NFL Player News

It was a no-show performance considering Thornton, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jalen Reagor were the Patriots’ only three healthy wideouts. With just 11 catches for 68 yards all season, Thornton’s 53-man roster spot is beginning to look in danger for 2024.

Jacobs is working through a hamstring issue as the Packers’ OTAs are underway. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur does not expect him to be sidelined long as Jacobs was limited in Tuesday’s workouts. Soft tissue injuries can linger but are not all that uncommon getting back into football workouts in the offseason. Jacobs also dealt with a quad strain that kept him out for a few games at the end of last season. No cause for concern with the hamstring issue just yet, but something to eye for Packers OTAs.

Parsons has been absent from Cowboys OTAs as a new contract looms ahead for him. However, he told Slater that he will be “in house” for media responsibilities next week and for minicamp. Parsons is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal and while the Cowboys picked up his fifth-year option, the All-Pro is headed for a payday soon. Every missed offseason activity, such as OTAs, brings speculation of a holdout. The fact that Parsons plans to report for media duties and minicamp should ease Cowboys fans’ concerns at least for a little bit.

ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported that Saleh mentioned Gardner may travel with opponents’ No. 1 receivers more than last year. It won’t be exclusive, but Gardner is the Jets’ top corner and headed for shadowing duties. He tallied 11 passes defended while earning a first-team All-Pro honor last season. The Jets secondary was one of the best in the league as a whole and with Gardner shadowing top receivers more often in his third season, D.J. Reed and company will cover the rest of the field.

“It’s nothing to worry about,” coach Sean McVay claimed. “He’ll be ready to go for training camp, but there’s a little issue when he was training, and (I’ll) kind of just leave it at that. But nothing to be concerned about.” McVay can say he’s not worried all he wants, but his actions speak louder than words. McVay already seemed to be losing faith in Williams’ ability to stay healthy when he made Michigan RB Blake Corum the third overall running back off the board at No. 83 in April’s draft. Williams, of course, also has a history of foot issues, to say nothing of last year’s ankle injury. He broke his hand in the Wild Card Round. GM Les Snead spoke of wanting to avoid Williams becoming “totally run down.” Williams is shaping up as a risk/reward RB1 after last year’s phenomenal, albeit abbreviated, campaign.

Fields also stated that he is nowhere his ceiling and that Wilson knows they are competing. Although he will enter the season as a backup, he’ll likely need an injury or subpar play from Wilson to be QB1. Until he’s the starter, Fields is most likely best stashed on your dynasty rosters.

Per Pelissero, the photographer whom Rice allegedly struck at the nightclub has since told police that the incident was a misunderstanding. Rice is still facing multiple charges and a possible suspension for his involvement in a street race and car crash in April. Until the legal process plays out, it’s impossible to say how much time Rice will miss because of his actions. He is currently present for Chiefs OTAs this week.

Still recovering from a knee injury that ended his 2020 season, Bakhtiari, 32, has undergone multiple surgeries and was recently deemed by Dr. Brian Cole to be on schedule for a 2024 return. It remains to be seen whether the grizzled veteran will be able to return to elite form if and when he gets back on the field. Released by the Packers in March, he’ll look to sign a short-term deal with another team looking for pass protection help. Look for longtime friend Aaron Rodgers to recruit Bakhtiari in the coming weeks.

It’s good news for the second-year wideout after suffering a horrific leg break last fall and sustaining a gunshot wound in April. Dell, who had 709 yards on 47 grabs in 11 games before his season-ending injury, could see reduced playing time in 2024 if the Texans are intent on getting newly-acquired WR Stefon Diggs on the field. Dell should remain an explosive weapon for an up-and-coming Houston passing attack led by C.J. Stroud.

Rodgers is “doing everything” with his teammates eight months after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the 2023 season opener. It’s hardly a surprise considering Rodgers was toying with the idea of returning to the field in December, just 90 days removed from his Achilles tear. If Rodgers, 40, stays upright in 2024, the Jets offense — paired with an elite defense — could be efficient enough to make the team a Super Bowl contender.

It’s not a big surprise that Williams is working on the side during Jets OTAs, but it’s worth noting the veteran continues to recover from his 2023 ACL injury as we enter the summer months. Williams, entering his age-30 season, said in March he’ll be ready for the season opener. Williams will probably be a distant WR2 option behind Garrett Wilson in the New York offense. The aged Aaron Rodgers’ ability to throw downfield coming off an Achilles injury could determine just how much Williams is involved in 2024.