WR John Ross Retires
John Ross delivered a memorable performance at the Combine, but his pro career is coming to an end after an inability to translate his skillset to the NFL. The former top-1o was placed on the reserved/retired list by the Chiefs on Wednesday, per the wire.
The 27-year-old entered the league with substantial expectations after he ran a record-setting 4.22 second 40-yard dash at the Combine in 2017. His speed helped make him the ninth overall selection in that year’s draft, with the Bengals selecting him ahead of a group of other prospects headlined by Patrick Mahomes. Ross was the third and final receiver taken in that year’s first round (behind Corey Davis and Mike Williams).
Ross battled injuries through much of his Cincinnati tenure, and he played only 27 games with the Bengals. The Washington alum’s best season came in 2019, when he recorded 506 yards and three touchdowns despite only getting into eight games. The rest of his Bengals stint saw him haul in only 23 catches for 227 yards in 19 games across three campaigns, although he did score a career-high seven touchdowns in 2018.
Following a 2020 season where he was limited to only three games thanks in part to a foot injury, Ross hit free agency. He ended up catching on with the Giants on a one-year deal, catching 11 passes in 10 games for his new squad.
After not getting into a game during the 2022 season, Ross signed a futures contract with the Chiefs back in January. He was set to compete for a roster spot before his sudden decision to retire.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/26/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on PUP: TE Zach Ertz, QB Kyler Murray, LB BJ Ojulari
- Placed on NFI: CB Garrett Williams
- Waived: TE Chris Pierce
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on NFI: DB Trayvon Mullen
- Waived: OT Brandon Kipper
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Javon Wims
- Waived: WR Marquez Stevenson
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Aviante Collins
- Waived: OL Lorenz Metz
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Cody Chrest
- Placed on NFI: OT Caleb Jones
- Waived/injured: WR Jeff Cotton
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on PUP: LB Dawuane Smoot
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on NFI: DT Neil Farrell
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from PUP: WR Pokey Wilson
- Placed on PUP: WR Jalen Guyton, DL Austin Johnson, DT Otito Ogbonnia
Los Angeles Rams
- Claimed off waivers (from Bears): LB Sterling Weatherford
- Placed on PUP: TE Hunter Long, OT Warren McClendon
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Kevin Atkins
- Reverted to IR: LB Elerson Smith
New York Jets
- Activated from PUP: TE C.J. Uzomah
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Deon Cain
- Placed on NFI: WR Devon Allen
- Released: TE Dalton Keene
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Kyahva Tezino
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DB Chris Steele
- Placed on PUP: S Jamal Adams, LB Jordyn Brooks, TE Noah Fant, NT Austin Faoliu, NT Bryan Mone, CB Tariq Woolen
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB A.J. Moore
- Waived: DT Curtis Brooks
Among the additions on today’s list, defensive back A.J. Moore is the most notable. The defensive back spent four years with the Texans to begin his career, compiling 69 tackles in 55 games while primarily playing on special teams. The 27-year-old spent a chunk of last season on the Titans practice squad, and he ultimately got into one game with the big-league club.
Danielle Hunter Reports To Vikings Training Camp
After finishing the 2022 campaign with 10.5 sacks, Danielle Hunter is looking for a raise on the $5.5MM he’s set to earn in 2023. After the pass rusher decided to skip the Vikings’ mandatory minicamp, there were rumbling that he could extend his holdout into training camp.
That won’t be the case, as ESPN’s Kevin Seifert writes that Hunter reported to training camp today. However, since the player skipped all of the team’s offseason practices, he isn’t expected to be a full participant right away. Seifert tweets that he didn’t see the veteran on the field during today’s practice, not even as an observer.
Hunter could also be engaging in a “hold in,” where he avoids fines by attending training camp but refuses to participate in any drills. As a result of his apparent dissatisfaction with his contract, we heard in June that teams reached out to the Vikings about a trade for Hunter (although there were reportedly never any “serious trade talks”).
So, for the time being, the two sides appear to be in a staring contest. Neither coach Kevin O’Connell nor general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would say whether Hunter’s practice status is tied to his contract situation.
“There’s a lot of things that we’re trying to work through with Danielle,” Adofo-Mensah said. “Obviously we haven’t seen him since last season. So that among many other issues that we’re trying to work through with his representatives, those conversations are ongoing.”
The 2015 third-round pick has spent his entire career in Minnesota, transforming into one of the league’s top pass rushers. Hunter earned All Pro nods in 2018 and 2019 after finishing both seasons with 14.5 sacks. However, a herniated disk in his neck ended his 2020 season before it even began, and a torn pectoral muscle limited him to only seven games in 2021.
