NFL Player News

Tucker saw eight carries in Week 2 but was scaled back to two attempts and no targets this week. He has also been entirely ineffective on the ground with just 24 yards on 13 carries. Fantasy managers can cut him loose on the upcoming run of the waiver wire.

White took to his Instagram on Sunday to announce the news. The rookie out of Western Carolina University, who totaled 819 yards and two receptions in his two seasons with the Catamounts, is expected to be placed on injured reserve and could have a chance to compete for a roster spot next season.

Eberflus seems high on Swift’s ability to play on any down and distance, saying Swift was somebody they needed to “operate on third down and even on first or second down and be a weapon in the deep part of the field and the short part of the field and take it the distance.” Eberflus also mentioned the possibility of splitting Swift out wide, noting that he can “run the full route tree.” Swift is in an offense that appears chock full of playmakers, with D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze all expected to see significant work in the passing game, but the Bears’ commitment to Swift (three-year, $24 million contract) suggests he’ll see plenty of work as the team’s lead back. He’s not expected to be a complete workhorse, as Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson are also expected to see touches, but for a guy currently going as a low-end RB2 in fantasy drafts, there’s a good chance Swift out-performs his ADP it what should be a much-improved Bears offense.

Cimini believes Lazard’s lack of special teams value could end up sealing his fate. He also reports Lazard looked “shaky” in the last OTA practice open to the media last week. This, after Lazard was frequently a healthy scratch down the stretch in 2023. It sounds like it’s time for the Jets to cut their losses on this one.

Franklin gets a four-year deal worth a maximum of $4.874 million and an $854,836 signing bonus, bringing his year-one cap hit to $1.008 million. Franklin enters camp behind Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds, and Marvin Mims but could force the issue as far as playing time goes with a solid camp and preseason.

Haack signed with the Bills earlier this offseason after joining their practice squad in January. The veteran punter appeared in just one game for the Browns last season, attempting three punts while averaging 41.7 net yards per punt. He’s bounced around four different teams since being let go by the Dolphins after the 2020 season but has enough experience to catch on elsewhere and compete for a job in camp.

Steveson doesn’t have a football background but won the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 125kg freestyle. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher compiled an 85-2 career record in college and won two NCAA titles in his weight class. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Steveson will play defensive line and first put on a pair of cleats a few weeks ago when he worked out for the Bills. We’ll see how this plays out in camp, but the 24-year-old champ faces an uphill battle to make the roster.

Risner is a proven blocker in the passing game, reliably producing PFF pass-blocking grades ranging from 67.4-to-73.6 in his five-year NFL career. Risner’s re-signing fortifies Minnesota’s offensive line as an above-average pass-protection unit for first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s rookie season.

Lions GM Brad Holmes said two weeks ago said the team is ramping up the second-year back for a heftier workload in 2024. Montgomery said the team needs Gibbs “to go from a passing game standpoint is go to the next level. ... I do think there’s a certain difference between being a really efficient check-down versus a great route-runner, a guy that can run all types of choice (routes). We know we’ve seen him do those things. But now can you go into the slot and a little bit more down the field, some intermediate stuff. Can we continue to grow him there, and that’s what we’re trying to do.” This is standard fare for offseason talk of a talented pass-catching running back. Gibbs in 2023 ran 9.2 percent of his routes from the slot. We could see a slight bump in that slot usage but it doesn’t change much about his statistical profile.

Mitchell has made consistent acrobatic downfield grabs in 7-on-7 drills during OTAs, catching the attention of beat writers and Colts coaches alike. Boyd said on Thursday, Anthony Richardson “launched a deep ball down the sideline to Mitchell, who, after beating cornerback Darrell Baker contorted his body to make an over-the-shoulder grab that drew a roar of approval from the offense. That highlight-reel play explains why the Colts were willing to take a swing on Mitchell despite just one year of big-time production from him in college.” Mitchell, the 52nd overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, posted an explosive 55/845/11 line in his final collegiate season (his only one at Texas). Mitchell should function as a pure downfield threat for the big-armed Richardson in 2024.

New Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald agreed, describing JSN’s work ethic as “awesome.” The implication is that Smith-Njigba didn’t put in the necessary work during his disappointing rookie season, during which he caught 62 of 90 targets for 628 yards and four touchdowns. JSN would have to leapfrog DK Metcalf or Tyler Lockett in the team’s pass-catching pecking order if he’s going to be a reliable fantasy option in 2024. That seems unlikely.