NFL Minicamp: Sanders shines, McCaffrey healthy, and more league news

2025 Mandatory NFL Minicamps: Alofoke Deportes Weekly Recap

This week, the mandatory NFL minicamps for 2025 have kicked off. Alofoke Deportes offers you comprehensive coverage with the highlights of each team, including position battles, appearances by new faces, statements from coaches and players, as well as updates on injuries. Here’s a summary of what you need to know about the league:

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Contents

2025 Mandatory NFL Minicamps: Alofoke Deportes Weekly Recap NFL Weekly Headlines What Our Reporters Saw in the NFL This Week

Linebacker Germaine Pratt agrees to a one-year contract with the Raiders. J.K. Dobbins: “It’s obvious” to join the rising Broncos. The Steelers’ offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, expects more balance with Aaron Rodgers. Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore feels healthy and “explosive”. Micah Parsons at the Cowboys’ minicamp, the extension still up in the air.

What Our Reporters Saw in the NFL This Week

Pittsburgh Steelers

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers compared third-year tight end Darnell Washington to Marcedes Lewis. Rodgers watched the team’s final two-minute practice drill from the bench on Wednesday. Washington finished practice by converting a pass from rookie Will Howard into a touchdown, running into the end zone from about 20 yards.

By Brooke Pryor (6/11)

Cleveland Browns

While rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders hasn’t been seen taking reps with the first team, he took a series of snaps with the second-team offense during 11-on-11 drills, ahead of fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. Sanders continued his strong spring, throwing a short touchdown in red zone drills. On the play, he manipulated multiple linebackers by moving his eyes to his left before coming back to his right and finding an open window to direct a pass to tight end Brenden Bates in the end zone.

After the second day of the mandatory minicamp, coach Kevin Stefanski dodged multiple questions about Sanders not getting reps with the first team.

“We are in our installation phase,” Stefanski said. “It’s the offseason, it’s OTAs, so we’re going to keep the focus there. Once you get into training camp, of course, you’re getting ready to play games and, ultimately, getting ready to play the season. But right now, that’s not our focus.”
Daniel Oyefusi (6/11)

Los Angeles Chargers

Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II was the most impressive receiver of the second day of minicamp. Gadsden outmuscled defenders for multiple receptions during the day, including one down the sideline with veteran cornerback Donte Jackson on him. Gadsden, a fifth-round pick out of Syracuse, is shaping up to be a key piece in the Chargers’ offense this season.

“I really think he’s going to ascend rapidly,” coordinator Greg Roman said about Gadsden. “But he’s showing really good things. And like any rookie, he’s learning a lot along the way.”
Kris Rhim (6/11)

Las Vegas Raiders

The accuracy of Raiders quarterback Geno Smith was on display early Wednesday. He threw a pair of touchdown passes to wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and tight end Michael Mayer. On the throw to Mayer, the third-year tight end did a good job of getting past two safeties before Smith found him in the end zone for the score. The defense, however, rallied towards the end of practice. Smith had a pass deflected and intercepted by nickel cornerback Darnay Holmes. Moments later, defensive end Maxx Crosby perfectly read Smith’s screen pass, resulting in a pick-six and a jubilant celebration from the entire defense.

By Ryan McFadden (6/11)

Denver Broncos

When the Broncos signed safety Talanoa Hufanga in free agency, they certainly hoped he would bring his high-intensity, high-impact style of play to their defense. But they’ve learned about another of his strengths during minicamp: pre-snap communication. 49ers general manager John Lynch, a Hall of Fame safety, had consistently praised Hufanga’s pre-snap communication in his four seasons with the team. That ability has been evident at Denver’s minicamp alongside safety Brandon Jones, especially in red zone work. The two have worked together seamlessly and have given defensive coordinator Vance Joseph even more options in coverages.

“I’d say we’re both very good at multitasking. We can do a lot of different things, whatever is asked of us,” Jones said. “We can have a lot of freedom and be comfortable with whoever comes down (to the line of scrimmage) in certain situations.”
Jeff Legwold (6/11)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Defensive end Haason Reddick said Wednesday that not participating in OTAs and training on his own was about “having everything buttoned up.”

“I don’t want distractions. When I come here, I want to be able to play good football. I don’t want anyone to worry about, ‘Oh, he has this going on…'”
Jenna Laine (6/11)

Arizona Cardinals

Will Johnson, the second-round selection, was in uniform for Wednesday’s minicamp practice but did not participate. On Tuesday, coach Jonathan Gannon said Johnson would be among a handful of players the Cardinals would take things easy with during minicamp, though he didn’t elaborate on the decision behind that. Johnson participated in OTAs earlier this month. A handful of injured players worked on the side of the practice as minicamp continued.

