RADIO
Ja'Marr Chase Exits Practice with Pain in Left Knee
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase came up grabbing his left knee after landing awkwardly at the end of a deep route during Tuesday's practice, according to Charlie Clifford. Chase was able to walk back toward the sideline under his own power with members of the training staff. He had been practicing normally leading into Tuesday after another productive summer with Cincinnati's first-team offense. Chase is coming off a 2025 season in which he caught 125 passes for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns across 16 games. There isn't enough information yet to say what Tuesday's incident means beyond the initial scare, but the fact that Chase needed attention from trainers makes his status worth following as practice continues.
Source: Charlie Clifford
Source: Charlie Clifford
Cade Otton Returns to Tuesday's Practice
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (undisclosed) returned to the team's training camp practice on Tuesday, according to Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times. Otton is back on the field after missing around a week with an undisclosed injury. It remains to be seen if the 27-year-old will suit up this Friday for the preseason finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Otton should be fine for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season if he does not suffer a setback. The former fourth-rounder in 2022 from the University of Washington matched his career high with 59 receptions last year, but he went for just 572 yards and a career-low one touchdown in 16 starts in 2025 in his fourth year in the NFL. Even with veteran receiver Mike Evans gone, Otton will not necessarily be primed for a career year in 2026 in a new Buccaneers offense. At best, he will once again be a matchup-based TE2 streamer with limited weekly targets and a lack of red-zone prowess. RotoBaller has Otton ranked as the No. 24 fantasy TE. In single-TE leagues, there are plenty of more exciting options at the position to take a chance on.
Source: The Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
Source: The Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud
Ethan Salas Excelling on Doorstep to Major Leagues
San Diego Padres catcher prospect Ethan Salas has excelled since being promoted to Triple-A El Paso in late July, now hitting .319 with three home runs and a .948 OPS through 19 games with the Chihuahuas. What's more is that the Padres' top-ranked prospect has walked (10) more times than he has struck out (eight) while being one of only a few 20-year-olds at that level. The left-handed hitter came into professional baseball as a highly-ranked prospect, but after a disappointing 2024 and an injury-marred 2025 in which he logged only 10 games, he had fallen outside the top 100 prospects, per MLB.com. However, the youngster has risen all the way back up to No. 23 overall in 2026 and is now on the doorstep to the majors. While a debut this season is likely a long shot, it isn't out of the question, so fantasy managers should keep tabs on the 20-year-old, as he offers an advanced approach with decent pop at the catcher position. His dynasty arrow is finally pointing up again after some uncertainty over the last couple of years.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Mike Evans Dealing With Groin Injury
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (groin) did not practice Tuesday, according to Matt Maiocco. Evans has dealt with a few interruptions during his first training camp with San Francisco, including a quad issue earlier this month, but he had returned to full participation and was back working in team drills. The groin injury is the latest concern with the regular season getting closer. Evans joined the 49ers this offseason after spending his first 12 NFL seasons in Tampa Bay. He was limited to eight games last year, catching 30 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns. The 33-year-old is expected to have a sizable role in San Francisco's passing game alongside the rest of its revamped receiver group. There is no timetable attached to Tuesday's absence, so his practice status over the rest of the week will be worth watching.
Source: Matt Maiocco
Source: Matt Maiocco
Emeka Egbuka Still Not Practicing
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) was not seen at training camp practice on Tuesday, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Egbuka has been described as both day-to-day and week-to-week since spraining his toe on Aug. 12, and he has not returned to team drills. The 23-year-old's vague status will not help his fantasy football draft stock in the coming weeks, and he is almost certain to sit out the team's preseason finale this Friday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. We might not have a better idea of his Week 1 availability for a matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals until the week before the regular season kicks off. With Jalen McMillan also missing time with an injury, rookie third-round receiver Ted Hurst has stood out in recent practices and could have a bigger role than anticipated early on in 2026 if Egbuka is out or limited in Week 1. When healthy, Egbuka is expected to have a bigger role in Tampa's new offense now that veteran Mike Evans is in San Francisco. The former 19th overall pick from Ohio State had a nice 63-938-6 line in 17 games as a rookie, making him a WR2 target in 2026 with upside.
