The Washington Commanders cleared the final hurdle in their push to return to the District after the D.C. Council approved a $ 3.7 billion stadium and development plan on Wednesday, according to reports.

Lawmakers voted 11-2 to move forward with a 65,000-seat venue and a surrounding mixed-use project on the site of the former RFK Stadium. The agreement includes new retail, entertainment, riverside park space and between 5,000 and 6,000 affordable housing units.

Under the deal, the Commanders will provide $2.7 billion for the stadium itself, while the city’s $1 billion contribution will cover infrastructure, utilities, parking and a recreation facility.

Team owner Josh Harris called the agreement “transformative” in a statement, crediting the efforts of D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser, council chairman Phil Mendelson and community leaders for shaping the project.

Momentum accelerated last December when Congress transferred control of the 180-acre RFK parcel from the federal government to the city, clearing a major obstacle. Bowser and the Commanders announced a framework in April, with the Council giving preliminary approval in August before finalizing the terms this week.

Tension emerged ahead of the vote as some lawmakers sought additional amendments. Commanders president Mark Clouse expressed frustration in a letter to the Council, saying the organization had been presented with “unworkable and impractical” last-minute demands that threatened to jeopardize the agreement.

Mendelson said the negotiations had involved “a lot of discussion” with the team and acknowledged the group’s frustration with late changes. Most proposed amendments failed, but the final bill added requirements for stronger environmental standards and protections for heritage trees on the site.

The city’s investment includes $500 million for infrastructure, more than $350 million for parking garages and $202 million for utilities and transit work. Revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships, parking and advertising will go to the team, while D.C. will collect taxes on concessions, merchandise and parking.

Officials plan to break ground in 2026 and open the stadium in 2030. The Commanders expect to host up to 200 events each year, from NFL games and concerts to college tournaments and a potential Women’s World Cup final in 2031.

–Field Level Media

The Atlanta Falcons are looking at this week’s trip to take on the Carolina Panthers as just as big as other games that might come with a high-profile tag.

“The big part for us is teaching all the rookies, letting them guys know that every week in the National Football League is primetime,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “You got to always bring the energy.”

The teams meet Sunday afternoon in Charlotte.

The Falcons (1-1) are coming off Sunday night’s 22-6 victory at Minnesota.

“We haven’t played our best game yet,” Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said.

The Panthers (0-2) will be playing in their home opener after losses at Jacksonville and Arizona. There are no hints that the Panthers will bench quarterback Bryce Young like they did a year ago following two games.

“Obviously, there’s stuff Bryce would come up here and say he’d like to clean up from the first two games,” Carolina coach Dave Canales said about Young. “I’m fired up with where we’re headed.”

Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has gained 167 yards on the ground across two games, while picking up another 125 yards on receptions.

Morris elevated Robinson’s stature this week by proclaiming him “definitely the best player in football.”

“It was great to be able to see the run game going,” Penix said. “I want to see this offense when we have the run and the pass going at the same time and see how electric we can be.”

While this will be the Panthers’ divisional opener, the Falcons have already taken a Week 1 home loss to Tampa Bay, making this game that much more important.

Penix threw for 312 yards against Carolina in last year’s regular-season finale, though the Panthers won 44-38 on a day that began with Falcons still holding hopes of reaching the postseason. He said he expects to see a variety of setups from the Panthers defense.

“They present a lot of different things,” Penix said. “They got playmakers. They will make plays. We just got to make more.”

Carolina racked up 537 yards in that game last January, and Young had the best game of his professional career, completing 73.5 percent of his passes for 251 yards with three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores.

There was little flow offensively last week for the Panthers in the loss to Arizona until late in the third quarter when facing a 27-3 deficit. The rushing attack stalled, managing just 49 rushing yards.

“I want to see that mix come alive,” Canales said.

The Falcons need a replacement for A.J. Terrell Jr., a cornerback who did not practice Wednesday with a hamstring injury suffered last weekend and is considered week-to-week, Morris said. Dee Alford filled in, but Morris wouldn’t commit to Alford’s role against the Panthers.

