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 The six teams beginning minicamp are the Arizona Cardinals,
Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders
and San Francisco 49ers. The Rams do not have a minicamp, but will
hold OTAs again next week.
The biggest news from mandatory minicamps came from the Raiders,
Cardinals and Broncos.
Oakland's second-year quarterback, Derek Carr, returned from a
minor, although mysterious, finger injury and threw the ball
extremely well Tuesday.
"I'm 100 percent," he said. "If I could be more than 100 percent I
am more than 100 percent. I love throwing the ball. It was hard not
to throw."
Arizona had similar news with quarterback Carson Palmer's return to
full practice.
In Englewood, Colo., Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas was not
at Tuesday's minicamp workout, but is not mandated to be there
because he is not under contract.
In Atlanta, meanwhile, the Falcons went through their OTA workouts
without Vic Beasley, the outside linebacker they took with the No. 8
overall pick. He has a strained shoulder.
Here is a closer look at NFL camp action Tuesday:
--Denver Broncos: The Broncos' minicamp began Tuesday with no sign
of wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. He won't be fined for missing the
mandatory three days of work because he isn't under contract. He has
not signed his franchise tender.
But the Broncos signed their last two franchise players to long-term
deals, and coach Gary Kubiak expects that Thomas will become the
third by the July 15 deadline.
"I'm very confident," Kubiak said." (General manager) John (Elway)
and I talk about it all the time."
In the meantime, wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert is one of the
primary points of contact with Thomas, passing along information
about the tweaked offense. Quarterback Peyton Manning and wide
receiver Emmanuel Sanders have also been in contact with Thomas.
--Defensive end Antonio Smith received an excused absence from
minicamp as allegations of child abuse against him remain
unresolved.
A complaint filed in Fort Bend (Tex.) County last November accused
Smith of abuse that was "sexual in nature." The allegations have
been under the purview of the District Attorney's Office there for
four months, but the Broncos said they did not become aware of them
until May 20. No charges have been filed, but Smith has not taken
part in an OTA session and will not until the matter is cleared, per
team request.
--New York Jets: Frustrated defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson
grudgingly joined his teammates Tuesday for the opening of this
week's mandatory minicamp.
Wilkerson, who stayed away from voluntary OTAs as negotiations on a
contract extension moved at a glacial pace between his agent Chad
Wiestling and new Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan, didn't do
much to hide his unhappiness but also indicated he wouldn't play the
holdout card.
"If I have to play under my contract, so be it," Wilkerson said.
Wilkerson is due $6.97 million this season in the final year of his
rookie contract. He wasn't fined for missing any of the OTAs, but
could have been docked $72,000 if he missed the minicamp.
"Mo is and has always been a team-first player and is willing to put
the team ahead of his own contractual status," Wiestling said in a
statement. "Mo loves being a member of the Jets and would prefer to
finish his career in New York."
--The Jets had two notable absences in Tuesday's practice.
Second-year tight end Jace Amaro, who exited last Wednesday's
practice with a back injury, remained on the sideline as a
precaution. And rookie wide receiver Devin Smith missed the workout
to attend the birth of his child.
--Oakland Raiders: Quarterback Derek Carr was back at practice just
in time for the start of minicamp after taking a break from throwing
for what he estimates was between 30 to 40 days as he rehabbed a
reported injury to the ring finger on his throwing hand.
Carr conceded Tuesday he was rusty and eased into the practice,
throwing deep passes with touch and never appearing to unleash
passes at full velocity. But Carr got better as he went along and
took all his reps with the first team after missing all previous
organized team activity sessions.
"I am 100 percent," Carr said. "If you could be more than 100,
that's where I am at."
Neither Carr nor coach Jack Del Rio ever divulged the specific
nature of the injury and that didn't change with Carr back at
practice.
"It's a non-issue," Del Rio said. "We haven't talked a lot about it
to this point and we're not going to start now."
--Free safety Charles Woodson was not only at the team's mandatory
minicamp, but also had perfect attendance through weight training as
well as the organized team activity sessions, eschewing the
veteran's prerogative to miss an occasional voluntary workout.
