NFL NOTEBOOK

Browns rework Watson’s contract Deshaun Watson’s contract has been reworked again by the Cleveland Browns as the team looks to clear salary cap space with the new league year less than one week away.

A person with knowledge of the move told The Associated Press on Thursday that the latest restructuring of the quarterback’s contract will clear nearly $36 million in cap space for the Browns. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the move.

Watson’s restructured contract was first reported by ESPN. The Browns were nearly $22 million over the cap before restructuring Watson’s deal.

It is the second time in three months that Watson’s contract was reworked. In December, the sides added void years through 2030 to give the Browns additional financial flexibility to spread out dead money on the contract instead of taking a massive hit in one season.

Jaguars’ Morse announces retirement JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars center Mitch Morse announced his retirement Thursday after 10 seasons and nearly a hundred wins, most of those coming with Kansas City and Buffalo.

Morse, 32, had one year remaining on a $10.5 million contract he signed a year ago in free agency. He would have counted $5.4 million against Jacksonville’s salary cap in 2025.

“The things I’ll remember and cherish most about my career are the relationships and bonds I created with my teammates, both on and off of the field,” Morse said in a statement. “Nothing can replace that, and I will miss it dearly.”

Chargers release Bosa after 9 years The Los Angeles Chargers released Joey Bosa on Wednesday night, ending the linebacker’s nine-season tenure with the franchise.

The move, which came less than a week before the start of the new league year, was expected due to Bosa’s large salary cap number and injury history. Bosa had a cap number of $36.47 million for the 2025 season, but the Chargers will save $25.36 million in cap space.

Bosa was the third overall pick by the Chargers in the 2016 NFL draft and was the last player on the roster from when the team played in San Diego. He signed a five-year extension worth $135 million in 2020 that made him the league’s highest-paid defensive player at the time.

Bosa played in 14 games with nine starts this past season after agreeing to restructure his contract. But his five sacks were his fewest in the six seasons during which he has played at least 12 games as he battled hip and back injuries.

After seeing action in 16 games in 2021, Bosa saw the field for only 14 games combined in the 2022 and ‘23 season. He missed most of 2022 because of a groin injury, but returned late in the year. He was sidelined the final seven games in 2023 with a foot injury.