“We want to have those guys go out there and compete at a very high level this week in order to figure out who gets the best opportunity,” Morris said, pointing out that Clark Phillips III is trending up as he comes off a preseason rib injury.

Defensive end James Pierce Jr. (groin), tight end Charlie Woerner (ankle) and receiver Jamal Agnew (groin) also did not practice for Atlanta Wednesday. Receivers Darnell Mooney (shoulder) and Jamal Washington (concussion) were limited along with offensive lineman Jack Nelson (calf), linebacker Kaden Elliss (neck) and safety DeMarcco Hellams (hamstring).

The Panthers are retooling their offensive front with guard Robert Hunt and center Austin Corbett going on injured reserve. Cade Mays is shifting to center to take Corbett’s spot, while Chandler Zavala will start at right guard. Mays started eight games at that position last year.

Canales said Mays competed for the starting position this season, so should be well-suited to be back as a starter.

“Those reps are going to pay dividends for us,” he said.

Panthers linebacker Patrick Jones II and defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton both were held out of Wednesday’s practice due to hamstring injuries. Receiver Xavier Legette (hamstring) was a limited participant.

The Falcons are 37-23 all-time against Carolina, with a 16-14 mark in Charlotte. The teams have split games in each of the past five seasons.

–Field Level Media

Arizona starting cornerback Garrett Williams and backup defensive lineman L.J. Collier were placed on injured reserve Wednesday as a result of their knee issues, but Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said both could return this season.

Williams, 24, hurt his knee in a collision with safety Budda Baker late in Arizona’s 27-22 home win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Williams and Collier are required to miss at least the next four games.

The Cardinals (2-0) are banged up at cornerback, with current starters Will Johnson (groin) and Max Melton (knee) being evaluated “day to day,” Gannon said. Johnson did not practice Wednesday and Melton was limited.

Arizona promoted cornerback Darren Hall from the practice squad to the active roster and signed cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe and defensive lineman Zach Carter to the practice squad. Linebacker Elliott Brown was released from the practice squad.

Williams has 11 tackles and one pass defended while starting both games this season.

He has 92 career tackles with three interceptions and 12 passes defended in 27 games (19 starts) in three seasons. Arizona selected him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Syracuse.

Collier, who turned 30 last Friday, has one tackle while serving as a reserve in two games this season. He has 72 career tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 19 quarterback hits and one forced fumble in 65 games (32 starts) for the Seattle Seahawks (2019-22) and Cardinals (2023-present).

Seattle picked him in the first round (29th overall) of the 2019 draft out of TCU.

–Field Level Media

Two-time reigning AFC South champions, the Houston Texans are headed to Jacksonville winless and wary of losing further ground.

Winners of the division eight of the last 14 years, Houston lost at the Rams in Week 1 and another tight one to Tampa Bay in their Texans’ home opener Monday night. At (0-2), they are moving further away from recent playoff showings and already two games back in the division.

Houston has a chance to start making up ground Sunday, opening division play at Jacksonville (1-1), a destination that has been all sunshine for the Texans in recent seasons. They’ve won their last seven games with 12 wins in the last 14 against the Jaguars.

“Our guys are eager to get going. That’s what I felt from our team meeting,” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said. ” … They understand how small of a margin it is to win in this league.”

The Jaguars are looking to bounce back after a 2-0 start eluded them in late in last week’s loss at Cincinnati.

While they intercepted backup quarterback Jake Browning three times after Joe Burrow left the game with a toe injury, the Bengals threw the last punch. Browning marched the Bengals on a 92-yard drive and scored the winning touchdown on a 1-yard run with 18 seconds left.

Even in a loss, there have been bright spots for Jacksonville. The Jaguars’ defense leads the league with six takeaways and five interceptions.

The Jaguars’ offense ranks fourth in yards per game (389.0), No. 1 in rushing yards per game (169.5) and Travis Etienne ranks second in rushing yards (214) behind only Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor.

