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Swift's 'New Heights' debut latest entry to Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift relationship timeline

  • Tory BarronAug 13, 2025, 04:42 PM ET

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      Tory Barron is a Bristol-based writer and editor for ESPN.com. After retiring from playing lacrosse at UConn, the DC native decided to try her hand at writing about people playing sports.

There are few things that can captivate NFL fans and pop culture savants like the love story of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and global superstar Taylor Swift.

In this life, Swift will do things greater than dating the boy on the football team (that’s a “Fifteen” reference to the untrained eye), but that doesn’t stop us from being intrigued.

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After weeks of speculation, the singer-songwriter was at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 3 of the 2023-24 season to watch Kelce and the Chiefs defeat the Chicago Bears. In Week 4, she ran it back with an appearance at MetLife Stadium to watch the Chiefs’ showdown with the New York Jets. The Swift sightings added ample fuel to the duo’s already formidable hype train.

While haters said it was all a sham — sitting in a suite beside Donna Kelce was a far cry from the privacy measures Swift took while dating actor Joe Alwyn — they need(ed) to calm down.

The fact that Kelce and Swift were both born in 1989 and that the former wears red on the football field clearly lent credence to the relationship. If the aforementioned arbitrary reasons didn’t sell you, Swift’s frequent appearances at Chiefs games and Kelce’s 2023 trip to Argentina should have done the trick.

On the off chance you’re still not convinced, here’s a look at the timeline of the whirlwind romance:

‘Hits Different’ — Aug. 11, 2025

Just over two years after Swift was first referenced on an episode of “New Heights” — in which Kelce told the story of the relationship’s inauspicious start — the star was announced as an upcoming guest on the show. Needless to say, the story of their first connection that wasn’t will indeed, hit differently, if retold with Swift featured on the podcast as Kelce’s girlfriend.

Things didn’t stop at the teaser of Swift’s “New Heights” debut, though. Shortly after midnight on Aug. 12, Swift revealed the title of her next album in a joint post with the “New Heights” Instagram: “The Life of a Showgirl.”

‘If This Was a Movie’ — July 25, 2025

Travis Kelce’s off-field celebrity doesn’t stop with his connection to one of the world’s most famous stars. The Chiefs tight end has also moonlit as an actor — most notably in the recent Netflix film “Happy Gilmore 2.”

Kelce’s role in the film — which is jam-packed with cameos from across the sporting world — wasn’t major, but it was plenty eventful. Early in the movie, Kelce fires Gilmore’s future caddie Oscar (played by Bad Bunny) from a gig as a restaurant busboy. Later on, Gilmore instructs Oscar to go to his “happy place,” at which point Kelce reappears in dream form, with Oscar applying honey to the tight end’s chest with a bear lurking nearby.

Swift encouraged her followers to watch the movie on Instagram, offering a playful nod to Kelce’s role by capping off her endorsement with a honeypot emoji.

“Happy Gilmore 2 had me cackling and cheering the whole movie!” Swift wrote. “An absolute must watch, 13/10, go watch it on @netflix as soon as humanly possible.”

‘Shake It Off’ — June 25, 2025

As the one-year anniversary of Swift and Kelce’s relationship came and went, the day-to-day coverage of its evolution slowed … to as much of an extent as a relationship between a global megastar and one of the NFL’s most famous players will allow.

A new headline moment came in June at an unlikely location: Tight End University, an annual event hosted by Kelce, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle and former Pro Bowler Greg Olsen. At the 2025 edition of TEU, a special performer was on hand for the event’s guests: Swift. In the star’s first live performance since the conclusion of her Eras Tour six months prior, Swift played her hit song “Shake It Off,” complete with a dedication to “our favorite players who are going to play and these are the tight ends.”

‘So Long, London’ — June 23, 2024

Kelce is plenty familiar with the Eras Tour from the crowd perspective, but he made his on-stage debut on the tour’s third night at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. The star pass-catcher joined Swift’s crew of backup dancers, donning a matching old-fashioned black-and-white fit, complete with a top hat. He carried her after she theatrically fell to the ground following her performance of “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived,” before helping to ”revive” Swift before she moved on to her next song, “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.”

‘Love Story’ — Feb. 12, 2024

OK, so Kelce might not have knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring after the victory as No. 13 conspiracy theorists, er — Swifties predicted, but this night (read: early morning) was still sparkling.

In a tale of two celebrations, Kelce and Swift were spotted at a Super Bowl afterparty dancing to her 2008 hit song “Love Story.” Meanwhile, Jason Kelce — who can always be counted upon to bring the energy — partied nearby.

Dancing with your boyfriend to a song you wrote about finding love when you were 19 years old? Hits different.

On an unrelated note, if Jason were to pursue professional wrestling in his post-football life, that endeavor would likely go well for him.

‘Today Was A Fairytale’ — Feb. 11, 2024

Swift’s team won a Super Bowl in her rookie NFL season.

In the singer-songwriter’s 13th appearance at a Chiefs game, she got to watch her boyfriend hoist the Lombardi Trophy for a third time.

Dare we say, they are in love, true love.

‘…Ready for it?’ — Feb. 11, 2024

Let the games begin. After much hypothesizing over whether Swift could make it to Las Vegas on Sunday — following the singer-songwriter’s Eras Tour concert stop in Tokyo on Saturday — she arrived at Allegiant Stadium.

Swift was spotted entering the stadium with her mom (s/o Mama Swift), Ice Spice and Blake Lively.

‘Long Live’ — Jan. 28, 2024

Long live Killa Tay.

Yep, that is a super cool couple moniker comprising a combination of Kelce’s nickname, “Killa Trav,” and the name he affectionately calls the pop superstar, “Tay.” Ingenious, we know.

In what could be construed as a testament to the seriousness of their relationship, Swift went down to the field after the Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens to celebrate Kelce’s Super Bowl berth.

We won’t say Swift is in her WAG era, but just know we’re thinking it.

