NFL Player News

“He’s got tremendous speed. ... He’s got great skills,” said Carroll. “He’s 6-2 something and he’s just learning the game. A very, very raw player but a guy that we really see a lot of great stuff.” Undrafted a year ago, Lockette has a ton of competition for a roster spot, but should be able to latch on with a strong camp.

Saints beat reporter Nick Underhill sourced the report, which indicates the team is not fully happy with the state of their backfield, consisting of Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, 2025 sixth-round pick Devin Neal, former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire, former wide receiver Velus Jones, and Xazavian Valladay. They’ll see what Akers has left in the tank, with their ultimate goal being to eventually trade him to the Vikings in Week 7, as is NFL tradition.

ElAttrache is the surgeon that performed the surgery on Richardson’s throwing shoulder in 2023 and is not a name Colts fans want to hear in the news regarding their quarterback. It was previously reported that no structural damage was found after a scan on his shoulder was performed Friday, but any lingering inflammation and soreness almost two years after surgery is noteworthy and frightening. The team does not believe he will require another surgery at this time. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer believes there’s “a very good chance” that Daniel Jones is the Colts starter in Week 1.

The former workhorse finds a new home after another lost season due to injury, landing in Houston on a one-year deal that carries a maximum value of $5 million. The incentive-laden contract makes sense for both parties considering Chubb’s recent injury history, providing a proven low-cost option behind Joe Mixon in the backfield pecking order. Chubb passed his team physical Monday, prompting the signing and also indicating that he is on track in his return from a broken foot that ended his 2024 season after just eight games.

The seven-year veteran, who turns 30 next month, is coming off a strong year. In 2024, Cooke earned his first Pro Bowl selection after setting a career high in net punting average (44.8), which ranked second highest in the NFL. Cooke also pinned 34 of his 68 punts (50 percent) inside the 20, which tied for fourth most in the NFL. Cooke has spent his entire career with the Jaguars, who drafted him in the seventh round in 2018.

The 13-year veteran quarterback did not attend the Falcons voluntary OTAs in May, but did work out with the team in April. The team has repeatedly committed to Michael Penix as the Week 1 starter, even suggesting they could keep Cousins — scheduled to make $40 million in 2025 — as Penix’s backup. Cousins, who will be 37 at the start of the 2025 season, threw for 3508-18-16 in 14 games last season and had an abysmal five-game stretch in which he threw just one touchdown to nine interceptions, which ultimately led to his benching. The Falcons remain open to trading Cousins for the right price, but most media reports have them asking for quite a bit for the quarterback without retaining salary. The Steelers officially signing Aaron Rodgers takes away the last obvious suitor. Cousins may be waiting for a starting quarterback injury in training camp to get his foot in the door somewhere.

Fantasy managers taking late-round stabs on Wright this season will be happy to hear this. The speedy second-year back said he “lost a lot of body fat” this offseason while gaining “a lot of muscle” and estimating that he’s put on roughly six pounds. It’s a marginal increase, but one that Wright clearly hopes will help him better manage his second year in the pros as he’s expected to take on a bigger role with Raheem Mostert now out of the way. Wright rushed 68 times for 249 scoreless yards last season and posted a 9-6-0 rushing line over his final five games of the season, buried behind Mostert and unsigned free agent Jeff Wilson. Wright will hopefully have more value this season, but with Alexander Mattison and sixth-rounder Ollie Gordon also on board, little is guaranteed to the second-year back.

A six-year vet of the league and 2024 team captain, Pratt, 29, now hits the open market. Coming off a season in which he amassed a career-high 143 tackles and two interceptions, Pratt is a stat sheet stuffer who was entering the final year of his deal and clearly not considered to be worth the $8.183 million he was set to earn in 2025. His release saved the Bengals $5.850 million against the cap this season.

Arnette is a former first-round pick of the Raiders, drafted in 2020, and has struggled to stay in the league due to poor play and legal issues. His last NFL stint was in 2022 with the Chiefs, but he was released after being arrested for assault, gun, and drug charges. Now with the UFL’s Houston Roughnecks, Arnette, 28, has totaled one interception and 18 tackles in six games, and could draw some NFL interest after he “significantly reordered his life and has matured,” per Wilson. Whether it’s with the Texans or another team, Arnette would likely have to battle for a spot on a 53-man roster in camp.

With Alexander now set to be released by the Packers, the Bills could become a team to watch as Alexander begins looking for a new home. The 28-year-old vet has had back-to-back injury-riddled seasons that limited him to just 14 regular season games since 2023, but Alexander could still provide serviceable play if healthy. It’s worth noting that Buffalo did use the No. 30 overall pick on cornerback Maxwell Hairston in April, which could create too crowded a room for Alexander, who will be looking for a starting gig wherever he lands.

The Packers and Alexander hoped to find a trade partner for the veteran cornerback this offseason, but after failing to do so, Alexander, 28, will now be free to sign with any team. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the two sides also considered a restructured contract. Alexander was limited to seven games in each of the last two seasons due to injuries and seemed to be at odds with the organization late last season. Alexander is being released with two years left on his current deal. As a result, the Packers will be hit with a dead cap hit just north of $7.5 million in 2025 and 2026, but will also save just over $36.6 million in cap space over that same span, per Over The Cap.