NFL Player News

Pierce (ankle) revealed Wednesday that he underwent surgery this spring after not getting the results he wanted from a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection at the start of the offseason, JJ Stankevitz of Colts.com reports.

Pierce didn't elaborate on the specifics of his injury or surgery, but he at least clarified the general timeline while speaking with reporters. His left ankle has bothered him since the end of the 2024 season, and he dealt with soreness throughout 2025 while recording his first 1,000-yard campaign. He hoped the issue would resolve this winter with a PRP injection and subsequent rehab program (estimated at 6-to-8 weeks), but the ankle didn't get much better, leaving Pierce to choose between surgery or playing through the injury again. He and the Colts agreed on surgery as the solution in late March, only a few weeks after reaching agreement on a four-year, $114 million contract (with $60 million guaranteed at signing). The Colts presumably knew surgery was a possibility when they gave Pierce the huge contract; relations appear amicable between player and team. In any case, Pierce now faces an estimated rehab process of 4-to-6 months, making him uncertain for the start of training camp. He'll be about five and a half months removed from surgery when the Colts host the Ravens in Week 1 (Sept. 13).

The Panthers expect McMillan (ankle) to be ready for the start of training camp, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

McMillan missed some time during OTAs due to what was initially labeled a foot issue, but it is now being dubbed ankle soreness. He participated in practice during the first day of mandatory minicamp Tuesday, but per Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340, the 2025 first-rounder is not dressed for practice Wednesday. McMillan himself said Wednesday that he currently feels good and expects to be ready for training camp in July, Kaye reports, an indication that his reps at minicamp may simply be being capped as a precaution. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, head coach Dave Canales said that Carolina's plan is for McMillan to take part in two of the team's three minicamp practices, so the wideout should be back on the field Thursday.

Giants coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday that he's "very hopeful" Nabers (knee) will "be back soon," estimating that the wideout has completed 70-to-80 percent of his rehab process, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

It sounds much more optimistic than Harbaugh's quotes from three weeks prior (May 21), when he told reports that Nabers was in the "slog of [his rehab], the grind of it." Harbaugh now estimates that the star wideout is three-fourths of the way through his rehab, which perhaps sounds promising yet still makes Nabers highly unlikely to be ready for the start of training camp. While the Giants have yet to comment on expectations for the regular season, fantasy managers should assume a high level of risk that Nabers isn't ready for Week 1. His injury entailed a a meniscus tear in addition to an ACL tear, and he had a procedure in April to remove scar tissue that formed after the initial surgery (Oct. 28).

Coach Shane Steichen acknowledged Tuesday that Pierce, who is bouncing back from an offseason ankle procedure, isn't a lock to be ready for the start of training camp, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.

With regard to the wideout's training camp availability, Steichen noted that it could be "a couple weeks in" before Pierce is ready to practice. That said, there's nothing to suggest his Week 1 status will be affected, and the 26-year-old will reprise a key role in Indy's offense after landing a four-year, $116 million deal to remain with the team, on the heels of a 2025 campaign in which he recorded a 47-1,003-6 line on 84 targets in 15 regular-season games.

Watson (concussion) participated during the Texans' minicamp session Tuesday, David J. Phillip of the Associated Press reports.

Watson suffered a postseason-ending concussion during Houston's wild-card win over Pittsburgh in January, but he's back to full health with minicamp underway. He currently projects for a depth role in a wide receiver corps led by two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins and 2025 second-rounder Jayden Higgins.

Skinner (undisclosed) reverted from waivers to the Jets' injured reserve list Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Skinner went unclaimed after being waived with an injury designation Monday, and he'll have to miss the entire 2026 season unless he negotiates an injury settlement. The undrafted wideout out of Kansas made his NFL debut in 2025, catching his only target for 10 yards in Week 18 against the Bills.

The Steelers cut Johnson on Tuesday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

Johnson signed with Pittsburgh as a free agent back in April, but he'll have to look for another opportunity. He last saw NFL action in 2024, catching his only target for nine yards over three regular-season games with the Steelers.

Coach Brian Schottenheimer said Tuesday that Mingo is tending to a minor groin strain, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

There was no indication as to when Mingo suffered the injury, but it doesn't sound like it's a serious issue. Any time that Mingo potentially misses will make it that much more difficult for him to claim a spot on the Cowboys' Week 1 roster.

As expected, Boutte participated in Tuesday's mandatory minicamp practice, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.

The 2023 sixth-rounder skipped the Patriots' voluntary OTAs and has been the subject of trade speculation in the wake of the team's additions of A.J. Brown in a trade and Romeo Doubs via free agency. However, Boutte participated fully in Tuesday's session and has indicated that he's amenable to sticking around with New England, "whether that's at X (receiver), Z (receiver), F (slot receiver)... whatever I got to do, that's best for me." With Brown and Doubs sitting firmly atop the WR depth chart, Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams remain the primary candidates for snaps in three-receiver sets, per Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site.

McMillan (foot) is participating in practice Tuesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Tuesday is the first day of mandatory minicamp for the Panthers, and McMillan is back in a helmet going through drills after he missed some time during OTAs with a foot issue. The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year is coming off a 2025 season in which he caught 70 of 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns while playing in all 17 regular-season games. Headed into his second season, McMillan will be looking to build on those numbers with improved chemistry with Bryce Young.