The latest news from around the division.
Cover 3: What we’re learning about the Giants at OTAs – John Schmeelk, Dan Salomone, & Matt Citak, Giants.com
How Russell Wilson is getting along in New York.
Matt Citak: As Brian Daboll has told the media, star wide receiver Malik Nabers has not been participating in OTAs, as the team is being cautious with their top playmaker this spring as he recovers from a toe injury. With the No. 1 option in the passing game not out there during team drills, quarterback Russell Wilson has relied on his other pass-catchers. We are now heading towards the end of these spring practices, and it has become clear that Wilson has started to develop some nice chemistry with his other wide receivers and tight ends.
As Schmeelk mentioned, Wilson and Hyatt have connected a lot throughout the spring. The veteran quarterback has gone out of his way to praise Hyatt to the media at various times since being introduced as a Giant, and the two are backing up those praises on the field. Wilson’s first pass during 7-on-7 drills on Monday was a beautiful throw to Hyatt in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Wilson ended up throwing four consecutive touchdown passes to start that team period, with the other three going to Tyrone Tracy Jr., Darius Slayton and Theo Johnson. The second-year tight end caught another touchdown from Wilson later during 11-on-11s, and Wan’Dale Robinson got in on the action in the final period with a big catch-and-run on a pass over the middle from Wilson.
Of course, it would be great if Nabers was out here catching passes from Wilson during OTAs. But the most important thing for the 21-year-old is to get fully healthy for the start of the season. I cannot imagine it will take long for Wilson and Nabers to build a connection of their own, and once they do, the sky is the limit for the star wideout. For right now, though, the veteran quarterback’s growing chemistry with the other targets has been on full display these last couple of weeks. If that continues to grow as we get into training camp, then the offense should be in a good position to start strong once the season kicks off in September.
Commanders’ Trey Hendrickson dream might be dead after surprise move – Ryan Heckman, RiggosRag.com
Cincinnati may be freeing up money to sign that star pass rusher.
This offseason has been home to some high-level trades for the Washington Commanders. Adam Peters has gotten fairly aggressive in that department after the rousing success we saw in the 2024 season.
Despite having moved significant capital to land the likes of Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil, Washington still could have entered the conversation for Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.
After the Bengals released starting linebacker Germaine Pratt on Monday, though, any glimmer of hope might just be gone.
By releasing Pratt, the Bengals saved just under $6 million. By opening up even more money, that now begs the question of whether or not it will allow them to get a deal done with Hendrickson.
The contract standoff between Cincinnati and Hendrickson has been well-documented and continues to see no end in sight.
But, after the release of Pratt, there should be some added wiggle room thus making it feasible to get a contract extension done with the star pass rusher. It’s only a bit of perceived momentum at the moment, but this all adds up.
The idea that the Bengals would release their leading tackler all while knowing they’re not going to get anything worked out with Hendrickson is pretty farfetched. NFL franchises have done dumb things before, and will continue to do so, but this seems like a painful mistake if it were to come to fruition.
Instead, I think it means the Bengals will be able to work something out with Hendrickson and, in the process, end all of the whispers around a potential trade — yes, even to the Commanders.
How Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is finding his way in talented Eagles linebacker room – Reuben Frank, NBC Sports Philadelphia
The second level of Philly’s defense seems to be formidable.
Too many good linebackers?
That’s a new one around here.
The team that brought you Jamar Chaney, Matt McCoy, Moise Fokou, Nate Gerry, Keith Adams, Zach Brown and Kiko Alonso has been linebacker-starved for much of the past few decades. But now the Eagles have a returning all-pro, a highly touted rookie and a 24-year-old who played at a Pro Bowl level last year before an unfortunate injury.
That’s what Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is looking up at.
And he loves it.
Because the more talent in the room, the more he knows he’s going to improve.
“We’ve got a lot of great, talented linebackers in that room and we have a lot of depth at the position and it only makes everybody better,” Trott said after a recent OTA practice.
“Everybody in that room is competing and we’re helping each other, sharing our tips and knowledge back and forth. Trying to bring each other along, and when you do that and you try to compete with the guy right next to you, that only helps.
“You improve your game. So I’m really happy to be a part of a situation like that. It’s not like that everywhere.”
Zack Baun returns after making 1st-team all-pro last year, Jihaad Campbell is the highly touted 2nd-round pick and Nakobe Dean is coming off a terrific first year as a full-time starter.
But with Campbell rehabbing from a shoulder injury and Dean facing an extended layoff with a knee injury, the 22-year-old Trotter has been practicing with the 1st-team defense across from Baun during OTAs.
It’s a terrific opportunity for Trotter, a 5th-round pick last year who didn’t play any defensive snaps until the last two weeks of the regular season – the blowout win over the Cowboys and the meaningless win over the Giants.
