NFL Player News

Smith-Schuster said Monday at the start of OTAs that he never reached 100 percent health during the 2023 season, Chris Mason of The Springfield Republican reports.

Smith-Schuster said the last 12 months have made a "big difference," and he estimated that last offseason he was only at 60 percent health due to a lingering knee injury. Across 11 games in 2023, he was an afterthought in New England's offense, finishing with just a 29-260-1 receiving line despite little established competition at the position. If truly healthier and now able to move better, Smith-Schuster could earn more consistent targets from Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye, though the Patriots' wide receiver corps has gotten more crowded with the additions of rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, plus free-agent addition K.J. Osborn.

Jefferson is not present for the start of OTAs on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Jefferson is amid contract negotiations with Minnesota, so it won't be surprising if he doesn't show up for voluntary workouts with the team. The Vikings' mandatory minicamp won't begin until June 4, at which point Jefferson will incur fines if he isn't in attendance. The star wideout currently is heading into the final year of his rookie contract with a fifth-year option that will pay him $19.7 million. In just 10 games last season, Jefferson still managed to surpass 1,000 receiving yards, his fourth straight such campaign to begin his NFL career. His value to Minnesota's offense and his help in the development of rookie first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy, are impossible to overstate, so the team has every incentive to agree to a new long-term extension with haste.

Coach Jerod Mayo said Monday that Bourne (knee) will not participate in OTAs, Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports.

Bourne is working his way back from a right ACL tear that forced him to miss the final nine games of the 2023 campaign, and while he said back in March that he expects to be a "full go" for training camp, it looks like spring activities would be too early a benchmark. That will cost Bourne an early chance to build chemistry with new quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye, but as long as he's indeed able to get on the practice field for training camp, there shouldn't be real concerns about his availability for Week 1. Bourne re-signed with the Patriots on a three-year, $33 million contract this offseason, though it only contains $5.5 million guaranteed at signing with a $19.5 million base value.

Hollins, who was signed as a free agent by the Bills in March, has seen the receiver room fill out in the time since, with the Bills drafting Keon Coleman in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft while also adding veterans Curtis Samuel, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Chase Claypool.

For a very brief period, Hollins was a starter on the otherwise lethal Buffalo offensive depth chart, but things have changed, and it now looks as if the Bills will let several journeymen duke it out for slotting. With Buffalo being likely to feature running back James Cook and tight end Dalton Kincaid heavily in the passing game, it's difficult to envision Hollins having anything more than a depth role as a receiver that offers good size in the red zone, though it should be noted that he's never caught more than four touchdowns in an NFL season.

Dell (leg) ran and performed drills Saturday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Dell is recovering from what has been described as a "clean flesh wound" to his left leg sustained as an innocent bystander in a shooting in Florida in late April. The wideout's workout Saturday suggests that he's progressing well and confirms previous reports that the wound was minor. Given his activity Saturday, there appears to be a chance that Dell will participate in the Texans' OTAs, which begin Monday.

The Ravens waived Hardy on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Hardy was picked up by Baltimore less than two weeks ago, but he's now already on the way out. He'll have to look for his next opportunity to make an impression with a different franchise.

Chargers GM Joe Hortiz said he believes Johnston is "really going to launch" as a starter during the 2024 season, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.

Horitz mentioned that in his time as director of player personnel with Baltimore last season that Johnston "was a player we liked," and he praised the 2023 first-round pick's work ethic this offseason while acknowledging "some rawness to his game" as a rookie. Johnston finished with a subpar 431 yards last season despite suiting up for all 17 games, but with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (knee) no longer in the picture for Los Angeles, he has a clear path to a starting role alongside incumbent Joshua Palmer, while being joined by DJ Chark and rookie second-rounder Ladd McConkey. New coach Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman could spark life to the Chargers' offense, though the new scheme projects as a run-heavy approach. Still, Johnston will have every opportunity to establish himself atop this depth chart, despite his uninspiring rookie production. He'll need to make some strides this offseason toward more consistently gaining separation, not to mention cleaning up issues with drops.

Byrd agreed to a contract with the Commanders on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Byrd appeared in just one game during the 2023 campaign after the Falcons elevated him from the practice squad in early November. The 31-year-old had previously played 14 games with Atlanta in 2022, collecting 13 receptions (on 23 targets) for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Byrd has played for five teams during his career, and he'll now reunite in Washington with Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who was Bryd's head coach in Arizona during the 2019 season.

Wilson has more competition for targets from quarterback Kyler Murray after the team selected Marvin Harrison fourth overall in this year's draft and then signed seven-year pro Zay Jones last week, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Wilson spent much of the offseason No. 2, at best, in the pecking order in the Cardinals passing game behind tight end Trey McBride, but the recent additions leave Wilson's potential volume in the upcoming campaign up in the air. As a rookie third-round pick last year, Wilson put together a 38-565-3 line on 58 targets in 13 contests, but he produced just 13 catches (on 25 targets) for 164 yards and one touchdown in five outings with Murray under center. The arrival of the dynamic Harrison likely leaves Wilson fending for looks with Jones, who has three years with at least 500 receiving yards on his resume.

Camp signed a contract with the Browns on Tuesday.

Camp bounced around multiple practice squads last season, including Carolina's, which he was waived from Friday. The Georgia Tech product will now work to make the most of his new opportunity in Cleveland after not being able to find his way onto an active NFL roster in 2023.