RADIO
Darren Waller Not Expected to Play in Preseason Finale
Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller is not expected to play in the preseason finale against the Houston Texans. Head coach Dave Canales said, "he'll pop into team drills, and we'll get him some exposure against the Texans in joint practices this week." Waller signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with Carolina last week and appears to be in incredible shape heading into his tenth NFL season. Last season with the Miami Dolphins, Waller caught 24 of 34 targets for 283 yards and six touchdowns in nine games, ranking TE14 in half-PPR fantasy points per game. The former Raiders star tight end is currently ranked TE33 in RotoBaller's positional rankings and is unlikely to be a key fantasy contributor this season.
Source: Anthony Rizzuti - Panthers Wire
Source: Anthony Rizzuti - Panthers Wire
James Conner Does Not Practice on Monday
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (foot) did not participate in Monday's practice. Conner is recovering from a dislocated ankle/foot that required season-ending surgery last season. The veteran running back has yet to take part in 11-on-11 drills at training camp, though he has been seen in individual drills throughout camp. With the team signing former Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier and drafting Jeremiyah Love with the fourth-overall pick, Conner is likely to be in a reserve role during the 2026 season. If Love (ankle) misses time early in the season due to his high-ankle sprain, Conner could see action if he's healthy and ready to go against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Source: Theo Mackie - AZC Sports
Source: Theo Mackie - AZC Sports
Kendre Miller Says He'll Take on Bigger Role With Fellow RB Hurt
New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller expects a larger role following veteran Alvin Kamara's injury. Kamara sprained his MCL during a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams and is expected to miss time, possibly into the regular season. Miller told the media on Monday, "It's always a next-man-up mentality. I have a bigger role now that AK is down, so I'm going to just take that and try to run with it." In three seasons, Miller has totaled 677 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns in 21 career games, though he has missed 30 games, including several hamstring injuries and a torn ACL he suffered in Week 7 last season. With former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne expected to handle most of the work in the backfield, Miller profiles as an early-season handcuff until Kamara returns. Fantasy managers should look to other options instead of Miller in the late rounds of fantasy drafts.
Source: NOF Network
Source: NOF Network
Falcons Starting QB Job for the Taking for Michael Penix Jr.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) has a chance to win the starting job, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Rapoport said the Falcons' goal was to have veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa start the season right away, but Tagovailoa's lackluster play in training camp and the preseason opens the door for Penix to start. "This is Michael Penix's job for the taking." Penix was the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and completed under 60% of his passes for 2,719 yards, with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions in 12 games. Penix tore his ACL late last season and was recently cleared to participate in 11-on-11 drills at practice. If Penix surges late and Tagovailoa continues to struggle, watch for the Falcons to start the 2026 season with the third-year quarterback.
Source: Ian Rapoport - ESPN/NFL Network
Source: Ian Rapoport - ESPN/NFL Network
Allen Robinson Announces Retirement from NFL
Former Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson has announced his retirement from the NFL after 11 seasons. Robinson was drafted in the second round by the Jaguars in 2014, totaling 2,848 yards and 22 touchdowns in 43 games with the team. After four seasons in Jacksonville, Robinson signed with the Bears, where he played four seasons and caught over 95 passes for 1,150 yards in two of those seasons. Robinson spent time with the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Detroit Lions from 2022 to 2024. Robinson totaled 565 receptions for 7,058 yards and 43 touchdowns in 139 games in his NFL career.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
Chiefs Non-Committal on Patrick Mahomes' Week 1 Status
Everything has gone as planned this summer for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) after recovering from a torn ACL and LCL that he suffered late last season, but head coach Andy Reid was non-committal on Mahomes' status for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Monday night on Sept. 14, according to Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star. "He's doing great," Reid said. "We'll just see. I'm literally taking it day by day. There are no predictions here on anything. But if the doctors and the trainers and everybody that are involved with this give him an OK -- and then most of all, if he feels like he can, then we'll address that when we get there." Mahomes did not see the field in either of the team's first two preseason contests, even though the star signal-caller had been hoping to see some action. Based on the fact that Mahomes has been full-go for all of the team's training camp practices, it would be a bit surprising if KC held him out in Week 1, especially against a big division rival. With Mahomes' mobility potentially being compromised early in 2026, he has fallen to more of a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 target in 2026 fantasy football drafts as the Chiefs look to bounce back and get back to the playoffs.
