NFL Player News

Dennis (shoulder) was back healthy during OTAs and minicamp, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Dennis got injured Week 4 of the 2024 regular season, but he has returned to full health for Tampa Bay's offseason activities. He was among the team's most impressive defenders in OTAs and minicamp, so Dennis could push for a larger role in his third NFL season, as the 2023 fifth-round draft pick has yet to make an NFL start among his 17 regular-season appearances.

Johnson said he wants to play in all 17 of the Giants' regular-season games during the upcoming season, Bobby Kownack of NFL.com reports. "I've been taking my recovery and my health, what I'm putting in my body and everything, more serious than I ever have. I think that's the biggest goal for me is prioritizing my health and wellness and making sure that I'm available and consistent throughout 17 games," the tight end stated.

Johnson missed New York's final five contests last year due to a foot injury, but he is back to full health and has participated in the team's OTAs this offseason. Though he got off to somewhat of a rocky start as a rookie, Johnson had been coming on strong prior to getting hurt, averaging 3.6 catches for 43.2 yards over his final five contests. He'll look to build upon that production as the Giants' top tight end in 2025, and there is potential for more opportunities now that Johnson is working with a revamped QB room that features Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and promising rookie Jaxson Dart.

Steelers receivers coach Zach Azzani recently said "that [WR2] spot is all [Austin's] right now," Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

The Steelers reworked their wideout room over the offseason, jettisoning George Pickens in a trade while also letting Van Jefferson walk in free agency. DK Metcalf was acquired from Seattle, and Pittsburgh also signed 33-year-old Robert Woods. However, it sounds like Austin has a significant lead on Woods and second-year WR Roman Wilson for the starting gig opposite Metcalf. Austin had a breakout 2024 campaign, posting a 36-548-4 receiving line on 58 targets while playing in all 17 regular-season games, averaging a robust 15.2 yards per catch. Following the Steelers' acquisition of Jonnu Smith, this looks like an offense that is going to feature two tight ends in Smith and Pat Freiermuth, as opposed to three wide receivers, so the winner of the WR2 job stands to see far more playing time than the Steelers' third and fourth receivers.

Walker was Baltimore's most consistent wide receiver during spring practices and appears to be the frontrunner for the WR4 job, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Walker was a fourth-round pick in the 2024 Draft and saw just three targets across nine regular-season appearances as a rookie, catching one pass for a 21-yard touchdown. Walker played just 57 offensive snaps across those nine contests and was sixth amongst Baltimore's wideouts in targets. The Ravens signed DeAndre Hopkins in the offseason and kept Tylan Wallace with a one-year deal, but Hensley believes Walker is positioned to leap Wallace for the WR4 gig despite Wallace posting an 11-193-1 line on 12 targets and 275 snaps last regular season.

Locke underwent spinal fusion surgery during the offseason and is still recovering, he recently disclosed on his YouTube channel.

Locke played through the back injury during the 2024 season and managed to play 982 total snaps over 15 regular-season games despite dealing with considerable pain. His ability to return to the field was in question, but Locke said that his pain levels are minimal and he hopes to be cleared for training camp.

Waller is coming out of retirement and was acquired by the Dolphins in a trade with the Giants on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The two teams are swapping late-round picks, with the Giants acquiring a conditional sixth-rounder in 2026 and Miami also getting a 2027 seventh-rounder. Waller will sign an adjusted, incentive-laden deal to facilitate the trade to Miami, according to Pelissero. Waller turns 33 years old in September and retired ahead of training camp last summer. However, he recently informed the Giants of his desire to return to football, but only if it could be in Miami. With Jonnu Smith traded by the Dolphins to the Steelers on Monday, Miami had a massive hole at tight end. Waller is getting up there in age and hasn't been particularly effective or healthy since 2020 with the Raiders. It's still a worthwhile flier for a Dolphins offense that was lacking established pass catchers behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Freiermuth will play alongside fellow tight end Jonnu Smith after the Steelers traded for Smith on Monday, Steelers Now reports.

Coming off an 88-catch breakout campaign while playing in all 17 regular-season games, Smith represents a threat to Freiermuth's playing time in 11 personnel even if they can work together symbiotically in multi-TE formations. Freiermuth is entering the first season of a four-year, $48.4 million contract extension, while Smith just signed a one-year, $12 million extension through 2026. Both tight ends will find it difficult to approach their 2024 volume, competing against each other (and WR DK Metcalf) for targets from a 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers in Arthur Smith's run-first offense.

The Dolphins are trading Ramsey to the Steelers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith are headed to Pittsburgh in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, with Day 3 picks going in both directions. The 2-for-1 trade allows Miami to shed salary without totally punting, while Pittsburgh now has standout strengths at cornerback and tight end. Ramsey may end up in an IDP-friendly role as a slot guardian and/or safety, considering the Steelers seemingly have a solid pair of boundary corners in Joey Porter and Darius Slay. They also have slot corner Beanie Bishop returning, so there's no shortage of options for nickel packages.

The Steelers are trading Fitzpatrick to the Dolphins as part of a deal for tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The trade allows Miami to shed salary while adding a standout replacement for safety Jevon Holland, who left this offseason to sign with the Giants. Fitzpatrick previously was traded in the other direction, from Miami to Pittsburgh, back in September 2019, just three weeks into his second NFL season. He ended up intercepting five passes in 14 games for the Steelers that year, earning First Team All-Pro honors for the first time (also in 2020 and 2022). Fitzpatrick had just one INT and seven pass breakups in 27 regular-season games over the past two seasons, but he's only 28 years old and should still offer some playmaking ability for Miami's secondary.

The Dolphins are trading Smith, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Steelers in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Smith was said to be unhappy with his contract in Miami following last year's career highs for catches, yards and touchdowns. A move to Pittsburgh reunites him with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who was the head coach in Atlanta when Jonnu Smith played there. It isn't an especially promising move for Smith's fantasy value, as the Steelers likely will run the ball a lot and already have Pat Freiermuth at tight end.