Beat: X-receiver Hurst looks like X-factor at camp

Fowlers said the team expects Barner to be more involved as a pass catcher in 2026 after recording 52 receptions for 519 yards and six touchdowns last season (while being targeted on 19 percent of his routes). Barner, following multiple offseason surgeries to clean up nagging injuries, is fully healthy and ready for a more prominent role in Seattle’s offense. New Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, meanwhile, is expected to use plenty of two tight end sets in 2026, meaning TE Elijah Arroyo could see an increase in snaps and routes. Barner has a little bit of extra hidden upside as the Seahawks’ primary tush push option near the goal line.

This is just further confirmation that none of the Seattle backs are primed to see big workloads in 2026 unless the backfield struggles with injuries. Macdonald said he’s been impressed by rookie RB Jadarian Price, who he compared favorably to Dalvin Cook. With Zach Charbonnet recovering from his 2025 knee injury, Fowlers said George Holani and Emanuel Wilson would be backfield factors early in the season. Fowlers added that Price’s “profile should only grow as we approach September.” For now Price is sidelined with a leg injury.

Raanan said Dart slid feet first at the tail end of a third down run during a recent training camp practice — his first slide in 11 camp practices. His teammates approved. “We’ve been begging him to do that for a while,” Giants outside linebacker Brian Burns said. “So, I’m glad that he’s starting to practice it.” Giants head coach John Harbaugh said he “clapped” and “applauded” upon seeing Dart slide instead of initiate contact with an oncoming defender, as he often did during his 2025 rookie season, resulting in a series of head injuries. One of the first topics new quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan discussed with Dart in the spring was the importance of avoiding big hits when he leaves the pocket, according to Raanan. Dart has said, per Raanan, that he “would still try to run over defenders” near the end zone. If Dart takes the advice seriously, he should have a healthier second NFL season.

Pierce remains well behind schedule following offseason surgery on his ankle, with it now coming to light that the veteran receiver required a second PRP injection in his left ankle. Now well beyond the original recovery window following the late-March surgery, Pierce appears to be in legitimate danger of missing time when games start to count if the platelet-rich plasma injections do not speed up his recovery for the second time. Pierce signed a four-year, $114 million contract extension with the Colts this offseason after the team lost Michael Pittman in a trade to the Steelers, signifying an intent to move forward with Pierce as their primary option at the position. That move could prove costly if Pierce misses regular season time. Josh Downs and Tyler Warren would be in line to benefit the most from any absence from Pierce.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said that all three of Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, and Kimani Vidal will be featured in the backfield this season. “Good news is I see all three of those guys performing at a very high level,” McDaniel said. “Kinda play hot hand once you’re into games.” While that’s not the best news for fantasy managers that invested second round picks into Hampton, the opportunity for the Chargers to turn heads on the scoreboard could result in a case of “a rising tide raises all ships.” McDaniel famously, and recently, made two backs top-six producers in fantasy points per game in the same season, with both Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane finishing 2023 in that range. Whether a similar situation transpires in Los Angeles remains to be seen.

The details of the contract were not made readily available, although the signing appears to be a depth move at the position after the team signed both Brian Robinson and Tyler Goodson this offseason. The depth behind starter Bijan Robinson remains a work in progress for the Falcons, meaning Sermon could carve out a spot on the 53-man roster during the remainder of camp and the preseason.

The good news for Wilson is that it sounds like the Cardinals are hoping to sign him to an extension. The bad news is that when asked if he expects an extension to get done, Ossenfort responded, “Expect? That’s a tough word.” Wilson broke out for 78 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns last season with the Cardinals, with much of his production coming after Jacoby Brissett took over. The fourth-year receiver has received glowing reports throughout camp and could emerge as the team’s WR1 this season. It seems unlikely the Cardinals will extend Wilson as he enters the fourth and final year of his rookie deal.

Did you really think the Cowboys wouldn’t sign a star defensive player to a contract extension? Williams appeared in 15 games last season, including seven for the Cowboys after the team acquired him last November. In his limited action with the Cowboys, Williams totaled 21 tackles, three TFLs and 1.5 sacks, and earned his fourth-straight trip to the Pro Bowl. He’s one of the league’s premier run-stoppers and is now under contract through the 2030 season. Williams’ deal is the third-largest for a defensive lineman in NFL history and includes $101 million in total guaranteed money.

This move comes just hours after it was announced that the Patriots would be waiving the 2024 third-rounder. Now, Wallace will get a chance to restart his career with the Dolphins after a disappointing two-year stint in New England, where he appeared in just 10 games. In addition to Wallace, the Dolphins also received a 2029 seventh-round pick in the swap.

It’s the kind of thing fantasy managers hate to hear. When speaking about his running backs on Monday, McDaniel said, “I see all three producing at a very high level,” while saying the workload for each back could depend on the opponent and who has the “hot hand.” While it’s certainly concerning on the surface, we feel pretty confident in Omarion Hampton having the safest role as far as fantasy is concerned, while Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal could prove a bit more volatile. Their volatility has been baked into their ADP all offseason, as Mitchell is often going in the 12th or 13th round of drafts while Vidal often goes undrafted. It may take some time to get a good sense of McDaniel’s plans for the backfield, but we would expect a clear-cut RB1 and RB2 to emerge this season.