ESPN parted ways with Pro Football Hall of Fame member and media personality Shannon Sharpe, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

Sharpe was last with the network in April when a former girlfriend accused Sharpe of sexual assault and filed a $50 million lawsuit.

The ESPN move comes after the woman’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, announced an out-of-court settlement on July 18 without divulging any financial figures while acknowledging a “long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship” between his client and Sharpe, 57.

Sharpe began appearing on ESPN’s “First Take” in September 2023. He signed a multi-year contract extension with the company last summer. When he stepped away in April, he called the move temporary and made it clear he intended to return to a role in national sports media.

A different allegation about Sharpe emerged in April. Front Office Sports reported he was accused of choking a female production assistant while working for Fox as the co-host of FS1’s “Undisputed.”

Per the report, Sharpe was not sued in the case, and he and Fox settled with the woman for several hundred thousand dollars. Sharpe’s camp denied that the choking incident happened.

Sharpe played 14 NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens, winning three Super Bowl titles.

–Field Level Media

Bills rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston dodged an injury scare but is expected to miss time with a sprained knee ligament.

Hairston, the 30th overall pick in the 2025 draft, did not finish Tuesday’s practice after being taken to the locker room with a knee injury. According to multiple reports, tests taken Tuesday revealed Hairston avoided a major injury and his ACL was found to be fully intact.

Hairston is competing for a significant role in the Buffalo secondary. He was the fastest player at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in the 40-yard dash (4.28 seconds) and general manager Brandon Beane said on draft night the Bills coveted Hairston because he gives the secondary “something we don’t have.”

NFL Network reported Hairston’s injury is a sprained lateral collateral ligament. Typical recovery time for a Grade 1 (mild) LCL sprain is 1 to 3 weeks.

–Field Level Media

Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. will undergo surgery to repair a torn left Achilles and miss the 2025 season.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the news Wednesday. Emerson suffered the non-contact injury in practice during a 7-on-7 drill on Tuesday and was carted off the field.

“Disappointed, obviously, injuries are the worst part about our game. But he will bounce back. I know what he is made of, and he’s got our support and his teammate’s support,” Stefanski said, according to the team’s website. “MJ is a big part of this football team, whether he is out on the field or not, he is a big part of this football team.”

Emerson, 24, recorded 80 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 17 games (15 starts) last season.

He has totaled 202 tackles and four interceptions in 50 career games (33 starts) since being selected by Cleveland in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He is entering the final season of his four-year rookie deal.

Stefanski said he has spoken with Emerson.

“He’s hurting,” Stefanski said. “These guys put so much into this game — physically, mentally, emotionally — and I don’t want to see any of our players ever in that position. It’s tough to see. Having said that, I know what this kid is made of. Yesterday was a lot, and he’s sore today and it’s going to be tough.”

–Field Level Media

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2030 draft.

Schneider, 54. enters his second season with head coach Mike Macdonald and would hit the 20-year mark as the primary personnel boss in Seattle if he completes the new contract.

“The extension of general manager John Schneider’s contract is a testament to his 15-plus years of football leadership and success,” team owner Jody Allen said in a statement Wednesday. “I am confident that John will continue to deliver real results and a continued strong partnership with head coach Mike Macdonald that is already contributing to our winning culture on and off the field.”

Hired in 2010 out of the Green Bay Packers organization, where he was a protege of Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson, Schneider is attempting to rebuild the Seahawks into a perennial contender. The team has 10 playoff appearances and played in two Super Bowls — one win, one loss — during Schneider’s tenure. Only one of those four postseason appearances has come in the past four seasons, however.

Among current NFL general managers, only Mickey Loomis (New Orleans Saints GM since 2002) and Mike Brown (Cincinnati Bengals president and GM since 1991) have a longer active tenure. The list doesn’t include Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who still calls the shots for the organization he purchased in 1989.

Schneider was hired in January 2010, 10 days before the Eagles promoted 34-year-old Howie Roseman to the same role, and teamed with Pete Carroll to build a dynastic roster centered around value draft picks and other shrewd moves.

The Seahawks drafted quarterback Russell Wilson in the third round (2012), acquired running back Marshawn Lynch via trade (2010), signed defensive end Michael Bennett as a free agent (2013) and scored on a series of defensive prospects in the draft, including cornerback Richard Sherman (154th overall in 2011), safety Kam Chancellor (133rd overall, 2010) and linebacker Bobby Wagner (47th overall, 2012).

When Carroll was fired and replaced by Macdonald in 2023, Schneider added the title of president of football operations.

In his second year with Macdonald, formerly defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, Schneider overturned much of the roster. Seattle signed Sam Darnold, traded incumbent starting quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, dealt wideout DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers and rolled the dice with two injury-prone veterans: former Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp and longtime Cowboys pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence.

–Field Level Media

Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy is in concussion protocol and injuries are piling up at the position for Kansas City.

Worthy banged his head on the ground in Tuesday’s training camp practice. He was competing for a deep pass and landed hard on the turf.

In addition to Worthy, the Chiefs were on the field Wednesday without Skyy Moore (hamstring) and Hollywood Brown (ankle) due to injuries.

Kansas City signed Kwamie Lassiter II to bolster the depth chart. Lassiter most recently played in the UFL with the Memphis Showboats. Undrafted out of Kansas, Lassiter II spent time with the Bengals during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. His dad played safety in the NFL and had 25 career interceptions in 129 total games with the Arizona Cardinals (1995-2002), Chargers (2003) and Rams (2004).

Worthy will have to clear the protocol before returning to training camp. The Chiefs open the preseason at Arizona on Aug. 9 and kick off the regular season against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 5.

Worthy, 22, had 59 catches for 638 yards and six touchdowns and also rushed for three TDs in 17 games (13 starts) last season after being selected with the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The rookie added three touchdown receptions in the playoffs, including two in the second half of the Chiefs’ 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

–Field Level Media