Colts Name Anthony Richardson Starting QB
After one preseason contest, the Colts have seen enough to hand over the reins of their offense to Anthony Richardson. The first-round rookie has officially been named the team’s Week 1 starting quarterback.
Richardson was the main X-factor in the 2023 draft class, having only spent one full season as a starter at the college level. He demonstrated a tantalizing combination of size and athleticism at Florida, but also struggled with accuracy and consistency in the passing game. Still, he was widely viewed as one of the top signal-callers available, and the Colts made it clear in the build-up to the draft that they were intent on securing a franchise quarterback.
That task has proven to be challenging since Andrew Luck‘s retirement, with a number of short-term veteran acquisitions not panning out as hoped. Indianapolis is going young now, though, and their decision to use the No. 4 pick on Richardson led to immediate speculation that he would see the field early and often. Owner Jim Irsay publicly opened the door to today’s decision last month when speaking about Richardson’s need for live game action to acclimate to the NFL level.
Veteran Gardner Minshew signed a one-year deal with a base value of $3.5MM in free agency. That gave the Colts a veteran insurance option and reunited Minshew with Shane Steichen, the Eagles’ former offensive coordinator. The latter is now the head coach of the Colts, and his hiring was based in part on his track record with developing young quarterbacks. Steichen will aim to guide Richardson to a career ascent similar to the one Jalen Hurts has enjoyed early in his career.
Richardson and Minshew split first-team reps at the onset of training camp, but it was the 21-year-old who started the preseason opener against the Bills. Richardson completed seven of 12 pass attempts in limited action, throwing one interception while flashing the potential he possess as a deep-ball thrower. He added seven yards on a pair of rushing attempts, likely a sign of things to come as he demonstrated an ability to produce sizable gains on the ground during his time in college.
Especially if the Jonathan Taylor situation does not reach a resolution ahead of the regular season, Richardson could find himself as a focal point of the Colts’ rushing attack in the beginning of his pro career. In any event, the latter is set to join fellow top-five draftees Bryce Young (Panthers) and C.J. Stroud (Texans) as rookies who will immediately be called into action in September.
Jets Activate RB Breece Hall
One day after making a high-profile addition to their running back corps, the Jets’ backfield is now at full strength. The team announced on Tuesday that Breece Hall has been activated from the PUP list. 
The long-anticipated deal sending Dalvin Cook to New York may have signaled that Hall was not as far along in his recovery as the team hoped. Instead, it simply confirmed the team’s all-in approach for 2023, which will involve a two-pronged approach in the running game. Hall has been expected to suit up for Week 1 throughout the offseason.
The 2022 second-rounder has impressed coaches while doing individual work, adding to the optimism surrounding his ability to return to full health following an ACL tear. That injury ended a promising rookie campaign, one in which Hall averaged 5.8 yards per carry and scored five total touchdowns in seven games. Resuming that level of production should allow him to continue operating as the team’s lead back.
However, the Jets gave Cook $7MM (with the potential for more), making him a pricey backup option. It will be interesting to see how the four-time Pro Bowler is used with Hall now back in the picture. Cook has eclipsed 1,100 rushing yards every year since 2019, averaging over 42 catches per season over that span. His pass-catching role faded to an extent over his final two campaigns with the Vikings, though, and the Jets have a re-vamped array of receivers to begin the Aaron Rodgers era.
Hall, meanwhile, caught 82 passes in three years at Iowa State, then 19 in his shortened rookie season last year. The way in which carries and targets are divided between he and Cook could go a long way in determining the effectiveness of the tandem, and thus New York’s offense as a whole. The competition for snaps and roster security between Zonovan Knight and Michael Carter will also be worth following with Hall now back in the fold.
The latter will continue to rehab while taking part in team drills during the remainder of training camp. Presuming he is green-lit to return for the start of the season, the Jets will have their ideal RB tandem in place ahead of a campaign where the team faces substantial expectations.
