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Spencer Shrader: Will face competition for K job
Monday, June 16, 2025 3:59 PM
Shrader and and Maddux Trujillo are in a true competition for the starting placekicker job, special teams coordinator Brian Mason recently told 107.5 FM The Fan in Indianapolis. "Spencer certainly has a little bit of a step up in that. He's already been in the league, already been here, but it is definitely an open competition," said Mason.
Shrader inked a two-year deal with the Colts in mid-March after a tumultuous rookie campaign, in which he appeared in four combined games between Indianapolis, Kansas City and the Jets. He converted all five of his field-goal tries and all nine extra-point attempts across those appearances. The Colts will have a new kicker this season after releasing Matt Gay in April. While Shrader's two-year contract likely indicates he's the favorite, it wouldn't be surprising if Trujillo wins the job or if the team acquires another veteran late in training camp for the job. Shrader will need to have a strong preseason as a result.
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Travis Kelce: Likely to be present at minicamp
Saturday, June 14, 2025 4:04 PM
Kelce is expected to attend the Chiefs' mandatory minicamp during the coming week, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Kelce shared in early February that he wasn't sure if he'd be returning for another season, but the star tight end stated later that month that he'd decided to play in 2025. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that Kelce will be with the Chiefs during the team's mandatory minicamp, which runs Tuesday through Thursday during the coming week. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes that Kelce, who didn't take part in Kansas City's voluntary OTAs last week, has slimmed down during the offseason as he approaches his 13th NFL campaign.
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Harold Fannin: May have major role as rookie
Friday, June 13, 2025 10:46 PM
Fannin could be a big part of a Browns offense that is likely to run more two-tight-end sets in 2025, per ESPN.com.
Cleveland invested significant stock in Fannin, taking him in the third round of April's NFL Draft. The Bowling Green product showed off serious pass-catching skills in college, tallying 117 receptions on 156 targets for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final campaign. The reception and yardage totals were the most by a tight end in a single season in FBS history, though at 6-foot-3, 241 pounds, Fannin is a bit undersized for his position in the NFL. That said, Browns tight ends coach Christian Jones praised Fannin for his strong hands and ability to track the ball following a strong practice Thursday, and the incoming rookie could immediately get looks in the Browns' offense alongside veteran TE David Njoku, who is heading into the final season of a four-year contract.
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Dalton Kincaid: Adds strength ahead of third season
Friday, June 13, 2025 10:09 PM
Kincaid has "added both strength and bulk" during the offseason, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.
Kincaid dealt with knee injuries last year, causing him to miss three regular-season games and to log lower snap counts following his Week 15 return. Bills GM Brandon Beane attributed the talented tight end's lessened statistics -- he went from a 73-673-2 receiving line in the regular season as a rookie to a 44-448-2 line as a sophomore -- to the knee issues, saying Kincaid's campaign was "really more of an injury thing and nothing more than that." Per Buscaglia, Kincaid impressed during practice Thursday and now has a clean bill of health. He adds that Kincaid's increased strength could help him remain on the field more often for run-blocking reps, which would increase his offensive snap count and be a boost to Buffalo's offense.
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Brandon Aiyuk: Reportedly thriving in workouts
Friday, June 13, 2025 8:37 PM
San Francisco general manager John Lynch said Thursday that Aiyuk (knee) has been "doing a tremendous job coming back," Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.
Aiyuk isn't expected to be ready to participate in training camp in late July as he continues to work his way back from from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, but the wideout has made a positive impression with his recovery. Lynch commented that Aiyuk has been "putting in the work" and stated that "it's kind of incredible how well he's healing." It's not year clear when Aiyuk will be ready for game action, and he probably won't be active when the 49ers open the 2025 season Sept. 7 against Seattle. However, he's on track to lead the team's wideout corps when he does return following the offseason departure of Deebo Samuel to Washington.
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Anthony Richardson: Expected back for training camp
Friday, June 13, 2025 7:52 PM
Richardson (shoulder) won't need surgery and should be healthy for the start of Colts training camp, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Richardson did not participate in Indianapolis' minicamp that ended Thursday due to an AC joint injury to his right shoulder, and he sought a second opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who previously performed surgery to address the issue. The results of that second opinion appear to indicate that the 23-year-old quarterback does not need surgery and should be ready for training camp in late July. That's a major boost to Richardson's chances of opening the 2025 season as the Colts' starting QB, as newcomer Daniel Jones has ample starting experience and worked with the first-team offense while Richardson was unavailable during minicamp.
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Cam Akers: Gets chance with Saints
Friday, June 13, 2025 6:20 PM
The Saints signed Akers to a contract Friday, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
In his fifth NFL campaign in 2024, Akers split time between the Texans and Vikings, recording 104 carries for 444 yards (4.3 YPC) and two touchdowns and 14 catches (on 18 targets) for 68 yards and three more TDs. He entered the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and went without much interest until New Orleans' mandatory minicamp this week, when he worked out for the team. Akers showed enough to earn another opportunity, but he joins a crowded backfield behind No. 1 option Alvin Kamara along with Kendre Miller and rookie sixth-rounder Devin Neal.
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Keon Coleman: Inconsistent minicamp showing
Friday, June 13, 2025 5:05 PM
Coleman was up-and-down during mandatory minicamp, showing some quality routes and a connection with Josh Allen during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, but he also struggled with occasional drops and mental mistakes, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.
Coleman's biggest mistake of minicamp came Wednesday, when he deflected a ball that was well out of his reach just enough to result in an incompletion to Khalil Shakir, Allen's intended target. As a rookie, Coleman was also inconsistent, finishing with 29 catches for 556 yards and four touchdowns (on 57 targets) across 13 regular-season appearances while mostly being cast as a deep threat. Buffalo was encouraged enough by Coleman in Year 1 that the team didn't make it a priority to add to the pass-catching group this offseason, though the team did ink another field-stretcher in Joshua Palmer. As Buscaglia notes, Coleman still has tremendous opportunity before him, and his development will likely be the primary deciding factor in how strongly the Bills pursue additional pass catchers during the 2026 offseason.
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Jaxson Dart: Working as QB2 in OTAs
Friday, June 13, 2025 3:54 PM
Dart has typically been the second quarterback to mix in for the Giants at OTAs, behind Russell Wilson and ahead of Jameis Winston, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
Wilson is the clear starter, having taken all but a few first-team reps thus far, while Dart and Winston have been splitting second-team opportunities. Dart has shown impressive touch on his throws, but the rookie 25th overall pick is likely to begin his career in a backup role. The Giants could turn to Dart if they fall out of contention or Wilson struggles, and the team's difficult early schedule raises the likelihood of those scenarios.
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DK Metcalf: Building chemistry with Rodgers
Friday, June 13, 2025 2:20 PM
Metcalf said at mandatory minicamp that while establishing a rapport with new quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the veteran signal-caller's "playmaking ability after a play breaks down" and "how quickly he releases the ball" have both stood out, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Since being dealt to Pittsburgh and signing a five-year, $150 million deal with his new team, Metcalf's outlook has improved significantly. The Steelers' signing of Rodgers to a one-year deal provides Metcalf with short-term stability at quarterback plus a signal-caller with the necessary timing to complement the strengths of his route tree. Moreover, the decision to trade George Pickens to Dallas leaves Metcalf entrenched as the unquestioned top target in the Steelers' passing game, with all of Robert Woods, Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson and TE Pat Freiermuth as ancillary options. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith also indicated that his usual run-heavy tendencies could shift in 2025, saying "we didn't bring [Rodgers] in here and sign [Metcalf] for all that money to go run the wishbone," and that "you try to play to the strengths of your team."
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