NFL Player News

Carthon takes on more power within the organization after the Titans fired Mike Vrabel, who didn’t see eye to eye with Carthon on the direction of the team. The Titans said Carthon’s responsibilities will expand to include “all areas that impact the football team: roster control, team activities and personnel decisions including draft and free agency acquisitions. Carthon will also have “oversight of [head coach Brian] Callahan and his coaching staff, scouting, sports medicine, and player engagement.” It’s clear the organization will be led by Carthon. There will be no power-sharing arrangement like there was when Vrabel was in Tennessee.

Rush will join his third team in three seasons after a rough stint in Baltimore last season. He was signed after the Falcons announced Tua Tagovailoa (back) was out for at least a week. Michael Penix continues to rehab from his 2025 ACL injury, leading Rush as the team’s QB1 for training camp at the moment. It’s not an ideal situation as head coach Kevin Stefanski tries to bring his offense to Atlanta.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter, meanwhile, reports Tua will miss time with a “tight back.” Stefanski said Tua, who is widely expected to be under center for Atlanta to start the regular season, will be back in action “sooner rather than later.” Schefter said Tua could return as early as next week. The Falcons signed veteran journeyman Cooper Rush after news of the Tagovailoa injury. Michael Penix, meanwhile, is expected to participate in seven-on-seven camp drills this week while he recovers from his 2025 knee injury. Tagovailoa’s status will be worth monitoring in the coming weeks.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Greenard, who suffered the injury recently while lifting weights, “should be back soon.” Barring any setbacks, Greenard — who was acquired from the Vikings in a trade this offseason — should be OK for the start of the regular season. The Eagles and Vikings in April agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension that ties Greenard to the Eagles through 2029 and guarantees the linebacker $50 million. Greenard’s 13.5 percent pressure rate in 12 games in 2025 ranked seventh among all linebackers.

Douglas appears set to function as a mainstay of the New England passing attack in 2026 after the team used him in a rotational role in 2025. Douglas last season had a lowly 36 percent route rate and was targeted on just 20 percent of his pass routes. He was second among Pats pass catchers in yards per route run, trailing Stefon Diggs. Callahan said so far in training camp the Patriots have “featured every possible pairing” from the trio of Douglas, A.J. Brown, and Romeo Doubs, “at various times within two-back or two-tight end personnel, meaning Douglas is not always in the slot. Douglas is, however, the most consistently available of those three. The Patriots are stretching his usage and route tree more than in recent years.” Douglas could be worth monitoring in deeper fantasy formats this summer if he’s going to see a marked increase in playing time and involvement in Drake Maye’s passing attack.

It has not been an easy transition into the New Enfland offense for Brown, per Callahan, who said Drake Maye — the league’s most efficient deep ball passer in 2025 — continues to connect with Kayshon Boutte for highlight plays in training camp. Boutte, Maye’s primary deep ball option in 2025, “has unquestionably been the most dangerous receiver in camp,” according to Callahan, while Drake and Brown have connected in just three or ten targets during camp. Miscommunication, Callahan said, may be a factor in Brown’s early struggles. It’s not a reason to panic for fantasy drafters, though Boutte’s chemistry with Maye could make Boutte an interesting late-round pick, especially if the Patriots are slightly more pass heavy in 2026.

Harrison left Cardinals practice on Sunday with an apparent injury, meeting with the training staff and working on his back. Head coach Mike LaFleur revealed Harrison’s injury issue as just cramps. In his Tuesday return, Harrison worked as the WR1 in the Cardinals offense, working in 13 personnel and totaling more snaps than Michael Wilson. Harrison looks healthy for now and and enters camp with another chance to be the team’s No. 2 pass-catcher.

The Commanders fired Ben Steele from the tight end coaching role after a DWI arrest in June. Welker joined the team as an offensive assistant last offseason and will now transition to coaching the tight ends. Head coach Dan Quinn said Welker’s title is not official, but he will be in charge of Chig Okonkwo, Ben Sinnott, and the rest of the tight end room in training camp.

Crosby underwent meniscus surgery in January after playing through a left knee injury for much of last season. His health and failed physical were infamously the reason for a failed trade with the Ravens, but new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said the 28-year-old is ready for the start of training camp. He will not have the same limits as he did for the offseason program; Crosby is on track to be a full-go heading into the season.

Bell appeared in 24 games for the Dolphins over the last two seasons. He split time between defense and special teams, tallying 38 combined tackles over four active seasons between the Buccaneers, Falcons, and Dolphins. Bell now gets a chance to make the 49ers’ roster with a one-year deal.

Though he is expected to miss the start of camp, the Commanders don’t expect Way’s injury to be a long-term concern. Additionally, LB Kain Medrano (hamstring) will also miss the start of camp. Both Medrano and Way are not expected to be long-term absences and should be back on the practice field before the season.