NFL Player News

Helm (toe) is participating in OTAs this week, Buck Reising of AtoZ Sports Nashville reports.

Helm missed the Titans' regular-season finale back in January but appears to be back to full health after compiling 44 catches for 357 yards and two touchdowns on 55 targets as a rookie last season. With Chig Okonkwo now with the Commanders, Helm looks poised to win the TE1 job with the Titans this summer. His main competition for playing time will come from blocking types Daniel Bellinger and Kylen Granson.

Levis (shoulder) is participating in OTAs this week, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.

Levis missed all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery last summer. With Cam Ward locked in atop the depth chart and Mitchell Trubisky signed earlier this offseason to serve as the veteran QB2, it's unclear what Levis' future looks like in Tennessee. The team could look to trade him ahead of Week 1 if he's able to produce some quality tape during the preseason.

New Raiders coach Klint Kubiak hinted Wednesday that Jeanty could play even more of an every-down workhorse role in his second season, Paul Gutierrez of the team's official site reports.

It comes off as typical coach speak that is routinely thrown around at this stage of the offseason, but it's at least worth noting nonetheless. "It's important to have a quality second back, but the best player has got to play, and we've got to get them on the field as much as we can," Kubiak said. "I don't know the play-snap percentage, but you look at Christian McCaffrey, his play-snap percentage is high. So, those great backs, they don't want to come off the field." Only nine running backs handled more carries and played more snaps than Jeanty last season, so it'll be tough to truly put significantly more on his plate in 2026, but the hope is for far better efficiency behind an improved offensive line with better coaching and quarterback play. Currently in the mix for RB touches that don't go to Jeantyare rookie fourth-rounder Mike Washington, as well as Dylan Laube, Chris Collier and UDFA addition Roman Hemby.

Giants head coach John Harbaugh said Thursday that Nabers (knee) is in the "slog of [his rehab], the grind of it," with the goal of returning to practice at some point in training camp, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Nabers tore his meniscus in addition to his ACL last fall, creating fears about an extended rehab timeline relative to other ACL injuries. Those concerns were compounded in mid-May when it was revealed that Nabers had undergone a minor procedure in April to remove scar tissue that was causing stiffness in his surgically-repaired knee. The Giants said the procedure wasn't expected to impact Nabers' timeline, but it does seem clear that he won't take part in offseason practices and won't be a full-go for the start of training camp. Week 1 may still be the goal, but Harbaugh seemed to acknowledge Thursday that he can't count on Nabers being ready by that point.

Bateman (illness) is participating in OTAs this week.

Bateman missed the Ravens' Week 18 regular-season finale last season due to an illness but is back to 100 percent health four-plus months later. After a career year in 2024, which saw Bateman catch 45 passes for 756 yards and nine touchdowns, the receiver missed four games in 2025 and saw his numbers experience a dramatic decline, even when he was healthy. Bateman finished last season with just 19 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns on 38 targets. As the coming season approaches, Bateman will again have a chance to handle WR2 duties behind Zay Flowers, with returnees Devontez Walker and LaJohntay Wester, as well as 2026 draftees Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt also in the mix for wide receiver targets in new Offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle's offense.

Hill (neck) is participating in OTAs this week.

Hill sustained a neck injury in practice leading up to Week 13 last season and spent the remainder of the 2025 campaign on injured reserve. He was inching closer to a return toward the end of last season, so it's fair to assume he's back to 100 percent. Hill is expected to once again serve as the pass-catching specialist out of the backfield behind Derrick Henry in 2026.

During Wednesday's OTA, Mendoza worked behind Kirk Cousins and Aidan O'Connell and mostly with rookies during competitive periods of the session, per Sam Warren of The Athletic.

The report notes that Cousins took all of the first-team reps Wednesday and was followed by O'Connell and Mendoza, in that order. At this stage, the Raiders have yet to outline plans on when a starter will be named, with GM John Spytek having said, "The best guy will play." That said, with both Spytek and coach Klint Kubiak having previously expressed their inclination to not play a young quarterback right away, Warren and Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com suggest that Cousins is trending toward starting Week 1, citing the veteran signal-caller's ample professional experience, as well as his familiarity with Kubiak's offense. While the Raiders are intentionally easing Mendoza -- the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft -- into the mix, Kubiak has nonetheless been pleased with what he's seen from the highly-touted the rookie so far. "He's as advertised," Kubiak said Wednesday. "He has not disappointed." Given where Mendoza was drafted, it's assumed that the Indiana product will rise to the top of the Raiders' depth chart eventually, but he could begin his pro career, for a time, as Cousins' understudy. However, there's still runway for Mendoza to change the narrative on that front in the coming months, with Kubiak noting Wednesday of the team's QB pecking order, "It's gonna reveal itself, especially in training camp."

Coach Robert Saleh said Thursday that Ward (shoulder) is "perfectly healthy" to begin OTAs, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Ward sustained a sprained AC joint in his right, throwing shoulder in the Titans' Week 18 loss to the Jaguars last season but avoided surgery and seems to be 100 percent for the offseason program. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 Draft, Ward started all 17 regular-season games as a rookie and completed 323 of 540 pass attempts (59.8 percent) for 3,169 yards (5.9 yards per attempt), 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also absorbed a league-high 55 sacks. The Titans have done quite a bit to upgrade Ward's supporting cast this offseason, first signing Wan'Dale Robinson before using the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 Draft on Carnell Tate. Tennessee also signed offensive linemen Austin Schlottmann, Cordell Volson and Austin Deculus in free agency.

Cook was not present for the start of OTAs on Tuesday, Matt Parrino of Syracuse.com reports.

While OTAs are quote unquote "voluntary," it's a notable absence, as the rest of Buffalo's star players and veteran leaders were in attendance for new coach Joe Brady's first open practice session. There's been no reason given for Cook's absence, and he just signed a new four-year, $46 million contract last summer after "holding in" at training camp. Cook, however, has already fallen behind the top of the running back market after De'Von Achane, Kenneth Walker, Breece Hall and Travis Etienne all received bigger deals this offseason. It's possible Cook is looking at that and pushing for more money after leading the league in rushing with 1,621 yards and 12 touchdowns on a career-high 309 carries last regular season. With Cook idle to begin OTAs, Frank Gore and Ray Davis have seen more reps with the first-team offense, according to Parrino.

Smith was arrested last Friday in Georgia and is accused of speeding and reckless driving, Tim McManus of ESPN.com reports.

According to a representative of the Twiggs County Sheriff's Office, Smith's vehicle was clocked at 130 miles per hour in a 70 mph zone while the 25-year-old was driving on the interstate. A court date for Smith's case has been set for July 14, though he wouldn't have to appear if he agrees to pay the fines associated with his citations. A 2023 first-round draft pick, Smith has accrued 10.5 sacks and 25 quarterback hits over 45 career games during the regular season and was a standout performer in the Eagles' run to the Super Bowl in 2024, when he racked up 4.0 sacks in four playoff contests.