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NFL minicamp updates: Dolphins playing it safe with OBJ, Hill

The NFL’s 2024 mandatory minicamps have kicked into full gear. ESPN’s NFL reporters for the 10 teams that started this week are on the ground to provide information on position battles, notable appearances from new faces, compelling quotes from coaches and players and give updates on injuries and holdout situations.

We will have updates every day of camp to keep you informed on all the latest, including Tuesday’s action. Here’s what you need to know from Wednesday camps across the league:

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Top NFL news of the day

Commanders learned of McManus allegations last week, Quinn says

Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn said the team was unaware of the sexual assault allegations against kicker Brandon McManus when it signed him in free agency and didn’t learn of them until late last month.

Washington released McManus on Sunday night, seven days after it learned of the lawsuit filed against him by two women who claimed he sexually assaulted them during an overseas flight to London last season when he played for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The women were working as flight attendants.

Browns’ Chubb not targeting return date

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb said he doesn’t have a target date to return from the severe knee injury that ended his 2023 season and required a pair of surgeries.

“I’m not looking too far ahead,” Chubb said Wednesday in his first comments since the Week 2 injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers. “I’m just taking it day by day.”

Source: OT Tristan Wirfs to attend minicamp after OTA absence

All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who has been absent from OTAs during contract negotiations, will be in attendance for the mandatory minicamp next week, a source told ESPN on Wednesday.

If Wirfs and his agent can’t reach a new contract with the Bucs, he’ll play under the fifth-year option this season and earn $18.244 million. Because he’s under contract at this time, should Wirfs decide to switch course and not participate in minicamp, the three-time Pro Bowler would be subject to a $101,716 fine for missing all three days.

G Zack Martin wonders if 2024 might be final season

As Zack Martin enters his 11th season with the Dallas Cowboys, the nine-time Pro Bowler and seven-time first-team All-Pro wonders if this could be his final season.

“I think I’d be lying if I said it has not entered my mind, right?” Martin said. “I think it that’s been a big thing for me this year, just try to tell myself, ‘Hey, go out, do your thing and let anything else take care of itself after the season.’ I don’t know when I’ll be done, but it’s definitely getting closer to the end. I think it’s just a good reminder for myself to stay in the present and take advantage of this year.”

Martin turns 34 in November.

CB Cameron Sutton plans to reunite with Steelers

Cornerback Cameron Sutton plans to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, agent David Canter told ESPN on Wednesday. Sutton is expected to sign a one-year contract, league sources told ESPN. Sutton, who spent the first six years of his career in Pittsburgh, was released by the Detroit Lions earlier this offseason following the issuance of an arrest warrant for domestic battery.

Ex-Chargers/Packers C Linsley retiring after 14 seasons

The Chargers released center Corey Linsley, the team announced Wednesday. Linsley, who missed the final 14 games last season with a non-emergent heart issue, is retiring from the NFL.

“While he has taken his last snap in the NFL, Corey’s story is far from being written,” team president John Spanos said in a statement. “We cannot wait to see what the next chapter has in store for the Linsleys, and we wish Corey, Anna, Seamus, Killian, Quinn and Ruth all the best moving forward.”

What our NFL Nation reporters saw today

The Dolphins signed veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. this offseason, but he has yet to take the field as they wrap mandatory minicamp. Coach Mike McDaniel acknowledged the excitement and anticipation surrounding Beckham’s arrival but insisted that the team takes each player’s individual timeline into account when deciding his spring workload.

The Dolphins determined the best thing for Beckham’s health was to sit out of these practices. Fellow receiver Tyreek Hill also did not participate in team drills in either of Miami’s minicamp practices.

McDaniel said Hill has a tendency to go “full tilt” in practice, and the Dolphins wanted to make sure he doesn’t overdo it at this point in the year. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Second-round pick cornerback Kamari Lassiter has stood out throughout minicamp mainly because he’s running with the first-team defense. During day two, Lassiter made multiple plays on the ball while guarding All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans raved about what he’s seen from the former Georgia standout.

“He’s a guy that has been locked in since day one. He has done everything we have asked him to do. I am excited to see how he comes back and where he starts in training camp.”

It’s only day two, but Lassiter has an early jump on the competition to start opposite cornerback Derek Stingley. —D.J. Bien-Aime

Caleb Williams‘ arm talent was the first attribute that stood out to third-year cornerback Kyler Gordon. “He’s very poised,” Gordon said, noting that the rookie quarterback has been taking chances against the Bears defense and trying to throw it deep.

Wednesday’s minicamp practice featured the best deep ball seen during sessions open to the media this spring. Williams hit wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. in stride for a touchdown down the right sideline in 7-on-7. The deep ball TD came one play after Williams threw a pass that was picked off by 6-foot-5 middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, which coach Matt Eberflus attributed to the QB taking an unnecessary hitch and throwing late over the middle of the field, which was also the catalyst for the interception he threw on Tuesday.

“…The process and exposure and experimentation of the quarterback. And that ultimately leads to that whole evolution of what he feels he can and cannot do,” Eberflus said. ” [Tre]Maine is a big guy in the middle, and that’s an imposing figure in there, like the Chicago Bears have had in the past. And I think that’s an important part of it. He’s probably going to play most of his opponents and be like, ‘Wow, that Mike’s not very big.'” — Courtney Cronin

Everyone wants to know how rookie Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is doing this spring, and especially during mandatory minicamp. The answer is especially difficult to provide (responsibly, at least), given the parameters of this team’s offseason practices. Coach Kevin O’Connell emphasizes mental progress over physical endurance, with the goal of sending players into their summer break feeling fresh rather than needing to recuperate.

