Buccaneers
- It is possible that the Buccaneers placed running backs Raymond Calais and Aca’Cedric Ware on the COVID-19 list as a precaution, as they were in contact with fellow RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who was placed on the list earlier this week. It’s worth mentioning that this does not indicate they have tested positive. (Greg Auman)
- Buccaneers waived WR Jaydon Mickens, LB Nasir Player, and WR Spencer Schnell. (NFLTR)
Panthers
The Panthers’ first-team activities of training camp will be the first time HC Matt Rhule has seen his players in person since taking the job. Without the benefit of OTAs or offseason workouts, Rhule will be starting from scratch and as a new face in the league doesn’t have the benefit of past experience. However, he’s taking it in stride.
“Yeah, it’s less than ideal,” Rhule said via Myles Simmons of the team’s website. “I mean, even as we’re making decisions right now, we’re making decisions based off of meeting rooms and things like that. But it just is what it is. There’s nothing worse than a football coach who complains.”
Rhule pointed out he’s well-versed in needing to make key roster decisions off of practice coming from the college game, where the time the staff can spend with players is strictly regimented and controlled. So in that sense, he has an edge over some of his more experienced NFL coaching counterparts.
“I’ve had to utilize practices and scrimmages to make evaluations. So I’m going to rely on our coaching staff, rely on our personnel staff, on (GM) Marty (Hurney), his people,” Rhule said. “This is really a time for our players — young players, old players — if they have a meeting, whether it’s virtual or in person, they’ve got to be great at it. If they go out to the practice field and get a couple reps, they’ve got to be great at them. They’ve got to really show what they can do in a controlled environment.”
- According to Field Yates, the Panthers placed a waiver claim for CB Ryan Lewis on Thursday, but Washington had the higher priority.
Saints
- Katherine Terrell writes that with LB Kiko Alonso coming off a third ACL issue, LB Zack Baun having no offseason and an unclear position, and LB Alex Anzalone‘s injury history, the linebacker position is probably the biggest question for the Saints. They now add LB Nigel Bradham into the fold.
- Mike Triplett notes that in Bradham, the Saints added an experienced, talented player at one of their thinnest positions and that the No. 2 and 3 linebacker spots next to Demario Davis are wide open.
- Nick Underhill says that Bradham is a solid coverage linebacker and will give the Saints some additional depth at a position where there has been some injury history and that his addition should shore up that position group.
Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!
