It is the second week of obligatory minicamps within the NFL, with 22 groups taking one other important step towards the beginning line of the 2024 season. Ten groups received the obligatory ball rolling final week, with three taking the apply area earlier this week and one other 19 again in motion Wednesday.
ESPN’s NFL reporters will probably be discovered at every of the areas this week, offering info on place battles, notable appearances from new faces, compelling quotes from coaches and gamers and updates on accidents and holdout conditions.
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High NFL information of the day
Jimmy Graham: Will make retirement determination primarily based on Saints
Tight finish Jimmy Graham hasn’t closed the door on enjoying soccer. Graham, who posted a thanks to the New Orleans Saints on his Instagram account in March, mentioned “he is unsure but” when requested lately if he was formally retired. “I am gonna attain out to the Saints and work out what’s finest, after which make the choice on when it is best for me to retire,” he informed ESPN.
Graham signed a one-year take care of the Saints final yr after being out of soccer for the 2022 season and mentioned he supposed to return to the league provided that it was to play in New Orleans.
What our NFL Nation reporters noticed at the moment
One second on the clock. Final play of obligatory minicamp. Ball on the 5-yard line. Who will get the bragging rights — offense or protection — till the staff returns for the beginning of coaching camp in late July?
That was the scenario going through rookie QB Drake Maye on the ultimate day of obligatory minicamp.
Maye delivered an attractive back-shoulder fade to rookie WR Ja’Lynn Polk — with undrafted CB Mikey Victor in protection — and Polk crashed to the bottom close to the again right-hand nook of the tip zone. Officers from Adrian Hill’s crew, who have been available for apply, huddled to find out whether or not Polk had two ft in bounds, and so they finally thrust their arms into the air to sign landing.
Offensive gamers celebrated. Defensive gamers, some shouting expletives, hit the deck for pushups.
“That is one thing to go residence with,” Maye later mentioned, crediting Polk for making the play. “First OTAs, first minicamp, finish on a catch like that from a fellow rookie — first- and second-rounder. It is fairly cool.” — Mike Reiss
The primary play of the final apply of the spring for the Giants was a slip-screen cross to rookie broad receiver Malik Nabers.
It goes to point out simply how a lot of an impression the first-round decide has made heading into coaching camp that the staff has performs designed only for him. It is as a result of Nabers, the No. 6 choice earlier this yr out of LSU, has confirmed out this spring. It has caught the eye of his coaches and teammates.
“I imply, he can do every little thing,” quarterback Daniel Jones mentioned. “There’s not a lot that he cannot do from a route-running standpoint. He is dynamic with the ball in his fingers and robust, quick, explosive, catches the ball effectively. Yeah, he does so much effectively.”
That has been evident all spring, together with within the closing on-field exercise of the offseason when he had a pair of grabs throughout a lightweight apply at minicamp. — Jordan Raanan
Malik Nabers’ expertise is particular pic.twitter.com/q1aXrhKZWn
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) June 12, 2024
Browns defensive finish Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Participant of the 12 months, nonetheless has Cleveland’s season-ending loss to the Houston Texans on his thoughts as he prepares for the 2024 season. Cleveland misplaced to Houston, 45-14, within the wild-card spherical and the Browns’ protection had its worst efficiency of the yr within the defeat.
“It is undoubtedly on the forefront of my thoughts at all times,” Garrett mentioned. “That is the final style of soccer that all of us had. I am making an attempt to make that obvious to everybody and proceed to maintain it as motivation for myself.”
After successful his first Defensive Participant of the 12 months award, Garrett mentioned a Lombardi Trophy is the one factor he is excited about for an encore efficiency.
“God prepared, I can construct on the success that we had final yr, have everybody be wholesome and win a Tremendous Bowl,” he mentioned. “That is the place my eyes are solely.” — Daniel Oyefusi
The Saints had quarterback Jake Haener working with the third staff for the primary time, permitting rookie Spencer Rattler to take second-team reps. Rattler was picked off in 11-on-11 drills by beginning cornerback Marshon Lattimore whereas concentrating on rookie Bub Means.
Haener additionally threw his first interception of practices open to the media this summer time when he was picked off by rookie security Millard Bradford. Saints coach Dennis Allen mentioned to not learn an excessive amount of into that.
“That factor is gonna battle out all all through coaching camp. And I do not suppose that place is exclusive. There’s going to be a number of positions the place you will see just a few lineup adjustments alongside the way in which,” Allen mentioned. — Katherine Terrell
Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt had one other good day in 7-on-7 drills. For the second time in two days, he registered a cross deflection off QB Joe Burrow in drills.
Cornerback DJ Turner and Dax Hill, who’re combating for the skin cornerback place, every had a superb day on Wednesday. Turner and Hill every had a few cross deflections throughout 7-on-7 drills. Turner broke up a cross off back-up quarterback Jake Browning that popped up into the air and was intercepted. Hill additionally had a deflection on an in-breaking route that prompted Burrow to throw his towel as if it have been a flag.
Hill received a superb snigger out of the bit but in addition believed he made the play cleanly. — Ben Child
