NFL Player News

Coach Brian Callahan said Thursday that Burks still has a role in Tennessee's wide receiver corps after the team's signing of veteran slot specialist Tyler Boyd, Nick Suss of the Nashville Tennessean reports.

Callahan said of Burks' offseason "the work that he's put in has been really impressive," per Turron Davenport of ESPN, but the 2022 first-round pick may nonetheless have slid to No. 4 on the depth chart following Boyd's arrival, with Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins entrenched as Will Levis' clear top targets. The 225-pound wideout could still certainly have untapped potential, as he's battled injuries throughout the first two years of his NFL career, but his path to consistent opportunities has grown murkier despite Tennessee most ignoring the WR position in April's draft. For fantasy purposes, at least, Burks' prospects for 2024 will look dim if he's not able to beat out Boyd for the No. 3 role in training camp. Callahan did, at least, say that Burks will earn opportunities to line up both inside and outside.

The Rams have agreed to trade Skowronek, who was slated to be waived Thursday, to the Texans, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

Los Angeles informed Skowronek that he would hit waivers Thursday, but the Texans came calling before the transaction could become official. A 2021 seventh-round pick, Skowronek was mostly limited to special teams in 2023, but he racked up 376 receiving yards on 39 back in 2022, while demonstrating the versatility to line up across multiple formations. Now, Skowronek will face the challenge of competing with the likes of Robert Woods, John Metchie and Noah Brown (shoulder) for a depth role in Houston's crowded wide receiver corps.

Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer and Zac Jackson of The Athletic suggest that Tillman (concussion) is a candidate to take a step forward in his second season as a pro.

Per Cabot, the Browns figure to frequently employ Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore in three-receiver sets, but Tillman nonetheless should see his share of opportunities as the season progresses, especially if injuries hit the aforementioned trio. As a rookie, the 2023 third-round pick recorded a 21-224-0 line on 44 targets in 14 regular-season games, but if he's able to carve out steadier playing time in 2024, the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder -- who missed Cleveland's wild-card loss to the Texans with a concussion -- could emerge as a solid complementary option alongside the team's top pass catchers. Also in the mix for snaps in the Browns' WR corps are 2022 third-rounder David Bell and 2024 fifth-rounder Jamari Thrash.

The Rams are slated to waive Skowronek, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

Skowronek, a 2021 seventh-round pick, finished his third season with the Rams with a career-low 66 receiving yards across 17 appearances, while mostly contributing on special teams. The soon-to-be 27-year-old is versatile enough to line up in a variety of roles on offense, so it's a bit of a surprise to see him be cut before training camp. He figures to resurface in a depth role elsewhere in the league.

Robinson signed a contract with the Giants on Thursday, ESPN.com reports.

Robinson was cut by the Steelers earlier this offseason in a move to save salary cap space, and he now gets an opportunity to reignite his career in New York, where there's a need for a big-bodied target for Daniel Jones (knee) while Darren Waller's future remains in flux. Malik Nabers, taken sixth overall in April's draft, figures to dominate the Giants' wide receiver opportunities out of the gate, while Darius Slayton (thumb) and Wan'Dale Robinson seem likely to also start in three-wide sets. Robinson racked up just 34 catches for 280 yards on 49 targets with Pittsburgh last season, despite suiting up for all 17 games, so he's no lock to beat out Jalin Hyatt for the No. 4 role this offseason.

Miller agreed to terms Wednesday on a one-year contract with the Steelers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Miller reunites with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in Pittsburgh, after he logged a 11-161-2 receiving line across 17 appearances in 2023 in Atlanta, where Smith had served as the head coach. The wideout now gets a chance to compete with names like Quez Watkins, Denzel Mims, Marquez Callaway and Dez Fitzpatrick for a depth role with the Steelers this offseason.

The Cowboys informed Bryant on Wednesday that he will be released, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Bryant, who last suited up for an NFL game in 2018 with the Raiders, signed a reserve/future contract with Dallas earlier this offseason but will now have to search for an opportunity to reignite his career elsewhere. His release won't result in any dead money against the salary cap for the Cowboys, per Gehlken.

Shorter is in line to compete for depth slotting behind fellow wide receivers Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Curtis Samuel in training camp, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.

The Bills took Shorter in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but he never saw game action after being placed on injured reserve ahead of the regular season on account of a hamstring injury. Though Shorter was designated to return from IR in December and resumed practicing with the team, he wasn't activated before his 21-day evaluation window closed. Now presumably past his hamstring injury, the 6-foot-4 wideout will vie with Chase Claypool, Mack Hollins, KJ Hamler, Andy Isabella and Quintez Cephus for a reserve role.

Hayek signed a contract with Kansas City on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

The Villanova product didn't hear his name called in the 2024 Draft, but he received an invite from the Super Bowl champs to attend their rookie minicamp over the weekend and parlayed it into a contract. Hayek will try to stick in a Kansas City receiving corps that has few established options for 2024

Wallace figures to compete with newcomer Deonte Harty for depth chart slotting as the coming season approaches, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

Per Zrebiec, Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor and rookie fourth-rounder Devontez Walker currently profile as the team's top four wide receivers, while Wallace and Harty could be vying for the next slot, a potential summer competition that may hinge on whom the team deems more useful in the return game. Of course, injuries down the road could change that context, but as things stand Wallace doesn't have a clear path to an expanded role in the Ravens offense in 2024.