Hunter returned to his All-Pro production in 2022. The 28-year-old finished the season with 65 tackles and 10.5 sacks while finishing as Pro Football Focus’ seventh-best edge defender (among 119 qualifying players). Hunter is still playing out a five-year, $72MM extension he signed with the Vikings back in 2018.
“It’s going to be a day-to-day thing,” O’Connell said of Hunter’s absence. “Danielle and I have had such good dialogue over these last few days, and really trying to build a plan that allows him to feel good about coming to work with as a Minnesota Viking every single day.”
The Vikings have some pass-rushing insurance in Marcus Davenport, but the free agent acquisition was intended to replace Za’Darius Smith. D.J. Wonnum was the primary fill-in for Hunter during OTAs, per Seifert.
Chargers Sign WR Milton Wright
After going undrafted in the NFL Supplemental Draft earlier this month, Milton Wright has found his way on to an NFL roster. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the wide receiver has signed with the Chargers.
After hauling in 42 receptions through his first two collegiate seasons, Wright had a breakout campaign in 2021. The Purdue wideout finished the season with 57 receptions for 732 yards and seven touchdowns, and he appeared ready to take it to another lever in 2022.
However, persistent academic issues resulted in him being deemed ineligible for the 2022 season. Wright first tried to transfer before deciding to pivot to the supplemental draft. The receiver ended up going undrafted, allowing him to sign with any team.
Despite an NFL-ready body (six-foot-three, 195 pounds), Wright’s 4.69-second 40-yard dash time led some scouts to sour on the prospect. Still, the Chargers decided to take the low-risk move following a successful tryout earlier today.
The organization is plenty deep at the receiver position, with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and first-round rookie Quentin Johnston leading the way. With Josh Palmer and rookie fourth-round pick Derius Davis also appearing to be roster locks, Wright will have to compete with the likes of Jalen Guyton, Keelan Doss, and John Hightower for one of the final spots on the depth chart.
Nick Bosa Not In Attendance At 49ers’ Training Camp
JULY 26: Bosa is indeed holding out, and on Wednesday the 49ers placed him on the reserve/did not report list, per the transactions wire. As fines begin to accumulate, it will be interesting to monitor how willing each side is to accelerate talks on what will be an enormous extension.
JULY 25: When training camp opens tomorrow for the 49ers, Nick Bosa is not expected to be a participant in team drills. Many expected that to come about as a result of a hold-in, but a full absence appears to be the likelier scenario. 
When speaking to the media on Tuesday, GM John Lynch acknowledged that he does not expect Bosa to be in attendance (Twitter link via David Lombardi of The Athletic). That would represent an even bolder negotiating step than the hold-in (during which players arrive at camp but decline to take part in practices) the reigning Defensive Player of the Year was thought to be contemplating.
Bosa is under contract this season on the fifth-year option. That will see him earn $17.9MM, but an extension would be worth considerably more given his track record. The former No. 2 pick led the league with 18.5 sacks last season, earning him a third Pro Bowl invitation and an All-Pro nod. That performance brought his career sack total to 43 in 51 games.
“I have not seen Nick,” Lynch said, adding that Bosa extension talks could be “a little more complex” than with other star players. “I would expect he’s not here to start off. We’re working. We’re having really good communication… We’re working diligently to try to come to an agreement. I think the challenge is you’re talking about a real special player. You’re talking about one of the better players in the league. You could argue that could simplify things, but I think at times it’s just finding that sweet spot.”
Lynch has previously stated his confidence in a deal getting worked out with Bosa, 25. A mega-contract has long been on the team’s radar, and for much of the offseason the top question has seemed simply to whether or not Bosa will eclipse T.J. Watt ($28MM per season) as the league’s highest-paid edge rusher and, perhaps, Aaron Donald ($31.67MM) as the league’s top-earning defender.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan added that, regardless of whether Bosa attends camp or not, he is unlikely to take the field before his contract is worked out. Bosa would be subject to $40K in daily fines if he remains absent, so movement in this situation could be coming soon.
Tyreek Hill Marina Incident Reaches Resolution
JULY 26: Hill will not face misdemeanor charges, as the Miami-Date State Attorney’s Office confirmed on Wednesday (via Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald). The NFL’s investigation remains ongoing, though, and Hill indicated that he (like the Dolphins themselves) remains in communication with the league while awaiting to see if discipline is handed down.
JULY 24: Most of the news around the NFL is tied to training camps at the moment, but a different development has taken place on Monday with respect to Tyreek Hill. The Dolphins wideout has seen last month’s incident at a Miami-area marina come to a legal end. 
A joint statement from the attorneys representing Hill and the unnamed marina employee he allegedly assaulted reads: “The parties to the incident which occurred on June 18th, 2023 at the Haulover Marina involving Tyreek Hill have resolved their differences” (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).
