NFL Player News

Coach Doug Pederson said Tuesday the Jaguars are limiting Ridley's reps at OTAs as a way to ease him back into football shape, ESPN's Michael DiRocco reports.

Ridley will be limited at OTAs and minicamp before taking on a full workload for training camp in July. "He hasn't played in a while plus the injury, so we're just trying to be careful with him," Pederson said. "But he's doing a great job. He's picking up the offense well." Ridley hasn't played in a game since October of 2021 due to injury and a suspension that sidelined him for the entire 2022 campaign, but he should have no problem displacing Zay Jones as a starting wideout next to Christian Kirk.

Kirk (knee) participated in OTAs on Tuesday, Jaguar Report's John Shipley reports.

Kirk injured his knee in last season's playoff loss to the Chiefs, so this is the first real update on him since the Jaguars were knocked out. The 27-year-old wideout wasn't sporting a brace or anything at Tuesday's session, so it's probably safe to consider Kirk 100 percent healthy. With Calvin Ridley now in the mix off his suspension, there's added competition for targets in Jacksonville, but Kirk should remain a reliable source of WR2/3 fantasy production.

Boyd participated in Tuesday's voluntary practice, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Boyd is healthy this spring after exiting the AFC Championship Game early with a deep thigh bruise. He won't be at every voluntary practice, but that's only because he's a ninth-year pro entering his fifth season in the same system and fourth with Joe Burrow. The continuity in Cincinnati helps the Bengals offense overall and puts Boyd in a lot of favorable situations and matchups, but it also means he's third in line for targets again behind fellow wideouts Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that Cooper (abdomen) will "start doing stuff this week" after not practicing last week, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Cooper had core muscle surgery in February and should be back at full strength for training camp, if he isn't already. The Browns have no reason to rush him for spring practices a couple weeks before his 29th birthday, as this is his second season in Stefanski's offense after a successful Year 1. One cause for concern is that Cooper had better numbers in Jacoby Brissett's 11 starts (8.5 targets and 72 yards per game, seven TDs) than in Deshaun Watson's six games (6.5 targets, 61 YPG, two TDs), though most of the difference was just due to Cleveland passing less late in the year. It's also possible the targets will be spread out more this season after the Browns retained last year's skill-position starters and also added WRs Elijah Moore, Cedric Tillman and Marquise Goodwin and TE Jordan Akins. Of course, Cooper is still a clear favorite to lead the team in targets, and they'll be of a higher quality this year if Watson regains his pre-suspension form.

Moore was targeted often by quarterback Deshaun Watson during Wednesday's session of organized team activities, Athony Poisal of the Browns' official site reports.

Moore, who was acquired from the Jets via trade during the offseason, is expected to serve as the Browns' slot receiver with Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones slotting in as the top two wideouts. The Browns are expected to throw often, and all three should benefit from quarterback Deshaun Watson playing a full season.

Brown has moved up the wide receiver depth chart in Arizona after the team released DeAndre Hopkins on Friday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Due to Hopkins' six-game suspension to start last season and injury concerns for both he and Brown thereafter, the pair only suited up for four games together. With Hopkins out of the picture, Brown will kick off his second season with the Cardinals as the team's top wideout, followed by the likes of Rondale Moore, Greg Dortch, Zach Pascal and rookie third-round pick Michael Wilson. Brown also may not be working with Kyler Murray once Week 1 arrives due to the quarterback's recovery from an ACL tear suffered Dec. 12. In eight contests without Hopkins in 2022, Brown put together a 50-553-3 line on 77 targets.

The Cardinals released Hopkins on Friday.

A suspension and knee injury limited Hopkins to nine appearances last season, but his per-game numbers -- 7.1 catches for 79.7 yards and 0.33 TDs -- remained prolific. He now becomes a free agent two weeks before his 31st birthday and is instantly the top player on the post-draft market at any position. Prior to his release, Hopkins was scheduled for a non-guaranteed $19.45 million salary in 2023 and $14.92 million in 2024.

Moore is ready to take on a versatile role during his first season with the Titans, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.

Moore was the Titans' most impactful addition to the wide receiver corps this offseason, though his exact role is unclear. He's coming off his best season as a pro in 2022, during which he posted 48 receptions for 548 yards and two touchdowns, but he is likely to slot behind Treylon Burks, Kyle Philips and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for targets. Moore also has some experience as a kick returner and has topped 150 special teams snaps in five of his seven seasons in the NFL.

The Lions waived Thompson on Thursday, KPRC 2 Houston's Aaron Wilson reports.

Thompson signed with the Lions as an undrafted rookie following the 2023 NFL Draft. He was cut to make room for new kicker Riley Patterson on Thursday. Thompson will look to latch on with another team for training camp this summer.

The Vikings signed Jackson on Tuesday.

Jackson played his college ball at Western Kentucky and has bounced around various developmental leagues, including The Spring League in 2021, the Edmonton Elks last year, and then with the XFL's D.C. Defenders this offseason. With the Defenders, Jackson caught 36 balls for 572 yards and five touchdowns. Jackson will try to win one of the final receiver spots in Minnesota.