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Roger Goodell: USA Football will select Olympic flag football rosters, not NFL

Sun May 25 3:47pm ET
Field Level Media

While the NFL has approved active players to participate in the 2028 Summer Olympic flag football tournament in Los Angeles, commissioner Roger Goodell made it clear that the NFL will not determine which players will compete for the United States.

Rather, Goodell said during this week's meeting of league owners, the roster selection will come down to a separate group: USA Football.

"That's actually a function of USA Football that will be making that decision," Goodell said. "The NFL will not have any involvement in that selection process."

According to USA Football bylaws, Goodell will appoint three individuals to the 15-member board with at least two of them serving on the five-person executive committee.

This all comes just a few days after NFL owners unanimously voting in favor of allowing active players to compete in flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. No more than one player from each NFL team will be able to participate in the games, which will feature six men's teams and six women's teams consisting of 10 players apiece.

"I know first-hand that the inclusion of flag football in the Olympics has sparked a tremendous amount of excitement among NFL players interested in the chance to compete for their country on the world stage," Goodell said at the time. "We are thrilled that they will now have that chance."

The 2028 Summer Games are scheduled to take place from July 14-30, 2028. NFL players generally are off from mid-June until the start of training camp in late July.

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Player Notes
Jacob Cowing May 28 12:50pm CT
Jacob Cowing

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle recently said he was impressed that wide receiver Jacob Cowing, who weighed 168 pounds at last year's scouting combine, added more weight in the offseason. Cowing also trained with quarterback Brock Purdy in Jacksonville and Arizona this offseason, signaling he wasn't happy with a 2024 rookie season in which he was used sparingly on offense. The 24-year-old only caught four passes last year, but The Athletic's Matt Barrows thinks he should be an asset on quick-hitters and jet sweeps that went to Deebo Samuel Sr. in recent years. The former fourth-rounder (135th overall) out of Arizona could have a bigger role early in the 2025 season with Brandon Aiyuk (knee) rehabbing an injury and Demarcus Robinson facing a potential suspension, but for now, Cowing will just be one to keep an eye on during training camp.

From RotoBaller

Mykel Williams May 28 12:40pm CT
Mykel Williams

San Francisco 49ers rookie defensive end Mykel Williams shouldn't have trouble finding playing time early in his career and should be an immediate asset in run defense due to his exceptional power, according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows. The 49ers have their three best edge rushers in Williams, Nick Bosa and Yetur Gross-Matos in the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era. The question is how good of a pass-rusher Williams can become, as he mostly won via sheer strength in college. How quickly Williams is able to incorporate finesse moves and creativity with his pass rush will determine whether he's solid or exceptional in his first season in the NFL. San Fran took the Georgia product with the 11th overall pick in this year's draft. He won't turn 21 until June 29. Williams has the skills to be a very good pass-rusher for the Niners in the long term.

From RotoBaller

Jaelan Phillips May 28 12:30pm CT
Jaelan Phillips

Miami Dolphins linebackers Bradley Chubb (knee) and Jaelan Phillips (knee) are taking part in most things during organized team activities, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. Barring a setback for both players with their knee injuries, the Dolphins appear to be on track to have their pass-rush trio intact for the start of training camp this summer. Chubb didn't play at all in 2024 due to a torn ACL, meniscus and patellar tendon, while Phillips suffered a season-ending ACL injury in October of last year. It remains to be seen how effective both Chubb and Phillips will be coming off their serious knee injuries, but it's certainly good news that they are both practicing, and their returns should be a boost to what was a weak Dolphins pass rush in 2024. Chubb, a former fifth overall pick by the Denver Broncos in 2018 out of North Carolina State, had 11 sacks in 2023 before his knee injury.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall May 28 12:30pm CT
Ricky Pearsall

The Athletic's Matt Barrows writes that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall could be best positioned for a breakout season in 2025. Pearsall met up with quarterback Brock Purdy to work with him this offseason after missing six games as a rookie last year after being shot on Aug. 31. He also missed most of training camp with hamstring and shoulder injuries. Brandon Aiyuk (knee) could miss the start of the 2025 regular season, while Demarcus Robinson could be suspended due to a DUI incident in November. The Niners still have Jauan Jennings, but Pearsall, who excels against press coverage, would also have a big role in the passing attack. Pearsall had a 141-yard outing in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions last year and could be on the rise if his chemistry with Purdy has improved. The 24-year-old should be a top-three wideout for San Fran this year.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts May 28 12:20pm CT
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (foot), who was absent from the start of organized team activities this week, is dealing with a bit of a foot issue, according to the Bleacher Report's James Palmer. Pitts was at the team's facility on Tuesday, but he just wasn't working out on the field. The former fourth overall pick is heading into the final year of his current deal, but his absence on the field for the start of OTAs is injury-related and not contract-related. It's unclear exactly how serious Pitts' foot injury is, but it's more bad news for a player whose fantasy stock continues to fall since his rookie season in 2021. Atlanta's coaching staff seems to be optimistic that they'll involve Pitts more in 2025, but we've also heard that before. The 24-year-old had a 1,000-yard season in 2021 but hasn't cleared 667 yards in three years since. At best, fantasy managers should target him as a low-end TE1 in drafts this fall.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Daniels May 28 12:10pm CT
Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said based on the eye test, that second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels has some put on some weight this offseason. "I'm sure he's a little thicker than he was," Kingsbury said. There was no mandate from the team for Daniels to bulk up after an impressive rookie season in which the 24-year-old threw for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 17 regular-season starts while leading the team to an NFC Championship appearance. Despite putting on some good weight, fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried that it will negatively affect Daniels' scrambling abilities after he rushed for 891 yards and six touchdowns in the regular season in 2024. After his big rookie season, Daniels has vaulted quickly into top-five status among QBs in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Travis Hunter May 28 12:10pm CT
Travis Hunter

