Ian Thomas To Battle For Backup Duties

Carolina Panthers rookie tight end Ian Thomas, who saw some snaps with the first-team offense during minicamp, has shown his athleticism and will battle Chris Manhertz for the backup job to Greg Olsen. As long as Olsen can stay healthy, Thomas is unlikely to figure into the fantasy landscape, but he's one to keep an […]

Jordan Taylor Likely To Start Camp On PUP List

Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said wide receiver Jordan Taylor (hips) will "probably" start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Taylor was held out of organized team activities and minicamp. Taylor is a long shot to be a big contributor on offense this year after the team drafted rookies Courtland Sutton […]

Braedon Bowman Standing Out

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Braedon Bowman, who spent all of 2017 on the practice squad, has impressed with his playmaking in offseason workouts. He has soft hands as a receiver but also can succeed as a blocker, which makes him intriguing to watch with Hunter Henry (knee) out for the year and Virgil Green […]

Jaguars Sign DeAndre Smelter

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Smelter on Friday and waived/injured defensive tackle Michael Hughes in a corresponding move. Smelter was a fourth-round pick of the Niners in 2015 and has just one catch for 23 yards in two games in the NFL. He will be in a battle to make the Jags […]

Davis Webb Improving

New York Giants backup quarterback Davis Webb took some first-team repetitions at minicamp this week and impressed. The second-year QB has shown improvement from his first season. "I think he has improved every day. I think he's got an outstanding skill set," head coach Pat Shurmur said. "I mean, big, strong, can throw. Saw [Thursday], […]

Kendrick Bourne Has Been Consistent

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has been one of the most consistent receivers in offseason workouts for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. As an undrafted rookie wideout last year, Bourne had 16 catches for 257 yards, but he lacks elite speed. However, Garoppolo called Bourne "deceptively fast" and said he "has some wiggle to him." […]

Elijah McGuire Expected To Be Third-Down Back

New York Jets running backs coach Stump Mitchell expects running back Elijah McGuire, who had 492 yards from scrimmage and 3.6 yards per carry as a rookie, to be the team's third-down back in 2018. “Eli looks fantastic to be perfectly honest,” Mitchell said. “I’ll tell you who I see Eli as — and he’s […]

Martavis Bryant Could Be Facing Suspension

The Oakland Raiders fear that wide receiver Martavis Bryant could be facing discipline from the league, according to sources. The belief is that it pertains to the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Bryant missed the entire 2016 with the Steelers after repeated policy violations, so another suspension could be for all of the 2018 season or worse. […]

D.J. Moore Looks Ready To Contribute

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver D.J. Moore looks ready to contribute in his first season and has been smooth during offseason practices. Moore has speed and has a knack for making defenders miss. Carolina really needed another receiver to help Devin Funchess out, and Moore is that guy. He'll give the Panthers offense and quarterback […]

Benardrick McKinney Signs Five-Year Extension

Houston Texans linebacker Benardrick McKinney signed a five-year, $50 million extension on Thursday. The deal includes $21 million in guarantees. A former second-round pick, McKinney has done nothing but produce in his three years in the NFL and has 287 tackles and nine sacks, including 129 tackles in 2016. He's a bit overshadowed on his […]

Patrick Mahomes Impresses With Blitz Pickups

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said he was impressed with how quarterback Patrick Mahomes handled himself when facing complicated blitz pickups during offseason workouts. “We wanted to come in and make sure we challenged him,” Reid explained of Mahomes. “I thought he handled that very well. One of the big things for young […]

Christian Hackenberg Visiting With Patriots

Free-agent quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who was waived by the Raiders this week, is visiting with the New England Patriots on Thursday, according to sources. The Pats are likely just doing their due diligence with Hackenberg. The former second-round pick of the Jets has been a huge bust and has yet to play in a regular […]

Austin Seferian-Jenkins Expected To Be Big Part Of Offense

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins is expected to play a big role in the offense this year. He drew praise from the coaching staff through organized team activities and minicamp for his work ethic and approach and looked to be in sync with quarterback Blake Bortles. “He’s been awesome,” Bortles said. “From the first […]

Nate Solder Is Fine

Updating a previous report, New York Giants left tackle Nate Solder (leg) was checked out after injuring his leg in practice Thursday, and he is fine. The Giants and their fans can let out a collective sigh of relief after that injury scare. Solder was their high-priced free-agent acquisition, and his presence on the line […]

Sam Darnold Slated To Open Training Camp Third On Depth Chart

New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles said the quarterback depth chart to start training camp will be Josh McCown first, then Teddy Bridgewater and rookie Sam Darnold. However, Bowles left it open for things to change depending on how camp goes. This has been the expectation all along, and it will certainly be a […]

