NFL Player News

Higgins is not expected to sign his franchise tender by the end of the week, which will make him ineligible to report in time for the start of OTAs next week, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Higgins formally requested a trade from Cincinnati after the team placed the franchise tag on him prior to free agency. He appeared to have a change of heart in April, as the wideout hinted that he anticipated playing for the Bengals in 2024 at his youth camp, per Ben Baby of ESPN.com. It remains to be seen if that will occur via the franchise tag or the long-term extension the pass catcher has been seeking. As of now, it looks like this conflict will linger into OTAs.

Parker announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Two months after signing a one-year contract with the Eagles, Parker has had a change of heart on a 10th season in the league. The 31-year-old cited spending more time with his family as the primary factor in his decision. He spent his first seven seasons in Miami before playing the previous two in New England. The Louisville product's most productive season came in 2019, as he tallied 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns on 72 receptions for the Dophins. He was projected to compete for a role behind A.J. Brown (knee) and DeVonta Smith at wide receiver in the upcoming season.

Ismail signed with the Ravens on Monday, Matt Ryan of the team's official site reports.

The son of former Baltimore receiver Qadry Ismail, Qadir made it through the team's recent rookie minicamp. The younger Ismail caught 16 passes for 156 yards during his final two collegiate seasons at Samford.

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.