NFL Player News

Metcalf spent a lot of time working out with Russell Wilson during the offseason, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

Metcalf spent his offseason in good company, also working with 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman and new teammate Greg Olsen. The second-year pro expects to take a big step forward, following a rookie campaign where he put up a 58-900-7 receiving line in the regular season and an 11-219-1 line in two playoff games. His 7.0 percent drop rate was 17th worst among qualified wide receivers, and Metcalf pointed to the drops as a clear area for improvement in 2020. He and Tyler Lockett could essentially operate as co-No. 1s this season, accounting for a large chunk of the receiving production in a Seattle offense that typically stays committed to the run.

Shenault is making a strong impression on Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew, who referred to the rookie as "a freak" and praised his route running, Michael Giardi of NFL Network reports.

Coach Doug Marrone discussed Shenault's versatility after the 2020 draft, noting that the second-round pick could even see snaps in the backfield or as a flex tight end. The path to Year 1 fantasy value probably requires a regular role at one of the three WR spots, which could be a bit tricky with Chris Conley, Dede Westbrook and Keelan Cole also in the mix to see playing time alongside top dog DJ Chark. The Jaguars should find a way to get Shenault some touches, but even a strong showing throughout training camp wouldn't necessarily put him in a top-three role out of the gate.

The Steelers activated Washington from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Washington is back on the active roster with plenty of time to spare before the Steelers start padded practices in mid-August. The third-year pro profiles as the top deep threat in an offense with plenty of receiving weapons, hoping to build on a 2019 campaign in which he averaged 3.8 catches for 63.8 yards and 0.33 TDs across nine games in November and December.

Cooks is not worried about his concussion history, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.

Cooks said he has "zero" concerns about his concussion history. The wideout has five known concussions during his six-year NFL career, three of them coming in the last two seasons. Despite that, he's only missed two games since 2015. Cooks enters a crowded wideout position in Houston, but he is expected to be a starter opposite Will Fuller. He caught 42 passes for 583 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games last season, the lowest output since 2015.

The Dolphins placed Merritt (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.

The undrafted rookie out of Arkansas State has either tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone who did. With Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns both having opted out of the 2020 season, Merritt could benefit from increased opportunities for reps once he's cleared to join teammates at training camp.

Davis is on the active/PUP list due to offseason toe surgery, Paul Kuharsky of 104.5 The Zone Nashville reports.

Since he was selected in the first round of the 2017 draft, Davis hasn't been listed on the injury report with a toe issue, but the procedure was performed "on a troublesome big toe, from which doctors had to remove a piece." Despite his recovery extending into training camp, he's expected to be ready for a Week 1 game at Denver, where he'd be working as the No. 2 wide receiver behind second-year pro A.J. Brown.

The Patriots signed Zuber on Wednesday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

A week and a half after cutting Zuber, the Patriots have brought back the undrafted rookie in the wake of veteran wide receiver Marqise Lee opting out of the season. During four seasons between Kansas State and Mississippi State, Zuber averaged just 34.8 receiving yards per game. He had a bigger impact on special teams, averaging 15.5 yards on 33 kick returns and 16.4 yards on 11 punt returns.

Diggs agreed to a restructured contract with the Bills on Wednesday, increasing his compensation for the 2020 season by $3.3 million to $14.8 million, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

On top of that, Diggs' guaranteed money for 2021 will go up $7.7 million to $11 million, while his combined 2022-23 take will decrease from $25.55 million to $22.67 million. According to Garafolo, the aforementioned adjustments were agreed to when he was dealt to Buffalo on March 16, but the emerging COVID-19 pandemic delayed them until Diggs was able to report to the team. With his new squad, Diggs will be operating in tandem with John Brown in an offense that -- like his previous one in Minnesota -- is among the more run-focused in the NFL. Such a scheme didn't slow him down, though, as he produced a 63-1,130-6 line on 94 targets last year.

Brown said Wednesday that he's up to 180 pounds, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Brown played around 170 during his final season at Oklahoma in 2018 and weighed 166 at last year's combine, but he apparently dropped all the way to 157 pounds by the end of his rookie campaign. Lisfranc surgery last January likely played a role, impacting his offseason routine and even his practice participation throughout the season. Brown seems to have made a quick recovery from follow-up surgery to remove a screw from his foot this past winter, as he was back to running routes at full speed during a May workout with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. The reigning MVP and coach John Harbaugh both have made it clear they expect big things from their No. 1 wideout in his second pro season.

Snead said Wednesday that he feels faster after losing seven pounds during the offseason, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

The change could help Snead gain separation from cornerbacks, but blocking is also a huge part of his distinct role in Greg Roman's offense. Despite signing a one-year, $6 million extension last fall, Snead isn't likely to see a big increase from last year's total of 46 targets.