‘Enchanted’ — Jan. 21, 2024

While Bills Mafia and viewers at home might have been delighting in “the Jason Kelce experience” at the divisional round game between the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills — which included the six-time All-Pro and future Hall of Famer jumping shirtless out of a suite window — one esteemed member of the Kelce clan, Jason’s wife, Kylie, might not have been as enthused.

“She was already telling me to be on my best behavior because we were meeting Taylor [Swift],” Kelce said on the “New Heights” podcast.

As for Swift’s opinion of her first meeting with her boyfriend’s older brother? She was enchanted to meet him.

“Tay said she absolutely loved you. So it worked,” Travis said.

‘Forever Winter’ — Jan. 13, 2024

Subzero temperatures couldn’t keep Swift from going where Kelce goes. The singer-songwriter braved the fourth-coldest game in NFL history as the Chiefs took on the Miami Dolphins in the wild-card round.

Despite the frosty conditions, Swift kept things cozy (and fashionable) in a jacket made out of Kelce’s jersey designed by Kristin Juszczyk, wife of San Francisco 49ers FB Kyle Juszczyk.

”tis the damn season’ — Dec. 25, 2023

Sure, in her heart is a Christmas tree farm, but that wasn’t going to stop Swift from spending the holiday supporting Kelce at Arrowhead Stadium. The singer-songwriter, accompanied by Santa, made her fifth consecutive appearance at a Chiefs game as Kansas City hosted the Las Vegas Raiders.

The home team didn’t get the win, but a certain pop star once opined that Christmas must be something more than wins and losses.

‘Back to December’ — Dec. 17, 2023

Swift goes back to Boston all the time — as evidenced by her banner hanging in the halls of Gillette Stadium.

Passing by a poster of your girlfriend on your way to work? Completely normal.

While the singer-songwriter was in attendance to support Kelce as the Chiefs visited the Patriots on Sunday, she also had an admirer on the other sideline: New England coach Bill Belichick.

Belichick — who was on hand when Swift performed for three hours in the rain during the Foxborough leg of her “Eras Tour” — has previously voiced his fandom for the singer-songwriter, commenting on how impressed he was with her toughness.

‘Speak Now’ — Dec. 6, 2023

That’s Time Magazine Person of the Year Taylor Swift to you.

In the article reflecting on Swift’s preeminent year, the cover star decided to shed some light on her oft-dissected love life. More specifically, to clear up any confusion surrounding the timeline of her relationship with Kelce.

“This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell,” Swift told Time.

While we’re not positive, we’re taking “metal as hell” to mean cool. In which case, cool indeed.

As for those of you firmly planted in the “this is a fake PR relationship manufactured by the NFL” camp? Swift has some humble pie, er — insight for you too.

“We started hanging out right after that. So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other. By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple. I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date.”

Anyone else relieved?

“When you say a relationship is public, that means I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care. The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone,” the singer-songwriter continued.

“And we’re just proud of each other.”

It’s safe to say neither of them is keeping the other like a secret, rather like an oath.

‘Don’t Blame Me’ — Nov. 15, 2023

While the internet was focused on Taylor changing the lyrics to “Karma” with Travis in attendance at her Buenos Aires concert, the Chiefs star’s older brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, was contemplating more important matters.

Namely, a missed high-five opportunity and a lanyard.

In Travis’ excitement over the cheeky lyrical change, he accidentally left Scott Swift, Taylor’s dad, hanging on a celebratory high-five. The audacity.

Jason was quick to point out that Scott, a lifelong Eagles fan, was rocking a Kansas City lanyard at the time. The show of support for the team who defeated Scott’s hometown Eagles in Super Bowl LVII had Jason placing blame squarely on Travis.

“You’re going to let this man’s devilishly good looks and relationship with your daughter sway you from a lifetime of fandom, Scott?”

‘Karma’ — Nov. 11, 2023

Life can come at you fast. One day Travis was just a two-time Super Bowl champion with a friendship bracelet and a dream, the next he’s vibing in the VIP tent at the first stop on the international leg of the Eras Tour next to Scott Swift.

If that twist of fate weren’t enough proof of Travis’ good karma, the 33-year-old singer took the liberty of changing the lyrics in her song aptly titled “Karma” as a cheeky nod to the football player on Saturday.

In place of “Karma is the guy on the screen,” she went with “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs” much to the amusement of Travis.

But wait, there’s more. At the end of the concert, Taylor was spotted making a beeline for Kelce.

The above videos combined with the fact Taylor performed “End Game” as one of her surprise songs with Travis in attendance was more than enough to send the Swiftie-verse into a frenzy.

‘How You Get The Girl’ — Nov. 10, 2023

Taylor and Travis, or “Tayvis” as the cool kids refer to the famous couple, are in their international era.

On Friday, the Chiefs star was seen arriving to Buenos Aires, Argentina, on a private plane to support the singer ahead of her second show at Estadio River Plate.

A few hours later, Taylor postponed her Friday night concert to Sunday due to bad weather.

What happened next was rare, I was there and I remember it all too well. The duo ventured to Elena restaurant at the Four Seasons Buenos Aires Hotel to enjoy a private dinner alongside Taylor’s dad. At approximately 11:45 p.m. local time, the pair exited the restaurant through the kitchen much to the delight of their fellow patrons.

‘Call It What You Want’ — Oct. 22, 2023

Another week, another Arrowhead Stadium appearance for Swift.

The artist switched up her cheering companion to watch the Chiefs take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7, opting to sit next to Brittany Mahomes, wife of Patrick Mahomes.

Taylor and Brittany have been spotted together before, but this is the first time their celebratory handshake was caught in action. Let us tell you, it is something.

While you’re busy digesting what you just watched, allow us to regale you with another important detail about the pop superstar’s latest appearance: Taylor was sporting a bracelet with Travis’ football number on it.

Swifties will likely surmise that this is the equivalent of Taylor wanting to wear his initial on a chain ’round her neck. Not because he owns her, but ’cause he really knows her.

One could also say she made the friendship bracelet, took the moment and tasted it … a touch too far?

