NFL Player News

All nine spent either part or all of 2019 on Baltimore’s practice squad. Presumably, they’ll serve as injury insurance/camp depth.

Gesicki enjoyed a nice bounce back season with the Bengals in 2024. He caught 65 passes for 665 yards, which were both the most he’s had in a season since 2021. Bringing back Gesicki was part of Joe Burrow’s offseason plan as the quarterback has publicly lobbied for all of his offensive weapons to get paid. The 29-year-old tight end is still frisky, but likely a TE2 in fantasy at this point in his career.

The extension includes $54 million guaranteed for Rousseau while making him the eighth-highest paid EDGE on average in the NFL. A former first-round pick who had his fifth-year option picked up a year ago, he’s had eight sacks in two of the last three seasons. In 2024, Rousseau, who turns 25 next month, forced three fumbles, earned an 83.1 overall grade from PFF (12 among EDGEs), and had 63 QB pressures (10th among EDGEs). The extension is the third the Bills have handed out already this offseason as Khalil Shakir and Terrell Bernard also got new deals. Rousseau will now be in Buffalo through the 2029 season.

Worthy has been charged with assault against a family or household member by impeding their breathing or circulation. The 21-year-old will face serious consequences from the criminal justice system and could also face a possible suspension from the NFL under the league’s personal conduct policy once the legal process unfolds. We’ll have additional updates and more information on this story as it develops.

The Seahawks’ trade of Geno Smith to the Raiders appears to have cleared the way for the team to make a run at Sam Darnold in free agency. Darnold, who turns 28 in June, is said to be looking for a three-year deal. With Smith poised to sign a new contract with the Raiders, the Seahawks would be getting younger and cheaper at the most important position in sports by bringing in Darnold.

Garafolo believes the Seahawks’ trade of Geno Smith to the Raiders appears to have started some quarterback chaos. With Sam Darnold expected to leave Minnesota, the Vikings are focused on Daniel Jones. However, if Jones doesn’t re-sign, Rodgers could be in play for the Vikings, according to Garafolo. Rodgers, the longtime Packers quarterback who flamed out with the Jets, would complete the full Brett Favre cycle if he ends up with the Vikings. It’s unlikely to actually happen given Rodgers’ likely preference to start and the presence of former top-10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy, who’s returning from a torn meniscus.

McCarthy missed the entire 2024 season with a torn meniscus that required two surgeries with the second one coming in November. The 22-year-old former National Champion at the University of Michigan resumed training in January and is expected to be ready for spring practice. While the reports on McCarthy’s progress have been positive and the team is poised to let last year’s starter Sam Darnold to walk in free agency, expect the Vikings to bring in another veteran backup to pair with McCarthy.

Jones was released by the Giants after 10 games in 2024 and signed on with the Vikings to back up Sam Darnold for the rest of the season. Though he never appeared in a game for Minnesota, he got to see how things work under head coach Kevin O’Connell. With last year’s top-10 overall pick, J.J. McCarthy, coming back from multiple surgeries to repair a torn meniscus, the Vikings are focused on re-signing Jones as a veteran backup if McCarthy isn’t available at any point. According to Pelissero, Jones is mulling multiple options and there have been multiple reports in recent weeks that the Colts could be interested.

Despite a report earlier this week from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that the Vikings “continue to want” Sam Darnold, a reunion never seemed to be in the cards. Darnold crumbled behind a shaky offensive line in the last game of the regular season and playoffs and the Vikings have former top-10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy coming back from a knee injury. In the aftermath of the Seahawks trading Geno Smith to the Raiders, Pelissero reports that Darnold isn’t expected to return to the Vikings and that the team is focused on other options. Darnold, who turns 28 in June, is said to be looking for a three-year deal.

Schultz also reports Wilson is maintaining an “open dialogue” with the Steelers, but that both he and Justin Fields appear to have strong free agent markets. The Steelers have made it clear they won’t be keeping both of their 2024 signal callers, but now the question becomes if they will be able to keep either. The Giants could have interest in Wilson as a potential piggyback option for a first-round quarterback.

“They love his athleticism, leadership traits, ability to move the pocket and maybe most importantly, believe his best football is ahead of him,” Schultz reported Friday evening, For the Steelers’ part, Schultz reports the sides are maintaining an “open dialogue.” It would appear Fields is drawing some legitimate starting interest, though he could still end up in a Sam Darnold-type situation where he’s signed only for a rookie to be drafted the following month. With his market already beginning to come into focus, Fields could be one of the first players to sign upon the beginning of Monday’s “legal tampering” period.