NFL Player News

During the team period of Wednesday's OTA practice, Cousins was the first quarterback on the field, Ryan McFadden of ESPN reports.

Per the report, Cousins was followed by Aidan O'Connell and then No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, whom the Raiders continue to ease into their offense. While coach Klint Kubiak has yet to provide a timeline for when he'd like to name a starting QB, McFadden suggests that Cousins is the favorite to open the season as the team's No. 1 option, given his ample NFL experience and familiarity with Kubiak's offense. That said, Mendoza -- who has been "as advertised," per Kubiak -- does have time to change that narrative ahead of Week 1, and even if Cousins does handle signal-caller duties for Las Vegas out of the gate in 2026, there's little doubt that Mendoza will rise to the top of the depth chart eventually, given where he was drafted.

Johnson (undisclosed) was waived from Carolina's IR with an injury settlement Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Johnson reverted to IR after going unclaimed on waivers with an injury designation May 19, and it appears the Panthers are moving on from the Florida product. He has yet to appear in an NFL game after tallying 593 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 5.9 yards per carry during his senior campaign in 2024.

Martin (undisclosed) was waived from the Raiders' IR with an injury settlement Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

The 2023 third-round pick from Western Kentucky has appeared in just six regular-season games throughout his three years in the NFL, playing for the Lions (five contests) and Steelers (one contest). Following an injury settlement with the Raiders, Martin is free to sign elsewhere once he fully recovers.

Jones is expecting to work on both sides of the offensive line once he recovers from a neck injury, Brendan Howe of SteelersNow reports.

With Pittsburgh selecting offensive tackles in the first round of two of the last three NFL drafts (Troy Fautanu in 2024 and Max Iheanachor in 2026), Jones appears open to working at either tackle spot next season. The 25-year-old from Georgia missed the Steelers' final seven games (including the playoffs) last season due to a neck injury, and it remains unclear if he'll be ready for training camp or Week 1, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Once fully healthy, Jones will likely battle for one of Pittsburgh's starting tackle positions, though the team declined his fifth-year option in late April.

Carter (Achilles) participated in Buffalo's OTAs on Wednesday, Matt Parrino of Syracuse.com reports.

Carter, who missed all of the Bills' 2025 season due to a torn Achilles, has now returned to the field and moved past his injury. The 2024 third-round pick from Duke appeared in 11 regular-season games during his rookie campaign, recording 14 total tackles and one pass defensed. Carter also bulked up to 330 pounds this offseason and is expected to compete for meaningful reps at nose tackle.

Kent (ankle, knee) was spotted participating in Pittsburgh's OTAs on Monday, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.

Kent missed the majority of the Steelers' 2025 campaign due to an ankle injury sustained during training camp. Then, just as his 21-day practice window was opened Dec. 3 for a potential return, he sustained an ACL injury that sidelined him for the remainder of his rookie season. However, it now appears he's moved past both issues and will battle for a depth spot in Pittsburgh's cornerback room as the offseason progresses.

Eskridge (toe) worked out with the Texans on Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

The 29-year-old wideout from Western Michigan missed the Dolphins' final two regular-season games last season due to a toe injury. However, his workout with the Texans on Wednesday suggests he's moved past the issue. Eskridge had the most productive season of his career in 2025, accumulating 726 kick-return yards across just 13 contests. If signed by Houston, he could compete for a similar special-teams role.

Wilson signed with the Lions on Wednesday.

The 2018 sixth-round pick from Boise State spent his 2025 campaign with the Dolphins, but he's found a new home in Detroit. Across 10 appearance last season, Wilson played 207 offensive snaps and caught five of nine targets for 44 yards. He's expected to compete for a reserve role in the Lions' receiver corps as the offseason progresses.

Graham told reporters Wednesday that he played through a broken rib at the end of the 2025 season, Dan Labbe of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Despite dealing with a broken rib, Graham appeared in all 17 of the Browns' contests during his rookie campaign, recording 49 total tackles, including 0.5 sacks, and four passes defensed. Heading into his second NFL season, the Michigan product is likely to remain an integral part of Cleveland's defensive front.

Ward (concussion) is present for OTAs and has decided to continue his football career after contemplating retirement, ESPN.com's Stephen Holder reports.

Ward's last two seasons were a nightmare even though he largely remained effective when on the field. His daughter passed away in October 2024, during his final season with the 49ers, and Ward then played just seven games in 2025 for the Colts while spending most of the season in concussion protocol. He spoke with reporters Wednesday for the first time since the end of the 2025 campaign, confirming that he's back with the Colts for another season and has high hopes for a secondary that also features CB Sauce Gardner. The Colts recently released long-time slot corner Kenny Moore, as they were unwilling to commit three starter-level contracts to the same position long-term.