NFL Player News

Sims’ concussion is “mild,” but he doesn’t have enough time to get cleared for Thursday’s game. Sims has come off the bench in St. Louis’ first four games, and tallied his first career sack in Sunday’s win. With two weeks to heal, he’ll likely be back for Week 6.

McConkey dealt with hip, shoulder, knee and toe injuries last year but missed only Week 14, tying Jerry Jeudy for the PPR WR12 finish. WR coach Sanjay Lal reportedly provided McConkey with clips of Julian Edelman and Tyler Lockett as “teaching tape.” Per McConkey, Edelman “does a great job of falling forward and getting some extra yards,” and Lal adds that Lockett “had [a] great feel of when to go down.” Although fantasy managers may always be awaiting the big-play, embracing the art of falling could help McConkey produce WR1 finishes for years to come. Per Popper, McConkey and Justin Herbert “have picked up where they left off last season,” and have looked great at voluntary organized team activities.

Bears rookies will return for one last organized team activities (OTAs) stretch next week, before the team’s month-plus break begins. Ideally, Burden returns and is able to re-establish himself as a must-start weapon in head coach Ben Johnson’s eyes. With Johnson’s reported intent to feature TEs Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet in 12 personnel groupings, Burden has given the once-dog-housed DJ Moore and second-year WR Rome Odunze a chance to box out the rookie. While Burden is likely at least lock up No. 3/slot receiver duties, gaining access to two-receiver sets is critical for immediate, impactful fantasy football successes. Burden has also not yet signed his rookie contract, and one wonders what else he could be prioritizing while sidelined. Stay tuned for Burden’s hopeful participation on Monday. Final rookie OTAs run from June 9-11.

Jones has been sidelined since undergoing surgery for the fractured ankle he suffered in Week 16 last year. Second-round rookie OT Ozzy Trapilo and 2024 third-round OT Kiran Amegadjie have been competing at left tackle during the team’s mandatory minicamp, though the Bears will allow all three to compete for the role in training camp. Head coach Ben Johnson stated the obvious by saying, “the No. 1 job of an offensive tackle, doesn’t matter right or left, is to pass protect... and everything we can get out of them in the run game will be gravy on top of it.” Though he notably adds that the same is true “for all five guys up front.” His former Lions’ line fielded two top-tier pass protectors in LT Taylor Decker and RT Penei Sewell, though they maintained a league-high neutral game run-play rate (51.6 percent) last year. He will likely employ a similar approach this season.

The Jaguars drafted Robinson in the fifth round last year. He logged six offensive snaps and 50 special teams snaps, touching the ball twice all year via a pair of kickoff returns. The Eagles now roster eight running backs and will likely cut half of them before Week 1 kicks off. The Eagles waived WR Ife Adeyi in a corresponding move.

Harris has not yet logged an NFL snap. He was draft by the Texans in the 2024 NFL Draft’s seventh round, and briefly joined the Patriots after that. To make room for Harris, the Bills waived DT Devin Brandt-Epps.

Breer said he thinks it is “fair” for McLaurin to ask for a deal that at least "[starts] with a three,” adding that “the real comp is probably DK Metcalf,” whose contract averages $33 million over four years. Breer also said that although things between McLaurin and the Commanders are not in a “great place right now,” he notes that contract negotiations “do get bumpy,” with the way “the market’s exploded over the last couple of years.” Drafting McLaurin at this time is not without risk but there is still plenty of time for the two sides to meet in the middle, assuming that middle begins with a “three.”

For reference, Mitchell was clocked at 20.99 mph during his 2023 rookie season. It’s common for players to claim that they have made substantial physical gains every offseason, regardless of their actual gym habits and rehab program successes. An albeit pad-less 1.41 mph increase certainly suggests that Mitchell has successfully rebuilt his once compromised knee. Mitchell averaged 7.8 carries, 1.5 targets and 11.3 PPR points per game (RB32) during his Weeks 9-15, 2023 hot streak. Derrick Henry’s presence likely prevents Mitchell from returning to that same usage peak, but Mitchell has a chance to become fantasy-relevant if he can come close.

In an article by Adam Jahns at The Athletic, Jahns reports that Loveland was “spotted in uniform, accompanying staff members to other practice fields” on the third and final day of minicamp. It’s far from a return to practice, but according to Jahns, head coach Ben Johnson said, “at some point here in camp, we should get the green light” for Loveland to return to action. The Bears used the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s draft on Loveland, who underwent shoulder surgery earlier in the offseason. The former Michigan man should have a chance to unseat veteran Cole Kmet for the starting job this offseason and could have some sneaky fantasy upside after Johnson comped him to Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, who played under Johnson in Detroit.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen said Richardson was not expected to undergo surgery on his shoulder. However, Fowler adds that Richardson underwent a scan on his shoulder that revealed no structural damage. Per Fowler, Richardson has thrown, at times, 100-plus passes a day as he prepares for his quarterback competition with Daniel Jones. The shoulder injury, while inconvenient, appears to be mostly inflammation that should subside with time, allowing for a return to training camp with rest and relaxation. Already considered by some to be the odd man out when this summer’s battle concludes, this early injury won’t do anything to help Richardson gain an inside edge on Jones, who was already splitting starter reps in OTAs.

It doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but in case there was any doubt, Raanan said the Giants and their receivers view Wilson as the leader at the position right now. Wan’Dale Robinson said as much when asked about Wilson earlier, while Raanan also went on to point out the various throwing workouts Wilson scheduled with the team after signing with them. It’s worth noting that rookie Jaxson Dart also worked more with the second team offense this week, per Raanan, but the team will likely continue to bring him along slowly as they prepare to eventually hand him the keys. While it’s highly unlikely Wilson will start all 17 games this season, even if healthy, he sounds like a lock to open Week 1 as the starter, even with training camp still to come.