Mahomes, Daniel Jones progress at NFL minicamps; Parsons eyes fall return

Mandatory NFL minicamps in June 2026 are serving as health checkpoints for starters returning from major injuries. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has resumed controlled individual and positional work as he rehabs a Dec.

14 ACL and LCL tear. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones was cleared for seven-on-seven on June 1 and will be reevaluated at training camp in July.

Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons is targeting an October–November window, while Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers does not yet have a firm timetable.

These June sessions operate as pre-camp audits for medical and performance staffs to gauge readiness before contact resumes. Priorities are consistent across teams: maintain conditioning, avoid incidental contact, and hit benchmarks that inform Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) designations and early-season roster planning. Coaches aim to preserve timing and offensive/defensive installation while protecting players who are not yet cleared for full-team periods.

Week 1 availability is rarely locked in during June, but steady progress at minicamp can accelerate the ramp once training camp introduces higher-tempo, competitive work. Clubs use these checkpoints to decide whether to open players on PUP or move them directly into modified workloads that can expand through August.

Minicamp checkpoints shaping roster calls

Offseason work prioritizes control

For players returning from lower-body ligament injuries, offseason programs emphasize linear movement, pocket mechanics, timing with receivers, and non-contact install. Teams generally delay full-speed cutting and 11-on-11 exposure until swelling, strength, and proprioception thresholds are met later in the summer. This staged approach helps maintain practice rhythm without exposing rehabbing players to unpredictable traffic.

PUP decisions guide early-season planning

As tempo increases in late July and August, medical staffs reassess workloads against predefined criteria and adjust practice plans accordingly. Players not ready for full participation may begin camp on PUP, while others transition through limited periods before scaling to full-team work. These choices determine whether a player opens the season on PUP or is eased in with modified practice plans and monitored snap counts once cleared.

Team-by-team recovery outlook

Chiefs: Mahomes targets Week 1

Mahomes continues individual and positional drills to preserve timing with receivers and pocket mechanics without exposure to contact. He has not been cleared for 11-on-11 work, but the plan keeps him active while he builds toward full-speed cutting later in the summer. Coaches are limiting scenarios with potential incidental contact until he reaches predetermined markers.

Colts: Jones advances to seven-on-seven

Jones was cleared for seven-on-seven work on June 1 and is expected to move into full-team drills at training camp in July if his response remains positive. He is working back from an Achilles injury sustained on Dec. 7, with staff balancing the need for on-field repetitions against the caution typical for that recovery timeline. The incremental approach preserves rhythm and installation while reducing risk.

Packers: Parsons eyes October–November window

Parsons, who tore his ACL on Dec. 14, is just over five months post-surgery and views an October–November return as realistic. Green Bay’s plan follows a nine-month guideline for ACL recoveries, reflecting data that discourages early returns and prioritizes long-term availability. If he opens the season on PUP, the Packers can later start a 21-day practice window before activating him.

Giants: Nabers’ timetable remains open

Nabers continues his rehab without a firm return date. New York is prioritizing long-term stability and explosiveness for a player whose role depends on burst and change of direction. His Week 1 status remains to be determined and will hinge on tolerance for progressive workloads once camp begins.

Teams will reassess each player’s status at the start of training camps in July, with availability for Week 1 expected to sharpen through August as competitive periods intensify.