Either way, considering how this whole thing started — with Travis making a bracelet for Taylor with his phone number on it — the tight end’s powers of manifestation are unparalleled.

‘Bejeweled’ — Oct. 12, 2023

Hanging with Beyoncé on Wednesday, cheering for Kelce on Thursday.

Whether or not you’re in favor of the hype train that accompanies a Swift appearance at a Chiefs game, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the commitment required for the superstar to follow-up her Los Angeles “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” movie premiere with an Arrowhead outing on back-to-back nights.

A mere 24 hours after ushering in the film adaptation of her global tour (did we mention Beyoncé was in attendance?) Swift resumed her position beside Donna Kelce to watch Kansas City defeat the Denver Broncos 19-8.

‘Invisible String’ — Oct. 2, 2023

What if we told you Charissa Thompson and Erin Andrews are masterminds? On Oct. 1, Thompson shared an old video recorded on Aug. 3 for their aptly named “Calm Down” podcast to her Instagram page.

In the video, Thompson and Andrews make a plea for Taylor to go on a date with their friend Travis.

“He is fantastic. … Take us up on this, go on a date with this guy,” Andrews said.

“Do it for yourself, do it for us,” Thompson added, “and do it for the people. Because there is no one who would give you a better time than this guy.”

On Oct. 2, Travis acknowledged that it’s nice to have a friend.

“You two are something else! I owe you big time!” the tight end commented on the resurfaced video.

Could it be that all along there was some invisible string tying Trav to T?

‘Look What You Made Me Do’ — Oct. 1, 2023

Back by popular demand, it’s Taylor watching Travis. At this point, if it’s all a bit, the pop star has really committed.

On Sunday night, she was spotted cheering on No. 87 from a suite at MetLife Stadium alongside some famous friends. While we were sort of partial to her fist bumps with Donna Kelce in Week 3, we will settle for the company of Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Sophie Turner, Sabrina Carpenter and Hugh Jackman.

‘Welcome to New York’ — Sept. 28, 2023

Live from New York, it’s Taylor watching Travis?

OK, MetLife Stadium is in New Jersey, but the sentiment remains. Ticket sales for the Chiefs’ next game on the road against the New York Jets have spiked amid speculation the pop star — who is on break from the Eras Tour until November — might be in attendance for the “Sunday Night Football” showdown.

“Since Swift’s appearance at the Chiefs game on Sunday, the Jets have sold more tickets for their game against the Chiefs in a single day than since the season started — by more than double,” StubHub told Town & Country.

Per ESPN Stats & Information, the Vivid Seats site saw a 173% increase in traffic for the Chiefs-Jets game page in the wake of Swift’s Arrowhead Stadium sighting, according to data provided by the ticket exchange company.

In a shock to absolutely no one familiar with the Eras Tour happenings, despite the Swift-fueled boost, the average price for a ticket to one of her concerts at MetLife in May ($1,332) far exceeded the cost of an average ticket for the upcoming game ($232).

Call it karma for the ill-fated Jets in the wake of QB Aaron Rodgers suffering a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 1, or call it what you want, but the power of Swift is undeniable.

‘The Best Day’ — Sept. 27, 2023

There’s no one like an older sibling to keep you humble. On the Season 2 premiere of the “New Heights” podcast, Jason Kelce got right to the heart of the matter.

“Trav, how’s it feel that Taylor Swift finally put you on the map?” Jason asked his younger brother.

While the Eagles center’s inquiry was said in jest, when you take into account the more than 400% increase in Travis’ jersey sales and his meteoric social media following gains since Swift’s Arrowhead appearance, it’s a valid question.

Travis took the probe in stride, happily reflecting on Sunday’s events.

“I just thought it was awesome how everybody in the suite had nothing but great things to say about her,” Kelce said. “… She looked amazing. Everybody was talking about her in a great light. And on top of that, the day went perfect for Chiefs fans.”

“To see the slow-motion chest bumps, to see the high-fives with Mom, to see how Chiefs Kingdom was all excited that she was there — that s— was absolutely hysterical,” Kelce said. “It’s definitely a game I’ll remember, that’s for damn sure.”

The Chiefs star even acknowledged the conspiracy theories, joking, “We script it all, ladies and gentlemen.”

Whether Travis could be the one, or if Swifties will soon forget that he existed, remains to be seen, but in the meantime we’ll continue to document them taking on the world together.

‘the 1’ — Sept. 25, 2023

Real, as they say, recognizes real. So it’s no surprise six-time Super Bowl winning coach Bill Belichick had a Swift endorsement when asked about the rumors.

This isn’t the first time the New England Patriots coach has praised the 33-year-old, as he also noted how impressed he was by her toughness in the wake of her three-hour-plus, rain-soaked performance at Gillette Stadium in May.

“That was pretty impressive,” Belichick said on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” of her Eras Tour concert.

“She’s tough, man. Just stood out there and played right through it.”

‘Getaway Car’ — Sept. 24, 2023

Sometimes the jokes write themselves.

In a second spotting of the duo, Travis and Taylor were seen driving away from Arrowhead Stadium together.

We won’t opine that they were always skipping town or voted most likely to run away together, but just know we’re thinking it.

‘Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince’ — Sept. 24, 2023

She saw the scoreboard, but she didn’t run for her life.

The Chiefs star, who once starred in the reality dating show “Catching Kelce,” was seen walking out of the stadium with Taylor after the game.

If the first sighting of the pair together wasn’t enough to send Swifties into overdrive, the internet sleuthing that resulted in the revelation that Travis was rocking an outfit titled the “1989 sleep set” surely did the trick.

While some will cite Travis’ choice of ensemble as being auspicious to the timing of the Oct. 27 release of “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” — and further proof the rumored relationship is strictly a mastermind promotional ploy — we choose to believe in love.

‘The Archer’ — Sept. 24, 2023

If Travis felt pressure, he didn’t let it get to him. The All-Pro scored a touchdown, and she appeared mystified by how the city screamed his name.

