NFL Player News

Now on the wrong side of 30, Winn missed all of 2019 with a torn tricpes. Knee injuries wiped out his 2017-18. Sadly, Winn is on his way out of the NFL.

Even when Spears was healthy last year, Callahan used him as more of a third-down back. Through two years, Spears has played on 253 running plays (blocking 63 times) and 626 passing plays (blocking 119 times) per PFF. Callahan also seems to always preface this with something along the lines of “in a perfect world,” as he did in both this quote and in one we blurbed earlier in May. It’s not completely out of the range of outcomes that Tony Pollard loses major snaps and carries this year — losing a few carries should be the expectation given how many games last year he played as essentially the only back Callahan trusted to run the ball. But we’re not completely sold on the idea of Spears as a 1B just yet. Spears is going to have to show more in camp or Callahan is going to have to actually give him a real snap share as a runner with Pollard active before this becomes more than offseason talk.

That’s the smell of a PPR scam in development. Kirk, who has been called the “slot demon” by Texans defenders in the early offseason camp, looks like a clear No. 2 behind Nico Collins in the Texans pecking order coming into the season. It remains to be seen if Jayden Higgins or Jaylin Noel can make a real push for targets early in the season, and Kirk’s experience figures to make him at least a big part of the early-season plan for the Texans.

Hendrickson “wants more long-term security” from the Bengals per Fowler, who also notes that Hendrickson is “dug in” and “prepared to miss time.” It’s good news for Bengals fans that the sides are at least talking again, but it sure sounds like the Bengals are going to have to give Hendrickson more than their recent offers have been to get him into training camp.

This subplot had a brief little surge ahead of the draft that led nowhere, but the Lions did trade up to take Isaac TeSlaa in the third round of the draft. While the team has publicly prioritized extensions for Aidan Hutchinson and Kerby Joseph, GM Brad Holmes has been more muted while talking about Williams. Williams is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract ahead of his fifth-year option. The actions here are speaking loudly to the idea of dealing Williams after getting one more productive year out of him. It should be said, none of this speculation impacts Williams’ fantasy value this season, and coaches have raved about him all offseason in John Morton’s more downfield-focused attack. But the Lions have not appeared to prioritize a Williams extension and this could shape up to be the last dance for him in Detroit.

“The Steelers’ backfield is full with rookie Kaleb Johnson and offseason signing Kenneth Gainwell joining Jaylen Warren. It remains to be seen if OC Arthur Smith will lobby for the hybrid RB/WR to remain on the roster as a Swiss Army knife,” DeFabo continues. Patterson only had 32 carries for 135 yards last year, but it would be a little surprising for the Steelers to cut bait with one of the greatest kickoff returners in NFL history. Entering his age-34 season, Patterson will need to keep impressing in camp to retain his spot on the roster.

“How many opportunities — and how soon they come — will probably be decided by how Judkins plays and progresses this summer,” writes Jackson in discerning that rookie back Quinshon Judkins is the player to watch for the Browns in training camp. It shouldn’t surprise anybody given his offseason paycut that Ford is on borrowed time, but this report is at least a little optimistic about him holding some fantasy value in 2025. If Ford can start for a month or so then hang on as the team’s main third-down back, he’ll have some runouts where he’s a worthwhile RB3 this year.

Prescott, who underwent hamstring surgery after a season-ending injury last fall, said he has one more checkup with the team doctor before getting the green light for a full training camp. It’ll be an important camp for Prescott in his first year under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who said last month that Dak is “in the developmental stage” in learning the new offense. Before his Week 9 injury in 2024, Prescott ranked 23rd out of 31 qualifying QBs in accuracy. This year Prescott will finally have a viable No. 2 wideout in George Pickens, who the Cowboys acquired in June. Prescott has been effusive in his praise of Pickens as a deep ball threat who can make the Dallas offense more explosive in 2025.

The Browns’ Week 1 starting job will come down to Kenny Pickett versus Joe Flacco. Several Cleveland beat writers have said Flacco, who is familiar with Kevin Stefanski’s offense and succeeded with the Browns during a short stint in 2023, is the odds-on favorite to land the starting gig. That could leave Gabriel and Sanders to fight for the team’s QB3 spot. Jackson didn’t dismiss the possibility that Pickett or Flacco could get the boot ahead of Week 1. “Gabriel got some starter snaps during the spring, but I’d be stunned if either rookie can actually win the job in camp,” Jackson said, adding that one of the rookie quarterbacks could see late-season playing time if 2025 is yet another lost season for Cleveland. “Nobody knows what the circumstances might be in November and December, and the Browns need to know who and what they need to prioritize next March and April at the game’s most important position.”

Cousins made the remarks on the first episode of this season’s “Quarterback” on Netflix. The Falcons signed Cousins — coming off an Achilles tear and entering his age-36 season — to a contract worth more than $100 million just weeks before using the eighth overall pick in the 2024 draft on Penix. Cousins said he would have likely stayed with the Vikings if he had known the Falcons would use major draft capital on a quarterback. “Certainly, if I had the information around free agency, it certainly would’ve affected my decision,” Cousins said. “I had no reason to leave Minnesota with how much we loved it there if both teams are going to be drafting a quarterback high. But I’ve also learned in 12 years in this league that you’re not entitled to anything. It’s all about being able to earn your spot and prove yourself.” Cousins attended Atlanta’s mandatory minicamp in early June and is expected to be at training camp in July. Penix has been named the team’s starter. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Cousins dealt to a QB-needy team in the next few weeks if the Falcons are willing to eat a chunk of his bloated contract.

It’s possible Moreau is just trying to speak positively of a quarterback room that could be in flux for much of the 2025 season, but the veteran tight end said neither Tyler Shough or Spencer Rattler did much to separate themselves from one another during offseason programs. Shough was selected at No. 40 overall by the Saints in this year’s draft, and will almost certainly get a chance to start at some point in the season, but Rattler could also get a look after throwing for 1,317-4-5 in seven games as a rookie. Rattler only completed 57 percent of his passes last season, and doesn’t have much promise as a fifth-round pick, but there may be room for him to see some action in what might be the worst QB room in the league this season. Regardless, this competition will one to watch throughout the offseason as first-year head coach Kellen Moore hopes to find a reliable option come Week 1.