Kenny Clark Underwent Offseason Foot Surgery
Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark is only participating in individual drills during OTAs as he recovers from surgery, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.
Clark said he went under the knife in January to correct issues with his right toe, specifically a bunion and bone spurs that hampered him throughout the season. The 29-year-old’s foot got caught on the turf at Arena Corinthians in Brazil, where the Packers opened the regular season. He still started every game, but he was not the same disruptive force that earned two Pro Bowl nods in the preceding three seasons.
After Week 1, Clark blasted the field conditions in Brazil, per Demovsky, complaining about “holes in the ground” and calling it a “tough surface to play on.” He held back when asked about the same topic on Tuesday after receiving backlash for his September comments.
“I ain’t going to answer that question,” Clark said. “I got all the Brazilians on me.”
Despite dealing with a toe injury all year, Clark led the Packers defensive line in snaps, though his 63% snap share was his lowest since his rookie year. So was his production; his 37 total tackles and one sack were career-lows outside of his 2016 rookie year.
Clark admitted that the injury hindered him last season – “you’re taking every step and your toe is busted,” he said (via USA Today’s Ryan Wood) – but expressed optimism about a return to form in 2025.
Steelers TE Donald Parham Out For Season After Torn Achilles
JUNE 5: Parham has officially been placed on injured reserve. As a result, his season is over. Parham will hit free agency next spring with his value having taken a notable hit.
JUNE 3: Steelers tight end Donald Parham will likely miss the entire 2025 season after suffering a torn Achilles in OTAs, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The former Charger signed with the Steelers in February on a one-year deal for the veteran minimum. He was expected to slot in as tight end depth behind starter Pat Freiermuth, but will now spend the season on the sidelines, leaving Pittsburgh thin at the position.
The Steelers only have two other tight ends with any NFL experience: 2023 third-rounder Darnell Washington and 2022 sixth-rounder Connor Heyward. Both have primarily served as blockers in the NFL – Heyward as a hybrid TE/FB and Washington as a jumbo-sized inline blocker – though the latter showed up at OTAs 10 pounds lighter, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show. Pittsburgh’s undrafted rookie tight ends, DJ Thomas-Jones and J.J. Galbreath, will now have the opportunity to make a strong impression this summer and push for a roster spot.
Parham’s injury could also intensify the Steelers’ renewed pursuit of Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith. Pittsburgh was already looking to add an offensive playmaker before the season and now has an even stronger need at tight end.
In the event that Smith stays in Miami, the Steelers may have to pivot to a veteran free agent. MyCole Pruitt logged 271 snaps in Arthur Smith‘s offense last year, and 19-year veteran Marcedes Lewis recently revealed that he wants to sign with a new team for the 2025 season.
Parham, meanwhile, won’t see the field for a second consecutive season. After four years as a rotational option with the Chargers, he was released last August during final roster cuts. He landed on the Broncos’ practice squad, but was not elevated a single time during the regular season.
Steelers’ T.J. Watt Expected To Sign Extension Before Week 1
The Steelers are continuing extension talks with T.J. Watt, and according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the four-time All-Pro is expected to put pen to paper before the regular season begins in September.
Watt has yet to attend Pittsburgh’s OTAs as he awaits a new contract. The team reportedly submitted an offer earlier this week, but Watt seems to be pursuing a stronger deal after an explosion in edge rusher pay this offseason. Maxx Crosby got $35.5MM per year from the Raiders in March, and a few days later, Myles Garrett‘s extension with the Browns reset the market with a $40MM APY.
Watt’s current contract — one agreed to days before the 2021 season — is worth just over $28MM per year, so he should be in line for a significant raise after two consecutive top-five finishes in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He will turn 31 during the 2025 season, which could raise age concerns in Pittsburgh, but Garrett is only a year younger with 3.5 fewer sacks since 2023. Watt has also been durable despite a high snap share; he has started 44 straight regular-season games dating back to 2022, though an MCL sprain at the end of the 2023 season sidelined him for the playoffs.
