It’s June, which means NFL practices have started. Sort of.
Mandatory minicamps got underway this week for most teams — Robert Saleh notably canceled the Jets’ practices after a positive showing at voluntary camp earlier in the month — to give veterans and rookies the chance to vibe in helmets and shorts. These preliminary workouts are more about laying a foundation for the season than any vital Xs and Os, but they still serve a purpose in team building.
There are a few notable veterans who’ve opted to sit these early practices out. Contract disputes mean some valuable starters are skipping these workouts in an effort to press their teams to either offer the long-term extensions they’re seeking or trade them to another franchise that will. And while it’s too soon to be worried about any of these holdouts affecting the regular season, these absences could plant the seeds for roster management turmoil down the road.
So who’s sitting out mandatory minicamp work?