NFL Player News

  • Packers' Edgerrin Cooper: Making good impression early

    Cooper logged a strong showing during mandatory minicamp in June and is trending toward securing a first-team role for training camp, Mike Spofford of the Packers' official site reports.

    Cooper, a rookie second-round pick, has a clear path to the Packers' starting middle linebacker spot following the departure of De'Vondre Campbell, so it's encouraging to already see him impressing his new coaching staff. Coach Matt LaFleur praised "how engaged [Cooper has] been and how locked in he's been throughout the course of the offseason," and by all accounts it looks like the former Texas A&M standout is quickly acclimating to new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's scheme. At 6-foot-2, 229 pounds, Cooper is slightly undersized compared to 2022 first-round pick Quay Walker, but he boasts enough athleticism to lean on as he bulks up. Veterans Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson and rookie third-rounder Ty'Ron Hopper project to round out Green Bay's linebacker corps alongside Cooper and Walker.

  • CeeDee Lamb WR | DAL

    Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb: Could hold out from training camp

    Lamb isn't likely to report for the start of training camp on July 24 if he doesn't have a new contract by then, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic.

    Lamb didn't show up for June minicamp, which means he can be fined a little more than $100,000. He's scheduled to make $17.99 million under a fifth-year option in 2024, whereas a long-term contract will cost the Cowboys nearly twice that much per season. It might nonetheless lower Lamb's cap hit for 2024, depending on how the deal is structured, and Machota suggests the most likely outcome is a long-term contract before Dallas players report to camp. If not, Lamb may continue his holdout and accrue further fines while his agent negotiates a deal.

  • 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk: Hoping to stay in San Francisco

    Aiyuk recently told The Pivot podcast that he wants and expects to play for the 49ers this season despite being frustrated with contract negotiations at times.

    "If I were to take a guess, probably a Niners uniform," Aiyuk said. "But if not a Niners uniform, probably a Washington Commander uniform. " Aiyuk said there have been times when he thought he was close to signing a new contract but also other moments where it felt the two sides were far apart. He met with the 49ers last Monday, and he then told The Pivot podcast that he's currently "in the right place, with the right quarterback" but "not on the right terms." Even though Aiyuk mentioned teaming up with close friend Jayden Daniels, the new QB in Washington, it sounds like the wideout still prefers San Francisco if he can get the contract he wants (or something close to it).

  • Eagles' Zech McPhearson: Recovered from Achilles injury

    McPhearson said during a community event Saturday that he's "100 percent" recovered from his Achilles tear and that he'll be a full-go at the start of training camp, Andrew DiCecco of Inside the Birds reports.

    McPhearson missed all of last season after tearing his right Achilles during a preseason game. Prior to the injury, the cornerback had played in 33 of a possible 34 regular-season contests and in all four of the Eagles' playoff games during his first two years in the NFL. McPhearson was adamant Saturday that he's back to full health and will be ready to participate from the first day of training camp, despite sitting out of spring practices as part of a "strategic ramp-up regimen." The 26-year-old will be competing for a depth role in a crowded Eagles secondary.

  • Keith Kirkwood WR | BAL

    Ravens' Keith Kirkwood: Brings added depth to BAL WR corps

    The Ravens signed Kirkwood on Friday, Ryan Mink of the team's official site reports.

    Kirkwood was brought aboard by the Ravens after having participated in minicamp on a tryout basis. In 13 games for the Saints during the 2023 regular season, the 29-year-old caught five of his nine targets for 37 yards and a TD. With the Ravens, Kirkwood will compete for a depth role in a wideout corps that also includes Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Devontez Walker, Tylan Wallace and Deonte Harty.

  • Jordan Addison WR | MIN

    Vikings' Jordan Addison: Impresses at spring practices

    Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said Addison had "as good of an offseason program as really you can ask for," ESPN's Kevin Seifert reports.

    O'Connell said the wideout is stronger than he was as a rookie, and Addison mentioned that he's working to improve his technique on releases. Addison seems to have enjoyed a healthy offseason program, whereas last year he missed spring practices with an unspecified injury after the Vikings drafted him 23rd overall. He was on pace for 1,000 yards before Week 16, when an ankle sprain slowed him down, and he scored five touchdowns of at least 37 yards (plus a pair of 20-yarders) en route to a 70-911-10 receiving line across 108 targets and 17 regular-season games. There should be more target share for the taking due to TE T.J. Hockenson (knee) uncertain for the early part of the season and former No. 3 receiver K.J. Osborn leaving in free agency, but there's also potential for QB trouble and reduced overall passing volume with Sam Darnold and/or J.J. McCarthy under center.

  • DJ Turner CB | CIN

    Bengals' DJ Turner: Competition for starting gig

    Turner and Dax Hill are competing for the starting perimeter cornerback role opposite Cam Taylor-Britt, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

    Turner claimed a starting role with Cincinnati by Week 12 of his rookie season, but the 2023 second-round pick is now in a true competition with Hill, who lined up at safety last season. Conway reports that Hill could have an early lead in the competition as of mandatory minicamp, but it will be difficult to make much of offseason practices until full pads come on at training camp in late July.

  • Daxton Hill DB | CIN

    Bengals' Dax Hill: Pushing for starting role

    Hill is competing with DJ Turner for the perimeter role opposite opposite of Cam Taylor-Britt and could have an early lead, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

    Hill, a 2022 first-round pick, impressed at safety in his sophomore season but is now working as an outside cornerback. He boasts a size advantage over Turner, with Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reporting that Hill's physicality has made him stand out, but it's unlikely that anyone will truly pull ahead in the No. 2 corner competition until pads come on in training camp.

  • Puka Nacua WR | LAR

    Rams' Puka Nacua: Aims to make Year 2 leap

    Rams wide receiver coach Eric Yarber said Nacua's "body is totally different" due to his training regiment this offseason, Nick Shook of NFL.com reports.

    Nacua is coming off a stellar rookie campaign in which he racked up a 105-1,486-6 receiving line while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games, and he's putting in the offseason work to improve rather than resting on his laurels. Yarber said "[Nucua has] lost so much body fat and gained so much lean muscle, which enabled him to move more efficiently now," and that "he has better body control" entering Year 2. Nucua has reportedly dropped about 10 pounds over the offseason and shadowed Cooper Kupp, his positional mate and former Offensive Player of the Year, both in terms of training regimen and diet. Kupp was plagued by injuries even while on the field last season and should stands to demand a larger offensive share during the 2024 campaign, but Nucua looks to have already emerged as the new No. 1 wide receiver for Los Angeles. Coach Sean McVay's offense could be efficient enough for both wideouts to improve upon their production.

  • Darrick Forrest SAF | WAS

    Commanders' Darrick Forrest: Returns healthy for offseason program

    Forrest was healthy for spring practices after suffering a season-ending shoulder fracture in October, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.

    Forrest became a starter during the 2022 season and then played 99.1 percent of defensive snaps through Week 5 in 2023. Fellow safety Percy Butler played nearly every snap over the next 10 games following Forrest's injury, recording 57 tackles and six passes defended in that stretch. Forrest seems like the favorite to start in the final season of his rookie contract, but he may spend more time in deep coverage after Washington signed 220-pound Jeremy Chinn to replace Kamren Curl at the other safety spot. Forrest could perhaps have more fantasy value if he ends up starting next to Butler while Chinn guards the slot and/or plays as a pseudo-linebacker.

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