NFL Player News

Moore lined up in different spots during Wednesday's OTA, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Moore has been a frequent target of quarterback Deshaun Watson since the Browns' first OTA last week. On Wednesday, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was pleased with receiver's skills, noting the flexibility to be used in the slot and outside the numbers in what looked like an up-tempo offensive attack. The Browns seem intent on throwing short passes to Moore and letting him create after the catch.

Shepherd and the Chargers agreed on a contract Thursday.

Shepherd will head to Los Angeles after being let go from the Broncos' practice squad in October. The wide receiver has not appeared in an NFL game since 2020 when he caught five passes for 46 yards over eight games with the Packers. Shepherd seems likely to be a practice squad option at best with a talented Chargers roster in 2023.

Coach Frank Reich said he expects Chark (ankle) to take part during individual drills at OTAs on Friday, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Chark has been limited early in OTAS as he continues his recovery from offseason ankle surgery, and any participation at Friday's practice would be an encouraging sign. The 26-year-old still has two months before the start of training camp, so the Panthers are likely to remain cautious after signing him to a one-year, $5 million contract in March.

Thornton was "at the epicenter of several schematic tricks" that offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien installed at Wednesday's OTA practice, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official website reports.

Selected 50th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, Thornton's rookie season started with missing the first four weeks of the season due to injury and then catching just 22 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns on 45 targets across 13 contests. His speed is standing out at OTAs, however, and Thornton's "route-running precision and pacing to create separation were better than his rookie training camp," according to Lazar. O'Brien has made it a point to feature Thornton's speed in practices. The second-year wideout will try to push Kendrick Bourne for a role in three-receiver sets alongside DeVante Parker and newcomer JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Burks has been Ryan Tannehill's "favorite target" at OTAs, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports. "It seems like Tannehill connects with Burks at the start of every period, and I haven't seen Burks drop a ball intended for him yet in the open OTAs," Wyatt wrote.

Burks got off on the wrong foot after he was picked in the first round of last year's draft, battling asthma and conditioning issues while missing practices in the offseason. He's in a much better place entering 2023, and with the Titans having now moved on from Robert Woods, Burks will likely be relied upon for big production in a receiving corps that's mostly lacking in established options. If he's able to stay healthy, Burks should run away with the team lead for targets this season.

Allen was absent during Wednesday's OTA session due to a hamstring injury, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.

Allen, an undrafted rookie out of UCLA, has impressed during OTAs thus far, and assuming the hamstring issue isn't too significant, he could still have a good chance at cracking the 53-man roster heading into the upcoming season. During his collegiate career, Allen saw work as a wide receiver, running back and kick returner.

Claypool is being held out of practice Wednesday with a soft-tissue injury, Mark Grote of 670TheScore.com reports.

Claypool's absence from a few spring practices shouldn't matter so long as he's healthy for training camp this summer. He looks to be third on the depth chart at receiver behind DJ Moore and Darnell Mooney (ankle), the latter of whom has also been absent from spring practices. Claypool struggled to produce after coming over from Pittsburgh in a trade last fall and now enters his contract year in a suboptimal situation for putting up numbers.

Cooper (abdomen) is participating in Wednesday's OTA session, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Cooper is taking part in on-field drills for the first time since undergoing core muscle surgery in February, but the receiver did not participate in 7-on-7 work. Browns head coach Stefanski also said that the soon-to-be 29-year-old receiver is on track to be at full strength by the start of training camp, per Matt Fontana of 850 ESPN Cleveland. A full offseason to build chemistry with quarterback Deshaun Watson could help Cooper take another step forward heading into his second year in Cleveland's scheme, in which he once again projects to act as the No. 1 target.

The Rams signed Johnson on Tuesday.

Los Angeles will be Johnson's third stop this calendar year after he was released by the Bucs in January, signed by the Raiders shortly after, and then cut by Las Vegas two weeks ago. The 24-year-old appeared in two games for the Texans last season but didn't earn a target on 29 offensive snaps. He'll try to revive his career in the Rams' depleted wideout room behind Cooper Kupp.

Addison (undisclosed) did not practice Tuesday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

The Vikings' first-round pick at No. 23 overall, Addison was injured during the rookie minicamp earlier this month and is being held out of OTAs for "precautionary reasons," according to coach Kevin O'Connell, who added that the issue is "nothing serious at all." Addison was at least in attendance Tuesday but only as a spectator. Perhaps he'll be cleared for mandatory minicamp next month.