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie first-round wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter was out on the field with the defense last week, per head coach Liam Coen, and he's been learning a bunch both on offense and defense during offseason workouts. The Jaguars aren't putting Hunter on both offense and defense on the same day, although he does still meet with the defense on days that he practices with the offense. Per The Coachspeak Index, it sounds like Hunter's defensive snaps early in his rookie year will be more of the third-down/high-leverage variety. The 22-year-old second overall pick in this year's NFL draft is an elite athlete, but it's hard to gauge his fantasy value in Year 1 as he looks to play both sides of the ball. The good news is that the Jaguars appear to be planning on making him more of a focal point on offense early in his NFL career than on defense.

From RotoBaller

Chase Brown May 28 11:10am CT
Chase Brown

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (ankle) was photographed participating in Tuesday's OTAs. Brown had injured his ankle during Week 17 against the Denver Broncos last season, and it was enough to sideline him for the team's regular season finale in Week 18. Now, though, nearly five months later, it appears Brown is healthy. That's good news for Bengals fans and fantasy managers alike, as Brown finished his 2024 campaign with 1,350 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns. He was the overall RB10 in PPR leagues despite opening the year as the No. 2 running back and missing Week 18. Productive as a ball carrier and pass catcher, Brown should be a full-go for Week 1, allowing him to rank as a mid-to-low RB1 in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Darnell Mooney May 28 11:00am CT
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) participated during the first day of OTAs, according to Terrin Waack of the team's official website. It appears that Mooney is healthy and has fully recovered from the shoulder injury that sidelined him in Week 18 last year. In his first season as a Falcon, Mooney played in 16 games, catching 64 passes for 992 yards and five touchdowns. He was the overall WR31 in PPR leagues despite missing the season's final contest. The 27-year-old should continue to make a significant impact in 2025, as he projects to operate as the No. 2 receiver behind Drake London once again. In fact, he's only trending up now that the Falcons have a steady, dependable quarterback option in Michael Penix, who will operate as the starting quarterback for the full duration of training camp (unlike last year when he opened as the backup).

From RotoBaller

Malik Nabers May 28 11:00am CT
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (toe) is not practicing on Wednesday, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. The injury reportedly dates back to the receiver's time at LSU, and he just needs a rest day. Hughes' report suggests that the injury is not serious and that Nabers should return to practice soon. This is good news for the Giants and fantasy managers alike. Despite poor quarterback play, Nabers dominated during his rookie season, catching 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns through 15 games. He finished as the overall WR6 in PPR leagues, and he could presumably rank inside the top three in 2025 with a full season of Russell Wilson under center.

From RotoBaller

Mason Rudolph May 28 11:00am CT
Mason Rudolph

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph opened OTAs with the first-team offense on Tuesday, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. This news isn't much of a surprise, but it does confirm head coach Mike Tomlin's vision as full-team practices get underway this summer. Presumably, the starting quarterback job is Rudolph's to lose, barring an external quarterback addition such as Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins. Rudolph's internal competition comes from Skylar Thompson and rookie Will Howard. Thompson has completed just 58.7 percent of his career passes with one touchdown, three interceptions, and two fumbles. He primarily served as a backup over three seasons in Miami. Meanwhile, Howard is a rookie who impressed at Ohio State, but he has suboptimal draft capital as a sixth-round pick. On the other hand, Rudolph has shown flashes of potential during his time with the Steelers (2018-2023) and Titans (2024). In Tennessee last year, he completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,530 yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

From RotoBaller

Mitch Wishnowsky May 28 10:50am CT
Mitch Wishnowsky

The San Francisco 49ers have signed punter Thomas Morstead, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Morstead, a 16-year NFL veteran and former Pro Bowler, had been released by the New York Jets back in March. He averaged 48.2 yards per punt with the Jets, and he's only had one punt blocked through 255 career games. This signing could indicate that the 49ers aren't committed to Mitch Wishnowsky, who missed eight games due to injury last year and is coming off the worst season of his career.

