NFL Player News

Kamara left minicamp due to contract issues, but now reports to training camp, presumably to avoid fines. Head coach Dennis Allen said Kamara is healthy and expects him to participate in camp. The running back turns 29 in July and has two seasons left on his contract, but with little guaranteed money left. Kamara is due $18.5 million in 2024, still making him one of the top earners at the position. The Saints have been up against the cap the last few years and releasing Kamara would save them money. There is no indicator that the two sides are close to a re-worked deal, with Kamara likely wanting more years and/or more guaranteed money.

Borgonzi, widely viewed as a strong candidate for the Jets’ GM opening, is among the many front office candidates interviewing for the Titans general manager vacancy. Tennessee enters the offseason with the first overall pick in the 2025 draft. Borgonzi has been closely involved in the Chiefs’ roster building throughout the Mahomes era and should land a GM job sooner rather than later.

Woody Johnson and the Jets continue to add names to their head coaching search as the organization prepares for yet another reset following a disastrous 2024 season. This is the first head coaching interview for Whitt, who joined Dan Quinn’s Washington staff in 2024 after bouncing around in various roles with the Cowboys, Bears, Packers, and Falcons. Under Whitt, the Commanders allowed the 12th fewest yards and the 15th most points. Washington ranked 18th in success rate allowed in 2024.

Sullivan is also talking to the Titans about their general manager opening as Tennessee seeks the right GM ahead of their first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Sullivan has served as Green Bay’s VP of player personnel since 2022. Before that, he was the team’s co-director of player personnel for four seasons. Dealing with Jets owner Woody Johnson and his teenage sons could prove to be a deterrent for potential Jets GM candidates.

Among the most sought after front office hires in this cycle, Spytek is also talking to the Titans about their GM opening. A second interview means the Raiders are likely to offer the job to Spytek, Tampa’s assistant GM for the past two seasons who was integral in creating the Bucs roster that won the Super Bowl following the 2020 season. Tom Brady, minority owner of the Raiders, was of course part of that team.

Pickens, always an emotional player, was downright malignant in the Steelers organization in 2024, showing up late to games, screaming at fans, and getting flagged for baffling personal foul penalties. His behavior turned harmful to the team when Pittsburgh quarterbacks weren’t peppering him with targets. Pickens often looked disinterested, even if the Steelers were winning or in a tight game. Following a Pickens sideline meltdown against the Bengals in Week 13, head coach Mike Tomlin said the wideout needed to “grow up.” “The organization needs to learn its lesson and realize if it’s ever going to win a playoff game again, it needs players who at least show up to work on time,” DeFabo said, adding that the Steelers should part ways with Pickens and sign one of free agency’s top receivers. With players like Tee Higgins, Chris Godwin, Marquise Brown, Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen, DeAndre Hopkins, and Stefon Diggs available this offseason, it’s a viable path for the middling Steelers.

Allen saw additional run in the offense after Tyler Higbee left after the team’s second possession. Higbee would be immediately deemed doubtful to return with a chest injury before being ruled out for the remainder of the game at halftime, something that could provide more run for both Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen in the Divisional Round against the Eagles.

Robinson’s two targets came in a game in which quarterback Matthew Stafford attempted just 27 passes due to extremely positive game script. The Los Angeles defense completely took over this game, sacking Sam Darnold nine times with one interception and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Robinson remains entrenched as the WR3 for a Rams team that could be forced into increased volume in the Divisional Round against the Eagles.

Kupp was notably held without a target in the first half as the team relied heavily on tight end Tyler Higbee and Puka Nacua through the air. HIgbee departed after the second possession with a chest injury and was promptly deemed doubtful to return before ultimately being ruled out, something that could influence the team’s target pecking order in a Divisional Round matchup against the Eagles next weekend, even though that appeared to be influenced by the matchup against the blitz-heavy Vikings.

For all intents and purposes, Nacua and Stafford were not really on the same page in the blowout win, but a dominant performance by their defense, which included nine sacks and a strip sack fumble recovery for a touchdown in the second quarter led to only 51 offensive plays run from scrimmage. Nacua appeared to bang knees with a defender in the third quarter and he was seen limping to the sideline, but he would return on the same possession and finish the game for the Rams. The win sends the Rams to a road Divisional Round clash with the Eagles next weekend.

Williams got the scoring started for the Rams on the opening possession of the game, catching a five-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford on a leak play to the middle of the end zone. The Rams ran only 51 offensive plays as their defense clamped down on the Vikings, resulting in only 19 opportunities for the running back that led the league in percentage of team touches in the regular season at 43%. Williams and the rest of the Los Angeles skill position players could be called on at greater frequency in the Divisional Round against the Eagles.