RADIO
Quintrevion Wisner Back at Florida State Practice
Florida State running back Quintrevion Wisner (undisclosed) returned to practice this week after missing time to begin fall camp, according to head coach Mike Norvell. Norvell also said he "should be good to go." Wisner is a Texas transfer who was widely considered one of the top running backs available in this offseason's portal after rushing for 1,661 yards and eight touchdowns over the last two seasons. He also caught 66 passes. However, sophomore running back Ousmane Kromah has flashed while Wisner has been sidelined, so there could be a 1A-1B backfield in Tallahassee this season. Either way, getting Wisner back in action ahead of the September 7 matchup against SMU is great news for the Noles.
Source: Warchant.com
Source: Warchant.com
Gavin Cross Goes on Injured List at Triple-A Omaha
Kansas City Royals outfield prospect Gavin Cross (undisclosed) was placed on the 7-day injured list on August 14 with an undisclosed injury. It's a shame as the Royals' 26th-ranked prospect was heating up again, riding a five-game hit streak during which time he went 9-for-19 (.474) with three doubles, two home runs, and a stolen base over that span. The hot stretch brought his season-long slash line to .253/.319/.435 at Triple-A Omaha with 13 home runs and 23 steals in 101 games. The power/speed combo makes for an intriguing fantasy asset, and the former ninth-overall draft pick could still make a late-season debut in 2026, but there was little reason to stash him before the injury, and now, without a clear timeline for his return, there is even less reason. The 25-year-old may have a fantasy impact in 2027, but for now, he can be safely left on the waiver wire.
Source: Omaha Storm Chasers
Source: Omaha Storm Chasers
Geno Smith to Start Friday Against Steelers
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith will start Friday's preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Connor Hughes. Smith missed the opener against Tampa Bay after developing ankle soreness during joint practices, but he's been back at practice throughout this week. Friday will be his first game action since returning to the Jets in a March trade with Las Vegas. New York has already made it clear that Smith is its starter for 2026, so this is about getting him some live reps in Frank Reich's offense before the games count. Smith started 15 games for the Raiders last season and completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. The Jets originally planned to play him in the preseason opener before the ankle issue got in the way. Now they'll finally get that first look at Smith running the offense in a game.
Source: Connor Hughes
Source: Connor Hughes
Does Ryan Ward Demand Stash Consideration Amid 10-Game Hit Streak?
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Ryan Ward, after collecting a hit in Wednesday's game for Triple-A Oklahoma City, has extended his hit streak to 10 games. The Dodgers' 17th-ranked prospect is 16-for-40 (.400) during that time with a double and four home runs, along with twice as many walks (eight) as strikeouts (four). It brings his season-long slash line to .276/.384/.486 with 17 home runs and a 55:60 BB:K in 83 games for the Comets. The left-handed hitter debuted with the Dodgers earlier this season and has spent two different stints with the club with mixed results. While this recent stretch could help propel him there again, there is no immediate opening on the major league roster, even with Kyle Tucker struggling mightily on both sides of the ball. The former eighth-round draft pick has a ton of power, logging back-to-back 30-homer seasons at Triple-A prior to 2026, so there is some intrigue for fantasy purposes, but the 28-year-old is not a realistic stash consideration in most fantasy leagues.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Kansas State Star Left Tackle John Pastore Out for Season
Kansas State left tackle John Pastore will miss the entire 2026 college football season after suffering a lower-body injury, according to On3's Pete Nakos. This is a brutal blow for the Kansas State offense, as Pastore is the team's only returning offensive line starter, and he was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2025 after starting in 12 games. True freshman Oliver Miller will compete to step up in his absence. Overall, this could heavily impact the upside of quarterback Avery Johnson and running backs Joe Jackson and Rodney Fields Jr.
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Brent Venables Signs Six-Year Extension with Oklahoma
Oklahoma has signed head football coach Brent Venables to a six-year extension, according to On3's Nick Kosko. The deal adds two more years to his current contract, running through 2031. He will be paid an average of $10.5 million over the six years. Venables looked to be headed toward the hot seat after a 6-7 campaign in the program's first season in the SEC, but the Sooners ripped off four straight wins to cap off a 10-2 regular season in 2025 and returned to the College Football Playoffs. Venables took back defensive play-calling duties last year, and it led to Oklahoma boasting one of the best defenses in the nation. With quarterback John Mateer healthy and Venables calling shots defensively, the Sooners enter the 2026 season as the No. 10 team in the preseason AP Poll.
Source: On3
Source: On3
Puka Nacua Remains Out With Psoas Soreness
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (psoas) remained out Thursday and did not take part in the joint practice with the New Orleans Saints, according to Sarah Barshop. Nacua has been sidelined since developing soreness in his psoas during the Aug. 11 joint session with Dallas. His absence Thursday was expected. Sean McVay said Monday that Nacua was doing well but the Rams could hold him out until next week, stressing that they want a return to performance rather than simply getting him back on the field. Nacua has continued conditioning and weight work while sidelined. He is coming off a huge 2025 season, leading the NFL with 129 catches while piling up 1,715 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games. The Rams are clearly taking the cautious route with one of their most important offensive players, and Thursday's absence doesn't appear to represent a setback from the timeline McVay laid out earlier this week.
