The NFL’s 2024 mandatory minicamps kicked into full gear Tuesday, with the 49ers, Bears, Colts, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Lions, Texans, Titans and Vikings all scheduled for spring session work this week. ESPN’s NFL reporters could be found at each location, providing information on position battles, notable appearances from new faces, compelling quotes from coaches and players and updates on injuries and holdout situations.
We will have updates every day of camp to keep you informed on all the latest. Here’s what you need to know from camps across the league:
Top NFL news of the day
Source: Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb expected to skip minicamp over deal
Lamb, who is seeking a contract extension, is not expected to attend the team’s mandatory minicamp that opened Tuesday, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Lamb also has not attended the team’s OTAs, which are voluntary. He will be subject to fines by missing the team’s minicamp, however. Lamb is set to play this season on the fifth-year option in his rookie contract, worth $17.991 million fully guaranteed. He will be an unrestricted free agent after this season without an extension.
Sources: 49ers give Christian McCaffrey 2-year, $38M extension
McCaffrey, the NFL’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year, once again has reset the running back market, signing a two-year extension with the San Francisco 49ers, averaging $19 million per year, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday. McCaffrey will receive an additional $8 million over what he was scheduled to make in the first two years while adding $24 million in guarantees. The deal was negotiated by WME Football.
Diggs opens up about trade to Houston, Josh Allen for first time
In his first public words to the media, receiver Stefon Diggs opened up about a trade that sent him to the Texans from the Buffalo Bills after a four-year stint. He said he was “happy” when Houston acquired him, but he admitted he has “a lot of love” for Bills quarterback Josh Allen. “When I got to Buffalo, Josh was, and still is, my guy,” Diggs said. “People don’t really understand what it’s like to be out there. He really embraced me. We spent a lot of time together, and I probably wouldn’t be right here if it wasn’t for him.”
Tagovailoa not concerned yet about contract
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said he’s confident he and the team will reach an extension before the start of the regular season, although the process has taken longer than expected.
Speaking to the media after the Dolphins’ first day of mandatory minicamp Tuesday, a noticeably terse Tagovailoa said he has taken note of the recent contracts other NFL quarterbacks have received, although he stopped short of admitting concern about any offers the team has made.
What our NFL Nation reporters saw today
The last team with a pair of players with 1,000 rushing yards in a single season, neither of which was a QB, was the Carolina Panthers in 2009 with Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. However, Detroit Lions duo Jahmyr Gibbs (945) and David Montgomery (1,015) were close last year as they look to hit another notch this upcoming season. Lions RBs coach Scottie Montgomery feels that the tape shows that this tandem can reach another gear as they’re striving to go from good to great, while cleaning up areas in the running and passing game. “I definitely think what makes us like peanut butter and jelly and I guess what makes us work is we’re so different, but we’re very good in our own way,” Montgomery said at Tuesday’s minicamp. “It’s hard for teams to prepare for us, but we’ve got high expectations for ourselves and both of us together, we didn’t think that was good enough. So, we want to be better this year and we will.” — Eric Woodyard
Former All-Pro cornerback James Bradberry IV appears to be in line for a position switch. Coach Nick Sirianni revealed before the start of Tuesday’s practice that Bradberry would see some time at safety starting in minicamp. “You’ve seen a lot of good corners in this league — the first guy that comes to my mind is Chales Woodson. He went from being an elite corner to an elite nickel to an elite safety. So I’m excited about that for James — that he’s able to do more,” Sirianni said. Bradberry, 30, had one of his best seasons as a pro in 2022 but fell off significantly last season. The Eagles drafted corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first two rounds of April’s draft to help a secondary that finished second-to-last in passing yards and passing touchdowns allowed. This gives Bradberry an opportunity to find a new role. Bradberry didn’t have a chance to work at safety Tuesday, as an injury early in the session left him sidelined. — Tim McManus
The Titans had some new faces at gunner during special teams period when former first-round picks Caleb Farley and Treylon Burks lined up at the position. Injuries have kept Farley from being in the lineup over the past year and a half. The addition of veteran free agent Chidobe Awuzie and trade for L’Jarius Sneed will keep Farley out of the starting lineup. Burks was relegated to a backup role after the Titans signed free agent receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. They’ll have to find a new role if they plan to suit up on Sundays. “If you’re not one of the top two or three guys, you’re going to have to contribute on [special] teams,” coach Brian Callahan said. “If you’re trying to get a hat on game day and be one of the 46 active, you got to play a role on special teams, especially as a skill player.” –Turron Davenport
There’s no concern for the Texans’ offensive tackle duo. On the first day of mandatory minicamp, the Texans had full attendance as their highly touted playmakers in receiver Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs were on display. However, the Texans’ highly paid right tackle (Tytus Howard) and left tackle (Laremy Tunsil) weren’t practicing. Both are recovering from knee injuries. Tunsil had offseason surgery on his left knee even though he played 14 games in 2023. However, Howard played in only seven games because of injuries before suffering a season-ending knee injury in late November. The good news for the Texans is coach DeMeco Ryans says he expects Howard and Tunsil to be ready for training camp. “Those guys are battling back,” Ryans said. “They both had surgery, so they’re in our return to play group, and they’re on the right track to be back and be ready for training camp.” — D.J. Bien-Aime
Rookie receiver Adonai Mitchell had an impressive day in the first of three minicamp practices, catching a pair of red-zone touchdowns from quarterback Anthony Richardson. Mitchell blew by a defender for the first score, catching a ball over his shoulder in the corner of the end zone. On the second score, Richardson left the pocket while Mitchell stayed alive. Richardson found him on the back line of the end zone, where Mitchell made a leaping catch while tapping both feet in bounds for the touchdown. Mitchell is competing with third-year player Alec Pierce for the No. 3 receiver spot. Mitchell, a second round draft choice, was the 11th receiver drafted, but feels like he’s wound up in a good spot. “I just feel like I’m living my dream,” Mitchell said. “I come here every day, I do what I love doing. I’m in an environment that I really enjoy.” — Stephen Holder