Sam Darnold An Option To Start In Week 1

New York Jets offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates said that rookie quarterback Sam Darnold is in the running to be the Week 1 starter. “Are we giving him bits and pieces of the offense or are we throwing everything at him? We’re throwing everything at him,” Bates said Wednesday. “If he can handle it, if he […]

Joe Flacco More Motivated This Offseason

Baltimore Ravens players seem to believe that quarterback Joe Flacco is more motivated this offseason. "Drafting Lamar [Jackson] and bringing [Robert] Griffin in, it’s lit a fire under him," safety Eric Weddle said. "You can tell. It has shown." Flacco is certainly on the hot seat, and the Ravens could decide to cut him if […]

Jared Cook Impressing Jon Gruden

Oakland Raiders tight end Jared Cook, who had a career-high 54 catches for 688 yards in 2017, has impressed head coach Jon Gruden. “Jared Cook has had a great camp. I did not know Jared Cook moved like that,” Gruden said. “I knew he had really good pass receiving skills, but we can line him […]

Jimmy Smith Participating In Minicamp

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (Achilles) is taking part in minicamp practice Wednesday after tearing his Achilles six months ago. He's been limited to individual drills, but it's a great sign that the veteran will be able to go in training camp next month. Despite playing in 12 games last year, Smith had three interceptions, […]

DeMarco Murray Turns Down Workout With Saints

Free-agent running back DeMarco Murray declined a workout invitation with the New Orleans Saints, according to a source. He is still waiting for the right opportunity, but he may have to wait until training camp to sign with a team. Murray battled nagging injuries with the Titans last year and had a career-low 3.6 yards […]

Danielle Hunter Not Planning To Hold Out

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter has no plans to hold out of offseason workouts as he seeks a new deal. He has taken part in every practice since the team reported for voluntary workouts April 16. Hunter is a big part of Minnesota's fearsome pass rush, accumulating 26.5 sacks in his three NFL seasons. […]

Tyler Ervin Medically Cleared

Houston Texans running back/kick returner Tyler Ervin (knee) has been medically cleared to take part in training camp next month after he was put on Injured Reserve in 2017 with a torn patellar tendon that required surgery. The fourth-round pick caught eight passes for 38 yards in just four games last year, and he'll need […]

Stefon Diggs Not Worried About Contract

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs isn't worried about his contract situation as he enters the fourth and final year of his rookie deal. “This is a business and there’s a lot going on,” Diggs said. “Being a small portion of it I’m definitely sitting back just working every day and letting that stuff handle […]

Rex Burkhead, James White Splitting First-Team Work

New England Patriots running backs Rex Burkhead and James White have taken the majority of the first-team repetitions in offseason workouts. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see rookie Sony Michel, the 31st overall pick in the draft, rise to the top of this group by the time the season starts. Jeremy Hill and Mike […]

Patriots Explored Rob Gronkowski Trade Before Draft

The New England Patriots explored a trade of tight end Rob Gronkowski three days before the draft, according to a league source. However, that was before the Patriots were certain that Gronk intended to come back for another season. It's interesting to ponder where Gronkowski might've landed, but it's a non-story now. The elite tight […]

Khalil Mack Officially Holding Out

Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack is officially holding out of mandatory minicamp, but head coach Jon Gruden declined to say if the team would fine their star defender for missing practices. Mack is angling to be the highest paid defensive player in the NFL after accruing an impressive 40.5 sacks in his four seasons […]

Earl Thomas Not A Lock To Be With Team

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said "we'll see" when asked if safety Earl Thomas will be with the team when the season begins. Thomas is officially holding out while looking for a new contract. He was the subject of trade rumors around the draft, but nothing worked out. It'd probably be in Seattle's best […]

David Moore Stands Out At Minicamp

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver David Moore, a seventh-round pick last year who spent most of the year on the practice squad, stood out at minicamp on Tuesday. “David Moore has been special for us, he’s a very, very good athlete. He came from a really small program, and he wasn’t able to catch it all […]

Chris Godwin Standing Out

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin has been standing out at minicamp and continues to make plays every day. Godwin looked good down the stretch in his rookie season, catching 34 passes for 525 yards (15.4 yards per catch) and one touchdown, but he'll have to beat out Adam Humphries for No. 3 duties […]

Tim Hightower Trying Out For Saints

Free-agent running back Tim Hightower, who spent all of 2017 out of the league, is working out with the New Orleans Saints on a tryout basis this week. The veteran running back has a history with the team, playing with them from 2015-2016, but he'd be nothing more than a depth signing to open the […]

Raiders Waive Christian Hackenberg

The Oakland Raiders waived quarterback Christian Hackenberg on Tuesday, according to a source. Hackenberg has been a bust ever since the Jets made him a second-round selection in 2016, and he has yet to play in a regular season game. Hackenberg may struggle to land with another team.