Source: Sarah Barshop
Source: Sarah Barshop
Ryan Clifford Placed on Development List at Triple-A
New York Mets first base/outfield prospect Ryan Clifford was placed on the Development List on Wednesday amid a futile stretch of offense. Since returning from the injured list on August 9, the Mets' eighth-ranked prospect has been hitless in 22 consecutive at-bats over a six-game stretch with a 56.0 percent strikeout rate during that time. The struggles preceded the injured list stint, though, as he's also just 5-for-70 (.071) over his last 19 contests, which has pushed his season-long slash line to .175/.267/.344. When he connects, the ball goes a long way, with the 6-foot-3 slugger tallying 16 home runs in 104 games, but with one of the worst strikeout rates at Triple-A (38.2 percent) that culminated in a five-strikeout performance this past Sunday, the organization will now allow him to stay on the minor league roster while he works on mechanics and swing decisions outside of game action. Amid his struggles, chances of an MLB debut in 2026 were already fading, but this likely seals it, and fantasy managers need not consider the 23-year-old a stash option this year.
Source: SNY
Source: SNY
Ja'Kobi Lane Continues to Turn Heads at Ravens Camp
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane continues to be one of the loudest stories of training camp, with Rookie Watch highlighting the rookie's catch radius and ability to win contested throws. The buzz is backed up by Baltimore's own camp reports. Lane has made difficult catches over Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey and other Ravens defensive backs, and head coach Jesse Minter said earlier this month that the consistency is starting to show up every day. He carried that into the preseason opener, catching three passes for 38 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia. Baltimore took Lane 80th overall in April after he finished his final USC season with 49 catches for 745 yards and four touchdowns. He is currently listed behind Rashod Bateman on the depth chart, but the rookie keeps forcing his way into the conversation. At 6-foot-4 with a 40-inch vertical and huge hands, Lane gives this offense a different kind of target.
Source: Rookie Watch
Source: Rookie Watch
Quinshon Judkins Misses Second Straight Practice
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins was not practicing Thursday, his second straight absence, according to Daniel Oyefusi. Judkins also sat out Wednesday after working throughout camp up to that point. His absence began one day after a particularly physical Tuesday practice in which he took some extra contact, though Cleveland has not said the two are connected. Judkins led the Browns with 827 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 230 carries as a rookie, adding 26 catches for 171 yards. His season ended in Week 16 with a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula, but he recovered in time for full offseason work and had been participating normally this summer. Two missed practices in a row now make this more than a one-day maintenance note. Until Cleveland provides some context, Judkins' availability remains an open question.
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Chris Olave Appears to Get Day Off Thursday
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave appears to be getting the day off Thursday, according to Nick Underhill. Olave was not taking part as the Saints opened their joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams, two days after he was heavily involved against Dallas. There hasn't been any indication from Underhill's initial report that an injury is behind Thursday's absence. Olave is coming off the best season of his career, catching 100 passes for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games while earning second-team All-Pro honors. The Saints also signed him to a multi-year extension shortly before training camp. After a busy summer and a strong showing against the Cowboys earlier this week, Thursday looks like a chance for New Orleans to give its top receiver a break.
Source: Nick Underhill
Source: Nick Underhill
Samaje Perine's Redraft Case Has a Little More Life
Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine is still mostly tied to Chase Brown's health for fantasy, but his summer role is a little more interesting than that sounds. Perine mixed in with the starters in the preseason opener, catching two passes for 12 yards and taking his only carry for seven. Cincinnati has also been leaning into more two-back looks, with Perine staying in the backfield while Brown moves around the formation. That matters. Perine ran for 382 yards and three touchdowns on 84 carries last season, and he showed against the Jets that he can still do something with extra work, going for 94 yards and a score on nine carries. Brown isn't losing the job after 1,456 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, so this isn't some backfield battle. Perine just has a little more going on than a pure bench stash. He's still an insurance back first, but Cincinnati may give him enough snaps to stay involved even when Brown is healthy.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Khalil Shakir Misses Practice With Injury
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir is dealing with an injury and did not participate in Tuesday's practice at Highmark Stadium, according to Katherine Fitzgerald. Head coach Joe Brady confirmed Thursday that Shakir and defensive tackle Ed Oliver are both dealing with injuries after sitting out the stadium session. Shakir had been active throughout camp before the absence. He led Buffalo in both receptions and receiving yards last season, catching 72 passes for 719 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. The Bills added DJ Moore this offseason, but Shakir still figures to have a steady role in a passing game that leaned on him heavily in 2025. Buffalo is also managing a foot/toe sprain for Keon Coleman, so the receiver room has taken a few hits this week. That makes any missed work more notable with Week 1 approaching. Shakir's next practice appearance will be the important part from here.
Source: Katherine Fitzgerald
Source: Katherine Fitzgerald
Joe Burrow Treating 2026 as Now-or-Never Season
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is treating 2026 like a now-or-never season when it comes to winning a championship, according to Ben Baby. Asked directly about that mindset Thursday, Burrow said, "That's how I'm treating it." Cincinnati is coming off a 6-11 season and has now missed the playoffs three years in a row after making back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2021 and 2022. Burrow only started eight games last year after a toe injury sent him to injured reserve, but he still threw for 1,809 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. The urgency isn't new. Burrow said earlier this offseason that this is the best roster he's had in seven seasons with the Bengals, and he's been noticeably more vocal about what he expects from the team. He's entering 2026 with one goal in mind, and he isn't being subtle about it.
Source: Ben Baby
Source: Ben Baby
J.J. McCarthy Likely to Start Saturday Against Ravens
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will more than likely start Saturday's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, according to Kevin Seifert. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said Kyler Murray and many of Minnesota's other starters are unlikely to play after getting two days of work against Baltimore in joint practices this week. That should mean a longer look at McCarthy. He took over after Murray's opening series in the preseason opener against the Giants and completed 4 of 7 passes for 34 yards while playing the rest of the first half. McCarthy is currently Minnesota's No. 2 quarterback, and Saturday should give him plenty of snaps to keep working in that role. With most of the first-team offense expected to sit, the focus will be on how McCarthy handles a larger chunk of the game against Baltimore.
Source: Kevin Seifert
Source: Kevin Seifert
