NFL Player News

Jones (knee) is expected to be a full participant in the Lions' offseason program, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Jones' 2018 season came to a premature close after he suffered what was initially classified as a right knee bruise during Detroit's Week 10 loss to Chicago. Since there haven't been any reports the setback required surgery, it's not a huge surprise he could be running around again in time for OTAs this spring. Jones is entering the fourth year of the five-year contract he signed with the Lions in 2016.

Hill has opened negotiations for a long-term contract with the Chiefs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Hill established personal bests for every major receiving category in 2018, bringing his career totals to 3,255 receiving yards, 477 rushing yards and 34 total touchdowns (25 receiving, five special teams, four rushing) after three seasons. He doesn't look like a dominant No. 1 receiver at first glance, but the lack of size hasn't been an issue in terms of durability, with Hill's only NFL absence being a meaningless Week 17 game in 2017. Heading into the final year of his rookie contract, the 25-year-old speed demon has a reasonable argument to match or even surpass Odell Beckham, who signed a five-year, $90 million deal in August.

Taylor isn't expected to be tendered a contract by the Broncos, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

Taylor is a restricted free agent but would become an unrestricted free agent if the team doesn't make an offer. The 27-year-old missed the entirety of the 2018 season as he had difficulties in his recovery from hip surgery following the 2017 season.

General manager John Lynch expects Pettis to bulk up during the offseason, Joe Fann of the 49ers' official website reports. "We loved the way [Pettis] closed this season," Lynch said. "There's some maturation that I think is naturally going to come in terms of putting some girth on and some strength. I think this offseason is very important for him."

Despite missing the final game of his rookie season with an MCL sprain, Pettis seems to be ready for a normal workout program this offseason. The 49ers list him at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, but he only weighed 186 at the 2018 combine. Coming off an efficient rookie season with a 27-467-5 receiving line on 45 targets (10.4 YPT, 17.3 YPR), the 23-year-old should be an important part of the San Francisco offense in 2019, though it's possible he occupies a part-time role if the team makes an aggressive move to upgrade its wide receiver group.

General manager Tom Telesco believes Williams has the ability to handle a high-volume role if needed, Ricky Henne of the team's official website reports. "[Williams] had a great year for us," Telesco said Thursday. "But we're also in an offense where we have a lot of guys to get the football to, so he didn't have 80, 90 or 100 catches, but he has that type of ability."

The seventh overall pick from the 2017 NFL Draft enjoyed a breakout of sorts during his second pro season, parlaying 66 targets into a 43-664-10 receiving line (10.1 YPT, 15.4 YPR) in an offense that gave most of the volume to its running backs and Keenan Allen. Williams should get more chances in 2019 with Tyrell Williams expected to find a new home this offseason, but the Chargers also will need to find targets for tight end Hunter Henry, who returned from a torn ACL to play 14 snaps in a playoff loss to New England. As much as he's deserving of additional opportunities, it's hard to see how the 24-year-old wideout would draw more than five or six targets per game unless Allen were to miss significant time with an injury.

General manager Mike Mayock said Ateman will enter the offseason as Oakland's projected starter at the X receiver spot, Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

The seventh-round pick made a bit of noise toward the end of his rookie season, but marks of 10.3 yards per catch and 5.0 per target don't exactly make the best case to keep him in a starting role. At the very least, Ateman will face significant competition for the job, and he may even need to battle for a roster spot if the Raiders have a busy offseason at his position.

The Jets assigned Anderson, a restricted free agent, a second-round tender, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Anderson can still sign an offer sheet with another team this offseason, but that team would have to send the Jets a second-round pick -- if the Jets don't choose to match the offer themselves. The three-year vet caught 50 passes for 752 yards and six scores over 14 games in 2018, but an atrocious 53-percent catch rate hinders his status as a game-breaking deep threat.

Coach Sean McVay indicated that the Rams believe Kupp (knee) will be healthy enough to participate in training camp this summer, Myles Simmons of the team's official site reports. "I would just say that it's something that we're going to monitor this offseason, but we fully expect him to be ready to go for training camp," McVay said Thursday at the NFL Combine.

Kupp is currently about four months removed from tearing his ACL in Week 10 of last season and will be about eight and a half months removed from the injury by the time training camp rolls around. Given the speed at which modern athletes are recovering from these kinds of injuries, it's not a huge surprise that Kupp will be ready to go when camp opens. While it's possible the coaching staff could take it easy on him to begin with, Kupp appears on track to be an option for QB Jared Goff once the 2019 regular season opens.

General manager Dave Gettleman went out of his way Wednesday to silence trade rumors pertaining to Beckham (quadriceps), Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports. "We didn't sign Odell to trade him...that's all I have to say about that," Gettleman said.

While the Giants may be willing to listen to offers, it's a long shot for Beckham to actually be traded after he signed a five-year, $90 million contract extension in August. He should be healthy for the start of the Giants' offseason program despite missing the final four games of the 2018 campaign with the quad injury.

Williams was waived by the Browns on Monday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Williams spent the final four weeks of the 2018 season on the Browns' practice squad. The 23-year-old wideout has yet to suit up for an NFL game since going undrafted in 2017, and will now vie for a depth role elsewhere in the league.