The 2017 first-round pick has been one of the league’s best pass rushers for his entire career, including a 22.5-sack performance in 2021 that tied Michael Strahan‘s single-season record. Watt’s 31.5 sacks over the last two years trail only Trey Hendrickson, who is at an impasse in his own extension negotiations with the Bengals. Hendrickson is also entering his age-31 season but took longer to reach Watt’s level of elite production. If one of the two can agree to new terms with their team, it might clarify the market and lead to a resolution for the other.
Another consideration for Watt is D.K. Metcalf‘s four-year, $132MM contract, which surpassed the future Hall of Fame OLB’s current deal to set new franchise records in per-year and total money. The current edge rusher market should allow Watt to beat Metcalf’s $33MM APY, but setting a new high in total money will require a four-year deal though Watt’s age-35 season in 2029.
As Dulac notes, edge rusher production tends to drop after age 30, so guarantees will be a sticking point in negotiations. The Steelers typically shy away from post-Year 1 guarantees, but they made an exception for Watt on his current contract. Watt’s 2021 extension included a team-record $80MM in fully guaranteed money with guaranteed salaries in 2022 and 2023. That will set a precedent for similar terms on an extension that would guarantee Watt’s salary in 2026 and 2027. Ultimately, the two sides’ ability to reach an agreement will likely come down to the Steelers’ willingness to pay Watt as an elite edge rusher for the rest of his career.
Mike Macdonald Affirms Sam Darnold As Seahawks’ Starter
Despite a top-10 finish in the 2024 MVP race, doubts surrounding Sam Darnold‘s future as a starter have persisted into his tenure in Seattle. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald put an end to those doubts on Tuesday, emphatically shooting down a question about another quarterback earning the starting job. 
“No, you guys are crazy,” said Macdonald on Seattle Sports 710-AM (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson). “I respect that you’ve got to ask it, but it’s just a crazy question. It’s just not going to happen. Sam’s our starting quarterback. We love him. He’s doing a tremendous job.”
Darnold struggled at the start of practice on Monday, per Henderson, throwing two interceptions within the span of three plays and holding onto the ball for too long behind the line of scrimmage. The veteran did turn things around as practice went on and, reportedly, bested the defense on some goal line reps. Those early mistakes did not seem to concern Macdonald, though. “We’ve got time. It’s June 3,” he said. “They’re going to get plenty of reps. We’ll get those things fixed.”
Darnold came to Seattle on a three-year, $105MM contract, looking to fill the shoes left vacant by another bust-turned-Pro Bowler, Geno Smith, traded away just days earlier. The only competition Darnold faces for the starting gig is returning backup Drew Lock and rookie third-round pick Jalen Milroe, a prospect widely seen as a developmental project with outstanding athleticism.
The use of a third-round pick on a quarterback so soon after signing your new starter could certainly have ruffled some feathers, but Macdonald made sure to avoid the awkwardness we’ve seen in situations past, like in Baltimore with Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson or in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love. The head coach made sure to communicate with Darnold about their intentions to take a younger prospect who could impact the offense in a lot of ways.
While the current setup shows similarities to when a rookie Russell Wilson won the Seahawks starting job as a third-round rookie over free agent addition Matt Flynn (2012), Flynn never displayed a full season of talent as Darnold did last year. Macdonald has instead said that the plan is for Milroe “to play a few plays a game in specialty packages,” while Darnold will “still get well over 90% of the snaps.”
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
RB J.K. Dobbins To Visit Broncos
Former Chargers and Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins is meeting with the Broncos this week, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He will have dinner with Denver’s coaching staff tonight with a visit to the team’s facility scheduled for Thursday.
Dobbins finished second in Comeback Player of the Year voting as a Charger in 2024, his return to the field after injuries derailed the start of his career in Baltimore. The 2020 second-round pick averaged 6.0 yards per carry as a rookie but only played nine games over the next three seasons due to an ACL tear in 2021 and an Achilles tear in 2023. He then signed with Chargers last offseason to reunite with Greg Roman (and a slew of other former Ravens) in Los Angeles.