After Sunday’s game, Mahomes said he thought Kelce “wanted to get in the end zone just as much as all the Swifties wanted him to.”

‘I Can See You’ — Sept. 24, 2023

Meanwhile, the Kansas City sideline was abuzz after team members saw that the superstar was, in fact, in attendance.

‘Begin Again’ — Sept. 24, 2023

On a Sunday in a stadium, we watched it begin again. Swift was spotted on the bleachers — er, in a suite, sitting beside Kelce’s mom, Donna.

While it’s unclear whether his mother was telling stories about him on the T-ball team, it appeared the two were having a grand time taking in the lopsided Chiefs victory.

‘I Wish You Would’ — Sept. 21, 2023

It appeared Kelce was able to shake off not being able to meet Swift at her concert as he made known his hopes that she would return to Kansas City, this time as a spectator.

On a Thursday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Kelce shared that he extended an invite to the 12-time Grammy Award winner.

“I told her that I’ve seen her rock a stage in Arrowhead and she might have to come see me rock the stage at Arrowhead,” Kelce said.

“We’ll see what happens in the near future.”

‘Blank Space’ — Sept. 17, 2023

After missing Week 1 because of injury, Kelce returned to the field — and the end zone — on Sept. 17.

Sure, that was nothing new, but what stood out about Patrick Mahomes linking up with his favorite target was the commentary on the play.

CBS announcer Ian Eagle made a clever reference to the smash hit “Blank Space” off of Swift’s 2014 album “1989.”

Making lyrical references to Swift’s expansive catalog will likely never go out of style.

‘Delicate’ — Sept. 14, 2023

The thing about having a younger sibling who’s rumored to be dating a global icon is that you’re probably going to have to field some questions on the matter.

Jason skated around the rumors when Tony Gonzalez inquired about Travis’ relationship status on the Sept. 14 “Thursday Night Football” postgame show.

On Sept. 20, Jason was asked about his brother’s relationship situation again on 94.1 WIP in Philadelphia.

“I don’t really know what’s happening in Travis’ love life. I try to keep his business kind of his business and stay out of that world,” Jason said.

“But having said that, I think he’s doing great and I think that it’s all 100% true.”

The Eagles star was quick to note that he was joking, but since then, everything has changed.

‘You’re on Your Own, Kid’ — July 26, 2023

While Kelce would have been enchanted to meet Swift, it didn’t quite happen that way when No. 87 made his way to her Eras Tour concert over the summer.

“I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs she sings,” Kelce told his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, on their “New Heights” podcast on July 26.

Kelce then explained why he was hoping to meet the singer.

“If you’re up on Taylor Swift concerts, there are friendship bracelets and I had received a bunch of them, but I wanted to give Taylor Swift one with my number on it,” Travis Kelce said.

This admission prompted Jason to ask for clarification on whether his brother was referring to his football number or phone number.

“You know which one,” Travis replied with a grin.

“She doesn’t meet anybody, or at least she didn’t want to meet me, so I took it personal.”

NFL

? Fantasy Draft Guide: Rankings, mock, analysis

Aug 11, 2025, 04:13 PM ET

This page will be updated throughout the summer, so continue to check back for the latest content.

As the weather heats up, so does our excitement about the 2025 fantasy football draft season.

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This draft guide will serve as a one-stop shop for all of our best material as you prepare to make the best fantasy football picks possible in every draft you’re in: Rankings and cheat sheets; player projections; mock drafts for different league types; sleepers, busts and breakouts; and plenty of helpful information and tips from our expert team of fantasy football analysts.

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NFL

NFL preseason Week 1 takeaways: Tyler Shough's debut a mixed bag for Saints

  • NFL NationAug 10, 2025, 07:20 PM ET

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      NFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season.

The 2025 NFL preseason kicked off Thursday and continued through Sunday, with several rookies playing their first snaps.

Week 1 of preseason games served as a first look into the new players on each team, whether they were rookies or offseason acquisitions. To keep you updated on how players fared in their first game action, our NFL Nation reporters summarized the top debuts below.

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Sunday

Chargers: Evaluating the offensive and defensive lines at practice can be challenging, as players look to keep each other healthy without going full speed often, so defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell hasn’t flashed much. But through two preseason games, he has shown why the Chargers selected him in the third round. Caldwell has been consistently active while creating pressure. On Sunday, he sacked Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough and added four tackles.

Eric Rogers, an undrafted free agent cornerback out of Rutgers, also dazzled Sunday. He picked off two passes, including one from Shough that was returned 43 yards for a touchdown. Outside linebacker Caleb Murphy also had a big day with two sacks, including a strip-sack, to continue a surprising camp that has put him in strong contention to make the team. — Kris Rhim

Next game: at Los Angeles Rams (7 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Saints: The Saints started quarterback Spencer Rattler for most of first half before 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough entered before halftime to run the two-minute offense. Shough was able to drive the team down the field for a field goal.

Shough played most of the second half and had his ups and downs, the highlight of which was a 54-yard touchdown pass to Mason Tipton one series after throwing a pick-six. The interception occurred when targeting Dante Pettis, as Chargers cornerback Eric Rogers jumped the route and returned it for a score. Shough finished 15-of-22 for 165 yards with one touchdown, the one pick and a 86.4 passer rating. ?— Katherine Terrell

Next game: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Bears: The Bears used first-round tight end Colston Loveland on only six offensive snaps but gave their other two drafted skill players ample work, with second-round wide receiver Luther Burden III and seventh-round running back Kyle Monangai on the field for 25 offensive snaps each.

Burden was targeted three times and turned in two catches for 29 yards, including a sideline play where he picked up a first down and quickly got out of bounds to put Cairo Santos in position for a 57-yard field goal before halftime. Monangai displayed his physical rushing style and willingness to power through contact to the tune of five yards per carry (six carries for 30 yards).