With that said, here’s what we can say about McCarthy so far. After two days of minicamp, and with one final week of OTAs remaining, he’s squarely behind veteran Sam Darnold on the depth chart. During the practices open to reporters, Darnold has taken nearly all of the first-team reps, and more often than not, veteran Nick Mullens has been the next quarterback to step in followed by McCarthy and then Jaren Hall.

There are no indications that the Vikings were looking to test McCarthy in a “1’s vs. 1’s” situation this spring. McCarthy’s throws have plenty of juice but have not always been accurate. During a red zone drill Wednesday, he had three consecutive passes hit the ground. That’s nothing to be concerned about, especially because other passes were right on the money. But after years of watching Kirk Cousins‘ precision throws, the lack of consistency has been noticeable. Overall, however, the best way to describe McCarthy this spring is with one word: Rookie. — Kevin Seifert

Quarterback Anthony Richardson, who is coming off shoulder surgery to repair a right AC joint sprain, missed some action with the first-team offense after trainers were seen looking at the same shoulder. Richardson did return to action briefly and was present for the remainder of the practice. But during a 2-minute period near the end of the workout, backup Joe Flacco took all of the first-team reps.

Was Richardson feeling some discomfort? If so, it wouldn’t be surprising. He admitted last month he has good days and bad days with the shoulder, even though he is medically cleared and doesn’t technically have any limitations.

“Some days I feel amazing and then some days I wake up like, ‘Dang, my shoulder’s a little achy.'” he said. “But every day, I work. Whenever I finish rehab or I’m in a weight room lifting, it’s like, ‘OK, I’m back.'”

Richardson is scheduled to speak with reporters on Thursday. — Stephen Holder

When quarterback Dak Prescott saw receiver Justin Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million extension with the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, he immediately called his receiver, CeeDee Lamb, who’s been absent from mandatory camp this week as he is seeking a new contract of his own.

Lamb faces fines of $101,716 if he misses all three days of camp.

“CeeDee’s handling business,” said Prescott, who’s also in the middle of contract negotiations. “Nobody’s more in his corner than I am, understanding that that’s his chess move, and he’s got to do that. So I know him, I know he’s been working. As I said, I’ve thrown with him. He’s just fine.”

Prescott used Lamb’s absence to grow more comfortable with younger receivers like Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks and Jalen Moreno-Cropper. In Wednesday’s 7-on-7 work, he completed passes to six different receivers.

“Those guys are going to have to make plays and catches in games,” Prescott said, “and they’re getting more confident in each rep they’re getting.” — Todd Archer

CB Khalil Dorsey suffered a lower leg injury and was evaluated after practice. Dorsey was productive during Wednesday’s session, with a pick-six play off backup QB Hendon Hooker before going down with the injury. Coach Dan Campbell says he wants to identify who is going to be reliable in the secondary.

“The talent level, the competitiveness, the versatility,” Campbell said. “Honestly, we have no idea who our starting lineup’s going to be right now, and it’s exciting. It’s so good. There’s no telling who’s going to be outside corners, who’s going to be our nickel, who’s going to be our safeties. This thing is wide open across the board.” — Eric Woodyard

The new kickoff rules will require additional strategizing for special teams coordinators this season. Titans coach Brian Callahan said there will be “chaos” during the preseason as teams experiment with new schemes.

The Titans devoted a large portion of one of their eight practice periods on their kickoff and kickoff return units. Tennessee had a rotation of eight different players taking turns fielding kicks. They’re still feeling things out, and without pads at that, so it’ll take more time to get sorted through which players will be best suited to capitalize on the new rules.

“There’s going to be more returns,” special teams coach Colt Anderson said. “The play is going to look a lot different from last year. We’re trying to figure that out right now — the timing, the skill set, who’s going to be out there.” — Turron Davenport

The Niners have multiple key defenders coming off serious injuries, including cornerback Charvarius Ward (core muscle surgery), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (torn Achilles) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (torn right ACL). That trio did not participate in this minicamp, but Hufanga offered a better idea of when he will return Wednesday.

“The goal is to be ready by Week 1,” Hufanga said. “The goal is to be in training camp, not at the very beginning, but to ramp me up correctly just so it’s not just to throw you out there to the wolves.” — Nick Wagoner

Eagles veteran defensive end Brandon Graham offered a candid take on some of the issues last year when it came to the coaching staff, and why the prospects for 2024 are brighter.

“We didn’t have all the right coaches in the right position I would say, and you can just see the guys truly believing in what we’ve got going on,” Graham said. “I’m excited for the young guys that just came in and the rookies coming in. They’re really going to get a good shot and good taste of what it really is to be in the NFL.”

The cracks in the defensive foundation became evident the Eagles started losing down the stretch last season, and continued to widen as the team finished on a 1-6 slide. Neither defensive coordinator Sean Desai nor his replacement late in the year, Matt Patricia, could create full buy-in. The well-regarded Vic Fangio is now in place. His hard-nosed, “old school” approach has been welcomed to this point, and he brings a level of credibility that appears to have eased some nerves inside the building. — Rich Cimini


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