NFL Player News

49ers general manager John Lynch said Monday that he expects Garoppolo (shoulder) to start throwing around late June, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.

Garoppolo underwent shoulder surgery March 8, and despite reports saying he'd be sidelined for 4-to-6 months, he's been adamant that he'll be ready for training camp. However, health is only one concern for the quarterback this offseason, as the 49ers appear ready to give 2021 first-round pick Trey Lance a chance at taking the starting spot. "We believe in competition. We believe [Lance] is ready -- he is ready to show us, his teammates and the world he is ready," Lynch said Monday.

GM Steve Keim stated Thursday that there's "zero chance" the Cardinals trade Murray, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.

The rumor mill has swirled around Murray this offseason, with multiple outlets reporting his dissatisfaction with the team and the situation with his contract. Currently, the first overall pick in the 2019 Draft is preparing for his fourth season as a pro, making him eligible for an extension on his rookie deal. Keim spoke on that topic, noting recent top-tier quarterbacks with three years under their belts (like Patrick Mahomes in 2020 and Josh Allen in 2021) were extended "in the middle of the summer or late summer." Murray himself chimed in on his personal Twitter page Thursday, writing "I wanna win Super Bowls with the Cardinals, AZ is home." Assuming he remains in Arizona, Murray will have WR DeAndre Hopkins, RB James Conner, TE Zach Ertz, WR A.J. Green, WR Rondale Moore and whoever may join them via the draft available to him at the skill positions this fall.

Garoppolo (shoulder) hasn't resumed throwing but believes he'll be ready for training camp, Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press reports.

Garoppolo's availability for camp is no sure thing, with some reports suggesting a timeline of 4-to-6 months after he had shoulder surgery March 8. There's also the matter of which team he'll be playing for, as NFL.com's Kevin Patra recently reported that the Niners still are expected to trade Garoppolo this offseason. Garoppolo's recovery from surgery is a complicating factor, and there have also been whispers that the Niners are nervous about No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance. It sounds like Garoppolo has avoided setbacks thus far, as he said Thursday that he expects to resume throwing soon, per SiriusXM NFL Radio.

Fields is learning a new offense that's expected to cater to his strengths, the Bears' official site reports.

After entering his rookie season as a backup, Fields now enters camp working with the starters, though he'll again be learning a new offensive system. With the coaching staff intent on putting Fields' in the best position to succeed, it's likely that his running ability along with his ability to throw deep will be prioritized. Fields' average of 56 rushing yards over the last five games of his rookie season shows he can be a useful fantasy contributor even if the Chicago passing game is a work in a progress under new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.

The NFL disapproved the contract Smith signed with the Seahawks on April 14, but the issue was amended Tuesday, and the new terms were approved Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Per Rapoport, Smith will have a base salary of $3.5 million in 2022, with the potential for $3.5 million more in incentives. The 31-year-old is a candidate to replace Russell Wilson as the starting quarterback after Seattle dealt the franchise signal-caller to Denver back in March. As a part of that trade, the Seahawks received Drew Lock, and the team still could add to the quarterback room this offseason via the draft or another acquisition. As it stands, Smith has the most experience in the team's current offense, making five appearances (1-2 as a starter) over the last two seasons. Overall, he completed 69 of 100 passes for 735 yards, five touchdowns and one interception and recorded 11 carries for 40 yards and another score in those games.

Wolford officially signed his one-year tender from the Rams on Tuesday, independent NFL reporter Dov Kleiman reports.

An exclusive rights free agent, Wolford couldn't negotiate with another team after being tendered by Los Angeles at the end of March. The 26-year-old quarterback should be the backup quarterback to Matthew Stafford for the 2022 campaign. Wolford made three garbage-time appearances last year, but the Wake Forest product's most memorable NFL moment came a season prior. While Jared Goff was sidelined due to thumb surgery for Week 17 of the 2020 season, Wolford drew his first career start and led the Rams to a playoff-clinching win over the Cardinals.

Stafford said Tuesday that he's feeling great, less than six weeks after he had an anti-inflammatory shot in his arm, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Stafford initially used a brace after the shot but doesn't need one as the Rams begin their offseason program Tuesday. He's surrounded by many of the same players from last year, minus left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who retired, and wide receivers Robert Woods, now with the Titans, and Odell Beckham, who remains unsigned as a free agent. The Rams signed Allen Robinson to replace Woods and Beckham, and the team seemingly has a competent replacement for Whitworth in 2018 third-round pick Joe Noteboom, who signed a three-year extension in March. It's a good setup for Stafford on the heels of his career year in 2021.

Panthers offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said he views Darnold as his starting quarterback, though McAdoo also added, "that is something I shouldn't have said," per David Newton of ESPN.com.

The Panthers missed out on Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson, but they could still make a move for Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo, or else bring in an early draft pick to challenge Darnold. Ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, it's only Darnold and P.J. Walker in the Carolina quarterback room for the start of the offseason program. Darnold has a guaranteed $18.9 million salary for 2022, the fifth and final year of his rookie contract.

Mayfield (shoulder) wasn't present Tuesday for the start of the Browns' voluntary offseason program, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Mayfield's absence was anticipated, as he's still rehabbing from surgery on the labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Moreover, it's expected that the Browns will look to trade Mayfield following the team's addition last month of fellow quarterback Deshaun Watson. Per Cabot, of the franchises potentially in the mix for Mayfield's services, the Panthers may have the best chance to deal for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Garoppolo is slated to remain away from the 49ers' team facility as he continues to rehab his surgically repaired right shoulder, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Garoppolo, who underwent a March 8 procedure to repair a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder, is not expected to throw until training camp in late July. The report notes that the quarterback has been rehabbing his injury in the Los Angeles area, while Garoppolo and the 49ers are said to be "on the same page" in terms of his offseason progress. In Garoppolo's absence from on-field work, Trey Lance is in line to take most, if not all, of the team's first-team reps, while Kevin Patra of NFL.com relays that it's still expected that San Francisco will move on from Garoppolo this offseason -- likely via a trade. If that indeed occurs, the team's transition to Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 Draft, would be cemented.