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday.

The deal -- negotiated by Drew Rosenhaus, Jason Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey -- includes $82.6 million guaranteed, which ranks third for a wide receiver on a single contract in NFL history (Justin Jefferson $110 million guaranteed, A.J. Brown $84 million). All three players agreed to their deals this offseason.

Moore, 27, had two years remaining on the extension he signed at the end of his rookie contract with the Carolina Panthers and was set to hit free agency in 2026. He is now under contract with the Bears through the 2029 season and headlines a wide receiver room with 12-year veteran Keenan Allen and the draft's ninth overall pick, Rome Odunze.

A former first-round pick, Moore was the focal point of a 2023 trade that sent the No. 1 overall selection from Chicago to Carolina in exchange for Moore and four draft picks. At the time of the trade, Chicago general manager Ryan Poles said he was "over the moon" about receiving Moore in the haul from the Panthers and was worried the receiver wouldn't be available had the Bears waited past the date they executed the trade March 10, 2023.

In his first season with the Bears, Moore put together a career year, leading the team in receptions (96), receiving yards (1,364), receiving yards per game (80.2) and touchdowns (8). He accounted for 39.9% of Chicago's receiving yards, the highest percentage for any player for a team in 2023.

In one season, Moore changed the trajectory of the Bears offense. His 1,364 receiving yards were the fourth most by a Bears player in franchise history, trailing only Brandon Marshall (2012), Alshon Jeffery (2013) and Marcus Robinson (1999).

Since entering the league in 2018, Moore has caught a pass from 12 different quarterbacks -- yet still ranks seventh in the NFL in receiving yards over that span despite playing with a rotating cast of QBs.

"Our best player has got to be our hardest workers and they've got to be our best finishers and they've got to be available to practice out there, and DJ certainly is that," Chicago coach Matt Eberflus said in June. "He's as tough as they come and he is a great teammate and he is our hardest worker and one of our most talented guys."

The Bears rewarded Moore with an extension earlier than they have for players under Poles' direction. Last summer, Chicago extended tight end Cole Kmet going into the final year of his rookie deal. The team let cornerback Jaylon Johnson play out the final year of his rookie contract in 2023 before signing him to a four-year extension this offseason, after using the franchise tag as a placeholder for negotiations.

In March, Poles said he wanted to be "intentional with the order that we do negotiations," which eventually meant that Moore would leapfrog other Bears players who are headed for contract years in 2024.

Allen, who was traded to the Bears from the Los Angeles Chargers, has one year remaining on his deal. Left guard Teven Jenkins is entering the final year of his rookie contract and said the Bears told him and his agent that he would have to wait until after Chicago's Week 7 bye to enter negotiations.

By extending Moore, Poles now has the team's offensive core locked down for quite a while; Chicago has its first overall quarterback (Caleb Williams), two first-round wide receivers (Odunze, Moore), a top-10 pick offensive tackle (Darnell Wright) and starting tight end (Kmet) all under contract for at least the next four years (including fifth-year options on first-round contracts).

Moore is the latest to cash in during a summer of mega contract extensions for wide receivers. His deal makes him the second-highest-paid wide receiver behind Minnesota's Jefferson, who signed the richest contract in NFL history at the position (four years, $140 million) in June.

ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this report.

- Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff Writer

RANKING NFL'S 10 BIGGEST DRAFT BUSTS DINCE 1990: WHERE TREY LANCE RANKS AFTER BEING TRADED TO COWBOYS

JaMarcus Russell 

In a perfect world, every team would find a diamond in the rough the same way the Patriots found Tom Brady (sixth-round pick in 2000) and Stefon Diggs (fifth-round pick, 2015). Unfortunately, though, more often than not teams end up spending a high draft pick on a player that doesn't end up panning out. A classic example of this is quarterback Trey Lance, the No. 3 overall pick that was traded from San Francisco to Dallas on Friday night. 

Although that's the fantasy, the reality is that there's a much more likely chance that your favorite team will end up drafting a total bust. Over the years, there have been dozens of busts, so following Lance trade, now seems like a good time to rank the 10 biggest busts since 1990. 

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ATHLETICS: GENZEBE DIBABA NA AYANLEY SOULEIMAN WAVUNJA REKODI

Genzebe Dibaba anayetokea Ethiopia amevunja rekodi ya dunia ya riadha za ndani iliyokaa miaka 26 bila kuvunjwa huko Sweden...Dibaba ni bingwa wa dunia wa riadha kwa mbio za mita 1,500 na pia ameshikilia rekodi ya mita 1,500...Dibaba amevunja rekodi hiyo alivyokimbia maili 1 na alitumia dakika 4 na sekunde 13.31...Rekodi ya zamani iliwekwa na Doina Melinte mwaka 1990 (dakika 4 na sekunde 17.14)...

Ayanley Souleiman nae aliweka rekodi ya mita 1,000 kwa muda wa dakika 2 na sekunde 14.20...Souleiman anayetokea Djibouti alivunja rekodi ya Mkenya mwenye uraia wa Denmark Wilson Kipketer kwa sekunde 0.7...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.