From RotoBaller

Stefon Diggs May 28 12:43am CT
Stefon Diggs

New England Patriots WR Stefon Diggs (knee) could 'maybe reasonably' make his debut around Week 4, in the opinion of The Athletic's Chad Graff, who writes that Diggs' recovery and return to form will be essential for QB Drake Maye to take the next step. Diggs is recovering from a torn ACL suffered on Oct. 27, 2024.

Fantasy Spin: Signed to a three-year deal to give Maye a bonafide No. 1 receiver, Diggs is by far the most accomplished wideout in New England. How much he has left in the tank coming off major injury and entering his age-32 season is the question. If Graff is correct on the veteran's recovery timeline, we'd be looking at a best-case scenario of Diggs playing in 13-14 games, and that includes missing early season games when the weather is good. Given his track record, Diggs deserves consideration as a WR4 that could return to weekly start status once he's healthy and on the same page with Maye.

From TheHuddle

Kirk Cousins May 27 11:43pm CT
Kirk Cousins

Updating an earlier report, Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is expected to remain the backup for the Falcons this season, in the opinion of NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, who notes there's no financial incentive to release Cousins, whose contract contained $100 million in guarantees. Cousins, who Rapoport noted would prefer to be released, did not report for the start of Atlanta's organized team activities (OTAs) on Tuesday, May 27.

From TheHuddle

T.J. Watt May 27 2:33pm CT
T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Steelers LB T.J. Watt did not participate in organized team activities on Tuesday, May 27.

From TheHuddle

Bo Nix May 27 2:30pm CT
Bo Nix

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix enjoyed a fantastic rookie campaign, completing over 66% of his passes for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He added 430 yards and three scores as a runner. Heading into his sophomore campaign, the Auburn and Oregon product will have familiarity and stability he is not accustomed to. For the first time since high school, Nix will begin a season with the same head coach and play-caller in place in back-to-back seasons. He will also have the same quarterbacks coach, Davis Webb, and Nick Kosmider of The Athletic projects his starting offensive line to be the same as last year's group. Nix finished last year's season as the overall QB7, and new weapons, RJ Harvey, Evan Engram, and Pat Bryant, should provide upgrades over last year's supporting cast. Nix is being valued around the QB8 spot in early fantasy football drafts, but he could have top-five upside at the position thanks to his rushing floor and ceiling.

From RotoBaller

Keon Coleman May 27 2:20pm CT
Keon Coleman

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman had a modest rookie season after being selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Michigan State and Florida State product tallied 29 receptions on 57 targets for 556 yards and four scores. He ranked eighth among all NFL wideouts in average target distance (15.2), so he could develop into a legitimate deep threat for quarterback Josh Allen. So far this offseason, Coleman is drawing positive reviews. "When he came back, he was in really good shape," head coach Sean McDermott said. "You could tell he had been working drill-wise, weight room-wise, so really proud of what he's done to this point in the offseason." The sky is the limit for Coleman while catching passes from the reigning NFL MVP, and tight end Dalton Kincaid has not become Allen's go-to target as many expected when he was taken in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. At Coleman's WR5 price in half-PPR setups, he presents potential strong value for fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Jacory Croskey-Merritt May 27 2:10pm CT
Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Washington Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is a potential sleeper to watch during the team's offseason activities, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. "A back-end roster player who could garner significant attention in the offseason: Jacory Croskey-Merritt," Standig wrote. "The 5-foot-11, 208-pounder has the goods to get there despite sitting out nearly the entire 2024 college season with eligibility issues. If Kingsbury falls for this competitive runner's one-cut burst, there could be a running back room shake-up." The seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft spent the first four seasons of his collegiate career at Alabama State before a breakout season at New Mexico, where he rushed 189 times for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns. In 2024 at Arizona, he rushed 13 times for 106 yards and one score in one game appearance. While Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler remain penciled in as the RB1 and RB2 for Washington, it sounds like Croskey-Merritt is a name worth monitoring later in the offseason. If he makes the roster, he could be worth stashing in deeper redraft and dynasty leagues. Last season, third-string running back Jeremy McNichols popped up on the fantasy radar, so anything is possible.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Coker May 27 2:00pm CT
Jalen Coker

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (undisclosed) is working off to the side during Tuesday's practice as he deals with a soft-tissue injury. This move is out of an abundance of caution, according to head coach Dave Canales. After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Coker had a relatively productive rookie season. He secured 32 of his 46 targets for 478 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games. The Holy Cross product was on the fantasy football radar on occasion last season and earned at least five targets in five games. While the team added first-round wideout Tetairoa McMillan in the 2025 NFL Draft, Coker could emerge into a full-time starter if Adam Thielen continues to get banged up in his age-35 season. Either way, he should be left on the waiver wire in traditional leagues since he'll likely start the year behind McMillan, Thielen, and 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette.

From RotoBaller

Carl Davis May 27 1:53pm CT
Carl Davis

Free-agent DT Carl Davis (Commanders) signed an undisclosed contract with the Washington Commanders on Tuesday, May 27.

From TheHuddle