NFL Player News

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.

The Saints inked Montgomery to a contract Friday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

The Saints like to employ versatile options such as Taysom Hill, so the signing of Montgomery isn't a huge surprise. The former wideout turned running back compiled just 103 rushing yards on 32 carries and another 90 receiving yards on 13 receptions while playing with the Jets last season. With Alvin Kamara set to head the Saints' running back rotation and Latavius Murray on hand, Montgomery may be headed for another depth role, but his ability to move around the formation could get him some reps in a creative Saints offense.

Davis has signed his rookie deal, Chris Brown of the Bills' official site reports.

The fourth-rounder out of Central Florida gives the Bills a little bit of the size (6-foot-2 and 216 pounds) at the WR position they lacked last season. However, the top three receiving spots are covered by Stefon Diggs, John Brown and Cole Beasley, so Davis will have to perform well in what looks to be a competitive summer battle with a slew of other wideouts with varying skills, and at best he looks like a No. 4 to start his NFL career. That said, the Bills got good value with him still sitting there in the fourth round and he's considered a hard worker with a great attitude -- in other words, a Sean McDermott type of player -- so we'd be surprised if there's not a spot for him on the final roster.

Hodgins has signed his rookie deal, Chris Brown of the Bills' official site reports.

Drafted in the sixth round out of Oregon State, Hodgins will have a tough row to hoe to land a permanent spot on the Bills, as the team has at least three locked-in wideouts in Stefon Diggs, John Brown and Cole Beasley. After that comes a whole slew of guys in the same boat as Hodgins, who probably sits about ninth if we're guessing at the team's current depth chart, one that includes Gabriel Davis, who was drafted two rounds in front of Hodgins. Hodgins does offer is size at 6-foot-4 along with good skills around the ball. The Bills don't currently have a lot of "bigs" in their receiving corps.

Doss officially signed his contract tender with the Raiders on Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Raiders tendered the 24-year-old as an exclusive rights free agent in March, so it was only a matter of time before he put pen to paper. Doss appeared in eight games as an undrafted rookie and caught 11 of 14 targets for 133 yards.

The Jets will place Bellamy (shoulder) on the reserve/PUP list Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The transaction doesn't officially end Bellamy's season, though Rapoport relays that Bellamy and fellow receiver Quincy Enunwa (neck) are dealing with significant injuries that won't allow either player to suit up for the team in 2020. Bellamy only collected two receptions in seven games last season, but the depth wideout was a core member of the Jets' special-teams units when active.

Beckham (abdomen) posted a workout video Monday, noting that his recovery from January surgery is going well, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Beckham provided some details on his medical history, referring to his quad and abdomen issues from the past two seasons as "compensation injuries" stemming from the severe ankle injury he suffered in Oct. 2018. He first noticed discomfort in his groin/abdomen area last June, eventually suffering a sports hernia during the third week of training camp. Beckham managed to play all 16 games, but his practice time was scaled back and his average of 64.7 yards per game was easily a career low. By the end of the season, he was dealing with a torn abductor and torn rectus abdominis, which led to what Beckham describes as "probably one of the worst surgeries I've ever had." Regardless, Beckham expects to come back stronger and faster, hoping to hit the "reset button" and get his body properly aligned. The 27-year-old wideout will be working with a new coaching staff led by Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.

Aiyuk (core muscle surgery) will have to compete for a significant role on offense during training camp, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The 49ers traded up to select Aiyuk with the 25th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he isn't guaranteed a starting job out of the gate even with the departure of 2019 starter Emmanuel Sanders. The 22-year-old will have to prove himself in camp and quickly learn coach Kyle Shanahan's offensive scheme in order to earn snaps alongside Deebo Samuel over experienced receivers Kendrick Bourne (outside) and Trent Taylor (slot). Aiyuk also has a core muscle injury to overcome once organized team activities get under way. The rookie wideout possesses big-play potential with his after-the-catch abilities, which could lead to quick fantasy relevance once he earns a significant role.

Shelton-Mosley has agreed to a contract with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent, per the team's official site.

While the Chiefs didn't attack the wide receiver position aggressively in the draft, Shelton-Mosley was one of six wide receivers the club signed as undrafted free agents. He likely faces an uphill battle to earn a roster spot, but he should get an opportunity in training camp and the preseason -- assuming they unfold as usual -- to present his case.

Davis' fifth-year option was not picked up by the Titans, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The No.5 pick overall in 2017 has had a rocky start to his career and will now be eligible to hit free agency after the 2020 season. Davis was surpassed by rookie A.J. Brown as the lead dog in the Titans' passing game in 2019 and his targets plummeted from 112 in 2018 to just 69. The Titans declining Davis' fifth-year option doesn't preclude them from working out a new contract next offseason, but it does send a clear message that the former Western Michigan receiver needs to get things turned around in a hurry.