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Player Notes

  • Inks in Detroit
    The Lions signed McKeon to a contract Thursday.

    Advice: McKeon suffered an ankle injury last December and was placed on IR after suiting up for nine games with the Cowboys, in which span he failed to secure either of his two targets. He can contribute both on special teams and as a blocker on offense, and McKeon, who's presumably past his ankle issue, now gets a chance to compete for a depth role with Detroit. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 2:08 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    2369th
  • Team expecting Year 2 breakout
    Chargers GM Joe Hortiz said he believes Johnston is "really going to launch" as a starter during the 2024 season, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.

    Advice: Horitz mentioned that in his time as director of player personnel with Baltimore last season that Johnston "was a player we liked," and he praised the 2023 first-round pick's work ethic this offseason while acknowledging "some rawness to his game" as a rookie. Johnston finished with a subpar 431 yards last season despite suiting up for all 17 games, but with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (knee) no longer in the picture for Los Angeles, he has a clear path to a starting role alongside incumbent Joshua Palmer, while being joined by DJ Chark and rookie second-rounder Ladd McConkey. New coach Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman could spark life to the Chargers' offense, though the new scheme projects as a run-heavy approach. Still, Johnston will have every opportunity to establish himself atop this depth chart, despite his uninspiring rookie production. He'll need to make some strides this offseason toward more consistently gaining separation, not to mention cleaning up issues with drops. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 1:48 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    161st
  • Thornton tacks on five pounds to improve play
    Tyquan Thornton said he’s added weight in hopes of improving his performance and preventing injury.

    Advice: Thornton stated his aim is to play at 190 pounds this season, both to improve his on-field performance and reduce his likelihood of suffering another impact-related injury. Thornton has failed to clear 0.80 yards per route run in his first two seasons, ostensibly slowed by an August 2022 clavicle injury and an August 2023 shoulder injury. Thornton must prove he belongs on an NFL roster this year. Rotoworld Yesterday, 12:44 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    2304th
  • Robert Tonyan set to join Vikings
    Vikings signed TE Robert Tonyan, formerly of the Bears.

    Advice: Tonyan joined the Bears as a free agent last offseason and caught just 11 passes for 112 scoreless yards while playing primarily behind Cole Kmet. He’s a player with two seasons of 450-plus yards on his resume, including a productive 2020 in which he went for 52-586-11. With that said, Tonyan is once again looking to be banished to the bench behind T.J. Hockenson and veteran Josh Oliver. While it’s possible he’ll work his way onto the field in two tight end sets or due to injuries, he has little to no fantasy upside at this time. Rotoworld Yesterday, 10:39 am
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    1969th
  • Healthy for offseason program
    Jefferson (undisclosed) was on the field last week for the start of Detroit's offseason program.

    Advice: Jefferson finished the 2023 campaign on Lions' practice squad injured list after sustaining an undisclosed injury in late January. The nature of the 24-year-old's issue was never revealed, though he appears to have moved past the injury over the past few months. Jefferson hasn't seen any regular-season NFL action since 2021, as he's spent both of the past two campaigns on Detroit's practice squad. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 7:15 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    2278th
  • Participates in offseason program
    Mitchell (hand) was seen catching passes last week during the beginning of Detroit's offseason program.

    Advice: Mitchell played 15 games during the 2023 regular season while primarily slotting in as a blocking tight end and contributor on special teams, as he caught just two passes. The 24-year-old then missed the Lions' postseason run with a hand injury. Mitchell's return to action during the offseason program likely means he's moved past the injury or the time being, so he'll likely slot back in behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright on the depth chart at tight end to begin the 2024 season. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 7:07 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    1865th
  • Headed to nation's capital
    Byrd agreed to a contract with the Commanders on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

    Advice: Byrd appeared in just one game during the 2023 campaign after the Falcons elevated him from the practice squad in early November. The 31-year-old had previously played 14 games with Atlanta in 2022, collecting 13 receptions (on 23 targets) for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Byrd has played for five teams during his career, and he'll now reunite in Washington with Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who was Bryd's head coach in Arizona during the 2019 season. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 6:56 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    2010th
  • Let go from IR
    The Panthers waived Brown (undisclosed) on Wednesday with an injury settlement, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

    Advice: Brown inked a reserve/future contract with Carolina in January after spending the 2023 season on and off of the team's practice squad. The 25-year-old running back was then waived with an undisclosed injury Friday, and he reverted to IR after going unclaimed. Brown will now be eligible to sign elsewhere ahead of the 2024 regular season. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 6:29 pm
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    2280th
  • Bears ‘excited’ about Swift as pass catcher
    Bears running backs coach Chad Morton said he’s “excited” about using D’Andre Swift as a pass catcher out of the backfield.

    Advice: “I’ve been watching [Swift] since college,” said Morton, who worked under Bears OC Shane Waldron when Waldron coordinated the Seahawks’ offense. “He’s exciting to watch, man. That guy, he’s got so much ability. He’s fast, he can make guys miss and what we’re excited about now is just opening up the passing game with the backs. He’s got that opportunity to have that one-on-one matchup out of the backfield. We can get him out on empty (formation). We do a lot of empty stuff here, too, so we can move this guy all around. He can win from any spot.” Waldron’s offense didn’t exactly emphasize running back targets in Seattle. The Seahawks last year were 24th in target share to RBs (15 percent), with lead back Ken Walker seeing a meager 37 targets over 15 games. Swift, meanwhile, wasn’t an effective pass catcher last year in Philadelphia. He ranked 47th in running back yards per route run and was graded by Pro Football Focus as the NFL’s 49th best pass-catching RB.

    Rotoworld Wednesday, 8:12 am
    Week 1 Projected Rank
    73rd