By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Tom Savage‘s dreamlike start to the offseason as Houston’s assumed QB1 was rattled on draft night, but he’s back on the upswing in early June.

That’s the prevailing sentiment coming from the former backup after he spent OTAs taking first-team reps against Houston’s first-team defense, which happens to be the best in the league. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Their last name might be Apple, but don’t get it twisted — Friday’s controversy was all about fried foods.

Second-year corner Eli Apple of the New York Giants told NFL Network’s Kimberly Jones that the key to his 10-pound healthy bulk was cutting down on the artery-clogging-yet-delicious culinary options served up by none other than his mother. Typically, we could accept this at face value. Mom cleans up cooking, son sees benefits, which translate to the field and inspire a lighthearted story behind the success. Move along.

But this isn’t just any NFL mother we’re talking about. This is Annie Apple, Twitter’s favorite football matriarch, and she’s not here for her son’s embellishment. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Count this as one less target for Alex Smith.

The Chiefs have released wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, the team announced.

“I’d like to thank Jeremy for his effort and dedication the past two seasons,” Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said in a statement released by the team. “I have great respect for all players, which makes decisions like these very difficult, but we felt it was in the best interest of our club moving forward to part ways at this time. We wish Jeremy the best as he continues his career.” Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Dennis Pitta‘s latest hip injury could be his last.

The tight end’s career is in jeopardy after suffering a dislocated hip during Ravens OTAs, the third he’s suffered in his career, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported, according to a source informed of the diagnosis. Doctors are working to put the hip back in the socket, whether through manual manipulation or surgery, Garafolo added.

Pitta’s injury was non-contact, according to the team. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com

If there really is a growing rift inside Seattle’s locker room, there’s an equally significant standard of publicly brushing these things off as nonsense.

In the aftermath of an ESPN The Magazine piece that detailed a strained relationship between Seattle’s offensive and defensive players dating back before Super Bowl XLIX, we’ve heard the focus of the story, cornerback Richard Sherman, respond. We’ve heard a less direct and longer-winded answer from receiver Doug Baldwin. And on Friday, we received replies from coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Saints entered the 2017 draft with a visible need at cornerback and addressed that with their first selection. They signed that addition and five others on Friday.

New Orleans inked cornerback Marshon Lattimore to his four-year rookie deal, GM Mickey Loomis announced. The Saints also signed running back Alvin Kamara, safety Marcus Williams, linebacker Alex Anzalone, defensive end Trey Hendrickson and defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad, leaving first-round selection (32nd overall) Ryan Ramczyk as the lone pick yet to be signed. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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It’s not yet a big deal as we flip the calendar to June, but the Titans sure seem to have some tough luck at quarterback.

Five months after losing starting quarterback Marcus Mariota to a broken leg, backup Matt Cassel has become the latest signal-caller to go down. The veteran suffered a thumb injury on Tuesday and will need a pin inserted in his thumb, keeping him sidelined for about six weeks, coach Mike Mularkey told reporters Wednesday. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Kirk Cousins‘ long-term desires with the Redskins have yet to be addressed, and the quarterback said he’s in a “good place” with his current deal. But does that mean the quarterback will get a multi-year contract before the July 15 signing deadline for franchise tagged players?

According to Cousins, we aren’t going to find out the answer to that anytime soon. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Much like an expensive vase, or a major award, first-round picks tend to have “handle with care” warnings.

But we wouldn’t consider Myles Garrett fragile, even if he’s spending a day during organized team activities on the sideline. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Jamaal Charles always wanted to be a Bronco, and now he is. He just isn’t going to be participating as a Bronco until late July.

That’s according to NFL Network’s James Palmer, who reported Tuesday that the running back aims to be ready in time for training camp.

Coming off November surgery on both of his knees, Charles continues to rehab in preparation for the 2017 season. He expressed confidence in the process and his status heading forward when he signed with the Broncos in early May, though this is the first we’re hearing of a tangible timetable.

Charles made a push to play last season but pulled the plug in November in favor of surgery, the latest in a series of setbacks that have kept the formerly explosive running back sidelined. When he was healthy and 27 or younger, Charles was among the league’s best backs, armed with top-end speed to win almost every race down the sideline. His highly publicized yards-per-carry dominance stands as proof that he gained them in chunks when at his peak.

What Denver is getting in Charles is largely unknown; he’s 30 years old and hasn’t put together even half of a season’s worth of work in the last two campaigns. New offensive coordinator Mike McCoy wants to use Charles as a dual threat, catching passes out of the backfield and attacking inside the tackles on the ground. He stands as the lone exciting complement to C.J. Anderson, who is also looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2016 campaign tat saw him gain 437 yards and score four touchdowns in just seven games. Devontae Booker‘s paltry 3.5 yards per carry during his rookie campaign isn’t getting many in Denver antsy for the season.

New medical information on Charles typically isn’t a welcome sight at this point, but the optimist’s takeaway is this: At least he’ll have had eight months to rehab and prepare for full contact come camp. From there, it’s anyone’s guess how he’ll fare.