NFL Player News

Ratller will be competing with Zach Wilson throughout training camp and potentially beyond to determine the No. 2 quarterback role for the Saints, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Rattler lost the 2025 starting job to rookie first-round pick Tyler Shough halfway through the Saints' Week 8 loss to the Buccaneers. The quarterback remained in a reserve role for the team and is clearly liked by the organization, but the signing of three-year Jets starter Zach Wilson leaves Rattler's role up in the air. There is always the possibility the team retains three quarterbacks on the active roster (as they did in 2025), but only one will be the No. 2 option.

Pavia was waived by the Ravens on Thursday.

Pavia signed with the Ravens in April after going undrafted, but the rookie out of Vanderbilt won't be part of Baltimore's training camp roster. Pavia will look to earn a chance with another NFL team. Scouts have expressed concerns over his size and attitude, but Pavia was highly productive in his final college campaign, generating 39 total touchdowns for Vanderbilt while leading the SEC with a completion percentage of 70.6.

The expectation is that Havrisik will compete with Trey Smack throughout the preseason to determine a Week 1 starter, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Smack , a sixth-round rookie, was set to be the opening-day kicker, but offseason practice failures have created a window for Havrisik to shine. The kicker produced well for the Packers in 2025 when he filled in for Brandon McManus, converting all four of his field-goal attempts. Havrisik also displayed some weaknesses around extra-point tries, converting only seven of nine across his three games.

Smith is set to lead a revamped wide receiver room that includes rookie first-round pick Makai Lemon and trade acquisition Dontayvion Wicks, Tim McManus of ESPN.com reports.

Smith has spent the past four seasons in A.J. Brown's shadow, but the 2021 first-round pick is ready to lead Philadelphia's wide receiver room for the first time since Smith's rookie campaign, during which he led the team in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns with a 64-916-5 regular-season line. Brown was traded to New England in June, and Smith is ready to take on an even larger role after exceeding 1,000 receiving yards in three of four regular seasons playing alongside Brown. "He's a special player that can continue to get even more targets," head coach Nick Sirianni said of Smith, per Zach Berman of The Athletic. "He's so capable of doing even more, and he's phenomenal, he is such a good football player."

Brooks was a full participant in a training camp practice for the first time in his career Thursday and impressed Carolina's coaching staff with his performance, Anthony Rizzuti of USA Today Panthers Wire reports.

"He feels great, he feels strong, he looks fast," head coach Dave Canales said of Brooks, who has been limited to three NFL appearances through two seasons due to a pair of ACL tears. "He looks like the guy that I remember, and I'm really excited for that." Brooks and Trevor Etienne both mixed in with the first-team offense at Thursday's practice, along with Chuba Hubbard, per Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. The Panthers selected Brooks out of Texas in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Thomas could emerge as a valuable gadget player on offense for the Bears during his rookie season, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.

Thomas was selected in the third round of April's NFL Draft and comes equipped with 4.28 speed. While he may not have an immediate role as a receiver behind Rome Odunze, Luther Burden and Kalif Raymond, the Bears are expected to get Thomas some easy touches to showcase his wheels and big-play ability. At the very least, Thomas appears lined up to handle returner duties for Chicago.

Beckham is competing for one of the final receiver spots on the Giants' depth chart this summer, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

All of Malik Nabers (knee), Darius Slayton (abdomen), Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin and rookie Malachi Fields are believed to be locks or near-locks to make the 53-man roster, leaving OBJ to compete with the likes of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Isaiah Hodgins, Braxton Berrios and Jalin Hyatt for one or two other spots at the bottom of the depth chart. Beckham is 33 years old and hasn't been a legitimate NFL contributor since the 2023 season with the Ravens. Even if he makes the team, Beckham is not expected to be a fantasy factor in 2026.

Gay is set to compete with Kansei Matsuzawa for the Raiders' kicking role in training camp, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.

The Raiders moved on from Daniel Carlson after the 2025 season and subsequently brought in the veteran Gay and the rookie Matsuzawa. Gay converted 81 of 101 field-goal attempts over the previous three seasons, split between the Colts, 49ers and Commanders. Matsuzawa is coming off a stellar season at Hawaii, where he made 27 of 29 field-goal attempts in 2025.

Thornton is locked in as a top-three wide receiver for the Chiefs alongside Rashee Rice (knee) and Xavier Worthy (shoulder), Joshua Brisco of SI.com reports.

Thornton was one of five receivers to play at least 33 percent of the team's offensive snaps in 2025, joining Rice, Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Hollywood Brown. The last two of those receivers are no longer on the roster, leaving unproven options such as Jalen Royals and Cyrus Allen competing for depth roles behind Rice, Worthy and Thornton.

Mixon (foot) has told people close to him that he believes his playing career is likely over, Cole Thompson of Texans Wire reports.

Mixon hasn't played in an NFL game since rushing 18 times for 88 yards and one touchdown in the Texans' divisional-round loss to the Chiefs during the 2024 postseason. He missed the entirety of the 2025 campaign due to a foot injury, and he recently required another operation while also dealing with blood flow issues to the extremity. Mixon will turn 30 years old Friday and was one of the top every-down workhorse backs in his heyday. He produced five 1,000-yard rushing seasons across his eight years in the league prior to being released by Houston earlier this offseason.