Source: The Kansas City Star - Pete Sweeney
Source: The Kansas City Star - Pete Sweeney
Theo Johnson Suffers Undisclosed Injury on Monday
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (undisclosed) left training camp practice early on Monday with an undisclosed injury, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. Duggan described it as an "odd scene," with Johnson going down while blocking and trainers immediately coming out onto the field. Johnson then walked off, slammed his helmet, ripped his gloves off, and pulled his hood over his head. He walked directly off the field toward the locker room and was walking briskly while not being accompanied by a trainer. It does not sound like a significant injury for the 25-year-old, but we will have an update on the specific nature of his injury when those details emerge. The former fourth-rounder in 2024 from Penn State is set to operate as New York's TE2 behind newcomer Isaiah Likely in his third NFL season in 2026, leaving little fantasy upside in single-TE leagues. Johnson took a step forward in his sophomore campaign in 2025, catching 45 of his 74 targets for 528 yards and five touchdowns after posting a 29-331-1 line in 12 games as a rookie. RotoBaller has Johnson ranked as the No. 41 fantasy TE.
Source: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
Source: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
Justin Jefferson Impressed With his New QB
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson always knew about quarterback Kyler Murray's athleticism, but he told The Athletic that he has come away impressed with his new QB's arm talent. "But his throwing ability is also something that has really, really surprised me. While he was in Arizona, I didn't really keep track and pay attention to his arm talent. And seeing the different type of throws he's making, where he's throwing the ball, it's been really, really surprising me," Jefferson said. The 27-year-old All-Pro wideout will be working with a new signal-caller for the fourth straight season, but Murray arguably has the most talent at the position, and he and Jefferson have been clicking and building chemistry all offseason. Jefferson had a down year in 2025, but he still managed 84 receptions for 1,048 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games played. Murray should give Jefferson and the rest of Minnesota's offense more stability, and he clearly has the arm strength to hit the four-time Pro Bowler deep down the field. In his seventh NFL season, Jefferson has the potential to finish as the overall WR1 in 2026 if everything goes right.
Source: The Athletic
Source: The Athletic
Oscar Delp Dealing With Hamstring Injury
New Orleans Saints rookie third-round tight end Oscar Delp (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring injury in training camp, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. The severity of Delp's hamstring injury is unclear, but he has several weeks to recover before the Week 1 regular-season opener. If healthy, the 23-year-old Georgia product figures to open up his first year in the NFL as the Saints' TE3 behind Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant, which will not endear him to fantasy managers in single-year leagues in 2026. Delp has considerable size at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, but his production in his four years with the Bulldogs does not exactly stand out, as he finished with 854 total yards and nine touchdowns on 70 receptions in 55 total games. Delp never had more than 284 receiving yards or four touchdowns in a single season and will be fighting an uphill battle for playing time in New Orleans as a rookie. He profiles as a dynasty/keeper stash at the TE position and not much else.
Source: ESPN.com - Katherine Terrell
Source: ESPN.com - Katherine Terrell
Pat Bryant Having a "Heckuva Camp"
Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant is having a "heckuva camp," head coach Sean Payton told Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Bryant appears to be in the lead for the WR3 role over Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. after starting alongside Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton in last Friday's preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers, where he failed to reel in his only target. After being selected in the third round (74th overall) last year out of Illinois, the 23-year-old caught 31 of his 49 targets for 378 yards and only one touchdown in 15 regular-season games (seven starts) in his first year in the NFL. The 6-foot-2, 204-pounder missed some time late in the 2025 season due to a concussion, and he also came out of the AFC Championship game early with a hamstring injury. He has considerable size and good hands, but with Sutton and Waddle likely dominating targets from quarterback Bo Nix, Bryant might be fighting an uphill battle for WR4/flex value in fantasy football leagues. Right now, RotoBaller has ranked him as the No. 66 fantasy WR going into his sophomore campaign. In deeper leagues, he is worth a late-round flier in a Broncos offense that could be much more explosive after the offseason acquisition of Waddle.
