NFL Player News

Higgins signed his franchise tag with the Bengals on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

As a result, the star wideout will report for Cincinnati's training camp poised to make $21.8 million on the one-year tag. Schefter's report also indicates it's unlikely Higgins and the team will come to terms on a long-term deal, making this possibly the 25-year-old's last campaign with the team as the Bengals push for another Super Bowl appearance. The fourth-year wideout struggled with injuries throughout last season and never really got into a rhythm within the offense, especially after quarterback Joe Burrow went down with a season-ending wrist injury in Week 12. With everyone expected to be fully healthy entering the 2024 season, Higgins and the passing unit should be in a position to be electric once again.

Patrick, who is moving past last summer's Achilles injury, looked healthy and sharp during the Broncos' mandatory minicamp this week, Jon Heath of the USA Today reports.

The report notes that Patrick -- who sustained a torn left Achilles late last July -- was one of the team's standout performers during Tuesday's session. As the coming campaign approaches, it remains to be seen what Patrick's role in Denver's offense will be, especially given that the 30-year-old last saw regular-season action in 2021. With Jerry Jeudy no longer in the mix, however, the pecking order behind top wideout Courtland Sutton has yet to be determined, which sets the stage for Patrick to vie for slotting in the coming months with Josh Reynolds, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Brandon Johnson and Devaughn Vele.

The Jaguars signed McGowan to a contract Friday.

McGowan suited up for two games with Washington as a rookie back in 2022 but was cut by the team with an undisclosed injury prior to the 2023 season, and he hadn't been able to find a new landing spot until now. The 24-year-old wideout will now compete to earn a depth role with the Jaguars.

Ford-Wheaton (shoulder) suffered an AC sprain during Tuesday's minicamp practice, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

Ford-Wheaton missed the entire 2023 season while rehabbing from a torn ACL, and while it appears he's completed rehab on his knee, the second-year pro is now dealing with a new injury. Coach Brian Daboll said Tuesday that he hopes every player on the Giants' roster will be ready for training camp, though, so Ford-Wheaton should be on track to return by late July.

Cota sustained a broken collarbone during Tuesday's minicamp practice, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

Coach Brian Daboll said Tuesday that he hopes every player on the Giants' roster will be ready for training camp, so it sounds like Cota's recovery may not be lengthy. As a rookie last season, Cota spent time on the Chiefs' and Texans' practice squads.

Coleman signed a four-year rookie contract Wednesday, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports.

Coleman, selected 33rd overall in April, has a good chance to be the team's No. 1 or No. 2 receiver right out of the gate, as the Bills lack a proven guy in the entire wideout corps after trading away Stefon Diggs and not re-signing Gabe Davis during the offseason. The Bills now have all 10 of their 2024 picks signed to deals.

Milne (groin) was spotted working out during the Commanders' mandatory minicamp session Thursday, Zach Selby of the team's official site reports.

Milne missed all of Washington's 2023 campaign due to a groin injury sustained in late August of last year, but it now seems as if he's moved past the issue. The BYU product was the Commanders' primary return man the last time he was on the field (2022), tallying 311 punt return yards and 300 kick return yards in 15 games. Now that he's returned to form, expect Milne to compete for another special teams role as the offseason continues.

Coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday he expects Slayton (undisclosed) to be ready for the start of training camp late July, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

Slayton suffered an undisclosed injury at Tuesday's minicamp practice, but it doesn't appear the Giants are overly concerned about his health. Slayton is positioned for a starting gig in New York's wide receiver corps, alongside rookie first-round addition Malik Nabers, plus incumbent Wan'Dale Robinson, who should be more effective now that he's another year removed from his ACL tear.

Shakir (lower body) said at Thursday's final minicamp practice that he expects to be 100 percent healthy for the start of training camp in late July, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.

Shakir limped off the field with an apparent lower-body injury Tuesday, and while he hasn't practiced since, there doesn't seem to be substantial concern about his health. The 2022 fifth-round pick logged a strong end to the 2023 campaign and looks positioned as a key starter in Buffalo's wide receiver corps, which lost Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis but added Curtis Samuel and Keon Coleman, plus depth contributors Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chase Claypool and Mack Hollins. Shakir is also the Bills' top return man, a role which could prove more fantasy relevant now, due to the NFL's revised kickoff rules.

Cooper didn't report to June minicamp, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

With his absence confirmed for a third straight day, Cooper can be fined slightly more than $100,000. He's in the final year of his contract and looking for a new deal, following a 2023 season in which he had career highs for receiving yards (1,250) and yards per catch (17.4) despite missing two games and playing with four different quarterbacks. He struggled to produce with PJ Walker and especially Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but Cooper reached 90 yards in four of Deshaun Watson's six starts and averaged 121.3 yards in the four games he played with Joe Flacco. Cooper will turn 30 next week and remains crucial to the Cleveland offense even after an offseason trade for Jerry Jeudy.