Posted by Matt Olson

Voluntary OTA News and Notes

August 7, 2023

Giants

– Golladay has been great and shows leadership in the WR room – per @GiantsWFAN

– Toney been great to work with and very attentive at meetings – per @GiantsWFAN

– Daniel Jones has been “fine”. HC Brian Daboll said he’s not concerned with   a pick or 2 in practice – per @mike_e_kaye

– Giants have been running a ton of empty sets with pre-snap mothion. A healthy Saquon   is going to catch a ton of passes – per @DDuggan21

Cowboys

– Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb said he grew half an inch and gained 10 pounds of muscle this   offseason. On if he’s ready to take over as the team’s No. 1 WR: “I’ve been   ready. That’s just me and my competitiveness. That’s in my nature. I’m always  ready for my name to be called.” –   https://twitter.com/jonmachota/status/1529551458810699777

– Mike McCarthy says that CeeDee Lamb is doing all the little things to get himself   ready to be WR1. –   https://twitter.com/therealmarklane/status/1529557265820311555

– Dak:
   – healthiest he’s been in awhile. No restrictions.
   -asked CeeDee Lamb to move his locker next to him and they are always   communicating. Wants him to be his receiver for the entirety of his career   here
   -really focused on the footwork. Consistency. –   https://twitter.com/SlaterNFL/status/1529545036890836993

Saints

– Jameis Winston taking part in practice. –   https://twitter.com/nick_underhill/status/1529556500842151939

Colts

– Observation from Colts’ first open voluntary OTAs incoming:
   – No starter was more involved or intense in team drills than Nyheim   Hines. He caught so many passes out of the backfield, and every route was   full-speed. Frank Reich says to invest in him in fantasy football. –   https://twitter.com/NateAtkins_/status/1529549012151459840

– This Colts draft class has some big dudes. Jelani Woods and Drew Ogletree did not   look like rookies lined up with vets. The TE transition is steep from college   to pro, but the Colts think they’re more ready than most because of the   physical profiles — 24+ bench reps each. –   https://twitter.com/NateAtkins_/status/1529551031448875010

Browns

– Several Browns players trained together in the Bahamas, including DeShaun Watson

– First observation in walk-through portion of practice: lots of misdirection/option   looks: maybe going to look to use Watson’s speed this season. And a little more Chubb/Hunt together too. –   https://twitter.com/H_Grove/status/1529473816266686464

– During Browns special teams drills, QB Deshaun Watson and WR Amari Cooper working   route after route together on other field under supervision of OC Alex Van   Pelt, QB coach Drew Petzing and WR coach Chad O’Shea. Huge emphasis on the   connection between Watson and Cooper. –   https://twitter.com/ByNateUlrich/status/1529487088156024833

– Deshaun  Watson throws a beautiful football. On target. On time too – even during half   speed drills – https://twitter.com/RuiterWrongFAN/status/1529486889564405761

– Nick Chubb on Deshaun Watson: “He’s a natural leader. Throws the ball effortlessly. He’s a special player and a great guy to be around. – https://twitter.com/H_Grove/status/1529500592854425601

Jets

– Breece Hall showing off the hands – https://twitter.com/NYJetsTFMedia/status/1527374387938312192

– Another Breece Hall video – https://twitter.com/Connor_J_Hughes/status/1529129553272229888

– Zach Wilson just dumped it down to Breece hall and he turned on the Jets and showed an explosive burst. – https://twitter.com/Djbienaime/status/1529135553266032640

– Zach Wilson said he finished last season at 208 pounds and is now 221 pounds. – https://twitter.com/EGreenbergJets/status/1529186399454433283

Patriots 

– James White is back on the practice field

– Tyquan Thornton doing a drill -> https://twitter.com/ezlazar/status/1528846551480782849

– Kendrick Bourne says Tyquan Thornton is “blazing” but “we gotta get some weight on my guy, though.” Said he had to do the same thing when he got to the league. Bourne says if Thornton buys in, the results will come. – https://twitter.com/PhilAPerry/status/1528795013404139522

– Slim Mac (Jones) – https://twitter.com/32BeatWriters/status/1529068237148893185

– Had a long conversation with a defensive coach in the AFC. On Mac Jones, “He is more athletic than you all give him credit for. He can make some plays with his legs. He’s not this statue.” Loves his pocket presence. “He feels the game and sees the game as well as any young QB.” – https://twitter.com/MikeGiardi/status/1529484676473278464