Deshaun Watson Not Using Knee Brace

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (knee) is practicing without a knee brace during minicamp this week. He is taking part in individual 7-on-7 drills but not team drills. The Texans are understandably easing Watson into workouts this offseason, but he looks to be ahead of schedule and should be full go for training camp. The […]

Joe Williams Impressing Head Coach

San Francisco 49ers running back Joe Williams, who missed his rookie season with a foot injury, is competing for a roster spot this summer and has impressed head coach Kyle Shanahan. “Joe’s come a long way. I think his body looks a lot better than it did last year. He put on a lot of […]

Terrance West To Visit Saints

Free-agent running back Terrance West will visit the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, according to a source. West would just be a depth signing to open the season with Mark Ingram slated to be suspended for the first four games. In just five games for Baltimore in 2017, West had 39 carries for 138 yards […]

Richard Sherman On Track To Be Full Go In Training Camp

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman (Achilles) will take part in individual drills during minicamp this week, and head coach Kyle Shanahan said Sherman is still on track to be a full go at the start of training camp next month. It's great news after Sherman played in only nine games in 2017 due to […]

Trent Taylor Had Back Procedure

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Trent Taylor (back) had a "minor" back operation in the offseason but should be ready to go at or near the start of training camp next month, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. A fifth-round pick last year, Taylor had 43 receptions for 430 yards and two touchdowns in 15 […]

Shane Ray To Have Surgery Thursday

Denver Broncos linebacker Shane Ray (wrist) is scheduled to undergo bone fusion surgery on Thursday, and doctors are optimistic that this will be the final procedure he'll need before getting back to full health. It's Ray's fourth operation on his wrist, and it caused him to miss eight games in 2017. He's questionable for the […]

Leonard Fournette Looking Leaner

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette is looking leaner at mandatory minicamp this week, showing off his quickness in non-contact practice. "I feel like I play my best at what I played at in college, 223, 224 [pounds]," Fournette said after practice. "I put in my best at that weight and why not [get back […]

Taylor Lewan Holding Out

Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan is officially holding out of mandatory minicamp as he seeks a lucrative long-term deal that would make him the NFL's highest paid tackle. Lewan is perhaps the best overall left tackle in the NFL, and general manager Jon Robinson said the team is looking to keep Lewan in the […]

Jamaal Charles To Visit With Saints

Free-agent running back Jamaal Charles will visit with the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, according to a source. Charles carried the ball only 69 times for 296 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and one touchdown in 14 games for the Broncos last season, and the veteran running back doesn't have much left at this point […]

Breshad Perriman Struggling With Drops

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Breshad Perriman continues to struggle with drops during practices and has dropped a pass in each of the three offseason practices that have been open to the media. Perriman has been a first-round bust so far after catching just 43 passes for 576 yards and three touchdowns since he was selected […]

Streaming Wars - Waiver Wire Targets For June 13

Welcome back to Streaming Wars, your one-stop shop for streaming the waiver wire. This article, which began last season, runs seven days a week. We are always ready to stream. For those who are newcomers to this feature - use this column on a daily basis to improve upon your weakest categories and target players who may be […]

Luke Kuechly On Schedule In Rehab

Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly (shoulder) said he is on schedule in his rehab from shoulder surgery and hopes to be ready for training camp. When healthy, Kuechly is one of the best all-around linebackers in the league, but the problem for him has been staying on the field in recent years. He hasn't played […]

Lamar Jackson Lining Up At Multiple Positions

Baltimore Ravens rookie quarterback Lamar Miller has been lining up at multiple positions during offseason practices with Joe Flacco playing quarterback. Head coach John Harbaugh expects Jackson to be active on game days. "Gosh, I sure like him out there helping us," Harbaugh said. "If you put two quarterbacks on the field at once, what […]

Odell Beckham Jr. Cleared To Practice

Updating a previous report, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) has been doing "well" and has been "cleared to practice," according to head coach Pat Shurmur. However, he didn't participate in team drills at minicamp on Tuesday and may sit out all week. It makes no sense for the Giants to rush […]