NFL Player News

Browning signed a two-year contract with the Bengals on Tuesday.

Undrafted back in 2019, the QB spent two years on Minnesota's practice squad and then two seasons on Cincinnati's. Browning finally got his shot in 2023, winning the No. 2 QB job for the Bengals and eventually replacing an injured Joe Burrow (wrist) for the final seven and a half games of the season. Browning played surprisingly well down the stretch, with 15 total TDs (three rushing) and seven turnovers (all INTs) while leading all qualified passers in completion percentage (70.4) and ranking fifth in yards per attempt (8.0). The 28-year-old's status as an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason essentially locked him into staying with the Bengals, and the two-year deal now sets him up to be a restricted free agent after 2025. His solid performance in 2023, combined with 2-3 more years of team control, could make Browning a trade target for QB-needy teams, though there haven't been rumblings of interest this spring.

Douglas posted 61 tackles, 1.0 sacks, 14 passes defensed, five interceptions, a pick-six and three fumble recoveries over 16 regular-season games in 2023 split between the Packers and Bills.

Buffalo acquired Douglas from Green Bay in a Halloween trade, and the veteran played a key role in helping the Bills turn around their season and win a fourth straight AFC East title. With Buffalo losing several key pieces this offseason, Douglas will remain a clear-cut starter in the secondary and locker room leader entering his eighth NFL season. He's had four-plus picks in each of the last three seasons.

Phillips (pectoral) inked a one-year deal with the Texans on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Phillips spent last year on Cleveland's injured reserve due to a torn pectoral muscle. It was his second straight season-ending pectoral injury, as the same injury ended his 2022 campaign early. The 2020 third-round pick's addition to the Texans' offseason roster indicates his health is back to up to par. He will now compete for a role at linebacker in Houston.

Wilcox signed a contract with the Patriots on Monday, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.

Wilcox now will call New England home after spending the first three campaigns of his career In Cincinnati. The 27-year-old appeared in all 17 regular-season games in 2023, mostly operating as the Bengals' No. 3 option at tight end and recording nine catches (on 12 targets) for 56 yards. If he can make the Patriots' roster this year, he'll likely be a depth option for them, too.

Holcomb (knee) still doesn't have a timeline for when he may be able to return to the field, Adam Borst of SteelersNow.com reports.

Holcomb suffered a significant knee injury Week 9 against the Titans that required season-ending surgery to repair. Since then, there has been speculation that the damage done was enough to keep the North Carolina product on the sidelines permanently, bringing an early end to his career. However, according to GM Omar Khan, Holcolmb is "working extremely hard to get back. I don't really have much to add on a timeline." Khan further stated, "It was a major injury, but he is working hard and I'm optimistic about all the effort he's going to put into getting back on the field."

GM John Lynch said Monday that the 49ers are having "good talks" with Aiyuk, who hasn't been at the team facility for the offseason program, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

Aiyuk is unlikely to show up for voluntary workouts without a new contract in hand, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll hold out from mandatory minicamp in June if the two sides haven't reached an agreement by then. The 26-year-old's agent denied reports of a trade request last weekend, and it sounds like there's still hope for a long-term contract heading into the fifth and final year of Aiyuk's rookie deal. He's scheduled to make $14.12 million under the fifth-year option, whereas a multi-year deal likely would entail a large signing bonus and an annual average value well north of $20 million. Making it work for the 2024 season isn't an issue, but the Niners may be hesitant to pay Aiyuk at market value long term when they already have six players scheduled for cap hits north of $20 million in 2025, including WR Deebo Samuel and TE George Kittle. Even then, it's a workable situation, as they've got a starting QB on a late-round-rookie contract and don't owe large sums of guaranteed money beyond the current year to anyone besides DE Nick Bosa.

The Jets are trading Wilson to the Broncos for a late-round pick swap, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.

The Jets will give up the 256th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and receive pick No. 203. They'll also hold some of Wilson's salary, with the 24-year-old scheduled for $5.45 million in guaranteed compensation for the final year of his rookie contract. This could give Wilson a shot to compete for a starting job, depending on what the Broncos do in the upcoming draft. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are the other QBs on Denver's roster, with Stidham the favorite to start Week 1 if no early draft pick is added to the room.

Hubbard underwent an offseason procedure to address an ankle injury that he dealt with last season, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.

Per the report, Hubbard -- who missed two regular-season games in 2023 due to a right ankle issue -- indicated that he had a complete deltoid reconstruction in his ankle as well as a TightRope procedure. Now that the defensive end has had his ankle repaired, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reported Monday that Hubbard says he's a few weeks ahead of schedule in his recovery and believes that he'll be ready for training camp.

Wallace is in line to sign with the Broncos, Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com reports.

The looming addition of Wallace, who turns 29 in June, would bolster the Broncos' depth at cornerback ahead of this week's NFL Draft. During the 2023 campaign, Wallace recorded 38 tackles and two picks in 16 regular-season games for the Steelers, and in his new locale the Alabama product could compete for a starting role opposite Patrick Surtain.

The Commanders waived Toney on Monday, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Toney was reinstated by the NFL this past Thursday after having served a suspension for violating the league's policy on gambling. The 2021 seventh-round pick, who last played during the 2022 season, now will look to catch on elsewhere as a depth defensive end.