NFL Player News

O’Connell said he wouldn’t consider starting McCarthy again until his ankle injury no longer affects his mobility and practice participation. “First and foremost,” O’Connell said, “he’s got to get healthy. And then, I don’t think it’s one of those things where it’s, hey, he’s healthy the night before a game, we’re going to throw him out there and say, ‘Hey, go figure it out’ type of thing.” It was unclear whether McCarthy is guaranteed the starting gig when he’s ready to return to game action. Carson Wentz was serviceable in the Vikings’ Week 3 blowout win against the Bengals, completing 70 percent of his passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Only eight quarterbacks had a higher EPA per drop back than Wentz in Week 3. CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson reported on Sunday that the Vikings expected McCarthy back for Week 7. If Wentz is playing well and the team is winning, it wouldn’t be a surprise for McCarthy to serve as Wentz’s backup for the remainder of the season after his catastrophic start to the 2025 season.

Okoye entered the NFL via the International Player Pathway Program in 2023 and took his first regular season snaps in 2025. He logged 214 defensive snaps last year, notching 10 solo tackles and two quarterback pressures. Okoye, 24, will likely play a rotational role again this year.

It’s a one-year deal. Jones, 28, logged a career-low 39 defensive snaps during the 2025 regular season and coincidentally earned a career-high 74.4 PFF coverage grade. He is unlikely to win a starting job this year, but he can serve as a decent backup. His performance on special teams can be volatile.

Financial details have not yet been disclosed, but it is a one-year deal for the 27-year-old blocker. Paul’s 78.2 PFF pass-blocking grade ranked second among Commanders offensive linemen with at least 100 offensive snaps last season. His run blocking needs work, but he should continue to give QB Jayden Daniels extra time in the pocket.

Ward was diagnosed with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder on January 5th. On February 20th, Wolfe reported that Ward was focused on building up his lower body and was expected to resume throwing in March. Sounds like he is on track, which is great to hear. He is expected to be ready for offseason team workouts this spring. The Titans’ front office signed WR Wan’Dale Robinson and TE Daniel Bellinger in free agency this week, providing Ward with more receiving weapons in his second NFL season. Ward is reportedly staying in Nashville this offseason to work with new coaches and players ahead of the 2026 season.

Davis, 27, set or tied his prior career highs in tackles (20), TFLs (six), quarterback pressures (nine) and sacks (one) with the 49ers last season. He will likely slot in as a rotational member of the Browns’ top-notch defense in 2026.

Earlier today, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that “the Eagles will not trade A.J. Brown at this time.” Garafolo said he “does not sense real momentum right now,” but he believes general manager Howie Roseman will engage in potential trade talks over the weekend. The Eagles face $20.5 million in dead money if they allow Goedert’s contract to expire at the new void deadline on Monday. Signing him to a new deal would allow them to spread some of that $20.5 million around to other years. Brown carries a cap hit greater than $23 million this year. Releasing him pre-June 1 would result in more than $72 million in dead money and a loss of $49 million in cap room. Per Over The Cap, the Eagles build team-friendly trade windows into their contracts. If the Eagles trade Brown before June 1st, the dead money drops to $48.939 million and the cap hit drops to $25.5 million. The two players’ futures with the team “are interconnected.”

Injuries have significantly impacted Ojabo’s career. The Ravens drafted him via a second-round pick in 2022 as he was recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon. He debuted in Week 15 that year, and later suffered a surgery-worthy, partially torn ACL in September 2023. In 2025, he totaled a career-high 12 solo tackles and pressured opposing quarterbacks five times. He will likely contribute as a rotational player with the Dolphins.

Hand, 30, has played for four other teams over the course of his career. His 17 quarterback pressures and two sacks are the most since his 2018 rookie season with the Lions. He also totaled 18 solo tackles and five TFLs. The latter figure ties for a career high.

Joseph-Day, 30, pressured quarterbacks 20 times last season, the second-highest figure of his career. He also notched one sack, 32 solo tackles and 10 TFLs. His signing gives the Steelers another capable, versatile defensive lineman who can immediately make an impact.