Seth Roberts On The Roster Bubble

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Seth Roberts has been inconsistent as a slot receiver and hasn't impressed in new head coach Jon Gruden's system this offseason. Roberts has been a touchdown-dependant fantasy option in the past, but at best he'd be the fourth receiver behind Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson and Martavis Bryant in 2018. Gruden also […]

Nate Solder Injured Thursday

New York Giants left tackle Nate Solder (leg), who signed a $62 million deal with the team in the offseason, injured his right leg in minicamp practice Thursday. However, the injury didn't look serious and head coach Pat Shurmur said, "I think he's fine." If Solder did suffer a more serious injury, it'd be a […]

Josh McCown To Enter Training Camp As No. 1 QB

New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles said quarterback Josh McCown will enter training camp as the No. 1 QB, but the Week 1 starter remains up in the air. McCown has the most experience and Teddy Bridgewater is intriguing if he's fully healthy, but rookie Sam Darnold is the wild card. McCown and Bridgewater […]

Patrick Mahomes, Sammy Watkins Clicking

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and wide receiver Sammy Watkins are already showing a real strong connection in offseason practices. Wideout Chris Conley said Watkins has picked up the offense "as fast as anyone I've ever seen." Mahomes' strong arm should mesh well with Watkins' deep-ball prowess, but we'll see what happens when the […]

Kareem Hunt Will Be Fine For Training Camp

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said running back Kareem Hunt (hamstring) "will be okay" for the start of training camp. Hunt was held out for most of organized team activities and minicamp, but it looks like it was just a precaution. Hunt led the NFL in rushing last year and will be a […]

Trent Williams Says He'll Be Ready For Training Camp

Washington Redskins left tackle Trent Williams (knee) said he is "very close" to being himself again after five months of rehab and recovery following offseason knee surgery. “I got the go-ahead to kind of do whatever I can without obviously being too aggressive on it,” Williams said in his first interview since the end of […]

Thomas Davis Open To Playing In 2019

Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis said he is open to playing past the 2018 season. “I’m very open to the possibility of playing next season,” said Davis. “You haven’t been listening. I’m VERY OPEN.” The 35-year-old Davis posted 100-tackle seasons from 2012 to 2016 with the Panthers and was one of the very best linebackers […]

Jason Verrett Fully Cleared For Action

Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett (knee), who has played in just five games the last two years due to issues with his left knee, has shed his brace and has been fully cleared for the first time in almost two years. The former first-rounder was a Pro Bowler three years ago but has missed […]

Josh Allen Likely To Run Third Team In Training Camp

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said the quarterback rotation will likely remain the same when training camp opens, with Nathan Peterman and AJ McCarron alternating with the first-team offense and rookie Josh Allen with the third-team. A lot could change at the end of training camp, especially since Peterman has so far been outplaying […]

Zay Jones Expected To Be Ready For Training Camp

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott expects wide receiver Zay Jones (knee, shoulder) to be ready for training camp next month. "I have no reason not to believe that at this time," McDermott said. Jones only had 27 catches for 316 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season in 15 games. He didn't get […]

Deshaun Watson's Knee Feels Good

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (knee) said his knee is feeling fine. "The knee is doing good," Watson said. "For the nine-week goal we put in from the beginning (of the offseason program), I'm pretty much where I wanted to be. Kind of passed it inside in the weight room, mentally and also on the […]

Matt Ryan Expects To Work Out With Julio Jones Next Month

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has been downplaying wide receiver Julio Jones' absence at minicamp this week and expects him to show up when he holds informal workouts next month. Ryan plans to hold unscheduled practices with teammates in South Florida before training camp. Jones has been away from the team while seeking a new […]

Mike Gillislee Feels Great

New England Patriots running back Mike Gillislee, who will be battling with Jeremy Hill for a roster spot in training camp, feels healthy, has improved in the passing game and is playing at 216 pounds, which is up slightly from the 212 pounds he was at last fall. Gillislee was signed last year to be […]

Chargers Have Reached Out To Antonio Gates

The Los Angeles Chargers have reached out to free-agent tight end Antonio Gates, but it remains unclear if they will re-sign him. Right after Hunter Henry (knee) tore his ACL, speculation began that the Bolts would turn to familiarity at the position in the veteran Gates. “Obviously, Antonio would be a natural fit,” general manager […]

Robby Anderson Says He's A Changed Man

New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson said he has learned from his two arrests in less than a year and has grown and matured as a person. He's also distanced himself from the people and places that influenced his off-field issues. Anderson was arrested last May for resisting arrest but had the charges dropped […]