By Josh Weinfuss (6/11)

Buffalo Bills

At the end of the Bills’ second minicamp practice on Wednesday, first-round cornerback Maxwell Hairston was seen talking to athletic trainers about an apparent lower-body injury. He walked off the field unassisted at the end of practice with head athletic trainer Nathan Breske towards the training room. During the mandatory minicamp, several players have been absent due to injuries, including safety Cole Bishop, running back Ty Johnson, center Connor McGovern, and defensive end Joey Bosa (calf). Bosa has begun working on the side with head strength and conditioning coach Will Greenberg during practices. Coach Sean McDermott said on Tuesday that he had no concerns about the availability of the injured players for the start of training camp.

By Alaina Getzenberg (6/11)

Green Bay Packers

For a guy who once said he was “trying to figure out what’s bigger than a Super Bowl touchdown catch,” a catch at the end of a June minicamp practice might not seem like much. But Mecole Hardman’s 74-yard touchdown catch to end the Packers’ practice on Wednesday served as a significant play, a year after he caught the game-winning touchdown for the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. Hardman isn’t guaranteed a roster spot with Green Bay, joining the team with a $150,000 signing bonus and a minimum-salary contract.

“The opportunity is good enough for me,” Hardman said, “and I just have to go out there and seize it.”
Rob Demovsky (6/11)

The 27-year-old player is now part of a crowded receiver room that became even more so with the Packers’ selection of Matthew Golden (first round) and Savion Williams (third round). Hardman’s best chance to make the team could be as a kick returner. But Wednesday’s touchdown was a reminder of what he has been able to do in the past.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers completed their offseason program on Wednesday and did so with running back Christian McCaffrey feeling as good as he has in some time. McCaffrey not only participated in all phases of the organized team activities and mandatory minicamp, but he was one of the few Niners stars to take reps in team drills. He seems to have come through it well, a good sign for the Niners given his importance to their success.

“I feel great,” McCaffrey said. “I think this offseason I spent a lot of time building a base from scratch, so a lot of it was rehabilitation and I wanted to put myself in a position where I wouldn’t miss a day of OTAs and could practice and play football again, be healthy and not miss a day, and I did.”
Nick Wagoner (6/11)

Dallas Cowboys

Micah Parsons said he would do some work on the field on Wednesday if his back loosened up. He wasn’t lying. He went through individual passing drills after watching the initial period of practice. He was given a helmet and went through some takeoff work and “cutting the edge” drills. He even helped serve as a center in some of the work he didn’t do.

The Cowboys have a walk-through practice on Thursday to close out the offseason program and report to Oxnard, California, on July 20. Their first practice is on July 22. Will Parsons participate if he doesn’t have a long-term deal resolved?

By Todd Archer (6/11)

Seattle Seahawks

The non-contact nature of spring practices hasn’t allowed DeMarcus Lawrence to display the physicality that has been his hallmark for over a decade in the NFL. But the 33-year-old defensive end still manages to make an impression on his new teammates, and to set a tone with the younger ones. “We haven’t been able to play side-by-side or anything like that, but I think the kind of leadership and the mentality he brings to the team is just phenomenal,” said defensive tackle Leonard Williams on Wednesday. “He’s a dog. He talks a lot, he plays hard. He’s going into his 12th year and he’s practicing harder than some of the rookies. So we’re getting on the rookies saying, ‘OK, this is an example. This guy’s going into his 12th year. He has nothing to prove, but he’s working on his craft as hard as he can every day.'” The Seahawks signed Lawrence to a three-year, $32.5 million contract that includes $18 million in guarantees. He hasn’t looked limited during the spring after playing only four games with Dallas last season due to a foot injury.

By Brady Henderson (6/11)

Houston Texans

Second-round pick, wide receiver Jayden Higgins, has impressed during minicamp. He’s made one-handed catches with starting cornerback Kamari Lassiter in coverage and connected with C.J. Stroud on other plays. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver has shown he will fight for a starting spot and could secure that position by the second week of training camp. He moves extremely well for someone his size and would complement number 1 receiver Nico Collins.

By DJ Bien-Aime (6/11)

Miami Dolphins

Linebacker Bradley Chubb has been disruptive since the moment he returned to the field for OTAs last month, and that has continued during the mandatory minicamp. Chubb said he is fully recovered from the knee injuries that forced him to miss the entire 2024 season. He earned the team’s orange jersey for Wednesday’s practice, signifying the “MVP” from the previous day. With Chop Robinson and Jaelan Phillips and Chubb finally able to practice alongside each other, Chubb feels that 2025 could produce some good results.

