The Facts: The Chiefs wrapped up their first week of organized team activities on Thursday with a handful of players on the sidelines or absent, including Kelce. Kelce underwent offseason ankle surgery and expects to remain out until training camp, but the All-Pro tight end did attend practice watching the tight ends and offseason on the field. HC Andy Reid said Kelce continues making positive progress in his rehabilitation. “He's doing good, yeah, he's champing at the bit out here,” Reid said. “He stands right behind you and watches everybody.” Reported by ChiefsDigest.com

Diehards Line: Kelce has been dominant over the last three seasons, hauling in 80 or more catches and 1,000 or more yards every year in that span. His 2018 campaign yielded a career-high triple crown for catches, yardage and touchdowns. His 1,336 yards were briefly an NFL record and are now second all-time in league history (behind George Kittle). Playing alongside Patrick Mahomes certainly helps. In fact, in his first year with Patrick Mahomes, Kelce outscored all but eight wide receivers and all but five running backs in PPR formats. It's safe to say the time spent making sure he's at 100 percent is wise.

The Facts: Rob Gronkowski was considered the league’s best tight end for most of his career, but Gronkowski has retired and Ertz would like to take his place. “I’ve said it since my rookie year, which I can’t believe was seven years ago,” Ertz said, via Philly.com. “I said I wanted to be one of the best to ever play the tight end position, not only in this organization, but anywhere. ... People are saying there are one or two guys that are better than me. My goal is to be the best. So I have a huge chip on my shoulder going into this year.” Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: Ertz caught 116 passes for the Eagles last year and he thinks he may have even more room to operate in 2019. Ertz thinks the return of wide receiver DeSean Jackson to the team will mean “more space in the middle of the field” as defenses adjust to make sure Jackson doesn’t beat them over the top. If that translates to another year of big receiving numbers, it may allow Ertz to reach that desired goals. That aside, catching a lot of balls might not be enough for Ertz to get that recognition as Travis Kelce and George Kittle edged him out in All-Pro voting last year, but it would likely work just fine for the Eagles and fantasy owners.

The Facts: It’s unknown at this point if the Chiefs are going to have wide receiver Tyreek Hill back for the regular season and any plan for life without him is likely to include a big role for Watkins. Watkins’ injury history makes that a dicey proposition. He missed six games during his first season with the Chiefs and has missed at least three games in three of his five NFL seasons. Watkins is confident that the team can count on him, however. The wideout recently tweeted that “the world will now get to witness my greatness again.” Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: Watkins was asked about why that was the case during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “Just the work I’ve been putting in,” Watkins replied. “The confidence I have in myself and knowing that my body just feels amazing, just knowing that my body is holding up. I’m constantly getting faster, stronger, better, and I’m getting the support from the team, from my teammates and the organization. I feel like the fans and everyone, all the support I’ve been getting, it can’t go wrong. The universe kinda gives everybody what they wish for and the energy that they push out. That’s what I’ve been doing, trying to manifest a great year. ..." PFT went on to note that Watkins credits the Chiefs staff with helping him “tremendously” with his body as he heads into the 2019 season. He also said he feels settled in the offense after bouncing from the Bills to the Rams to the Chiefs from 2016 through 2018. Whether Hill’s around or not, the Chiefs will be hoping health and comfort lead to bigger things in Watkins’ second year with the team.

The Facts: Chatter emerged in recent days that the Jets could trade Bell, either before the 2019 season or after it concludes. HC Adam Gase was asked about the first possibility when meeting with reporters on Thursday, and he described it in two words. “That’s ridiculous,” Gase said. Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: Gase pointed out that the question of whether he and former GM Mike Maccagnan disagreed on the magnitude of the contract given to Bell is different from the question of whether they disagreed on adding Bell to the team. Gase emphasized that Bell is a “great person,” who has been in “constant contact” with Gase regarding Bell’s offseason training regimen. “The contract was what it was,” Gase said. “Everybody can criticize contracts all you want. He’s here. I’m excited, the players are excited, the coaches are excited.” Gase said he’s anxious to get Bell into the New York offense and when pressed on whether the Jets overpaid for Bell, Gase said that wasn't the case. But as PFT's Mike Florio suggests, Gase had to say that, regardless of what he truly believes. And we're still going to be watching for

The Facts: Boyd currently sits as an underrated commodity for the Bengals. Pairing with A.J. Green to form one of the best young receiver tandems in the NFL, Boyd made it clear that he has no desire to leave Cincinnati. "That's what I'm saying, bruh, I want to be here," Boyd said. "I think they feel that and know that. In my feeling, I think it is going to be done before camp. But ain't no telling. I'm just going to continue to keep being patient and trust the process." Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: Coming off a breakout 1,028-yard campaign in which the 24-year-old showed he could be a go-to target with Green injured down the stretch, Boyd enters the final year of his rookie contract ready for a big payday. Boyd, healthy for most of last season after an injury-plagued 2017, proved he can be a difference-maker for the Bengals offense. He generated five games of 90-plus yards last season and was particularly efficient generating first downs, especially on money-downs (third or fourth down). Last year, 58.1 percent of his money-down targets went for a first down or touchdown, which ranked eighth in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. Teams generally pay for chain-moving talent. Set to make just $981,000 in base salary, the former second-round pick isn't holding out this offseason in hopes of getting paid, but the Bengals will have to catch up with him at some point. Boyd pointed to New York Giants receiver Sterling Shepard, who went 15 spots ahead of the Bengals wideout in the 2016 draft, inking a four-year, $41 million contract with $21.3 million guaranteed earlier this offseason as something he feels is reasonable. But the Bengals usually plan their contract re-ups for around training camp or before the start of the season. It's possible Cincy might want Boyd to prove he wasn't a one-hit wonder before they shell out huge money, so stay tuned.

