RADIO
Jer'Zhan Newton Has Surgery for Torn Pectoral Muscle
Washington Commanders defensive lineman Jer'Zhan Newton (pectoral) underwent surgery on Wednesday to fix a torn pectoral muscle and is expected to miss a significant period of time, a source told John Keim of ESPN. Newton played into the middle of the second quarter of the team's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins last Friday and sustained the injury in that contest. The former second-rounder in 2024 was expected to be part of the Commanders' defensive line in 2026, backing up defensive end starters Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw. He was being used as an end in the team's base package and as a tackle in their nickel scheme, providing plenty of versatility inside and out. In his first two seasons in the NFL in Washington, the Illinois product has recorded 82 tackles (40 solo), seven sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 16 QB hits, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 33 games played (13 starts). Defensive lineman Tim Settle (foot) is also recovering from a Lisfranc injury suffered last December, but the Commanders are hoping he can start "ramping up" his practice activity next week.
Source: ESPN.com - John Keim
Source: ESPN.com - John Keim
Tetairoa McMillan Gives Jaguars Defense Issues in Joint Practice
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was reportedly unguardable during the Panthers' joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. According to Jaguars beat writer John Shipley, McMillan gave the Jaguars' defense fits and connected well with quarterback Bryce Young. The reigning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year hauled in 70 of 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025, but is expected to take on a larger workload this season. McMillan told the media Wednesday that coaches are moving him around the formation to create mismatches. Currently ranked WR26 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, McMillan is a great value looking to build on a strong rookie season.
Source: John Shipley - Sports Illustrated
Source: John Shipley - Sports Illustrated
Elijah Arroyo Rising at Seahawks Training Camp
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo is rising at training camp and could make an impact in his second season. Arroyo is coming off a disappointing production season, totaling 179 yards and one touchdown in 13 games. Behind starter AJ Barner, Arroyo is likely to have a difficult time being a fantasy-relevant piece, but he has been a standout in recent weeks at camp. Barner said earlier this week that "he's balling. It's going to be a big year for him and the rest of the tight ends." New offensive coordinator Brian Fleury is expected to run a lot of 12- and 13-personnel this season, which should help Arroyo get on the field and make an impact. While Barner is likely to remain the TE1 this season, Arroyo could be an intriguing name to watch in deep leagues or dynasty formats.
Source: Gregg Bell - The News Tribune
Source: Gregg Bell - The News Tribune
Sean Tucker Involved in Passing Game
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker has been involved in the passing game at practice and in preseason action. Tucker has caught multiple swing passes in training camp and hauled in two targets for 11 yards in the preseason opener against the New York Jets. Although starters Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell did not play in that game, Tucker played all 21 snaps with the second team and ran 13 routes. With offensive coordinator Zac Robinson now in Tampa Bay, running backs will need to be involved in the passing game, as Bijan Robinson and Kyren Williams have been in his offense. While Tucker is clearly the RB3 on this team, potential goal-line work and handcuff value keep him fantasy-relevant this season.
Source: Pewter Report
Source: Pewter Report
Ty Johnson Still Not Practicing with Knee Injury
Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson (knee) is still not practicing after an apparent lower-body injury sustained during a scrimmage on August 10th. Johnson limped off after falling on a route and left with his arm wrapped around a trainer. The Bills have been quiet about Johnson's status, with head coach Joe Brady saying they would know an answer a week after the injury. If Johnson ends up missing time during the season, starter James Cook could see more receiving work. There have been rumors that Cook will have a bigger role in the passing game, and Johnson's injury could open the door for those wishes to come true. Fantasy managers should evaluate Johnson's status heading into the beginning of the season, as this could have direct implications for Cook's role.
Source: Matt Parrino
Source: Matt Parrino
Jake Ferguson Could See Targets Dip in 2026
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson could see fewer targets this season with other playmakers around him. Ferguson had a career season in 2025, hauling in 82 of 102 targets for 600 yards and eight touchdowns, though star wideout CeeDee Lamb missed time with a hamstring injury. In the four games Lamb missed, Ferguson averaged 7.5 receptions for 51 yards and four touchdowns. In the other 13 games, Ferguson averaged only 6.7 half-PPR fantasy points per game, which would have ranked him outside the top 20 tight ends last season. Now, young receiver Ryan Flournoy is emerging as the clear third receiver in this offense, which could take more targets away from the Cowboys' starting tight end. Fantasy managers should look to other options at tight end rather than pay a high price for Ferguson, who made his mark after injuries to the team's top receivers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dalton Schultz In Line for More Targets in Houston
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz could see more targets after the devastating injury to wide receiver Jayden Higgins. Higgins suffered a torn ACL during their joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday, ending his season before it began. Higgins was having a fantastic training camp and was shaping up for a big year, but targets will now shift to other weapons. Schultz has had over 85 targets in each of the last six seasons, including a career-high 106 targets with Higgins healthy last season. Schultz has a legitimate shot to be the second-highest target-getter in Houston behind star wideout Nico Collins, with Tank Dell (knee) expected to be limited in the early portion of the season. Ranked as the TE23 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, Schultz is currently a great value in fantasy drafts and could easily surpass the 106 targets he had in the 2025 season.
