Jets’ Jermaine Johnson Expected To Be Ready For Week 1
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is anticipating a Week 1 return from edge rusher Jermaine Johnson after he missed most of the 2024 season due to a ruptured Achilles, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
Johnson did not participate in spring practices and will likely be placed on the PUP list at the start of training camp in July. He will have plenty of time to ramp up before rejoining the Jets’ new-look defense under Glenn.
The 2022 first-round pick injured his Achilles in Week 2 last year, interrupting his ascension after a 7.5-sack performance in 2023. Johnson underwent surgery from the same doctor that repaired then-teammate Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear in 2023, per Cimini, and spent the rest of year on the sidelines. The pass rusher even acknowledged that the former Jets QB helped him “so much” as he navigated his introduction to rehab.
“The first thing he said was, ‘You’ll be good, you’ve got a 10-year-plus career. You’re all right, chalk it up,'” Johnson said (via Cimini). “It just kind of let me calm down a little bit and be able to gather myself, take it on the chin and handle it, and do a good job at it. So that’s how I’ve attacked it, and Aaron’s been a huge help.”
The Jets got little production from their other edge rushers during Johnson’s absence last year outside of 2023 first-rounder Will McDonald. McDonald took over a starting role after Johnson’s injury and broke out with a team-high 10.5 sacks after recording just three as a rookie.
While Johnson is sidelined during practice, the Jets can get an extended look at their depth options. The team used a fifth-round pick on Tyler Baron, and the Miami product could be penciled in as the first edge rusher off the bench. The team is also rostering the likes of Michael Clemons, Eric Watts, and Braiden McGregor.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Eagles, Panthers On ‘Shortlist’ For Justin Simmons
Interest in free agent safety Justin Simmons has started to build as teams wrap up mandatory minicamp and plan their summer roster moves.
The Eagles and the Panthers are on a “shortlist” to land the nine-year veteran, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Sports Illustrated’s Patrick McAvoy). Both teams could use the safety depth after moving on from C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Xavier Woods this offseason, respectively.
Simmons is coming off somewhat of a down year in Atlanta after earning Pro Bowl or second-team All-Pro honors in four of his previous five seasons in Denver. That period included three years under then-Broncos head coach Vic Fangio, who is now the Eagles’ defensive coordinator. Simmons has played some of his best football in Fangio’s two-high defenses and could look to reunite with his former coach this year.
Simmons is familiar with Panthers DC Ejiro Evero, as well. He held the same position in Denver in 2022, when Simmons recorded a career-high six interceptions. Evero also spent the 2021 season in Los Angeles under Raheem Morris, who coached Simmons in Atlanta last year.
The Panthers have reached out to Simmons’ representation, per Joe Person of The Athletic, though no deal is imminent. He earned $7.5MM from the Falcons last year and is likely looking for similar compensation for the 2025 season.
Commanders WR Noah Brown Carted Off Field At Minicamp
Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown was carted off the field during the team’s mandatory minicamp last Wednesday, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.
Head coach Dan Quinn had little to say about Brown’s injury the next day, only confirming that the seven-year veteran was getting an MRI to assess an unspecified body part, according to Jhabvala. At this juncture of the offseason, teams are not required to report injuries, so Brown’s exact status will likely remain unknown until the Commanders’ training camp kicks off in July.
Brown arrived in Washington on a veteran-minimum deal last year and quickly took over a starting role in Kliff Kingsbury‘s new offense. He commanded a 63% snap share in the team’s first 11 games with 35 catches for 453 yards before a kidney injury prematurely ended his season in December. Brown re-signed with the Commanders on a one-year, $3.25MM deal this offseason.
The Commanders added several other receivers this offseason, giving them the depth to withstand Brown’s potential absence from training camp. The acquisition of Deebo Samuel should give Kingsbury a WR2 to replace Brown’s snaps, but he will need to find a tertiary target for reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. Washington has multiple veterans (Chris Moore, Michael Gallup, K.J. Osborn) as well as a few recent draft picks (Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane) who can compete for WR3 snaps if Brown is sidelined into the regular season.
While Brown’s injury is unlikely to get the Commanders to give into Terry McLaurin‘s contract demands, it could create some urgency to get him back on the field for training camp and ready for the regular season.