– More on Mac: “I saw he said he’s been working on his arm. That’s important. He lollipops a few too many throws. He knows that won’t play longterm, especially late in the year. If he can add a little more zip, it’ll open up a few more things in whatever playbook they’re using.” – https://twitter.com/MikeGiardi/status/1529486001965518848

Packers

– Packers WR coach Jason Vrable on Amari Rodgers entering Year 2: “I feel really good about Amari. Cobby bumped me the other day and was like, ‘Yo, you can feel it from him.’ I just smiled. It’s just the start.” Said his confidence is building, things starting to click. – per @zachkruse2

– Packers coach Matt LaFleur says Aaron Rodgers is not at OTAs, which are voluntary. He spoke with the QB last night — “which was great — about tweaks to offense and such, says Rodgers was in “good spirits.” Doesn’t know if he’ll be at OTAs next week. It’ll be Rodgers’ choice. – https://twitter.com/ByRyanWood/status/1529131172994985984

Seahawks 

– Seahawks OC Shane Waldron: 

      – Geno Smith has had an early edge over Drew Lock to replace Russell Wilson because of familiarity

      – Getting DK Metcalf the ball is a priority

https://twitter.com/gbellseattle/status/1527406638092591105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

– Rashaad Penny is resting a slight hamstring issue.

– Drew Lock, Geno Smith competing for the Seahawks’ QB job on first day of OTAs – VIDEO – https://twitter.com/gbellseattle/status/1528842885642305536

Chiefs

– CEH on 2021: “I had gall bladder surgery. My gall bladder completely stopped working. I was down to about 160 pounds…I didn’t run, didn’t do anything all the way up until [OTAs] and was still dealing with stitches and recovery over the course of the summer.” – https://twitter.com/32BeatWriters/status/1527716387413708800

Rams

– Sean McVay says Tutu Atwell has looked “really good this offseason program,” and by no means is the book written on the 2nd-year WR. – https://twitter.com/TheRamsWire/status/1528731485750042626

– Rams WR Cooper Kupp on Allen Robinson: “He’s a lot bigger than I think people think that he is. He’s a big dude that can do a lot of things that smaller receivers do.” – https://twitter.com/StuJRams/status/1528834006971580416

– Rams QB Matthew Stafford confirmed offseason injection in his right elbow for issue he dealt with during season. He is not throwing passes in workouts. “Don’t know yet,” he said when asked if he would throw in OTA’s/minicamp or wait until training camp. “Still working on it.” – https://twitter.com/LATimesklein/status/1528833101530443776

Jaguars

– Travis Etienne is practicing. Per @jstcyrTV, Etienne was the MVP of the practice on 5/23

– Lawrence to ETN -> https://twitter.com/HaysCarlyon/status/1528756507440971776 

– Another ETN practice video -> https://twitter.com/JohnReid64/status/1529098465824972800

Cardinals

– Cardinals’ QB Kyler Murray will not be at Arizona’s OTAs this week, as expected. All continues to remain quiet on his contract front, for now. – per Adam Schefter. Cardinals do expect Murray at mandatory minicamp.

– FA RB Darrel Williams signed with the Cardinals. Mahomes vouched for him. – https://twitter.com/Schultz_Report/status/1529150809979736068

Broncos

– Melvin Gordon, Jerry Jeudy, and KJ Hamler were not practicing at voluntary OTAs – https://twitter.com/AricDiLalla/status/1528808949989969920

– Russell Wilson on Hackett’s playbook: “I think there’s touchdowns all over the field.” – https://twitter.com/GeorgeStoia/status/1528833900746784771

– Russell Wilson called Javonte Williams a “world-class back” – https://twitter.com/ZacStevensDNVR/status/1528834846310682624

– Courtland Sutton: “Russ came in and changed the vibe and energy of the team…you can feel it around the city. There was a complete wave shift when Peyton came in…the standard got set to a different level…I heard that from DT. It’s very similar w/Russ.” – https://twitter.com/CecilLammey/status/1529197871697907713

Commanders

– Curtis Samuel practice video -> https://twitter.com/JPFinlayNBCS/status/1529092766063640580

– As some have pointed out, Curtis Samuel is at practice and looks healthy. Samuel has said that he feels like his former self, and it looks like he’s backing that up – https://twitter.com/ZachSelbyWC/status/1529090931244269575

– Carson Wentz looks for Jahan Dotson and finds him on a 15-20 yard pass before the rookie steps out of bounds – https://twitter.com/ZachSelbyWC/status/1529092490619404291

