July 27 Training Camp Notes: Michael Thomas returns to practice, Derwin James awaits a new contract and more

Thomas was on the field Wednesday running routes and catching passes from Jameis Winston.
It’s the first time he’s been fully cleared from the ankle injury that originally occurred in September of 2020. He missed all of last season after undergoing offseason surgery.
In his last full season in 2019, Thomas recorded 149 receptions (most in NFL history) for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns. He earned a 90.7 receiving grade, the best mark among wide receivers.
Thomas is set to join a revamped New Orleans wide receiver group that now includes Jarvis Landry and Chris Olave.

James reported to Chargers camp but is officially “holding in” as he waits for a new deal.
Both sides have had ongoing productive conversations, and the expectation is a deal making James the highest-paid safety in the NFL will get done.
James is coming off a season in which he recorded 118 tackles, two interceptions, two sacks and three forced fumbles. He earned a 78.1 PFF grade.
He’s entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to make $9 million under his fifth-year option.
The NFL's highest-paid safety is currently Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick at $18.2 million per season.

Wright signed a one-day contract with the Seattle Seahawks to make the news official.
A fourth-round pick in 2011, Wright spent the first 10 years of his career in Seattle and was a stalwart at linebacker. He started 140 regular-season games and was a part of their Super Bowl XLVIII-winning team.
He finished out his career by playing one season with the Raiders in 2021, earning a 63.7 grade to continue a 60.0-plus streak that's spanned his entire career.

San Francisco acquired Ford from Kansas City in 2019 for a second-round pick and signed him to a five-year contract worth $85 million.
He played only 378 snaps across 18 regular-season games in three seasons with the 49ers. Injuries (primarily a back issue) kept him off the field.
Before all the injuries, Ford was coming off a dominant 2018 campaign in which he earned a 91.0 pass-rush grade with 78 quarterback pressures, 13 sacks and seven forced fumbles.

Cleveland signed Brissett and traded Case Keenum after acquiring Deshaun Watson for a reason, as they knew a suspension was likely.
There have been some rumblings that Jimmy Garoppolo could become an option if Watson receives a lengthy suspension, but that remains an unlikely scenario if it would require a trade.
Brissett started five games last season for Miami and earned a respectable 77.4 grade in those starts.

Carson was forced to retire at the age of 27 after suffering a serious neck injury early last season.
Seattle selected Carson in the seventh round in 2017, and he started 48 games in five years.
He totaled 769 carries for 3,502 yards and 24 touchdowns and caught 107 passes for 804 yards and seven touchdowns.
He earned a 70.0-plus overall grade in all five years and never recorded a rushing grade under 74.0. His best season came in 2018, when he finished with an 83.2 PFF grade, sixth best in the NFL.
Seattle used a second-round pick on Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker and also re-signed Rashaad Penny to a one-year, $5.75 million deal this offseason. They are poised to lead the way in Seattle’s backfield in 2022.

Godwin suffered a torn ACL in Week 15 of last season, so this is a great sign for where he’s at in his recovery.
The team plans to take a cautious approach with Godwin throughout camp, and it’s still not a sure-fire thing that he’ll be available come Week 1.
Godwin had a career-high 98 receptions last season for 1,103 yards and five touchdowns. He earned an 81.3 PFF grade.
Tampa Bay rewarded him with a three-year, $60 million deal earlier this offseason.

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