NFL Player News

The Packers have made it known through various reports in the last week that they intend to discuss a new contract with LaFleur after the season. The tenor of those potential discussions likely hasn’t changed much, despite outside noise after the Packers lost in all-too-familiar fashion in the playoffs once again. Green Bay doesn’t want LaFleur, who has one year left on his contract, to enter next season as a lame-duck. The Packers can somewhat afford to play hardball with LaFleur in contract negotiations now. The organization isn’t known for paying coaches top tier money and LaFleur may not be in position to ask for that anymore, despite a 76-41-1 record. Upgrading from LaFleur to someone like John Harbaugh would be even less cost-effective for the Packers. Teams around the league with head coaching vacancies are keeping tabs on LaFleur in case these negotiations fall apart as he’d be a top candidate if he were to become available.

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.

$52.3 million of the contract is guaranteed. It’s a huge payday for a 29-year-old cornerback, but Ward has been a stalwart for the Browns defense his entire career and hasn’t shown any real signs of aging just yet. He had two years remaining on his contract, so it’s likely that most of that guaranteed money just ties him to the Browns through 2027.

*polite chuckle* Oh Dolphins, you’ve really done it this time. There wouldn’t seem to be a real spot for Edwards-Helaire as a backup with Ollie Gordon and Jaylen Wright already here. Edwards-Helaire has not seen 100 carries in a season since 2021 and was somehow irrelevant even in the Chiefs backfield last year.

We don’t have a good indication of what happened to Noel yet, only that it occurred outside of the facility. Texans GM Nick Caserio will speak to the press tomorrow and we presume this will be asked. It’s not an ideal start to camp for Noel, to put it mildly.

Dell notably was not placed on the active/PUP list today as the Texans reported, which means he’ll be dialed up right away in training camp. Wilson adds that Dell “continues to make major strides” and is “regaining explosiveness, cutting ability and strength.” Dell enters training camp as a sleeper, but he’s got a chance to have a real fantasy role this season with a big camp.

Parsons is unlikely to return before Week 4, the question ahead of us appears to be if it’ll be Week 4 or Week 5. If it’s Week 5, Parsons can be stored on the reserve/PUP list ahead of the season. This timeline has been a consistent drum beat coming out of the Packers since March, so this placement comes as no surprise.