Record-setting rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. hasn’t yet found his rhythm. On a team-high 19 targets, he has just five catches for 60 yards, a slow start after he racked up 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Thomas received online criticism for a perceived lack of effort and a few plays he missed in Sunday’s loss. Coen said Monday that Thomas has been playing through a sore wrist, which first showed up on Wednesday’s practice report although he was a full participant.

“We had some really good conversations,” Coen said of Thomas. “Everybody was frustrated. But at the end of the day, he’s got a great opportunity to bounce back, as does the rest of our team, and (I) feel really confident about that.”

Houston has lost its first two games by a combined six points.

It took a 19-14 lead over the Buccaneers with 2:10 left on Monday, but Tampa Bay responded with a touchdown drive of its own, taking the lead back with six seconds left to hand the Texans another loss.

While the defense has done enough, the offense isn’t clicking yet under first-time offensive coordinator Nick Caley. The Texans rank 28th in total yards (265.5 per game) and dead last in scoring offense (14 points per game).

C.J. Stroud, the 2023 offensive rookie of the year, has just 395 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.

He hasn’t been helped by a depleted receiver room with Tank Dell on injured reserve. Free agent acquisitions Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios were sidelined with hamstring injuries before participating in limited fashion Wednesday.

Stroud is optimistic the veterans will boost a relatively young receiving room.

“Kirk will help those guys as he’s in the room,” Stroud said. “On gamedays, they can see him, how he works.”

Cornerback Jaylin Smith (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday for the Texans. Center Jake Andrews (ankle), cornerback Kamari Lassiter (knee), safety Jalen Pitre (rib) and defensive end Darrell Taylor (hip) were all limited.

Jaguars offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland and tight end Hunter Long missed Wednesday’s practice with ankle injuries. Cornerback Jarrian Jones (back), offensive lineman Wyatt Milum (knee) and running back Bhayshul Tuten (shoulder) were limited participants.

–Field Level Media

Two days after a Monday night win in Houston, standout Tampa Bay rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka did not practice on Wednesday.

Egbuka, who had not previously been on the injury report, was listed as a non-participant due to hip and groin injuries in the team’s first practice after improving to 2-0.

The 19th overall pick in this year’s draft, Egbuka has made an immediate impact for the Buccaneers. After catching two touchdown passes in his Week 1 debut, he snagged another in Monday’s win. He has eight catches for 96 yards in his first two games.

The Buccaneers receiver room is already a bit thin, with Chris Godwin still working his way back from the dislocated ankle that ended his 2024 season last October.

In better news for Tampa, quarterback Baker Mayfield was listed as a full participant in Wednesday’s practice despite foot/toe issues. There had been reports that Mayfield may miss some practice time this week after getting beat up a bit in Monday’s game.

Tampa Bay looks to improve to 3-0 at home Sunday vs. the New York Jets (0-2).

–Field Level Media

Colts leading receiver Tyler Warren wore a floppy fishing hat and walked adjacent to the practice field on Wednesday as Indianapolis gears up for its first road trip of the season.

Warren did not practice due to a toe injury but said he expects to be available later in the week and to play in Sunday’s game at Tennessee.

Warren appeared to injure a toe on his plant foot after a catch with 11 minutes left in the third quarter of the Week 2 win over the Broncos. He caught a pass in the left flat, stopped, and cut upfield to the right. Warren stayed on the field and logged 66 total snaps.

Quarterback Daniel Jones’ favorite receiver this season, Warren has a team-leading 11 receptions.

The 14th overall pick in the 2025 draft, Warren leads all tight ends in yards (155) and yards after the catch (90).

Wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle), who is third on the team with eight catches, also missed Wednesday’s practice.

–Field Level Media

D.D. Lewis, a fixture of the Dallas Cowboys’ “Doomsday Defense” era, has died, according to the team. He was 79.

Lewis was a college star at Mississippi State. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

Lewis played weakside linebacker for 13 seasons with the Cowboys. He started 132 of 134 regular-season games between 1973-81 during the franchise’s dynasty days under coach Tom Landry. He had eight career interceptions in 186 career games.

