With training camps in full go right now, most of the buzz is about players preparing for the 2024 season. But it’s not that simple for several standouts.
The start of training camps brings contract situations to a head, resulting in players staying away from camp or, in recent years, reporting to camp to avoid fines but avoiding practice until their financial situations are addressed. That’s what we’re tracking, as several big-name players are limiting their participation in practice, not practicing at all or not reporting and subjecting themselves to daily fines that won’t be reimbursed.
Here’s a look at 10 players who were in limbo as camps get ramped up, along with updates from our NFL Nation writers. It’s worked for some, as Tua Tagovailoa got his deal from the Dolphins, Jordan Love quickly followed for the Packers and Tristan Wirfs broke the bank for the Buccaneers. But some players are still waiting for resolution of their situations, including two 49ers and one of the Cowboys’ three stars looking for a big deal.
Status: Reported to camp, not practicing
While teammate Trent Williams holds out, Aiyuk is holding in. The wideout was a surprise report for training camp on Tuesday but, as expected, he did not participate in practice Wednesday. General manager John Lynch said he is not optimistic or pessimistic that a deal can get done with Aiyuk in the near future but did reiterate the Niners’ plan to keep Aiyuk for at least this season. Until there’s some sort of resolution, however, it’s unlikely that Aiyuk will take part in any on-field activities. — Nick Wagoner, 49ers reporter
Updated July 24
Status: Reported to camp, not practicing
Chase did not practice for a second straight day Thursday, although coach Zac Taylor stressed his absence was part of an agreed-upon plan “in place” between himself and Chase. Taylor confirmed that Chase is healthy, which then raises the question on whether Chase is in the midst of a “hold-in” due to his desire for a contract extension on his rookie deal. When asked if it was contract-related, Taylor referred to Chase’s absence as being part of the staff’s plan. Taylor also gave a similar answer regarding any potential concern that this could be an extended absence for Chase, who was wearing a ballcap instead of a helmet Thursday while observing the team as it continued its first week of training camp. Read More
Updated July 25
2:17
Is it time for the Bengals to pay Ja’Marr Chase?
Ryan Clark, Kevin Clark and Marcus Spears detail why it’s time for the Bengals to pay Ja’Marr Chase and keep him on their roster.
Status: Reported to camp, practiced, sat out first two padded practices but has now returned
Judon enters the final season of the four-year, $56 million contract he had signed in March 2021 and is scheduled to earn a base salary of $6.5 million. He said he doesn’t feel it reflects his value. Complicating the situation is that Judon, who turns 32 in August, is coming off a season in which he missed 13 games due to a torn biceps. He totaled 28 sacks over his first two seasons in New England in establishing himself one of the team’s best defenders.
Judon had what seemed to be an animated exchange with first-year head coach Jerod Mayo before Monday’s first full-pads practice, as Judon sat on top of a flipped-over trash barrel as he watched his teammates work. Judon was also away from the Patriots on Tuesday, according to teammates. The team had Wednesday off and Judon returned to practice in pads on Thursday. — Mike Reiss, Patriots reporter
Updated Aug 1
Status: Reported to camp, is practicing fully
Kamara participated in all aspects of practice on Wednesday, including 11-on-11 drills, during which he caught a pass from Saints quarterback Derek Carr. Kamara said he doesn’t plan to hold out even while expressing disappointment that negotiations haven’t progressed on a new contract. He explained his reasoning behind leaving minicamp early and said that he did it after no significant talks occurred regarding his contract this spring.
He also wanted to clarify what he was seeking and that he is looking for long-term security.
