NFL Player News

Michael is being brought in as either the TEs coach or passing game coordinator. He will work under the yet-to-be-hired offensive coordinator. Michael did not call the plays in Tennessee while Ken Whisenhunt was in charge, and the offense did not take off after Whisenhunt was canned. Still, Michael is extremely young as coaches go. He should emerge in coordinator discussions again in the near future.

Hoecht missed the first six games of the 2025 season due to a performance enhancing drugs suspension. He appears in Weeks 8-9, but suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture. He made a big impact while active, notching eight quarterback pressures, three sacks, one tackle and one batted pass. He has been working to the side with the strength and conditioning staff during organized team activities thus far. Getting Hoecht back early in the year, even in a rotational capacity, would be helpful.

Underhill outlined his thoughts on the run game in a lengthy piece, exploring how run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti plans to build the run game around his players’ strengths. With RB Travis Etienne set to operate as the lead back, the team can use Kamara selectively in space, running routes, on screens and by exploiting matchups. It remains to be seen whether Kamara, 30, will remain in New Orleans, but it sounds like he could end up with a PPR-friendly FLEX role if he does.

Underhill believes RB Travis Etienne’s skillset “is exactly what the Saints need if inside zone and outside zone are going to remain the base.” That said, the Saints are also excited about Etienne’s versatility. Paganetti praised his intelligence, pass protection, route running ability and added that Etienne is more than just a one-cut runner. If RB Alvin Kamara, 30, remains with the team, Underhill believes Etienne’s presence allows the team to use Kamara selectively, rather than relying on him all game long. Underhill adds that the Saints’ play-action passing game was very efficient in 13 personnel, albeit via a small sample size. The front office added multiple tight ends this offseason and the coaching staff wants the running game “to feed the passing game,” which could mean more runs out of three-tight end sets. Etienne is looking like an RB2 with RB1 upside in an ascending offense.

Underhill’s colleagues, Mike Triplett and John Hendrix, agree. Triplett was the most bearish of the bunch, saying he is not sure that Shough will be able to crack the position’s top 10. Underhill notes that Vegas sports books have Shough in a five-way tie for the sixth-best odds to lead the NFL in passing yards. He adds that he is “not sure” if he can get to sixth, but he knows for sure that he can’t get to 13th. Shough was the QB10 in per-game fantasy scoring from Weeks 8-18, and the upgraded offense is expected to take another step in Year 2 under head coach Kellen Moore. Shough’s top-12 passing potential seems legit, and he has a shot to finish in that range in fantasy as well.

Kittle described Evans as being “the first legit veteran wide receiver [he’s] had on [the] roster since Emmanuel Sanders in 2019,” adding that Evans “takes ball seriously.” The 49ers’ wide receiver corps has had its distractions over the past few seasons, but it appears as though Evans has been a stabilizing presence for the offense. Teammates told The Athletic’s Matt Barrows that “Evans’ length and route-running ability have already been evident,” and Evans has played very well in red zone drills. Evans adds that his change of scenery, from Tampa Bay to San Francisco, has him feeling “rejuvenated.” If his health can hold up, Evans could find himself in the fantasy WR2 tier with touchdown-based upside.

Per NBC Sports Houston’s Aaron Wilson, the rookie wide receiver has now cleared waivers and is a free agent. Walthall struggled to produce in his three seasons at Hawaii before breaking out after transferring to Incarnate Word in 2024. He fared well at the NFL Scouting Combine and could get a chance to make a final roster elsewhere.

Tucker, 25, is now the longest-tenured player in the Raiders’ wide receiver corps. Since being drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft’s third round, Tucker has had four head coaches, seven offensive coordinators, three wide receiver coaches and seven different starting quarterbacks. He has never cleared 700 yards in a single season, but his offensive environment has been a factor. Per Kubiak, Raiders receivers will line up all over the formation, as the X, Z and slot. Last year, Tucker ran 83.2 percent of his routes from the perimeter. Adding interior usage will benefit him. Although TE Brock Bowers will operate as the clear-cut No. 1 pass catcher, Tucker could warrant FLEX treatment if he can secure the No. 2 pass-catcher role/No. 1 wide receiver role this summer.

Then on injured reserve, Benson said he was feeling good when his practice window opened, and he knew this was his “time to shine” as the Cardinals’ lead running back. Unfortunately, he started “going a little too hard” on the practice field and ended up triggering a setback. He was still working his way back onto the practice field as of earlier this week. The Cardinals are currently on break until mandatory minicamp begins on June 8th. Hopefully, Benson can resume practicing then. ESPN’s Dan Graziano believes Benson could be a trade candidate, given the Cardinals’ depth at the running back position. Perhaps, he will receive another time to shine in a new locale.

Earlier today, the team announced that they have voted to advance stadium development plans in Hammond, Indiana, though a site has not yet been chosen. Per Pelissero, the team also still has to get “the financing together [and] the legal documents together,” meaning the move has not yet been finalized. Pelissero notes that the Vikings nearly made a similarly significant location switch in the past and went so far as to make a similar public announcement about its intentions to move. Within a few months, the Minnesota legislature was making the necessary moves to keep the team in its same location. Rich Eisen asked Pelissero if today’s team statement could have been made to an “audience of one,” Governor J.B. Pritzker. Pelissero responded indirectly, noting only that “Illinois really has not presented anything yet,” so a counterproposal could be on the way.

Klein’s hamstring injury is not expected to be a long-term issue. The athletic second-round rookie caught 37 passes for 351 yards and one touchdown over his final two college seasons. The Texans have a decent group of backup tight ends, though many of the veterans have fairly extensive injury histories. Klein may have a chance to earn the TE2 role this season.