With so much veteran receiver depth, UDFA rookie Jahdae Walker will have a steep climb up the depth chart, but he led the team in receiving (three receptions for 41 yards) and caught a 14-yard touchdown from quarterback Case Keenum. — Courtney Cronin

Next game: vs. Buffalo Bills (8 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Dolphins: Sunday saw a shaky debut for rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, whose first five passes fell incomplete before he found running back Alexander Mattison on a checkdown. The seventh-round pick out of Texas was also strip-sacked at the Dolphins’ 5-yard line on his second drive of the game. Miami’s backup offensive line didn’t help him much, but Ewers looked like a rookie. He had the opportunity to lead the Dolphins on a game-winning drive but was strip-sacked again on fourth-and-long after mostly struggling throughout the drive. He finished 5-of-19 passing for 91 yards and two lost fumbles.

New backup QB Zach Wilson didn’t fare much better, short-arming a pair of attempts to his tight ends in the flat — one of which, to Tanner Conner, would’ve been an easy touchdown but fell incomplete. But Wilson did complete 5-of-9 passes for 96 yards, playing all but one series in the first half. He was pressured constantly, as the struggles of Miami’s depth linemen affected Wilson’s processing speed. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: at Detroit Lions (1 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Saturday

Steelers: With most of Pittsburgh’s starters sitting this one out, new-to-the-Steelers veterans made the biggest impact.

Safety Juan Thornhill popped — literally — on the Jaguars’ first drive with a big hit on WR Brian Thomas Jr. Then, later in the first half, fellow veteran defensive back Brandin Echols, the team’s top reserve corner, made a statement with a big hit and a pass breakup.

The rookies weren’t quite as successful in their first NFL action. Running back Kaleb Johnson got plenty of opportunities with 22 snaps, but he averaged 2.5 yards on eight carries and was stuffed twice. He also had a bad drop on a Mason Rudolph pass, but he bounced back with a 6-yard catch off play-action in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, first-round pick DL Derrick Harmon played 30 snaps, recording one quarterback pressure and zero tackles. — Brooke Pryor

Next game: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Jaguars: Travis Hunter played both ways against Pittsburgh at EverBank Stadium, but other than that, it was a quiet debut for the Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 pick.

Hunter played 10 snaps on offense — all coming with the first team on the opening drive — and had two catches for 9 yards, with another catch nullified by an illegal block penalty on left guard Ezra Cleveland. Hunter also played eight snaps on defense and had one missed tackle.

Receiver Dyami Brown, signed in free agency after a strong playoff run with Washington, played one series and did not have a target. However, he did have a 7-yard carry on a jet sweep on a fourth-and-1 play from the Jaguars’ 42-yard line. Brown will be the Jaguars’ No. 2 or 3 receiver, depending on how much Hunter plays on offense. — Michael DiRocco

Next game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

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0:36

Jarrett Stidham connects with Lucas Krull for a Broncos TD

Jarrett Stidham connects with Lucas Krull for a Broncos TD

Broncos: As the Denver Broncos rookie class dipped its collective toe into the preseason — rookie running back RJ Harvey got the start, undrafted rookie linebacker Karene Reid had a leaping interception and undrafted rookie CB Joshua Pickett had a toe-tap interception in the game — it was 29-year-old wide receiver Trent Sherfield Sr. who was the new face with the biggest impact Saturday night.

Sherfield, who signed a two-year deal in free agency, had 73 yards on his three receptions, including a top-shelf toe tap for a 36-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. In a crowded group of receivers, Sherfield has consistently shown in training camp that he can offer far more to the team than quality special teams play. — Jeff Legwold

Next game: vs. Arizona Cardinals (9:30 p.m. ET, Saturday)

49ers: Only three projected Week 1 starters played for the Niners, giving backup QB Mac Jones a chance to make a first impression against (most of) Denver’s starting defense. Jones got off to a good start, connecting on his first four passes, including a 50-yarder to rookie WR Jordan Watkins to set up a touchdown. Jones’ protection didn’t hold up much after that, as he was sacked twice and didn’t complete any of his other three attempts, including an interception.

Plenty of snaps for rookie defensive tackles C.J. West and Alfred Collins and safety Marques Sigle. Sigle and West started and helped limit Denver’s first-team offense to 56 yards on 18 plays with a safety allowed. — Nick Wagoner

Next game: at Las Vegas Raiders (4 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Chiefs: The hype surrounding rookie left tackle Josh Simmons, the Chiefs’ first-round pick, is not stopping after his NFL preseason debut. In 11 snaps against the Arizona Cardinals, Simmons showcased why the Chiefs are so high on him being the potential savior when it comes to protecting the blind side of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. On multiple pass-blocking snaps, Simmons stonewalled outside linebacker Baron Browning, a four-year veteran.

Prior to Saturday’s game, Mahomes said he wanted to accomplish a few tasks, including an unusual one: He wanted to get hit by a defender at least once. “I don’t necessarily look forward to getting hit,” Mahomes said Thursday while laughing. “I always like getting hit once, but it’s still a shock. I’m just excited to see where we’re at.”

Welp, Mahomes wasn’t hit once in his lone drive of the game. He completed his one attempt, a 1-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jason Brownlee.

The Chiefs’ best defensive performance was from second-year cornerback Chris Roland-Wallace, who recorded an interception and a fumble recovery. — Nate Taylor

Next game: at Seattle Seahawks (10 p.m. ET, Friday)

Cardinals: Jacoby Brissett showed Saturday why he was the right signing to be Kyler Murray’s backup. Brissett threw for 80 yards, including two touchdown passes, on 5-of-8 passing in less than a quarter and didn’t look rattled while commanding the offense.

And second-round pick Will Johnson learned very quickly what it’s like to play cornerback in the NFL. He was flagged for pass interference on the first pass thrown his way of the preseason. He rebounded and defended a pass in the second quarter while looking solid all around.

Rookie safety Kitan Crawford had an impressive interception, picking off Kansas City’s Bailey Zappe in the end zone. — Josh Weinfuss

Next game: at Denver Broncos (9:30 p.m. ET, Saturday)

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0:23

Justin Fields scampers in for first preseason score as a Jet

Justin Fields opens the Jets preseason with a 13-yard rushing touchdown.