By Marcel Louis-Jacques (6/11)

Minnesota Vikings

Josh Metellus is entering one of the most important stages of his career. With one year remaining on his contract, he is competing for a full-time safety position after two seasons of rotation in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ scheme. Metellus played 2,113 defensive snaps during that period, representing 90.1% of the Vikings’ total defensive plays, while veterans Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum occupied the traditional safety positions. Bynum’s departure to the Colts in free agency has opened up a starting position. With negotiations on a new deal ongoing, Metellus is only partially participating in OTAs and minicamp. But in some parts of the 11-on-11 drills, he has lined up opposite Smith in Bynum’s former position. At other times, Theo Jackson has lined up there. Metellus made his positional preference clear to reporters this week.

“We had a Hall of Famer and a guy who [now] makes $15 million back there, I had to find a way to fit in somehow,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I came to this league as a safety. That’s always going to be my true position. Everything else is just something I think adds to my value. But at the end of the day, I’m a ballplayer. A thousand snaps [per season] in any position, I’m going to do my thing to help the team win.”
Kevin Seifert (6/11)

New Orleans Saints

The kicking battle was the competition of the day on Wednesday after kicker Charlie Smyth drilled a 61-yard field goal that looked like it easily could have been good from a greater distance. That came a day after Blake Grupe, who won the kicking battle last year, also made a 61-yard field goal. The Saints also gave other players a chance to kick field goals. Safety Justin Reid, who played soccer when he was younger, made an extra point, while defensive tackle Davon Godchaux didn’t fare as well. Reid has also handled kickoffs at times when he was with the Kansas City Chiefs and attempted two PATs for them in 2022. “Justin has a little bit of history with it, so we gave him a shot and it looked good,” said Saints coach Kellen Moore.

By Katherine Terrell (6/11)

Carolina Panthers

The team held first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan out of Wednesday’s practice, exercising caution after he experienced leg swelling from receiving a kick during Tuesday’s practice. Coach Dave Canales noted that the wide receiver was “fine” and expected to practice on Thursday. With McMillan out, the Panthers’ 2024 first-round pick, Xavier Legette, was impressive. He made consecutive touchdown receptions in a red zone drill, which also included a strong performance from quarterback Bryce Young. “It’s just Year 2 in the system,” Canales said of Legette. “He’s comfortable. He’s big and fast. The more he knows what he’s doing, the bigger and faster he looks.”

By David Newton (6/11)

New York Jets

Justin Fields’ complete experience was on display on Wednesday. He threw a couple of passes to wide receivers, connected with Garrett Wilson on a 50-yard pass, placed the ball perfectly on a six-yard corner route to Josh Reynolds for a touchdown, and showed his speed on some designed runs. The goal in camp is to gain consistency, which has been a problem for Fields in his career. For now, Fields is receiving praise for his quiet leadership. He suggested that he was stifled last season in Pittsburgh, where he was involved in an intense competition with Russell Wilson. “It’s definitely easier,” Fields said on Wednesday. “I think last year was, it was a little weird, but I think Russ and I did a good job balancing the two.” There is no competition this year. The Jets have made it clear: he is the QB1.

By Rich Cimini (6/11)

Indianapolis Colts

Quarterback Daniel Jones is taking advantage of Anthony Richardson Sr.’s absence during the Colts’ three-day camp, making several notable throws on Wednesday to get the ball to his wide array of offensive playmakers. On one throw, Jones connected with rookie tight end Tyler Warren, who proceeded to make an impressive move over safety Camryn Bynum. Jones also found Michael Pittman Jr. for a touchdown in a red zone drill and connected with Josh Downs for a 2-point conversion moments later. Colts coaches have emphasized that Jones, who signed with the Colts in March, is still mastering the system, so the reps he’s getting at this camp are quite valuable.

By Stephen Holder (6/11)

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons focused on the walkthroughs the last two days of minicamp. After going through individual drills, the team involved what coach Raheem Morris called more as developing players. Rookie defensive end James Pearce Jr. and rookie nickel cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. got reps during that period. But that doesn’t mean they are far down the depth chart. In fact, Morris said he expects both of the Falcons’ first-round picks, Pearce and fellow defensive end Jalon Walker, to be on the field quite a bit in 2025. The same goes for Bowman and third-round pick Xavier Watts, a safety. “They’re really good players, they’re really smart, they’re really detailed,” Morris said. “We’ll get to all the categories of who’s starting and who’s doing these things, but I think the most important thing is how they’re contributing, what their role is going to be, and having a really clear role definition for those guys and letting them go out and earn it.”

By Marc Raimondi (6/11)

Washington Commanders

Receiver Noah Brown limped off the field and was then carted to the locker room after a play during a seven-on-seven drill on Wednesday. It is not clear exactly what happened