The Cowboys reached the playoffs in 12 of Lewis’ 13 seasons. He played in a club-record 27 postseason games and had four interceptions, including two in the 1975 season NFC Championship Game in which Dallas rolled to a 37-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

Lewis played in five Super Bowls, twice earning championship rings. He missed the 1969 season while serving a military stint.

On-field sidekick Lee Roy Jordan, the Hall of Fame middle linebacker of the Doomsday Defense, died on Aug. 30.

Born Dwight Douglas Lewis before going as D.D., Lewis was a native of Knoxville, Tenn.

He played three seasons at Mississippi State and was Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-American in 1967. Lewis was a second-team All-American in 1966.

“We mourn the passing of Bulldog legend D.D. Lewis,” Mississippi State said on social media. “An All-SEC standout and 1967 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, he played 13 years with the Dallas Cowboys, appeared in five Super Bowls, won two, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.”

We mourn the passing of Bulldog legend D.D. Lewis.

An All-SEC standout and 1967 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, he played 13 years with the Dallas Cowboys, appeared in five Super Bowls, won two, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. pic.twitter.com/UaEnfYjOWd

— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 17, 2025

Lewis was a sixth-round pick of the Cowboys in the 1968 draft.

–Field Level Media

The Kansas City Chiefs appear poised to get an infusion of receiver talent for Sunday night’s game against the New York Giants.

Head coach Andy Reid said that he expected both Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and Jalen Royals (knee) to practice with no limitations on Wednesday, but both were listed as limited participants on the official injury report.

Worthy went down with a dislocated shoulder, later reported as a torn labrum, on the fourth play of the Chiefs’ season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. While it was originally feared Worthy would need surgery, he returned to practice late last week and is now in line to miss just one full game.

Worthy was productive as a rookie last season, finishing with 638 yards and six touchdown catches.

Royals, a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, has been sidelined since training camp due to knee tendinitis.

“He’s coming (along) pretty good,” Reid said of Royals. “We’ll see how he does here. He’s been out for a while.”

Getting either of these targets back available would be a boost considering Rashee Rice has four games left to serve on a disciplinary suspension tied to a high-speed crash in March 2024.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, a two-time MVP, ranks 15th in the league with 445 passing yards through two games. He has been dealing with a right wrist issue and was listed on the injury report as a full participant.

Defensive end Mike Danna (quad) and cornerback Kristian Fulton (ankle) did not practice.

Both the Chiefs and host Giants are 0-2.

–Field Level Media

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy was a limited participant in practice Wednesday and has a chance to play on Sunday, 49ers coach Kyle Shananah said.

Toe and shoulder injuries kept Purdy on the sideline for San Francisco’s 26-21 win at New Orleans last week. He has a form of turf toe and was expected to miss multiple weeks. In a spot start, backup Mac Jones completed 26 of 39 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.

The 49ers (2-0) play their home opener on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals (2-0).

Purdy, 25, is nursing left shoulder and toe ailments after completing 26 of 35 passes for 277 yards, two TDs and two interceptions in the season-opening 17-13 victory at the Seattle Seahawks.

San Francisco placed starting left guard Ben Bartch on injured reserve on Wednesday due to a high ankle sprain. The team promoted tight end Brayden Willis to the active roster and signed offensive lineman Brandon Parker to the practice squad.

Shanahan also said guard Spencer Burford (knee), defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (knee), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (concussion) and safety Siran Neal (concussion) will sit out practice.

Wednesday is a scheduled rest day for defensive end Nick Bosa, running back Christian McCaffrey and left tackle Trent Williams.

–Field Level Media

Former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus will return to Chicago as defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, and not everyone is glad to see his unit.

“Make no mistake about it, (Dallas) was one of the more challenging defenses we faced when I was in Detroit,” first-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson said on Wednesday. “We struggled to run the ball at times. Really good red-zone defense. We’ve got to be on our stuff this week.”

