NFL Player News

Purdy (elbow) remains on track to be ready for the start of the 2023 season, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Purdy underwent UCL surgery following the 2022 campaign but resumed throwing at the end of May, and all signs point to the quarterback being ready for Week 1 of 2023. The second-year quarterback is currently in Jacksonville for an offseason program and will be throwing with QB coach Will Hewlett and orthopedic specialist Tom Gormely. The 2022 Mr. Irrelevant as the final pick in the draft took the league by storm last year, completing 67 percent of his passes for 1,640 yards and a 16:3 TD:INT over the 49ers' final seven regular-season games. If healthy, Purdy is expected to sit atop the depth chart come training camp, while Sam Darnold and Trey Lance battle for the top backup gig.

Buechele signed his one-year tender with the Chiefs on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Buechele was originally an exclusive rights free agent but will now remain with the Chiefs for the 2023 campaign, after spending time on both the team's practice squad and active roster a season ago. The 25-year-old should have the same role again this year, as Blaine Gabbert is expected to back up Patrick Mahomes.

Cousins said Wednesday that he doesn't expect to discuss a new contract with the Vikings until next offseason, ESPN's Kevin Seifert reports.

Cousins is in the final season of his contract and said he wants to finish his career in Minnesota, but the Vikings seemingly want to take it year by year at this point rather than making another long-term commitment. His passing efficiency stats dropped last season in his first year under coach Kevin O'Connell, with a career-high 643 attempts somewhat allowing the QB to make up for it from a fantasy standpoint. Cousins turns 35 in August and should get plenty of volume again after the Vikings replaced Adam Thielen with first-round pick Jordan Addison and released RB Dalvin Cook.

Jones worked with the Patriots' first-team offense "the vast majority of the time" during OTAs and minicamp, Chris Mason of The Springfield Republican reports.

While speculation of a quarterback controversy brewed in New England earlier in the offseason, Jones' efforts this spring suggest that he maintains a sturdy grip on the starting job ahead of 2022 fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe. Per Jeff Howe of The Athletic, Jones "has looked more confident this spring and has been throwing the ball well" while looking comfortable in the team's new offense under coordinator Bill O'Brien, who has reportedly been implementing portions of the system he used during his time with the University of Alabama.

Mills will compete with C.J. Stroud for the top quarterback job heading into training camp, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports. "We'll see where their process goes in training camp and see as the competition continues," Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Tuesday. "We'll see who separates themselves."

Mills and Stroud, who was selected with the second overall pick in this year's draft, have rotated reps with the first-team offense throughout OTAs and minicamp. The Texans view Stroud as the franchise quarterback they've missed since the controversial exit of Deshaun Watson, who was traded to Cleveland last year. Quarterbacks selected in the top five of drafts typically start Week 1, as 11 of 17 quarterbacks drafted in the top five since 2011 have opened their rookie campaigns as their team's No. 1 QB. In addition, over the last two seasons Houston has ranked 31st in QBR (33.3), much of that with Mills under center -- so he's done little to establish any job security.

Stroud is getting first-team reps this week, though coach DeMeco Ryans suggested Davis Mills will continue working with the starters as well, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

The Texans are rotating first-team reps by week, rather than by day, giving Stroud and Mills the opportunity to throw to starters in consecutive practices. While Ryans downplayed its significance, it's certainly not a bad sign for Stroud that he's the one leading the way at June minicamp, the final team activities before training camp begins in late July. The No. 2 overall pick won't be simply handed the Week 1 starting job, but he is being given every chance to prove he's ready for the assignment.

White has struggled during spring practices and will need to compete with Skylar Thompson for the second spot on the depth chart, according to Daniel Oyefusi of The Miami Herald.

A two-year, $8 million contract makes White the favorite for Miami's backup QB job, but it apparently isn't a sure thing. The catch here is that White is new to coach Mike McDaniel's system, while Thompson had all of last year to learn it. White still has training camp and the preseason ahead of him to prove he's the best option for Miami under center in the event of a Tua Tagovailoa injury.

Mariota has been an active participant at the Eagles' OTAs this spring, Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice reports.

Mariota signed a one-year contract with the Eagles this offseason after finishing last season with Atlanta on injured reserve with a knee injury. The quarterback appears to be healthy ahead of the 2023 campaign and is expected to operate as the top backup behind starting quarterback Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. Mariota, the second overall pick in 2015, started 13 games with the Falcons last season. If Hurts were to go down, the Eagles' offense wouldn't have to change much considering Mariota is similarly mobile.

Rodgers (calf) participated in the red-zone and two-minute portions of Friday's 11-on-11 session, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Rodgers, who strained his calf at the beginning of OTAs, had been cleared for everything but 11-on-11 drills earlier in the week. He sat out the beginning of full-team drills Friday, allowing Zach Wilson to take the reins, but the veteran quarterback worked his way into the mix during the final parts of the session and should be fully healthy for training camp. Rodgers attended all of the Jets OTAs, but he's now heading back to California and is planning to invite the Jets' receivers to the West Coast for some offseason workouts, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Tagovailoa has added noticeable size and strength during Miami's offseason training program, David Furones of the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Tagovailoa's mindset is on improvement entering Year 4, as his offseason has featured not only strength training but also techniques to avoid future concussions and practice with a helmet camera to put him more in sync with coaches. Last year Tagovailoa proved an ability to thrive in coach Mike McDaniel's scheme, at least when healthy, but concussion issues limited him to just 13 appearances. Now with another offseason of familiarity with McDaniel's system, plus increased chemistry with star wideouts Tyreek Hill (undisclosed) and Jaylen Waddle, Tagovailoa should be viewed as a high-upside option in 2023 fantasy drafts after the top options at his position are off the board.