Keenan Allen, NFL Free Agents Who Could Help Address Injury and Holdout Situations

With training camp underway for all 32 NFL teams, preparation for the 2025 season has officially begun. Teams will largely spend the coming weeks installing playbooks, holding positional battles and working to finalize the final 53-player roster.

Of course, not every aspect of training camp will go as scripted. A few notable players are prepared to hold out during training camp, and with everyone else on the field, injuries are always inevitable. A few teams are already finding themselves with needs they didn't anticipate earlier in the offseason.

The good news is that proven veterans remain available on the free-agent market who could help replace early injured players or provide insurance for camp holdouts. Here, we'll examine a few of those players, which situations they could potentially address and some of the latest buzz from training camps.

WR Keenan Allen

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

Though wideout Keenan Allen turned 33 in April and appears to have lost some of the explosiveness he showcased early in his career, he remains a productive receiver. Despite playing in an inefficient Chicago Bears offense last season, he finished with 70 catches for 744 yards and seven touchdowns.

According to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, Allen has "drawn interest from multiple teams in recent weeks" but wants to "better assess the landscape" with training camps open before picking a team.

A return to the Los Angeles Chargers would be sensible for a couple of reasons, one being the fact that Allen spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the franchise. The Chargers could also need a receiver following Mike Williams' retirement.

The San Francisco 49ers should also consider Allen, since the team traded Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk (torn ACL) isn't expected to be ready for the start of the season.

On Tuesday, general manager John Lynch told reporters that the 49ers are "not anywhere close to having a concrete timeline" with Aiyuk.

San Francisco was also facing a potential holdout with receiver Jauan Jennings, who had asked the franchise for a new contract or a trade. However, he was at training camp and on the field for Wednesday's practice, according to The Athletic's Matt Barrows:

Unfortunately, Wednesday may have also brought a hamstring injury for second-year receiver Jacob Cowling.

Even with Jennings in the fold, San Francisco should consider adding Allen as insurance during Auyuk's recovery.

Top Potential Landing Spots: Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers

Edge Jadeveon Clowney

AP Photo/John Locher

Pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney had a pretty respectable 2024 campaign, albeit with a bad Carolina Panthers defense. While Carolina finished dead-last in both yards and points allowed, Clowney managed to record 5.5 sacks, 22 quarterback pressures and nine tackles for loss.

The 32-year-old is, reportedly, looking to continue his career in 2025.

"I'm still planning to play this season," Clowney said, per NFL insider Josina Anderson.

Clowney should garner strong consideration from the Cincinnati Bengals, who have two ongoing holdout situations with pass-rushers. Rookie first-round pick Shemar Stewart still hasn't signed his contract because of a disagreement with the team over void language.

Such language was not standard in previous Bengals contracts, and Stewart isn't looking to be a first.

"I think he's dug in on the language," ESPN's Adam Schefter told the Rothman & Ice podcast (h/t Chris Roling of Bengals Wire). "He doesn't want to be the first one and be made an example of."

Pass-rusher and reigning NFL sacks leader Trey Hendrickson is also holding out after requesting a new contract or a trade and getting neither. According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Hendrickson recently left Cincinnati for Florida after receiving two offers that fell short of his desired guarantees.

“I was more than willing to take less in some ways in order to make this work," Hendrickson said, per Russini.

If Clowney can be had at a team-friendly price point—he played for the rival Baltimore Ravens on a $2.5 million contract two years ago—bringing him in while continuing to negotiate with Stewart and Hendrickson would make a lot of sense.

The Detroit Lions should also have some interest in Clowney. They did have Aidan Hutchinson (fractured leg) back for the start of camp but also parted with Za'Darius Smith this offseason.

Top Potential Landing Spots: Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions

WR Amari Cooper

AP Photo/Gregory Bull

Allen isn't the only notable wide receiver left on the market. Five-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper remains unsigned, which isn't surprising, considering he's 31 and coming off a disappointing season.

In 14 games with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills, Cooper had only 44 receptions for 547 yards and four touchdowns. Of course, he entered an unfamiliar situation in Buffalo following a midseason trade and had arguably the league's worst QB situation in Cleveland.

While Cooper may not replicate the success he had in 2023 (71 catches for 1,250 yards and 5 TDs), he should be capable of putting up better numbers than he did a year ago.

Cooper remains a big (6'1", 211 lbs), physical target capable of using his route-running to create separation. While he isn't the big-play threat that Washington Commanders star Terry McLaurin is, he could give the Commanders valuable insurance while McLaurin's status remains unclear.

McLaurin wants a new contract and appears willing to hold out to get it. He was not present for the start of Commanders camp on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Adding an experienced receiver like Cooper would be sensible for the Commanders. They're hoping to see second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels take another positive step, and that could be difficult without his top target on the field. Cooper wouldn't outright replace McLaurin, but he could help strengthen the depth chart while Washington works to get McLaurin into camp.

Cooper would also make some sense for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, even though they used their first-round pick on wideout Emeka Egbuka. Chris Godwin (ankle) opened camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and doesn't have a clear timeline for return.

"He's on track," head coach Todd Bowles said, per Scott Smith and Gabriel Kahaian of the team's official website. "We've got to see what the process is for him to get out on the field and do some things."

Top Potential Landing Spots: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders

CB Rasul Douglas

AP Photo/ Jeffrey T. Barnes

Cornerback Rasul Douglas didn't have a great season with the Bills in 2024—he allowed an opposing passer rating of 122.0 in coverage—but he did start 15 games and has been a legitimate difference-maker in the past.

