After 49ers WR Deebo Samuel requested a trade this offseason, word spread that he wasn't happy with the way the team used him in the 2nd half of last season. That's when Samuel saw a near-even split between receiving (87 catches) and rushing (86 carries). "That's false," he told reporters Tuesday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Samuel apparently didn't elaborate. That doesn't seem to put us any closer to knowing how his touches will break down in 2022 and beyond -- especially after learning that his extension includes annual $650,000 incentives for reaching 380 rushing yards. What we do know is that there's a lot about his 2021 season that Samuel will have a hard time repeating.
Rams HC Sean McVay talked up RBs Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson over the weekend. “I look at it as we’ve got two starting backs,” McVay said. “Those guys are great complements (to) one another, but I see them as both starting-caliber players. We need to get them involved. They need to be on the field. I think it’s healthy for them to be able to supplement one another.” This, of course, doesn't tell us anything about the Rams' specific plans for splitting the backfield work between Akers and Henderson. But The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue says Akers and Henderson have been "splitting first-team snaps pretty evenly so far" in training camp. We'll continue to keep a close eye on the situation through the rest of camp and preseason action. Akers is 7 rounds ahead of Henderson in recent ADP.
Commanders HC Ron Rivera admitted to "some concern" about WR Curtis Samuel's "overall football conditioning and shape." Samuel, of course, basically missed the entire 2021 season with a lingering groin injury that required offseason surgery. He participated in OTAs, though, so this news is a bit of a surprise. “The ultimate goal is really the regular season more than anything else,” Rivera said. “This has nothing to do with last year’s groin injury or anything like that. This is just about the plan for him specifically.” We'll continue to keep a close eye on Samuel's status leading up to Week 1. He's just a late-round flier in fantasy drafts right now.
Broncos WR Tim Patrick tore his right ACL in Tuesday's practice, insider Mike Klis reports. Patrick will miss the entire 2022 season. The timing of the injury at least gives Patrick a good chance to be ready for the start of the 2023 campaign. He signed a 3-year, $34 million extension last November. We had Patrick projected for 85 targets, so this opens up a lot of potential volume for Denver's other pass catchers. WR Jerry Jeudy, WR Courtland Sutton, TE Albert Okwuegbunam and TE Greg Dulcich all get boosts in the rankings. But the biggest winner is WR K.J. Hamler, who has a clear path to the #3 job if he can make it back from last September's torn ACL and dislocated hip.
The Saints are set to sign TE Chris Herndon, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Herndon flamed out with the Jets and then caught just 4 balls for the Vikings last year. New Orleans' TE depth start is a bit fluid with Adam Trautman and Taysom Hill at the top, but we'd still consider Herndon a long shot to earn a significant role.
The Steelers have opened contract talks with WR Diontae Johnson, per team insider Gerry Dulac. That lines up with the words from GM Omar Kahn, who said today that he’s been in touch with Johnson’s reps. “We want Diontae,” Kahn said. “We’re excited for him this season. We hope he’ll be a Steeler for a long time.” Johnson’s been a limited practice participant to date. We’ll see if both sides can agree on the financials ahead of Week 1.
Reports on Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins' recovery from last August's left knee injury have been mixed. But Pro Football Focus insider Doug Kyed hears that Dobbins is doing "amazing" in his rehab and that "there doesn’t appear to be any concern that he’ll be ready for the season." RB Gus Edwards, meanwhile, is "deemed questionable" for Week 1 as he recovers from his own torn ACL. Both guys remain on the PUP list as of today.
Vikings TE Irv Smith underwent thumb surgery on Tuesday, HC Kevin O'Connell said. O'Connell expects Smith to be ready for the start of the season, but we'll track his rehab. The missed practice time isn't ideal for a young player who missed all of 2021 with a knee injury and is now learning a new offense. There's no viable pass-catching TE behind Smith on Minnesota's roster.
Chiefs WR Skyy Moore injured his right hip in Tuesday's practice. Here's video of the play. We'll update Moore' status as soon as we know more. The rookie had been off to a strong start to camp.
Broncos WR Tim Patrick was carted to the locker room during practice on Tuesday. Per multiple beat writers, Patrick grabbed his knee after catching a deep ball. We'll keep you posted when we learn more.
New Titans TE Austin Hooper has been getting extra reps with QB Ryan Tannehill after practice. "Chemistry is just repetitions over time," he told reporters afterward. Titans TEs have disappointed with their target shares over the past couple of years, and Hooper might face a challenge from buzzy rookie TE Chig Okonkwo. But he also faces nice opportunity in a Tennessee offense that traded away WR A.J. Brown and released WR Julio Jones since last season. Hooper has consistently gone in TE3 range of drafts.
