NFL Player News

General manager Brandon Beane said this week that Bass, who missed the entire 2025 campaign due to a pelvic injury that required surgery, is close to full health again. "If he's not 100 (percent), he's right at it," Beane said Monday as reported on the Bills' official site.

Bass has handled the Bills' kicking duties since being drafted in 2020, but the team was forced to go with Matt Prater and Michael Badgley in 2025, while Bass never came close to suiting up due to a sports hernia, ultimately undergoing surgery in November. Neither Prater nor Badgley is with the team any longer, so it looks like the Bills are comfortable with Bass's prognosis to continue counting on him being their main guy throughout Josh Allen's prime seasons. Bass could be a good target in drafts due to the fact that he has no stats to show off from last season, plus the Bills have a new head coach with an offensive mind in Joe Brady. And there's the fact that Allen advances the football with the best of them.

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said Tuesday that Boutte is not in attendance for the team's voluntary offseason workout program, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.

Boutte has been linked to trade rumors due to the steady drumbeat of New England's interest in potentially acquiring A.J. Brown after June 1, as Adam Schefter of ESPN reports, as well as the team's decision to ink Romeo Doubs to a substantial four-year contract on the outset of free agency. A 2023 sixth-round pick, Boutte has now compiled back-to-back seasons with over 500 receiving yards, and he posted an impressive average catch distance of 16.7 yards (fifth in the NFL) in 2025.

Grier is signing with Carolina on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Grier will sign on as the Panthers' third-string QB, behind Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett, providing the team with positional depth in advance of the 2026 NFL Draft. A 2019 third-round pick, Grier hasn't logged any regular-season action since he made two appearances as a rookie with Carolina.

Madubuike underwent neck surgery mid-April and there is optimism he will be able to retake the field during the 2026 season, Jamison Hensley of ESPN reports.

Madubuike suffered what was feared to potentially be a career-threatening injury in Week 2 of the 2025 campaign, so to see increased optimism after his recent surgery represents tremendous news for the Ravens. Earlier in April, Baltimore's director of strength and conditioning Scott Elliott confirmed that Madubuike has been participating in the team's voluntary workout program. The 28-year-old DT is the pillar of the Ravens' defensive front and has totaled a team-high 69 QB hits since entering the league in 2020.

Doctors have some concern that McCoy may eventually need surgery to replace a bone plug that was used to repair a cartilage defect in his knee, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report.

McCoy is considered one of the top cornerbacks available in the upcoming draft and widely viewed as a first-round talent despite missing all of last season following surgery for an ACL tear. Pelissero and Rapoport indicate that McCoy's repaired ACL is fine but that a bone plug in the same knee may need to eventually be replaced via surgery, which would require "an extensive recovery." It remains to be seen how far -- if at all -- McCoy's draft stock will slip due to the concern, as teams who have interest in the Tennessee product will need to weigh the risk of drafting a player with a potential long-term knee issue versus the reward of securing a potential shutdown defender.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard said Monday that Jones is progressing well in his recovery from the torn Achilles the quarterback suffered in December and added that the club is shooting for the QB to be ready to play by Week 1 of the upcoming season, James Palmer of The Athletic reports.

Palmer notes that the Colts aren't putting a timeline on Jones' return to game action, but Ballard's comments indicate that the signal-caller could be ready from the outset of the campaign. Ballard said that Jones is currently throwing and moving and is in a "really good spot," echoing the viewpoint the QB shared on The Pat McAfee Show in mid-March. Indianapolis placed the transition tag on Jones in early March before signing him to a two-year deal less than two weeks later, making it clear that the organization views him as a central part of the team's future.

Tremayne inked his exclusive-rights free-agent tender with Carolina on Monday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Tremayne will officially return to Carolina for at least another season after being tendered by the club in early March. The 26-year-old was a regular part of the offense for the first time as a pro last year, tallying 14 catches for 160 yards over 262 offensive snaps spanning 16 regular-season games. He also played regularly on special teams and likely will retain the same role as a depth wideout and special-teamer during the upcoming season.

Coker signed his exclusive-rights free-agent tender with the Panthers on Monday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Coker was tendered by Carolina in early March and made his return to the team official Monday. The 24-year-old posted a 33-394-3 receiving line over 11 regular-season contests last year, nearly replicating his stats from his rookie 2024 campaign. However, Coker exploded for a 9-134-1 line in the Panthers' wild-card round loss to the Rams, and he could take another step forward as one of QB Bryce Young's top targets during the upcoming campaign.

The Packers waived Johnson (undisclosed) on Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Johnson did not revert to a reserve list Monday, so the linebacker is officially a free agent. He made his defensive debut in 2025 during the Packers' Week 18 loss to the Vikings. The 24-year-old played 100 percent of defensive snaps in the contest, totaling 10 tackles (three solo) and one pass defensed.

The Jaguars picked up the fifth-year option connected to Harrison's rookie contract Monday.

Harrison has been a consistent presence at left tackle for three years, and another year of salary regulation for a key player protecting quarterback Trevor Lawrence makes a lot of sense. The 24-year-old is set to make $4.199 million in 2026 before his fifth-year option grants him $19.072 million in 2027. If Harrison's consistency remains, the Jaguars likely will pay him for future years beyond the confines of his rookie deal.