Cardinals Activate TE Zach Ertz
AUGUST 15: To no surprise, Ertz has officially been activated, per a team announcement. He can now take part in team drills as he attempts to return to full health in time for Week 1.
AUGUST 14: Zach Ertz saw his 2022 campaign come to an end in November, and he remained sidelined deep into the offseason as a result. The three-time Pro Bowler has now been cleared to return to practice, though, as noted (on Twitter) by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. 
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Garafolo adds, crucially, that Ertz is “on track” to suit up for Week 1. That will be a welcomed development for team and player, given Ertz’s continued production in the desert and Arizona’s need for a healthy offense with quarterback Kyler Murray expected to miss regular season time. The latter will be the only Cardinal on the PUP list once Ertz is officially activated.
Arizona initially believed the worst-case scenario had been avoided when Ertz suffered a knee injury. Further testing revealed ACL and MCL tears, however, setting him up for a lengthy recovery. It came as little surprise that he began training camp on the PUP list, but being cleared now leaves him some time for reps in practice and/or the team’s remaining preseason games to ensure he will be able to take the field when the regular season begins.
The 32-year-old saw his Eagles tenure come to an end when he was dealt to the Cardinals (after a trade agreement with the Bills fall through), and 2022 was Ertz’s first full season in the desert. He posted a 47-406-4 statline in 10 contests, proving he can still be a reliable producer in the passing game. With Arizona set to begin the post-DeAndre Hopkins era at the receiver position, Ertz should be a key contributor as he enters the second year of his $31.65MM Cardinals pact.
The team has a few other options at the TE spot should Ertz not be able to return to the field in time for Week 1. That includes 2022 second-rounder Trey McBride, who assumed a larger role once Ertz went down last year. McBride recorded 265 yards and one touchdown on 29 catches as a rookie, totals he will look to improve on in 2023. With Ertz set to be back in the fold, however, the Cardinals will be at full strength at the position soon.
Giants Will Not Extend S Xavier McKinney In 2023
Xavier McKinney is set to begin the final year of his rookie contract, and a new deal will not be coming until after it expires. Giants general manager Joe Schoen confirmed that the team will let the starting safety play out the 2023 season before discussing a new deal. 
[RELATED: Evaluating Giants’ Offseason]
It was reported last month that no extension talks had taken place, foreshadowing Schoen’s declaration that none will be coming soon. McKinney has become as a key member of New York’s defense, showcasing considerable production (93 tackles, five interceptions in 2021) and emerging as a leader for the unit. Two of his three seasons in the league have been shortened by injuries, however, which will limit his leverage when negotiations commence.
The Giants currently have just under $5.4MM in cap space, the fourth-lowest figure in the league. Given that McKinney is due to carry a cap hit of only $2.67MM in 2023, however, there would be little (if any) immediate upside to working out a multi-year deal with respect to freeing up funds. As a result, the 24-year-old will need to wait until after the season to begin talks on a new agreement keeping him in the Big Apple.
“X is a leader, he was a captain last year, he had the unfortunate incident, but he is a young player with upside,” Schoen said during an appearance on WFAN’s Evan & Tiki program. “We’ll have to see where we are” (h/t Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post).
McKinney was limited to nine regular season games last year due to an ATV accident, though he was able to return in time for the playoffs. The former second-rounder had a down year in terms of coverage statistics and PFF evaluation compared to previous campaigns, which could help explain the Giants’ reticence to make a long-term commitment at this point. New York made multiple attempts to re-sign fellow safety starter Julian Love, but he ultimately went to Seattle on a less lucrative contract.
Seeing McKinney walk next offseason would leave the Giants in need of another replacement on the backend, but Schoen’s remarks make it clear the team would prefer to avoid that scenario. The Alabama product is still in their long-term plans, provided common ground can be found after the season (one in which his market value could change significantly, based on his availability and performance) has been played out.
“We don’t have a lot of cap space to do much more,” Schoen added. “I think our pockets are empty. But he’s a guy who is important to us, that we’d like to be here long term. We’ll see how it plays out through the season. If we can get something done down the road, he’s somebody we’d like to have here.”
