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    Garafolo: Jordan Whitehead ‘fully cleared’

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    NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports free agent S Jordan Whitehead has been “fully cleared” to resume NFL career following neck surgery.

    Whitehead suffered a serious neck injury in a car crash in 2025, eventually requiring surgery to address the issue. The surgery was performed by renowned spine specialist Alex Vaccaro. Whitehead has already visited the Colts and Texans and is expected to take more visits in the immediate future as he looks to extend his playing career. The 29-year-old veteran has notched 101 career starts at the NFL level.
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    Whitehead missed time in 2024 with a torn pec. He was set to return in January and then suffered a neck injury in a car accident, preventing his return. Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Whitehead has received full medical clearance to return from the neck issue. With 101 career starts between his two stints in Tampa Bay and a stay with the Jets, Whitehead has more than enough experience to find a starting job in 2025. He totaled 79 tackles, three pass breakups, and two TFLs in 12 games last year.
  • Whitehead began his career with the Bucs and signed with the Jets after his rookie deal expired. He returned to Tampa Bay last season but only lasted one year on what could have been a two-year deal if the Bucs picked up his option. Whitehead missed time late in the season with a torn pec. Just as he was nearing a return, Whitehead got in a car accident and injured his neck, ending his season. Garafolo noted that he is expected to be recovered “well ahead of the season.” That recovery could delay a new contract, but Whitehead, only 27 years old, should be able to find another starting role elsewhere.
  • Now on the NFI list, Whitehead is required to miss at least four games, though Rapoport’s comments suggest even a deep playoff run would not be enough time for the veteran safety to return. Whitehead suffered a torn pec in Week 12 and was placed on injured reserve. The team had recently designated him to return from injured reserve and he was questionable for Week 18. Per Rapoport, Whitehead should be okay in the long term. His season ends with three pass breakups, two TFLs, and 79 combined tackles.
  • Whitehead, who was originally thought to be out for the season when he sustained his pec injury in late November, could return as soon as Week 17 against the Panthers. Tampa could also take their team and wait for Week 18 and the postseason, if they capture a playoff berth in the coming weeks. In 11 games this season, Whitehead — who signed with Tampa in the offseason — totaled 76 tackles, three pass breakups, and two tackles for loss. The struggling Bucs secondary could certainly use a healthy Whitehead.
  • It was reported Monday that Whitehead was lost for the season after sustaining a serious pec injury in Week 12 against the Giants. Garafolo said Whitehead might avoid surgery and has a shot to suit up again this year as the Bucs chase a postseason berth. The Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud said Whitehead could avoid surgery on the injured pec. The short-term loss of Whitehead will be a blow for a Tampa coverage unit that has been among the league’s worst this season.
  • Things felt like they were trending in this direction after Whitehead immediately left the field holding his pec after making a tackle on Tommy DeVito. The veteran safety did not return to the game and will now miss the remainder of the season with what is likely a torn pectoral muscle. Whitehead signed a two-year contract with the Buccaneers this offseason after spending 2022 and 2023 with the Jets. In 11 games this season, he’s totaled 76 tackles, three pass breakups, and two TFLs. He started every game he’s appeared in this season and will presumably be back for another season. That said, the Buccaneers can save $4.5 million against the cap by cutting him next offseason and wouldn’t have any dead cap space to worry about.
  • Whitehead made a tackle on quarterback Tommy DeVito and immediately grabbed at his pec after the play. He immediately ran off the field and did not return to the game. While we don’t yet know the severity of his injury, if it’s a torn pectoral, we could safely assume Whitehead’s season would be over. We’ll know more about the specifics in the coming days, but this would be a tough loss for the Buccaneers’ secondary if Whitehead is unable to return.
  • Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the deal is worth a max of $10 million. Whitehead spent the first four years of his career with the Bucs before signing a two-year deal with the Jets. He started all 34 possible games in New York and logged 17 pass breakups in six interceptions across the two seasons. An Iron Man with over 2,200 snaps over the past two years, Whitehead will take on a starting role back in Tampa Bay.
  • Per Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald, the Jets added void years to the end of Whitehead’s deal and saved $5 million against the cap this year. Whitehead’s salary for 2023 is now guaranteed. He will become a free agent next offseason. The 26-year-old safety started all 17 games for the Jets in 2022 and missed just a handful of snaps on the entire season. He broke up eight passes and notched two interceptions in his first year under Robert Saleh.

  • Whitehead has started for the Bucs for most of the last three seasons, compiling five picks and 21 passes deflected in 2,633 defensive snaps over that span. He had his best year in run defense in 2021, posting a 78.9 PFF grade, and has experience in both the box and deep. He’ll be the Marcus Maye replacement for the Jets, likely along Ashtyn Davis or Lamarcus Joyner at safety. The Bucs will likely move Mike Edwards into a full-time role to replace Whitehead.

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    Cardinals TE Travis Vokolek retired after three seasons in the NFL.

