49ers

49ers WR Mike Evans said leaving Tampa Bay after 12 seasons was about finding the right change at this stage of his career.

“I just felt like it’s what I needed at this point in my career,” Evans said, via Niners Wire. “Love Tampa. Been there my whole career, 12 seasons. Love the fan base, love the people in the front office, my teammates. But just felt like it was time for a change. This team is definitely… rejuvenated me and potentially added some years on my career.”

Evans said San Francisco checked every box he was looking for, including a win-now roster, strong quarterback play and an established coaching staff.

“It was self-explanatory,” Evans said. “I mean, they had everything I was looking for. They checked all the boxes. Try to win now. Quarterback, great skilled players, great defense, great coaching staff, and then just great organization. And then a bonus is the weather that I didn’t even know about.”

Evans added he believes he can help the 49ers finally get over the championship hump.

“I hope I am,” Evans said about being the missing piece to the team. “And I’m grinding and I still feel really good. I still feel like I can definitely be that piece to help this team get over the hump.”

Cardinals

Cardinals RB Tyler Allgeier said he had no problems with the franchise drafting Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love third overall after signing him to a deal as a free agent prior to doing so.

“It’s not like there’s any bad blood. We’re just building that relationship and we’re pretty close right now,” Allgeier said, via the team’s official website. “There’s no point in being a jerk about it. That’s not going to get you anywhere in life, in this business, in this sport.”

“There was really good communication (with LaFleur), which I can respect, because head coaches or anyone doesn’t have to do that,” Allgeier added. “I knew what I was getting into, and we’re here now deep into camp. We’re splitting (time) and it is great competition right now. It’s probably the best thing you can do, and obviously, it saves the body. That’s a privilege. Being able to have two or even three great guys in the room and being able to compete and being able to be a running back community. Just having that rotation, because it’s pretty taxing.”

Rams

Rams RB Kyren Williams said in an interview on the Up & Adams Show that he thinks hitting 1,000 rushing yards in the team’s offense is something that can be easily achieved given the scheme and his consistency.

“It means everything,” Williams said. “I remember coming into the NFL and going through those pre-draft meetings, and all these coaches was like, ‘What’s your goal?’ And I told them my simple goal is a 1,000-yard season every year. As a running back, if you know what you’re doing running the ball, 1,000 yards should be fairly kind of easy. But that also comes with the great linemen that we have and the great offensive-minded coach that we have, as well, that allows me to be able to do those types of things. As a running back, that’s just something we strive for. That’s something I strive for. That’s something I hold true to myself that I’ve got to continue to get those positive yards, those efficient yards. When I look back at the season, I expect to see 1,000 yards.”

“I think those long runs, honestly,” Williams added. “Breaking those long runs and allowing people to see that when I get to that third level, I can make the defender miss and I’m gonna go score that. Once I do that this year, they’re gonna really start respecting my name. Like I said, I don’t look too much into that. I don’t care too much for that. I just know that every single day that I come out here and I’m working, I’m getting better. The only thing I can control is what I can do, and run my own race, so I’m gonna do that to the best of my ability and see where the chips fall.”