NFL Player News

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said Thursday to Cordell Woodland of 105.7 The Fan Baltimore that "everything seems to be pointing in the right direction" as Madubuike (neck) progresses in his rehab, Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun reports.

DeCosta didn't specify any specific change in timeline or availability for Madubuike with training camp approaching, but he did note that the standout defensive tackle's recovery is "a little bit more unclear" than that of Teddye Buchanan (ACL). Madubuike is recovering from surgery undergone in April to address a neck injury.

McCaffrey was named the Best Comeback Athlete at the 2026 ESPYS, Briana Jeannel of the 49ers' official site reports.

McCaffrey earned All-Pro honors while rushing 311 times for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns across 17 regular-season games in 2025, and also leading all running backs with a 102-924-7 receiving line (129 targets). Head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged back in spring that the team may alleviate McCaffrey's workload in 2026 in order to keep him fresh, a fair concern given that the 30-year-old handled a career-high 413 touches last year. McCaffrey himself has downplayed any workload concerns, and his versatility will help him remain a high-end fantasy producer even if any of Jordan James, Kaelon Black, Isaac Guerendo (pectoral), Patrick Taylor, Jordan Mims or Jermar Jefferson earn a larger role this year.

Burns said the Giants' linebacker group will bring "organized chaos" for offenses to deal with, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.

Burns has reason to be excited about New York's defensive front heading into this season. The 28-year-old is fresh off a career-best 16.5-sack campaign posted in 2025, and in addition to returning pass rushers Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants added added rookie first-rounder Arvell Reese and Tremaine Edmunds to the middle of the defense this offseason. New York's defensive front, led by Burns, could be fierce enough to make up for potential deficiencies in the secondary.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said Thursday on 105.7 The Fan that Baltimore "definitely" wants to ink Flowers to a contract extension before the start of the 2026 regular season, Cordell Woodland of 105.7 The Fan Baltimore reports.

The Ravens already picked up Flowers' fifth-year option, keeping him under contract through 2027 while giving both sides time to work out an extension. Flowers has also made clear he wants to remain with Baltimore long term, so a deal appears more a matter of timing than interest. Flowers is solidified as the No. 1 receiving option for quarterback Lamar Jackson and posted a career-best 86-1,215-5 line in 2025 while playing in all 17 regular-season games.

Kamara and New Orleans agreed to terms Thursday on a restructured contract that gives him a $6 million base salary for the 2026 season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Kamara's revised deal can be worth up to $8.5 million in incentives, setting him up to play out his age-31 season, and potentially end his career, with the Saints. It remains to be seen how much volume will be attributed to Kamara behind new top running back Travis Etienne, who signed a four-year, $52 million deal with the team earlier this offseason, but the 10-year veteran's versatility and pass-catching ability will boost his chances of retaining fantasy relevance in PPR formats. Devin Neal (undisclosed), Kendre Miller (ACL), Ty Chandler and Audric Estime are all also competing for depth opportunities in New Orleans' backfield.

Taylor is entering the final season of his contract and said during the spring that he wants "to be a Colt for life," James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

Taylor remains the clear centerpiece of Indianapolis' offense after handling 323 carries for 1,585 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2025. Though there is some uncertainty about Taylor's future with the Colts beyond 2026, the contract situation shouldn't interfere with his short-term fantasy profile, as the team has every reason to continue leaning on one of the league's few true workhorse backs while Daniel Jones (Achilles) works back to 100 percent form. Another high-volume season would keep Taylor firmly in the RB1 mix while strengthening his case for a new deal with Indianapolis, or a strong market as a free agent in 2027. Boyd also speculates that Taylor could hold in at training camp and work to negotiate an extension before the 2026 regular season.

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough said in June that Tyson (undisclosed) should be "firing on all cylinders" later this summer, ESPN.com's Katherine Terrell reports.

A hamstring injury ended Tyson's 2025 campaign at Arizona State and kept him out of pre-draft drills, but Saints coach Kellen Moore suggested in May that the rookie's absence from early OTA periods wasn't necessarily related to his prior hamstring injury. Whatever the case, Tyson increased his involvement in late May and June, though there was never any report of participation in full-team drills. It sounds like Shough expects Tyson to be ready for training camp, where the Saints also anticipate getting Chris Olave (blood clot) back in action. There is some chance Tyson and/or Olave will be limited at the start of camp in late July.

Grier announced Wednesday that he will retire from the NFL, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

In conjunction with the QB's decision to hang up his cleats, the Panthers placed Grier on the reserve/retired list Wednesday. Now that he's no longer in the mix, the Panthers currently roster veteran backup Kenny Pickett and undrafted rookie Haynes King behind starting signal caller Bryce Young.

Pickens is set to play the 2026 season on the one-year, $27.3 million franchise tag after he and the Cowboys did not reach a long-term extension before Wednesday's deadline, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

Pickens has voiced his willingness to play on the one-year franchise tag, so Wednesday's deadline passing without a new contract doesn't come as a surprise. Playing for a long-term deal or future free-agency payday should only reinforce his fantasy appeal as one of the top downfield and red-zone targets for Dak Prescott (knee), and alongside CeeDee Lamb, Pickens again will form one of the top one-two punches at wideout in the NFL. The Cowboys managed Pickens' reps at mandatory minicamp in June, but by all accounts he will have no limitations at the start of training camp other than a normal ramp-up period.

Etienne's teammate, Alvin Kamara, has reportedly agreed to remain with the Saints this season on a reworked contract, Arye Pulli of USA Today reports.

There had been speculation Kamara could be on the move this offseason, but his amended deal paves the way for him to work in tandem with Etienne, who inked a four-year, $52 million deal with the Saints in March. Etienne -- who ran for 1,107 yards on 260 carries in 17 regular-season games with the Jaguars last season -- is poised to handle a significant portion of his new team's rushing workload in 2026, while Kamara, a versatile back with strong receiving skills, is available to see his share of touches as well.