NFL Player News

He’s a veteran tryout player. Denver does not have much behind Javonte Williams (knee) and Samaje Perine at the position as far as established play. Snell fell out of favor with the Steelers last year as Jaylen Warren became the No. 2 back. Snell averaged 3.6 yards per carry on 275 career totes with the Steelers.

The No. 2 overall pick began rookie minicamp by focusing on the offensive side of the ball, with head coach Liam Coen indicating he will begin to see defensive reps next week. The way the team has been bringing him along in practice seems to back up previous reports that the two-way phenom would primarily play on offense while being mixed in to specific packages on defense. Hunter’s fantasy upside remains sky-high while operating in a Coen offense that just ranked fourth in the league in scoring in 2024 while with the Buccaneers.

There continues to be positive news out of Denver regarding the status of recent addition Dre Greenlaw, who enters the 2025 season coming off a significant quad injury sustained in a private workout that initially jeopardized his season. The injury was reported to be a torn quad muscle but the superstar linebacker avoided surgery and appears to be tracking for the start of the team’s offseason preparations. Expect Greenlaw to amplify a Broncos interior that also includes standout linebacker Alex Singleton.

The Saints selected rookie Tyler Shough in the second round of this year’s draft and still have holdovers Jake Heaner and Spencer Rattler on the roster. Both Haener and Rattler received extended looks last season following Carr’s injury, so it would stand to reason that Shough will be given every chance to earn the starting gig under center for the Saints. That said, Moore mentioned today that “there’s a blank slate there,” indicating the team will be patient with their decision and let it play out through OTAs, camp, and the preseason. On if the team would consider adding a veteran quarterback, Moore stated, “we’ll certainly have awareness to it.” Stay tuned.

The electric rookie tight end underwent offseason shoulder surgery and has not yet been cleared to participate in rookie minicamp. Loveland was not only present but was seen with a helmet on while warming up to the side on Friday, indicating he may be close to a return to the practice field. He should immediately be considered a TE1 in fantasy circles after being selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by Ben Johnson’s Bears.

Wow, to put it mildly. The news was announced by the team itself. Saints insider Nick Underhill reports Carr “tried all his options to get back on the field and ultimately decided against having another surgery and will retire.” He also reports the Saints will “recoup the money from this offseason’s restructure and will get cap relief.” In a statement, the team said Carr was dealing with a “labral tear and also had significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff,” and that surgery would not guarantee a return to full effectiveness. It’s a sad end for a player who spent most of his career overachieving, though perhaps not surprising. Carr, who almost never missed time before last season, had grown increasingly prone to playing through injury. It apparently was no longer sustainable. Carr never won a playoff game but qualified for four Pro Bowls. He was ultimately a high-floor, limited-ceiling player who maximized every ounce of his talent to start over a decade in the league. Carr’s retirement means rookie second-rounder Tyler Shough will now begin the season as Saints starter barring something truly surprising happening in training camp.

Petit-Frere hasn’t lived up to expectations since being drafted back in the third round back in 2022, but he represents a worthwhile low-risk dice role for the 49ers as a backup tackle. There’s still some potential upside here since he won’t turn 26 years old until mid-September. He’s started 28 games over the last three seasons. There are worse depth option out there.

As far as Day 3 wide receiver prospects go, Lambert-Smith intrigues. The former Auburn and Penn State receiver brings field-stretching 4.37-second Forty speed and averaged 2.70 yards per route run in his final college season. The Chargers retooled their wide receiver personnel this offseason, giving newcomers a chance to prove themselves in a shifting landscape. Lambert-Smith has a long way to go before he becomes relevant in re-draft formats, but he makes for a smart late-round dynasty add.

As Easterling notes, Gabriel was drafted 50 picks ahead of Sanders, so this should be the expectation. Given Sanders’ star power, though, it would have been unsurprising to see the Browns let the two rookies take turns entering drills as the QB1. Ultimately, both Gabriel and Sanders were given “equal reps” and drew praise from fellow rookie, TE Harold Fannin, who thinks both players are “going to be great.” Regardless, Gabriel appears to at least be nominally ahead of Sanders on the depth chart, for the time being.

Smith’s star burned brightly for a few seasons with the Cowboys after battling back from a knee injury suffered in his final college season (2015) that included an ACL tear, an MCL tear and nerve damage. He spent the 2022 season with the Giants before bouncing between the Saints, Steelers and Raiders’ rosters in 2023. He logged just 25 snaps that year. Now 29 years old, Smith will once again attempt an uphill climb toward a comeback.

James was a productive rusher and receiver while serving as Oregon’s 2024 starter. He’ll attempt to challenge veteran RB Patrick Taylor Jr. for the No. 3 role in the 49ers’ July training camp. With just Day 3 draft capital, James has a long way to go before finding re-draft relevance but he is worthy of a bench spot in dynasty leagues.