Jets: Quarterback Justin Fields gave the Jets what they wanted to see: a methodical, 79-yard touchdown drive in his only possession. Fields has been uneven in camp, but he was in command in his debut, hitting three checkdown passes and scoring on a 13-yard scramble in the first quarter. That speed dimension at quarterback is something the Jets haven’t had in, like, forever. This was a good, clean performance — a solid first step for a quarterback looking to reboot his career.

Rookie right tackle Armand Membou, the No. 7 pick, held up well in a starting role. He was physical in the run game, made no penalties and allowed zero pressures in 10 pass-blocking snaps, per NFL Next Gen Stats. — Rich Cimini

Next game: at New York Giants (7 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Packers: Two targets, two positive plays for first-round pick Matthew Golden. The wide receiver showed the strong hands he has displayed all camp, snagging the first ball thrown his way on a slant for a 7-yard gain from Jordan Love on third-and-7 and then drawing a 6-yard pass interference penalty against Sauce Gardner on third-and-6. That was the extent of Golden’s debut. He did not play after Love and the rest of the offensive starters were pulled after two drives.

Fellow rookie WR Savion Williams (third round) did not play because of the shoulder injury that has limited him in practice. One other receiving note: Mecole Hardman, a three-time Super Bowl champ with the Chiefs who signed for the league minimum in March, didn’t help his chances when he muffed a punt in the second quarter. In a deep receiver room, Hardman probably needs to make plays as a returner to earn a spot. — Rob Demovsky

Next game: at Indianapolis Colts (1 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Titans: All eyes were on QB Cameron Ward in the Titans’ preseason opener. He got off to a slow start by going three-and-out. But the No. 1 pick bounced back on the next series by completing five passes for 67 yards on an 11-play drive that resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run by Tony Pollard.

Fourth-round pick Gunnar Helm continued to impress as he made a 16-yard catch on a third down, moving the chains for Tennessee. Helm is listed as the No. 2 tight end on the unofficial depth chart.

Defensively, third-year safety Joshuah Bledsoe helped force a turnover in his Titans debut. Bledsoe held wide receiver Jacob Harris up while rookie defensive back Davion Ross punched the ball out and recovered the fumble. Veteran defensive end Jihad Ward had the Titans’ only sack in his debut. Rookie Cam Horsley’s pressure helped set Ward up for the sack on Kyle Trask. — Turron Davenport

Next game: at Atlanta Falcons (7 p.m. ET, Friday)

Buccaneers: First-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka showed off his physical attributes with a leaping 21-yard grab from backup quarterback Kyle Trask.

Left tackle Charlie Heck, who signed as a free agent this offseason and will step in for Tristan Wirfs, surrendered a pressure to Arden Key on a third down. Cornerback Jacob Parrish (a third-round pick) had two pass breakups in extensive action, as second-round pick Benjamin Morrison is likely to miss the entire preseason with a hamstring injury.

Rookie safety Shilo Sanders delivered multiple big hits, including one on Brandon Allen on a blitz. Another undrafted free agent standout, inside linebacker Nick Jackson, had a sack and an interception. — Jenna Laine

Next game: at Pittsburgh Steelers (7 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Rams: The Rams don’t play their starters during the preseason, so the new faces who got extended looks on Saturday night against the Cowboys were mostly from their rookie class.

Two standouts for Los Angeles on defense were third-round linebacker Josaiah Stewart and fifth-round linebacker Chris Paul Jr. Stewart sacked Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III early in the second quarter. Paul wore the green dot, which means he was relaying the defensive playcalls.

The Rams’ top 2025 draft pick, second-round tight end Terrance Ferguson, did not play, as he is dealing with a groin injury. — Sarah Barshop

Next game: at Los Angeles Chargers (7 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Cowboys: After games like Saturday’s, it must be pointed out that quarterback Joe Milton III is in his second year. There will be growing pains even if the Cowboys are counting on him as Dak Prescott’s backup.

He was off target on his first three throws of the game and his first completion lost 1 yard. Accuracy was an issue. To open the second half, he was intercepted after he forced a deep ball into double coverage to Ryan Flournoy. Milton left early with what was called an elbow injury.

He finished 17-of-29 for 143 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The coaches want him to make the easy play and not always trust his big arm. Habits can take time to break. — Todd Archer

Next game: vs. Baltimore Ravens (7 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Vikings: No. 2 quarterback Sam Howell had an encouraging outing after replacing J.J. McCarthy for the team’s second possession. Howell led the team on a 94-yard touchdown drive, capped by his own 1-yard touchdown plunge, and had strong downfield throws to receivers Jeshaun Jones (20 yards) and Lucky Jackson (17).

Howell has struggled at times during training camp as he learns the Vikings’ scheme, so his performance Saturday allayed some concerns.

Running back Jordan Mason, acquired via trade with the San Francisco 49ers, started and carried four times for 20 yards on the opening drive. Mason, who is expected to split carries with veteran Aaron Jones Sr. in the regular season, had a particularly nice cutback run for 9 yards.

The Vikings had hoped to give free agent receiver Rondale Moore a long look as a punt returner and reserve receiver, but Moore suffered a left leg injury on his first punt return and was taken off the field on a cart. Rookie free agent Silas Bolden was next up on punt returns, returning one for 8 yards, while rookie Tai Felton returned two kickoffs for an 18-yard average. — Kevin Seifert

Next game: vs. New England Patriots (1 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Texans: Rookie tackle Aireontae Ersery allowed zero pressures in five pass-blocking snaps in the only series he played. The second-rounder was at left tackle and paved lanes for running back Dare Ogunbowale. When Ogunbowale ran toward Ersery’s side, he averaged 6.5 yards on four carries.

