Oklahoma Professional Athletes

Oklahoma's NFL alumni had a week that ranged from alarming to promising — and Baker Mayfield's contract standoff is only the beginning.

CeeDee Lamb's Home Hit During Camp

The most unsettling story out of Sooner nation had nothing to do with football. While the Cowboys were at training camp in Oxnard, Lamb's home was burglarized — with roughly $300,000 worth of property stolen, per reports. The five-time Pro Bowler is the second Cowboys player to be targeted in the last three years, raising uncomfortable questions about player security during extended road absences. On the field, Lamb remains the focal point of what Dallas hopes is a dangerous receiver tandem alongside George Pickens, but this week the headlines were all off it.

Mayfield's Extension Talks Hit a Wall

Baker Mayfield wanted a new deal. Tampa Bay reportedly offered a two-year extension worth over $100 million. So why is Mayfield headed into 2026 on the final year of his current contract?

The sticking points came down to contract length and guarantee structure, and Mayfield publicly said he felt "disrespected and undervalued" by what the Buccaneers put on the table. Negotiations broke down before training camp opened. GM Jason Licht has since struck an optimistic tone — he's described himself as "very optimistic" about Mayfield returning beyond this season — but that kind of front-office spin rarely moves a quarterback who already feels slighted. Mayfield is set to play 2026 as a lame duck, with his long-term future in Tampa very much unresolved.

Kyler Murray Wins Minnesota's QB Job

The most significant competitive development for a Sooner this week came in Minneapolis. Kyler Murray has officially won the Vikings' starting quarterback job, beating out 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy in what became a lopsided camp competition. McCarthy's stock has fallen sharply enough that his future in Minnesota is now in serious doubt — CBS Sports called a divorce "inevitable" — though no trade talks have surfaced as of this writing. For Murray, it's a genuine fresh start: a new system, a new fanbase, and no shortage of motivation after a turbulent few years in Arizona.

Marvin Mims Exits Early, But Should Be Fine

In Denver, Marvin Mims Jr. made his preseason debut Thursday night and didn't last long — an apparent lower-body injury sent him to the medical tent in the opening series, sparking immediate concern for a Broncos offense that counts on his big-play ability as both a receiver and kick returner. The good news: Denver diagnosed it as a bruised foot and expressed confidence he'll be ready. It's the kind of scare that rattles coaches in late August, but Broncos fans can exhale — for now.

Cody Ford Cut by Cincinnati

One more name to track from the OU roster: offensive lineman Cody Ford was released by the Bengals this week after struggling in the preseason. Cincinnati is still searching for swing tackle depth, but Ford won't be part of the answer. It's a quiet end to his tenure in Cincinnati.

Five alumni, five different stories — and the regular season hasn't even started yet.

The Silence Before the Embrace

It was the most-watched joint practice of the preseason, and not because of the depth-chart battles.

When the Eagles and Patriots took the field together this week, two former Oklahoma Sooners — Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown — were on opposite sidelines for the first time since Brown's blockbuster trade to New England. What made it appointment viewing wasn't the scheme or the snap counts. It was the question hanging over every rep: had these two even spoken since the deal went down?

The answer, confirmed by Brown himself ahead of the joint sessions, was no. Brown revealed he had not talked with Hurts since the trade, an admission that confirmed what many had suspected — the relationship between Philadelphia's former franchise duo had grown strained before the split. Brown also made clear he had quickly found comfort in his new situation, appearing at ease alongside Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.

Then Day 1 of practice arrived, and Brown let his play do the editorializing. He had a dominant showing against his former team's secondary, looking every bit the No. 1 receiver the Patriots paid to acquire.

The Reconnection

By Day 2, the ice had broken. Video circulating from the joint session captured Hurts and Brown embracing on the field — a moment that, given everything that preceded it, carried genuine weight. Hurts also addressed the dynamic publicly, speaking to reporters about Brown's partnership with Maye and keeping his tone measured and respectful.

Any outstanding tension, at least on the surface, appeared to be squashed. The two Oklahoma products — one now quarterbacking a defending contender, the other betting on a fresh start in New England — had their reunion, even if the football made its own statement first.

Hurts Faces Heat on the Field

The reunion storyline aside, the joint practices weren't kind to Hurts statistically. He was picked off three times across the two-day session, including twice by cornerback Marcus Jones on Day 2, a rough stretch that added fuel to the ongoing conversation about Philadelphia's offensive growing pains under new coordinator Sean Mannion. The Eagles come into 2026 absorbing not just Brown's departure but a reshuffled target hierarchy — DeVonta Smith and second-year wideout Makai Lemon now figure to shoulder the receiving load.

It wasn't the tune-up Hurts needed ahead of the preseason, though one practice stretch against a division rival rarely writes a season's obituary.

Oklahoma's Broader Week

Elsewhere in the Sooner alumni network, Sterling Shepard officially signed with the Texans after a workout, giving Houston a veteran depth piece at wide receiver as they navigate a post-injury shake-up at the position. Shepard has bounced around rosters in recent years but remains an experienced option in the short-to-intermediate passing game.

Fellow OU alum Kyler Murray continues to battle for the Vikings' starting job in Minnesota — a competition that carries stakes well beyond a depth chart, with the franchise's 2026 direction tied closely to how the former Heisman winner performs this preseason.

And Lane Johnson, the Eagles' veteran tackle and de facto locker room voice, drew attention at the joint practices for a different reason: his comments comparing Patriots rookie lineman Will Campbell to a younger version of himself — a gracious nod from one of the game's elite offensive linemen to a prospect carrying enormous expectations.