Source: Ian Rapoport - ESPN/NFL Network
Source: Ian Rapoport - ESPN/NFL Network
Jauan Jennings Losing Snaps in Vikings' Passing Attack?
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jauan Jennings could see less volume and fewer snaps than expected in 2026. Jennings is coming off back-to-back strong seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, totaling 1,618 yards and 15 touchdowns over 30 games. He was traded to Minnesota, where he was expected to be the team's WR3 behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. However, in the preseason win over the New York Giants, Jennings played just two of nine first-team snaps, while Addison and second-year receiver Tai Felton played all nine. Felton has made a lot of noise during training camp and could push Jennings for snaps in 2026. Despite solid production in 2024 and 2025, Jennings, as the WR3 or possibly the WR4, is not worth the value this season in fantasy drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Wan'Dale Robinson Expected to Catch A Lot of Passes in 2026
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson had another productive day at practice on Wednesday and is in line for a major role in 2026. Titans senior writer Jim Wyatt believes Robinson is set to catch many passes this season, noting that he caught eight passes during Wednesday's practice and 48 during training camp (the most on the team). The former Giants wideout has had 140 targets in each of the last two seasons under head coach Brian Daboll, including his first-career 1,000-yard season in 2025. With Daboll now the Titans' offensive coordinator, Robinson is set for a high volume again in 2026. Currently ranked WR49 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, Robinson could be a great value in PPR formats this season.
Source: Jim Wyatt
Source: Jim Wyatt
Tyler Warren Should be Back Next Week
Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren (groin) sustained an abductor strain during Wednesday's practice but is not expected to miss much time, per Jordan Schultz. Schultz said the second-year tight end should be fine and back next week. Warren enters the 2026 season with vacated targets after wideout Michael Pittman Jr.'s departure and the ankle injury that is currently keeping Alec Pierce out of practice. As a rookie, Warren caught 76 of 112 targets for 817 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 8.9 half-PPR fantasy points per game and finishing as the TE5 in 2025. With quarterback Daniel Jones back and healthy after missing the final four games of the season, Warren is hopeful for a breakout year in 2026 and appears to have avoided a major injury that could have affected his early-season value.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
Rachaad White Dealing with Hamstring Injury
Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White (hamstring) suffered a hamstring injury during a joint practice with the Miami Dolphins, according to Mike Garafolo. Luckily, it's not considered to be a serious injury, so fantasy managers should expect him to be back in the mix soon. White has been competing with Jacory Croskey-Merritt for the lead back role in Washington during training camp. The odds are that Croskey-Merritt gets the bulk of the ground work with White serving as the receiving back. There might be limited reps for White on the ground, but he could be an appealing PPR option if he becomes the pass-catching back. Fantasy managers should check back for another update, but White should be back in practice soon.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
Isaac TeSlaa is Shaky Option in Redraft Formats
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa is expected to have a larger role in the offense this upcoming season. The second-year wideout is currently competing with Greg Dortch for the third wideout spot on this roster. It sounds nice on paper, but whoever gets that role will get the scraps behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. The Lions also have tight end Sam LaPorta, who should be a significant part of the passing game as well. There are too many options on this offense for TeSlaa to have a steady role as a pass-catcher right now. The 24-year-old appears to be a viable red-zone target with six touchdowns last season. His role on the team should grow, but it'll likely be slowly, which makes him more of a dynasty stash than a weekly option in redraft formats.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Mitchell Trubisky Absent from Wednesday's Practice
Tennessee Titans quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (biceps) did not participate during Wednesday's morning drills, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com. Trubisky exited early during Monday's practice session due to a biceps issue and appears to still be dealing with the injury. This sounds like a day-to-day issue, and the Titans are just being cautious with the veteran quarterback. He's expected to return to practice at some point during the week. If he misses more time, Will Levis and Hendon Hooker should see increased snaps as the backup for Cam Ward.
Source: Terry McCormick
Source: Terry McCormick
Tyler Warren Confirmed to Have Suffered Groin Injury
Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren (groin) was forced to exit early during Wednesday's practice session. Warren went down and limped off the field with a trainer. According to Adam Schefter, Warren has officially suffered a groin injury during Wednesday's joint practice. It's unclear at the moment how much time Warren could miss from this injury. His absence could mean a larger target share for Josh Downs and newcomer Keenan Allen, with Alec Pierce (ankle) still sidelined at the moment. Mo Alie-Cox will probably operate as the TE1 while Warren is down, but that shouldn't excite fantasy managers. There should be a better timetable for Warren in the coming days.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
T.J. Hockenson Should be Viable TE2 Option
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson hasn't been the same on the field since tearing his ACL in January of 2024. Since returning from injury, Hockenson has 92 receptions for 893 receiving yards and three touchdowns across 25 games. He hasn't been horrible, but Hockenson used to be a top-five player at his position. It's tough to have success when J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer are offering subpar play at the quarterback spot. The hope is that the 29-year-old bounces back with Kyler Murray under center for the Vikings to begin the season. Murray had a ton of success when he was in Arizona with stud tight end Trey McBride. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Hockenson to be a top option at his position, but he could offer viable TE2 value.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
