NFL Player News

Bears head coach Ben Johnson said Tuesday that Moore "has been a guy that's highly motivated" during voluntary OTAs, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times reports.

"[Moore] wants to be as complete of a receiver as he can possibly be, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to get there," Johnson said. The wide receiver's poor body language last season was also addressed by Johnson, who said at the start of OTAs that the offseason will be "all about educating" Chicago's players about new team culture expectations. Moore said Tuesday that his body language was brought up once this offseason, but that "we nipped it in the bud and it never happened again." Entering his second season with Caleb Williams under center, the departure of Keenan Allen in free agency leaves Moore as the clear leader among the Bears' pass-catching corps, and he remains entrenched as the team's No. 1 wideout. Chicago's O-line upgrades and Johnson's track record in Detroit both point to a much improved offense for 2025, but Moore faces considerable target competition from last year's No. 9 overall pick Rome Odunze, rookie second-rounder Luther Burden (undisclosed) and tight end Colston Loveland (shoulder), the 10th overall selection of the 2025 draft. Moore tallied a career-high 98 catches across 17 regular-season games with Williams in 2024, though he took a step backward from his breakout 2023 campaign in terms of yards (966 vs. 1,364) and touchdowns (six vs. eight).

Rice (knee) was a full participant in voluntary OTAs on Wednesday, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.

Rice missed Kansas City's first week of OTAs due to an illness, but the third-year pro is now back with the team and showing no signs of still being hampered by the season-ending surgery he underwent last October to repair the LCL in his right knee. Head coach Andy Reid previously said in April that Rice was on track to get an essentially complete offseason, while quarterback Patrick Mahomes said in late May that the explosive wideout had been working without limitations, so it comes as no surprise to see him now participating in full. A 2023 second-round pick, Rice followed up his excellent rookie season with a phenomenal start to the 2024 campaign, racking up a 24-288-2 receiving line in Weeks 1-3 before injuring his knee just seven snaps into Week 4. It's possible Rice's ongoing legal situation (and likely suspension) aren't resolved until 2026, but he now faces tougher target competition with Xavier Worthy having developed entering Year 2, Travis Kelce returning for a 13th season and Hollywood Brown healthy and having re-signed.

Corum (forearm) has been an active participant at OTAs, per the Rams' official site.

Corum suited up for all 17 regular-season games during his uneventful rookie campaign but missed both of Los Angeles' playoff bouts due to a fractured forearm suffered Week 18. The 2024 third-round pick now seems back to full health, though heading into Year 2 he faces new competition from rookie fourth-round pick Jarquez Hunter for the backup role behind Kyren Williams. As a rookie, Corum rushed just 58 times for 207 yards (3.6 YPC) while failing to reach the end zone, adding just seven catches (on eight targets) for 58 yards. Hunter boasts big-play speed that could make him a fitting complement to Williams, so Corum will need to show more this offseason to avoid being stuck in a negligible role again.

Tagovailoa (hip) has been an active participant at OTAs and has drawn praise from head coach Mike McDaniel for having "the most ownership of all the players on each and every down," Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post reports.

Tagovailoa looked sharp throwing Tuesday despite rainy field conditions, per Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, and he's displayed no lingering issues related to the hip injury that forced him to sit out the final two regular-season games of 2024. Now heading into Year 4 in McDaniel's offense, and with top wideouts Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle returning, the stage is set for Tagovailoa to hit the ground running in 2025, with excuses running out if this team again underperforms compared to expectation. In response to the concussion and hip injuries that partially derailed Tagovailoa in 2024, McDaniel deployed a new offensive philosophy prioritizing short-area targets to De'Von Achane and Jonnu Smith at the expense of Hill and Waddle. One of the largest offseason questions for 2025 fantasy projections remains whether the Dolphins reprise a similar approach, which would help keep Tagovailoa from taking hits behind an already-poor offensive line that lost Terron Armstead to retirement, or return to the aggressive stance that saw the southpaw turn in a league-leading 4,624 passing yards while playing all 17 regular-season games in 2023. Recent trade rumors surrounding Smith, who desires a new contract after breaking out in 2024, suggest a willingness to de-prioritize targets to the tight end position and return to funneling things through Hill and Waddle.

Mason (ankle) participated in on-field drills during OTAs on Tuesday, per the Vikings' official site.

Mason appears fully recovered from the high-ankle sprain that forced him to miss the final five regular-season games of his breakout 2024 campaign in San Francisco. The 26-year-old impressed out of the gate last year with Christian McCaffrey unavailable for the 49ers, rushing 134 times for 685 yards (5.1 YPC) and three scores during the team's first eight games, before injuries of his own popped up. Aaron Jones inked a two-year extension with Minnesota this offseason and still projects as the team's starter, but in the interest of keeping the 30-year-old fresh, Mason will be a candidate to push for a significant backfield split. Boasting a far larger frame at 5-foot-11, 223 pounds, Mason also seems the favorite for short-yardage and goal-line work.

Walker (ankle) is participating in Seattle's voluntary OTAs, per the team's official site.

Walker is pictured among teammates participating in the Seahawks' second week of OTAs, which began Monday. Now healthy and heading into the final year of his rookie deal, Walker's situation in Seattle's backfield remains familiar. If he can avoid the injury bug and stay 100 percent healthy, something Walker has struggled to accomplish through his first three seasons in the NFL, he looks entrenched as the starter ahead of Zach Charbonnet. The arrival of new starting quarterback Sam Darnold could allow this offense to take a step forward in 2025, while new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's scheme, which focuses on zone rushes, is an ideal fit for Walker's tough running style and explosiveness. Health remains the most pivotal factor in prognosticating Walker, but if he's able to break the pattern of lower-body injuries hampering him, it won't be surprising if the 2022 second-round pick outperforms his ADP in 2025 fantasy drafts.

Parham tore his Achilles during OTAs on Tuesday and will likely miss the 2025 season, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Parham signed with the Steelers in late February after spending most of last season on Denver's practice squad. The veteran tight end logged a career-high 27 catches for 285 yards and four touchdowns over 14 regular-season games with the Chargers in 2023 but hasn't appeared in an NFL contest since. He was slated to compete for a depth role with the Steelers behind Pat Freiermuth.

Knowles signed a one-year contract with the 49ers on Tuesday.

Knowles signed with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and has since spent time with the Packers organization, but he has yet to appear in an NFL game. The 49ers made room for him by placing fellow wideout Trent Taylor (undisclosed) on injured reserve.

The 49ers placed Taylor (undisclosed) on injured reserve Tuesday.

Taylor signed a reserve/future contract with San Francisco in early January, but the move to IR means he'll likely be out for the entire 2025 campaign. It's not clear what type of injury the receiver is dealing with, though he wasn't expected to be a major part of the team's offense this season. Taylor spent most of last year on San Francisco's practice squad and caught one pass for 11 yards across two regular-season games.

Irwin and the Jaguars agreed on a contract Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Irwin will head to Jacksonville after spending the 2024 campaign with the Bengals and Panthers, reeling in three of 10 targets for 15 yards over seven games with Cincinnati. The wide receiver will look to impress this summer in order to potentially snag an active roster spot with the Jaguars in 2025.