Titans Release OL Jamarco Jones
The right tackle situation in Tennessee remains in flux, with one competitor for the starting role being let go. The Titans announced on Thursday that Jamarco Jones has been released. 
The 27-year-old was involved in a pair of scuffles during training camp practices this week, as noted (on Twitter) by ESPN’s Turron Davenport. Jones took part in a confrontation with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons on Tuesday, then executed a crackback block earlier today. The dust-ups caused by his actions will see his time in Nashville cut short with one year remaining on his contract.
Jones was due $2.45MM this season, but moving on post-June 1 will allow the Titans to see $2MM in cap savings. That financial benefit will be balanced against the loss of a potential right tackle starter to open the season. The gambling suspension handed down to Nicholas Petit-Frere will leave him unavailable for the first six weeks of the campaign. Jones, who started seven of his 36 career games with the Seahawks, had been receiving first-team reps during practice as a contender to fill in for Petit-Frere in the short term.
That will no longer be the case, but Tennessee does have recent signing Chris Hubbard available to win the RT job. The former Steeler and Brown could have a clear path to the starting spot with first-round rookie Peter Skoronski being used at guard and Jones now no longer in the picture. The latter will need to move quickly to find a new home with training camps well underway.
Jones did not play in 2022, after spending much of the season on IR. That missed action, coupled with the reason for his Titans release, will surely hinder his market as a free agent. Finding an opportunity as a swing tackle will likely be the best-case scenario for the former fifth-rounder. The Titans, meanwhile, will move forward with what they hope will be more orderly practice sessions and a sufficient number of contingences regarding their offensive line situation.
Broncos To Waive WR KJ Hamler
AUGUST 1: Hamler is expected to miss around a month, per Sean Payton. While that could open the door to a reunion before the season, the new Broncos HC indicated it will likely take a few weeks for the young wide receiver to ramp up after the time away. Hamler also spent the offseason rehabbing a torn pectoral muscle he sustained early this year.
JULY 31: On a day when one Broncos wideout appeared to suffer a second straight season-ending injury, more unfortunate news surfaced concerning another member of the unit. KJ Hamler provided an update on his latest ailment, one which will lead to at least a temporary departure from the team. 
[RELATED: Tim Patrick Believed To Have Torn Achilles]
Denver will waive Hamler with a non-football illness designation, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link). The move will not mark a permanent separation with the former second-rounder, but rather a procedural transaction which will open up a roster spot and keep the door open to a return at some point during the season. Placing Hamler on the reserve/NFI list would have ended his season.
The Penn State product revealed (via Garafolo, on Twitter) on Monday that he is dealing with pericarditis, a heart condition which will be treated with medication rather than surgery. The recovery timeline is not expected to sideline him for the season, with Garafolo noting Hamler should miss “weeks, not months.” That should allow him to return at some point in the 2023 campaign, one of vital importance for him.
Hamler has faced numerous injury troubles during his three-year Broncos tenure. The 24-year-old played 13 games as a rookie, but has managed to suit up for only 10 after that. His 14.8 yards per catch average point to his abilities as a deep threat, though his receiving totals (42 catches, 620 yards, three touchdowns) are a product of a very small sample size. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, a healthy and productive season would do wonders for Hamler’s future in Denver or elsewhere.
The Broncos have Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton at the top of their WR depth chart, one which will be thin in the absence of Hamler and veteran Tim Patrick. Second-round rookie Marvin Mims could find himself in a starting role right away, something the team likely accounted for knowing the history of availability issues for Patrick and Hamler.
“I will be back on the field — better and stronger than ever — as soon as possible this season,” the latter’s Instagram post on his situation reads in part. “I feel great physically and this is frustrating for me to deal with… This is not farewell. This is not a goodbye. This is a see you soon as I take a break for my health.”
Raiders To Release TE O.J. Howard
For the second straight summer, O.J. Howard has seen his spell with a new team come to an abrupt end. The veteran tight end is being released by the Raiders, as noted by Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal (Twitter link). 
Howard joined the Raiders in March, not long after the trade which sent Darren Waller to the Giants. The latter’s departure left a pass-catching role available for Howard, but his grip on a final roster spot was always a tenuous one. The former first-rounder underwhelmed in his five years with the Buccaneers, and his career has seen him bounce around the AFC since then.
Howard joined the Bills in 2022, but his struggles during training camp and the preseason left his roster spot in serious jeopardy. Buffalo made him one of their final cuts, marking a disappointing end to his Bills tenure after landing a $5MM deal in free agency. He spent this past season with the Texans, making 10 receptions in 13 games, setting up his Raiders deal.
