Two Super Bowl contenders are still trying to figure out if they will have a couple of their best players this season.
Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III and Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. have yet to sign their franchise-tag tenders. Neither player was able to secure a long-term deal by the NFL’s July 15 deadline and cannot negotiate contracts until after the season.
But the short-term outlook remains murkier. Kansas City remains hopeful Brown will be able to protect Patrick Mahomes, one of the league’s top quarterbacks.