2026 NFL OTA Weeks 2–3: Mahomes More Limited Than Reported, Jacobs Arrested, A.J. Brown Traded
A two-week catchup covering May 20–June 3: Mahomes remains pocket-only with no clearance to run or cut; Josh Jacobs returned to Packers practice with domestic violence charges still pending; Malik Nabers had a second knee cleanup surgery; A.J. Brown was traded to New England, boosting DeVonta Smith to WR1 territory; Bucky Irving faces a "summer or fall" return timeline; and Rashee Rice serves jail until June 16. Includes an ADP movement table for 10 players plus mandatory minicamp previews for Cardinals (June 8–10) and Buccaneers (June 16–18).
Catching up on two weeks of NFL offseason activity (May 20–June 3) — last week's issue was skipped, so this one covers a larger-than-usual window. Highlights below are filtered by impact, not volume.
The headline from this stretch isn't one single injury update. It's a pattern: several marquee players landed in a worse position than the previous update suggested, while the A.J. Brown trade on June 1 reshuffled one of the most productive passing offenses in football. Here's what changed and what it means before mandatory minicamps begin.
Patrick Mahomes: pocket only, not cleared to move
The narrative after Mahomes's first OTA appearance on May 26 was cautiously optimistic. The fuller picture that emerged over the following week is less so.
Mahomes has participated in 7-on-7 drills and shown "excellent accuracy" according to ESPN's Nate Taylor, but he has not been cleared for any running, cutting, or scrambling.1 Head coach Andy Reid made the call to keep him out of 11-on-11 team drills entirely. Medical checkpoints are running every one to two weeks, with mobility the next threshold to clear.2
Mahomes himself framed it plainly: "I can't move around, so it's settling my feet down." He added that he hopes to keep running through his progressions at a higher rate even after full mobility returns — treating the restriction as forced practice in pocket mechanics. Kansas City Star columnist Sam McDowell made the observation that this phase of his rehab could actually extend his peak years, since elite mobile quarterbacks eventually have to develop a pocket game anyway.1 That argument has merit. It doesn't change the near-term risk.
GM Brett Veach has said Mahomes is "far exceeding expectations." That is not the same as cleared for contact or team drills. Fantasy managers who drafted Mahomes at QB1 based on the "ahead of schedule" framing should recalibrate: the training camp participation window in late July is still the real test. Justin Fields, acquired via trade from the Jets, is the backup.
Josh Jacobs: back at practice, charges still pending
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (age 28) returned to OTA practice on June 2 — his first appearance since being arrested in Brown County, Wisconsin on May 26.3 The charges include felony strangulation and suffocation, along with four misdemeanors connected to domestic violence allegations. He posted bail and was released the following day.
Head coach Matt LaFleur said the situation is "business as usual." Quarterback Jordan Love told reporters he was "shocked when I saw it" and acknowledged "there's a lot of uncertainty when you hear something like that."4 Brown County District Attorney David Lasee has not filed formal charges, stating his office needs more time to review additional evidence. Jacobs's attorney says he "categorically denies the allegations."
The Packers' backfield depth behind Jacobs is thin. MarShawn Lloyd (2024 third-round pick) has a history of soft-tissue injuries — he last played a regular-season game in Week 2 of the 2024 season.5 Chris Brooks is the other option GM Brian Gutekunst has expressed confidence in.
Fantasy read: Jacobs's Underdog Best Ball ADP dropped from 26.5 (RB14) to 34.5 (RB17) in the week following the arrest.6 If charges are not filed, his value recovers. The uncertainty discount is real, but the alternatives on this roster don't inspire confidence either. Hand-cuffing with Lloyd or Brooks as late-round insurance is reasonable.
Malik Nabers: second surgery, return "impossible to predict"
Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (age 22) — confirmed to be on New York's roster, not Baltimore — had cleanup surgery to remove scar tissue from the same knee in which he tore his ACL and meniscus in Week 4 of the 2025 season.7 The scar tissue had been causing stiffness and discomfort that prevented normal rehab progression.
