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Vikings QB Kirk Cousins working on chemistry with WRs

Kirk Cousins‘ connection with his new receivers is a work in progress.

The Vikings quarterback invited Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs to Atlanta in April for a throwing session before organized team activities. They continued to get to know each other during the team’s offseason program.

“It’s a process of saying, ‘Hey, this is the way I’ve done if for six years. You’ve done it a different way for five years. Let’s try to talk about why you’ve had success, why I’ve had success. Let’s find some middle ground; let’s decide whether I’m going to learn your way, you’re going to learn my way,'” Cousins said, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN.

Texans WR Keke Coutee has been impressing

Penciled in as the Texans’ returner, WR Keke Coutee is competing with Braxton Miller for the slot position.

“He’s in the long mold of those Red Raiders,” Texans receivers coach John Perry said, via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “He’s done a good job. He’s working hard. He shows up every day. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. If he continues to do that, I can see him moving forward.”

Colts K Adam Vinatieri not ready to retire

Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri will likely be making some history in 2018.

Vinatieri is well within striking distance of the NFL records for career points and field goals, both of which are currently held by Morten Andersen, and he’ll close in on others with a season that’s in line with what he’s done during his first 22 years in the league. If he does post such a season, it sounds like he’ll be looking to continue to pad his totals during the 2019 season as well.

Titans QB Marcus Mariota having healthy offseason

For the first time in his NFL career, Marcus Mariota is enjoying an offseason without the pain and burden of rehabbing an injury.

It’s allowed him to focus on football, and after tossing more interceptions than touchdowns in 2017, the Titans’ franchise quarterback is retooling his mechanics, notably working to widen his stance when throwing the football. The improved legwork should increase his accuracy.

Colts Beat: TE Eric Ebron turning heads

Colts tight end Eric Ebron was a draft bust in Detroit, but he might be ready to make his mark in Indianapolis.

That’s the word after the Colts wrapped up their offseason workouts, and coach Frank Reich said he loved what he saw of Ebron.

“He’s really smart,” Reich said of Ebron, via the Indianapolis Star. “I knew that because we did our homework before he got here. We knew he was a smart player. But he’s like really a highly intelligent football player. And that’s really good because you want to use a guy with the versatility that he has and move him around and call all kinds of things with him. That helps. And he’s an explosive athlete.”

Browns Beat: QB Baker Mayfield does not look ready

A year after the Browns thrust then-rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer into a Week One starting role, the Browns appear intent to do the opposite with their latest rookie QB, keeping quarterback Baker Mayfield on ice for as long as possible.

If that’s the plan, Mayfield is making it easy for the decision makers to implement their strategy. Here’s an assessment of the competition, if there is one, between Mayfield and Tyrod Taylor, from Dan Labbe of the Cleveland Plain Dealer: “This is where I tell you that, based on the six practices of OTAs and minicamp that were open to the media, Mayfield did not look ready to compete with Taylor for the No. 1 quarterback job.”

McCarthy: Packers to use committee at RB

Don’t expect any one running back to carry the load in Green Bay this season.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said the demands of the position are such that running backs Jamaal Williams, Ty Montgomery, and Aaron Jones will all be better off if none of them get too many carries.

“The fact of the matter is we’re going to go running back by committee,” McCarthy told ESPN. “But if one of them would emerge as that full-time guy then you have to have that ability to...adjust to that."

Lions Beat: WR Kenny Golladay could break out this year

Kenny Golladay is 6-foot-4. He's listed at 218 pounds. He has 4.5 speed and can jump through the building.

In other words, he looks like a No. 1 receiver. But in this offense, he doesn't have to be a No. 1 receiver. With Marvin Jones and Golden Tate back, he's probably a WR3.

And that's part of what makes him an excellent candidate to become the offense's breakout player of the year.

Colts plan to limit QB Andrew Luck's work in summer

According to Albert Breer of SI.com, the Colts plan to limit Andrew Luck’s work throughout the summer to make sure there are no setbacks, including days off during training camp. They also plan to monitor his practice reps, to try to mirror his workload during the regular season.

Texans unsure when RB D'Onta Foreman (Achilles) will return

Texans General Manager Brian Gaine said in May that the team hoped to have running back Donta Foreman on the field when training camp starts this summer, but it doesn’t sound like that’s how things will play out.

Seahawks expect WR Brandon Marshall (hamstring) to be ready for camp

The Seahawks signed veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall late in May, but he never participated in any team drills before the team ended their offseason program with last week’s minicamp.

Coach Pete Carroll said that Marshall was being cautious due to a hamstring issue and that the team expects he’ll be ready to start a fuller workload once camp opens this summer.

Bills WR Zay Jones has to 'earn his way'

The Bills wide receiver corps is one of the league’s thinner ones heading into training camp, which would seem to bode well for 2017 second-round pick Zay Jones‘ chances of seeing a lot of playing time once September rolls around.

While that may be the case, General Manager Brandon Beane made it clear last week that Jones won’t be guaranteed anything this season.

“He’s not just going to necessarily go right to the top of the line,” Beane said during an appearance on WGR 550, via NewYorkUpstate.com. “He’ll have to earn his way. Part of that will just be just getting his feel. He’s only played with Nathan Peterman. He has not got to play with Josh Allen or AJ McCarron yet. So that bond there will just have to form.”

Related players: Kelvin Benjamin, Andre Holmes, Jeremy Kerley

Seahawks RB Chris Carson 'most impressive' in OTAs

Chris Carson has been the most impressive of any running back this summer, and general manager John Schneider has said that at times, Carson looks like the best player on the field. After adding 10 pounds of muscle, Carson was the first name head coach Pete Carroll mentioned when asked which player impressed him the most in terms of the shape he was in when he reported back for offseason work. It'll make for an interesting battle for the starting job.

Titans Beat: 60-40 split between RBs Henry and Lewis

Dion Lewis saw a career-high 36 percent of the offensive reps in New England last season. With injury concerns and size limitations, there will likely be a cap on Lewis' workload. But he still could match or even surpass his workload from last season and still leave plenty on the bone for Henry.

Last season, DeMarco Murray claimed 63 percent of offensive snaps to Derrick Henry's 40. A reasonable June estimate for 2018 would be a similar workflow, with Henry getting about 60 percent and Lewis 40 percent.

Giants WR Odell Beckham: 'No holdout.'

Ralph Vacchiano got in two questions to Odell Beckham as he left the practice field Saturday: "Will we see you at camp?" “Yes sir. Yes you will,” he said.

"So no holdout?" Beckham replied: “No. No holdout.”

His plan is indeed to be at camp on time, a source familiar with his plans told SNY. But the source said it remains a fluid situation because so far his contract talks are going nowhere. So yes, his feelings could change.