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Jonah Tong Finally Making Push for Return to Majors
New York Mets pitching prospect Jonah Tong had another solid outing in his latest start, tossing 5 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, yielding three hits and two walks while striking out three. The Mets' fifth-ranked prospect owns a 1.26 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over his last three starts as he attempts to make a case for a return to the majors. Last year, the right-hander led all minor leaguers with 179 strikeouts, and his 29.9 percent K-BB% was the highest among pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched, but he has not seen the same success in 2026, with a lower strikeout rate and a higher walk rate, leading to an underwhelming 13.8 percent K-BB% in 100 IP at Triple-A this season. The 6-foot-1 hurler has also not been very effective in his two stints in the majors between last year and this year, but perhaps this recent three-game stretch is a sign of maturation and development. Still, even though the 23-year-old could find his way back to New York before the end of the season, he doesn't warrant stashing in most fantasy leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
TreVeyon Henderson Unlikely to Practice on Tuesday
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson is unlikely to practice Tuesday after leaving Monday's session early. Executive vice president Eliot Wolf told Doug Kyed that the Patriots are still "working through that situation." Henderson appeared to hurt his right foot or ankle after slipping while trying to make a cut Monday, then went inside after being checked by the training staff and did not return. The second-year back is coming off a strong rookie season, rushing 180 times for 911 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He also caught 35 passes for 221 yards and another score. New England hasn't put a timetable on Henderson's absence, so there isn't enough here yet to make assumptions about Week 1. For now, his status bears watching after an early exit followed by another expected day off the field.
Source: Doug Kyed
Source: Doug Kyed
Tua Tagovailoa's Play Making it "Impossible" to Earn QB Job
The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says the original goal for the Atlanta Falcons this summer was to have Tua Tagovailoa open the 2026 regular season as the starting quarterback while Michael Penix Jr. (knee) continued to rehab from a torn ACL he suffered last year. Rapoport adds that Tagovailoa's play during training camp and the preseason has made that plan "impossible," and it is now Penix's "job for the taking." Penix returned to team drills for the first time in camp on Monday, and if he plays up to his capabilities, it could create a best-case scenario for the organization that drafted the 26-year-old with the eighth overall pick out of the University of Washington in 2024. Time will tell if Penix can unseat Tua for the Week 1 starting job, but the previous expectation that Tagovailoa would open the year as the Falcons' starter is now out the window. After throwing for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions in nine starts last year, Penix's long- and short-term fantasy value is slowly back on the rise. With that said, he could be on a very short leash if he wins the starting job, and his lengthy injury history makes him a volatile keeper asset.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Tank Dell Reportedly Nowhere Near Ready to Play
Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) may still be a long way from making his return. John McClain wrote that Houston should have a full-speed Dell next season, "hopefully sooner," while adding that he is nowhere near ready to play right now. That's a sobering update after Dell returned to team drills earlier this month and generated some optimism about a 2026 comeback. The 26-year-old suffered a devastating left knee injury in December 2024, dislocating the knee while tearing his ACL, MCL and LCL and damaging his meniscus. He required multiple surgeries and missed the entire 2025 season. Dell had 51 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games before going down. McClain's wording leaves open the possibility of Dell playing at some point this season, but fantasy managers should not be counting on him being available anytime soon.
