NFL Player News

It sounds like Gay is headed for a questionable tag once the Colts release their final injury report. Gay hasn’t been listed as a participant in practice this week but Steichen told reporters he did kick some this week. If he can’t go, practice squad kicker Spencer Shrader will get the nod. Shrader went 43-of-63 on his field goal attempts in college. This situation is one to avoid for fantasy managers.

McLaurin, seeking a contract extension entering his seventh NFL season, is reportedly a “hold-in” candidate at Washington’s training camp. “First, without a doubt, I think everybody in this building values Terry very much. We knew that coming in and we know that even more after spending a year with him. ... We’ll do whatever we can to get a deal done.” Peters said he had spoken with McLaurin and moved forward with extension talks, though McLaurin has been public about his disappointment in the Commanders’ reticence to commit to their top wideout long-term. McLaurin enters five straight seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. Last year, he set career marks in receiving success rate, first downs, and touchdowns.

The Raiders, per Reed, have a “logjam” in the slot, as Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers are slated to operate primarily from the slot in 2025. Reed said Bech, a second-round selection in the 2025 draft, is “best from the slot,” but might not get many chances to play from there as a rookie. Bech, Reed added, “has some work to do to make up ground on Dont’e Thornton and Tre Tucker, both of whom worked well ahead of Bech in offseason practices. Reed said “Thornton stood out the most among the group during OTAs. He’s just different physically — he’s 6 feet 4 and has blazing speed — and is working on the nuances of route running and increasing his knowledge of [Chip] Kelly’s scheme.” It appears Thornton will start the season locked into three-wideout sets barring any setbacks in the preseason or during training camp.

Pelissero added that “it remains to be seen how involved he’ll be on the field” during Buffalo’s camp as he seeks a contract extension entering his fourth NFL season. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Cook is a “potential hold-in candidate.” It looks like Cook, 25, will remain the team’s No. 1 back despite the contract issues, a year after he totaled almost 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns. Cook was a full participant in the team’s mandatory minicamp in June. He has asked the Bills for a new deal that includes $15 million a year.

The team will closely monitor Diggs’ camp reps, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, about nine months after he tore his ACL in his only season with the Texans. Diggs was top ten in both receptions and receiving yards before the season-ending knee injury, and now heads into his age-32 season as the Patriots’ clear No. 1 wideout after signing a three-year deal with New England this spring. It was believed as recently as May that Diggs might miss the first few games of the regular season as he rehabs from the ACL tear. It would appear Diggs will be ready to go for the start of the season barring any setbacks in the coming weeks.

Richardson, entering his third NFL season, resumed throwing last week after undergoing another shoulder procedure in May. Daniel Jones has operated as the team’s QB1 throughout the offseason and is widely expected to be under center for the Colts to start the regular season. Boyd said Richardson will “have to do two things to win the job and, more importantly, keep the job: stay healthy and be accurate. He hasn’t proven he’s capable of either, and although Jones would never admit it publicly, Richardson’s struggles in those areas are exactly why Jones chose Indy as the place he’d try and resurrect his career.” Richardson has reportedly worked on his throwing mechanics this offseason after two years of wild inaccuracy, especially on short and intermediate passes. He’ll likely end up getting a few starts in 2025.

Hendrickson will not report for the start of Bengals training camp. Schultz said Hendrickson and the Bengals “made attempts over the past few days to reengage on a new deal, but talks failed to gain serious momentum.” Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said last week that Hendrickson, entering his age-30 season, has “earned a raise” headed into 2025. This Hendrickson drama could continue into the preseason and perhaps into the regular season if the Bengals remain firm in their commitment not to pay their excellent pass rusher. Schultz said both sides are “frustrated.” Pro Football Focus last season graded Hendrickson as the NFL’s fifth best pass rusher, as he recorded a league-leading 18 sacks and 50 quarterback hurries.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with JoeBucsFan.com, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said he wasn’t sure if Wirfs will be ready to start the regular season but that he knows he’ll be ready “sooner than later.” Bowles added, “I don’t know if it’s Week 1, 2, 3. He’ll definitely put the work in, so I don’t have a problem with that.” The Buccaneers were criticized for the way they handled Wirfs’ knee injury last season, eventually leading to the talented sixth-year tackle electing offseason surgery to correct the issue. Wirfs was a large part of the offensive explosion from the Buccaners in 2024, contributing as one of the top offensive tackles in the game.

Maulet was released by the Ravens in March before landing in Houston on a one-year contract. He was held to just three appearances in 2024 due to multiple knee injuries and a calf injury, requiring two trips to injured reserve, but looked spry in workout videos released earlier Monday on X. Maulet should serve in a reserve role behind established starters Derek Stingley, Kamari Lassiter, and Jalen Pitre.

Hines last played for the Bills during the 2022 season, before a July jet skiing accident derailed his career. Now completely recovered from torn ACL and LCL injuries, Hines catches on with a Chargers team currently dealing with questionable depth following the fireworks injury sustained by recent addition Najee Harris. Also currently on the roster are 2025 first-round selection Omarion Hampton, Hassan Haskins, Kimani Vidal, and Jaret Patterson. Hines profiles as a scat back/change of pace option and was a standout special teams player with the Colts and Bills, something that does little to answer questions regarding Harris’ current health. Even if Harris is fine, Hines could push Vidal for a roster spot.

He technically already retired, but Rivers had played footsie with the idea of returning to the league. It most recently happened when he reached out to teams prior to the 2023 regular season but didn’t receive any bites. Now 43 years old, Rivers walks away for good after amassing 63,440 career passing yards and 421 touchdowns, with eight career Pro Bowl selections. He led the league in passing touchdowns in 2008, passing yards in 2010, and completion rate in 2013, also retiring as the Chargers’ all-time leading passer.