Cowboys, Zack Martin Agree To Revised Deal
One of the league’s high-profile holdouts is coming to an end. A deal has been worked out between guard Zack Martin and the Cowboys, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). Martin will now rejoin the team.
Rapoport adds that Martin will receive a raise across the two years remaining on his existing pact. The new contract will see him earn over $18MM per year, which represents an increase of more than $8MM total compared to what he was previously due. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that the compensation in both years is also guaranteed in full (Twitter link). Now, the parties can move forward with the All-Pro’s compensation again falling in line with how he ranks amongst the league’s top linemen. 
Martin had been absent throughout training camp while seeking a new contract or a revision to his existing one to reflect the upward movement in the guard market. The latter scenario, which was always the likelier one, has now played out. The 32-year-old was the league’s top-paid guard at the time his six-year, $84MM pact was signed. With his new agreement in place, Martin will now rank third in the league in annual compensation behind Chris Lindstrom and Quenton Nelson, the only guards to reach the $20MM-per-year plateau.
The CBA calls for mandatory daily fines of $50K for players who choose to remain absent from their team’s training camps. As a result, Martin has accrued nearly $1MM in penalties. Given the nature of his re-worked pact, though, his decision has proven to be one which will yield a net gain. Having delivered another Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro performance in 2022, the Notre Dame alum held notable leverage in angling for a bump in pay.
However, owner Jerry Jones made repeated remarks concerning the Cowboys’ lack of a need to address Martin’s wish for a raise, given the term remaining on his deal. Dallas does, as Jones has noted during this saga, have a number of other financial priorities in the short- and intermediate-term future. With no new years being tacked onto the Martin accord, though, the team should still have considerable flexibility moving forward as it eyes new deals for the likes of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons in the coming year or two. Schefter’s colleague Todd Archer tweets that negotiations picked up over the past 10 days, with Martin and Jones talking directly as part of the process. Both sides can now put this episode behind them.
With Martin back in the fold, offensive line should be a source of strength for the Cowboys in 2023, particularly if fellow All-Pro Tyron Smith can remain healthy. That pair, along with 2022 first-rounder Tyler Smith, will give Dallas flexibility and high-level play along the offensive front if they can repeat their previous performances. In Martin’s case, doing so will prove today’s investment to be a worthwhile one on the team’s part.
The Martin holdout has now come to a close, but others remain in the form of Nick Bosa (49ers) and Chris Jones (Chiefs). Both defenders are seeking long-term deals from their respective teams in the wake of continued top-end production, while accumulating daily fines in the process. It will be interesting to see if the Martin agreement provides a blueprint for a resolution to those cases. In any event, the Cowboys can proceed with the remainder of the offseason at full strength.
Colts Sign S Ronnie Harrison
5:07pm: Harrison has a deal in place with the Colts, according to the team. The sixth-year vet will return to the AFC South to help Indianapolis’ Blackmon-led safety corps.
8:56am: The Colts could be nearing a depth addition to their secondary. Veteran safety Ronnie Harrison is set to visit Indianapolis today, reports Jordan Schultz of the Score (Twitter link). 
Harrison was a third-round pick of the Jaguars in 2018, but he only spent two seasons with the team. After playing 28 games (including 22 starts) in Jacksonville, he was dealt to Cleveland just before the 2020 campaign. That began a three-year Browns stint in which Harrison was a key contributor on the backend.
The 26-year-old started 23 contests in Cleveland, seeing the most playing time in 2021. Harrison logged a 75% snap share that season, and his play earned him a one-year re-up last April. That pact came in spite of the continued presence of Grant Delpit and John Johnson at the safety spot, and that pair ate into Harrison’s role. The latter saw a higher usage rate on special teams than defense in 2022.