Arrowhead Pride's Pete Sweeney gave this update on the Chiefs backfield through the 1st week of camp: "When it comes to running backs with the Chiefs’ first team, it’s been Clyde Edwards-Helaire taking the first rep almost every series. Jerick McKinnon has usually been the next up with Isiah Pacheco, Ronald Jones and Derrick Gore mixing in from time to time." It sure sounds like CEH is in the driver's seat to open the season as Kansas City's lead back. Jones, on the other hand, might not have a roster spot locked up just yet -- not the 1st time we've said that. 7th-round rookie Pacheco has had a strong start to camp and seems to be climbing the depth chart. We'll be keeping a close eye on this backfield in preseason action.
The Dolphins will forfeit a 1st-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and a 3rd-rounder in 2024 after the NFL found the franchise had "impermissible communications" with QB Tom Brady in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and with HC Sean Payton earlier this year. The Fins were trying to bring both guys to Miami when they were still signed with other clubs. Owner Stephen Ross has also been suspended through October 17 and fined $1.5 million.
Terry McCormick of Titan Insider reports that rookie WR Kyle Philips got some slot work in with the 1st team Tuesday. We'll see whether that can develop into a full-time role. The 5th-round pick has generated a little buzz among observers since spring and brings a strong college production profile. Neither Philips nor the role appears to carry high upside, but there's at least opportunity in an offense where the top 2 WRs are expected to be another rookie (Treylon Burks) and a vet coming off an ACL tear (Robert Woods). We talked Philips -- and the rest of the Tennessee offense -- on our recent AFC South preview podcast.
The Cardinals activated WR Marquise Brown (ankle) from the non-football injury list. He ended up missing about a week of camp. Barring a setback, it's a non-factor for his 2022 fantasy value.
Rams HC Sean McVay talked Monday about the fill-in WR plans while Van Jefferson is out for knee surgery. One player he brought up was Brandon Powell. "He's one of those guys, a great competitor, good football player," McVay said, per Rams Wire's Cameron DaSilva. "Seen really positive things from him from the slot." Powell's primary usage so far has come as a return man, across 3 franchises over the past 4 years. He got onto the field for just 3 offensive snaps with the Rams last season, so odds appear to be against him finding a significant role there this year. But we'll see how things go for both Jefferson's knee and those behind him on the depth chart.
Eagles OC Shane Steichen told reporters Tuesday morning that he "has been impressed by how well Quez Watkins has tracked the ball so far," according to former Eagles writer Les Bowen. That's particularly good for Watkins, who brings the speed to stand out as a deep threat and has averaged 15.1 yards per catch through 2 seasons. Watkins will have trouble finding enough targets to make his way into starting lineups in most fantasy football leagues. But he's intriguing as an end-of-draft addition to Jalen Hurts rosters in best-ball tournaments.
Packers rookie LB Quay Walker split 1st-team reps with incumbent Krys Barnes in spring, operating next to De'Vondre Campbell. According to Bill Huber of SI.com's Packer Central, "it's been all Walker" there since training camp began. That's not shocking, given Green Bay chose Walker in Round 1 as the 1st off-ball LB. Huber adds that the Packers haven't run a single snap of "dime" defense in camp, an alignment that includes just 1 LB. Green Bay lined up in that formation 24% of the time last season, so we should certainly expect some this year. But the team might also be looking to keep both Campbell and Walker on the field more than it used 2-LB sets in 2021. That would obviously help Walker's IDP upside. Green Bay extended Campbell this offseason at a rate that clearly indicates the plan to keep him in a 3-down role.
Steelers rookie QB Kenny Pickett worked with the 2nd team Monday, ahead of Mason Rudolph. Should we read anything into that? "You should not," HC Mike Tomlin told reporters afterward, according to BehindtheSteelCurtain.com. "But I'm sure you will." Tomlin said he'll keep rotating QBs. Expect the alignments to start mattering more the further we get into August.
Commanders rookie TE Cole Turner has been working in with the 1st team at training camp. Ethan Cadeaux of NBC Sports Washington says that he "has had a nice start to camp." Turner's not worth getting excited about, but there is opportunity potentially available. Logan Thomas has yet to come off the PUP list as he works back from a December ACL tear that included other damage. If Turner can work ahead of 2nd-year TE John Bates on the depth chart, he'd carry some intrigue as a very late 3rd TE (or 4th in FFPC formats) on best-ball rosters. The 5th-round converted WR caught 111 passes over his final 2 college seasons and delivered an above-average speed score for the position in pre-draft testing at 6'6 and 250 pounds. Turner at least looks like a name to know for dynasty purposes. Thomas is heading into his age-31 season.
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