The Bears (0-2) prepare for the Cowboys knowing there are few details about Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams that Eberflus doesn’t know. Johnson said the inside knowledge works both ways.

Eberflus is in his second stint with the Cowboys (1-1). He was a linebackers coach in Dallas before being hired as Colts defensive coordinator, which predated his hire as Chicago’s head coach in 2022. Eberflus was fired after seven months working closely with Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, when the team got off to a 4-8 start last year.

“I feel like we know what he knows. We’ll be just fine there,” Johnson said.

When it comes to slowing down the Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott, Johnson and the Bears might have major cause for concern. Dallas scored 30 points after halftime last week to escape an upset bid by the New York Giants, prevailing 40-37 in overtime.

“So many guys that we got, and it kind of got put on display in the last game,” wide receiver George Pickens said of the Dallas passing game. “You got so many guys and I feel like that’s how offense is supposed to be. I don’t want to say you can’t stop us, but we’re definitely going to come out and dominate.”

Chicago’s secondary is not at full strength. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson (groin) left last week’s game after missing Week 1, and defensive backs Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Jones did not practice on Wednesday due to hamstring injuries. Linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (knee) are also banged up.

That’s tantalizing news for Prescott, who ranks fifth in the NFL with 549 passing yards, and an offensive line group that is performing well. The Cowboys are working with a new blend of bodies on the front five without center Cooper Beebe. He was placed on injured reserve with a foot and ankle injury on Monday. Offensive tackle Tyler Guyton (shoulder) was limited in practice on Wednesday.

Prescott has been challenged by a Dennis Allen-run defense four times in his career and is 2-2. Allen is Chicago’s defensive coordinator, and he designed the Saints’ defense that recorded two picks and three sacks of Prescott last season.

Getting Prescott behind the sticks is no guarantee of success. He leads the NFL with 15 third-down completions and a league-best 11 completions for first downs. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb shook off a drop-heavy opener and carries a streak of four consecutive 100-yard games into this week. Pickens has 98 yards and a TD catch in his first two games with the Cowboys.

“I think he’s playing how we would expect him to play. We have a high standard for Dak and the way he’s supposed to perform,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “I think there’s a confidence about him right now, which is great.”

The Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions tipped the Bears with an aggressive pass rush to keep Williams unsettled in the pocket. The Lions sacked him four times.

The Cowboys have four sacks in the first two games. Jadeveon Clowney, who has 58 career sacks, signed Monday and is expected to debut on Sunday as the Cowboys shake up a front seven still working through the loss of pass rusher Micah Parsons in a trade with the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys are allowing quarterbacks to complete 76.6 percent of their passes and average 301 gross passing yards per game.

Giants quarterback Russell Wilson connected on completions of 48, 50 and 52 yards last week, but the Cowboys intercepted him in overtime to set up the winning field goal. Wilson’s final numbers: 30 completions, 450 yards, three TDs.

Cowboys cornerbacks DaRon Bland (foot) and Trevon Diggs (illness) were not available for practice Wednesday. To aid recovery and reward players for “70 minutes of kick-ass football,” Schottenheimer held a light walkthrough rather than a full practice and kept the attention on recovery with a goal of being fresh when kickoff comes at Chicago.

“I think we have a responsibility to kind of trust the numbers and see what they say,” he said. “I told the guys from Day 1, if they go all out for us, we’ll take care of them.”

A collective exhale for the Bears might be due following a 52-21 rout at Detroit. The Lions scored seven touchdowns and made a field goal on 12 total drives, averaging 8.8 yards per play.

Chicago has allowed an NFL-high 79 points in two games. Opposing quarterbacks are completing 75 percent of their passes with seven TDs.

Ben Johnson said the greater process doesn’t change despite dire results. He is not having any talk of light practices or tapping the brakes.

“I think our practice habits are yet to reflect a championship-caliber team,” Johnson said. “We should be going to the football, finishing hard. Our fundamentals, our finish and our technique.”

–Field Level Media