“I’ve said it before: I want to be a Saint. I want to retire here,” Kamara said. “Just for me to set the record, I’m not asking for nothing crazy. I’m not asking for nothing where it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, we can’t do it.’ Well, that’s my perception of it. Whatever the perception is upstairs, with whoever makes those decisions, it’s obviously different from my perception. So, we just carry on. I got to do what I do and focus on what I’ve got to do.” — Katherine Terrell, Saints reporter
Updated July 24
Status: Not expected to report to camp
Lamb, who has been unable to land the type of contract extension that other wide receivers have, is not expected to report to training camp Wednesday with the rest of his team, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday night. Lamb is entering the last year of a deal scheduled to pay him $17.99 million this season, and the Cowboys have been bracing for the All-Pro to miss the start of camp. The holdout will not become official until Wednesday, but Lamb was not on the team’s charter flight from Dallas to Southern California on Tuesday. Read more
Status: Agreed to a four-year, $220 million extension
Love got his deal done in time to join the Packers for their first full-pads practice of camp on Saturday. In all, he missed only four practices, although he attended every one of them. While it remains to be seen whether he can match the success of his predecessors Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre, it ensures that the Packers will have several more years of stability at the most important position. — Rob Demovsky, Packers reporter
Updated July 26
Status: Holding out of camp
There was optimism over the weekend that Reddick’s holdout would end soon, but there was no sign of the Pro Bowl defensive end on Monday when camp resumed after an off day. He has accumulated $350,000 in mandatory fines for missing camp, plus an estimated $300,000 in discretionary fines. The latter refers to a clause in the CBA which allows a team to fine a player 15% of his pro-rated signing bonus if he misses the first six days of training camp; Reddick has missed seven.
“Our coaches are all speaking to him and all that,” coach Robert Saleh said Monday. “From a business standpoint, he’s got to do what he has to do. If this is what he feels is the best choice for him and his family, then that’s what he has to do.”
1:46
Tannenbaum: Jets ‘have’ to give Reddick new deal
Kimberley A. Martin and Mike Tannenbaum react to news that Haason Reddick has not yet reported to Jets training camp.
This is an unusual holdout because Reddick was acquired in a late March trade from the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s due to make a non-guaranteed $14.25 million in the final year of a three-year, $45 million contract, but he wants to be paid like one of top edge rushers. He’s looking for $25 million per year. The Jets could’ve avoided this mess by signing him to an extension at the time of the trade, but they didn’t want to go that route. They offered him a raise for 2024, sources said, but Reddick is holding out for a market-value extension.
In the meantime, the Jets are playing backup Micheal Clemons at Reddick’s defensive end position. — Rich Cimini, Jets reporter
Updated July 29
Status: Agreed to contract extension
The Dolphins and Tagovailoa agreed to a four-year extension worth $212.4 million, making him the third highest paid quarterback in the NFL in terms of average annual value. After two days of minimal participation at practice, his new extension allows him to get back on the field with his teammates and build on an offense that led the NFL in yards per game last season.
It’s the latest example of the Dolphins taking care of their homegrown talent, after signing wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to an extension this summer and inking offensive tackle Austin Jackson to an extension during the 2023 season. Next step is safety Jevon Holland, who has been vocal about his desire for a new contract. — Marcel Louis-Jacques, Dolphins reporter
Updated July 26
0:51
Schefter breaks down Tua’s record extension with Dolphins
Adam Schefter shares the details on Tua Tagovailoa’s franchise-record contract extension with the Miami Dolphins.
Status: Holding out of camp
The Niners’ star left tackle is officially a holdout after he did not report for the start of training camp on Tuesday. Williams, 36, is still one of the game’s best offensive linemen and an integral part of the 49ers, but he also has no more guaranteed money remaining in the final three years of his contract. Coach Kyle Shanahan was optimistic something could be worked out soon, though San Francisco likely will have to add significant guarantees to at least the next couple of years of Williams’ deal while also elevating him back to at or near the top of the tackle market in terms of annual average value. — Wagoner
Updated July 24
Status: Agreed to an extension, will fully participate in practice
Wirfs joins wide receiver Mike Evans, quarterback Baker Mayfield, linebacker Lavonte David and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. as in-house players the Bucs extended this offseason, with four of those five homegrown players. Winfield and Wirfs each got record-setting deals for their position groups, as Wirfs is now the highest-paid offensive lineman and Winfield the highest-paid defensive back. That’s no small feat considering the Bucs played with more than $80 million in dead money this past season. But it keeps the core of the Bucs’ roster intact and in contention for the next several years.
“I think we have a lot of guys that care,” Wirfs said. “Guys love coming out there competing and that’s what it’s going to take — us competing every day, coming out with attention to detail, trying to get better and pushing each other to do the best we can be. Super Bowl is obviously the goal. I think that’s the goal for everybody. Just doing whatever it takes to get back there and lifting that trophy. It’s a damn good feeling. So you got to do it again.” — Jenna Laine, Buccaneers reporter
Updated Aug. 1