Best of Wednesday's NFL minicamps: OBJ, Lamar Jackson getting into rhythm
It’s Day 2 of mandatory minicamp for the 21 teams that didn’t start last week, including the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the entire AFC South — where two of the top three quarterbacks taken in the 2023 NFL draft reside. Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick, is also in action with his Carolina Panthers.
Two teams, the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles, chose not to have mandatory minicamps.
Here are some snapshots, some by ESPN’s NFL Nation reporters who are on the scene, from Wednesday’s minicamp action:
Jump to the best of the day:
Photos | Videos | Quotes
Top news of the day
Justin Herbert not planning to ‘hold-in’ during training camp
The Chargers broke their two-day mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, bound for a six-week break before reporting to training camp in late July. While uncertainty remains regarding a timeline for a contract extension for quarterback Justin Herbert, this much is clear: Herbert intends to be on the field at training camp and will have a full arsenal of playmakers to distribute the football to.
Bills’ Stefon Diggs back practicing after his absence
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs is present and participating in the team’s mandatory minicamp practice Wednesday. His attendance comes a day after he was not present at the team’s first minicamp practice.
Lamar Jackson relishing chance to play with ‘legend’ OBJ
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson acknowledged this offseason that he requested the team sign wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. This week, Jackson has gotten a chance to work with a wide receiver he has long admired for the first time. “Odell is a legend to a lot of us [with] what he did early in his career and the [2021 season] when he was with the Rams,” Jackson said Wednesday. “Odell is him, one of those guys.”
Source: Texans’ Maliek Collins to sign 2-year, $23M extension
The Houston Texans will sign defensive tackle Maliek Collins to a two-year, $23 million extension that includes $20 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Bucs’ Lavonte David said emotions got best of Devin White
Inside linebacker Devin White allowed emotions to get the best of him when he requested a trade this offseason, longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers team captain Lavonte David said Wednesday. White reported to minicamp to avoid a holdout, but he isn’t practicing with the team and instead has watched from the sideline. “Emotions got the best of him, but he’s here,” said David, who has mentored White since he was selected fifth overall in the 2019 NFL draft. “He’s ready to work. He’s not ready to go right now but he’s getting himself ready for training camp. I talked to him throughout the whole process.”
Seeking deal, Colts’ Jonathan Taylor wary of how NFL values RBs
Jonathan Taylor has assessed the current economic attitudes toward running backs in the NFL, and the All-Pro is beginning to wonder what it all means for him. The Indianapolis Colts star said Wednesday that recent developments with backs such as Dalvin Cook, Saquon Barkley and others have given him reason for pause as he embarks on his own contract negotiations. Taylor, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract, is guardedly optimistic.
Other news:
Best videos
He’s here. 😁#GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/dMbkdV5Gh2
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) June 14, 2023
Good energy geauxing around https://t.co/0VXO9o9sFV
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) June 14, 2023
Lamar Jackson said Odell Beckham Jr. looked smooth in their first practice together pic.twitter.com/bH9C1y2lIq
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) June 14, 2023
With all the focus on Jordan Love, the young pass-catchers and the changing offense, don’t forget the Packers used the 13th overall pick on this guy: pic.twitter.com/jU2lwyNN6e
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) June 14, 2023
CJ Stroud :rocket: Jalen Camp pic.twitter.com/uI743wryPD
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) June 14, 2023
QB1 can throw a football over them mountains 😎@PatrickMahomes x @WatchJRoss pic.twitter.com/XivOGhGQsC
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 14, 2023
Putting in work. 😤 pic.twitter.com/V9g5yzEfLt
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 14, 2023
A look at how Shaq Barrett is coming along in his rehab from a torn Achilles in Week 8. His goal all along has been to be ready for training camp. Coach Bowles told me Barrett is “one of the mentally toughest character guys I know.” pic.twitter.com/TSNlvKpHPd
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) June 14, 2023
that ball placement thooo pic.twitter.com/PXLEmlJXlx
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) June 14, 2023
Panthers QB Bryce Young takes accountability in all he does, including having a red zone pass batted down today. He also keeps it in perspective. pic.twitter.com/kW4fDlsj9U
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) June 14, 2023
Last day of camp vibes 🕺🕺@cjham28 @AlexMattison22 @d1roy1000 pic.twitter.com/R9Q9NZKMJM
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 14, 2023
The final play of OTAs.@DevonWitherspo1 closed it out in style! 🥄 pic.twitter.com/aLLtGOJ7FT
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) June 14, 2023
Jaire Alexander interrupts this press conference with a message about – and a message for – Jordan Love. pic.twitter.com/4VLqv4BiKk
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) June 14, 2023
📍 Last day of minicamp! pic.twitter.com/FeRqBEXWzS
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 14, 2023
Kenny Pickett is 10 days out from his wedding, so he and his fiancée are driving home to New Jersey on Friday, so they’re missing the Taylor Swift concert at Acrisure.