Panthers Injury Updates: Brown, Tremble, Barno, Wallace
After missing virtually all of the 2024 season, Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown is aiming for a full return to the field during training camp later this summer, per Joseph Person of The Athletic.
Brown tore his meniscus in Week 1 and underwent season-ending surgery that has kept him limited through spring practices, though he did participate in “walk-throughs and light side work” during mandatory minicamp, according to Person. Brown originally stated a desire to be ready for the 2025 regular season, but his timeline appears to have moved up.
Brown’s injury was particularly disappointing after a career-best 2023 season. He led all defensive linemen with 103 total tackles and was named to his first Pro Bowl, earning him a four-year, $96MM extension from the Panthers in April 2024. While he has never been a prolific pass rusher, Brown’s size and power has consistently commanded double-teams and created opportunities for his teammates. His impact was evident last season, as Carolina’s run defense ranked dead-last in his absence.
The Panthers spent significant resources this offseason on defensive line depth, which should allow them to manage Brown’s usage more carefully coming off a major injury. He played a whopping 940 defensive snaps in 2023 (89% of the team’s total) and was on the field for almost every play before his injury last year. With new teammates Tershawn Wharton, Bobby Brown III, and Cam Jackson ready to share the load, Derrick Brown can take a lower snap share to stay fresh and healthy for the entire season.
Here are a few updates on other Panthers returning from injuries:
- Tight end Tommy Tremble missed five games last season due to a lingering back injury that led to offseason surgery in May. He is expected to start training camp on the active/PUP list, according to Person. Youngsters Ja’Tavion Sanders and Mitchell Evans will have a chance to carve out a role in the Panthers’ offense during Tremble’s absence.
- Edge rusher Amare Barno may not be ready by training camp after a “clean-out procedure on his knee,” writes Person. Barno started the 2024 season on the PUP list and only appeared in five games before another injury sidelined him for the rest of the year.
- Linebacker Trevin Wallace returned from offseason shoulder surgery to participate in the Panthers’ spring practices, per Jeff Hawkins of The Charlotte Post. The 2024 third-rounder emerged as a starter as a rookie before landing on injured reserve in December. With Shaq Thompson departing for the Bills in free agency, Wallace is expected to start alongside veteran Josey Jewell in 2025.
Steelers DL Derrick Harmon, CB Beanie Bishop In Line For Starting Roles
Spring practices did not settle any position battles around the NFL, of course. In the case of the Steelers, though, a pair of young defenders are in line for first-team action on a permanent basis pending on how training camp shakes out. 
Derrick Harmon was among the five interior defensive linemen who were selected during the opening round of this year’s draft. As Pittsburgh’s top choice (No. 21 overall), expectations will be high regarding production during his rookie season. Harmon will have plenty of opportunities to make an impact.
When speaking about the Oregon product, defensive line coach Karl Dunbar confirmed (via Mike DeFabo of The Athletic) Harmon will begin the year as a defensive tackle starter. With no padded practices taking place until training camp, offensive and defensive linemen can often struggle to make an impact during spring practices. Given the Steelers’ depth beyond Cameron Heyward along the defensive interior, though, Harmon represents a logical candidate to handle a heavy workload right away in the NFL.
Heyward is entering his age-36 season and 2025 marks the final year of his current deal with guaranteed salary. Harmon – who led all FBS D-linemen in quarterback pressures during his standout senior campaign with the Ducks -will be tasked with establishing himself as a long-term stalwart along the interior especially once Heyward’s career ends. For at least one year, though, they will operate as a tandem.
Elsewhere on the Steelers’ roster, Beanie Bishop appears to be positioned for an uptick in usage. The 2024 UDFA saw notable playing time early in his rookie season, but his role shrank once veteran Cameron Sutton returned from suspension. As DeFabo notes, though, Bishop has moved toward a full-time position as Pittsburgh’s slot corner for this season. Joey Porter Jr. and free agent signing Darius Slay will be handle starting duties on the perimeter, and the team has made additions capable of playing in the slot. Bishop is aware of that competition as he prepares for training camp.
