Kicking Job Is Rodrigo Blankenship's To Lose

The Athletic's Zak Keefer gets the sense that the Indianapolis Colts kicking job is Rodrigo Blankenship's to lose in training camp. Jake Verity missed an extra point in the preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills, which is close to a death knell in a kicking competition. Blankenship went 5-for-5 and hit a 55-yarder in Wednesday's... Read More

Michael Pittman Jr. Looks Primed To Break Out

No player has flashed more often in Indianapolis Colts training camp than wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. this summer, and the third-year pass-catcher looks primed to break out and build off his 1,000-yard season in 2021. The Detroit Lions didn't have an answer for him all week in two joint practices. With quarterback Matt Ryan... Read More

Kadarius Toney Won't Play In Second Preseason Game

New York Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney (knee) will sit out the team's second preseason game on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Darius Slayton will also sit out due to an undisclosed injury. Toney hasn't done much in training camp this summer, but he did take part in individual drills at practice on Thursday. The... Read More

Mac Jones Expects To Play Friday

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones told reporters that he expects to play on Friday in the team's second preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. Jones was held out of the preseason opener last week. Offensive coaches Matt Patricia and Joe Judge split the play-calling duties last week, but the question remains: Who will call... Read More

Will Dissly Plays Sparingly Against Bears

Seattle Seahawks tight end Will Dissly played just eight snaps in Thursday's preseason game against the Chicago Bears and wasn't targeted at all. Dissly sat out of the preseason opener last week and has been the clear backup behind George Fant so far in preseason action. The 26-year-old should be more involved during the regular... Read More

DK Metcalf Plays One Offensive Series Thursday

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf played the opening offensive series against the Chicago Bears on Thursday in the team's second preseason game, but he wasn't targeted at all. Metcalf sat out of the preseason opener last week. There's a chance the 24-year-old could see more playing time in the final preseason contest next week... Read More

X-Rays Negative On Damien Lewis

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said that X-rays on offensive lineman Damien Lewis' right ankle were negative and he's just dealing with a lateral sprain. "We got very very fortunate there," Carroll said. Lewis was injured in the preseason loss to the Chicago Bears on Thursday night. The 25-year-old had to be carted off... Read More

Geno Smith Bangs His Knee Thursday

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said that quarterback Geno Smith (knee) banged his knee in Thursday's preseason game against the Chicago Bears but that he could have returned to the contest. The injury doesn't seem serious at all and shouldn't affect Smith's availability for the start of the regular season. The 31-year-old started on... Read More

Drew Lock Was "Really Sick"

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock was "really sick" with COVID-19, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Lock can come out of the league's COVID protocols on Sunday, and the thought was that he would start in the team's final preseason game, but that might not happen if Lock isn't healthy enough to play. The plan... Read More

Aaron Rodgers Not Happy With Receivers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hasn't exactly been happy with his group of wide receivers in training camp this summer. "The young guys, especially young receivers, we've got to be way more consistent," Rodgers said. "A lot of drops, a lot of bad route decisions, running the wrong route. We've got to get better... Read More

Kyle Philips Impresses In Joint Practice

Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Kyle Philips stole the show in joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday. Philips continued to get open all day, and he especially stood out near the goal line. "He goes rabbit hunting with a hammer," head coach Mike Vrabel said when describing Philips' quickness and shiftiness. The... Read More

Jaylen Warren Surpasses Benny Snell Jr. As No. 2 RB

It appears that Pittsburgh Steelers undrafted rookie running back Jaylen Warren has supplanted Benny Snell Jr. as the team's No. 2 running back behind Najee Harris. Warren has done nothing but impress at training camp and has benefitted from first-team repetitions with Harris and Snell banged up a bit. The 23-year-old probably isn't worth anything... Read More

Michael Gallup Runs Routes Thursday

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup (knee) was running routes to close out Thursday's training camp practice against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday. It's the first time that Gallup has run routes since he had surgery to fix a torn ACL on Jan. 2, so it marks a significant step in his recovery. He... Read More

Joe Burrow Returns To Team Drills

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (appendix), who had an appendectomy on July 26 after his appendix ruptured, took part in team drills at training camp practice for the first time on Wednesday. Burrow is looking to add weight and return his body to its pre-surgery form before Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he... Read More

Bryce Harper Moved To 60-Day Injured List

The Philadelphia Phillies moved outfielder Bryce Harper (elbow, thumb) to the 60-day injured list on Thursday to make room for outfielder Bradley Zimmer, who was claimed off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. Harper is recovering from a fractured left thumb after undergoing surgery in late June, but his timetable hasn't changed at all. He's... Read More

