NFL Player News

Patrick (knee) told Steve Smith Sr. that he's been sprinting and running routes, per Ben Swanson of the Broncos' official site. "At this point, I'm cleared to do everything," Patrick said last week. "At this point, I'm just doing repetition to get myself ready to play in a game."

Patrick suffered an ACL tear Aug. 2 and then had surgery Aug. 8, giving him 13 months to rehab before Week 1 of 2023. Broncos general manager George Paton said in late February that he expects Patrick to be 100 percent healthy for the start of the season, and it now sounds like the 29-year-old wideout may even manage some level of participation in spring practices. While trade rumors regarding fellow Broncos WRs Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton haven't entirely died down, Patrick currently profiles as the No. 3 receiver in Denver, likely ahead of 2020 second-round pick KJ Hamler (pectoral) and free-agent addition Marquez Callaway.

Jones signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Lions on Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Jones posted 46 receptions on 81 targets for 529 yards and three touchdowns across 16 appearances with the Jaguars in 2022, his least productive healthy season since his rookie campaign. The 2012 fifth-round pick will head back to Detroit, with whom he played from 2016 through 2020, including a 2017 campaign in which he set a career high with 1,101 receiving yards. With DJ Chark now in Carolina, Jones will likely slot in as the No. 3 wideout behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, who should be store for a heftier workload after a lost rookie season.

Carter and the Raiders agreed to a one-year contract Wednesday, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

During his lone season with the Chargers in 2022, the well-traveled Carter caught 46 passes (on 65 targets) for 538 yards and three touchdowns. With Las Vegas, the soon-to-be 30-year-old Carter is slated to give the team added depth at wide receiver behind Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Hunter Renfrow, while also providing the Raiders with another option in the return game.

Miller is signing a one-year deal with the Falcons, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The 2019 sixth-rounder finished up the 2022 season with 23 catches on 40 targets for 185 yards in 15 games with the Buccaneers, working in a wide receiver corps that also included Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gage and Julio Jones. Prior to his addition, Atlanta's top WR options were Drake London and Mack Hollins. As the team's depth chart currently stands, Miller should see an uptick in volume in 2023 given the Falcons' clear need to bolster their pass-catching unit.

Thomas, who is bouncing back from a toe injury that ended his 2022 season early, is not yet 100 percent recovered from the issue, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Thomas, who last saw game action in Week 3 last year, subsequently had surgery to address a dislocated second toe, but at this stage his recovery from the injury is still ongoing. On the plus side, Saints coach Dennis Allen noted that he expects the wideout to be fully healthy and ready to go as the coming season approaches, with the team intending to proceed cautiously with Thomas in the meantime, per Garland Gillen of FOX 8. Once healthy, Thomas will be in a position to reclaim a key pass-catching role in the Derek Carr-helmed offense alongside fellow WR Chris Olave.

Coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday at the Annual League Meeting that Chark recently underwent ankle surgery, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Rivera said that Chark could be ready for OTAs. The 26-year-old looks primed to join 32-year-old veteran Adam Thielen, both newcomers to Carolina's offense, as the team's top receiving options, though further competition could be added in the 2023 NFL Draft. Of course, the Panthers also look poised to add a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft, so if Chark is able to return to health early in the offseason it will give him more time to build up a rapport with what should be a first-year starting quarterback.

The Cardinals have granted permission to Hopkins' (knee) representatives to discuss trades with other teams, Albert Breer of SI.com reports.

After missing just two games in the first eight years of his career, Hopkins has been absent for 15 games the past two seasons due to a combination of injuries and a suspension. He's still produced when on the field, though, totaling 106 catches (on 160 targets) for 1,289 yards and 11 touchdowns in 19 appearances during that span. Despite Breer's report, new coach Jonathan Gannon told Steve Wyche of NFL Network at the Annual League Meeting on Sunday that he's "operating that he's a Cardinal right now" when asked about Hopkins. Hopkins' situation may continue to linger due to his 2023 base salary of $19.45 million, his age (he turns 31 in June) and his recent inability to be available to Arizona's offense.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he expects Duvernay (foot) to be with the team for 2023, Jonas Shaffer of the Baltimore Banner reports.

There's been talk of Duvernay becoming a cap casualty after a second Pro Bowl nod activated a contract escalator that pushes his salary to a non-guaranteed $4.3 million for the fourth and final season of his rookie contract. It's a reasonable number, and arguably even a bargain, given that he's been a top-notch return man on both punts and kickoffs while also manning the slot on offense. There is some question about his health this offseason after Duvernay suffered a broken fifth metatarsal in his right foot during a Dec. 20 practice, though he should have enough time to recover before training camp even if he misses OTAs and minicamp. He finished 2022 with career highs in every major receiving stat, including YPR and YPT, yet still averaged only 3.5 targets per game and thus offered little in the way of fantasy value outside of return-yardage leagues.

Edwards agreed to a contract with the Saints on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Edwards opened 2022 with the Falcons and appeared in seven games for the team, but he caught just three passes for 15 yards before getting cut in November. The 24-year-old spent the next several weeks on the Chiefs' practice squad before being let go from Kansas City as the playoffs started. In New Orleans, Edwards links back up with former teammate Derek Carr. Edwards will try to carve out a depth role this summer.

While speaking with reporters at the NFL's Annual League Meeting, coach John Harbaugh relayed Monday that Bateman (foot) is "healthy and going to be running in three weeks."

The wideout, who last saw game action Week 8 of the 2022 regular season, continues to move past surgery to address a Lisfranc foot injury, with Harbaugh expressing confidence that Bateman will be "ready to roll" and "healthier than ever" as the coming season approaches. Once the 2021 first-rounder retakes the field, he'll reclaim his starting role in a Baltimore wideout corps that also includes Devin Duvernay (foot) and free-agent newcomer Nelson Agholor. At this stage, however, it remains to be seen how the team's QB situation plays out, with Lamar Jackson, who the Ravens have placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on, having indicated Monday that he requested a trade earlier this month.