It’s the second week of mandatory minicamps in the NFL, with 22 teams taking another critical step toward the starting line of the 2024 season. Ten teams got the mandatory ball rolling last week, with three taking the practice field earlier this week and another 19 back in action Wednesday.
ESPN’s NFL reporters will be found at each of the locations this week, providing information on position battles, notable appearances from new faces, compelling quotes from coaches and players and updates on injuries and holdout situations.
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Top NFL news of the day
Jimmy Graham: Will make retirement decision based on Saints
Tight end Jimmy Graham hasn’t closed the door on playing football. Graham, who posted a thank you to the New Orleans Saints on his Instagram account in March, said “he’s not sure yet” when asked recently if he was officially retired. “I’m gonna reach out to the Saints and figure out what’s best, and then make the decision on when it’s best for me to retire,” he told ESPN.
Graham signed a one-year deal with the Saints last year after being out of football for the 2022 season and said he intended to return to the league only if it was to play in New Orleans.
What our NFL Nation reporters saw today
One second on the clock. Last play of mandatory minicamp. Ball on the 5-yard line. Who gets the bragging rights — offense or defense — until the team returns for the start of training camp in late July?
That was the situation facing rookie QB Drake Maye on the final day of mandatory minicamp.
Maye delivered a beautiful back-shoulder fade to rookie WR Ja’Lynn Polk — with undrafted CB Mikey Victor in coverage — and Polk crashed to the ground near the back right-hand corner of the end zone. Officials from Adrian Hill’s crew, who were on hand for practice, huddled to determine whether Polk had two feet in bounds, and they ultimately thrust their arms into the air to signal touchdown.
Offensive players celebrated. Defensive players, some shouting expletives, hit the deck for pushups.
“That’s something to go home with,” Maye later said, crediting Polk for making the play. “First OTAs, first minicamp, end on a catch like that from a fellow rookie — first- and second-rounder. It’s pretty cool.” — Mike Reiss
The first play of the last practice of the spring for the Giants was a slip-screen pass to rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers.
It goes to show just how much of an impression the first-round pick has made heading into training camp that the team has plays designed just for him. It’s because Nabers, the No. 6 selection earlier this year out of LSU, has showed out this spring. It has caught the attention of his coaches and teammates.
“I mean, he can do everything,” quarterback Daniel Jones said. “There is not much that he can’t do from a route-running standpoint. He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands and strong, fast, explosive, catches the ball well. Yeah, he does a lot well.”
That has been evident all spring, including in the final on-field workout of the offseason when he had a pair of grabs during a light practice at minicamp. — Jordan Raanan
Malik Nabers’ talent is special pic.twitter.com/q1aXrhKZWn
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) June 12, 2024
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, still has Cleveland’s season-ending loss to the Houston Texans on his mind as he prepares for the 2024 season. Cleveland lost to Houston, 45-14, in the wild-card round and the Browns’ defense had its worst performance of the year in the defeat.
“It’s definitely at the forefront of my mind always,” Garrett said. “That’s the last taste of football that we all had. I’m trying to make that apparent to everyone and continue to keep it as motivation for myself.”
After winning his first Defensive Player of the Year award, Garrett said a Lombardi Trophy is the only thing he’s thinking about for an encore performance.
“God willing, I can build on the success that we had last year, have everyone be healthy and win a Super Bowl,” he said. “That’s where my eyes are only.” — Daniel Oyefusi
The Packers may not have an established No. 1 receiver — and they may not need one with all the young talent at that spot — but if there’s a most reliable among that group, it might be third-year pro Romeo Doubs. If anyone had one foot out the door Wednesday before the final practice of the offseason, Doubs wasn’t one of them. The highlight of his day came when he snagged a deep stop route over the middle, made a quick cut and turned up the field.
“We challenged him on a couple things we thought he could really do a better job of with, and just continuing to stress the importance of opening up his stride and he’s embraced that,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “And I think you’ve seen that and I think he’s had a lot of great moments. Matter of fact, I can’t think of a bad day that he’s had out there. He just, he is definitely improving.” — Rob Demovsky
The Saints had quarterback Jake Haener working with the third team for the first time, allowing rookie Spencer Rattler to take second-team reps. Rattler was picked off in 11-on-11 drills by starting cornerback Marshon Lattimore while targeting rookie Bub Means.
Haener also threw his first interception of practices open to the media this summer when he was picked off by rookie safety Millard Bradford. Saints coach Dennis Allen said not to read too much into that.
“That thing is gonna battle out all throughout training camp. And I don’t think that position is unique. There’s going to be several positions where you’ll see a few lineup changes along the way,” Allen said. — Katherine Terrell
Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt had another nice day in 7-on-7 drills. For the second time in two days, he registered a pass deflection off QB Joe Burrow in drills.
Cornerback DJ Turner and Dax Hill, who are fighting for the outside cornerback position, each had a good day on Wednesday. Turner and Hill each had a couple of pass deflections during 7-on-7 drills. Turner broke up a pass off back-up quarterback Jake Browning that popped up into the air and was intercepted. Hill also had a deflection on an in-breaking route that prompted Burrow to throw his towel as if it were a flag.
Hill got a good laugh out of the bit but also believed he made the play cleanly. — Ben Baby
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