NFL Player News

Allen (back) was an active participant through OTAs and minicamp, Vincent Bonsignore of the Orange County Register reports.

Allen finished the 2017 campaign on injured reserve with an unspecified back injury he suffered in December. While he's now healthy, Allen remains the team's No. 3 quarterback behind Jared Goff and Sean Mannion.

Carr said he enjoys working with new Raiders coach Jay Gruden, Jerry McDonald of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

There was some concern Gruden's intensity would irk the 27-year-old quarterback, but that doesn't seem to be the case so far. The bigger concern is the mystery surrounding the identity of Oakland's offense, as Gruden was aggressive in adding wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Martavis Bryant to replace Michael Crabtree, yet also gave significant guaranteed money to a pair of blocking tight ends (Lee Smith, Derek Carrier) and a traditional lead-blocking fullback (Keith Smith). The offseason moves suggest Gruden wants to keep Carr in the range of 500-550 pass attempts while giving Marshawn Lynch more carries (207 last year), but the plan also requires improvement from an Oakland defense that surrendered a 68.1 completion percentage in 2017. For what it's worth, offensive coordinator Greg Olson is known for pass-heavy attacks, including during his previous stint with the Raiders, which featured 599 attempts from Carr as a rookie in 2014.

Stafford displayed chemistry with second-year wideout Kenny Golladay during June minicamp, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.

The Lions are banking on Golladay's development along with an improved running game to make up for the offseason departures of tight ends Eric Ebron and Darren Fells. The team did sign Luke Willson and Levine Toilolo to join 2017 fourth-round pick Michael Roberts, but the trio will have a tough time matching the 751 yards and seven TDs provided by Ebron and Fells last season. The Lions otherwise devoted their offseason to building a decent rushing attack, something Stafford hasn't had since 2013. The team brought in offensive line coach Jeff Davidson and RB LeGarrette Blount, then drafted C/G Frank Ragnow at No. 20 overall and RB Kerryon Johnson at No. 43. Detroit would like to keep Stafford around last year's mark of 565 pass attempts, which was easily his fewest in a full season. He made up for it with improved accuracy on deep throws, despite playing behind an offensive line that struggled with injuries all year. Better injury luck up front could turn the Detroit offense into a dangerous, well-balanced unit, as TE appears to be offense's only weakness on paper.

The NFL suspended Winston three games for a violation of the personal conduct policy, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The event in question was first reported Nov. 17 and has been on Winston's periphery in the interim. Specifically, a female Uber driver reported Winston to the company in March of 2016 for an incident of alleged groping. While she never filed a criminal or civil complaint, it was enough for the NFL to look into the situation. With a suspension in place, Winston will miss the first three games of the upcoming campaign, making him eligible to return Sept. 30 at Chicago. Meanwhile, Ryan Fitzpatrick is slated to start three contests for the 11th consecutive season.

Garoppolo has been building chemistry with a healthy Pierre Garcon (neck) throughout the offseason, Keiana Martin of the 49ers' official website reports.

Flush with cap space, the 49ers passed on the likes of Sammy Watkins and Allen Robinson this offseason, instead locking in Garoppolo on a five-year, $137.5 million contract and signing running back Jerick McKinnon and guard/center Weston Richburg. The team then used its first two draft picks on offensive players, selecting right tackle Mike McGlinchey at No. 9 overall and wideout Dante Pettis at No. 44. While not the most exciting approach for fantasy purposes, it makes perfect sense if the 49ers are confident in the continued development of Marquise Goodwin (back), Trent Taylor (back) and tight end George Kittle. Garoppolo doesn't have the most exciting weapons, but it's a diverse group that should be vastly improved from what he worked with late last season. McKinnon is a huge upgrade over the departed Carlos Hyde as a pass catcher out of the backfield and Garcon is far more reliable than any of the players that took over his snaps in the second half of last year.

McCoy likely will stick around in Washington for another season as its No. 2 quarterback, Rich Tandler of NBC Sports Washington reports.

The Redskins traded for Alex Smith and Kevin Hogan during the offseason, but they merely swapped sixth-round picks to acquire the latter. While unlikely to beat out McCoy for the backup job, Hogan might convince the team to keep three quarterbacks if he looks good during training camp. McCoy spent the past three seasons backing up Kirk Cousins, who started all 16 games each year. The 31-year-old hasn't thrown a pass in the regular season since 2015 or started a game since 2014.

Bradford participated in team drills during mandatory minicamp last week, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Bradford took the next step in the plan aimed at keeping his health intact during the offseason program. The Cardinals conjured the schedule after the oft-injured quarterback was limited to two appearances in 2017 due to complications with his left knee, which underwent surgery Nov. 7. Between the conclusion of minicamp and the start of training camp, Bradford will continue to build up his strength and conditioning, at which point he expects to "be ready" July 28. Despite the presence of 2018 first-round pick Josh Rosen, Bradford is favored to land the starting QB gig by Week 1.

Watson (knee) practiced without a brace at mandatory minicamp this week, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports. "The knee is doing good," Watson said Wednesday. "For the nine-week goal we put in from the beginning [of the offseason program], I'm pretty much where I wanted to be. Kind of passed it inside in the weight room, mentally and also on the field, so everything's going smoothly right now."

More than seven months removed from tearing the ACL in his right knee during a Week 9 practice, Watson has made significant progress in his recovery, taking part in all drills but 11-on-11 team work. Prior to minicamp, he was moving about with a brace and later a sleeve during OTAs, so the lack of either this week indicates his presence could be felt at the very start of training camp July 26. Even if he's limited at that point, preseason games will be the true testing ground for the knee in question in advance of the Texans' Week 1 matchup at New England.

Bridgewater (knee) will open training camp behind just Josh McCown (hand) on the depth chart, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.

Bridgewater last saw significant playing time during the 2015 season, notching 3,231 yards and a 14:9 TD:INT ratio as the Vikings' starting signal-caller. A devastating knee injury essentially robbed him of two seasons, but he will get another crack at a starting job in New York during 2018. Bridgewater has reportedly impressed early in offseason workouts and should remain in the mix during training camp, but the presence of third overall pick Sam Darnold on the roster likely limits his future upside.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott indicated Thursday that he plans on having Peterman and AJ McCarron share most of the reps with the first-team offense once training camp gets underway, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports.

The Bills have already been using McCarron and Peterman as the primary signal-callers for the first-team offense during OTAs and minicamp, with rookie first-round pick Josh Allen only mixing in occasionally with the top group. Given Buffalo's decision to trade up to the seventh overall pick to select Allen, it would be surprising if he didn't see the field at some point in 2018, but for the time being, it appears McCarron and Peterman have the edge on entering Week 1 under center. According to Joe Buscaglia of WKBW.com, Peterman has impressed during the spring and has outplayed McCarron in minicamp, but Peterman's dismal showing in five appearances as a rookie -- including one in relief of the since-departed Tyrod Taylor in the Bills' playoff loss to the Jaguars -- probably carries more weight with the Buffalo brass than his solid offseason program.