2025 NFL Preseason Buzz: Jags’ Travis Hunter Has Brief Preseason Debut

Signings, injuries, fans getting mad at owners — between training camp and the official start of the preseason, NFL news has been nonstop.

You can follow along with all the latest and most notable free agent moves here. 

Here’s the latest on what’s happening around the league this preseason.

Hunter saw action on both offense and defense in the first half of Jacksonville’s preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 9. The 22-year-old two-way star started at wide receiver on the game’s opening drive, playing 10 of 11 snaps and recording two catches for 9 yards. He then debuted at cornerback on the Steelers’ second offensive drive, recording five snaps (zero defensive stats), and he returned later for a few more plays.

Hunter, the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was listed as the Jags’ starting wide receiver and their backup cornerback (behind Tyson Campbell and Jourdan Lewis) on the team’s latest depth chart. 

Jaguars K Cam Little hits 70-yard field goal in preseason game

Little made a 70-yard field goal to end the first half of Jacksonville’s preseason opener on Aug. 9, a kick that would have broken the NFL record had it happened during the regular season. Little and the Jaguars celebrated widely. He seemed to know his latest one was good from the onset. He watched intently and pumped his fist as it slid a little left and cleared the crossbar by several yards — far enough that the ball boy caught it in the air. Rookie sensation Travis Hunter was one of the first to greet Little on the field, body-bumping each other in midair.

Bills RB James Cook sits out preseason opener as contract standoff continues

Head coach Sean McDermott was able to convince Cook to suit up and take a couple of handoffs in pregame warmups on Aug. 9, but when it came to having him actually play in Buffalo’s preseason opener against the New York Giants, Cook declined as part of a contract standoff now reaching its first full week.

Cook, the NFL’s co-leader with 16 touchdowns rushing last season, is conducting a “hold-in” by being with the team but refusing to practice in an escalating bid to secure a contract extension on the final year of his rookie deal.

After practicing fully during the Bills’ first eight sessions of training camp, Cook declined to participate on Aug. 3 and stayed on the sideline. He has since missed three more practices, the last two without being in attendance.

Indianapolis’ quarterback competition is back in full swing after Richardson returned to practice on Aug. 9, two days after he dislocated the pinkie on his right hand in the Colts’ preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens.

Richardson was injured on Indy’s second possession when unblocked linebacker David Ojabo drove Richardson into the ground. He attempted to throw on the sideline but did not return.

Promising but far from perfect was rookie first-round draft pick Dart’s assessment of making his preseason debut at quarterback in the Giants’ nine-point win over the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 9. The 22-year-old led three scoring drives on four first-half possessions, which led to two field goals and a touchdown. Dart finished 12-for-19 for 154 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown pass to Lil’Jordan Humphrey, while adding three carries for 24 yards.

The outing provided the Giants with an encouraging glimpse into not only their future with Dart, but also of the present, with veteran Wilson also making his playing debut. The 36-year-old is New York’s anticipated starter.

Sanders completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdown passes in the first half to Kaden Davis on Friday night in his preseason debut against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 8.

A highly-rated draft prospect who endured a dramatic fall into the fifth round in April, Sanders entered the game fourth on the Browns’ depth chart but was pressed into starting duty because of injuries. His status could change after he led three touchdown drives in nearly three full quarters of action, showing tremendous poise and awareness in the pocket. After the game, Sanders said he’s not worried about how the depth chart shakes out.

[MORE: Browns Won’t Commit to Shedeur Sanders’ Role Next Week After Strong Debut]

Lions S Morice Norris’ injury leads to preseason game ending early

Norris was attended to for about 20 minutes and taken off the field in an ambulance on Aug. 8 during Detroit’s preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, with the preseason game ending early. The 24-year-old was hurt with 14:50 to go trying to tackle running back Nathan Carter. 

He has since announced that he’s OK via a social media post on Aug. 9 and thanked people for their support.

[MORE: Preseason Game Between Lions and Falcons Ends Early After Serious Injury]

Cowboys G Rob Jones goes on IR after breaking neck bone

Dallas put Jones on season-ending injured reserve on Aug. 8. The veteran had been competing with rookie first-round pick Tyler Booker to start at right guard before breaking a bone in his neck on July 27. Jones previously said he was looking at a two-to-three-month recovery, but the decision to put him on IR ends any chance of a return this season.

