NFL Player News

Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday that Godwin (ankle) is "on track" but doesn't have a specific timeline to return to practice, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Godwin is coming back from an ankle dislocation suffered in Week 7 last season and hasn't resumed practicing. He's on the PUP list for the start of training camp, with Bowles' comments suggesting a return isn't imminent. The Bucs were confident enough in Godwin's recovery to give him $44 million guaranteed on a three-year, $66 million contract in March, but the rehab process does seem to be coming along more slowly than many expected (at least outside the organization).

Cowing pulled his hamstring Wednesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

He was the subject of glowing reports during the offseason program, only to get injured during the first practice of training camp. A 2024 fourth-round pick, Cowing got just five touches on 106 offensive snaps last season, with his main role being on punt returns (28 for 245 yards). This could've been a good chance to get some reps with Brock Purdy, as the 49ers don't have Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) available for the start of camp.

GM Nick Caserio acknowledged Wednesday that there's no timetable for the return of Dell (knee), who is on the active/PUP list, Jonathan M. Alexander of The Houston Chronicle reports.

While Caserio hasn't completely ruled out the possibility that Dell could return at some point this season, it's clear that the wideout -- who suffered a significant knee injury last December -- still has a way to go in his recovery process. With that in mind, Caserio noted that Dell is "in the building every day. He's working really hard, but we're not going to put a timetable on anything," a notion echoed by coach DeMeco Ryans, who added that the 2023 third-rounder is "crushing the rehab." With Dell likely to miss a good portion of the coming season, the Texans' top healthy veteran wide receivers are Nico Collins and Christian Kirk, with 2025 draftees Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel also in the mix to carve out steady roles in the team's passing attack.

DeJean lined up at safety in Philadelphia's base defense on the first day of training camp, Zach Berman of The Athletic reports.

That's the ideal scenario for IDP value, with DeJean playing safety in the base defense and slot corner in nickel packages. The other options are to play him as an outside cornerback in the base defense -- opposite Quinyon Mitchell -- or to take DeJean off the field and only use him as a nickel. An every-down role with snaps at both safety and slot corner could help make DeJean an IDP star.

Boutte, Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas opened training camp Wednesday as New England's first-team wide receivers, Mike Kadlick of CLNSMedia.com reports.

Diggs is locked in for one starting job -- assuming his return from an ACL tear continues to go swimmingly -- and Douglas figures to be the slot man again. That leaves Boutte to compete with rookie third-round Kyle Williams and others for one starting job, with Boutte hoping to build on his strong finish to 2024. He had 240 yards and two TDs over the final three weeks of last season, after recording 336 yards and one TD across 10 previous starts. Bourne has a chance to defend his starting job, but there's also risk of dropping off the roster if he struggles this summer, as Diggs, Douglas and Williams are locks to make it, leaving only two or three spots up for grabs between Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, Mack Hollins (undisclosed), Ja'Lynn Polk (shoulder), Javon Baker, Efton Chism and others.

Daniels isn't worried about Terry McLaurin's contract holdout impacting the duo's rapport, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

McLaurin is frustrated with negotiations but ultimately still wants an extension in Washington rather than a trade. Daniels, meanwhile, seems to be getting along fine in practice without his top wide receiver -- his first pass of 11-on-11s at training camp was a deep completion to new weapon Deebo Samuel. The Commanders also traded for LT Laremy Tunsil this offseason, and then drafted RT Josh Conerly in the first round, but their interior line figures to be temporarily weakened after standout guard Sam Cosmi suffered an ACL tear during the playoffs. It's still a good situation for Daniels overall, especially if/when McLaurin gets back on the field.

Dillon got reps with the first-team offense before Will Shipley on Wednesday, Eliot Shorr-Parks of Sports Radio 94 WIP Philadelphia reports.

It probably doesn't mean much on the first day of training camp, with the Eagles initially deferring to Dillon's experience (597 carries in 60 regular-season games) over Shipley's familiarity (he was the team's third-string RB last year). Dillon seems to be back at full health after a neck injury last August ended his fifth season with the Packers before it even got started. He signed a one-year contract in Philadelphia this spring, getting less than $200,000 guaranteed but with a chance to replace Kenneth Gainwell (who is now with the Steelers) as the team's No. 2 RB. While Shipley is a recent fourth-round pick and surely more nimble, Dillon's 240-plus-pound frame could have some value to the Eagles if Saquon Barkley were to miss time.

Moody is competing with Greg Joseph for San Francisco's placekicker job, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.

The 49ers drafted Moody at No. 99 overall in 2023, making him the second kicker in 15 years to go within the top 100 picks. He mostly performed well as a rookie, but he then missed three kicks during the playoffs and made only 70.6 percent of his field-goal attempts in 2024. Moody now faces competition from Joseph, who was Minnesota's kicker from 2021 to 2023 before playing for three different teams last season. The winner of their summer battle could have volume-based fantasy value, as the 49ers have star power on offense and a seemingly favorable schedule.

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said Wednesday that Watson (knee) is "a freak" and "pressing to get out there" but still won't be rushed into practices this summer, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports.

Watson suffered his ACL tear in Week 18 last season, giving him almost exactly nine months between the date of the injury and Week 1 of 2025. He's starting training camp on the PUP list, with Gutekunst's comments Wednesday suggesting Watson might remain out of practice for a while. Week 1 may still be a big ask, but it at least sounds like Watson is on schedule (or ahead of it) in his rehab process, with a chance to contribute in the first half of the season. The Packers open training camp with Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are their top wide receivers.

Jennings participated in individual drills at the start of Wednesday's practice, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.

Unlike position mate Brandon Aiyuk a season ago, Jennings isn't "holding in" (i.e. present but not practicing), despite recent reports that he is seeking a new contract. With Aiyuk out for the foreseeable future due to his recovery from a torn ACL and Deebo Samuel getting traded to the Commanders this offseason, Jennings is set to open the upcoming season as the 49ers' top option at wide receiver, but he currently is playing out the second season of the two-year, $15.4 million contract that he signed in May 2024. Jennings is coming off a 77-975-6 campaign on 113 targets across 15 regular-season contests, so an amended deal could be in his future.