NFL Player News

The Patriots have extended an offer sheet to Gillislee, who is a restricted free agent, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.

Per the report, their offer is for two years and a total of $6.4 million, including $4 million in the first year of the proposed deal. According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, if the Bills don't match the offer, they'd receive a fifth-round draft pick from the Patriots. If Gillislee does end up with New England, it would effectively end the team's interest in re-signing power back LeGarrette Blount, who led the NFL with 18 rushing TDs in 2016, while averaging 3.9 yards a carry. Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Gillislee put up some intriguing numbers of his own, running 101 times for 577 yards (5.7 YPC) and eight TDs in 15 games for Buffalo. He also caught nine passes for 50 yards and a receiving score. The Patriots' current backfield is comprised of newcomer Rex Burkhead, along with pass-catching aces Dion Lewis (hamstring) and James White, with D.J. Foster and Brandon Bolden in reserve.

Abdullah is committed to staying healthy and isn't worried about any added competition for snaps ahead of the 2017 season, ESPN's Michael Rothstein reports. "I'm never a guy to shy away from any situation, whether that's bringing in competition or just putting it all on me," Abdullah said. "We don't know the future. No one knows what's going to happen, really. I just know for what me and Theo [Riddick] give to this team, we need to be on the field and that's our goal this year, to be on the field."

Although Abdullah missed 14 regular season games as well as the Lions' lone playoff appearance last season with a torn ligament in his left foot, he isn't "injury prone" by any means; the 2015 second-rounder previously hadn't missed a contest since his days in high school. Of more concern to his fantasy stock is the potential for Detroit management to select a running back with an early pick in the upcoming draft. While Abdullah may not necessarily be worried about losing out on any snaps to a rookie, owners should be concerned over the possibility of the team adding a power runner that could operate as a headache-inducing touchdown vulture, which would effectively put a cap on Abdullah's upside.

Bohanon signed a contract with the Jaguars on Monday, Ryan O'Halloran of Jacksonville.com reports.

The Jaguars haven't utilized a fullback in two years but will break that trend by signing Bohanon, who was the lead blocker for Chris Ivory for three years with the Jets from 2013 to 2015. Coincidental or not, those three seasons were the most productive of Ivory's career.

Atkinson re-signed with the Browns on Monday.

Atkinson played in all 16 games with Cleveland last season but didn't see any rushing attempts until Week 17, when he had seven carries for 34 yards and a touchdown. He'll look to continue as a special teams player in 2017 while also pushing for a larger role in the offense.

Martin (suspension) reported Monday for the start of offseason workouts, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.

Martin rejoined his teammates Monday after being suspended four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy and subsequently spending time in rehab this offseason. Those troubles followed Martin signing a lucrative five-year, $35.75 extension last March, and then going on to average just 2.9 yards per carry in his mere eight appearances in 2016. Because of Martin's suspension, which has three games remaining, the Bucs could cut him and save $7 million. However, in light of positive feedback from his time in rehab, it appears they'll give the 28-year-old a chance to redeem himself, starting with Monday's first workout session.

Williams recently visited with the Patriots, ESPN's Field Yates reports.

This doesn't look like much of a fit, with the Patriots in the market for a power runner to join a backfield that already includes Dion Lewis, James White, Rex Burkhead and Brandon Bolden. Williams is valued mostly for his receiving skills and special teams contributions, which would make him redundant on the current New England roster. The Patriots may just be gathering information in an effort to learn more about him for the future. Williams doesn't seem to have drawn much interest since the Dolphins gave him a one-year, $1.797 million restricted free agent tender in early March.

Gillislee recently visited with the Patriots, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports.

A restricted free agent, Gillislee carries an original-round tender, which means any team that signs him to an offer sheet would have to surrender a fifth-round pick if the Bills decide not to match the contract. With other options still on the table, New England probably isn't ready to seriously consider giving up a fifth-round pick for a running back of Gillislee's caliber. The team could still re-sign LeGarrette Blount, sign Adrian Peterson or another veteran, or even use an early draft pick on a running back. The Patriots are in the market for a power runner to fill the role Blount so capably handled the past two-plus seasons. Gillislee likely will end up playing at least one more season in Buffalo behind LeSean McCoy (ankle).

Martin (suspension) is expected to join the Bucs for the start of OTAs next Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Martin is reportedly doing "amazing" following his stint in a rehabilitation facility several months ago and subsequent workouts over the last several weeks in California. The OTA period will presumably give the Bucs a good read of Martin's physical and mental condition over an extended period and in a low-pressure environment. Presuming their former Pro Bowl running back is doing as well as recently advertised -- and continues to demonstrate the same readiness throughout training camp and preseason -- the team will have little reason to part ways with him. Martin would miss the first three games of the regular season while finishing out the four-game suspension he was handed last December, but would otherwise be available without restriction throughout the duration of training camp and the exhibition slate. Irrespective of Martin's status, the Bucs are likely to invest at least one pick at the running back position in the upcoming draft.

Anderson (knee) is down to 223 pounds with about five pounds left to lose, Anderson said on Twitter.

"Stout," as Cosmo Kramer would say, Anderson's stocky physique seldom got in the way of big-time plays early in his career, as evidenced by his 48-yard game-winner against New England in 2015 and his 51-yard catch-and-run in Oakland in 2014. Last season, however, Anderson lacked that explosiveness during an injury-shortened season. Anderson averaged a play of 20 or more yards just once every 42 touches in 2016 as compared to once every 25 touches in 2015 and once every 19 touches in 2014. Head coach Vance Joseph emphasized finding players who can take the ball from the line of scrimmage to the house during his press conference on Monday, and perhaps a few less pounds can give Anderson's elusiveness a boost and prevent the kind of injuries that have sidelined him in 2015 and 2016. If not, Denver has already notably met with a number of early and mid-round running back options for the upcoming draft.

According to Broncos coach Vance Joseph, Anderson (knee) is fully prepared to participate in OTAs, Mike Klis of NBC 9News Denver reports.

Anderson's 2016 campaign ended after he suffered a torn right meniscus in Week 7. After undergoing surgery to repair that injury in late October, Anderson has been running at full speed for over two months. With Joseph revealing the tailback has since been cleared for Denver's offseason program, any injury concerns over Anderson should be hushed, which is great news for him ahead of this season. With the addition of offensive linemen Ronald Leary and Menelik Watson, as well as the return of offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, a fully healthy Anderson could enjoy more room to run this term and remains projected as the team's starter after Devontae Booker failed to take advantage of his absence last year.