NFL Player News

Jones (ankle) acknowledged on Twitter that he recently hosted Lions rookie Quintez Cephus and free agent signee Victor Bolden for workouts at his residence.

Jones spent the final three games of last season on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. Considering he was seen planting and cutting on both of his ankles in the video he posted, it seems the 30-year-old is getting back to full health. Jones, in a contract year -- along with Kenny Golladay and Danny Amendola -- is also giving the Detroit front office plenty of reason to keep him around -- n spite of his age and contract status -- given his displays of leadership.

Taylor (foot) has been running routes and catching passes from Jimmy Garoppolo during recent workouts, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

The 26-year-old missed all of 2019 due to a foot injury but appears fully recovered after undergoing numerous surgeries to address the issue. His quiet 2018 season (26 catches, 215 yards and one touchdown) and the injury bring question to his roster security as he enters the final year of his rookie deal. The 49ers have indicated he's still a part of the team's plans, but he'll likely be competing with Jalen Hurd, Dante Pettis, Richie James and Travis Benjamin for a roster spot.

Johnson (sports hernia) said Wednesday that he's hopeful to receive clearance to resume training within the next few days, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Johnson indicated that he first picked up the groin injury Week 2 of the 2019 season and played through the issue before undergoing a procedure over the winter. The second-year receiver has spent time working out with Ben Roethlisberger this offseason in an attempt to develop a rapport with the veteran quarterback, but he's still apparently facing some limitations in his recovery from surgery. Johnson will face competition from James Washington and rookie Chase Claypool for regular reps at receiver, though the 23-year-old's impressive rookie season likely gives him a leg up.

Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden said Tuesday he believes the Jaguars "can do a little bit more" with Chark this season, including using him out of the slot more often.

Gruden discussed Chark in a conference call, noting that the 23-year-old wideout has confidence, work ethic, size and speed all working in his favor. Slot work wouldn't be anything new, as Pro Football Focus shows that Chark logged 24 percent of his routes and 17.5 percent of his targets from an inside alignment last season, catching 13 of 20 passes for 205 yards and four touchdowns. He produced 1.43 yards per route run from the slot, compared to 1.78 YPRR on all other snaps. An ankle injury slowed Chark down in December and forced him to limp across the finish line for a 1,000-yard season, but he otherwise enjoyed a second-year breakout, catching 67 passes for 956 yards and eight touchdowns through his first 13 games. He appears locked in as the No. 1 receiver, leaving Chris Conley, Dede Westbrook, Keelan Cole and rookie Laviska Shenault to compete for snaps at the other two receiver spots.

Agnew will work as a wide receiver once the Lions begin practice, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

A 2017 fifth-round pick, Agnew returned both kicks and punts the past three seasons, scoring four touchdowns on special teams. He's played 30 snaps on offense and 207 on defense, mostly serving as an emergency option at cornerback. Agnew has been attending virtual meetings with both the wide receivers and cornerbacks this spring, but the Lions want him to focus on offense over the summer, likely preparing for a part-time gadget role. There doesn't appear to be an opening for regular snaps or targets with Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola are locked in for three-receiver sets. Marvin Hall, meanwhile, likely profiles as the top deep threat off the bench. As a result, Agnew is still expected to have his greatest impact in the return game.

Brown (foot) has been running routes and catching passes in workouts with quarterback Lamar Jackson.

It's a strong indication that Brown emerged without any complications from winter surgery to remove a screw in his left foot. He initially had surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury last January, missing spring practices and the beginning of training camp. Jackson and coach John Harbaugh both mentioned that Brown was never at full strength during his rookie campaign, with the foot injury and an ankle sprain often limiting his participation in practice. The young wideout missed two games and was listed as questionable for seven others, but he scored seven touchdowns in 14 regular-season appearances and then added 126 yards in Baltimore's lone playoff game. Brown appears locked in as the team's No. 1 wideout for 2020.

Colts coach Frank Reich said Tuesday that he anticipates Campbell (foot) seeing more reps out of the slot in 2020, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.

Reich indicated that while he's willing to move Campbell around the formation, the slot may be the best spot for the second-year receiver to find consistent playing time with No. 1 target T.Y. Hilton and rookie Michael Pittman profiling as the top options out wide. Campbell was limited to just seven games in 2019 -- with a sports hernia, hamstring injury, broken hand and foot fracture costing him time. Reich noted that Campbell is still going through the final stages of his rehab for the broken foot, so the expectation is that the 22-year-old will be ready to go for the start of training camp.

Miller (hamstring) was one of several Buccaneers skill-position players to work out with Tom Brady at Berkeley Preparatory School on Tuesday, Rick Stroud and Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times report.

Miller's participation in the workout, which was apparently organized and coordinated by Brady, is reason for optimism on a couple of fronts. One, it's encouraging the second-year receiver is apparently recovered enough from the hamstring injury that cut short his 2019 season to run routes at this point. Additionally, any on-field time Miller can spend with Brady in the absence of normal OTAs is naturally beneficial, as the speedy receiver will be vying to secure the No. 3 wideout job this summer now that Breshad Perriman is in New York. Miller was just starting to show flashes last season when he went down in Week 15 versus the Lions, and he should face stiff competition from rookie fifth-round pick Tyler Johnson and third-year pro Justin Watson in training camp and preseason.

Evans (hamstring) was among a contingent of Buccaneers skill-position players that worked out with Tom Brady at Berkeley Preparatory School on Tuesday, Rick Stroud and Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times report.

Team facilities are beginning to open up for a limited number of administrative employees, but coaches and players are still prohibited from reporting. However, the NFL is allowing players to get together for workouts in their local cities as long as they are abiding by governmental regulations. With Florida beginning to quickly loosen restrictions, Brady has wasted no time getting together with as many of his key skill players as possible. Evans is naturally at the head of that group, and Tuesday, he could be seen walking through routes alongside his new quarterback in order to nail down exactly where Brady wants him to make his cuts. Evans averaged 78.8 receptions, 1,241.8 yards and 7.2 touchdowns across 15 games per season over his five campaigns playing with Jameis Winston, and those already impressive numbers are expected to potentially see a boost with the significant upgrade at quarterback. At the very least, Evans' presence at the workout Tuesday suggests he's moved past the right hamstring strain that sidelined him for the Bucs' final three games of the 2019 season.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers recently referred to Lazard as "an ascending player" and a great teammate, ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky reports.

Famously fickle with his pass catchers, Rodgers seems to have taken a liking to Lazard, a 2018 UDFA who latched on with the Packers at the end of his rookie season and then caught 35 passes in 2019 (all after Week 5). He was quiet in the playoffs with only four targets and 36 receiving yards in three games, but prior to that, Lazard averaged 3.2 catches for 43.4 yards on 4.7 targets over the final 11 weeks of the regular season. He's well-positioned to retain a major role in 2020, considering the Packers' only significant offseason addition at wideout was Devin Funchess on a one-year, $2.5 million contract. It also helps to have Rodgers' approval, though Jake Kumerow can say the same and hasn't ever seen it translate to regular targets. The division of snaps and targets behind Davante Adams figures to remain somewhat uncertain throughout summer and into fall.