Football never sleeps. While the 2024 NFL regular season is still weeks away, every team around the league has started training camp practices. Now that the pads are back on, clubs’ decision-makers can get a better idea of how their rosters look before Week 1.
With that in mind, we’re tracking every bit of news coming out of training camps in late July. Here are the top stories from Sunday’s NFL practices.
NFL Training Camp News Tracker
Atlanta Falcons
- Falcons third-string quarterback Taylor Heinicke doesn’t believe he’ll remain on Atlanta’s roster much longer, as D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constituiton writes.
- The Falcons signed veteran Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract during free agency and used the No. 8 overall pick on Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. Heinicke already accepted a pay cut this offseason and could become a trade candidate.
- “Yeah, I kind of see the writing on the wall,” Heinicke said on Saturday. “It’s nothing that I haven’t been through before. So, I accept my role in any case. My role … is to help Kirk any way that I can if he has any questions. Same thing with Mike. Sometimes the game is fast. Sometimes everything is fast for rookies.”
Buffalo Bills
- Bills WR Chase Claypool appeared to injure his left foot during Sunday’s practice, per Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. Buffalo’s athletic staff examined Claypool’s foot before he put his cleat back on. However, he didn’t take part in the rest of today’s session.
- Claypool split last season between the Bears and the Dolphins. The former second-round pick is a compelling talent but needs to beat out fellow free agent signings Mack Hollins and Marquez Valdes-Scantling for playing time behind presumed starting WRs Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman, and Khalil Shakir.
Cincinnati Bengals
- Fourth-round rookie TE Erick All passed his physical on Sunday and was removed from the Bengals’ non-football injury (NFI) list. All tore his ACL in November 2023 while playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He’s competing against fellow Cincinnati TEs Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson, and Tanner McLachlan (a sixth-round rookie) for playing time.
Dallas Cowboys
- On Sunday, the Cowboys released cornerback Gareon Conley, who intends to retire. Conley, a 2017 first-round pick who last played in the NFL in 2019, had hoped to make a comeback in Dallas but instead requested his release.
Kansas City Chiefs
- Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones didn’t practice on Sunday because he’s dealing with a strained groin, according to ESPN’s Adam Teicher. Wideout Hollywood Brown and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire sat out with illnesses.
Miami Dolphins
- Wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who is angling for a new contract, doesn’t appear to be practicing on Sunday, reports Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network. Miami is expected to address Hill’s deal now that it’s locked up QB Tua Tagovailoa and WR Jaylen Waddle, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes.
- Speaking of Tua, Miami’s new highly paid quarterback, head coach Mike McDaniel went to bat for him during contract negotiations, per Beasley. Read Beasley on Tua’s “Show me the money!” celebration and the expectations that come with his $53.1 million salary.
- “[Kader] Kohou had already taken the lead in the race for the Dolphins’ CB3 job even before his top competition, Cam Smith, walked off the practice field Sunday under the supervision of a Dolphins medical staffer.” — Read Beasley’s complete Dolphins practice report from Sunday.
- The Dolphins announced on Sunday that they activated linebacker David Long Jr. from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
New England Patriots
- “Drake Maye wasn’t horrible, but he wasn’t great, either. Ultimately, this was probably the rookie QB’s worst practice of camp.” — Read Sunday’s complete Patriots practice report from Pro Football Network’s Dakota Randall.
- While Maye struggled on Sunday, another New England rookie posted a fantastic practice session. Read Randall on the studs and duds from today’s Patriots training camp.
- Running back Antonio Gibson was at Sunday’s Patriots practice, indicating he’s been removed from the NFI list, as Randall reports.
- In March, New England signed Gibson to a three-year, $11.25 million contract, hoping the former Commander could become a pass-catching specialist behind Rhamondre Stevenson. Gibson averaged 43 receptions over four seasons in Washington.
- Patriots WR DeMario Douglas doesn’t seem concerned about the hand injury that’s kept him sidelined from recent practices, per Randall. “I’m good, but we want to make sure everything’s good before I get out there,” Douglas said Sunday.
New York Giants
- Fourth-round rookie TE Theo Johnson (hip) passed his physical on Sunday and can now practice with the Giants, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Johnson had been on the PUP list.
- New York’s tight end battle is wide open following Darren Waller’s offseason retirement. Daniel Bellinger represents Johnson’s primary competition, while veterans Lawrence Cager, Jack Stoll, Chris Manhertz, and Tyree Jackson are also fighting for snaps.
- The Giants signed veteran cornerback Breon Borders on Sunday, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. Borders, who has 32 career NFL appearances and six starts, overlapped with Giants GM Joe Schoen in Buffalo and first-year Giants DC Shane Bowen in Tennessee.
Philadelphia Eagles
- Eagles guard Tyler Steen could miss several days of practice after suffering a mild ankle injury on Saturday, a source told Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Steen had been taking first-team reps at right guard. His absence will allow Mekhi Becton and Darian Kinnard to take snaps with the Eagles’ starting offense.
- Veteran defensive back James Bradberry revealed that his offseason position switch from corner to safety was his idea, as Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports writes. Aware that the Eagles were likely to draft CB help, Bradberry figured he’d have an easier time making the club’s roster as a safety. The 30-year-old said he did not request a trade out of Philadelphia.
- “Nah, I was going to let (general manager) Howie (Roseman) handle that,” Bradberry said. “We had a conversation, and right now, I’m still on the team. And while I’m still on the team, I’m going to try to find my role. If they want to get rid of me, they’re going to get rid of me.”
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Steelers QB Russell Wilson (hip) missed his fourth training camp practice on Sunday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Instead, Wilson participated in a mock game scenario and threw along the sidelines.
- Head coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday that Wilson was “day-to-day,” while the QB indicated his injury was “nothing too serious.”
San Francisco 49ers
- 49ers first-round rookie WR Ricky Pearsall is on the NFI list after suffering a hamstring injury away from the club’s facility. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Pearsall may practice with San Francisco on Monday.
- “Yes, he does,” Kyle Shanahan said Saturday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “It’s not guaranteed, but he has a chance.”
- 49ers guard Spencer Burford broke his hand and may require surgery, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. Burford, a 13-game starter in 2023, had been seeing first-team reps at right guard.
- Third-round rookie Dominick Puni will step in at RG while veteran backup Jon Feliciano recovers from a knee injury.
- “He’s done a real good job,” Shanahan said of Puni. “We haven’t had pads on yet, which is always a challenge for guys, especially in protection. But he’s stepped in there, got more reps, and I’ve been excited about him.”
