NFL Player News
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Jameson Williams WR | DET
Lions' Jameson Williams: Making improvements
Coach Dan Campbell said Thursday that Williams is "a man on a mission" and has made notable improvements this offseason, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
Williams hasn't yet lived up to his 12th overall draft capital from back in 2022, but he's also faced unique hurdles to begin his NFL career. His big-play ability is undeniable, as is the opportunity for a third playmaker to emerge in Detroit's passing game behind standouts Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta, though plenty of targets should be distributed to running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Potential for a year-three breakout is still there, but it depends on Williams truly logging an impressive offseason and earning consistent targets in a crowded offense.
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Kalif Raymond WR | CHI
Lions' Kalif Raymond: Taking part in OTAs
Raymond (knee) participated in the Lions' OTA session Wednesday.
He missed the entirety of the Lions' playoff run last season after being injured in the regular-season finale, but Raymond looks to be back to full health well in advance of training camp. Raymond is currently penciled in as the Lions' third receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams after Josh Reynolds left as a free agent and after Detroit didn't draft a single wideout last month. Raymond's primary competition will come from Donovan Peoples-Jones and 2023 seventh-round pick Antoine Green.
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Michael Woods II WR | DEN
Browns' Michael Woods: Participating in OTAs
Woods (Achilles) took part in Wednesday's OTA session, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Woods, who had his six-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy lifted in January, appears to have bulked up since last season. Additionally, the 2022 sixth-round pick appears to have moved past an Achilles injury that he sustained last April, costing him the entire 2023 season. Now that Woods is back on the field, he'll have an opportunity to compete for a depth role in a Cleveland wideout corps that's led by Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman.
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Danny Gray WR | PHI
49ers' Danny Gray: Returns for OTAs
Gray (shoulder) was spotted on the field during OTAs earlier this week.
Gray, who missed all of San Francisco's 2023 campaign due to a shoulder injury, appears to be fully healthy once again heading into the 2024 season. The 2022 third-round pick out of SMU saw limited work as a rookie, tallying just 10 receiving yards and one reception through 13 games. With the 49ers adding Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing in the 2024 NFL Draft, Gray will have to battle to earn a depth role in San Francisco's wide receiver room this offseason.
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Jordan Whittington WR | LAR
Rams' Jordan Whittington: Participating in OTAs
Whittington (hamstring) was spotted working out Tuesday during Rams' OTA session, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
Whittington had been nursing a hamstring injury since early March, but he now seems to have moved past the issue. The 2024 sixth-round pick had an injury-riddled career at Texas, but he was still able to record 1,757 receiving yards and five touchdowns throughout his five years in college. Now that Whittington is healthy, he can compete for a depth spot in the Rams' wide receiver room this offseason.
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Michael Pittman WR | PIT
Colts' Michael Pittman: Knee issue downplayed
Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Pittman (knee) "should be fine" after he left the practice field early Wednesday, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports.
Steichen said Pittman "just bumped knees" during 11-on-11 drills. The Colts have no incentive to rush Pittman -- who's fresh off signing a three-year, $70 million extension -- back on the field, so it's possible he misses more of OTAs. Still, the No. 1 wideout ought to have plenty of opportunities to build chemistry with second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson this offseason, as long as his knee injury is indeed only minor. Pittman managed a 109-1,152-4 receiving line across 16 games last season despite substandard quarterback play, so having a healthy Richardson back under center should raise his fantasy ceiling.
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Michael Pittman WR | PIT
Colts' Michael Pittman: Departs practice after collision
Pittman (knee) departed Wednesday's practice early after appearing to injure his knee during a collision in 11-on-11 drills, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Pittman was examined by trainers before limping off the field, and it appears safe to say that his on-field activities for Wednesday's session are over. The Colts should provide an update on Pittman's health soon, as he's entrenched as the focal point of the passing game after signing a three-year, $70 million contract earlier this offseason. In the meantime, second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson will be able to focus on developing chemistry with Josh Downs, rookie second-round pick Adonai Mitchell and Alec Pierce.
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Marquise Brown WR | PHI
Chiefs' Marquise Brown: Looking good at OTAs
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Brown (heel) and quarterback Patrick Mahomes have been developing chemistry early on during OTAs, Aaron Ladd of KSHB 41 Kansas City reports.
Brown made the highlight play of Wednesday's session with a one-handed catch during 7-on-7 drills, per Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site. The wideout thus looks like he's put last season's heel injury behind him. Now heading into his age-27 season on a one-year, $7 million contract with the Chiefs, Brown is facing an intriguing fantasy opportunity if he can manage to separate himself from the pack in Kansas City's wide receiver corps, so it's encouraging to see him building some momentum early. Meanwhile, Rashee Rice appears likely to face a suspension at some point during the 2024 season, while rookie second-round pick Xavier Worthy (hamstring) currently is sidelined and could miss a notable portion of OTAs.
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Xavier Worthy WR | KC
Chiefs' Xavier Worthy: Tweaks hammy during OTAs
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Worthy tweaked his hamstring earlier during OTAs, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.
Reid said that Worthy "was only out there for a day and a half" before suffering the injury. The Chiefs will hope that the No. 28 overall pick is able to get back on the field without missing much time, as he's already going to have to skip some valuable reps to learn the offense and build chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Hamstring injuries have the potential to linger or resurface, though, so Kansas City could be motivated to take a cautious approach. In the meantime, wideouts like Justin Watson, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and Justyn Ross could benefit from increased reps.