RADIO
Kyler Murray Building Chemistry With Vikings' Top Target
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray kept looking for Justin Jefferson during Wednesday's joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens, according to Kevin Seifert. The pair connected a couple of times in 7-on-7 work, but the full-team periods were tougher with Marlon Humphrey tight in coverage. That was more of a difficult practice than a warning sign. Minnesota had already noted clear chemistry between Murray and Jefferson in consecutive practices last week, with the two connecting at multiple levels of the field. Murray was named the Vikings' starter Aug. 11, so these reps matter as he settles into Kevin O'Connell's offense. Jefferson is coming off an 84-catch, 1,048-yard season with only two touchdowns, his sixth straight year over 1,000 yards. A tougher day against Baltimore doesn't erase the work they've already put together. Murray continuing to look Jefferson's way is still the part fantasy managers should care about most.
Source: Kevin Seifert
Source: Kevin Seifert
Devaughn Vele's Sleeper Case Just Got Stronger
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele was already running with the top group before Jordyn Tyson's hamstring injury. Now the window is a lot wider. Tyson, the No. 8 pick in April, is expected to miss roughly two months and could open the season on short-term Injured Reserve. Vele at least has something on the résumé that says he can use the extra work. From Weeks 12 through 15 last year, he caught 19 of 26 targets for 239 yards and a touchdown before a shoulder injury ended his season. His full 2025 line was 25 catches for 293 yards and two scores in 13 games, so most of his production came late. Kellen Moore said this spring that Vele was healthy and had a "really defined role," and the Saints treated him as one of their top three receivers before the preseason opener. At an ADP of 277, there is barely a price attached. Tyson should eventually return, but Vele has a real early-season opening now. He's a much more interesting final-round swing than he was a week ago.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Pittman Jr. Dealing With Minor Hamstring Injury
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has been out for roughly a week and a half with a minor hamstring injury, according to Nick Farabaugh, who added that there is no concern about Pittman's Week 1 availability. Pittsburgh's absence reports had not previously identified the injury, and rookie Germie Bernard has picked up extra work while Pittman and DK Metcalf have been sidelined. Pittman came over from Indianapolis in a March trade and is listed as a starter on the Steelers' initial depth chart. He played all 17 games for the Colts last season, catching 80 passes for 784 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns. A hamstring issue this close to the season is worth keeping an eye on, but Farabaugh's report is a good one for Pittman's outlook. For now, the Steelers appear to have time to let him get fully back up to speed before Week 1.
Source: Nick Farabaugh
Source: Nick Farabaugh
Trevon Diggs Signs With Seahawks
Former Dallas Cowboys two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs is signing an undisclosed one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. While waiting for former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold's situation to play out, the Seahawks will add Diggs, who played with the Cowboys and Green Bay Packers in 2025, racking up 27 tackles (20 solo) in nine total games. The 27-year-old was originally a second-rounder by Dallas in the 2020 draft out of the University of Alabama. Diggs made back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2021 and 2022, when he recorded a total of 14 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) in 33 games played in Dallas. He has struggled to stay healthy since he tore his ACL in September of 2023, and he had an additional surgery on his knee in December of 2024. Diggs will provide corner depth in Seattle, but he has played in only 22 games in the last three seasons.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
DK Metcalf Says He'll Be Fine for Week 1
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf says he's "fine" despite an undisclosed injury that has kept him out for roughly the past week and a half, according to Nick Farabaugh. There is also no long-term concern about his availability for Week 1. Metcalf has missed a decent stretch of August work and did not dress for Pittsburgh's preseason opener against Green Bay, with head coach Mike McCarthy saying over the weekend that he would be hard-pressed to practice this week. The Steelers haven't seemed interested in pushing him back onto the field. Metcalf played 15 games in his first season with Pittsburgh, catching 59 passes for 850 yards and six touchdowns. The missed time isn't ideal with the regular season getting closer, but Wednesday's update takes some of the worry out of it. If Metcalf is indeed fine for Week 1, Pittsburgh can afford to be patient with him now.
