Star linebacker T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to a three-year, $123 million contract with $108 million guaranteed, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.

The $41 million per year average will make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, topping the $40 million average that Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett agreed to earlier this offseason.

Thursday’s news will put a bow on contract talks that spanned several months.

Watt, 30, initially caused a stir over social media in April by posting a picture in which he flashed two fingers. That left plenty open to interpretation about his future with the Steelers, with many questioning if he essentially was saying “peace out” to the team that selected him with the 30th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft?

Watt, is entering the final season of a four-year, $112 million extension he signed in 2021. He will receive $21.05 million in 2025.

A seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Watt recorded 11.5 sacks last season to reach double digits for the sixth time in his eight-year career. He also registered an NFL-best six forced fumbles in 17 games.

Watt has 108 career sacks in 121 games (all starts) with Pittsburgh. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 when he had a career-high 22.5 sacks to match the official league record (since 1982).

–Field Level Media

Wide receiver Mike Williams has informed the Los Angeles Chargers that he is retiring from the NFL after eight seasons, the team announced on Thursday in the opening day of training camp.

Williams, 30, was placed on the physically unable to perform list earlier this week.

Injuries have been a common occurrence for Williams since he was selected by the Chargers with the seventh overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Clemson. He injured his back in both 2017 and 2022 and sustained a torn ACL in 2023, an injury that likely limited him in 2024 when he split 18 games with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Williams totaled just 21 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown last season. He had 12 receptions for 166 yards in nine games (three starts) with the Jets before being traded to the Steelers for a fifth-round pick of the 2025 draft.

“I want what’s best for Mike. He’s always been there for us, and we’re going to be there for him,” said quarterback Justin Herbert, who spent four seasons with Williams on the Chargers.

“It’s obviously a tough situation. I’ve got so much respect for him as a teammate, as a friend, as a receiver, as a player and the man that he is.”

The Chargers posted a photo of Williams with the words “Thank You” on X, formerly Twitter.

whole lotta love ?? pic.twitter.com/Rbu4U1doZl

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 17, 2025

Williams, who re-signed with the Chargers on a one-year, $6-million contract in March, also was expected to face competition from unsigned wide receiver Tre Harris out of Ole Miss. The latter was selected by the Chargers in the second round of the 2025 draft.

The Chargers feature Ladd McConkey and are expected to involve Quentin Johnston in their aerial attack.

Williams caught 330 passes for 5,104 yards and 32 touchdowns in 106 career games (67 starts) with the Chargers, Jets and Steelers.

Also on Thursday, the Chargers signed offensive tackle Ryan Nelson, who appeared in 28 games (22 starts) over the last three seasons with the UFL’s Michigan Panthers.

–Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson’s right shoulder is ready to go for training camp next week, ESPN reported on Thursday.

Richardson did not participate in a minicamp last month after the team said he was experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired throwing shoulder.

He had season-ending surgery to repair his right AC joint in October 2023 and has been limited to 15 starts since the Colts drafted him with the No. 4 overall pick in 2023.

Richardson sought outside medical opinions from experts who agreed with the Colts’ cautionary approach to this offseason. He has been working with personal coaches in Florida and throwing with velocity, ESPN reported.

It’s possible that Richardson could be on a pitch count early in training camp to allow him time to get up to speed, per the report. Players are required to report by Tuesday.

Richardson, 23, faces competition from former New York Giants starter Daniel Jones, who signed a one-year deal for $14 million in March.

Richardson’s accuracy and durability will be in the spotlight entering Year 3. In 15 career starts, he has completed 176 of 348 pass attempts (50.6 percent) for 2,391 yards with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The mobile QB has 635 rushing yards and 10 additional scores.

–Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice will serve 30 days in jail and five years of probation for his involvement in a Texas multicar crash last year, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.

The sentence followed his guilty plea to two third-degree felony counts: collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury.

The Dallas district court judge who issued the sentence ruled Rice’s jail time can be served at any juncture during his five-year probation.

Per ESPN, Rice likely will be suspended by the NFL for multiple games after the Lamborghini SUV the wideout was driving struck a retaining wall in what the police called a “chain reaction collision” on March 30, 2024. The end result was a six-car crash in Dallas that left seven people with injuries.

Police said Rice was going as fast as 119 mph on a Dallas freeway.

“Last March, I was involved in a high-speed accident in Dallas,” Rice said in a statement released by his attorney, Royce West. “There have been a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole. I urge everyone to mind the speed limit, drive safe and drive smart. Last and certainly not least, I am profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property. I fully apologize for the harm I caused to innocent drivers and their families.”

He has paid more than $115,000 in restitution to the victims for their medical expenses, the Dallas County District Attorney’s office said.

Rice is continuing his recovery following season-ending surgery on his injured right knee. He sustained the injury after colliding with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in a Week 4 road win against the Los Angeles Chargers last season.

A second-round draft pick in 2023, Rice set the Chiefs’ rookie record for receiving touchdowns (seven) and receptions (79) that season. Rice recorded the second-most receiving yards by a rookie in Chiefs history (938), trailing only Dwayne Bowe (995 in 2007).

Rice, 25, caught 24 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns in four starts last season before his injury.

–Field Level Media