Max Castillo Making Royals Debut Thursday

The Kansas City Royals recalled right-hander Max Castillo from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday, and he'll make his first start with the team against the Tampa Bay Rays. The team's No. 17 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in the trade that involved Whit Merrifield. The 23-year-old had a 3.05... Read More

Mike Soroka To Make Next Rehab Start Sunday

Atlanta Braves right-hander Mike Soroka (Achilles) will make his second minor league rehab start on Sunday for Triple-A Gwinnett. Soroka said he's feeling "great" after his first rehab start on Tuesday for High-A Rome, when he threw four scoreless innings on 45 pitches. The Braves aren't going to rush the 25-year-old back since he hasn't... Read More

Omar Narvaez Likely To Return Saturday

Milwaukee Brewers skipper Craig Counsell said that catcher Omar Narvaez (quadriceps) will probably return from the 10-day injured list on Saturday. In two games on his minor league rehab assignment for Triple-A Nashville, Narvaez has gone 3-for-8 with two RBI and a run scored, so he's nearing a return to the major league roster. The... Read More

Taijuan Walker Could Make His Next Start Sunday

There is increased optimism that New York Mets right-hander Taijuan Walker (back), whose MRI results showed a slight disc bulge in his lower back, can make his next scheduled start on Sunday against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Walker called it "the worst pain I ever felt" and said he's "shocked" he's feeling this good two... Read More

Elvis Andrus Signs With White Sox

The Chicago White Sox signed free-agent shortstop Elvis Andrus to an undisclosed deal on Thursday after he was released by the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, according to sources. Andrus is expected to join the White Sox in Cleveland on Friday for the start of their series against the Guardians. Chicago has been using Romy Gonzalez,... Read More

Phillies Put Brandon Marsh On Injured List

The Philadelphia Phillies placed outfielder Brandon Marsh (ankle) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left ankle sprain. In corresponding moves, the Phillies claimed outfielder Bradley Zimmer off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays and moved outfielder Bryce Harper (elbow, thumb) to the 60-day injured list. Marsh's injured list stint is retroactive to... Read More

Matt Ryan Won't Play This Weekend

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan won't play in the team's second preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Saturday. Along with Ryan, head coach Frank Reich said most of the starters won't play. Nick Foles will likely play around a quarter, followed by Sam Ehlinger and Jack Coan. Ryan has mostly looked good in training... Read More

Kadarius Toney Takes Part In Practice Thursday

New York Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney (knee) wasn't in pads for training camp practice on Thursday, but he took part in individual drills and looked spry. Toney did not take part in the team's preseason opener last week and hasn't seen much work at training camp as the Giants try to make sure he's... Read More

No Timetable For Tom Brady's Return

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles didn't have a timetable for quarterback Tom Brady's (personal) return to the team when asked on Thursday. "We'll see. We'll talk about it next week. I'm not concerned about it right now. We're trying to practice against Tennessee and play a game. I said sometime after Tennessee. There's... Read More

Ty Chandler Misses Practice Thursday

Minnesota Vikings rookie running back Ty Chandler (ankle) isn't practicing at training camp on Thursday due to an ankle injury, but the team is hopeful that he can play in the second preseason game on Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers. Chandler stood out in the preseason opener with 50 yards rushing as he competes... Read More

JuJu Smith-Schuster Expected To Return Next Week

According to Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, there's a good chance that wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) returns to training camp practice next week. Smith-Schuster will be held out of the team's second preseason game this Saturday against the Washington Commanders, but barring any setbacks, he should be good to go for Week... Read More

Sterling Shepard Making Strides

New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (Achilles) looked great while running routes on a back field at training camp on Thursday, and he was very involved on the offensive sideline during practice. Shepard remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list at camp, but it appears that he's getting closer to returning from a... Read More

Deshaun Watson Won't Play Anymore Preseason Games

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that quarterback Deshaun Watson will not play in anymore preseason games after it was announced on Thursday that he will be suspended for 11 games in 2022 for violating the league's personal-conduct policy. Watson can practice with the team until Aug. 30, and then he'll return to the... Read More

Mitch Trubisky To Start Second Preseason Game

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced on Thursday that quarterback Mitch Trubisky will start the team's second preseason game on Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In his first preseason action last week against the Seattle Seahawks, Trubisky completed four of his seven attempts for 63 yards and a touchdown, and he'll continue to work... Read More

Josh Jung Not Close To MLB Call-Up

Texas Rangers third base prospect Josh Jung's (shoulder) MLB debut is not imminent, according to interim manager Tony Beasley. The Rangers see Jung's current rehab stint as his spring training, and they want to make sure he's ready physically. The 24-year-old, who is the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, was on the verge of... Read More