August 8, 2025
Cleveland Browns running back
Jerome Ford is among the players who are not expected to play for the team in its first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Friday night. Many key offensive contributors for Cleveland are not expected to play, including wide receiver
Jerry Jeudy, tight end
David Njoku, and quarterback
Joe Flacco. Notably, Browns rookie running back
Dylan Sampson is expected to suit up. With fellow rookie
Quinshon Judkins still unsigned due to a July arrest, Sampson and Ford are competing for backfield snaps in Cleveland. Ford is entering his fourth season with the Browns, so he has less to prove in preseason action than Sampson.
--Will BradySource: clevelandbrowns.com - Kelsey Russo
August 8, 2025
Cleveland Browns rookie running back
Quinshon Judkins has waived his right to a speedy trial in his ongoing misdemeanor battery/domestic violence case, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. A second-round pick in the 2025 draft, Judkins has yet to sign his rookie contract with the Browns after being arrested in July. This latest update in the case means that a resolution is unlikely to happen quickly. Judkins' timeline for making his Browns debut is uncertain, and the team has made it clear that handling his legal issues is the priority. Without him, running backs
Jerome Ford and
Dylan Sampson are set to share the majority of the backfield workload in Cleveland.
--Will BradySource: Pro Football Talk - Josh Alper
August 8, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was non-committal about the status of running back
Najee Harris (eye) for the start of the regular season, saying, "there's a chance he is" when asked if Harris is playing in Week 1. Harris was injured on July 4 due to a fireworks mishap and has spent training camp on the non-football injury list as a result. Los Angeles signed Harris to a one-year deal in free agency this past offseason, and he's expected to share carries with rookie first-rounder
Omarion Hampton. If Harris does miss time, Hampton could be in line for a large workload right away. Even if Harris avoids being sidelined for regular season action, the training camp absence may have put him behind Hampton in the backfield pecking order. With the current uncertainty, Hampton profiles as a fringe RB1 in fantasy, while Harris is more of a depth piece/handcuff option.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Kris Rhim
August 8, 2025
The Las Vegas Raiders' offensive starters will play "quite a bit" in the team's second preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Las Vegas hosts San Francisco on August 16. The Raiders played their first preseason game of 2025 on Thursday against the Seattle Seahawks, and key starters like quarterback
Geno Smith played just one drive. It appears Carroll plans to push the first-team offense harder next weekend. That should include rookie running back
Ashton Jeanty, who rushed for -1 yards on three carries in his first taste of NFL action.
--Will BradySource: Las Vegas Review-Journal - Vincent Bonsignore
August 8, 2025
Dallas Cowboys tight end
Jake Ferguson (back) returned to the practice field on Friday. This is a good sight after Ferguson exited early during Thursday's practice due to a back contusion. Ferguson told reporters that he's dealing with some pain, but there's no structural damage. He wants to stay in his routine and he went through Friday's practice session without any issues. There's a decent chance that Ferguson sits out the preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. However, Ferguson should be fine in time for the regular season.
--Andy WebbSource: Todd Archer
August 8, 2025
The Dallas Cowboys have signed free-agent running back
Malik Davis on Friday. The team needed additional depth with
Jaydon Blue (ankle) and
Miles Sanders (knee) both banged up right now. Davis figures to give this team an extra body ahead of Saturday's preseason contest versus the Los Angeles Rams. Davis spent last season on the Cowboys practice squad, so he knows the system. The 26-year-old is likely just an extra player for camp, but maybe he'll catch on as depth.
--Andy WebbSource: nfl.com
August 8, 2025
Miami Dolphins defensive back Jack Jones (leg) was forced to exit early during Friday's practice session. Jones suffered what appeared to be a lower-body injury, which was later revealed to be cramps. Dolphins fans don't need to panic as this sounds like a minor issue. The Dolphins are thin at defensive back, so losing Jones for a lengthy period of time would hurt. He'll likely be back in the mix within the next few days. Last season, Jones recorded 69 tackles, 16 passes defended, and three interceptions in 17 games (16 starts) with the Las Vegas Raiders. Jones figures to compete for a starting defensive back job in camp.
--Andy WebbSource: nfl.com
August 8, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert won't play during Sunday's second preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Taylor Heinicke will get the starting nod for this contest.
