NFL Player News

Things felt like they were trending in this direction after Whitehead immediately left the field holding his pec after making a tackle on Tommy DeVito. The veteran safety did not return to the game and will now miss the remainder of the season with what is likely a torn pectoral muscle. Whitehead signed a two-year contract with the Buccaneers this offseason after spending 2022 and 2023 with the Jets. In 11 games this season, he’s totaled 76 tackles, three pass breakups, and two TFLs. He started every game he’s appeared in this season and will presumably be back for another season. That said, the Buccaneers can save $4.5 million against the cap by cutting him next offseason and wouldn’t have any dead cap space to worry about.

Latham and Hooker are reportedly recovering from spring injuries. We suspect these are active/PUP designations because team reporter Jim Wyatt writes, “players placed on the PUP list during training camp can come off of it at any time,” indirectly indicating that these are not season-ending placements. The Titans also signed OT Zach Thomas and waived OT Ryan Hayes.

The diminutive rookie quarterback could get a chance to compete for a roster spot elsewhere. The Heisman finalist visited with the Panthers pre-draft. Perhaps he’ll receive an invitation from them. If signed this summer, Pavia could deliver a few exciting preseason showings.

Scourton will reportedly seek a second opinion, but if the ACL tear is confirmed, he will have surgery in the coming weeks. Scourton tied for a team-high five sacks as a rookie last season, while ranking second in quarterback pressures (36). Hopefully, a full year of rehab can help him return to form in 2027. Panthers EDGEs Patrick Jones and Princely Umanmielen could compete for the starting role with Scourton sidelined.

Per Minter, the Ravens’ coaching staff has “a great plan and vision for maximizing the best players.” He understandably counts Flowers among them. Flowers turns 26 in September. He cleared 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons, and posted career highs in target rate (24.4 percent) and yards per route run (2.53) last year. Flowers has also rushed for 56 yards or more in all three pro campaigns, while scoring on the ground one time in two-of-three. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said last week that he would “definitely” like to sign Flowers to an extension this summer. Flowers is a borderline WR1/2 this year.

Yesterday, Slater indicated that Montgomery will likely have “slightly” more work than RB Woody Marks this year. She went on Good Morning Football to clarify her comments today, saying the Texans envision “meaningful roles” for both players. NBC Houston’s Aaron Wilson reported something similar earlier this month. Early in June, NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reported that the Texans view Montgomery as “a potential three-down back if needed.” It sounds like that might not be needed. Slater notes, “one issue” is that both players must buy in to the idea of a split backfield, albeit with Montgomery in the lead role. Slater indicates that Montgomery wanted more work than he was getting with the Lions last year, and that the Texans “seemed like an attractive spot” for him. Houston, however, believed Montgomery would be “great for our guy, Woody Marks, who we already saw flashes from.” First-team training camp reps should help us assess whether a 55-45 split is in play. Stay tuned.

Great news all around. Giants veterans report for training camp on July 28th, giving us a timeline to monitor. Since Nabers is not going on the active/PUP list, one assumes he has a chance to participate, likely in a limited capacity, right away. Raanan adds that Nabers is still rehabbing his right knee, and that “when he runs, how he runs and when he can practice will be deduced based off his every move.” Nabers’ 2026 outlook is far from certain, but his upside remains high.

Per Wolfe, McMillan lined up in the slot on 15.0 percent of snaps last season — PFF lists him at 15.5 percent — and the Panthers plan to “double that, if not more.” Getting more opportunities to run routes against safeties and linebackers is always a good thing for fantasy purposes. Wolfe adds that McMillan added “about 8-10 pounds” this offseason, which could help him muscle through traffic over the middle. He finished as the PPR WR16 last year. Upping his slot work increases his odds of beating that finish this year.

Wolfe adds that the team hopes Brooks forms “a one-two punch” with RB Chuba Hubbard early in the year, before taking over as the starter in-season. Brooks becoming the next Mr. Unlimited in training camp is a little surprising because Wolfe said the team plans to use a committee early in the year, but obviously, training camp practices are less intense than live games. Per Wolfe, Panthers sources say Brooks has looked “incredible” thus far, albeit playing in pad-less spring practices. Brooks is currently available in Rounds 8-9 in best ball formats and makes for a high-upside pick, although he is, of course, not without risk.

The Raiders and Mendoza were reportedly at a standstill over how his signing bonus would be paid out. Mendoza wanted it to be a lump sum, while the Raiders wanted to pay it in installments. Regardless of that minor detail, the value of the contract and that it is fully guaranteed were both set in stone the moment Vegas selected him. The deal also includes a fifth-year team option.

Tillman posted a few big games in 2024 and garnered some breakout hype heading into 2025. He struggled to find much of a role, let alone put up decent counting stats, amid another lost season for the Browns. He has been rumored to be a trade candidate heading into his fourth year, but it seems unlikely that any team takes a shot on him at this point. Isaiah Bond is ahead of him on the depth chart and Tillman doesn’t play special teams, making it hard for the Browns to justify keeping him around.