Vegas lost not only Waller but also Foster Moreau this offseason, despite the team’s efforts to retain the latter in free agency. Plenty of TE snaps are thus up for grabs this year, but instead of Howard the Raiders will look to their other options at the position. That includes second-round rookie Michael Mayer, who was one of the headliners of a celebrated tight class in this year’s draft. The Notre Dame product was already in line for a notable role with Howard in the fold, but his release will make that even more likely.
The Raiders also have free agent signing Austin Hooper and former UDFA Jesper Horsted available as depth options with Howard no longer in the picture. The latter will again look to latch onto a roster late in the offseason as he tries to find a long-term home, while Vegas’ new-look offense will move forward with their efforts to sort out the TE pecking order.
Bonsignore also tweets that quarterback Chase Garbers has been re-signed. The 24-year-old found himself on and off the Raiders’ practice squad last season, and he was released one week ago as part of the team’s ongoing summer moves. He will again look to earn himself either a practice squad spot in Vegas or a look from another team following roster cuts.
Vikings Explored Edge Rush Market Before Danielle Hunter Deal
The Vikings’ defensive front will look significantly different in 2023 compared to last season, with Dalvin Tomlinson having departed in free agency and Za’Darius Smith being traded. Danielle Hunter will remain a key member of the unit for at least one more year, though, having agreed to a new revised contract over the weekend. 
That re-worked pact will see the three-time Pro Bowler earn $17MM guaranteed, representing a signficant raise from the $5.5MM he was originally due on the final year of his pact. The agreement should be an effective compromise for team and player, but the situation could have turned out much differently.
Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network reports that Minnesota was exploring the edge rush market prior to the Hunter deal being finalized. Conversations with other teams took place, he adds, meaning the Vikings were eyeing a trade rather than a free agent deal with one of several experienced pass-rushers who still find themselves on the market. The position is one without a clear future beyond 2023 for Minnesota, a team which has moved on from a number of accomplished (but pricey) veterans this offseason.
Hunter – who was named in trade rumors repeatedly in recent months – is set to hit free agency at the end of the season, as is fellow starter Marcus Davenport. The former Saints first-rounder inked a $13MM deal in an aim to put together another healthy campaign and boost his market. D.J. Wonnum, meanwhile, is also entering the final year of his rookie contract. All three members of that trio could thus be gone by the start of the 2024 campaign.
Given the efforts made by Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to clear up financial flexibility this offseason, it comes as little surprise that a Hunter replacement for the short- and, potentially, long-term was on the team’s radar. The Vikings have parted ways with the likes of Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen and Eric Kendricks in addition to Tomlinson and Smith, while quarterback Kirk Cousins‘ future beyond 2023 is in the air. If Hunter has his way, though, he will remain with the team for the foreseeable future.
The 28-year-old said “I want to be a Viking forever” when asked about his plans following the 2023 season (Twitter link via Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press). The revised contract he agreed to includes a tag prohibiting Minnesota from placing the franchise or transition tag on him, so negotiating a new deal will be necessary for that wish to be granted. Given the team’s actions regarding his position, though, it will be worth watching how willing they are to make another long-term commitment.
TE Jimmy Graham Addresses Saints Reunion
Jimmy Graham‘s career appeared to be over when he sat out the 2022 campaign, but he began the comeback process last week when he signed a deal with the Saints. That reunion allowed the All-Pro tight end to return to where his career began, something he said was necessary for him to avoid retirement. 
Graham signed for $1.3MM (just over the veteran minimum) to compete for a spot on New Orleans’ 53-man roster out of training gamp. That deal marked the culmination of a lengthy courtship process on the team’s part. The Saints discussed a reunion with Graham multiple times, including last year, as noted by ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. Their most recent efforts will allow the 36-year-old the opportunity to put off retirement for the time being.
“I had a couple of teams that were reaching out, all teams that made the playoffs,” Graham said, via Terrell. “I just couldn’t see myself wearing another jersey again. I just wanted, hopefully, if there was ever another opportunity to come back home, to make it happen. It did, and I’m here now… I talked to [agent] Jimmy Sexton and just made it clear if I don’t retire as a Saint, then I wasn’t going to play again.”
Graham spent his first five years in New Orleans, a stretch which included his two most productive campaigns (2011 and 2013). He earned three Pro Bowl nods and his lone first-team All-Pro acclaim with the Saints, before being traded to the Seahawks in 2015. The former third-rounder spent three years in Seattle before playing two years each with the Packers and Bears.
The end of his stint in Chicago appeared to mark the conclusion of Graham’s playing career, but mutual interest with the Saints obviously remained through his idle 2022 season. The team has a number of other options at the position (including Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill), so Graham will need to demonstrate a continued ability to produce in the red zone in particular to turn his hopes of a Saints reunion into a reality. A strong season could help the team return to the playoffs, while allowing him to finish his career where it started.