HC John Harbaugh described the situation without sugarcoating it: "It's an ACL, and whatever else he had in that knee. Not a simple knee. So, he's in the slog of it, the grind of it." On a return timeline, he said: "Just impossible to predict. I mean, the goal is to start the season and get out there sometime in training camp."7
The Giants have signed a cluster of receivers as insurance — Odell Beckham Jr., Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin III, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios — which reads less like a depth move and more like preparation for Nabers missing significant time. Yahoo Sports fantasy expert Justin Boone (a two-time FantasyPros most-accurate analyst) moved Nabers to WR23 in his June rankings, projecting a one-month absence to open the season.8
Nabers's ADP has slipped from WR10 (22.9 overall) to WR10 (25.3) — a smaller move than the news warrants, suggesting the market hasn't fully priced in the second procedure.6
Travis Hunter: virtual training room, targeting camp "full tick"
The Jaguars' two-way cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter (age 23) has missed all OTA field work while continuing to recover from an LCL knee injury suffered in the 2025 season. He is not a mystery, though — Jacksonville expanded their virtual training room, and Hunter has been using it two to three times daily, each session 25 to 30 minutes, reviewing film from both his cornerback and wide receiver angles.9
HC Liam Coen said: "He looks like he's been in the weight room. I've been very pleased with Travis." Hunter noted that unable to run, "the weight room was my best friend."10 GM James Gladstone's goal set in April remains "full tick" participation at training camp — which begins in late July.
The Jaguars have confirmed Hunter will play both ways in 2026, with cornerback as his primary role. For standard fantasy leagues, his offensive opportunity remains too limited and unpredictable to roster. IDP and two-quarterback leagues are the exception.
Broderick Jones: still individual drills only, position confirmed as tackle
Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones (age 24) had a spinal fusion procedure following a neck injury in Week 12 of the 2025 season. He is present at OTAs but restricted to individual work only — no team drills.11 No formal post-surgery clearance timeline has been released by the team.
OL coach James Campen confirmed Jones will return as a tackle, not guard, which matters given Pittsburgh selected OT Max Iheanachor in the 2026 first round.12 Jones said: "I'm ready, man. This is my first serious injury. I hadn't missed football here, so it's all new." The team declined his fifth-year option worth $19.1 million earlier this offseason, a signal they are not committing to his long-term role before seeing a full recovery.
The practical knock-on for fantasy: uncertainty on the Steelers' offensive line depresses the outlook for Aaron Rodgers and Najee Harris in 2026. Rodgers (QB28, ADP 169.9) and Harris (RB73 as a free agent in current ADP) are low-ceiling options in most formats until Jones's status clarifies.
Jacoby Brissett holdout: June 8 mandatory minicamp is the pressure point
Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (age 33) has skipped all voluntary OTAs. His 2026 contract pays a $4.88 million base salary with a total cap hit of $9.19 million — he wants more, and the two sides are described as far apart.13 Arizona's mandatory minicamp begins June 8, at which point absences carry fines.
In his absence, Gardner Minshew (veteran backup) and rookie third-round pick Carson Beck (a former Georgia and Miami QB) have been taking first-team reps. SI's Conor Orr wrote: "With Jacoby Brissett (rightfully) refusing to spend another season as a human meat shield without better compensation, seeing what the team has in Beck... will quickly become more appetizing than a prolonged stint with Gardner Minshew II under center."14 Minshew replied to the whole situation by saying: "At the end of the day, all you really have is the work that you put in. At some point, somebody's going to be better than you and they're going to play."13
Brissett's ADP has fallen 15.2 spots to QB30 (193.0 overall).6 Beck is a dynasty/superflex stash at QB36 (215.3). Neither is relevant in standard single-QB redraft.
Bucky Irving and the Bucs' backfield shuffle
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (age 23) had shoulder surgery in the offseason and has not been medically cleared for OTA field work. HC Todd Bowles gave a timeline that is hard to schedule around: "We expect him back sometime in the summer or fall."15 That phrasing covers a four-month range.
Kenneth Gainwell — signed after Rachaad White left for Washington — has been taking first-team reps in Irving's absence. Tampa Bay OC Zac Robinson said Gainwell's skill set overlaps substantially with Irving's. Irving is expected to miss the June 16–18 mandatory minicamp.16
ADP movement: Irving fell from 45.0 to 48.3 (RB20), Gainwell rose from 117.6 to 109.8 (RB36), and goal-line backup Sean Tucker climbed 13.6 spots to 186.5 (RB56).6 In PPR formats, Gainwell at RB36 with an immediate first-team role represents better value than Irving at RB20 carrying an uncertain timeline. The gap between them in ADP (~60 spots) is wider than the gap in near-term production probability.
