Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Wednesday that Kraft (ACL) could be back on the field by the start of, or during, training camp, Weston Hodkiewicz of the team's official site reports. GM Brian Gutekunst said early May that Kraft is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a right ACL tear and is expected to be back in the starting lineup early during the 2026 regular season, but LaFleur's current prognostication is arguably even more optimistic. The 25-year-old tight end is working his way back from surgery undergone last November after suffering a season-ending injury in Week 9 of the 2025 campaign. Before going down, Kraft had firmly established himself as one of the focal points of Green Bay's passing attack. With Romeo Doubs now in New England and Dontayvion Wicks in Philadelphia, Kraft stands alongside Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden as one of Jordan Love's top pass-catching options heading into 2026. In contrast to Kraft, LaFleur said he expects Micah Parsons (ACL) to begin training camp on the PUP list, per Ryan Wood of USA Today.
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Penix (ACL) has not yet been cleared for 11-on-11 drills at OTAs, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports. Penix took part in non-contact 7-on-7 drills and individual work during OTAs in mid-May, but he's not yet ready to ramp up his participation level to 11-on-11 activities. In the meantime, the full allotment of such reps will go the way of Tua Tagovailoa. Once Penix is fully recovered from the surgery he underwent mid-November of the 2025 season to repair a partially torn left ACL, however, he and Tagovailoa will be slated to compete for No. 1 reps. Stefanski declined to offer a specific assessment of Penix's rehab progress to date, per Raimondi, though he said the 2024 first-round pick is doing "outstanding" and is "exactly where he needs to be" despite not yet being "100 percent."
Barner (undisclosed) is not participating in OTAs on Wednesday while recovering from what Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald alluded to as offseason procedures, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reports. Barner played through shoulder and ankle injuries last season, but he nonetheless suited up for all 17 regular-season games while totaling a 52-519-6 line on 68 targets. The 2024 fourth-rounder also operated as the TE1 for all three of the Seahawks' postseason games. Macdonald said Barner will "probably" be available for training camp and is "itching to get out there." With Barner sidelined for OTAs, however, 2025 second-round pick Elijah Arroyo has reportedly impressed and begun taking a step forward in his development. While Barner remains No. 1 tight end for Seattle's offense entering the 2026 campaign, it's possible Arroyo will earn an increased target share in Year 2.
Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley said Wednesday that Achane (shoulder) is recovering from a clean-up procedure will not be a full participant at OTAs, C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald reports. Achane missed the final game of the 2025 season due to a shoulder injury, but he still finished with a career-high 1,350 rushing yards and eight touchdowns across 16 regular-season appearances while averaging a league-best 5.8 yards per carry on 238 attempts. There have been no indications that the shoulder procedure he's rehabbing is anything beyond routine offseason maintenance, a notion reinforced by the four-year, $68 million extension Miami signed him to earlier in May. Achane's next opportunity to return to the field following OTAs will come during mandatory minicamp June 2-4, though the Dolphins could choose to remain cautious and hold him out until training camp in July. He projects as a top-12 fantasy selection not only due to his standing as the centerpiece of Miami's rushing attack alongside dual-threat quarterback Malik Willis, but also because of his pass-catching upside. Achane has compiled more catches (145) and receiving yards (1,080) over the past two seasons than any other player currently on the Dolphins' roster.
Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley said Wednesday at OTAs that the team has not designated "a timetable" for Bell (ACL) to retake the field, C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald reports. Bell, a rookie third-round pick, is currently progressing through rehab work with Miami's training staff during OTAs, Travis Wingfield of the Dolphins' official site reports. The former Louisville standout had projected as a likely first- or second-round selection before suffering a torn ACL and undergoing surgery last December, though he stated prior to the 2026 NFL Draft that he expects to be ready for training camp. Once cleared to return to the field, Bell will compete with veterans Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, and Tutu Atwell, along with rookies Caleb Douglas and Kevin Coleman, for targets from quarterback Malik Willis. The exact pecking order of Miami's wide receiver corps looks uncertain in advance of the 2026 season, so Bell should have a chance to compete for a notable role if he's indeed able to retake the field for training camp.
Kittle (Achilles) said Wednesday that he is still targeting the 49ers' regular-season opener against the Rams in Week 1 as his return date, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports. Kittle acknowledged the challenge of completing his rehab in time for Week 1, though he noted that "I was told it's not a crazy goal." Optimism surrounding his recovery has remained steady throughout the offseason, aided by the fact that he suffered what surgeon and team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache described as a "best-case scenario" Achilles tear near the soleus muscle, as Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. GM John Lynch said late March that he's "hopeful" Kittle will be available Week 1. Still, given the timing of the injury he suffered during San Francisco's wild-card win over the Eagles in January, and how capable No. 2 tight end Jake Tonges (foot) looked across his spot starts in 2025, the 49ers are expected to take every precaution with Kittle's recovery process.
Jones agreed to terms Wednesday on a contract restructure with the 49ers that adds a $300,000 roster bonus for 2026, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Jones' contract for 2026 now stands at $3.55 million with another $2.25 million in incentives, a justified increase in salary after he went 5-3 as a starter in Brock Purdy's stead last year while completing 69.6 percent of his passes with an average attempt distance of 7.4 YPA, both a career-high marks. After the 2026 campaign, Jones will be positioned for free agency. In fantasy formats that allow for multiple starting QBs, Jones has proven an ability to thrive in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense and stands as one of the top insurance options in fantasy formats that allow multiple starting QBs.
Brissett didn't report to Arizona's OTAs on Tuesday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports. Brissett remained away from the team after already missing all of last week, which was the first week of the Cardinals' OTAs. The veteran quarterback is holding out in the hope of securing a restructured contract, as his current deal is worth a maximum of only $5.39 million, with just $1.5 million guaranteed. Per Weinfuss, Arizona has informed Brissett that he is the team's starting quarterback, though he'll obviously need to eventually join the team in order to accept that role.