Latest On Von Miller
The Bills’ first padded practice took place on Monday, giving safety Damar Hamlin the opportunity to reach another checkpoint in his encouraging recovery process. It also marked an chance for the team to update the status of their edge rushing anchor. 
Von Miller remains on the PUP list while he continues to rehab the ACL tear which ended his debut season in Buffalo. The 34-year-old has provided optimism on the matter of his Week 1 availability on multiple occasions this offseason, indicating that he feels he will be recovered in full by the season opener. General manager Brandon Beane is also encouraged by Miller’s progress.
Beane said there is “definitely a possibility” the future Hall of Famer will be in the lineup for Week 1 when speaking to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (h/t NFL.com). He cautioned, however, that the team is “not quite there” with respect to deciding on how to proceed with Miller, who was limited to 11 games last season. The latter is on the active/PUP list, meaning he can be activated at any time during training camp.
Miller is familiar with ACL recoveries, having gone through the same process during his highly-decorated Broncos tenure. He was able to return to All-Pro form the first time, and doing so again would be crucial to the Bills’ short- and long-term success. The eight-time Pro Bowler is entering the second season of his six-year, $120MM deal signed last offseason, and he will be the key member of Buffalo’s pass-rushing unit upon return.
A cautious approach with Miller (who earlier in the offseason labeled Week 6 as the latest point at which he would make his 2023 debut) would come as little surprise given his importance, as well as the team’s depth on the edge. Buffalo signed Leonard Floyd last month in a deal which was agreed to independent of Miller’s status. The former will join Gregory Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa and Carlos Basham Jr. as pass-rushing options to compliment Miller when he is healthy. If things stay on their current course, Buffalo could have a full array of edge defenders available when the season kicks off.
Broncos’ Tim Patrick Suffers Torn Achilles
5:55pm: Patrick has indeed suffered a complete tear of the Achilles, per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver (via Twitter). The injury will knock Patrick out for the entire 2023 campaign.
1:50pm: Tim Patrick was expected to play a significant role in the Broncos’ offense this year after missing all of last season. Instead, the veteran wideout appears to have suffered another massive injury. 
The 29-year-old is believed to have suffered a torn Achilles, head coach Sean Payton said on Monday (Twitter link via NFL Network’s James Palmer). If that does turn out to be the case, it will mark a crushing blow for Patrick and the second consecutive year in which he loses a campaign to a major injury.
The former UDFA tore his ACL almost exactly one year ago, and he was sidelined for the 2022 season as a result. That injury occurred in his right leg, while this latest one affects his left. Patrick was carted off the field during practice, and he was seen on crutches when entering the locker room. At a minimum, he could be facing another extended absence to start the year, which would further delay his attempt to return to his pre-injury form.
Patrick put up almost identical statlines in 2020 and 2021, averaging 52 catches and 738 yards per season. He scored 11 touchdowns over that span, making him a full-time starter alongside Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton. Each of the latter two were mentioned frequently in trade talks this offseason, but the team has remained insistent that they will not be moved. Missing Patrick for, potentially, another full season would add to Jeudy and Sutton’s workloads in a passing attack which desperately needs improvement from last year.
The Broncos made a slight trade up the board to select Marvin Mims with their top pick in this year’s draft, giving them another young pass-catcher. Missing Patrick – along with KJ Hamler, who has battled injuries throughout his career and is currently on the NFI list – for any extended stretch could thrust Mims into an immediate starting role. Growing pains during his rookie season could hinder the effectiveness of Denver’s offense during Sean Payton‘s first year at the helm.
Further evaluation will be needed to determine if Patrick has been faced with another lengthy rehab process. If that does turn out to be the case, his future with the team could be put in doubt. The Utah product is due $5.5MM in guaranteed money this season, but none of his compensation in 2024 (the final year of his deal) is guaranteed. Patrick is set to count for just over $11MM in cap space this year, though an IR stay would obviously change the Broncos’ financial outlook at the receiver spot.
Cowboys RB Ronald Jones Issued Two-Game Suspension
The Cowboys’ running back depth chart will be thinned out to begin the season. Ronald Jones received a two-game suspension on Monday, as noted (on Twitter) by ESPN’s Field Yates. 
The NFL announced that the ban was handed down due to a PED violation. That will cost Jones two weeks of pay, and make him ineligible to join Dallas’ active roster until Week 3. He is able to remain with the team during practices and the preseason, though today’s news will certainly not help his chances of surviving roster cuts in advance of the season.
The 25-year-old signed a one-year deal not long after Ezekiel Elliott was released. That opened the door to the former earning the backup role behind Tony Pollard, but Jones saw very limited usage in 2022. He spent the season with the Chiefs, receiving only 18 total carries. Despite dressing for Kansas City’s Super Bowl victory, he was not used during the title game. That hurt his value on the open market, one which has seen a number of experienced backs struggle to find long-term commitments.