Only reporting on the biggest news and asking the most important questions. pic.twitter.com/cckeBjU3js
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) June 14, 2023
Excuse me!
Coming through
Coming through pic.twitter.com/OxmHzI4XOE— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) June 14, 2023
What we are hearing
#Titans HC Mike Vrabel said the Patriots joint practices will happen this year. They’ll practice together on that Tuesday and Wednesday before playing each other on Friday.
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) June 14, 2023
A team-building, no-practice day for Patriots on Day 3 of mandatory minicamp.
There was a sense of finality after Tuesday’s practice. They went through everything, including contingency personnel situations (e.g. backup QB steps in, backup C steps in etc.).
So now, some fun.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) June 14, 2023
Colts’ rookie fifth-round pick, safety Daniel Scott, tore his ACL on the last play of OTA’s last week and was placed on the Injured Reserve list today, per source. Scott is now out for the season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 14, 2023
(2/2) “… and then picked up those conversations after practice. So, let me make it clear, it was not Stef leaving unexcused, he was excused by me, and so those conversations, have got us to a, to what I think and believe is a great spot.”
— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) June 14, 2023
👀 from Kirk Cousins today on the recently-released Dalvin Cook: “I’m excited to see where he goes, I’ll always be pulling for him and I’m kind of optimistically hoping maybe we get him back. Who knows. Maybe there is an outside chance. We’ll see.”
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) June 14, 2023
“It’s what we get paid to do – play football. So I was with whatever decision he made.” – Chargers WR Mike Williams, speaking with reporters for the first time since the Week 18 debacle that resulted in him suffering a back injury that caused him to miss the playoffs.
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) June 14, 2023
Bills final day of mini camp practice on Thursday has been cancelled.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 14, 2023
Justin Herbert on possibility of training camp hold-in if contract is unsettled: “When it comes time to camp, the role of the quarterback is to be out there for his team and to do everything he can to put that team in a position to win. I understand that responsibility.”
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) June 14, 2023
Teven Jenkins on Justin Fields: “He carries himself like a 10 year vet. Just seeing how he commands the huddle and what he wants to see out of all of us, it’s like a wake up call for me to see that I need to start pushing myself to get on that level.”
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) June 14, 2023
Best photos
“He continues to amaze us all.”
Damar Hamlin is showing out at practice: https://t.co/nszBJWtJiZ pic.twitter.com/JPFWhEfsWb
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) June 14, 2023
It was an honor to have Grant Hill and Calvin Hill join us to watch today’s practice! 🏈🏀 pic.twitter.com/waJha2Sd2q
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) June 14, 2023
QB1 is present for Day 2 of minicamp. pic.twitter.com/AEZHKcSLrn
— Ben Baby (@ben.baby) June 14, 2023
Mood for Minicamp Day :v: pic.twitter.com/YBEm3ZUo9N
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) June 14, 2023
School’s out for summer ☀️ pic.twitter.com/ikmDaI3J7c
— New York Giants (@Giants) June 14, 2023
visor gang or don’t bang pic.twitter.com/aKtljU2aFd
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) June 14, 2023
Backfield Bros. @ajdillon7 🤞 @Showtyme_33 #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/R2nLlqm4fb
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) June 14, 2023
The road to recovery💪 pic.twitter.com/h9gtQgk2uf
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) June 14, 2023
The Media Day LED set. 🤌 pic.twitter.com/Gq42SPAErK
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 14, 2023
Cheesin’ 😁
📸 https://t.co/zzULZQb4if | @LaMachinery pic.twitter.com/y61fJS21Kr
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) June 14, 2023
Vibing and thriving. 😁#GoHawks x @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/HapNuqIDfF
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) June 14, 2023
That’s a wrap from minicamp.
📸: https://t.co/ll07Kug73S pic.twitter.com/SyMpHQL2bp
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) June 14, 2023
no minicamp, but we got mini players! pic.twitter.com/DnNvJrzZcj
— New York Jets (@nyjets) June 14, 2023