Rashee Rice: jail through June 16, knee cleanup also pending
Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (WR, Kansas City) is serving 30 days for violating felony probation — a marijuana positive — and is due out June 16.6 He had knee cleanup surgery the week before his sentence began. Adam Schefter (ESPN) reported he is expected to be ready for training camp, but no NFL reinstatement timeline has been announced.17
Andy Reid called it a "learning life lessons" moment. Xavier Worthy's ADP rose 7.9 spots to WR47 (102.1) on the news. Rice's ADP plunged 10.5 spots — the largest single-player drop of the two-week window — from 19.0 to 29.5 (remaining WR12).6 Sharp Football's Raymond Summerlin argued the sell-off was overdone: "Buying the dip is probably the right move." His per-game production over the past two seasons ranked WR5 in half-PPR formats, which is the baseline if he returns healthy.
The risk is additive: jail sentence, knee procedure, and the possibility of additional NFL discipline once the probation violation is reviewed by the league. Anyone holding Rice needs to accept that floor.
Other notable players: status at a glance
| Player | Team | Position | Current status | Camp outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Penix Jr. | Falcons | QB | 7-on-7 only, not cleared for 11-on-11 18 | HC Stefanski: "Not 100%, but exactly where he needs to be" |
| Daniel Jones | Colts | QB | Cleared for 7-on-7 as of June 1, six months post-Achilles tear 19 | 11-on-11 target: training camp; Week 1 start expected |
| Jonathon Brooks | Panthers | RB | Individual drills only, "rest day" framing from HC Canales 20 | Two prior ACL tears; team being cautious through spring |
| Makai Lemon | Eagles | WR | Hamstring strain, missed June 2 OTA 21 | Not considered serious; expected fully healthy for camp |
| Bo Nix | Broncos | QB | Ahead of schedule on broken ankle (Jan 2026), second procedure completed | HC Sean Payton says 100% before camp |
| Puka Nacua | Rams | WR | Full OTA participation, no restrictions 22 | "I'm doing great." — Nacua |
| Brock Bowers | Raiders | TE | Full OTA participation, says he "feels great" post-PCL | Camp ready |
| Brian Branch | Lions | S | Not expected ready for start of training camp (Achilles, Dec 2025) 23 | HC Dan Campbell: rehab takes precedence |
| George Kittle | 49ers | TE | Side-field light work only, not in team drills (Achilles) 24 | Uncertain |
| Nick Bosa | 49ers | EDGE | Not practicing but says he's "pretty far along" on ACL 24 | "I plan on being ready" |
| Tank Dell | Texans | WR | Side-field work only, two surgeries on dislocated kneecap/torn ACL/MCL/LCL 25 | HC DeMeco Ryans: "Nobody loves Tank more than me. I'm hopeful" |
| Jordyn Tyson | Saints | WR | Limited at OTAs, undisclosed injury (WR, No. 8 overall pick) 26 | Not considered serious; camp ready expected |
| Joe Alt | Chargers | OT | Full OTA participation post-ankle surgery 27 | "It won't be a problem for training camp" — Alt |
A.J. Brown trade: the week's biggest fantasy event
On June 1, the Eagles traded wide receiver A.J. Brown (age 28, entering his third season of a contract extension) to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder.8 Two days later, Eagles first-round rookie Makai Lemon was confirmed to have a hamstring strain that will keep him out of the remaining spring practices — which adds a timing wrinkle to what is otherwise a significant opportunity.
The immediate beneficiary is DeVonta Smith (Eagles WR). Without Brown in the 2025 games where he was absent, Smith posted a 38% target rate and 2.69 yards per route run — both WR1-caliber numbers, per Fantasy Life's Dwain McFarland.8 Boone moved Smith to WR14 (31.7 overall, third round) and wrote: "Smith will be the No. 1 target for Jalen Hurts in 2026 and could easily push for fantasy WR1 status this season."8 His ADP had only moved 0.5 spots by May 29 — before the full market had time to react.