Harrison has 223 tackles, five interceptions and 5.5 sacks to his name. With the exception of 2021 (where he surrendered six touchdowns as the nearest defender), the Alabama product has also generally posted strong coverage statistics. That would make him at least a solid rotational option for a Colts team which lost Rodney McLeod to the Browns in free agency.
Indianapolis has Julian Blackmon in place as a safety starter, and McLeod’s departure should open the door to 2022 third-rounder Nick Cross taking on a larger workload. Harrison would give the Colts a young trio at the position if his visit were to produce a deal, but his experience could help land him another short-team deal with the upside to be an effective addition for the team. Indianapolis currently has just over $19MM in cap space, so they could comfortably afford to take a flier on Harrison.
Saints To Sign RB Darrel Williams
5:00pm: The Saints have signed Williams, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football (Twitter link). Williams should have a pass-catching role early in the season in particular as he looks to put together a healthy campaign and in doing so, boost his free agent value. He will also provide insurance against Miller’s injury lasting longer than expected.
12:05pm: With the running back position in flux at the moment, the Saints are eyeing a depth addition. Darrel Williams is set to work out with New Orleans today, per Jordan Schultz of the Score (Twitter link). 
Williams spent his first four campaigns in Kansas City, finding himself behind a number of different contributors on the depth chart over that span. In 2021, however, he saw a surge in playing time and recorded the only seven starts of his career. The 28-year-old parlayed that into a notable uptick in production with 558 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, coupled with another 452 yards and two scores through the air.
The former UDFA signed with the Cardinals last year to serve as James Conner‘s pass-catching backup. Williams was limited to just six games, however, and he received only 21 carries in Arizona. With a number of other backs still on the open market, it comes as no surprise that he has not been able to land a deal despite training camps and the preseason being well underway.
New Orleans is expected to pursue help at the position, though, as Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com tweets. Williams, a Marrero, Louisiana native and LSU alum, could provide depth in a backfield which will be without Alvin Kamara for the first three weeks of the season due to suspension and which lost Eno Benjamin for the year to an Achilles tear. The Saints appeared poised to sign Kareem Hunt last week, but his visit did not result in a deal being signed.
With Kamara temporarily out of the picture, much of the Saints’ backfield responsibilities will fall to free agent signing Jamaal Williams and third-round rookie Kendre Miller. The latter suffered an injury scare during the team’s preseason win on Sunday, threatening to thin out the roster further at the RB spot. Testing confirmed Miller suffered a knee sprain, but surgery will not be required and recovering in time for Week 1 is still in play at this point (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network).
Even if Miller is able to suit up at the start of the season, a vacancy exists which Williams could fill if his visit convinces the Saints to add him. As the Hunt workout demonstrated, New Orleans is not prepared to make a sizable commitment in terms of guaranteed money for a depth addition to the backfield. It will be interesting to see if Williams’ case produces a different result than Hunt’s.
Buccaneers C Ryan Jensen Not Likely To Be Ready For Regular Season?
Earlier this month, Ryan Jensen indicated he has healed in full after missing the entire 2022 regular season with a trio of ligament tears in his knee. The Buccaneers center has resumed individual work since then, but he has yet to take part in team drills. 
Jensen – who declined to undergo surgery and returned in time for the postseason – has kept a part-time schedule so far as he slowly makes his way back to a full workload. Since he has been absent from regular practices, however, head coach Todd Bowles acknowledged that the Pro Bowler is not in consideration for Week 1 usage at this point.
“When we go into the season, I don’t think we’re going to have anybody if they haven’t practiced,” Bowles said (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, on Twitter). “You always prepare if somebody gets hurt or somebody’s gonna stay hurt, so we prepare that way every day so that hasn’t changed.”
When at full health, Jensen will be a critical member of the Buccaneers’ O-line, a unit which has seen a number of changes this offseason. The 32-year-old has been a dependable full-time starter since his arrival in free agency in 2018. A lengthy ramp-up period could be needed for Jensen to receive enough practice reps to be green-lit for a return to game action. With two years remaining on his contract at cap hits of $5.9MM and $17.3MM, a cautious approach from the team would come as no surprise.