"I think this is the first time in my 18-year career that I've been
to every practice," Woodson said. "I sat down with Jack before it
all started and we talked about the importance and what he wanted
from this team and him wanting me here. I honestly didn't plan on
being here at every practice, but I'm here. I understood completely
what he was talking about."
--Atlanta Falcons: Outside linebacker Vic Beasley, the Falcons'
first-round draft pick this year, sat out most team drills Tuesday
because of a strained shoulder.
With a rash of rookie injuries around the NFL during OTAs, the move
made sense because the eighth overall pick in the draft remains
unsigned.
Beasley appeared fine while moving through the individual drills.
When the action picked up on the 11-on-11 situational scrimmages, he
was on the sideline.
He wasn't too concerned about his injury. It is not known how or
when he suffered the strained shoulder.
"It's going good," said Beasley, the team's only unsigned rookie
draft pick. "I'm not worried about that. It's all about football and
being just the best that I can be and help out the team. The
contract should be done here pretty soon."
The Falcons have high hopes for Beasley, who had 33 sacks over his
career at Clemson.
"He's got an opportunity to be real special," Falcons defensive
coordinator Richard Smith said. "He's been limited a little bit, to
just individual drills."
--Philadelphia Eagles: The leading candidate to be the Eagles'
season-opening starting safety opposite Malcolm Jenkins is Walter
Thurmond.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Thurmond, signed by the Eagles as a free
agent in March, has spent his entire career as a cornerback. But in
the Eagles' defensive scheme, the top priority for their safeties is
coverage rather than run defense. So the transition isn't as
difficult as it might be in some other schemes that use their
safeties up in the box.
Thurmond played inside quite a bit as a nickel corner, which
wouldn't be all that different than playing safety for defensive
coordinator Bill Davis.
Thurmond had the option of staying at corner and competing for the
starting job against Nolan Carroll and rookie second-round pick Eric
Rowe, or moving to safety. He opted for safety.
"I opted to go to safety because of the defense we play," he said.
"There's going to be a lot of opportunities to make plays on the
ball. They felt confident in me to be able to move to that
position."
The other two top candidates for that safety job were second-year
NFL player Jaylen Watkins and Earl Wolff. But Watkins is playing
corner right now, and Wolff hasn't taken a snap in OTAs because of a
knee injury. He was cleared by the doctors to practice, but still
hasn't done anything beyond stretching.
--Eagles coach Chip Kelly said Tuesday that quarterback Sam
Bradford, acquired in a trade that sent quarterback Nick Foles to
St. Louis, is "right on track" with his recovery but they haven't
talked about when Bradford will be healthy. "Sam's done a great job
whether it's in the meeting room or in the weight room or team
meeting, or just side of the ball meeting," Kelly said.
Bradford, who missed 25 games in the last two seasons, is recovering
from his second torn ACL and is not fully cleared to take part in
workouts.
Kelly has not declared a No. 1 quarterback on a roster that includes
Bradford, Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley, Tim Tebow and G.J. Kinne.
--Kansas City Chiefs: Head coach Andy Reid says this is the year the
Chiefs must step up with no excuses. The coaching staff, offensive
and defensive systems and quarterback have been in place three
years.
Reid's version of the west coast scheme gets tweaked a bit every
season, but with quarterback Alex Smith in place, along with the
head coach calling the plays and Doug Pederson serving as offensive
coordinator, there are no more excuses for the unit.
After Smith, the most important constant in three years for Reid's
offense is running back Jamaal Charles. He is coming off a less
productive season in which he was bothered from training camp by
nagging injuries. Charles worked very hard in the first half of 2015
getting his body prepared for the grind of training camp and a
16-game schedule.
"He is a unique person because he is a great leader in our room; he
leads by example," said running backs coach Eric Bieniemy. "He is
out there every day working his tail off and the thing that I
appreciate about him is that he brings his professionalism into the
classroom. What he does on the field speaks for itself. But he
brings professionalism each and every day and that's all you can ask
for."
The Chiefs' offense now waits for the offensive line to come
together, with the possibility there could be four new starters.
Those decisions can't be made until the linemen on both sides of the
line of scrimmage can get physical.
