NFL Player News

Thomas, who is bouncing back from a toe injury that ended his 2022 season early, is not yet 100 percent recovered from the issue, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Thomas, who last saw game action in Week 3 last year, subsequently had surgery to address a dislocated second toe, but at this stage his recovery from the injury is still ongoing. On the plus side, Saints coach Dennis Allen noted that he expects the wideout to be fully healthy and ready to go as the coming season approaches, with the team intending to proceed cautiously with Thomas in the meantime, per Garland Gillen of FOX 8. Once healthy, Thomas will be in a position to reclaim a key pass-catching role in the Derek Carr-helmed offense alongside fellow WR Chris Olave.

Coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday at the Annual League Meeting that Chark recently underwent ankle surgery, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Rivera said that Chark could be ready for OTAs. The 26-year-old looks primed to join 32-year-old veteran Adam Thielen, both newcomers to Carolina's offense, as the team's top receiving options, though further competition could be added in the 2023 NFL Draft. Of course, the Panthers also look poised to add a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft, so if Chark is able to return to health early in the offseason it will give him more time to build up a rapport with what should be a first-year starting quarterback.

The Cardinals have granted permission to Hopkins' (knee) representatives to discuss trades with other teams, Albert Breer of SI.com reports.

After missing just two games in the first eight years of his career, Hopkins has been absent for 15 games the past two seasons due to a combination of injuries and a suspension. He's still produced when on the field, though, totaling 106 catches (on 160 targets) for 1,289 yards and 11 touchdowns in 19 appearances during that span. Despite Breer's report, new coach Jonathan Gannon told Steve Wyche of NFL Network at the Annual League Meeting on Sunday that he's "operating that he's a Cardinal right now" when asked about Hopkins. Hopkins' situation may continue to linger due to his 2023 base salary of $19.45 million, his age (he turns 31 in June) and his recent inability to be available to Arizona's offense.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he expects Duvernay (foot) to be with the team for 2023, Jonas Shaffer of the Baltimore Banner reports.

There's been talk of Duvernay becoming a cap casualty after a second Pro Bowl nod activated a contract escalator that pushes his salary to a non-guaranteed $4.3 million for the fourth and final season of his rookie contract. It's a reasonable number, and arguably even a bargain, given that he's been a top-notch return man on both punts and kickoffs while also manning the slot on offense. There is some question about his health this offseason after Duvernay suffered a broken fifth metatarsal in his right foot during a Dec. 20 practice, though he should have enough time to recover before training camp even if he misses OTAs and minicamp. He finished 2022 with career highs in every major receiving stat, including YPR and YPT, yet still averaged only 3.5 targets per game and thus offered little in the way of fantasy value outside of return-yardage leagues.

Edwards agreed to a contract with the Saints on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Edwards opened 2022 with the Falcons and appeared in seven games for the team, but he caught just three passes for 15 yards before getting cut in November. The 24-year-old spent the next several weeks on the Chiefs' practice squad before being let go from Kansas City as the playoffs started. In New Orleans, Edwards links back up with former teammate Derek Carr. Edwards will try to carve out a depth role this summer.

While speaking with reporters at the NFL's Annual League Meeting, coach John Harbaugh relayed Monday that Bateman (foot) is "healthy and going to be running in three weeks."

The wideout, who last saw game action Week 8 of the 2022 regular season, continues to move past surgery to address a Lisfranc foot injury, with Harbaugh expressing confidence that Bateman will be "ready to roll" and "healthier than ever" as the coming season approaches. Once the 2021 first-rounder retakes the field, he'll reclaim his starting role in a Baltimore wideout corps that also includes Devin Duvernay (foot) and free-agent newcomer Nelson Agholor. At this stage, however, it remains to be seen how the team's QB situation plays out, with Lamar Jackson, who the Ravens have placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on, having indicated Monday that he requested a trade earlier this month.

Bell is expected to have a diminished role with the addition of Elijah Moore.

Bell was Cleveland's leader with 236 snaps at slot receiver last season, per Pro Football Focus. While he was serviceable in that role, the Browns felt an upgrade was needed and traded for Moore, who was the Jets' leading slot receiver in 2022 with 255 snaps. The Browns also added Marquise Goodwin, who played 187 snaps in the slot for the Seahawks last year, which may further negatively impact Bell's playing time in 2023.

Schwartz (concussion) dropped further down the depth chart following Cleveland's acquisitions of Elijah Moore and Marquise Goodwin.

The Browns went into the offseason with the goal of giving Deshaun Watson more weapons on offense, and the additions of Moore and Goodwin are a start. Cleveland can trot out Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Moore and Goodwin when it wants to run four-wide sets. It's hard to see the team giving Schwartz, who has had the offseason to recover from a concussion he sustained last December, more chances after the 2021 third-round selection has disappointed over his first two seasons. Along with Schwartz, one can add Demetric Felton and Michael Woods onto the pile of wideouts that shouldn't get much work if they manage to stick with the team.

Callaway has agreed to terms with the Broncos, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.

Per Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post, Callaway is joining the Broncos on a one-year deal. The 6-foot-2, 204-pounder is coming off a 2022 season in which he caught 16 passes for 158 yards and a TD in 14 games with the Saints, but it's worth noting that Callaway posted career-best marks (46/698/6) in 2021 while working with Sean Payton (now Denver's head coach) in New Orleans. For now, however, he slots in behind Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick on his new team's wideout depth chart, but the 24-year-old does give the Broncos added depth on that front in the event that KJ Hamler (pectoral) isn't ready for game action early on this coming season.

The Browns signed Goodwin to a one-year contract Friday, ESPN's Field Yates reports.

Turning 33 later this year, Goodwin is coming off a 2022 campaign with the Seahawks that saw him catch 27 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns as the third receiver behind Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. In Cleveland, Goodwin joins fellow newcomer Elijah Moore alongside Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones in the Browns' revamped wideout room. At this stage, Goodwin should be past the shoulder and wrist issues that cost him the final two games of last season.