– Terry McLaurin not at OTAs as he looks for a new contract

– Samuel on his health: “I’m great. Y’all saw me flying around out there.” – https://twitter.com/ZachSelbyWC/status/1529122654254419969

– Samuel said Jahan is a great player. “There’s no such thing as too many weapons” – https://twitter.com/ZachSelbyWC/status/1529122148995977216

– Rivera said of the three-headed RB group, “I think, for the most part, it’s going to be by committee.” – https://twitter.com/32BeatWriters/status/1529449562867478528

Lions

– UDFA WR Kalil Pimpleton has impressed. Has a chance to make the team has a return man and backup slot WR – https://twitter.com/JeffRisdon/status/1529101511531315200

Panthers

– First two dudes out to the field for the first (open to the media) OTA – Matt Corral and Sam Darnold. – https://twitter.com/daringantt/status/1529105687892066304

– Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey out at OTAs here doing Christian McCaffrey things. Looks extremely fast and quick. – https://twitter.com/SteveReedAP/status/1529135683310346240

– Panthers QB Sam Darnold has looked sharp throwing the ball. But everyone out here in shorts and no contact or pressure on the QB in these OTAs. – https://twitter.com/SteveReedAP/status/1529136269199933440

– Sam Darnold says he’s “confident I can be one of the best quarterbacks in the league.” Improving footwork is something he has to improve. “There were times last year when my feet got very … just loose is a good term . . . chaotic.’’ – https://twitter.com/DNewtonespn/status/1529158460088143874

Titans

– Robert Woods back at practice –  https://twitter.com/BuckReising/status/1529126398610251776

– Treylon Burks has been in and out of practice thus far – https://twitter.com/terrymc13/status/1529136018988969990

– VIDEO – Kyle Philips and Treylon Burks – https://twitter.com/PaulKuharskyNFL/status/1529127409974398978

– Vrabel: Malik Willis making strides, and every day is a learning process for him. Has a great attitude – https://twitter.com/jwyattsports/status/1529135718794240006

– Three clips of Robert Woods (No. 2, with knee brace) and two clips of rookie Treylon Burks (No. 16) – https://twitter.com/glennonsports/status/1529161630604476417

– Malik Willis’ throwing motion – https://twitter.com/PaulKuharskyNFL/status/1529158909080092672

Falcons

– “I’d expect Drake London, Bryan Edwards, and Damiere Byrd to get the most targets. But Auden Tate and Olamide Zaccheaus should factor in too” – https://twitter.com/FalcoholicKevin/status/1529126039330365441

Dolphins

– Mike McDaniel, on Tua: “Instinctiveness…You can tell the player’s played the position for a long time and he thinks the game of football through the QB position. Been very encouraged” about Tua’s development. – https://twitter.com/AdamHBeasley/status/1529129043886473216

– Tyreek Hill was asked after practice about how active he was for a practice in May, running countless routes.“That’s what I do,” he said. “When I signed here I came here to work. I signed up to be a team leader and show this team how I do things. How I do things is I run hard.” – https://twitter.com/WingfieldNFL/status/1529161368489820161

– tyreek hill on QB tua tagovailoa: “tua probably has one of the prettiest balls i’ve ever caught in my life. it’s very catchable…the more i talk the more it sounds weird. he’s a very accurate QB…i’m very confident in him…the sky is the limit for the guy.” – https://twitter.com/houtz/status/1529196527541010433

Bengals

– Zac Taylor says Tee Higgins is expected to be able to participate in training camp – https://twitter.com/KelseyLConway/status/1529137659595177984

49ers

– Kyle Shanahan said he believes the relationship between Deebo Samuel and the team can get back to normal. – https://twitter.com/MaioccoNBCS/status/1529207089695842304

– The 49ers went through a helmet-less 11-on-11 session to end a 90-minute practice. Trey Lance was 15 of 17 in 7-on-7 work – https://twitter.com/MaioccoNBCS/status/1529205127931781121

– Jauan Jennings has also developed a formidable presence. Caught a few intermediate passes over the middle. 49ers obviously very pleased with the progress he made last season – https://twitter.com/LombardiHimself/status/1529210795573145601

– “Last year, I was swimming a little bit.” Trey Lance says he feels “very, very different” heading into OTAs this year. – https://twitter.com/NinersNation/status/1529211609649774592

– Brandon Aiyuk on Danny Gray: “He can fly. He came in ready to work. I like him.” – https://twitter.com/LombardiHimself/status/1529218389461241856

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