But come August, the Chiefs' offensive line must catch up quickly.
--Indianapolis Colts: Quarterback Andrew Luck obviously loves to
throw the football. But he also knows the value of having a running
game. So Luck is enthused with the arrival of running back Frank
Gore, the San Francisco career record holder who signed with the
Colts as a free agent this year.
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"He's picked up on a bunch of stuff that guys who have been here
three years haven't picked up," Luck said Tuesday as the Colts began
their mandatory, three-day minicamp.
Luck added that he learned a few things from the former 49er as
well.
"He reads the body tilt of the safety," the quarterback said,
admitting that it was something that he hadn't noticed in three
years.
For his part, Gore is looking forward to seeing how opposing teams
try to defend the Indianapolis running game.
"I've never seen a six-man front," he said. "Hopefully, this year it
happens. And, hopefully, I can take advantage of it. With these
weapons and Luck, I think it should be a light box."
Meanwhile, Luck was complimented by another new player. Signed after
being released by the division-rival Houston Texans, wide receiver
Andre Johnson said he believes Luck is the best quarterback in the
NFL.
Johnson noted that he's "never played with a great quarterback" in
the NFL before. He also raved about how great a ball Luck throws.
"Can't say I've been fortunate enough to play with a great
quarterback in my 12 years in the league," Johnson said. "I'm able
to play with one now."
--Washington Redskins: When cornerback DeAngelo Hall arrived in
Washington in November 2008, he was just cut by Oakland only seven
games into a seven-year, $72 million contract that followed his
being asked not to re-sign with Atlanta after making two Pro Bowls.
With the Redskins, Hall publicly questioned then-defensive
coordinator Jim Haslett and confronted officials during games. But
as Hall aged, he also matured. So now, at 31, he's considered a wise
old head and a leader even as he has been extremely limited this
spring while recovering from the left Achilles he tore twice last
fall.
"I've really been impressed with DeAngelo," said Joe Barry, who
replaced Haslett in January. "He's been in every single meeting for
the last six weeks. He's taking notes. He's a phenomenal leader.
I've really, really been pleasantly surprised."
Hall, whom a couple of younger teammates have teasingly called
'coach,' has been forced into a spectator role even though he feels
like he can practice. The Redskins allowed him to participate in
individual drills during the first week of organized team activities
before shutting him down until training camp begins in Richmond,
Va., in late July.
San Francisco 49ers: Head coach Jim Tomsula announced the 49ers were
opening this minicamp with newcomer Erik Pears as his starting right
tackle, replacing the retired Anthony Davis.
The coach also noted the position will have open competition, led by
starting right guard Alex Boone and seventh-round pick Trent Brown.
"That's what he's played. ... That's what we've evaluated him most
at," Tomsula said of Pears, who started at guard for the Buffalo
Bills last season after spending the rest of his NFL career as a
tackle. "He's bigger and stronger than he's ever been. He's really
moving well."
If Pears retains the job, he almost surely will be lined up next to
Boone. If Pears were to lose the job to Boone, they could still be
lined up next to each other -- only with Pears at guard and Boone at
tackle.
"Alex can go to tackle," Tomsula said. "We've been playing guys at
different spots, and you'll see that over the course of the
(three-day minicamp)."
--The only signed player not attending the minicamp is first-round
draft pick Arik Armstead.
The defensive lineman's absence is excused, as NFL rules do not
allow a rookie to attend team functions until after his school has
completed its finals. The University of Oregon is wrapping up its
class schedule this week.
--Fifth-round draft pick, punter Bradley Pinion, figured his only
chance to make the team was as a kickoff specialist.
But Pinion, the only kicker selected in the draft this year, became
the club's punter and field-goal holder the minute the 49ers traded
punter Andy Lee to Cleveland last week for a conditional
seventh-round pick in the 2017 draft.
"We all love Andy Lee," Tomsula said Tuesday. "Obviously, we have
faith in Pinion. I absolutely have confidence in the guy."
--Arizona Cardinals: Quarterback Carson Palmer participated in a
full practice Tuesday for the first time since suffering a torn
anterior cruciate ligament seven months ago.
