NFL Player News

Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur declined Wednesday to name a starting quarterback, though Brissett reported for the start of mandatory minicamp on Monday, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.

LaFleur's lack of an answer when asked about Arizona's starting quarterback may partially be posturing, after Brissett held out of voluntary workouts earlier in the offseason due to dissatisfaction with his current contract. It wouldn't be out of the question, however, for the Cardinals to host a competition that includes backup Gardner Minshew and rookie third-rounder Carson Beck if the team suspects Brissett will enact a "hold in" as the offseason progresses. Brissett is heading into the final season of his two-year deal and is slated to carry a $4.88 million salary in 2026. Earlier in the offseason, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN reports that Arizona informed Brissett (who was in attendance for Tuesday's minicamp practice but did not participate) he would be the team's starter for 2026.

Pierce (ankle) revealed Wednesday that he underwent surgery this spring after not getting the results he wanted from a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection at the start of the offseason, JJ Stankevitz of Colts.com reports.

Pierce didn't elaborate on the specifics of his injury or surgery, but he at least clarified the general timeline while speaking with reporters. His left ankle has bothered him since the end of the 2024 season, and he dealt with soreness throughout 2025 while recording his first 1,000-yard campaign. He hoped the issue would resolve this winter with a PRP injection and subsequent rehab program (estimated at 6-to-8 weeks), but the ankle didn't get much better, leaving Pierce to choose between surgery or playing through the injury again. He and the Colts agreed on surgery as the solution in late March, only a few weeks after reaching agreement on a four-year, $114 million contract (with $60 million guaranteed at signing). The Colts presumably knew surgery was a possibility when they gave Pierce the huge contract; relations appear amicable between player and team. In any case, Pierce now faces an estimated rehab process of 4-6 months, making him uncertain for the start of training camp. He'll be about five and a half months removed from surgery when the Colts host the Ravens in Week 1 (Sept. 13).

The Panthers except McMillan (ankle) to be ready for the start of training camp, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

McMillan missed some time during OTAs due to what was initially labeled a foot issue, but it is now being dubbed ankle soreness. He participated in practice during the first day of mandatory minicamp Tuesday, but per Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340, the 2025 first-rounder is not dressed for practice Wednesday. McMillan himself said Wednesday that he currently feels good and expects to be ready for training camp in July, Kaye reports, an indication that his reps may simply be being capped as a precaution at minicamp. Per Joe Person of The Athletic, head coach Dave Canales said that Carolina's plan is for McMillan to take part in two of the team's three minicamp practices, so the wideout should be back on the field Thursday.

Kraft (knee) said Wednesday that he expects to play Week 1 without any playing-time restrictions, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Coming back from last year's ACL tear, Kraft is absent from OTA practices but hopes to participate in training camp. Packers coach Matt LaFleur also said he hopes to have the tight end on the field during the early portion of training camp, and Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said Kraft is ahead of schedule in his rehab process. While the Packers have a well-earned reputation for caution with injured players, it sounds like all parties are on board for Kraft making a run at gaining clearance for Week 1.

Allen is up to 250 pounds for OTAs after playing at 238-240 last year, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

In terms of physical measurements, Allen is perhaps the closest thing to Derrick Henry among NFL running backs, now pushing 250 pounds on a 6-foot-1 frame. The concern is that Allen was already a far cry from Henry in terms of speed and agility when playing at his (relatively) lighter weight of 238-240 pounds. The 22-year-old looks like a DE or OLB at first glance, and he told reporters Wednesday that his body-fat percentage is at an all-time low. Allen also said he's back at full strength after undergoing season-ending surgery on an MCL injury last fall. He's the youngest player from the 2024 draft class -- younger than most incoming rookies, in fact -- and is again positioned to compete with fellow 2024 draft pick Isaiah Davis for backup work behind long-time starter Breece Hall. It's also possible Allen and Davis have distinct roles, with the former more focused on power rushing and the latter more geared toward passing downs.

Stowers appears to have a lower-body injury and isn't doing much at Wednesday's practice, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The rookie second-round pick has a sleeve over his right leg and reportedly hasn't been doing much this week. Philadelphia's first-round pick, WR Makai Lemon, has also been absent from recent practices, nursing a hamstring injury that doesn't sound overly severe. Stowers' issue doesn't sound serious either, but it's possible he'll be limited for these last few practices before the Eagles break for the summer. Nothing at this stage hints at doubt about his availability for the start of training camp in late July. The concern for Stowers' fantasy value is Dallas Goedert's continued presence in Philadelphia, not a minor injury during OTAs.

Wilson has been getting most of his reps with the third-string offense at OTAs, according to Gregg Bell of The News Tribune.

Wilson did a solid job filling in for an injured Josh Jacobs in Green Bay last season, so it's no surprise there was fantasy interest after Wilson signed with the RB-needy Seahawks in March on a reported one-year, $2.1 million contract. His fantasy stock has since taken a hit, in large part because the Seahawks drafted RB Jadarian Price at No. 32 overall in April. It also doesn't help that Wilson's contract is closer to $1.6 million in base value, not $2.1 million, and with only $300,000 guaranteed at signing. He may still be part of the plan to help replace Kenneth Walker (Chiefs) and Zach Charbonnet (torn ACL), but early reports out of Seattle have George Holani getting most of the first-team reps while Price mixes in some. Wilson seems to be exclusively working with the backups, at least during the media-access portions of practice.

Holani has often been the first running back through the rotation at Seattle's OTAs, according to Gregg Bell of The News Tribune.

With Kenneth Walker in Kansas City and Zach Charbonnet (knee) recovering from late-February ACL surgery, Holani is the veteran holdover in Seattle's backfield. First-round pick Jadarian Price is a clear favorite to lead the team in carries come Week 1, but it sounds like Holani is getting more snaps with the starters during the offseason program. Meanwhile, free-agent signing Emanuel Wilson reportedly is getting a lot of his work with the third-string offense. Holani, a 2024 UDFA, is still a long shot for mainstream fantasy value, but he's at least earning a spot on deep-sleeper lists and generating some interest as an end-game pick for best ball.

Price has been mixing in with Seattle's starters at OTAs, including for a full drive during Wednesday's practice, according to Gregg Bell of The News Tribune.

The report suggests George Holani has mostly been first through the backfield rotation, with Price also getting some first-team reps, while Emanuel Wilson is largely working with backups. Bell also suggests Zach Charbonnet (knee) could be part of the team's plan as early as September or October, even though Charbonnet underwent ACL surgery in late February. Price, the 32nd overall pick this spring, remains a solid favorite to lead Seattle in carries come Week 1. However, the rookie could end up in a three-man rotation with Holani handling pass-catching work and Wilson taking some of the inside carries and/or pass-blocking snaps.

McCarthy and free-agent addition Kyler Murray shared QB reps during Tuesday's mandatory minicamp practice, Lindsey Young of the Vikings' official site reports.

Fellow signal callers Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer remain in the reserve mix, while Kevin Seifert of ESPN relays that Murray was on the field for the first QB snaps during team drills Tuesday, after which McCarthy took about an equal number of snaps with the starters -- as was the trend during the media-access portions of Minnesota's OTAs. Per Seifert, Murray is viewed as the favorite to win the the team's ongoing quarterback competition, but at this stage the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft continues his transition to a new offensive system while splitting work with McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in 2024, who is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he threw for 1,632 yards with a 11:12 TD:INT ratio in 10 regular-season starts.