“At the end of the day, they still don’t have a lot of money invested in me,” Bishop said (via DeFabo). “They obviously drafted a guy [seventh-rounder Donte Kent] this year. Brought in [free agent Brandin Echols]. So I’m never just comfortable and like, ‘Oh yeah, this is my spot.’”
Bishop wound up logging a 50% defensive snap share last season, and a strong summer performance could pave the way for an ever larger figure in 2025. He and Harmon will each play a notable role in Pittsburgh’s efforts to rebound from an underwhelming finish to the campaign last year.
Panthers Unlikely To Pursue CBs Jaire Alexander, Jalen Ramsey
Jaire Alexander has drawn immediate interest following his Packers release. He is joined by Jalen Ramsey as a high-profile cornerback available late in the offseason, but in both cases the Panthers should not be considered a landing spot. 
Carolina is not positioned to make a run at Alexander or Ramsey, Joe Person of The Athletic writes (subscription required). He adds a defensive back addition of some kind could be in store before training camp begins next month, and with over $18MM in cap space the team could certainly afford a free agent pickup. As expected, though, other options will be on the Panthers’ radar.
Alexander was the subject of trade talks at multiple points this offseason, and once it became clear no restructure agreement would be reached the Packers moved forward with a release. Trading for the two-time Pro Bowler would have required taking on the remainder of his contract – a tall order given Alexander’s injury history – but numerous suitors are interested now that doing so is no longer necessary. The Bills were among the teams which discussed a trade, although given their current cap situation a free agent deal could be unrealistic at this point.
It has long been known Ramsey is available via trade given the mutual decision made with the Dolphins to move on. Finances are key in his situation given the roughly $21MM in guaranteed salary owed for 2025. Reaching agreement with Miami will no doubt depend largely on how much of that figure the team will retain to facilitate a trade. Ramsey, 30, is a candidate to return to the Rams (a team which, by contrast, does not appear to be a prime suitor for Alexander).
As Person notes, a depth addition at the cornerback spot would be welcomed given the options currently on hand at the position. At safety, meanwhile, a move is also worth watching for. Both Julian Blackmon and Marcus Williams have taken part in free agent visits this offseason, and each veteran is still unsigned at this point. Carolina could circle back to one of those two of look into another free agent such as Justin Simmons based on his familiarity with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
Making a move in the secondary will be welcomed on a defense which ranked 23rd against the pass last season. In the case of Alexander and Ramsey, however, Carolina should not be considered a likely destination.
Eagles RB Saquon Barkley: “I Don’t Plan On Retiring Anytime Soon”
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, fresh off a magical debut season in Philadelphia that culminated in First Team All-Pro and Offensive Player of the Year honors for him and a Super Bowl championship for the club, created something of a panic during a recent appearance on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast.
“I’ll probably be one of those guys that it’ll be out of nowhere [when I retire],” Barkley said. “I’ll probably just wake up one day, whether it’s next year or two years or four years, and just be like, ‘Yeah it’s over.’ I don’t think I will ever lose that passion. I’m just a competitor…” (h/t Patrick McAvoy of SI.com).
Barkley went on to reference Barry Sanders, the legendary Lions RB who abruptly and unexpectedly retired before training camp of his age-31 season in 1999 (and on the heels of a campaign in which he tallied 1,491 rushing yards and earned his 10th consecutive Pro Bowl bid).
“One of my favorite players of all time, probably my favorite player of all time, is Barry Sanders, so probably similar to that,” Barkley added. “Maybe one day it will be out of nowhere. I’ll probably be balling and just be like, yeah, and call it quits.”
Of course, Sanders later revealed that his own decision to hang up his cleats was spurred by frustration with the Lions’ front office and the overall direction of the franchise. Detroit advanced to the NFC Championship Game in 1991, Sanders’ third season in the pros, but the team would not win another playoff contest until 2023. In the year immediately preceding his retirement, the Lions finished 5-11 and in fourth place out of five teams in the old NFC Central.
Barkley, meanwhile, is entering his age-28 season, and in light of the personal and team success he enjoyed with the Eagles in 2024, Philadelphia brass authorized a two-year, $41.2MM extension just one year after signing him to a three-year, $37.75MM accord in free agency. Behind a stout offensive front and in an offense with ample skill-position talent, Barkley led the league with 2,005 rushing yards in the 2024 regular season (in 16 games) and added 278 yards and 15 total touchdowns for good measure. He was equally impressive in the playoffs, recording a league-best 499 rushing yards and five TDs during Philly’s four-game postseason run.