Palmer's rehabilitation was without incident and in three weeks of
organized team activities, he took part in all phases of practice
other than 11-on-11.
"It's as fast as he can go now," head coach Bruce Arians told
reporters. "The training wheels are off. He's ready to roll."
Arians thought Palmer was close to flawless, throwing only one bad
pass for the entire practice.
"I thought his movement in the pocket; there was no hesitation or
anything," Arians said. "I had some hesitation a couple times when
some of those guys fell down in front of him. But other than that,
it was really good."
Also on Tuesday, Arians held out the possibility that star
cornerback Patrick Peterson could be in the mix at punt returner
this year. He looked particularly good during one return on Tuesday.
St. Louis Rams: The Rams selected four offensive linemen in this
year's draft and it's possible two will be starters on the right
side when the season opens. Second-round pick Rob Havenstein has
been working with the first unit at right tackle in OTAs and
third-round pick Jamon Brown at right guard.
It's possible free-agent addition Garrett Reynolds could end up
starting at guard, but either way the right side will feature
newcomers after right tackle Joe Barksdale signed with San Diego and
right guard Davin Joseph wasn't re-signed.
There will also be a new starter at center after the March release
of Scott Wells, and while none of the current candidates is a
rookie, there isn't much game experience either. That's why line
coach Paul Boudreau has been rotating all three players -- Barrett
Jones, Tim Barnes and Demetrius Rhaney -- during OTAs on a daily
basis among the first, second and third units.
A fourth-round pick in 2013, Jones arrived in St. Louis with a
Lisfranc injury to his foot suffered in the SEC Championship Game
that required surgery. He played just three games as a rookie, and
then played only seven last season after undergoing back surgery.
Barnes has been with the Rams since 2011 and played 45 games, mostly
on special teams. He did get his feet wet as a starter for four
games in 2013 when Wells was injured. Rhaney was a seventh-round
pick last year and missed the entire season after suffering a knee
injury in training camp.
Obviously, whoever starts on Sept. 13 against Seattle won't have a
lot of games under his belt.
Head coach Jeff Fisher said, "We're not going to make a decision
real early. We'll let them all play. We're rotating them. They're
all getting opportunities to work with (quarterback) Nick (Foles),
so he's familiar, not only with the exchanges, but also the
communication. We'll make that decision when somebody shows us he's
earned the job."
--Seattle Seahawks: With the debut of tight end Jimmy Graham, the
constant talk of quarterback Russell Wilson's contract, and the
absences of players such as defensive end Michael Bennett and
linebacker Bruce Irvin, this has been a rare time that the Legion of
Boom has been almost overlooked in Seattle.
But in a way, the famed Seattle secondary has been one of the most
positive developments during Seattle's offseason -- specifically,
that its health situation appears much better than might have been
anticipated when the Super Bowl ended Feb. 1.
Seattle played that game with almost everyone in the secondary
ailing or getting hurt in the game, led by its big-name trio of
safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas and cornerback Richard
Sherman.
Chancellor sprained his MCL two days before the Super Bowl and was
regarded by some within the organization as questionable to play
until a workout on the field a couple hours prior to kickoff.
Sherman played the game with an injured left elbow, suffered in the
NFC title game win over Green Bay. Thomas, likewise, played with a
shoulder that had been dislocated in the win over the Packers.
As the team left the field in Glendale, Ariz., there was some
thought all three might have to have offseason surgery.
Instead, Chancellor and Sherman were not only able to avoid surgery
but they recovered well enough to take part as full participants in
OTAs.
Thomas, meanwhile, had surgery but is expected back for the start of
the season.
Chancellor met the media two weeks ago and said not only is he back
to full health, but that he feels as good at this point in the
offseason as at any time in his Seattle career, due in part to being
able to return to offseason conditioning quickly (he's had surgeries
in past offseasons that delayed his return to offseason activities).
Sherman, meanwhile, met the media following Seattle's OTA on Tuesday
and said he also feels like he will be as good as ever once the
regular season rolls around.
"I'm hopefully limitless," he said. "Like the movie."
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