Trey Lance started during the Hall of Fame game last week. The two of them are competing for the backup gig behind Herbert to begin the season. It's unclear if Herbert is going to play at all during the preseason. At the moment, Herbert should be considered a fringe top-10 fantasy quarterback.
--Andy WebbSource: NFL.com
August 8, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers right tackle Joe Alt is expected to shift over to the left tackle spot this season. The Chargers took a big blow earlier this week when they lost Rashawn Slater (knee) for the entire 2025 season. Now, the plan is to move Alt to left tackle while Trey Pipkins moves to right tackle. It's worth noting that Alt played left tackle during his time in college. The Chargers need to find a way to help cover
Justin Herbert's blindside, so this looks like the best solution. The loss of Slater is certainly going to hurt, but Alt is a solid second option at left tackle.
--Andy WebbSource: Kris Rhim
August 8, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Ladd McConkey (undisclosed) was seen back on the practice field on Friday. According to Kris Rhim, McConkey was seen in uniform going through a walkthrough. This is the first time that we've seen McConkey on the field since July 28. He has been missing practice due to an undisclosed injury. Fantasy managers shouldn't be worried, as the coaching staff has downplayed the issue. McConkey is unlikely to play in the first preseason game, but this shouldn't be something that lingers into the regular season. He is a low-end WR1 option in fantasy after a breakout rookie season.
--Andy WebbSource: Kris Rhim
August 8, 2025
Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels and the starters on offense are not expected to play in Friday's preseason opener against the New England Patriots. The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala writes that it will be the
Josh Johnson and
Sam Hartman show. Daniels and the starters presumably will see their most preseason work next week on Aug. 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Veteran backup
Marcus Mariota is dealing with a lower-leg injury and did not travel with the team this weekend. Daniels played about as well as any QB last year, but what made it really impressive is that it was his first year in the league. The 24-year-old former second overall pick out of LSU looked to have the "it" factor as a playmaker with both his arms and legs. Daniels finished as the QB5 in fantasy in 2024 and has quickly jumped into the top-five rankings at the position.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
August
8,
2025
Cleveland
Browns
head
coach
Kevin
Stefanski
said
on
the
team
radio
on
Thursday
that
rookie
fifth-round
quarterback
Shedeur
Sanders
will
play
the
majority
of
the
team's
preseason
opener
on
Friday
night
against
the
Carolina
Panthers.
"Fifty
read more...
August 8, 2025
Gilbert Manzano of Sports Illustrated writes that New Orleans Saints rookie second-round quarterback
Tyler Shough showed improvement at practice on Thursday while working with the first-team offense. Head coach Kellen Moore said he hasn't decided how he'll divvy up the QB snaps in the preseason opener on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, but it's a good sign that Shough was the first to see first-team reps on Thursday. The 25-year-old showed confidence and made quick decisions with the football while also using his legs a few times. According to receiver
Rashid Shaheed, Shough is thinking less and allowing his pass-catchers to make plays.
Spencer Rattler and
Jake Haener are still competing for the QB job, and the Saints don't seem to be in a rush to name a Week 1 starter. Fantasy managers should be avoiding the situation entirely in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: SI.com - Gilbert Manzano
August
8,
2025
Pittsburgh
Steelers
wide
receiver
Calvin
Austin
III
(undisclosed)
will
not
play
in
the
team's
preseason
game
on
Saturday
against
the
Jacksonville
Jaguars,
according
to
Brooke
Pryor
of
ESPN.
The
Steelers
are
going
to
play
it
read more...
August 8, 2025
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said that All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons (back) wasn't at training camp practice on Thursday because he was getting work done on his back. Parsons is considered day-to-day with his back injury while also negotiating for a long-term contract extension this summer. Despite the fact that Parsons is disappointed in the direction of contract talks with the Cowboys -- he officially requested a trade last week -- the 26-year-old pass-rusher had been taking part in practices until his back flared up on Thursday. It's thankfully not a serious injury, but the Cowboys and Parsons are running out of time to get something done before the start of the regular season. Owner Jerry Jones said it's possible that Parsons could sit out regular-season games, which could make him volatile as an elite IDP target.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jon Machota
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