Last year, Dobbins ranked 10th in yards per game (69.6) and 13th in yards per carry (4.6) among qualified running backs, though his 42.6% success rate was the third-lowest in that same group. Crucially, he finished the season healthy; he landed on injured reserve with an MCL sprain but recovered within the four-week minimum and started the team’s last three games (including the playoffs).
The Chargers declined to re-sign Dobbins after the season but placed the little-used UFA tender on him when he remained unsigned after the draft. This week’s visit to Denver is the first reported interest in Dobbins this offseason and could lead to a bigger payday than the $1.1MM he stands to earn in Los Angeles.
The 26-year-old Dobbins would bring a veteran presence to a Broncos running back room that lacks proven NFL experience after the departure of Javonte Williams this offseason. Denver drafted R.J. Harvey in the second round to help fill the void, but his undersized frame and lack of pass-blocking chops will likely keep him from being a three-down bellcow. The team’s other ballcarriers – Audric Estime, Jaleel McLaughlin, Blake Watson, and Tyler Badie – have just 281 career carries between them. Dobbins has 429, including 195 in 2024 alone.
If the Broncos sign Dobbins, it may be an indication that head coach Sean Payton will be taking a committee approach to his backfield this season. Harvey’s status as a second-rounder should lead to plenty of touches, and McLaughlin — a 2023 UDFA — has carved out a rotational role over the last two years. Payton also promised more action for Estime, who saw double-digit carries just twice as a rookie.
“He’s a back that requires enough touches,” said Payton of Estime during OTAs (via NFL.com’s Grant Gordon). “He’s going to get those opportunities.”
The Broncos would also have to find a way to fit Dobbins into the picture, a topic that will likely be discussed during his visit.
Jaguars To Sign OLB Dennis Gardeck
The Jaguars are continuing to round out their 2025 squad by signing former Cardinals outside linebacker Dennis Gardeck, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Gardeck spent the first seven years of his NFL career in Arizona, totaling 96 appearances and 17 starts, though his production has been somewhat inconsistent. 13.0 of his 17.0 sacks came in 2020 and 2023; last year, he posted 3.0 sacks and six tackles for loss in seven games last season before landing on injured reserve with a torn ACL.
The 30-year-old is the second addition to Jacksonville’s pass rush in as many days; the team reunited with veteran defensive end Dawuane Smoot on Tuesday. He may play a more versatile role along the Jaguars’ defensive line, but the 232-pound Gardeck is purely an edge defender. Along with 2023 fifth-rounder Yasir Abdullah, Gardeck will provide depth behind former first-round picks Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker.
Gardeck has put together a solid career for a former Division II college player. He signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted rookie out of Sioux Falls University and quickly established himself as a core special teams contributor. Gardeck eventually worked his way into Arizona’s OLB rotation in 2020 and impressed with 7.0 sacks in just 94 defensive snaps. He took a step back across the following two seasons with just 1.0 sack and three tackles for loss, but reemerged in 2023 with 6.0 sacks and seven tackles for loss.
In Jacksonville, Gardeck will likely continue in a rotational role on defense while remaining a mainstay on special teams, where he’s played 1,874 snaps in his career.
The Jaguars waived 2024 fifth-rounder Keilan Robinson in a corresponding move, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The former Alabama and Texas running back appeared in six games as a rookie with 51 of his 56 snaps coming on special teams.
Travis Hunter Playing CB At Jaguars’ OTAs
Part of the Jaguars’ calculus in trading up to draft Travis Hunter was his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball. Despite much consternation regarding Hunter’s multi-positional ambitions, Jacksonville seems committed to fulfilling his dream of playing on both offense and defense in the NFL.
Hunter took reps exclusively at wide receiver during rookie minicamp, but began working at cornerback in OTAs, according to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. Those duties included an acrobatic PBU while in coverage on Tuesday.
A video posted by the Jaguars shows Hunter matching undrafted rookie wideout Darius Lassiter step-for-step downfield before tipping the pass and nearly coming down with an interception, though the ball appears to hit the ground.
There’s no doubt that Hunter has the natural skills to play cornerback in the NFL; in fact, some scouts believed he had a higher NFL ceiling as a defender. He’s still expected to primarily play wide receiver in Jacksonville, with his time at cornerback likely dependent on his ability to carve out a defined role in the secondary.
