NFL Player News

The Panthers are placing Brooks on the physically unable to perform list, ruling him out for the entire 2025 season.

Players can return from the PUP list when placed on it at the start of training camp or before Week 1, but not if they get the designation this early in the offseason. Brooks tore the ACL in his right knee each of the past two years, bringing his college career to an early conclusion and then limiting his rookie season to three games. The Panthers took him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 46th overall, but they'll now move forward with Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle and Trevor Etienne as the main candidates to take carries in 2025.

The Panthers are set to release Clowney, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Per Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, the move will free up $7.78 million in salary cap space for the Panthers. In 14 games with Carolina in 2024, Clowney recorded 46 tackles to go along with 5.5 sacks. The 32-year-old -- who was the top overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft -- will now look to catch on with a team seeking to add experienced pass-rushing depth.

Lockhart (undisclosed) reverted to Kansas City's injured reserve Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Lockhart was waived with an injury designation by the Chiefs on Tuesday but will now return to the team after clearing waivers. The rookie undrafted free agent will now be forced to sit out the entirety of the 2025 campaign unless he's gets an injury settlement.

The Titans re-signed Lynch on Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.

Lynch is set to return to Tennessee, where he recorded 20 tackles (six solo), including 1.0 sacks, and two pass defections during the 2024 campaign. He will likely serve as a depth defender during the upcoming season and can contribute on special teams as well.

Bachie signed with the Colts on Wednesday, Joel Erickson of the team's official site reports.

Bachie has seemingly recovered from the groin injury that landed him on Cincinnati's injured reserve last December and will now head to Indianapolis. The 27-year-old racked up three tackles (three solo) across 12 games during the 2024 campaign as he saw the majority of his playing time on special teams and will likely have a similar role with the Colts.

The Texans re-signed Fatukasi on Wednesday, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN reports.

Fatukasi will return to Houston, where he racked up 24 tackles (16 solo), including 1.0 sacks, across 11 regular-season games played during the 2024 campaign. The 2018 sixth-round pick will likely be in the mix to serve as one of the team's starting defensive tackles during the upcoming season.

Hill posted on his Snapchat account Wednesday that he had a procedure to remove screws from his left wrist, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.

Hill previously had surgery on the wrist in question earlier this offseason. The original injury stemmed from a joint practice with the Commanders last August, but the veteran wide receiver played through the pain en route to an 81-959-6 line on 123 targets across 17 regular-season games. Each of those marks equated to campaign lows since joining the Dolphins in 2022, and his TD total matched a career low since he was selected in the fifth round of the 2016 Draft. Coach Mike McDaniel said in February that Hill likely won't resume football activities until "around summertime going into training camp," so there appears to be a good chance that he misses the entire offseason program in May and early June.

Ebukam (Achilles) believes he will be cleared for full participation by the start of training camp, the Indianapolis Star reports.

Ebukam missed the 2024 season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during a July 28 practice. The Colts must believe he'll be able to return, as he has a $10.49 million cap hit for 2025 and the team could have saved $6.49 million with his release. Ebukam had 9.5 sacks in 2023, but he'll have a daunting task returning to form coming back from an injury that could limit his explosiveness.

Coach John Harbaugh was impressed by what he saw of Loop during the Ravens' rookie minicamp, Clifton Brown of the team's official site reports.

"It was good to see it. It was good to hear it," Harbaugh noted of rookie sixth-rounder's kicking during the minicamp. "I think as much as anything, it's good to hear a kicker, and the way the ball comes off his foot is impressive." Following the release of Justin Tucker on Monday, Loop -- who was first kicker drafted in the Ravens' 30-year history, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN -- appears poised to assume the team's placekicking duties, though look for depth at the position to be added, with Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic noting that Baltimore is expected to sign UDFA John Hoyland (Wyoming).

The Steelers remain in contact with Rodgers and hope he'll eventually sign, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Trading WR George Pickens to the Cowboys makes Pittsburgh a less attractive destination for a QB in general, but it won't necessarily impact Rodgers' decision between the Steelers and retirement, especially if he already expected Pickens to be dealt. Reports in mid-April suggested the 41-year-old was focused on his personal life and eventually would either retire or sign with Pittsburgh. There's been no report on a specific timeline for that decision, but the Steelers presumably would appreciate knowing before OTAs begin May 27.