Douglas allowed an opposing passer rating of just 38.6 in nine games in 2023, and he recorded 14 interceptions between 2021 and 2023 with the Bills and Green Bay Packers.

On Monday, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that the Miami Dolphins "remain in active discussion" with Douglas.

It would behoove the Dolphins to get a deal done sooner than later.

Miami was already in need of cornerback help after trading Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers as part of the deal to acquire safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. On Wednesday, the Dolphins have lost cornerback Artie Burns for the season.

According to Schefter, Burns "is feared" to have suffered a torn ACL and is "awaiting an MRI and second opinion to confirm."

Burns was a newcomer to Miami and spent just four games with the Seattle Seahawks in 2024. However, the 30-year-old had appeared in 90 career games and was expected to contribute this season.

The Bears should also consider making Douglas an offer before Miami has a chance to finalize anything. Top cornerback Jaylon Johnson opened camp on the non-football injury list and is expected to miss "several weeks" with a leg injury, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin.

Chicago doesn't appear concerned with Johnson's long-term status.

"We've got a lot of faith that he's going to put in the time to rehab and be his full self when he comes back," general manager Ryan Poles said, per Cronin.

Still, the Bears could afford added secondary depth as they look to become relevant in the talented NFC North.

Top Potential Landing Spots: Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins

RB Gus Edwards

AP Photo/Ryan Sun

The running back market is pretty slim at this point in the offseason, which is a potential issue for the Houston Texans. While Houston did add four-time Pro Bowler Nick Chubb in June, its backfield has some significant injury concerns.

According to Jason M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans opened camp with Joe Mixon on the active/non-football injury list and both Dameon Pierce and J.J. Taylor on the PUP list.

Considering Chubb suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2023 and a season-ending foot injury in 2024, the Texans could benefit from adding a bit more depth for training camp and the preseason.

Though Gus Edwards had a disappointing campaign with the Chargers this past season, he might be the best option available. He largely filled the backup role behind J.K. Dobbins in 2024, and he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry over the course of the season. Two years ago, however, he was an extremely valuable member of Baltimore's backfield rotation.

Edwards rushed for 810 yards, 4.1 yards per carry and 13 touchdowns in 2023. The 6'1", 238-pound bruiser could potentially stick as a short-yardage and goal-line back. At worst, he'd give Houston another option while Mixon, Pierce and Taylor all recover.

A return to L.A. could also make sense, even though the Chargers signed Najee Harris, drafted Omarion Hampton and recently added Nyheim Hines. Harris, who suffered an eye injury in a July 4 fireworks accident, opened camp on the non-football/injury list.

Top Potential Landing Spots: Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers

Edge Za'Darius Smith

AP Photo/Rey Del Rio

Along with Clowney, pass-rusher Za'Darius Smith should start generating more interest now that Von Miller has signed with the Commanders. Smith split his time between Cleveland and the Lions last season but had himself another solid campaign.

The 32-year-old had nine total sacks last season and produced four sacks and 15 quarterback pressures in eight games after being traded to Detroit.

Smith could help virtually any team in need of pass-rush help. The Arizona Cardinals didn't expect to be such a team after investing heavily in their defensive front early in the offseason.

Arizona signed former Philadelphia Eagles standout Josh Sweat, signed Calais Campbell and used a first-round pick on Mississippi's Walter Nolen III. Unfortunately, injuries are already impacting the Cardinals' defense. According to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports, Nolen, defensive tackle Bilal Nichols and edge-defender B.J. Ojulari are among those who opened Cardinals camp on the sideline.

Ojulari recorded four sacks as a rookie in 2023 but missed all of last season with a torn ACL. Nolen was drafted 16th overall and was expected to be an early contributor in Jonathan Gannon's defense.

While the Cardinals still have Sweat, Campbell and free-agent addition Dalvin Tomlinson up front, they could afford to add Smith to the mix before the start of the regular season.

Smith would also make a ton of sense for Cincinnati, which, potentially, could be without two pass-rushers for the near future.

Top Potential Landing Spots: Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals

DT Linval Joseph

AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter

Seeing Linval Joseph available this late in the offseason isn't a major surprise. He'll turn 37 in October and hasn't been a full-time starter since 2022. However, Joseph is still a capable contributor who appeared in all 17 games for the Dallas Cowboys last season.

Joseph finished his 2024 campaign with two sacks, two tackles for loss and 19 total tackles. He'd be a solid addition for any team needing depth along the defensive interior, and there are a couple.

The Las Vegas Raiders may need another defensive tackle, as Christian Wilkins still hasn't fully recovered from last year's second-ending foot injury.

"We sort of have to wait it out," Raiders head coach Pete Carroll told reporters on Tuesday.

The Lions should also be in the market for interior defensive help. Standout defensive tackle Alim McNeill is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in December. Detroit recently announced that Levi Onwuzurike will miss the entire 2025 season after undergoing ACL surgery.

"Levi is out for the year," Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters on Sunday. "Levi's surgery it was significant, but it needed to be done."

After playing just 24 percent of Dallas' defensive snaps last season, Joseph probably isn't prepared to step into a starting role. For teams that need interior help like Detroit and Las Vegas, though, he could be a valuable rotational piece.

Top Potential Landing Spots: Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders