NFL Player News

Jets receivers coach Shawn Jefferson implied Tuesday that Mitchell is seen as the team's No. 2 wideout heading into the upcoming season, Antwan V. Staley of the New York Daily News reports. "If he continues on this trajectory, he will be a really good Robin to our Batman [Garrett Wilson]," Jefferson said of Mitchell.

The Jets invested the 30th overall pick in April's draft in Omar Cooper, but he looks set to work in the No. 3 role to begin his career. Mitchell was able to make a positive impression late last season after coming over from the Colts, racking up 59 targets while Wilson was sidelined by a knee injury for the final eight games and producing a 25-312-2 line even with shoddy quarterback play. With veteran Geno Smith directing the offense in 2026, Mitchell should see an improvement in efficiency, though a healthy Wilson remains the unquestioned centerpiece of the Jets' passing game.

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that he doesn't expect Maye to play in Thursday's preseason opener versus the Colts, Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports.

While Vrabel noted that his decision on Maye's status is "subject to change," like most teams during the first week of the preseason, the Patriots are expected to prioritize playing time for players who are still competing for roster spots. After a spectacular sophomore campaign in 2025 in which he finished as the runner-up in the MVP balloting and led the Patriots to the Super Bowl, Maye will have to contend with a tougher schedule in 2026 but will have an improved pass-catching group to work with after New England lost Stefon Diggs but added A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs.

Pierce didn't require a second platelet-rich plasma injection for his surgically repaired left ankle, contrary to what was previously reported, according to Nathan Brown of The Indianapolis Star.

A league source previously relayed that Pierce required the second shot, but the source recanted and said it had misspoken. Another source confirmed that the wideout hasn't required any follow-up procedures since undergoing surgery in late March. Even so, Pierce has been sidelined for the entirety of the Colts' offseason program and training camp, and head coach Shane Steichen hasn't provided a firm target date for when he might come off the PUP list. Pierce has been one of the NFL's top vertical threats the past two seasons while averaging 20-plus yards per reception in both years, and after signing a lavish four-year, $114 million deal to remain with Indianapolis, the team is counting on him taking on greater target volume in 2026.

Giants head coach John Harbaugh lauded Dart for sliding inbounds at the end of a third-down run during a drill in Monday's practice, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports. "I clapped. I applauded. I applauded when he did that. It was great," Harbaugh said.

While Monday marked the first time that Dart had slid following a run throughout the Giants' first 11 practices of camp, the second-year quarterback at least appears to be more open to modifying his reckless running style. Though that approach helped him compile 487 rushing yards and nine scores in 14 games last season, it also played a part in him being checked for concussions on five different occasions. During a fan event back in May, Dart said that on third and fourth downs and near the red zone, he still expects to run through defenders in pursuit of first downs and touchdowns, but he expressed a willingness to slide in less critical situations. The 23-year-old will still carry plenty of health risk so long as running remains a key part of his skill set, but even a slight decline in his exposure to contact will help his odds of staying on the field.

Shough has looked noticeably more comfortable and in command of the offense entering his second season, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

After competing with Spencer Rattler for the starting job last summer as a rookie, Shough has the keys to the offense headed into the 2026 regular season after he completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 2,384 yards and a 10:6 TD:INT over the second half of last season once he took hold of the job from Rattler. The Saints have since added first-round WR Jordyn Tyson and free-agent pickup Travis Etienne to Shough's arsenal, putting the pieces around him to build on his impressive rookie season. Shough is an upside pick in the later rounds of fantasy drafts. He's got continuity with coach Kellen Moore and is playing in what should be one of the league's fastest-paced offenses.

Love said that working mostly with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden (toe) this summer has helped improve his timing with his wide receivers, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports.

Love noted that due to the team's depth at the position last summer, the Packers rotated wide receivers more often, and it made it more difficult to build chemistry. With Romeo Doubs gone to New England as a free agent and Dontayvion Wicks traded to the Eagles, Green Bay now has a clear wideout trio atop the depth chart. Across 15 regular-season starts last season, Love completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 3,381 yards and a 23:6 TD:INT. Being healthy after last summer's thumb injury should also help Love heading into 2026.

Stafford and Davante Adams have been building a stronger rapport during training camp, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.

After Stafford missed all of training camp last summer due to a lingering back injury, the two rarely practiced together before the start of the regular season. While Adams led the league with 14 receiving touchdowns, he managed just one 100-yard receiving game in 14 regular-season appearances. Some of that had to do with Puka Nacua dominating targets, but it could also be chalked up to he and Stafford not totally being comfortable with each other. That hasn't been the case this summer, as Adams has been a standout at Rams camp. "When you're as intentional as they are, repetition ends up being the mother of learning," coach Sean McVay said. "It's also the best way to be able to develop rapport with each other and that's so important whether you're a center playing with a guard, a guard playing with a tackle, or quarterbacks (with) receivers." Adams has massive touchdown upside, but it also wouldn't be a shock to see him flirt with 1,000 yards again after he posted just 60 catches for 789 yards during the 2025 regular season as a touchdown-or-bust type of fantasy player.

The Buccaneers placed Lucas (undisclosed) on injured reserve Sunday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Lucas started training camp on the active/PUP list and apparently will not be in position to contribute any time soon. The cornerback will now spend the entirety of the 2026 season on injured reserve unless he is waived with an injury settlement.

Jones (undisclosed) reverted to the Packers' injured-reserve list Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Jones was waived/injured Sunday with an unspecified injury he suffered in training camp. The cornerback will now spend the entire 2026 season on injured reserve unless the team waives him with an injury settlement.

Baldwin (knee) reverted to the Packers' injured-reserve list Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Baldwin was waived/injured Sunday after suffering a knee issue last Tuesday in training camp. The cornerback cleared waivers and will now spend the entirety of the 2026 season on injured reserve unless he is waived with an injury settlement.