NFL Player News

The Jaguars placed Luton on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Luton returned a positive COVID-19 test, and he'll now have to begin following the NFL's related protocols, which includes isolating from contact. As a rookie in 2020, Luton appeared in three games, throwing two touchdowns and six interceptions.

Prescott (ankle) is participating in 11-on-11 drills Thursday afternoon at the first practice of Cowboys training camp, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

This comes as no surprise on the heels of coach Mike McCarthy's Wednesday media session in which he revealed his expectation for Prescott to be a full participant throughout camp. McCarthy did leave the door open for the Cowboys to limit Prescott's workload if any issues pop up, but it sounds like the QB is taking his normal snaps so far. He suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his ankle last October, then signed a four-year, $160 million contract in March.

Head coach Mike McCarthy reiterated Wednesday that he expects Prescott (ankle) to participate fully in practice once training camp opens, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.

That said, McCarthy acknowledged that the idea of the quarterback working fully once camp gets underway is "still a projection," and that Prescott will need to be monitored. Still, things are clearly moving in the right direction for the team's franchise signal-caller, who is bouncing back from a broken ankle that ended his 2020 season in Week 5.

Mayfield reiterated Wednesday that he's "not worried at all" about a contract extension, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

A strong finish to his third NFL season has Mayfield in position to ask for an extension, though he's under contract through 2022 after the Browns exercised a fifth-year option in April. The 26-year-old quarterback might even be more inclined to wait until next offseason for a new contract, thus betting on himself to have a big 2021 campaign as the frontman for a talented team. The Browns return all 11 starters on offense from last season, with wideout Odell Beckham (knee) seemingly on track for Week 1 at Kansas City.

Rodgers reportedly elected to pass on a two-year extension offer from the Packers this offseason, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter notes that Green Bay's offer would have kept Rodgers with the franchise for five more seasons while making him the highest-paid player in football. After the veteran QB elected not to participate in the Packers' on-field activities this offseason, the focus now turns to whether he'll be out there when training camp opens July 28. There have been plenty of reports suggesting that Rodgers' future with the team is cloudy due to issues he has with management, but to date the Packers have insisted that they won't deal their star signal caller.

Heinicke was impressive at June minicamp, outplaying presumed starter Ryan Fitzpatrick, Peter Hailey of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Henicke has familiarity with offensive coordinator Scott Turner dating back to their time together in Carolina (2018-19), while Fitzpatrick is in the early stages of learning a new system. It should thus come as no surprise that the former looked more comfortable than the latter this spring, though Fitzpatrick got all the first-team reps in spite of his struggles. Head coach Ron Rivera has said multiple times that his quarterbacks will need to compete, but he's also dropped hints about Fitzpatrick being a favorite for the No. 1 job, so it isn't clear Heinicke will have any real shot at earning the Week 1 start. If nothing else, Heinicke in good shape for the No. 2 spot ahead of Kyle Allen, who is still working his way back from last year's season-ending ankle injury.

Rodgers said Saturday that he'll "figure things out in a couple weeks" when asked by NBC Sports about his plans for the 2021 season, Ben Kenney of USA Today reports.

Though the statement from Rodgers -- who was participating in this week's American Century Championship golf event in Lake Tahoe, Nev. -- is vague, it bears mentioning that the two-week timeline would align with the start of Packers training camp July 27. After his discontent with the organization became public knowledge on the first day of the 2021 NFL Draft, Rodgers unsurprisingly elected to skip the Packers' entire offseason program, but his potential absence from training camp would prove more telling with regard to his intentions for the upcoming season. If Rodgers isn't on the field for the start of training camp, Jordan Love would step in as the team's No. 1 quarterback, and the Packers could start to more seriously entertain the idea of trading the reigning MVP.

Wolford will back up Matthew Stafford during the 2021 season, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN reports.

There was speculation that Wolford could compete with Jared Goff this offseason for the starting QB job after he started the regular-season finale and the team's first playoff game last season. Wolford's brief time under center wasn't anything special, and the rumblings that he could battle for the starting job were likely more to motivate Goff more than set up an open competition. Nevertheless, just three days after that report, the Rams acquired Matthew Stafford from the Lions for Goff, two first-round picks and a third-round pick. There won't be a competition for the starting job anymore, but Wolford has likely locked up the backup gig.

When asked Tuesday whether or not he would be under center for the Packers in Week 1, Rodgers said, "we'll see," according to a video posted by Bleacher Report.

Rodgers was pressed for an answer by several members of the broadcast team for The Match 2021 golf event he participated in, but he did not provide any clues about his status with the Packers nor this season. There certainly won't be any shortage of discussion about Rodgers in the weeks ahead, and his status will continue to be updated as things play out.

Jones has signed a four-year, $15.6 million contract with the Patriots, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Jones' deal also includes a fifth-year option. The Alabama product was taken by New England 15th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and is slated to compete with returnee Cam Newton for the team's Week 1 starting QB assignment. For now at least, Newton sits atop the Patriots' depth chart after being the first signal caller to log snaps throughout spring drills, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. While Newton holds an edge in terms of experience and mobility, Reiss notes that when Jones "had it going" during OTAs and minicamp, the team's passing game "most closely resembled what it had been for the better part of the past two decades from a timing, rhythm and accuracy standpoint." Whether the rookie is able to overtake Newton prior to the start of the coming season remains to be seen, but this could end up being one of the league's more intriguing training camp job battles this summer.