Source: John McClain
Source: John McClain
Edwin Arroyo Heating Back Up at Triple-A
Cincinnati Reds infielder Edwin Arroyo is starting to pick up the pace at Triple-A Louisville, now 13-for-36 (.361) over his last 10 games for the Bats, including three doubles and three home runs. The former second-rounder was also hitting well earlier this year, which earned him a promotion to the big-league club back in early June, now with a .314/.377/.557 slash line with 15 home runs and 13 steals in 70 games with Louisville. The switch-hitter's hot hitting didn't quite translate to the majors, batting .244 (exactly league average) but with just a .286 on-base percentage, .282 slugging percentage (zero home runs), and one stolen base. Even so, there is enough power and speed to make him intriguing for fantasy if he can somehow put it together the next time he's recalled, so fantasy managers in very deep leagues should monitor for any developments, although he is not necessarily a stash target at this time.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Kevin Stefanski Not Speculating on Potential Winner of QB Job
Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski is not speculating as to whether quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) will realistically have a chance to win the starting QB job over Tua Tagovailoa, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. "I can't speculate on those types of things," Stefanski said. "I want to really stay in today with Mike and see how he does in practice. I really have to stay in the moment with this one. Let's see how he feels after today." Penix was cleared last week by his surgeon to return to full 11-on-11 practice work, and that happened for the first time in training camp on Monday. After tearing his ACL last year, Penix went 4-for-8 passing on Monday in 11-on-11 drills. He and Tagovailoa are expected to continue splitting first-team reps in practice, and there is still no timetable for Stefanski to name a starter for Week 1 of the regular season. Even though Tagovailoa has not been great this summer, he still figures to be the favorite to start in Week 1. Regardless of who is under center for Atlanta to kick off the regular season, they will be on a short leash and will have minimal upside as a QB2 in two-QB superflex fantasy leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Josh Kendall
Source: The Athletic - Josh Kendall
Eli Raridon Flashes a Path to Rookie Snaps
New England Patriots tight end Eli Raridon has made himself more interesting this summer, even if the rookie still has work to do on the depth chart. New England took the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder 95th overall in April, and Julian Hill's season-ending injury created more room behind Hunter Henry. Raridon has flashed enough to take advantage. He made several catches in camp, worked with Drake Maye during joint practices and hauled in a seam ball off play action during the August 7 scrimmage. His preseason debut was quieter, with one catch for eight yards on four targets against Indianapolis, though another gain was wiped out by a penalty. There is still some uncertainty here. New England's current unofficial depth chart lists C.J. Dippre ahead of Raridon, and Raridon did not dress against Philadelphia on August 22 because of what Mike Vrabel called an individual situation. RotoBaller has him at TE45. Henry is still the clear starter, but Raridon's receiving ability has given him a chance to earn rookie snaps in an offense that can use multiple tight ends.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Arion Carter's Suspension Reduced to One Game
According to Tennessee Director of Athletics Danny White, the NCAA has agreed to reduce star linebacker Arion Carter's suspension from two games to one. The All-SEC performer was originally handed a two-game suspension after taking an agent-funded flight during the NFL Draft process before deciding to return to school. He paid the agent back for the flight after withdrawing from the 2026 NFL Draft. Still, White is calling for the NCAA to drop the suspension completely. "This is yet another example of applying archaic rules from another era, without evolving and, most importantly, putting student-athletes' experiences above bureaucracy." White wrote on X. "Arion doesn't deserve this unnecessary distraction. He is everything that is right about college sports, a team leader who has already earned his degree." As things stand, Carter will have to miss the Week 1 game against Furman, but he'll be able to suit up for the Week 2 road trip to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech.
Source: Danny White
Source: Danny White
Brian Daboll Thinks Titans' Deep Passing Game Needs to Improve
Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said on Tuesday that the team's deep passing game is something that needs to improve, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com. Daboll was also quick to point out that the team's struggles down the field are not all on second-year quarterback Cam Ward. The former first overall pick has not looked sharp in the preseason or during training camp while learning Daboll's offense, and he went 8-for-12 passing for 69 yards while mostly working underneath in the team's preseason game on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Ward has yet to link up with rookie first-round receiver Carnell Tate in the preseason either, although the Titans' coaching staff has not seemed very worried. The 24-year-old from Miami predictably struggled in his first NFL campaign in 2025, completing just 59.8% of his pass attempts for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 17 games. The Titans added weapons for Ward going into Year 2, but if his accuracy and deep-ball prowess do not improve, it could be more of the same in 2026. At best, fantasy managers should be targeting Ward as a low-end QB2 with upside as he continues to develop.
Source: TitanInsider.com - Terry McCormick
Source: TitanInsider.com - Terry McCormick
Lions Taking a Look at Kareem Hunt
Free-agent running back Kareem Hunt visited with the Detroit Lions on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter. Hunt remains unsigned after spending the past two seasons back in Kansas City, where he carried 163 times for 611 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025. He also caught 18 passes for 143 yards and another score. Detroit already has Jahmyr Gibbs at the top of the backfield and signed Isiah Pacheco this offseason, though Pacheco is currently working his way back from a sprained MCL. The Lions have dealt with some additional injuries at running back throughout August as well, giving them reason to keep looking at available options. Hunt would add an experienced runner with a recent track record around the goal line if Detroit decides to sign him. For now, though, this was only a visit, and there is no deal in place.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