Source: Nick Farabaugh
Source: Nick Farabaugh
Carnell Tate Held Out on Wednesday With "Stiffness"
Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh said that rookie first-round wide receiver Carnell Tate (undisclosed) was held out of Wednesday's training camp practice with "stiffness" that is unrelated to the big hit he took on Monday, according to Terry McCormick. The fourth overall pick out of Ohio State is a little sore this week, but it should not impact his availability for the start of his first year in the NFL at all. The 21-year-old did not catch any of his three targets in the Titans' preseason opener last Thursday against the San Francisco 49ers, and it is unclear if he will suit up for the second preseason tilt this Sunday versus the Seattle Seahawks. Tate has the skills to be a difference-maker immediately in Tennessee's offense alongside free-agent addition Wan'Dale Robinson and veteran Calvin Ridley, among others. He will be a starter from Day 1 after catching 51 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games in his final collegiate season with the Buckeyes in 2025. Tate is not extremely physical at 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, but he wins his routes with quickness and intelligence, and he should have a high fantasy floor as a rookie. RotoBaller has Tate ranked as the WR30 in 2026.
Source: TitanInsider.com - Terry McCormick
Source: TitanInsider.com - Terry McCormick
Jaylen Waddle Continues to Build Chemistry in Broncos Offense
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle continues to make plays with his new quarterback, catching a 60-yard touchdown from Bo Nix during Wednesday's practice, according to Zac Stevens. Waddle beat Pat Surtain II on the play, another impressive rep against a corner he's battled throughout camp. The connection with Nix has been showing up more often lately. Nix hit Waddle in stride for a gain of at least 20 yards Tuesday, and offensive coordinator Davis Webb recently pointed to the work the two put in together over the summer when discussing their developing chemistry. Waddle has also jumped right back into the mix after missing more than a week with a leg strain. He caught 64 passes for 910 yards and six touchdowns for Miami last season before Denver traded for him in March. The Broncos wanted another explosive element in the passing game, and Waddle's early work with Nix is starting to show exactly what that could look like.
Source: Zac Stevens
Source: Zac Stevens
Mike Gesicki Hasn't Done Enough to Become a Redraft Sleeper
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki had a couple of good moments Tuesday, including a 17-yard catch from Joe Burrow and another third-down grab after Burrow broke the pocket. Nice day, but there still hasn't been much this summer to push Gesicki up redraft boards. He finished 2025 with 28 catches for 307 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games after a pectoral injury cost him four games. Burrow missing nine games didn't help either. The better reference point is 2024, when Gesicki caught 65 passes for 665 yards, but getting back to that volume is the hard part. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are going to eat first, Chase Brown will get his work, and Erick All Jr. is back in a deep tight end room. RotoBaller has Gesicki 218th overall in half-PPR. That's late enough to take a shot in deeper drafts, but one good camp practice doesn't suddenly make him a sleeper. He's still outside the group of tight ends fantasy managers should feel any need to chase.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jameson Williams Back in Uniform on Wednesday
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (shoulder) is back at training camp practice on Wednesday and is in uniform, according to Richard Silva of The Detroit News. Williams missed the last few practices in camp due to a minor shoulder injury, but he's back now and could be in line to suit up in Saturday's preseason contest against the Washington Commanders. The 25-year-old should have no issues being ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener as one of the key targets for quarterback Jared Goff in the Lions' passing game. The former 12th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft has had back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons the last two years, ending in a career-high 1,117 yards with 65 receptions and seven touchdowns on 102 targets in 17 games in 2025. Williams has had exactly seven touchdown receptions in each of the last two years. The return of a healthy tight end Sam LaPorta and a bigger role for second-year wideout Isaac TeSlaa could be roadblocks for Williams to get to a third straight 1,000-yard season. Fantasy managers should target him as a low-end WR2/high-end WR3/flex as a big-play receiver for the Lions. UPDATE: Williams took part in 7-on-7 drills on Wednesday, per Tim Twentyman of the team's official website.
Source: The Detroit News - Richard Silva
Source: The Detroit News - Richard Silva
Rachaad White Misses Wednesday's Practice With Undisclosed Injury
Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White did not practice Wednesday while dealing with an undisclosed injury, according to Nicki Jhabvala. White has been getting regular work throughout his first camp in Washington and is listed second behind Jacory Croskey-Merritt on the Commanders' current unofficial depth chart. He played all 17 games for Tampa Bay last season, starting eight, and finished with 572 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 132 carries while adding 40 catches for 218 yards. Washington has talked about using multiple backs, and White's receiving ability should keep him involved even if Croskey-Merritt opens the season atop the depth chart. Jeremy McNichols is already dealing with a quad injury, so the Commanders were down another veteran back Wednesday. White's absence is worth tracking now, especially with preseason reps starting to run out.