Hill is alleged to have slapped the employee during a dispute that came about after he and others attempted to board a boat without permission. Hill offered to pay the victim (who was unaware of Hill’s identity at the time) $200, but he declined. A police investigation ensued, with surveillance footage being reviewed and witnesses from the incident interviewed.
The NFL opened its own investigation shortly thereafter, and requested to speak with all members of law enforcement involved in the case. To no surprise, the league has not handed down any supplemental discipline as of yet, with the legal process ongoing until today. It will be interesting to monitor how much of an effect (if any) Monday’s news has on the NFL’s view of the Hill situation.
The 29-year-old’s past could play a role in punishment being handed down. Any missed time would mark a signficant blow for Miami’s offense, since last year’s blockbuster trade acquisition set new career highs in receptions (119) and yards (1,710) in 2022, earning him a seventh Pro Bowl and fourth All-Pro nod. In any event, Hill’s latest legal situation appears to be behind him.
Odell Beckham Jr: “I’m Thinking Like This Is My Last Year”
Throughout 2022, a recurring storyline around the league was the future of Odell Beckham Jr. The former Pro Bowl wideout’s free agent period lasted all the way into the offseason, but he ultimately signed with the Ravens. 
That one-year deal includes $15MM in guaranteed money – a far higher figure than what any team appeared willing to pay. The 30-year-old will receive plenty of attention given the lucrative nature of his pact and the injury concerns which surround him. There will also be questions raised, however, regarding his long-term future in Baltimore of anywhere else in the NFL.
“I’m thinking like this is my last year,” Beckham said in an interview with The Athletic’s Dan Pompei (subscription required). “I’m going to give it my all this year. And then if something happens after that, we can go from there.”
The three-time Pro Bowler missed the entire 2022 season while rehabbing an ACL tear he suffered during the Rams’ Super Bowl victory. Beckham drew interest from a number of suitors, though it seemed inevitable for much of the year that he would re-sign in Los Angeles. A Cowboys deal was mentioned frequently by Jerry Jones, and a reunion with the Giants was on the latter team’s radar. Pompei adds that the Chiefs and Bills – teams which were also named early and often as DeAndre Hopkins suitors – contacted Beckham.
The LSU alum admitted that he was “resistant” at first to the idea of signing in Baltimore. The Ravens certainly do not have a sterling track record with respect to receiver production and passing volume on offense, though many of the team’s most successful wideouts have been 30-something veterans acquired for the short term. Lobbying from quarterback Lamar Jackson helped convince Beckham to join what has become a much different looking Ravens receiving corps this offseason.
As Pompei notes, owner Steve Bisciotti also took personal interest in recruiting Beckham. His efforts helped finalize a deal which will allow the former Rookie of the Year to attempt to complete a first full season since 2019. That year also represents the last time he reached 1,000 yards, and a return to that form (or anything near it) would help give Baltimore a veteran pass-catching presence as the team leans on top 2021 selection Rashod Bateman and first-round rookie Zay Flowers at the WR position.
A strong showing would, of course, also boost Beckham’s free agent market if he decides to continue his career. Multi-year offers could come his way depending on his 2023 performance, but for now his Baltimore tenure could represent the final chapter of his eight-year NFL run.
Texans, CB Steven Nelson Have Discussed Contract
The Texans have handed out a few extensions this offseason, using considerable cash to fortify their front lines as DeMeco Ryans takes over. But the team also may be interested in another deal for one of its starting cornerbacks.
Steven Nelson and the Texans have engaged in dialogue regarding his contract, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. The ninth-year defender is going into a walk year and currently resides as the league’s 40th-highest-paid corner. The former third-round pick hired a new agent this offseason as well.
One of many Texans given modest two-year deals under GM Nick Caserio, Nelson signed his — a two-year, $9MM pact — in April 2022. Bouncing from Kansas City to Pittsburgh to Philadelphia over his first seven seasons, Nelson found a home in Houston last year. The 5-foot-10 cover man started all 15 games in which he played, intercepting one pass and registering a sack during his first Texans season.
Pro Football Focus ranked Nelson just inside the top 50 at corner last season. The advanced metrics site has viewed Nelson as a player who has given teams a reasonable floor throughout his career, not rating him outside the top 60 in any season. Nelson has 99 starts on his resume. Turning 30 this offseason, Nelson is running out of time to secure another notable contract. He played two seasons on a three-year, $25.5MM Steelers deal but has since signed lower-level pacts with the Eagles and Texans.
