NFL Player News

Friday, May 25

• 05/25/12 - 11:03AM ETRueben Randle : Opportunity Knocks?

  If Hakeem Nicks (foot) were to miss any time, Randle could be in line to benefit.

  We'll see how Randle performs in camp, but the Giants drafted him to replace Mario Manningham, and if he performs as advertised, he could be next in line after Nicks. Ramses Barden could also be in the mix.

• 05/25/12 - 9:55AM ETRashard Mendenhall : Not Ruling Out Return For Season Opener

  Mendenhall (knee) impressed onlookers while running and cutting on the side during OTA practices, and personally thinks he can get back in action early in the season, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

  Mendenhall is still experiencing soreness and swelling in the knee, but said "I just want to get back to 100 percent, and right now, I feel good about it. Everything is going well." We wouldn't expect Mendenhall to say anything different, but it is unlikely he will be ready when the season starts. With Isaac Redman on the roster, the Steelers will not have to rush Mendenhall back before he is ready.

• 05/25/12 - 7:07AM ETDeMarco Murray : Ankle Not An Issue

  Murray (ankle) has looked good so far in OTAs, the Dallas Morning News reports.

  "He doesn't look any slower or more sluggish than he would normally," said Cowboys running backs coach Skip Peete. "He's come back and he's in good shape and he's doing a good job. I don't see any ill effects of his ankle injury from this past season." Murray will open the season as the Cowboys' starting RB, and if he stays on the field for a full season he's got a chance to put up some very nice numbers.

Thursday, May 24

• 05/24/12 - 1:58PM ETEric Berry : (Knee) Remains on Track for Training Camp

  Berry (knee) is not participating in drills during the Chiefs' organized team activities as he continues to work his way back from the torn ACL that ended his 2011 season in Week 1, the Kansas City Star reports.

  While his teammates partake in drills, Berry is spending the OTA sessions working with a trainer on the sidelines to rehab his knee. The 2010 Pro Bowler is expected to return in time for training camp and if he can regain the form he displayed as a rookie, there's little reason to think he won't produce as an upper echelon IDP.

• 05/24/12 - 12:52PM ETHakeem Nicks : Broken Bone in Foot

  Nicks fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot during the Giants' OTA's on Thursday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

  Nicks is slated to undergo surgery Friday to have a screw inserted into the broken bone, with the initial estimate being that he will miss 12 weeks. That timetable suggests that he should be ready by Week 1, but it could end up being a race against time on that front if there are any setbacks or delays in his recovery. Nicks' injury creates immediate added opportunities for second-round pick Rueben Randle, who now probably merits sleeper consideration in fantasy drafts.

• 05/24/12 - 8:34AM ETEric Decker : Developing Chemistry With Manning

  Decker (knee) is trying to put on some weight after he lost a few pounds over the course of last season, the Denver Post reports.

  Decker is trying to get through his first full offseason after injuries and the lockout prevented that in the last two years. He has been working out with new quarterback Peyton Manning quick a bit and Manning has had several good things to say about the young wideout. He will be the No. 2 wideout on the depth chart beyond Demaryius Thomas, although it wouldn't be shocking if he led the team in catches given his quick chemistry with Manning.

• 05/24/12 - 8:30AM ETDemaryius Thomas : Hopes to Shed Injury-Prone Label

  Thomas (finger) is down to 228 pounds from 232 at the end of last season and said he wants to get down to 222 for the start of the season, the Denver Post reports.

  Thomas also acknowledged that he has been tagged with the "injury prone" moniker, something he's hoping he can avoid moving forward at his lower weight. He hasn't been able to go through a full offseason and training camp without some kind of injury, so it will be progress if he can do so this year, especially with Peyton Manning in town. Until the OTAs, he had been working out at Georgia Tech with Calvin Johnson and Cam Newton and said he got some good advice on route-running from Johnson, arguably the best receiver in the game. Thomas has the size and speed to be a dominant receiver and with Manning now throwing to him, he could make the leap.

• 05/24/12 - 7:51AM ETRashard Mendenhall : No Timetable for Return

  Mendenhall, who has been able to run as he rehabs from his torn ACL, admitted Wednesday that he has no real timetable for a return to action, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

  Mendenhall noted that he feels good and adds that he is doing more than just running in a straight line at this point, but given that he went under the knife in January, he'll be hard-pressed to be ready for Week 1. It wouldn't surprise us to see Mendenhall start the season on the PUP list, with Isaac Redman in line to head the Pittsburgh backfield in the meantime.

• 05/24/12 - 7:43AM ETSam Bradford : Ankle Still an Issue?

  Bradford, who suffered an ankle injury back on Oct. 16 last year, acknowledges that he is still dealing with some lingering soreness, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "It's getting there," Bradford said. "It seems to feel better every week. There's less soreness, more things I can do. I think it's definitely on the right track."

  It's slightly concerning that his ankle is still tender this far removed from his original injury, but Bradford still has plenty of time to get up to speed, barring any setbacks. In the meantime, he has a new offense to absorb and chemistry to develop with a wideout corps that is both fluid and a work in progress.

• 05/24/12 - 3:50AM ETMike Thomas : Remains in Jags' Wideout Mix

  Thomas reportedly will not be a training camp cut despite being knocked down the depth chart this offseason, according to the Florida Times-Union.

  Thomas is due $6 million from the Jaguars over the next two years whether he is on the roster or not, so expect him to be in Jaguar teal at least this year. Still, the arrival of Justin Blackmon and Laurent Robinson has made Thomas' fantasy value nearly obsolete.

Wednesday, May 23

• 05/23/12 - 12:05PM ETJohnny Knox : (Back) May Not Play In 2012

  Knox (back) acknowledged that he may not play in 2012, the Chicago Tribune reports.

  It sounds like Knox will play it safe, as he probably should with a spinal injury. The Bears traded for Brandon Marshall and drafted Alshon Jeffery in the offseason, but Knox almost certainly will have a significant role in the offense if he returns at full strength. He was easily Chicago's most effective receiver last year, averaging an impressive 10.5 yards per target. That said, it sounds like there is a solid chance Knox won't play in 2012. Unless something changes between now and when you draft, Knox is not somebody to target, even in the late rounds of deeper leagues.

• 05/23/12 - 8:17AM ETMike Wallace : No-Show at OTAs

  Wallace, a no-show at OTAs, is working out on his own, ESPN.com reports.

  OTA absences aren't unusual, but the Steelers are implementing new offensive terminology and certainly wouldn't hurt for Wallace to attend. "It won't be significant in the big scheme of things hopefully," said head coach Mike Tomlin. In the meantime, offensive coordinator Todd Haley did send Wallace the new playbook.

• 05/23/12 - 7:43AM ETPlaxico Burress : Eyes Miami

  Burress is reportedly interested in playing for the Dolphins, Manish Mehta of The Daily News reports.

  Interest in Burress has been cool in free agency and the report notes that the Dolphins would like to see what they have in their younger wideouts before potentially pursuing a veteran to help fill the void created by the departure of Brandon Marshall.

• 05/23/12 - 6:51AM ETMichael Jenkins : Returns to Health

  Jenkins says the torn meniscus in his knee has fully healed and he will join Minnesota's Organized Team Activities that begin May 30, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

  Jenkins missed the final five games of last season due to the injury and had surgery over the winter. He'll battle Devin Aromashodu, Greg Childs and Jarius Wright for the third receiver role. He could also start opposite Percy Harvin the first three weeks of the season while Jerome Simpson sits out due to a suspension. However, his role in the offense is uncertain as there will be an open competition for all the receiver roles after Harvin.