    Vokolek announces his retirement on social media Wednesday, noting a neck injury as the cause. The Cardinals tight end was carted off in Week 6 of the 2025 season. The neck injury was serious enough for doctors to advise Vokolek to “medically retire from the NFL.” Coming out of Nebraska as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Vokolek signed with the Ravens’ practice squad. The Cardinals signed him from there and he appeared in eight games over the course of three seasons in Arizona. Primarily a special teamer and blocker, Vokolek’s career ends at 28-years-old.
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    NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports QB Jimmy Garoppolo will play football this season for “the right situation.”

    Garafolo adds that Garoppolo “has not decided to retire” and will continue to play. Nothing is imminent and the “right situation” may take an injury to a starter around the league. The 34-year-old had contemplated retirement earlier in the offseason but instead is open to continuing his playing career. Garoppolo is a free agent to keep an eye on as training camp battles and injuries start to unfold.
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    Seahawks S Nick Emmanwori underwent surgery on his right ankle and is expected to be back for Week 1.

    Emmanwori recently landed on the PUP list, now revealed to be due to a recent right ankle surgery. He dealt with ankle issues all of last season but played through it in the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory. ESPN’s Brady Henderson reports Emmanwori is expected to miss some time in training camp; the 22-year-old safety is expected to be back for Week 1.
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    NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett reported to training camp while awaiting a new contract.

    Brissett and the Cardinals have had discussions on a new contract that will pay him like a starter. The 33-year-old was Arizona’s starting quarterback for the back half of last season and he now wants a pay bump from his $1.5 million in guarantees this season. The two sides have yet to reach a deal and Brissett still very much desires the new deal despite him reporting to training camp. It’s possible he will be a camp “hold-in” until the Cardinals get him the desired contract.
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    Raiders signed fourth-round rookie Jermod McCoy to a four-year contract.

    McCoy slid to the fourth round of the draft because of long-term health concerns surrounding his knee. He missed the 2025 season with a torn ACL and there were reports late in the draft cycle that he would need a second surgery, which would have sidelined him for the entirety of his rookie season. That hasn’t happened and McCoy managed to get some limited reps during OTAs and training camp. McCoy participated in walkthroughs and individual drills before sitting out team drills. All signs point toward him being available at some point during training camp and playing in some capacity this season.
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    Cardinals guard Isaiah Adams is facing charges for possessing a weapon by crime, possessing a restricted or prohibited firearm without a license, possessing a loaded firearm, and possessing a prohibited device.

    Adams turned himself in to Toronto police on Sunday. Per ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss, he is still expected to report to training camp. Adams was expected to compete for a starting job at right guard this summer, but the off-field concerns could see him shuffled to the bench for the start of the season. A 2024 third-round pick, Adams made 11 starts in 2025 and five starts as a rookie.
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    The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt believes Isaiah Davis is the “early favorite” for the Jets’ backup running back job.

    Rosenblatt led his breakdown by noting that Davis and Braelon Allen will both get snaps, so there isn’t likely to be a clear winner behind Breece Hall. Allen missed most of the 2025 season with a knee injury. In his absence, the Jets leaned on Davis as a pass-catcher to give Hall the occasional breather. He was targeted 28 times and brought down 21 of them for 186 yards. Davis has also been effective between the tackles, averaging 5.6 yards per carry through two seasons compared to 3.7 for Allen. The Jets’ backup job could have some appeal in deeper fantasy leagues, but it sounds like fantasy managers will want to get more info from training camp before placing their bets.
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    Seahawks placed Zach Charbonnet (knee) on the active/PUP list.

    Charbonnet is still recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in the Divisional Round last year. He can be activated from the PUP list at any time, though the most likely outcome is that he misses all of camp and is then moved to the reserve/PUP list. That would require him to miss at least the first four games of the season. With Kenneth Walker gone, the Seahawks will rely on first-round rookie Jadarian Price to start the year. George Holani and Emmanuel Wilson could also mix in for some touches, with Holani likely operating as the primary option on passing downs.
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    Cardinals signed third-round rookie Carson Beck to a four-year contract.

    The first pick of the third round, Beck’s deal is worth roughly $7.4 million over four years. Jacoby Brissett is also gunning for a new contract, though he is looking for a raise on his current salary and more guarantees. Brissett is penciled in as the Week 1 starter and is not even a highly paid backup. The two sides should come to an agreement soon, though the deal won’t guarantee Brissett a full season as the starter. If things don’t go well for Arizona this year, they will almost certainly take a look at Beck near the end of the season.
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    Cardinals placed Kaleb Proctor (knee) on season-ending injured reserve.

    The fourth-round rookie suffered a torn meniscus in OTAs. Head coach Matt LaFleur didn’t sound optimistic about his odds of suiting up this year when it happened. Now his absence is official. With over a year to recover from the injury, Proctor will hopefully be fully recovered ahead of the 2027 season.