NFL

2023 NFL mandatory minicamp schedule: Highlights, analysis, updates and more from around the league

by
SaC Bot
June 7, 2023

The roster-building portion of the NFL offseason is mostly over. Free agency is behind us, as is the 2023 NFL Draft. We also know the full week-by-week schedule for the upcoming season.

All that’s left is to see these teams in action on the field, and that’s what the next two weeks are for. After going through voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) throughout May, it’s time for mandatory minicamps. Teams will go through two to three days of workouts with the entire club before having one final break, then the grind of the 2023 campaign begins with the start of training camp in late July.

Below you’ll find the mandatory minicamp schedule for every team as well as real-time highlights, updates and analysis from around the league beginning Tuesday.

Tyreek Hill held out of OTA team reps on Tuesday

“If Tyreek is at risk for further injury, he doesn’t know any speed on the practice field except full go,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday, via Pro Football Network. “There’s also a component of coaches protecting players from themselves. He’s dealing with some minor stuff, but if at any point we think it makes the Miami Dolphins worse for someone to practice, we will turn the page and he will not practice.”

Damar Hamlin is back

An incredible sight as Hamlin was seen on the practice field as a full participant in minicamp. Just five months after suffering cardiac arrest on the field, Hamlin is back and playing for the Bills.

Hamlin did return to practice after getting his shoulder looked at after a play, apparently frustrated with the injury.

Deshaun Watson throws TD to Elijah Moore

During Tuesday minicamp session, Watson seemed to have an early rapport with wideout Elijah Moore, who was acquired by the Browns this offseason in a trade with the Jets. The two connected on a touchdown during a 7-on-7 period. The 23-year-old receiver is a former second-round pick out of Ole Miss and is coming off a 2022 season where he caught 37 balls for 446 yards and a touchdown.

As for Watson, the quarterback was reportedly sharp during those 7-on-7 drills as Cleveland.com notes he completed touchdowns to Moore, Amari Cooper, David Bell, Donovan Peoples-Jones and David Njoku.

Chase Young at Commanders camp

Despite having his fifth-year option declined, Young said he’s “ready to go” and “felt good running routes with his teammates.” Young participated in practice with the Commanders and is in positive spirits as he’ll be a free agent after this season.

Leonard Floyd sighting

Floyd signed with the Bills on Monday and is already hitting the ground running at minicamp. He projects to play a huge role in the pass rush, rotating with Von Miller and Gregory Rousseau.

No mandatory minicamp for Jets

Head coach Robert Saleh has seen enough from his team through the voluntary minicamp sessions. The Jets won’t have mandatory minicamp this year due to starting the season (and training camp) a week earlier because they’re scheduled to play in the Hall of Fame game.

The Jets join the Eagles and Bengals in not holding mandatory minicamp.

Cowboys’ Luke Shoonmaker loses boot

One of the more noteworthy items heading into Cowboys minicamp was the status of rookie tight end Luke Shoonmaker. He’s been dealing with a plantar fascia issue and was previously spotted wearing a boot. However, he was seen at the start of Dallas’ minicamp on Tuesday without a boot, which is a good sign for his prospects of being a full participant by the time training camp rolls around.

Connor Williams not at Dolphins minicamp

The Dolphins are holding mandatory minicamp, but Connor Williams won’t be in attendance. The only Miami player not present, Williams and head coach Mike McDaniel have been in communication and the absence is not excused. In the final year of a two-year contract, the Dolphins’ starting center is seeking a new deal and a pay raise.

The Dolphins can fine him for each day he misses minicamp.

Jared Goff a ‘better QB’ now with Lions

Lions head coach Dan Campbell heaped praise onto his quarterback Jared Goff, specifically because he is fully immersed in Detroit’s system and knows it inside and out.

“I mean, he’s a better quarterback than he was there [with the Rams] in my opinion because he can do more things. He’s mentally on it.,” Campbell said. “We ask him to do a lot more in my opinion than what [the Rams] were actually doing out there. They had a lot of pretty good pieces out there as well as we know. Damn good defense. All those things, but I just feel like, I know from speaking with him and watching him really over the last two years, I just feel like … we put a lot of things on him where I’m not so sure that was ultimately what they were doing.”

Gibbs flashing route-running ability

The Lions’ first-round running back may need to work on securing the football, but the early impressions of him coming out of minicamp have praised his route-running ability and speed. The club has reportedly used him as a receiver throughout the offseason on top of his prowess as a running back, so this could be the foundation of a key chess piece in this Detroit offense.

Jaxson Smith-Njigba working on goal-line drills

Here’s one of the first looks of Seattle’s first-round receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba, who was working with Geno Smith on some goal-line drills inside the red zone. While the Seahawks already boast two top wideouts in D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, Smith-Njigba could carve out a sizable role with this team, especially if he can work the short field in the red area like he was practicing here.

Quarterback competition in Washington?

Rivera and the Commanders have continued to preach Sam Howell is QB1, but seemed to pivot a bit on that on Day 1 of mandatory minicamp. Howell and Brissett are in a competition for teh starting quarterback job in Washington, even if Howell is No. 1 on the depth chart.

The Commanders want Howell to win the job, but aren’t going to hand it to him.

Derrick Henry pushing trade rumors aside

Derrick Henry has been the NFL’s top back for the past few years, but did see his name sprout up in trade rumors this offseason. However, no deal ended up coming to fruition and Henry noted on Tuesday that he’s simply putting all of that outside noise to the side. He also noted that he’s building a relationship with new GM Ran Carthon.

Kevin Byard on the field for Titans

Titans star safety Kevin Byard was present for the start of mandatory minicamp after skipping out of Tennessee’s OTAs. Byard has been away from the team after GM Ran Carthon asked him to take a pay cut in March. The 29-year-old didn’t speak to reporters on Tuesday.

Minicamp highlights

Nine teams start mandatory minicamp this week: The Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, and Washington Commanders. Coaches and players will speak at the conclusion of practice.