Thanks to the recent extension, he is now under club control through 2028, which would be his age-31 slate. And while Sanders retired with multiple years remaining on what was then a record-setting contract, Barkley later clarified that he has no intentions of emulating his role model’s exit strategy in the near future.
“I don’t plan on retiring anytime soon,” Barkley told reporters, including PHLY’s Zach Berman. “I feel like I’m entering my prime.”
Had Barkley announced his retirement this year, it would have been even more shocking than Sanders’ announcement. And it sounds as if the former No. 2 overall pick of the Giants has designs on at least finishing out his current deal, which is surely good news for Eagles fans.
Barkley did struggle with injuries during his time with New York, and he indicated his eventual departure from the game will be largely dictated by his health.
“I don’t have a set date or how many years I want to play,” he said (via Nick Faria of Athlon Sports). “I would love to play this game as long as God lets me and my body lets me, so that’s really it.”
Trade Candidate: Allen Lazard
So far, Allen Lazard‘s career has been tied in lockstep with new Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Lazard spent his first five years in Green Bay catching passes from Rodgers. Then, in anticipation of a trade that would send Rodgers to the Jets, Lazard headed to New York as a free agent. With Rodgers now in Pittsburgh, there’s certainly a door open that could reunite Lazard with Rodgers, once again. 
Originally signing with the Jaguars after going undrafted out of Iowa State in 2018, Lazard failed to make Jacksonville’s 53-man roster but signed to the team’s practice squad. Late in December of his rookie year, though, Green Bay signed him off the Jaguars’ p-squad as they saw a number of injuries to their own receiving corps. While he didn’t contribute much that season, he found his home of the next four years.
While Lazard was never a favorite target of Rodgers in Green Bay — a role rightly reserved for Davante Adams — he had a consistent role in the offense. In his second and third seasons, he contributed an average of 34 receptions for 464 yards and three touchdowns. He became more of a redzone target in 2021, logging 40 catches for 513 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns, before putting up a career year in 2022 with 60 catches, 788 yards, and six touchdowns.
Later rumors would indicate that following that final season in Green Bay, Lazard and Rodgers often spoke of playing in New York together. In fact, Lazard took the initiative to reach out to the Jets about the free agent deal he would eventually sign. Lazard’s first year in New York became essentially a wasted season, though, when Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon in the season opener. With Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian, and Tim Boyle throwing to him, he only logged 23 receptions for 311 yards and a single touchdown. He improved last year, with Rodgers back on the field, but returned to his average totals with 37 catches for 530 yards and six touchdowns.
With Rodgers no longer in New York, Lazard’s current role seems uncertain. Adams departed from New York this offseason, seemingly giving Lazard a shot to be WR2. Unfortunately, according Rich Cimini of ESPN, Lazard is losing the WR2 battle to free agent addition Josh Reynolds. Per Cimini, Reynolds is the “clear-cut favorite” to land the job.
There was a time at which it seemed Lazard was certainly not long for New York. Early in the offseason, rumors came out that the Jets were likely to release him in the offseason, and a couple weeks later, the team gave him permission to seek a trade. Ultimately, the team opted to retain Lazard’s services, restructuring his contract to solidify the deal.
Despite this renewed commitment, Rodgers’ Pittsburgh signing immediately reignited rumors of a trade that would send Lazard to the Steelers. Given that cutting or trading Lazard before June 1 would’ve resulted in $6.55MM of dead money with him still taking up $1.94MM in cap space, it starts to make sense that Lazard has been kept around to this point, but a post-June 1 trade would now leave New York with only $2.18MM in dead money while relieving $2.43MM in cap space.
Cimini still thinks that it would be unlikely that the Jets would trade Lazard away. If they do, though — and Cimini notes here that that’s “a big if” — New York likely wouldn’t do so until the end of the preseason. The Jets have a lot of new pieces in their offense, and they’ll need to make sure they’re comfortable with their depth at wide receiver before agreeing to send Lazard away.