The Jaguars are returning their top three cornerbacks in terms of 2024 snaps: Montaric Brown, Tyson Campbell, and Jarrian Jones. The departure of Ronald Darby (who retired yesterday after signing with the Texans in March) will open up some rotational snaps for Hunter, who could see the field on third downs and in other obvious passing situations.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/3/25
Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Caden Prieskorn
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Mitch Van Vooren
Prieskorn is a 6-foot-5, 255-pound rookie out of Ole Miss who initially signed with the Lions after the draft. He was waived on May 12 and now lands in Denver, where he will likely serve as depth during training camp with a slim chance of making the 53-man roster. Prieskorn recorded 850 yards and seven touchdowns on 57 receptions over his final two seasons in college.
Almost a decade after he announced a seventh-round draft pick (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero), Van Vooren will make the jump to the NFL himself. The former St. Norbert tight end will be the latest Division III college player to ply his trade in the pros.
Saints Officially Place Derek Carr On Reserve/Retired List
The Saints officially placed Derek Carr on the reserve/retired list, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
The move formalizes Carr’s retirement, which was originally announced on May 10. The Saints were waiting until after June 1 to process the transaction so they could spread the $50.132MM in dead money across two years.
$19.207MM of that will hit the books in 2025, according to Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football, cancelling out most of the initial savings from Carr’s departure. The Saints should see a net increase in 2026 cap space despite the remaining $30.925MM in dead money.
Dumping Carr’s contract is a major step forward for the Saints, whose heavy use of void years has severely limited their financial flexibility. They are currently projected to be over the 2026 salary cap, per OverTheCap; Carr’s retirement will ease that burden, though additional moves will be required to become cap-compliant.
Moving on from Carr also makes the Saints’ QB room one of the least expensive in the league. Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler both have multiple years remaining on their rookie deal, and second-round pick Tyler Shough will be on a cost-controlled contract through 2028 once he puts pen to paper. New Orleans also signed undrafted rookie Hunter Dekkers to a three-year, $2.965MM deal with no guaranteed money.
Today’s move will also officially open up a spot on the Saints’ 90-man roster, allowing them to add more depth as the team progresses through OTAs.
Jaguars To Sign DE Dawuane Smoot, WR Trenton Irwin
Dawuane Smoot left Jacksonville for a 2024 Buffalo deal, but as the Bills have retooled at defensive end once again, a reunion will come to pass. The Jaguars are bringing Smoot back, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Now 30, Smoot will join a new Jaguars regime but be part of a familiar position group. Smoot profiles as a rotational rusher behind starters Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. Additionally, the Jaguars are signing wide receiver Trenton Irwin as part of a continued overhaul at the position. Wide receiver David White Jr. was waived to make room on the roster, per KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Smoot appeared in 11 games (four starts) for the Bills in 2024, typically lining up off the edge with some snaps as an interior rusher. The Jaguars will be hoping he can return to his previous form that yielded 22.5 sacks from 2019 to 2022, but the 30-year-old has only recorded 2.5 sacks and five tackles for loss in the last two years.
Irwin is a former undrafted free agent who spent the first six years of his career in Cincinnati. He only saw seven targets in his first three seasons, but emerged as a rotational contributor in 2022 and 2023, catching 40 of his 55 targets for 547 yards and five touchdowns across those two seasons. In 2024, however, Irwin fell to the bottom of the Bengals’ depth chart and was not re-signed after the season.
The 29-year-old Irwin is the Jaguars’ most experienced receiver by a considerable margin, so he could quickly carve out a role in Liam Coen‘s new offense. Leading receiver Brian Thomas Jr. will continue as the team’s WR1 with No. 2 pick Travis Hunter primarily joining him on offense. Dyami Brown‘s $10MM contract indicates he’ll earn a strong target share as well. Irwin will likely have to compete with 2023 sixth-rounder Parker Washington for tertiary targets, though Washington’s youth and strong finish to the 2024 season may give him a leg up.
White signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted rookie out of Eastern Carolina in 2024 but missed the season after tearing his ACL during spring practices.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.