With Jensen not in the picture (for the time being), Stroud notes that the Week 1 starting center competition will come down to Robert Hainsey and Nick Leverett (Twitter link). The former started all 17 regular season games at center in Jensen’s absence last season, while the latter logged 10 starts at left guard. Bowles said a final decision on the matter will likely not be made until after the preseason has ended. By that point, it will be interesting to see how much progress Jensen will have made in his ongoing recovery process.
Ravens Activate RB J.K. Dobbins
J.K. Dobbins is eligible to take part in his first team activities of the offseason. The Ravens’ lead back has been activated from the PUP list today, per a team announcement. 
Dobbins missed OTAs and minicamp while dealing with an undefined injury and apparent tension over his contract status. He was also absent from the first 14 practices of training camp and the team’s record-extending 24th consecutive preseason win on Saturday, giving him plenty of ground to make up with respect to acclimating to new OC Todd Monken‘s scheme. With Dobbins activated, Baltimore does not have any remaining players on the PUP list.
A major knee injury cost Dobbins the entire 2021 season and the beginning of the following campaign. He returned for a four-game stretch in 2022, but then underwent a cleanup procedure to recover in full. After seeing the field following the second surgery, the 24-year-old showed the efficiency which was present before the injury, something which has helped put him on the extension radar.
Head coach John Harbaugh has remained optimistic that Dobbins would return to Ravens camp shortly, something which could help contract talks yield progress. An extension has been discussed recently, but nothing is considered imminent. The signficant missed time in the Ohio State alum’s career serves as an obvious factor working against him with respect to securing a multi-year commitment from the Ravens.
More generally, the running back market has skewed heavily in favor of teams over players recently, as the actions by a number of the league’s top producers at the position have alluded to throughout the offseason. Baltimore has a number of other options in the running game aside from Dobbins, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Quarterback Lamar Jackson can be expected to remain a frequent runner despite the offensive coordinator change, while Gus Edwards, Justice Hill and Melvin Gordon are all on the books as well for 2023.
Limited usage relative to other lead backs could thus remain an element of Dobbins’ upcoming season. That, in turn, would also likely hurt his production and subsequent free agent value, though operating as part of a committee could have long-term benefits for the former second-rounder. In the immediate future, Dobbins will make a welcomed return to the fold with the regular season not far away.
Vikings RT Brian O’Neill Returns To Practice
Brian O’Neill missed time due to injury for the first time in his career last season, but his Week 1 availability for the coming campaign has seen an encouraging development. The Vikings’ longtime right tackle starter participated in team drills for the first time this offseason on Sunday. 
O’Neill suffered a partial Achilles tear in January, ending his season and setting up a long recovery schedule. He remained sidelined for much of the offseason until taking part in individual drills. He has now progressed to team practices, a notable milestone on his path toward a return to the lineup. Further progress needs to be made for him to reach 100% health, however.
“I’m really excited. I’m just trying to follow the plan that they’ve got for me and starting to shake some rust off,” the 27-year-old said, via Ellis Williams and Craig Peters of the team’s website. “We’re right on schedule, right where we want to be. They’ve done a great job. We’re not there yet but will be.”
The Pro Bowler has been a mainstay on Minnesota’s O-line throughout his career, starting all but four of his 79 career games. He eclipsed 1,000 snaps in 2022 despite missing the regular season finale, and he earned a career-high PFF grade of 82.7. That ranked eighth out of 71 qualified tackles, demonstrating the Pitt alum’s value to the Vikings up front. Being recovered in full in time for the start of the regular season would provide a notable boost to the team’s offense.
Swing man Oli Udoh filled in for O’Neill during the latter’s absence, which helped earn him a new deal with the Vikings this offseason. The latter, meanwhile, is in the midst of a five-year, $92.5MM extension which has him on the books through 2026. Returning to his pre-injury form would help O’Neil and the Vikings over both the short- and long-term future, and the weekend marked a notable step in that direction.