The Texans are transitioning to their third HC in three seasons and will use Ryans’ defensive scheme this year. Despite big changes on defense, Houston reupped defensive tackle Maliek Collins on a two-year deal this offseason. Overall, the Texans have not shied away from extensions despite dismal on-field results under Caserio. The team locked down Laremy Tunsil for a second time and on Wednesday agreed to a three-year, $56MM deal with right tackle Tytus Howard.
The team has Derek Stingley in place as its cornerback anchor, with veteran Desmond King still under contract as well. Like King, Nelson has played both inside and outside in his career. Though, Nelson has seen more work on the boundary in recent years. The addition of Shaquill Griffin, a Jaguars cap casualty, in May also gives the Texans some decisions to make on the outside.
Panthers Name Bryce Young Starting QB
Not that there was too much drama surrounding the Panthers’ plans at quarterback, but no Andy Dalton-led buildup period will occur involving the No. 1 overall pick.
Frank Reich confirmed Wednesday that Bryce Young is the team’s No. 1 QB. A 14-game Saints starter last season, Dalton can be viewed as one of the league’s top backups. The offseason Panther pickup said recently he still views himself as a starter-caliber QB. Barring something unforeseen, however, the 13th-year veteran will be backing up Young.
“When we decided to pick Bryce we imagined and saw the vision that we’d be standing here today saying he’s QB1,” Reich said, via ESPN’s David Newton.
[RELATED: Panthers Sign Young To Rookie Contract]
Shortly after making a deal to acquire the No. 1 overall pick from the Bears, the Panthers signed Dalton to a two-year, $10MM deal. That contract included $8MM guaranteed, a considerable insurance payment weeks ahead of the Young investment. The Panthers had not completely settled on Young at that point, but the team had been leaning that way. The 5-foot-10 Alabama prospect became the pick, and although Dalton took first-team reps to start the team’s offseason program, the journeyman passer will begin his mentorship role.
This differs from the Bears’ plan in 2021. Chicago named Dalton its starter upon signing him that March, keeping Justin Fields on the sideline to begin his career. Dalton made six starts that year but rebounded to overtake Jameis Winston in New Orleans in 2022. He received a guarantee in line with the high-end QB2-type free agents this offseason, illustrating the Panthers’ hope to fortify a position that has been one of the league’s biggest trouble spots since Cam Newton‘s injuries accelerated a decline.
While C.J. Stroud should be expected to start early in his Texans tenure and Anthony Richardson should see extended time for the Colts this season, neither has been named a starter just yet. Young will lead the way on this front. Dominating as a two-year Crimson Tide starter, Young earned the natural scrutiny that comes with being a 5-10 passer. But the Panthers did not view Young’s frame as enough of a concern to take Stroud or Richardson first overall. The team dispensing with any QB competition talk, unlike the 2021 Jaguars with No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence, illustrates the early confidence in Young.
Stefon Diggs Addresses Issues With Bills; WR Wants To Finish Career With Team
Count Stefon Diggs as part of the “let’s move on” sect of Bills regarding a potential dustup between the Pro Bowl wide receiver and the team. Diggs said Wednesday the situation is now “water under the bridge.”
Sean McDermott reiterated Wednesday the team and Diggs are in a good place, and Josh Allen has long said this storyline was overblown. Diggs’ issues with the Bills’ play-calling and his role in the offense are believed to have been behind his June disagreement with McDermott, one that led to the wide receiver being dismissed from the team facility during minicamp. When asked about what caused McDermott to send him home last month, Diggs declined to elaborate (Twitter link via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg).
Diggs, 29, answered in the affirmative when asked if he still wanted to retire as a member of the Bills, Getzenberg tweets. Four years remain on the star wideout’s contract, a $24MM-per-year deal agreed to during the 2022 offseason. This 2023 saga was not believed to be contract-related, as Diggs remains in the top five for receiver contracts. Since being traded to the Bills in 2020, Diggs has also drawn the second-most targets (484) in the NFL. That target number nearly matches his five-year Vikings total (534), so it is interesting the ninth-year veteran could be dissatisfied with his role in the Bills’ offense.
The former fifth-round pick led the NFL with 1,535 receiving yards in 2020 and topped 1,200 yards in 2021 and ’22. At the conclusion of the Bills’ divisional-round loss to the Bengals in January, however, Diggs stormed out of the locker room before some coaches had arrived and needed to be brought back. It is not known if Diggs harbored issues with the Bills for months leading up to minicamp or if new concerns cropped up, but all parties are now attempting to move forward.
Buffalo also pursued DeAndre Hopkins this offseason, but a rumor about how the former All-Pro would fit in an offense that goes through Diggs and now includes first-round pick Dalton Kincaid — a tight end expected to see extensive slot work — surfaced soon after the Titans landed the high-profile free agent. Nevertheless, Diggs will prepare for his fourth season anchoring Buffalo’s high-octane attack.