The former second-rounder spent his first four seasons in Tampa Bay, but he never saw more than 192 carries in a single season. His largest workload came in 2020, when he posted career-highs in rushing yards (978), touchdowns (seven) and efficiency (5.1 yards per carry). His 309 receiving yards from the previous campaign demonstrated his abilities as a pass-catcher, but Leonard Fournette operated as the Buccaneers’ lead back for each of the past two seasons.
The (at least temporary) loss of Jones will test Dallas’ backfield depth. Pollard – who received the $10.1MM franchise tag after turning down at least one multi-year offer from the team – is in line to operate as the focal point of the Cowboys’ ground game. Not much experience is in place behind, him, though, and sixth-round rookie Deuce Vaughn could be in line for a notable role. Of course, a signing could come about as a result of today’s news.
A slew of veteran backs are still on the open market, including Elliott (with whom a Cowboys reunion has not been entirely ruled out), Fournette, Kareem Hunt and J.D. McKissic. How much interest Dallas shows in making a move at the RB spot will be worth watching in the coming days.
Dolphins Activate LT Terron Armstead From PUP List
Terron Armstead‘s stint on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list has been short-lived. The Dolphins left tackle was activated on Monday, as noted by a team announcement.
Head coach Mike McDaniel had expressed confidence that Armstead would be cleared to return to practice shortly after arriving at camp, and his activation will be a welcomed sign given his importance to the team’s offensive line. The former Saints mainstay delivered a strong season in 2022, his first with the Dolphins after signing a five-year, $75MM deal with Miami.
Injuries have been a mainstay in Armstead’s career, however, and that continued last season. A pectoral injury was one of many ailments the former third-rounder dealt with, and he was limited to 13 regular season games played. He was able to suit up for Miami’s playoff loss, though, and he earned a fourth career Pro Bowl nod. His health and performance will play a vital role in determining the Dolphins’ ability to repeat their success of last season.
Armstead underwent a cleanup procedure on his knee during the offseason, McDaniel noted. His recovery from that surgery led to his placement on the PUP list last week, and he did not take the field today. Still, his activation means he has been cleared to return, and he will have plenty of practice time in the build-up to his 11th NFL campaign and second in South Beach.
Miami restructured the contracts of many of their highest-paid players this offseason. That included re-working Armstead’s deal, and as a result his 2023 cap hit will be just over $9.2MM. His impact on the team’s capsheet will jump to $20.6MM in each of the three campaigns after that, however, so continued strong play will be vital for team and player for the foreseeable future. In the immediate term, though, the Dolphins’ top lineman is back in place on the blindside.
Panthers To Sign LB Deion Jones
2:28pm: Jones’ visit has produced an agreement. He will sign a one-year deal with the Panthers, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). Jones will return to the NFC South while attempting to remain healthy and boost his free agent value ahead of next offseason.
12:12pm: One of the top remaining free agent linebackers is set to meet with a potential new team. Deion Jones will visit the Panthers later today, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). 
Jones is quite familiar with the NFC South, having spent the first six-plus years of his career in Atlanta. He showcased his playmaking skills early in his career, earning his lone Pro Bowl nod in 2017 and remaining productive through most of his Falcons tenure. 2022 was a year in which the team looked to move on from many of its largest financial commitments, though, and an injured Jones was dealt to the Browns in October.
The 28-year-old agreed to remove the final year of his contract upon arrival in Cleveland, making his brief Browns stint an audition ahead of free agency. Jones joined a team which suffered numerous season-ending injuries at the LB spot, but he still saw the field for only 59% of defensive snaps – by far the lowest total of his career. He racked up 44 tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception during 11 games in Cleveland.
To date, the only team other than the Panthers known to have hosted Jones was the Giants, having done so in April. The former second-rounder remains unsigned well into training camp, but he could serve in at least a rotational capacity in his next home while attempting to rebuild his value. Carolina could stand to add depth at the second level.
The Panthers have Shaq Thompson – who re-did his deal this offseason to keep him on the books through 2024 – and Frankie Luvu at the top of their LB depth chart. The latter is entering a contract year, and the team is lacking experienced depth options aside from Kamu Grugier-Hill. Jones, who has eclipsed 100 tackles five times in his career, could add a proven playmaker to the mix.
With more than $20.5MM in cap space, Carolina is in better financial shape than most teams with respect to adding free agents. Some of that total could be aimed at acquiring an edge rusher, something the team was connected to earlier in the offseason. The nature of Jones’ visit will influence the Panthers’ interest as he seeks a deal ahead of the 2023 campaign.