The Texans’ rookie receivers didn’t get much action, though third-round pick Jaylin Noel caught a screen pass on third-and-8 and made a couple of guys miss en route to a first down, which extended the only drive that ended in a touchdown for the starters. — DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: vs. Carolina Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Giants: The Giants have to feel good about their biggest additions this offseason. Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, rookie QB Jaxson Dart (No. 25) and rookie linebacker Abdul Carter (No. 3) had successful debuts versus Buffalo.

Dart was most impressive of all. He was decisive and efficient, completing 12 of 19 passes for 154 yards with a touchdown. The score came on a 29-yard strike down the left sideline to receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey with pressure in his face. He also rushed three times for 24 yards.

Wilson, meanwhile, led the Giants to a field goal on his only drive, while Carter had a pair of pressures on six snaps. New York couldn’t have drawn it up better. — Jordan Raanan

Next game: vs. New York Jets (7 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Bills: The Bills made several additions to the defensive line this offseason, and some of those new faces popped.

Two of the Bills’ rookie defensive linemen made strong first impressions. Second-round defensive tackle T.J. Sanders nearly sacked Dart on his touchdown throw in the first half. DT Deone Walker, a fourth-round pick, got pressure and then batted down a pass from Dart; he finished with two quarterback pressures.

Despite the Bills limiting his practice time, defensive end Joey Bosa played 10 snaps over two drives with the first-team defense and made a solid first impression. — Alaina Getzenberg

Next game: at Chicago Bears (8 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Friday

Browns: Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders shined as he got the start in Cleveland’s preseason opener, throwing a pair of first-half touchdowns. Sanders has been QB4 in Cleveland’s quarterback competition but got the start because of injuries to Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel. In about three quarters of action, Sanders showed the pinpoint accuracy and poise that led many to believe he was a top quarterback in the 2025 NFL draft before falling to the fifth round.

It was also a strong debut for two other members of the Browns’ rookie class, linebacker Carson Schwesinger and defensive tackle Mason Graham. Schwesinger, a second-round pick, led the Browns with six tackles in the first half. And Graham, the No. 5 pick in the draft, also had a quarterback pressure in a couple of drives. — Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: at Philadelphia Eagles (1 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Panthers: It was an underwhelming day for the class overall. First-round pick Tetairoa McMillan had a great over-the-shoulder catch of a Bryce Young pass for 30 yards. But he finished with only two catches on five targets, and should have had a touchdown catch but ran a bad route. Sixth-round pick Jimmy Horn Jr. caught four of five targets, but for only 15 yards. Edge rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen combined for only one sack (Scourton) — Umanmielen also lost containment on a Sanders scramble — so plenty of room for improvement there. — David Newton

Next game: at Houston Texans (1 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Note: The preseason game between the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons was suspended with 6:19 left in the fourth quarter after Lions safety Morice Norris left the field in an ambulance after sustaining an injury after a collision with a Falcons player. The Lions said he was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation, but was talking and moving.

Lions: Rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa scored his first NFL preseason touchdown off an 11-yard pass from backup QB Kyle Allen. TeSlaa, a third-round pick out of Arkansas, gave Detroit a 7-3 lead in the second quarter. TeSlaa, a Michigan native and lifelong Lions fan, ended with two catches for 18 yards. He has continued to make plays through training camp and preseason action. In practice, TeSlaa has earned some first-team reps with the offense. Lions rookies DL Tyleik Williams and OL Tate Ratledge also made their preseason debuts after being held out of the Hall of Fame Game versus the Chargers last week. The most underwhelming performance of the night was from third-year QB Hendon Hooker, who started for Detroit and fumbled twice in the first half. He went 7-10 with 38 passing yards. — Eric Woodyard

Next game: vs. Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Falcons: If the Falcons were to find a trade partner for quarterback Kirk Cousins, they might be comfortable with Easton Stick as Michael Penix Jr.’s backup. Stick, a free agent signing from the Los Angeles Chargers, was 15-of-18 passing for 149 yards and a touchdown. Stick’s 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Blair put the Falcons ahead 10-7 with :34 left in the first half.

Atlanta’s rookies were relatively quiet. No. 26 pick James Pearce Jr. was often double-teamed on the edge. No. 15 pick Jalon Walker, an edge rusher, and third-round pick safety Xavier Watts had one tackle apiece. Fourth-round pick cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. had a great open-field tackle in punt coverage. Seventh-round pick Jack Nelson had some struggles at right tackle. — Marc Raimondi

Next game: vs. Tennessee Titans (7 p.m. ET, Friday)

Patriots: Second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson made an immediate impact, returning the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Commanders backups. When the Patriots selected Henderson 38th out of Ohio State, they touted his speed and big-play ability — both as a running back and returner — which is the type of juice the team has been lacking in recent seasons. Henderson added one carry for 18 yards and caught three passes for 12 yards. He is projected to complement starter Rhamondre Stevenson and No. 3 option Antonio Gibson.

Cornerback DJ James, a 2024 sixth-round pick of the Seahawks who spent last year on the Patriots’ practice squad, also had a notable performance with an INT. That reflects how he has had a strong training camp in which he has consistently been around the football. — Mike Reiss

Next game: at Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Commanders: Rookie corner Trey Amos played two series and continued his strong summer. He defended a fade ball well and came up on the run one time to make a stop for no yards. Meanwhile, first-round pick Josh Conerly Jr. started at right tackle and played 22 snaps. He continues to look more comfortable on the right side. He was solid on the edge, with one hiccup vs. a stunt, and blocked well in space. Seventh-round pick running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt finished with only 24 yards on seven carries, but he typically gained more than what was available because of his sharp cuts and vision. — John Keim

Next game: vs Cincinnati Bengals (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 18)

Thursday

Seahawks: One play from Jalen Milroe ‘s NFL debut showed exactly how he can help the Seahawks’ offense this season even as their third QB. Milroe gained 27 yards on a zone-read keeper, flashing the impressive running ability that Seattle plans to take advantage of on occasion via specialty packages. He ran three times for 38 yards and also fared well with his arm, completing 6 of 10 attempts for 61 yards. He led one TD drive in five possessions and was sacked on Seattle’s final drive.