Source: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
Source: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
Cardinals Waive Trey Benson
The Arizona Cardinals waived running back Trey Benson (knee) with an injured designation on Monday in order to make room on the roster for linebacker Josh Sweat, who was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list, according to Darren Urban of the team's official website. Benson, a former third-rounder in 2024 from Florida State, only played in four games last year due to a season-ending left-knee injury, and he had recently missed time in training camp with more issues with the same knee. In two seasons in Arizona, Benson played in just 17 total games and racked up 451 yards on 92 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt. Another NFL team will probably have interest in adding Benson to their RB room, but only if he can get over his left-knee issues. Going forward in Arizona, the Cardinals head into the 2026 season with Tyler Allgeier, rookie first-rounder Jeremiyah Love (ankle), and veteran James Conner (foot) as their top-three RBs.
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Keaton Mitchell Suffers a "Setback"
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell (undisclosed) has missed two straight training camp practices, and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said he had a "setback," according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. Mitchell is set to have a role in McDaniel's offense in 2026 on a weekly basis alongside Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal, but it is unclear if his recent setback will put him in any danger of missing Week 1 of the regular season against the Arizona Cardinals. The 24-year-old former undrafted free agent from East Carolina latched on with the Baltimore Ravens and spent his first three years in the NFL with the Ravens, but he managed to play in only 26 games (two starts) due to injuries, recording 767 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 121 carries. Mitchell is highly explosive when healthy, but his lack of pass-catching skills in a committee approach in L.A. in 2026 will severely cap his fantasy upside if both Hampton and Vidal stay healthy. In half-PPR formats, RotoBaller has Mitchell ranked as the No. 42 fantasy RB for 2026 in his first year with the Bolts.
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Jeremiyah Love Progressing But Won't Practice This Week
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said that rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) is progressing, but he will be sidelined this week, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Love suffered a high-ankle sprain in the first week of the preseason, and although he is missing valuable time before his first NFL season, the good news is that he will avoid ankle surgery that would have made him unavailable for the start of the regular season in early September. It is still a bit unclear if Love will be available for Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers, and if he is, he could be pretty limited from a workload perspective. Arizona's backfield has been banged up this summer, with James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) still recovering from season-ending injuries in 2025. Even if Love is ready to roll for Week 1, Tyler Allgeier is trending toward being the Cardinals' primary running back to kick off the regular season. Love's fantasy price was inflated after the Cardinals took him third overall out of Notre Dame, but his preseason injury has knocked him down draft boards a bit as an RB2 target in the early rounds for his explosiveness in all facets of the game.
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Rams Still Haven't Settled Backup Quarterback Job
The Los Angeles Rams still haven't settled on who will back up Matthew Stafford this season. Sean McVay said Monday that he has not made a decision between Stetson Bennett IV and rookie Ty Simpson and is still working through how the quarterback reps will be divided Thursday against the Chargers, though Simpson will play. Bennett has held the inside track throughout camp, taking first-team reps on Stafford's rest days and most of the second-team work when Stafford practices. He also led scoring drives on four of five first-half possessions against New Orleans on Saturday and ran for two touchdowns. Simpson has made his own case, completing 29 of 37 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns without an interception through two preseason games. Neither has been named the No. 2 yet. Thursday's preseason finale gives McVay one more look at the quarterback room before the Rams set their Week 1 depth chart.
Source: Sarah Barshop
Source: Sarah Barshop
Ashton Jeanty Sits Out Monday's Practice
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) did not participate in Monday's training camp practice, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Jeanty was injured in practice on Sunday and was unable to put pressure on his right leg, but ESPN reported late Sunday evening that the second-year back is only dealing with a sprained ankle. He could miss some time, but barring a setback, Jeanty could still be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. With Jeanty sidelined for a bit with his ankle sprain, rookie fourth-rounder Mike Washington Jr. will get more run with the first-team offense as he looks to solidify the RB2 role heading into his first year in the NFL. Jeanty ran for 975 yards and five rushing touchdowns on 266 carries in 2025 after the Raiders selected him with the sixth overall pick out of Boise State. The 22-year-old added 55 catches for 346 yards and five more TDs as a receiver in 17 starts to finish as the RB13 in half-PPR scoring. The Raiders figure to have more upside on offense with better QB play in 2026, making Jeanty a strong RB2 target with upside as he heads into Year 2.
Source: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
Source: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
