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NFL notebook: Eagles' Wentz eyes Week 1 return

[April 18, 2018] About four months since he underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament in his left leg, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz says Week 1 of the 2018 season is still his targeted return date.

"Yeah, that's still the plan," Wentz told reporters Tuesday when asked about being ready for the season opener, noting he does not feel as if he must participate in the preseason to be prepared.

Wentz, 25, also said he's begun the "running progression" of his rehab and is "feeling good," but he didn't offer many more details regarding his recovery. He injured his knee Dec. 10 and had surgery three days later. Most ACL injuries are estimated to require nine to 12 months for a full recovery.

"It's such a fluid process, it's so hard to put a timeframe and a timetable on these things," he said. "I wish I knew as well, but things are going well, and I'm happy with where I'm at."

--Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has lingering discontent over some of the team's offseason moves and his lack of input regarding changes that directly impact him, according to a Yahoo Sports report.

Yahoo's Charles Robinson quoted a league source saying Rodgers is both "frustrated" and "emotional" over his lack of communication with the front office prior to major offseason moves, most prominently the firing of quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt and release of wide receiver Jordy Nelson. Rodgers, 34, has two years remaining on his contract.

"Both of those decisions (with Nelson and Van Pelt) were made without him," a league source close to Rodgers told Robinson. "In both situations, he had no influence with (the front office) before anything went down."

--Quarterback Jameis Winston will remain in Tampa Bay for at least two more years. The Buccaneers picked up Winston's $20,922,000 fifth-year option and are reportedly ready to begin working on a bigger deal with the No. 1 pick in the 2015 draft.

The option covers the 2019 season, meaning Winston would become a free agent in March 2020. However, the Buccaneers are making it clear there is no intention to let Winston out of Tampa.

Winston signed a rookie four-year deal worth $25.35 million in May 2015. The 24-year-old has 69 touchdowns and 44 interceptions in his career.

--New York Jets center Nick Mangold announced his retirement.

Mangold, 34, did not play in 2017 after being released by the Jets. He will sign a ceremonial contract on April 24 with the team before filing official retirement paperwork with the NFL.

The Jets drafted Mangold 29th overall in 2006. He started as a rookie, played in 164 career games and was named to seven Pro Bowls.

--Dez Bryant has said he would like to stay in the NFC East following his release by the Dallas Cowboys. Playing for one team in particular in the division appears to be an exciting thought for the wide receiver.

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Bryant said joining the New York Giants would "be crazy" in an interview with 247Sports.com.

Bryant has told multiple outlets since being released last Friday that he'd like to play the Cowboys twice a year. The 29-year-old didn't speak specifically to the Eagles or Washington Redskins in the interview.

--Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas was not present at the start of the team's voluntary offseason conditioning program, according to multiple media reports.

Thomas, who will turn 29 in May, is seeking an extension as he enters the final year of his contract and has been the subject of trade discussions this offseason, with the team openly listening to offers despite not outright shopping him.

The three-time All-Pro tweeted a lengthy message on Twitter in March asserting his desire to remain a Seahawk, but he has also suggested he will stay away from the team until he receives a new contract.

--The San Francisco 49ers reworked offensive tackle Joe Staley's contract to give the veteran a pay bump over the next two seasons, according to NFL Network.

Staley, originally set to make $11 million combined in 2018 and '19, will now make $17.4 million the next two seasons. This season, Staley will make $8.72 million instead of the $5.5 million he was due.

Staley has been one of the 49ers' most reliable players since he was drafted 28th overall in 2007. The 33-year-old has started all 158 games he has played in and is a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time second-team All-Pro.

--Seahawks defensive tackle Malik McDowell sustained "extensive brain/eye trauma" in last summer's ATV accident and likely will not play again, according to a report from Yahoo Sports.

The report comes a day after NFL Network reported Seattle is expected to release McDowell -- the team's first pick in 2017, taken in the second round (35th overall) -- in the near future, without him ever playing an NFL snap. McDowell has not yet been medically cleared by the Seahawks.

The 21-year-old sustained what head coach Pete Carroll later called "a really bad concussion" and facial injuries in mid-July last year near his home in Michigan. The team has since offered few specifics regarding McDowell's health, but it did confirm that he did not fracture his skull.

--Field Level Media

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