NFL Player News

The Seahawks signed Vannett to a contract Friday, John Boyle of the team's official site reports.

Vannett most recently spent time with the Vikings and Rams during the 2025 regular season and also played in Los Angeles' NFC wild-card win over the Panthers. While the veteran tight end was primarily deployed on special teams, he did log a total of 55 snaps from scrimmage across 10 regular-season games between his two stops. In his return to the team that selected him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Vannett is expected to fill a similar role as a depth option at tight end.

The Patriots placed Kibble (undisclosed) on injured reserve Friday.

Kibble inked a deal with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in early May. The wide receiver out of Georgetown will not get a chance to prove himself this year unless he is subsequently designated for a return during the 2026 season. Kibble will need to focus on his recovery for a possible NFL debut in 2027.

Norman-Lott (knee) will likely start camp on the active/PUP list, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reported Friday.

Norman-Lott tore his ACL in the Chiefs' Week 7 win over the Raiders last season. The defensive tackle has spent the offseason rehabbing in the hopes of being ready for the season, but he likely won't participate at the beginning of training camp. Head coach Andy Reid said that the 24-year-old was making progress, which Norman-Lott should have a chance to get on the practice field at some point during camp.

Rice (knee) has been cleared to practice ahead of training camp, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

The wideout is recovering from a minor clean-up surgery undergone in May on his right knee, but he'll be able to take the field once the Chiefs resume practicing. Looking ahead, Rice is slated to work as a key pass-catching option in the team's offense alongside fellow WR Xavier Worthy for QB Patrick Mahomes (knee), who has also been cleared to practice, per coach Andy Reid. While Rice is available for training camp, there could be risk down the road for an NFL suspension stemming from a probation violation that resulted in him serving a 30-day sentence in jail this offseason. Rice is coming off a 2025 regular season in which he recorded a 53-571-5 line on 78 targets in eight contests.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Friday that Mahomes (knee) has "been cleared to participate fully" to begin training camp, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.

Reid said Mahomes has been cleared to "do all the different periods that we have in this camp." The star quarterback has said all offseason that his aim is to be ready for Kansas City's regular-season opener against the Broncos on Monday, Sept. 14, and it appears he's well on track for that goal. Mahomes was held out of full-team drills during offseason workouts while recovering from the torn ACL and LCL he suffered in Week 15 of last season, so it's highly encouraging that he's ready to handle all team activities to kick off training camp. Mahomes said he is "preparing" as though he will be given the green light to play in the preseason, Nate Taylor of ESPN.com reports.

Schooler (undisclosed) was placed on the active Non-Football Injury list Friday, Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston reports.

Schooler will be able to take part in meetings while he deals with the undisclosed issue, but will not be able to practice until he is removed from the injury list. The safety can begin practicing as soon as he has been deemed capable by training staff.

Coach Dave Canales says Christensen (Achilles) "looked good" in his first practice back from injury, according to Kassidy Hill and Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site.

Christensen tore his Achilles in a Week 8 loss to the Bills last October. The right guard promptly had surgery and has been working his way back throughout the offseason. The 29-year-old has made 34 starts for the Panthers over the last five seasons appears on track to be ready to suit up in Week 1 of the coming campaign.

Jones will likely see an expanded role in the Panthers' defense following the injury to Nic Scourton (knee), Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.

Jones is now the No. 1 weakside linebacker on the depth chart after Scourton went down for the season with an ACL tear during the first day of training camp. The 27-year-old Jones played in just four games for the team in 2025 before succumbing to a back injury, logging nine tackles (six solo) and one pass defensed during his early-season stint in the lineup. Training camp production and additional signings could change the team's plan, but as of now it looks like Jones will need to step up to help the Panthers try and defend the NFC South title in 2026.

Coach Mike Vrabel says Gonzalez is expected to increase his participation during training camp after practicing in limited fashion during the Patriots' mandatory minicamp, Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston reports.

Gonzalez is seeking a contract extension after performing exceptionally in last season's Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks. The cornerback had three passes defensed and four solo tackles in the loss, capping off a strong season with a gritty performance in defeat. As a premier player at his position, Gonzalez is looking to negotiate a longer deal despite being under contract through the 2027 season, although he doesn't appear willing to allow it affect his preparation for the upcoming campaign.

The Panthers signed Gill to a contract Friday.

This is not Gill's first stint with the Panthers, as he first suited up in Carolina in October 2024 after a stint on the Lions' practice squad. The linebacker spent this past spring in the UFL, where he led the league with 10.0 sacks in 2026. Gill will replace Nic Scourton (knee) on the active roster for the time being after the weak-side linebacker went down with an ACL injury during the first practice of training camp.