NFL Player News
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Ja'Marr Chase WR | CIN
Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: Absent from OTAs
Chase and teammate Tee Higgins are not present for voluntary OTAs on Tuesday as they continue to negotiate potential contract extensions, Ben Baby of ESPN reports.
Chase hasn't yet participated in voluntary workouts for Cincinnati this offseason, and he's now eligible for a contract extension. The Bengals picked up his fifth-year option. Higgins, meanwhile, has yet to sign his franchise tender after Cincinnati placed the one-year tag on him back in February. Coach Zac Taylor stated that he's not worried about the absence of either wideout, saying "they'll be ready and focused when it's time to come back." For now, though, Joe Burrow (wrist) will be taking reps without either of his top receivers present.
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Darius Slayton WR | NYG
Giants' Darius Slayton: Participating in OTAs
Slayton (thumb) participated in Tuesday's OTAs practice, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
Slayton is working toward a hopeful contract extension with the Giants, but he's on the field for voluntary workouts at OTAs. The 2019 fifth-round pick still appears slated for a starting gig, though rookie first-rounder Malik Nabers should be the top man in this wide receiver corps, with Jalin Hyatt and Wan'Dale Robinson also in the mix. Slayton appears fully healthy after having dealt with a thumb injury down the stretch in 2023.
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Christian Watson WR | GB
Packers' Christian Watson: Feels more confident in hamstring
After undergoing eight hours of testing at the University of Wisconsin's School of Medicine earlier in the offseason, Watson believes he has solved his right hamstring issues that have caused him to miss several games through his first two seasons, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.
"For me, it really was the asymmetry between the legs," Watson explained. "It comes from a lot of things. Obviously, the issues I've had in the past with hamstrings, not fully recovering from those strength-wise. I've been attacking the strength side of it, trying to get that symmetry back and it's been huge for me. I feel really, really good. I gotta continue grinding at it." Watson states he had a 20 percent difference in muscle mass between his right and left legs, but it's now between 8-10 percent. His goal is six percent. Watson was a full participant in OTAs, and getting him through a healthy offseason would be a big first step. He's the most explosive weapon in a deep Green Bay wideout room -- Watson has averaged 15 yards per catch over his first two seasons.
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D'Wayne Eskridge WR | MIA
Seahawks' Dee Eskridge: Taking part in OTAs
Eskridge (ribs) has been an active participant at the Seahawks' OTAs, Tim Weaver of Seahawks Wire reports.
Eskridge ended the 2023 campaign on injured reserve with a rib injury, but he now appears to be fully healthy at OTAs. The 27-year-old re-signed with Seattle in March after failing to record a reception over 16 offensive snaps in four games last season. The wide receiver has operated primarily as a return-specialist over the last two years, a role that he'll likely remain in with the Seahawks in 2024.
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Bryce Ford-Wheaton WR | NYG
Giants' Bryce Ford-Wheaton: Participating in OTAs
Ford-Wheaton (knee) was an active participant at the Giants' team OTAs this week, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
Ford-Wheaton missed the entirety of last season after suffering a torn ACL in the preseason, but he now looks to be all set to return to the field in 2024. The wide receiver joined New York as an undrafted free agent in 2023 after a senior campaign with West Virginia in which he secured 62 receptions for 675 yards and seven touchdowns and he'll attempt to crack the Giants' active roster in order to make his NFL debut this year.
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Nikko Remigio WR | KC
Chiefs' Nikko Remigio: Participating in OTAs
Remigio (wrist) has been an active participant at Kansas City's team OTAs, Matt McMullen of the team's official website reports.
Remigio spent the entirety of the 2023 campaign on Kansas City's reserve/injured list with a wrist injury, but he now appears to have fully recovered. The wide receiver has an uphill battle to make the team's active roster in 2024, competing with the likes of Montrell Washington, Cornell Powell and Phillip Brooks to do so.
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Samori Toure WR | PHI
Packers' Samori Toure: Active for OTAs
Toure (knee) was an active participant at the Packers' first week of OTAs, Brandon Carwile of Packers Wire reports.
Toure missed the the Packers' regular season finale and both of the team's playoff contests last year while nursing a knee injury, but looks to be back to full strength ahead of the 2024 campaign. The wide receiver will likely provide Green Bay with an added depth option behind the likes of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed once again this season.
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John Ross WR | PHI
Eagles' John Ross: Signs with Eagles
Ross and the Eagles agreed on a one-year contract Thursday.
Ross announced in late November that he was attempting an NFL comeback after temporarily retiring in July and he participated in Philadelphia's rookie minicamp in April. The wide receiver was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft after posting a blazing 4.22 second 40-yard dash time at the combine, but he has yet to really ever find his groove in the league. Ross last appeared in an NFL contest in 2021, securing 11 receptions for 224 yards and a touchdown over 10 games with the Giants and he'll likely operate primarily as a special-teams option if he cracks the Eagles' active roster in 2024.
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Tim Patrick WR | NYJ
Broncos' Tim Patrick: On field for OTAs
Patrick (Achilles) is participating in Thursday's OTAs session, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.
Patrick continues to work his way back from the left Achilles tear that cost him the entire 2023 season. As an ACL tear also wiped out his 2022 campaign, the 30-year-old wideout now hasn't suited up for an NFL game since 2021, and he likely would've been cut this offseason had he not agreed to a pay cut. Health permitting, there's opportunity for Patrick to carve out a role in Denver's wide receiver corps, which gets thin behind Courtland Sutton. The other top candidates to start in three-wide sets are Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin.
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Rome Odunze WR | CHI
Bears' Rome Odunze: Almost over hamstring issue
Odunze (hamstring) is expected to resume practicing next week, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Odunze participated in Chicago's first practice during the team's rookie minicamp earlier this month, but subsequently encountered hamstring tightness, as Dan Weiderer of the Chicago Tribune reports. The Bears seem to have been taking a cautious approach to the recovery of the rookie No. 9 overall pick, but it doesn't look like there's any real concern about his injury. Odunze will have plenty more time this offseason to build chemistry with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, and to find his footing in what figures to be a starting role alongside DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.