JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars and new starting left tackle Cole Van Lanen agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension Friday, a person familiar with negotiations said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither side confirmed the deal. ESPN and NFL Network reported the extension was worth $51 million and included $32.5 million guaranteed.
Van Lanen started the last eight games for Jacksonville (12-4), which has won seven in a row and eight of nine heading into Sunday's regular-season finale against Tennessee (3-13).
Van Lanen started a game at left guard, two at right tackle, one at right guard and then the last four at left tackle. He played so well in place of starting left tackle Walker Little that he supplanted Little at the position for this season and the foreseeable future.
Van Lanen is the team's second pending free agent in the last three weeks to land an extension with Jacksonville, joining receiver Jakobi Meyers. Meyers signed a three-year, $60 million deal in mid-December.
The 27-year-old Van Lanen was originally drafted in the sixth round by Green Bay in 2021. He was traded to Jacksonville in 2022 for a seventh-rounder the following year.
He's been working his way up the depth chart since, with two different regimes identifying him as good enough to compete for starting jobs. He got his big break because of injuries and proved he deserved a full-time spot.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen looks on before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points and Darius Garland had 18 points and eight assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the short-handed Denver Nuggets 113-108 on Friday night.
De’Andre Hunter added 16 points and Jarrett Allen had eight points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who trailed 105-101 with 4:43 remaining before scoring 10 consecutive points. Garland’s 3-pointer put them ahead for good with 2:13 left.
Jamal Murray scored 28 of his 34 points in the first half for the Nuggets, who played their second game without superstar center Nikola Jokic. The three-time MVP hyperextended his left knee at Miami on Dec. 29 and will miss at least a month.
Peyton Watson had 21 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 15, but missed eight of their nine shots in the fourth quarter as Denver was outscored 24-11. Murray also had six rebounds and seven assists, finishing 12 for 28 from the field.
Three additional Nuggets starters were inactive in forwards Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain) and Cam Johnson (right knee soreness), and guard Christian Braun (left ankle sprain). Backup center Jonas Valanciunas (right calf strain) also is out for a month.
The Cavaliers took advantage of their absences, dominating the rebounding battle 55-32. Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley had eight points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, but missed all five of his free throws.
Mitchell, Garland, Mobley and Allen were all in the starting lineup for just the seventh time this season, winning for the fifth time. The Cavaliers have played an NBA-high 21 home games and are 13-8 at Rocket Arena.
Lonzo Ball saw his first action in three games for Cleveland, scoring six points in 15 minutes. Ball was taken out of the rotation in favor of Craig Porter Jr., who had 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Nuggets: Visit Brooklyn on Sunday.
Cavaliers: Host Detroit on Sunday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots in front of Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley, rear, and next to guard Lonzo Ball (2) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson gestures in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) drives past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Nae'Qwan Tomlin (35) grabs a rebound in front of Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji, rear, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