Source: Nicki Jhabvala
Source: Nicki Jhabvala
Carnell Tate Not Practicing Wednesday After Hard Hit
Tennessee Titans rookie first-round wide receiver Carnell Tate (undisclosed) did not practice Wednesday, two days after taking a hard hit late in Monday's session. Tate went up for a spinning catch from Cam Ward during a two-minute period and was popped in the air by safety Kevin Winston Jr. He was slow to get up before walking to the sideline. Head coach Robert Saleh said afterward that Tate got "a little bit dizzy" and that the Titans weren't concerned about a concussion. Wednesday's absence is the next piece of the story. The No. 4 overall pick is listed as a starter on Tennessee's current depth chart after catching 51 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns at Ohio State last season. Tate has been making plays throughout his first summer with the Titans, including Monday's catch before the collision. His status bears watching now with Tennessee's second preseason game coming Sunday against Seattle.
Source: Jim Wyatt
Source: Jim Wyatt
Jayden Higgins Suffers Torn ACL
Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins (knee) suffered a torn ACL during the team's joint practice on Tuesday against the Las Vegas Raiders, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Higgins will now miss the entire 2026 season, a tough blow for Houston's offense, as the second-year wideout was set to operate as the WR2 across from Nico Collins. Before his knee injury, the 23-year-old product of Iowa State was a potential Year 2 breakout candidate after he caught 41 of his 68 targets for 525 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in 2025. Fantasy managers can now obviously avoid Higgins in all redraft leagues. With Higgins now out of the picture this year, Jaylin Noel, Tank Dell (knee), and Xavier Hutchinson will be asked to step up in the Texans' passing game. Noel will become much more interesting as a flex option in fantasy drafts, but his ultimate role will depend on the ongoing recovery of Dell, who missed all of the 2025 season due to a devastating knee injury the year before. Given the uncertainty of Dell's availability to begin the year, Noel should be the biggest beneficiary of Higgins' season-ending injury.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Kaelon Black Looks Powerful in Return to Practice
San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black "looked powerful" in his return during Tuesday's joint practice against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Black missed the previous two weeks of camp with an inner-thigh injury, but he was the team's top runner on Tuesday with Christian McCaffrey still sitting due to undisclosed tightness. Black, a third-rounder, did not look rusty at all, taking an early carry for 50 yards while showing violence and strength on several runs. He also had a catch at the goal line during a red-zone drill. "I thought he looked good hitting the hole and running hard," quarterback Brock Purdy said. The Niners cut RB Khalil Herbert on Monday, and Jordan James (rib) and Isaac Guerendo (pectoral) are injured. Going into camp, James was the favorite for RB2 duties behind the oft-injured McCaffrey, but if Black continues to impress and James continues to sit out with his injury, it could be Black winning the RB2 role going into Week 1 in Australia against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
Source: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
Devin Neal, Kendre Miller Back at Practice
New Orleans Saints running backs Devin Neal (hamstring) and Kendre Miller (back) both returned to training camp practice on Tuesday, per Todd Graffagnini of the team's official website. It is good news for a Saints backfield that is already very beat up, with Alvin Kamara (knee) and Audric Estime (ankle) also banged up right now. If Kamara is not ready for Week 1 of the regular season, which is a very real possibility, Neal and Miller could end up competing for the No. 2 job behind starter Travis Etienne Jr. in the rest of camp and the preseason. Miller, a former third-rounder in 2023 from TCU, has only appeared in 21 games in his first three NFL seasons, averaging 3.9 yards per carry with 497 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Neal, a sixth-rounder in 2025 from Kansas, carried the ball 57 times in his rookie campaign for 206 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games (three starts). If Kamara is out to begin the season, Etienne's workload will likely increase more than anything.
Source: NewOrleansSaints.com - Todd Graffagnini
Source: NewOrleansSaints.com - Todd Graffagnini
Tony Pollard Back at Practice on Wednesday
Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (foot) is back at training camp practice on Wednesday, according to Turron Davenport of ESPN. Pollard missed the last two practices with what ended up being a minor foot injury. In the preseason opener last Thursday against the San Francisco 49ers, Pollard carried the ball four times for 22 yards and a touchdown. It remains to be seen if the Titans will have him out there for the second preseason game this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. The 29-year-old former fourth-rounder by the Dallas Cowboys out of Memphis has been efficient in his career with 4.6 yards per carry and has quietly recorded four straight 1,000-yard seasons (two with Tennessee and two with Dallas). The Titans' offense could be much better this year than the last two years, but the problem is that backup Tyjae Spears could steal valuable pass-game targets in Brian Daboll's offense. For that reason, Pollard should be targeted as more of an RB3/flex than an RB2 in upcoming 2026 fantasy drafts.
Source: ESPN.com - Turron Davenport
Source: ESPN.com - Turron Davenport