Latest On Bengals’ Standoffs With Trey Hendrickson, Shemar Stewart
JUNE 15: The Bengals have reopened contract talks with Hendrickson, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. While that is no guarantee that a deal will get done, Hendrickson has criticized the team for the lack of communication in the past, so this would appear to be a positive step in negotiations.
JUNE 14: There is no end in sight to the Bengals’ dual contract standoffs. First-round pick Shemar Stewart left Cincinnati on the last day of mandatory minicamp, while All-Pro Trey Hendrickson remains away from the team as he fights for a new deal.
Hendrickson is “very much dug in on his position” and will not sign a one-year extension, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via the Rich Eisen Show). The veteran edge rusher is not seeking to eclipse Myles Garrett‘s $40MM APY, but wants something just above $35MM per year in the range of Maxx Crosby and Danielle Hunter. Hendrickson is also looking for a stronger commitment from the Bengals in terms of length and guaranteed money.
Stewart, meanwhile, remains steadfast in his opposition to a specific clause that would void the remaining guarantees in his contract if he were to default in one year. That language is different than the contracts offered to the Bengals’ last two first-round picks, but it is the same as the majority of first-round picks around the league, including the players drafted right before and after Stewart, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. At least one person inside the organization believes that the language used with Amarius Mims and Myles Murphy would have the desired voiding effect in case of a default, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.
The Bengals have options to end both disputes. They could obviously change the terms of Stewart’s deal to match those of Mims and Murphy, or they could offer him something elsewhere in the contract. Given that first-round picks all have fully-guaranteed deals with preset slot values, Cincinnati’s options in that regard are slightly limited. They could give Stewart more of his money up front via an accelerated payment schedule for his signing bonus or bigger training camp roster bonuses.
For Hendrickson, the Bengals will have to meet his demands in some form or fashion. He is currently set to earn $16MM in non-guaranteed money this year, which will not be enough to get him on the field. A two-year extension worth $71.5MM would slightly outpace Crosby and Hunter, and guaranteeing his 2025 and 2026 compensation should get him upwards of $50MM in guaranteed money.
It’s unclear if that would get a deal done, but Pelissero said that the Bengals have “talked about a variety of options over the past several weeks.” He still expects the two sides to reach an agreement on multi-year extension, but there’s no timeline to getting a deal done.
Packers Announce Scouting Promotions
Earlier this week, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst announced four promotions and a new hire to the team’s scouting department. Mike Owen was promoted from college scout to national scout, Daric Whipple and Sam Fleming were both promoted from scouting assistant to pro scout, Connor Koch has been promoted from scouting intern to northeast area scout, and Dan Zegers has been hired as scouting coordinator.
Owen is the longest-tenured of the staffers receiving new titles. He first joined the team in 2012 as a college scout, holding the role for all of the past 13 years. Throughout his time in Green Bay, he’s covered different areas, but the last 10 seasons were spent covering the northeast region and parts of the mid-Atlantic region. Koch will now cover the northeast area vacated by Owen. He earns the role after just one season as a scouting intern.
Whipple joined the team as a scouting assistant in 2023. He came to scouting straight after concluding his collegiate career as a wide receiver at Iowa State and Northern Iowa. Fleming, also a collegiate wide receiver at Samford, first worked as a player personnel assistant for the Bulldogs when his playing career concluded. He was elevated to director of football operations the following year. From 2021 to 2024, Fleming also earned experience as a scouting assistant for the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. After a successful 2023 training camp scouting internship in Green Bay, Fleming was brought back as a scouting assistant alongside Whipple. The two will continue to share a title in 2025 as pro scouts.
Zegers is actually reuniting with the Packers. He originally worked with the team as a 14-year-old equipment assistant in 2004. At 17 years old, Zegers began helping out in the team’s scouting department, as well. He left in 2013 to get experience as a personnel assistant for the Chiefs, holding the role for four years before earning a promotion to college scouting coordinator. In 2018, Zegers joined the Browns as their personnel coordinator, getting promoted to area scout in 2020. He most recently worked as the midwest area scout in Cleveland, but he’ll return to Green Bay in 2025 after being away from the team for 12 years.