NFL Player News

The 49ers signed Cephus to a one-year contract Thursday, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

With Jacob Cowing sidelined due to a hamstring injury, the 49ers bolstered their wide receiver corps by adding Cephus and waiving running back Israel Abanikanda. Cephus spent most of the 2024 season on the Rams' practice squad, but he was let go in late June despite signing a reserve/future contract in January. Cephus hasn't played in a regular-season game since 2022 as a member of the Lions, and he faces an uphill battle to make the 49ers' practice squad -- let alone the 53-man roster -- at the end of training camp.

Arnold was removed from Thursday's practice session after straining his calf, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.

The severity of the injury isn't clear, but Schultz relays that the Lions will be cautious with Arnold's calf injury, which could result in the second-year corner being sidelined for at least the Hall of Fame game against the Chargers on July 31. The absences of Arnold, Khalil Dorsey (undisclosed) and Stantley Thomas-Oliver (undisclosed) will open up more training camp reps at corner for Dicaprio Bootle, Avonte Maddox and Tyson Russell.

The Giants added $3 million in incentives to Lawrence's (elbow) current contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Lawrence is set to make $17 million this season in addition to the added incentives, and the 2019 first-rounder is under contract with the Giants through 2027. Despite missing the final five games of the 2024 regular season due to a dislocated left elbow, Lawrence still managed to log a career-high 9.0 sacks through 12 games.

The Dolphins placed Burns on injured reserve Thursday due to a torn ACL.

Burns suffered a serious knee injury during Wednesday's practice. Thursday's MRI results confirmed that the veteran corner tore his ACL, and Burns' placement on the Dolphins' IR means he will be sidelined for the entire 2025 season. Kendall Sheffield and John Saunders are in a stronger position to earn a spot on Miami's 53-man roster due to Burns' injury.

Smith (undisclosed) didn't participate in team drills during Thursday's practice, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

The report notes that Smith worked in individual drills, with coach Mike Tomlin noting that the tight end is considered "day-to-day" with an unspecified injury. Once Smith is able to work fully, he'll look to build chemistry with QB Aaron Rodgers, while working as part of the Steelers' one-two TE punch, which also features Pat Freiermuth.

Ford (undisclosed) will remain sidelined during Thursday's practice, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Per Zac Jackson of The Athletic, coach Kevin Stefanski noted that Ford is "progressing well" from what Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram describes as a minor unspecified injury. Once Ford is able to resume practicing, he'll be on track to work as the Browns' RB1, with 2025 second-rounder Quinshon Judkins remaining unsigned amid legal issues, per Pat McGinnis of Browns Wire.

Coach John Harbaugh noted that Hopkins (knee) was held out of Thursday's practice "out of an abundance of caution," Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

The report adds that Hopkins fell on his knee during Wednesday's session, but Harbaugh indicated that the veteran wideout will be okay. Once Hopkins returns to practice, he'll continue to build chemistry with star QB Lamar Jackson while working in a Baltimore wideout corps that also features Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.

Wilson opened training camp with the starting offense Thursday, Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live reports.

Wilson and DK Metcalf took the first reps in both 11 and 12 personnel, with Calvin Austin as the third receiver for three-wide sets (the same role he had last year). It's a sign the Steelers still have high hopes for Wilson, a 2024 third-round pick, after he was either injured or a healthy scratch for nearly all of his rookie season. In addition to Wilson and Austin, the competition for WR snaps behind Metcalf includes Robert Woods, Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek.

Bozeman has been rotating between left guard and center with Zion Johnson every day at training camp, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

Bozeman, who signed a two-year, $6.5 million deal with the Chargers this offseason, is firmly expected to start along the offensive line, but it's very much up in the air as to what spot he'll occupy come Week 1. The team seems intent on making the best use of Johnson, a 2022 first-round pick, meaning Bozeman could potentially slide into the final remaining opening along the offensive line.

Lambert has been an early standout for the Chargers through the first week of training camp, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

The sudden retirement of Mike Williams coupled with a minor undisclosed injury for Jalen Reagor has opened the door for both Lambert-Smith and rookie second-round pick Tre Harris to compete for a boundary wide receiver role on the first-team offense. Lambert-Smith has the prototypical size (6-foot-1) and speed (4.37 40-yard dash at 2025 NFL Combine) to be a conventional field stretcher for an offense that has struggled to find that role for years, and he figures to be in the mix for consequential playing time regardless if he's officially listed as a starter come Week 1.