Makai Lemon (Eagles WR, 2026 first-round pick at No. 20) is the secondary beneficiary. The hamstring issue is not considered serious and he is expected healthy for camp, but it costs him spring reps at a moment when he most needs to learn the system and build chemistry with Jalen Hurts.21 Boone compared his style to Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions WR and former first-round pick) — a "scrappy playmaker who's dangerous all over the field" — and called him a potential Year 1 WR3.8 His ADP sits at WR35 (72.4), a number that does not yet reflect the full opportunity shift. FantasyPros named Lemon their best rookie fantasy pick for 2026.28
For Brown himself: Boone kept him in the low-end WR1 range, noting that a fresh start paired with a rising passer like Drake Maye (New England Patriots QB, age 23) carries real upside.8 Maye finished as the QB2 overall in 2025 before any of this.
ADP movers: where the market shifted
The table below covers the largest ADP changes between May 17 and May 29 based on Underdog Best Ball half-PPR data.6
| Player | Team | Pos | ADP before | ADP after | Change | Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rashee Rice | Chiefs | WR | 19.0 (WR12) | 29.5 (WR12) | −10.5 | Jail + knee surgery |
| Jacoby Brissett | Cardinals | QB | 177.8 (QB30) | 193.0 (QB30) | −15.2 | Contract holdout |
| Josh Jacobs | Packers | RB | 26.5 (RB14) | 34.5 (RB17) | −8.0 | Arrest |
| Bucky Irving | Buccaneers | RB | 45.0 (RB20) | 48.3 (RB20) | −3.3 | "Summer or fall" timeline |
| Tetairoa McMillan | Panthers | WR | 35.7 (WR17) | 37.5 (WR17) | −1.8 | Panthers overall offense outlook |
| Sean Tucker | Buccaneers | RB | 200.1 (RB56) | 186.5 (RB56) | +13.6 | Irving's timeline uncertainty |
| MarShawn Lloyd | Packers | RB | 215.5 (RB63) | 204.7 (RB63) | +10.8 | Jacobs arrest upside |
| Jonathon Brooks | Panthers | RB | 124.8 (RB38) | 116.5 (RB38) | +8.3 | ESPN Liz Loza 900-yard projection |
| Xavier Worthy | Chiefs | WR | 110.0 (WR47) | 102.1 (WR47) | +7.9 | Rice absence creates target share |
| Kenneth Gainwell | Buccaneers | RB | 117.6 (RB36) | 109.8 (RB36) | +7.8 | First-team reps replacing Irving |
On Brooks specifically: ESPN's Liz Loza projected he will finish the 2026 season as the Panthers' RB1 with over 900 rushing yards, noting that Carolina let Rico Dowdle's contract expire and did not draft another running back.17 Brooks has two prior ACL tears, which explains why the team is managing his ramp-up carefully — but his upside is real if he stays on the field.
Looking ahead: mandatory minicamp wave begins June 8
The next phase of the offseason begins shortly:
- Cardinals (June 8–10): Brissett holdout reaches its financial pressure point. If he doesn't show, fines accumulate and Beck/Minshew get more reps. If he does show, the contract dispute doesn't go away but at least his preparation is no longer the story.
- Buccaneers (June 16–18): Irving is expected to miss this minicamp. It will be the longest consecutive look at Gainwell as the team's lead back, which should move his ADP further.
- Chiefs (timing similar): Rice's jail term ends June 16. The reinstatement process with the league has not been formally announced. Training camp in late July is his next realistic on-field target.
For Broderick Jones and Malik Nabers, the next checkpoint is training camp — late July is where both players need to show they can handle full-speed work, and that's also when the fantasy community will price them with real information rather than projections.
Cover image: AI-generated illustration.
References
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- 2Pro Football Rumors: Patrick Mahomes Participated In Chiefs OTAs Practice
profootballrumors.com
- 3Packers Wire / USA Today: Packers RB Josh Jacobs returns to OTAs after arrest
packerswire.usatoday.com
- 4
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- 6Sharp Football Analysis: Underdog Best Ball ADP 2026
sharpfootballanalysis.com
- 7
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- 16Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OTAs Takeaways
buccaneers.com
- 17
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- 21Bleeding Green Nation / SB Nation: Makai Lemon injury
bleedinggreennation.com
- 22
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- 24NBC Sports Bay Area: Biggest takeaways from 49ers' second OTA practice
nbcsportsbayarea.com
- 25KPRC 2 Houston: Texans taking patient approach with Tank Dell
click2houston.com
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- 28FantasyPros: Best Fantasy Football Picks of 2026
fantasypros.com
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