The Facts: Listed at 6-4, 216 pounds, Sutton should be a prioritized red zone target. But last year, 176 NFL players had more than Sutton’s two red zone catches (both touchdowns) and 80 receivers had more than his eight targets. Sutton wants those statistics to change this year. “Personally in the red zone, I think I’m one of the biggest threats that (defensive backs) go against,” he said. “Every DB that I played against or will play against will probably say the same thing. They might not show it, but they know.” Reported by the Denver Post

Diehards Line: As Post staffer Ryan O'Halloran noted, it’s up to new Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello to realize what he has in Sutton while also drawing up red zone targets for rookie tight end Noah Fant. Running back Devontae Booker and receiver Emmanuel Sanders led the Broncos with six red zone catches apiece last year. Sutton’s two red zone catches were an eight-yard touchdown at the New York Jets and a 27-yard touchdown at Arizona that was thrown by Sanders. “I’m definitely looking forward to capitalizing on (using my size) more this year,” Sutton said. Fantasy owners are drafting him based on that possibility.

The Facts: Carr said he was confident the Oakland Raiders would not draft a quarterback this offseason, but did admit the constant swirl of speculation got under his skin. "Honestly, it got annoying after a while," Carr admitted Tuesday after the team's first OTA practice, in his first meeting with Bay Area media since the 2018 season finale. "I'm like, 'Really, they don't have nothing else to talk about?' And I didn't help the situation, trying to challenge people to fights." Reported by ESPN.com

Diehards Line: Carr laughed, but he was not happy in January when he did, in fact, challenge ESPN First Take's Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman to an MMA-style match due to criticism they levied at Carr. That the Raiders did not pick a QB with any of their nine selections in April's draft -- instead sticking with Carr and backups Nathan Peterman, Mike Glennon and Landry Jones -- only solidified Carr as the franchise quarterback. Particularly after conversations with owner Mark Davis, GM Mike Mayock and HC Jon Gruden, who believes Carr did "a lot of good things" last season. By adding weapons such as receivers Antonio Brown, who did not attend the first practice of the voluntary OTAs after being at most of the offseason training program's first phase, and Tyrell Williams and right tackle Trent Brown, "hopefully a lot of these thing will show up and he'll be a great quarterback, which I know he will be," Gruden added. And if Carr and the Raiders struggle mightily this season, more speculation will mount, especially since the dead-money hit for the Raiders would be a relatively manageable $5 million if they cut or trade him next offseason.

The Facts: It's time for our weekly Prescott extension negotiations update. Bulletin: They're going well. That's the word from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who spoke to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport at the Spring League Meeting in Key Biscayne, Fla., on Wednesday. "I'd generally say going well," Jones said of talks with his franchise quarterback. "These things never have a definitive answer. Because you never know if you've done it until you've done it." Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: Prescott is entering the final season of his rookie contract and is reportedly targeting an extension worth at least $30 million per year. Jones added to Rapoport that Dallas has also begun negotiations with running back Ezekiel Elliott and "others." The owner's comments come after Prescott told NFL Network's Jane Slater that he and his team have submitted a counteroffer to the Cowboys. Prescott, Elliott and linebacker Jaylon Smith aren't the only Cowboys stars, after DeMarcus Lawrence, to warrant big extensions this offseason. In the last year of his rookie deal, Amari Cooper is also an extension candidate. Dak said he doesn't know where Cooper and the Cowboys are in negotiations, adding, "I just hope he's catching the balls I throw."

The Facts: Stafford gave his first interview since his wife Kelly’s brain surgery last week and thanked people for their well-wishes as she and the family continue to go through the recovery process. Stafford took some time off from the Lions to make sure all was well on the home front, but he’s been back at work for a while and said it was a relief to have that outlet available to him. On Tuesday, Stafford delved a bit deeper into the football side of things now that OTAs are underway. Stafford said he’s “just happy to be out here throwing the ball around to some really talented guys” and gave an update on how quickly he’s picking up the offense being installed by new coordinator Darrell Bevell. Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: “I think I’m as far along as I should be,” Stafford said. “There’s obviously a ton more to learn. Verbiage-wise, it’s completely different. … To be honest, having a new playbook is kind of helping. I’m sitting there going, ‘Man, it’s not old hat.’ It’s a bunch of new stuff. I think guys are doing a great job diving in and trying to learn.” Stafford stressed the need to stay “locked in” at work despite what’s going on at home. With new receivers, tight ends and Frank Ragnow moving to center, there should be plenty of things keeping Stafford’s mind on task while he’s in the building.

The Facts: The only absence was notable from the Vikings’ second Organized Team Activity session on Wednesday, because the receiver opposite star Adam Thielen kept changing for Kirk Cousins. Diggs skipped the first two OTAs after participating sparingly in the Vikings offseason program that started April 15. He’s expected to return Thursday, according to Cousins. “That will be fun to have him back,” Cousins said. Reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune

Diehards Line: But on Wednesday, up came Jordan Taylor, the 6-5 target whom Gary Kubiak liked in Denver. Then receiver Brandon Zylstra got his chances to run with the first-team offense. Chad Beebe was also in the mix. It was Jeff Badet, the second-year Oklahoma speedster, who stood out with a long deep grab from Cousins near the end of practice. Diggs’ absence only accentuated a competition that will persist this summer for jobs No. 3 on down in the receiver room. Below are more observations from Wednesday’s practice, which during a three-week OTA period will be limited to flag-football conditions (shorts, no shoulder pads). ... Nobody should panic here. We're still in the voluntary phase kids.