Rookie fifth-round pick Tory Horton continued to make his case to beat out Marquez Valdes-Scantling for the No. 3 receiver role. With Valdes-Scantling getting the night off along with several other veterans, Horton caught three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown pass from Drew Lock in the first half. — Brady Henderson

Next game: vs. Chiefs, 10 p.m. ET, Friday

Raiders: Ashton Jeanty’s preseason debut was underwhelming. On three carries, the Heisman Trophy finalist totaled minus-1 yards. His longest carry was for three yards. But a few plays later, Jeanty was stopped for a 4-yard loss.

The Raiders’ offensive line didn’t provide much support for Jeanty and the run game as a whole. Las Vegas averaged 2.6 yards on nine carries in the first half.

Jamal Adams — who signed last month — looked solid at weak-side linebacker, as he was active around the line of scrimmage. In 14 defensive snaps, Adams had three tackles, including two run stuffs. On third and long in the second quarter, Adams burst up the middle before tackling Seattle running back Damien Martinez. — Ryan McFadden

Next game: vs. 49ers, 4 p.m. ET, Saturday

Ravens: Rookie sixth-round pick LaJohntay Wester provided much-needed juice to the Ravens’ punt return game when he scored on an 87-yard runback in the first quarter.

Wester, whose college coach was Deion Sanders at Colorado, flashed some “Prime Time” elusiveness when he darted around three would-be Colts tacklers in the middle of the field before racing down the right sideline.

Baltimore’s punt return game was an issue last season. The Ravens used four punt returners who averaged 9.7 yards, which ranked 16th in the NFL, and failed to break a punt return longer than 22 yards. Wester also had team highs with two catches for 41 yards with a long of 30.

Rookie kicker Tyler Loop hooked a 46-yard field goal attempt wide left in his first attempt, but he nailed a 52-yarder in the fourth quarter. Loop is the only kicker on the roster, but coach John Harbaugh said Loop has to prove himself in the preseason. In training camp, Loop is 58-of-62 (93.5%). — Jamison Hensley

Next game: at Cowboys, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday

Colts: Tight end Tyler Warren, the No. 14 pick in this year’s draft, made his anticipated debut and wasted little time making an impact. Warren caught all three passes on which he was targeted, generating 40 receiving yards in the process. On his longest play, a 23-yard reception from Daniel Jones on a slant route, Warren showed the breadth of his talent, catching the ball cleanly and running 14 more yards after the catch.

Elsewhere, the Colts got a long look at new kicker Spencer Shrader, who had a big workload with four first-half field-goal attempts. He connected from 53, 33 and 39 yards and missed from 52. Shrader, who kicked for three teams as a rookie last season, is replacing veteran kicker Matt Gay, whom the Colts released earlier this year. — Stephen Holder

Next game: vs. Packers, 1 p.m. ET, Saturday

Eagles: Running back AJ Dillon had an encouraging debut, rushing five times for 27 yards (5.4 average) and catching three passes for 27 yards. He showed some wiggle with a jump cut on a 9-yard gain and moved the pile when he lowered his shoulder. It was a good start after sitting out all of last season because of a neck injury.

Undrafted rookie receiver Darius Cooper (6 catches, 82 yards, 1 TD) raised his profile. He regularly separated from defenders with sharp routes and good burst.

First-round pick linebacker Jihaad Campbell nearly came up with an interception, and fourth-round defensive tackle Ty Robinson registered two pressures, a sack and demonstrated good awareness by sniffing out a screen and taking that option away from the quarterback. — Tim McManus

Next game: vs. Browns, 1 p.m. ET, Saturday

Bengals: Defensive end Shemar Stewart took a while to get onto the field because of contractual issues, but the first-round pick out of Texas A&M has been as advertised. He was disruptive on a couple of his 18 defensive snaps against the Eagles.

He had a 3-yard tackle for loss on a run play. Then on a play-action bootleg, Stewart did a good job pursuing Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee and nearly forcing an interception.

Rookie left guard Dylan Fairchild, a third-round pick and projected starter, had a very nondescript outing, which is a very good thing for an offensive lineman. Right guard Lucas Patrick, who is battling for a starting spot, had a couple of miscues on the opening drive, including a costly penalty. — Ben Baby

Next game: at Commanders, 8 p.m. ET, Aug. 18

NFL

Lamb, in street garb, trucked by ref, then flagged

  • Todd ArcherAug 9, 2025, 08:43 PM ET

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      Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb did not play in Saturday’s 31-21 preseason loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but he took one of the bigger hits of the game.

As quarterback Joe Milton III loaded up for a deep pass to Jonathan Mingo in the second quarter, Lamb, the Cowboys’ Pro Bowl receiver, began to celebrate, anticipating a big play.

One problem: He was on the white paint of the sideline reserved for the officials during the action and was clobbered from behind by side judge Anthony Jeffries, who was chasing the play.

“I hope the guy’s OK. They said he’s OK, the official that he ran into, but we have to be better than that,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “CeeDee knows better. We know better.”

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The Cowboys were flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct, and the Rams were also flagged for pass interference. Instead of having the ball at the Los Angeles 23, the Cowboys had it at the 38. They eventually settled for a field goal.

“It’s more of a rare situation. Normally, we don’t have anybody standing that deep into the restricted area or that type of forceful contact,” referee Alex Moore said in a pool report. “So it is a rare occurrence, but it does happen from time to time.”

The Cowboys did not complain about the call.

“It’s something that everybody is aware of, that white area is our area to work safely,” Moore said.

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Lamb was uninjured and laughed it off with his teammates on the sideline.

“I seen him walking so I think he’s pretty fine,” Milton said.

Schottenheimer was displeased with the Cowboys’ discipline throughout the game. They were flagged 11 times for 83 yards. Though he said he was “fine” with combative penalties, the pre-snap penalties — backup tackle Asim Richards was called for illegal formation on consecutive plays because he lined up incorrectly — and flags like the one on Lamb were too much.

“You can’t give away penalties in this league,” Schottenheimer said.

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