NFL Player News

The Browns are expected to place a second-round restricted tender on Hickman, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Fowler notes the Hickman is an extension candidate, but the move would keep the Ohio State product under contract for the 2026 season. Hickman stepped into a larger role for the Browns during the 2025 regular season, when he played every single defensive snap in 14 of 17 games and compiled 103 tackles (51 solo) and seven pass defenses (two interceptions).

The Cardinals released Tomlinson on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Tomlinson and the Cardinals agreed to a two-year, $29 million contract in March of 2025, but the 2017 second-rounder will end up playing just one season in Arizona. He finished the 2025 regular season with 26 tackles (13 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and one pass defense over 17 games. Tomlinson should attract interest from teams looking to add a veteran defensive lineman to the roster.

The Bills released Jackson on Friday, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Jackson appeared in just three regular-season games for the Bills in 2025 while serving mostly on special teams. The 2020 seventh-rounder will look to join a team in need of a depth piece in the secondary who can also contribute on special teams.

The Bills released Rapp (knee) on Friday, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Rapp ended the 2025 regular season on injured reserve after sustaining a knee injury in late October that was severe enough for him to undergo surgery for. A recovery timeline for the 2019 second-rounder isn't clear, but he was a full-time starter for the Bills' defense since the 2024 season, so he should garner interest from teams looking for a veteran piece to their secondary.

The Chargers assigned Patterson a one-year exclusive rights free-agent tender Friday.

Patterson signed to the Chargers' practice squad in mid-October before joining the active roster in late November due to an ankle injury to Omarion Hampton. Patterson tallied eight or more carries in four of six regular-season games and finished with 41 carries for 159 yards and one touchdown along with three catches (on four targets) for eight yards. The Buffalo product will compete for a spot on the Chargers' 53-man roster for the 2026 season.

The Dolphins released Ingold on Friday.

Ingold was slated to enter the final year of his three-year contract that he signed with the Dolphins in October of 2023, but the Wisconsin product will now enter free agency. He should garner interest from teams looking for a veteran blocker out of the backfield who can also contribute to the passing game from time to time.

The Broncos have opted to tender Badie, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports.

Badie played in 16 regular-season games last year and totaled eight carries for 23 yards. He was more active as a pass catcher, corralling 19 of 31 targets for 141 yards, and as a kick returner, racking up 452 yards on 17 attempts. Badie will likely serve as a backup again next season, though there could be room for his role to expand depending on what Denver does to build its RB corps during the offseason. J.K. Dobbins (foot) will be an unrestricted free agent and Jaleel McLaughlin wasn't tendered, so only RJ Harvey is clearly ahead of Badie in the pecking order among the team's ball carriers who are certain to return.

The Texans signed Schultz (calf) to a one-year, $12.6 million contract extension through the 2027 season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Schultz's contract now contains $17.6 million guaranteed after he set new career highs in targets (106) and catches (82) last season en route to 777 yards and three touchdowns. A reliable safety blanket over the middle for C.J. Stroud, Schultz should remain atop the Texans' depth chart at tight end next season.

The Chargers placed an exclusive-rights free-agent tender on Vidal on Friday.

It essentially locks Vidal in for the 2026 season after he got extended run last season following injuries to both Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris (Achilles). With Harris headed for free agency, Vidal could enter next season as the RB2 to Hampton after Vidal posted a 155-643-3 rushing line across 13 regular-season appearances in 2025. He also added 16 catches for 136 yards and one additional touchdown.

The Texans released Mixon (foot) on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

This move was always coming after Houston traded for David Montgomery earlier in the week. Mixon missed the entirety of the 2025 season recovering from some sort of foot injury that neither the team nor player has discussed much through the media. It's unclear what kind of timeline Mixon is looking at in his recovery and return to the field. The move saves the Texans $8 million in cap space. Mixon will turn 30 years old in July and has lacked big-play ability in recent years. The two-time Pro Bowl selection has 7,428 career rushing yards and 60 touchdowns. His days of being an every-down back are likely over.