For Oklahoma, this was a week that played out in full public view, with Hurts and Brown at the center of a story that was equal parts football and human drama. The embrace happened. The reps happened. Whether the Eagles miss Brown as much as that moment suggested — that's what the regular season is for.

Murray's Minnesota Moment Has Arrived

Kyler Murray didn't just win a quarterback competition in Minnesota — he walked into one that was essentially already over. Head coach Kevin O'Connell officially named the Oklahoma product the Vikings' Week 1 starter over third-year signal-caller J.J. McCarthy, a decision that had been telegraphed ever since Minnesota signed Murray in free agency. He'll lead the team when the Vikings host the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 13 to open the season.

The formal coronation set the stage for Murray to take his first preseason snaps in purple, and he delivered in Minnesota's 13-10 preseason win over the New York Giants. Murray got the start in the teams' preseason openers — a low-stakes audition for a player who had plenty to prove entering a new chapter of his career.

O'Connell has been direct about his rationale. The veteran head coach identified Murray as his next starting quarterback experiment, betting that a change of scenery can unlock the kind of dynamic play that made Murray a former No. 1 overall pick. McCarthy, for his part, has publicly stated he has no desire to be traded, though trade buzz has circled nonetheless, with teams like the Chargers and Buccaneers floated as potential fits if Minnesota moves him.

It's a significant moment for the Sooner faithful: Murray, who won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma in 2018 before going first overall to Arizona, is now the unquestioned face of a legitimate NFC contender. One outlet projected the Vikings' game-by-game record with Murray under center, signaling genuine optimism about what the offense can do with him directing traffic.

Murray also made headlines off the field this week, sending a video message to recruit Trey Wright after the quarterback prospect committed to USC and Lincoln Riley — Murray's former coach at Oklahoma. Old Sooner bonds don't break easy.

Baker's Still Got a Fan Base

Baker Mayfield may be entering his second full season as the Buccaneers' franchise quarterback, but he's still got the kind of devoted following that turns a routine Jets-Buccaneers preseason game into a minor cultural event. A self-identified Mayfield superfan showed up at the matchup and generated enough buzz to land in a national highlights segment — a reminder that the Norman, Oklahoma product remains one of the NFL's more magnetic personalities even outside the spotlight of a marquee matchup.

Mayfield's Buccaneers and the Jets squared off in what was otherwise a low-stakes August tune-up, but the energy around the former No. 1 overall pick — and fellow Sooner — suggests his fanbase hasn't dimmed since his resurgent run in Tampa Bay.

The Bigger Picture for Sooner Nation

Two former Oklahoma quarterbacks, two No. 1 overall draft picks, both commanding headlines in the same preseason week — it's a remarkable footnote for a program that has made a habit of producing NFL signal-callers. Murray is chasing a second act; Mayfield is defending one. For Sooner alumni watching from afar, this week offered plenty to talk about before a regular-season snap has even been taken.

Oklahoma has produced NFL stars by the roster-full, but this week two of its most prominent alumni commanded headlines for very different reasons — one preparing to close a Hall of Fame–caliber career on his own terms, the other fighting to be paid like the franchise quarterback he's proven he is.

Lane Johnson: One Last Ride in Philadelphia

After more than 160 starts at right tackle for the Eagles, Lane Johnson said publicly this week that 2026 will "probably" be his final NFL season. The six-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion cited growing off-field responsibilities as part of the pull toward retirement, a candid acknowledgment that the end of an era in Philadelphia is approaching.

The timing added a wrinkle: Johnson has also missed four consecutive Eagles training camp practices, raising short-term health questions even as the long-term picture sharpens. Philadelphia will need him healthy if the offense is to function at championship level — the Eagles' OC confirmed this week that the Tush Push, which leans heavily on Johnson's elite blocking, remains part of the 2026 game plan.

The legacy conversation wasted no time getting started. Hall of Fame projections have begun circulating, though analysts note at least one significant hurdle standing between Johnson and Canton. Still, the résumé speaks loudly: two Super Bowl rings, sustained excellence at one of football's most demanding positions across 13-plus seasons. If 2026 is the curtain call, Johnson will be one of the most decorated offensive linemen of his generation to walk off the field — and a former Sooner who made a first-round investment look like a bargain every year he cashed it in.

Baker Mayfield: Disrespected in Tampa

While Johnson contemplates an exit, Baker Mayfield is very much focused on his next chapter — and he wants the Buccaneers to pay for it accordingly. Mayfield told reporters last week he felt "disrespected" and "undervalued" by Tampa Bay amid an ongoing contract standoff. The team's general manager, Jason Licht, responded publicly this week by insisting the organization's feelings for Mayfield "haven't changed," a diplomatic response that didn't include a new deal.

Mayfield has earned leverage. Since reclaiming his career in Tampa, he's been one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the NFC and the engine of a Buccaneers offense built around his mobility and arm. The disconnect between his performance and his contract status is the kind of friction that can fester into a genuine roster problem if unresolved before the regular season.

The Rest of the Sooner Nation

Two other Oklahoma alumni generated notice this week. Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto earned a spot on the NFL Top 100 list heading into 2026 — recognition of a pass-rushing breakout that has made him one of Denver's most important defensive pieces. And in Minnesota, Kyler Murray continues to battle J.J. McCarthy for the Vikings' starting quarterback job, with fresh reports suggesting the competition remains genuinely unsettled heading deeper into camp. One insider framed the situation as more open than the offseason narrative suggested — notable for a former Heisman winner who arrived in Minnesota looking to resurrect his starting career.

Oklahoma's NFL footprint remains enormous. This week, its two biggest names just happened to be at opposite ends of the career spectrum — one counting down his snaps, one fighting for the respect he thinks he's already earned.