Jones signed a one-year contract in free agency to give the Cowboys added depth in their reconfigured offensive line. Booker, who was selected 12th overall, was the favorite to start, but Jones had been performing well in the first week of training camp and would likely have been a key reserve as the Cowboys look for improvement up front.

Jets rookie TE Mason Taylor faces setback after impressive start to camp

Taylor’s impressive start to camp will be halted after he suffered a high ankle sprain that will sideline him for at least a week. Taylor, a second-round pick out of LSU, was one of the standouts throughout the first nine camp practices. He’s the son of Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor and the nephew of Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas. 

Prescott’s own experience dealing with team owner Jerry Jones in multiple rounds of high-profile contract negotiations is why he remains confident star defensive end Parsons will be a Cowboy for this season and beyond.

“No, not necessarily,” Prescott said on Aug. 7 when asked if his mind ever goes to a place where Parsons might not be his teammate following the two-time All-Pro pass rusher’s public trade request. “… I’ve got faith in Jones and the team, as I do in Micah and his team. … I’m going to continue to believe and be optimistic. And 11’s a Cowboy.”

Gardner-Johnson appeared to suffer a significant leg injury on Aug. 7 during training camp. He tried to tackle receiver John Metchie and, after making contact, reportedly fell to the ground and began writhing in pain. The medical staff tended to him as the team and coaches surrounded him. He was eventually helped to a cart while it appeared that he couldn’t put any pressure on his right leg. Head coach DeMeco Ryans didn’t have an update on his condition.

The Chargers are moving on without Slater after the offensive lineman’s torn patellar tendon sidelined him for the season. “It’s like a gut punch,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Aug. 8. The 315-pound lineman was carted off the practice field on Aug. 7 after apparently injuring his left leg. The injury came nearly two weeks after Slater signed a $114 million, four-year extension that included $92 million guaranteed.

With Slater out, Joe Alt will move from right to left tackle, a position he played at Notre Dame before becoming the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Titans HC Brian Callahan calls out his offense after sloppy practice

The Titans turned in a sluggish performance on Aug. 3, earning a profanity-laced tirade from Callahan as the session concluded. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick this year, followed two solid practices with a rough showing in team drills. The Titans also had penalties and a play that would have been a sack as the defense pressured the young quarterback. Ward’s final rep of the day was a pass that sailed far over the head of receiver Van Jefferson and out of bounds. That’s when Callahan unleashed on the offense, but the Titans called Callahan’s outburst warranted, though, because of a lack of focus and intensity on offense.

Bills’ mounting list of injuries grows to 15 players

Head coach Sean McDermott followed the Bills’ day off by opening his pre-practice news conference on Aug. 3 by listing 15 members of Buffalo’s 91-player roster as either being limited or not practicing. Starting receiver Khalil Shakir was among the latest additions and was listed week-to-week with a high ankle sprain after he was hurt during the Bills’ annual Red and Blue scrimmage at their home stadium on Aug. 1. Also injured Friday were WR Josh Palmer (groin), one of the team’s prized offseason free agent additions, and linebacker Shaq Thompson (groin). 

Injuries have particularly hit Buffalo’s receivers, with Curtis Samuel (hamstring) and backup Kaden Prather also sidelined. Keon Coleman is the only healthy projected starter with Buffalo preparing to open the preseason.

Cowboys fans shout ‘Pay Micah!’ at Jerry Jones amid ongoing stalemate

Cowboys fans are growing increasingly impatient about the fact that the team has yet to reach a contract extension with All-Pro edge rusher Parsons, who’s entering the final year of his rookie deal. They let Jerry Jones know exactly how they feel about it too, shouting “Pay Micah!” as Dallas’ longtime owner addressed the crowd during the opening day of Cowboys training camp on Saturday in Oxnard, California, per CBS Sports.

The Cowboys are coming off a disappointing 7–10 campaign. They exercised Parsons’ fifth-year option, keeping him under contract through 2025 for $24 million — well below market value for easily one of the five best defensive players in the NFL. The 26-year-old Parsons, who earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first three seasons in the league, remains the only player in NFL history to record at least 12.0 sacks in each of his first three years. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!