NFL Player News

General manager Joe Schoen said Monday that Jones (knee) has resumed stationary throwing and is on track to be ready for training camp, Connor Hughes of SNY.tv reports.

Jones, who is recovering from a right ACL tear, resumed throwing two weeks ago. Schoen added that Jones could take part in 7-on-7 work this spring. The Giants have backed Jones as their starter since the end of the regular season, and he's only one year into his four-year, $160 million contract extension, but the soon-to-be 27-year-old's miserable 2023 campaign also can't be overlooked. In six games before his season-ending injury, Jones compiled just 909 passing yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 108 of 160 pass attempts (5.7 YPA). If a solid quarterback prospect falls to New York at the No. 6 overall pick in April's draft, the team's confidence in Jones will be put to the test.

Cousins, who is recovering from a torn right Achilles' tendon, posted a video Monday which showed him backpedaling and throwing recently in an indoor tennis facility, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.

Cousins, whose 2023 season came to an end when he sustained the season-ending injury Oct. 29, noted in his social media post that he was "encouraged by the progress" he's made thus far. He's eligible to become a free agent next month and said earlier in February that he's on track with his recovery and expects to participate in OTAs and minicamp this spring. According to Seifert, the Vikings and Cousins have mutual interest in a reunion, but for now, the 35-year-old profiles as the best available option at his position ahead of NFL free agency.

Daniels will attend the NFL Scouting Combine this week but doesn't plan to take part in throwing drills, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Daniels reportedly intends to wait until LSU's Pro Day on March 27 to throw and work out for NFL scouts. He spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Arizona State from 2019 through 2021 before winning the 2023 Heisman Trophy in his second season at LSU, making him a candidate to be selected early in the first round even though he's already 23 years old. USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye are strong favorites to be the first two quarterbacks drafted, with Daniels and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy the other two often mentioned as potential top-10 picks.

Williams doesn't plan to throw at the NFL Scouting Combine this week and will instead wait to throw at his pro day, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The expected No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft will be in attendance for interviews and meetings at the combine in Indianapolis, but on-field drills aren't expected to be a part of the equation. Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, has long been considered to be the favorite to go first overall, but his resume is being more closely scrutinized as the draft approaches. He finished his college career with a 66.9 percent completion rate, 9.2 yards per attempt, 93 passing touchdowns and 27 rushing touchdowns in three seasons spent between Oklahoma and USC. After his Heisman-winning campaign, Williams saw his production drop off in 2023, as his touchdown total dropped from 42 to 30, albeit in two fewer games. Williams' pro day is set for March 20, at which point his draft stock will become more solidified.

Buccaneers' GM Jason Licht is expected to meet with Mayfield's agent, Tom Mills, during the NFL scouting combine next week, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Stroud notes that while no deal for the QB to remain with Tampa Bay is imminent, the team and Mayfield have had some preliminary talks about a potential new contract. In his first season with the Bucs, Mayfield recorded a career-high 4,044 passing yards to go along with a 28:10 TD ratio en route to leading the franchise to a third straight NFC South title. The report adds that Mayfield -- who the Browns made the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft -- would prefer to stay put after having split the 2022 campaign with the Panthers and Rams -- but if the veteran signal-caller hits the free agent market next month, the Buccaneers could have some competition for the 28-year-old's services.

The Saints are slated to restructure Carr's contract for salary cap purposes, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Per the report, the looming move -- which entails converting a portion of Carr's base salary for 2024 into a signing bonus -- is expected to garner the team in the neighborhood of $23 million in terms of cap relief. In his first campaign with the Saints, the veteran QB -- who remains under contract through the 2026 season -- logged 17 starts while throwing for 3,878 yards and compiling a 25:8 TD:INT ratio. Though Carr is set to reprise his starting role in 2024, the composition of New Orleans' wideout corps this coming season has yet to be solidified, with Katherine Terrell of ESPN having previously suggested that Michael Thomas could potentially be released this offseason.

Smith and the Seahawks agreed Thursday to a restructured contract, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

It's a simple restructure, converting Smith's $9.6 million roster bonus into a signing bonus to create $4.8 million in 2024 cap space (while adding $4.8 million to the 2025 sheet). The Seahawks already signaled intent to bring Smith back as their starting QB in 2024 when they kept him on the roster through mid-February once his $12.7 million base salary became guaranteed. His contract runs through 2025 but doesn't have any guarantees in the final year, potentially setting up the Seahawks for a tough decision next March when Smith is scheduled for a $10 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the 2025 league year. The upcoming NFL Draft could provide a hint about how the Seahawks feel about Smith long term.

Fields said Wednesday during his appearance on the "St. Brown Bros Podcast" that he prefers to stays in Chicago but wants to know if he's getting traded as soon as possible.

Fields downplayed his recent decision to unfollow the Bears' official account on Instagram, noting that he also unfollowed other accounts (including the NFL's) to avoid having football content on his timeline during the offseason. He had nothing but praise for Bears fans and the city of Chicago, but Fields also seemed well aware of the possibility of being replaced by the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Talking with teammate Equanimeous St. Brown and Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown on their podcast, Fields mentioned a couple of the teams rumored to have interest in trading for him, saying that the Steelers have a great stadium atmosphere and the Falcons have impressive playmakers on offense. Atlanta is the early favorite in betting markets to acquire the Georgia native, with other possibilities including Pittsburgh, New England, Las Vegas and Denver. Despite Fields' desire for a quick resolution on his future, the Bears' decision on whether to keep him on the roster for 2024 or work toward a trade could drag on for weeks, or even months.

Huntley finished the 2023 regular season having completed 21 of 37 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns over five games. He added 15 carries for 55 yards.

The bulk of Huntley's production came in his lone start during the final game of the regular season, when he went 15 for 28 for 146 yards with one touchdown. His other appearances came in blowout wins over the Browns, Lions, Seahawks and Dolphins. Huntley could be heading toward an impasse with the Ravens, as he's set to become an unrestricted free agent just as Lamar Jackson's $260 million contract extension kicks in, Baltimore may opt for a more cost-efficient backup quarterback as a result. The fact that the team traded for rookie quarterback Malik Cunningham during the season only strengthens that notion. Should Huntley hit the open market, he'd be a strong option for any team looking to bolster its quarterback room. However, it's unlikely that he would be brought in anywhere with a serious expectation to start.

Watson (shoulder) is on track or slightly ahead in his rehab schedule and will begin throwing in March, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The quarterback had surgery Nov. 21 to repair a fractured right shoulder socket. Watson resumed work in the weight room last week and is already discussing the possibility of organizing offseason throwing sessions with teammates for the third year in a row. New Browns offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said he's optimistic about getting Watson back to the level of play he demonstrated in Houston, and the the QB's fully guaranteed contract ensures the Browns will give him another chance as the clear starter despite disappointing showings in the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023. The contract runs through 2026 (Watson's age-31 season).