NFL Player News
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Ed Oliver DT | BUF
Bills' Ed Oliver: Inks extension with Buffalo
Oliver agreed to a four-year, $68 million extension with Buffalo on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Oliver will now be tied to the Bills for the next five seasons, as the team also agreed to exercise his fifth-year option, which was worth $10.7 million, in April. The 25-year-old dealt with various injuries last season that limited him to the lowest playing time of his career -- 495 defensive snaps over 13 games --, and he has yet to match the production from his career-best 2019 rookie campaign, when he tallied 43 tackles and five sacks. Nevertheless, Oliver will now cash in on a long-term extension that includes $45 million guaranteed, per Schefter, thus giving him a chance to live up to his status as a top-10 draft pick moving forward.
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Chris Rodriguez Jr. RB | WAS
Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Catching passes at OTAs
Commanders coaches have been surprisingly pleased with Rodriguez' receiving skills at OTAs, Zach Selby of the team's official website reports.
Rodriguez comes in as a sixth-round pick after a college career at Kentucky in which he had more rushing touchdowns (33) than receptions (20). The 219-pounder is more of a threat to take the type of snaps/touches Brian Robinson got last year than those that went to Antonio Gibson, but at this early stage of the offseason it isn't clear if Rodriguez is a serious threat to have a role on offense at all early in the season. He's reportedly been working hard on special teams, which will be an especially important factor for making the Week 1 roster if the Commanders roll with only three running backs. Jaret Patterson and Jonathan Williams are the other RBs competing for roles behind Gibson/Robinson.
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Jonathan Williams RB | WAS
Commanders' Jonathan Williams: Working as No. 3 back
Williams opened the offseason program working as Washington's No. 3 running back, Zach Selby of the team's official site reports.
Williams has a real shot to keep the role heading into Week 1, but it wouldn't necessarily make him third in line for touches on offense. He's an experienced special teamer, which means the 29-year-old might technically be active over fellow RBs Chris Rodriguez and Jaret Patterson on gamedays even if one or both of the young backs is ahead of Williams in the pecking order for carries. All are behind Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson, the returning top two in a Washington backfield that could be reevaluated under new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
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Cole Turner TE | WAS
Commanders' Cole Turner: Making case for Year 2 role
Turner "wowed" during training camp last year and is doing the same in practices this spring, Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.
Zach Selby of the Commanders' official website also mentions Turner as one of the standouts from OTAs in May. The 2022 fifth-round pick caught only two passes in 10 games as a rookie last year -- both during a Week 6 contest where injuries forced him into an every-down role -- but it isn't out of the question that Turner could displace soon-to-be 32-year-old Logan Thomas as Washington's top TE this summer. Thomas suffered an Achilles tear in 2021 and averaged only 8.3 yards per catch and 5.3 yards per target in 14 games last season (39-323-1 on 61 targets).
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Dalvin Cook RB | MIN
Vikings' Dalvin Cook: Minnesota tenure ending soon?
Cook (shoulder) is unlikely to be on the Vikings roster by the start of the new campaign, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
Typically situations like this aren't discussed with such absolute language, so Seifert suggesting "all that remains is for the Vikings to formalize Cook's exit, a denouement that seems likely if not completely certain" is worth noting. Cook has a cap hit of nearly $14 million for 2023, and the Vikings already traded productive pass rusher Za'Darius Smith, who had a similar cap figure. The soon-to-be 28-year-old back has been the subject of trade rumors for months, although given no such trade has materialized it's unclear how many teams remain interested. The Vikings re-signed long-time backup Alexander Mattison to a two-year, $6.5 million deal this offseason, and the fifth-year pro figures to step in as the starter if Cook is traded or released.
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Forrest Merrill DT | SEA
Forrest Merrill: Let go by Seattle
The Seahawks cut Merrill on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Merrill will head to waivers despite having just signed with Seattle back in May. The 26-year-old spent the past two years with the Chargers and missed the entirety of last season with an undisclosed injury. Merrill will now look to catch on with another team and compete for a roster spot.
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Jalyn Armour-Davis CB | BAL
Ravens' Jalyn Armour-Davis: Limited in practice
Armour-Davis (hip) was limited in practice Thursday, Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Banner reports.
Armour-Davis participated only in positional work, as the 23-year-old is still recovering from a hip injury suffered in November. With the Ravens currently lacking proven talent at corner behind Marlon Humphrey and Rock Ya-Sin, the 2022 fourth-round pick could find himself competing for ample playing time once healthy.
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Chance Campbell LB | TEN
Titans' Chance Campbell: Back on field
Campbell is back on the field after recovering from a knee injury, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Campbell missed the entirety of his rookie season with a knee injury but is now healthy and participating in OTAs. The 23-year-old will likely compete for a spot as a reserve linebacker heading into the upcoming campaign.
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Jamarco Jones OT | TEN
Titans' Jamarco Jones: Slated for backup role
Jones is slated to serve as Tennessee's primary backup tackle, Mike Moraitis of USA Today reports.
Jones missed all of last year with an elbow injury but is now back in action. The 26-year-old is the favorite to back up Andre Dilliard, although the spot is still up for grabs.
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Trysten Hill DT | CLE
Browns' Trysten Hill: Recovered from injury
Hill has recovered from his MCL sprain, Anthony Poisal of the Browns' official site reports.
Hill seems to be healthy once again after injuring his knee back in December. The 2019 second-round pick recorded six tackles (five solo) in seven games while playing for both the Cowboys and Cardinals last season and should be competing for a depth role heading into the 2023 campaign.