RADIO
Kenneth Walker is "Gonna be Fine"
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Wednesday that running back Kenneth Walker's (ankle) shoe caused some swelling around his ankle but added that "he's gonna be fine," according to Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star. The initial report on Walker was that he missed training camp practice earlier this week with a foot injury, but it was never considered very serious after he was seen walking without a limp and without a brace of any kind on his foot on Tuesday. The 25-year-old will most likely be held out of the preseason finale on Friday against his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, but all signs point to the Super Bowl MVP being a full-go as KC's workhorse RB for a Week 1 showdown on Monday night against the division-rival Denver Broncos. The former second-rounder by Seattle in 2022 from Michigan State played all 17 regular-season games in 2025 and had the second 1,000-yard rushing season of his career while scoring five times on the ground and adding 31 catches for 282 yards as a receiver. Walker has a history of lower-body injuries, but if he can stay healthy, his volume alone with the Chiefs should give him a high floor as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 in fantasy football.
Source: The Kansas City Star - Sam McDowell
Source: The Kansas City Star - Sam McDowell
Parker Washington Dominates After Injury Absence
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington has shown no obvious effects from the undisclosed injury that kept him out of practice last week. Black & Teal highlighted Washington for a second straight day against Tampa Bay on Wednesday after he caught a red-zone touchdown from Trevor Lawrence. Washington returned to practice Sunday and was described by the Jaguars as back to full speed. He also picked up where he left off before the absence, when he had been one of Jacksonville's most consistent camp standouts. Washington is coming off a breakout 2025 season with 58 catches on 95 targets for 847 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games. He closed the regular season especially well, putting up 400 receiving yards and two scores over the final four games. Washington and Brenton Strange were also Lawrence's favorite targets Wednesday, particularly in the red zone. With Washington back making plays, the brief injury absence does not appear to have disrupted his standing in Jacksonville's offense.
Source: Black&Teal
Source: Black&Teal
Jalen McMillan Not Expected to Play in Preseason Finale
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) did not travel with the team to Jacksonville for joint practices this week and is not expected to play in the preseason finale against the Jaguars on Friday, according to Pewter Report. McMillan has been practicing in a limited fashion in training camp, but the 24-year-old will end up missing the entire preseason while battling a knee injury this summer. When fully healthy, the former third-rounder from the University of Washington should start in three-wide sets in Tampa alongside Emeka Egbuka (toe) and veteran Chris Godwin Jr. A significant neck injury suffered last preseason limited McMillan to only four games last year, but he impressed with 37 receptions for 461 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games played in 2024 as a rookie, and there's room for upside in 2026 in Tampa's passing attack now that Mike Evans is no longer in town. Still, injury concerns are not going away, and McMillan is going to have to prove it before most fantasy managers in 12-team leagues take notice. RotoBaller currently has McMillan ranked as the WR57 in half-PPR formats, right behind 49ers veteran wideout Deebo Samuel Sr.
Source: Pewter Report
Source: Pewter Report
Dontayvion Wicks Set to Open Season as Eagles' WR2
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks is expected to open the season as the team's No. 2 option behind DeVonta Smith, according to Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice. Kempski called the battle for Wicks earlier in camp, and that read hasn't changed with first-round rookie Makai Lemon back as a full participant. Wicks has earned consistent praise for his work with Jalen Hurts and did not play in Philadelphia's first preseason game, another sign of how the team views him. The Eagles traded a fifth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-rounder to Green Bay for Wicks in April, then extended him through 2027. He caught 30 of 46 targets for 332 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games last season, though he did post 581 yards and four scores as a rookie in 2023. Wicks now has a cleaner path to regular snaps than he ever had in Green Bay, giving him a path to fantasy relevance in deeper redraft leagues.
Source: Jimmy Kempski
Source: Jimmy Kempski
Michael Penix Jr. Thinks he'll be Ready for Week 1
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee), who was cleared to participate in team drills earlier this week, thinks he will be ready to go for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Tori McElhaney of the team's official website. "I felt good. I felt confident," Penix said about his return to training camp practice this week. He will not participate in the preseason finale on Friday against the Miami Dolphins, but if the Falcons decide they want to roll with Penix as their starter over the struggling Tua Tagovailoa, he should be physically ready after suffering a partially torn left ACL last year. The 26-year-old was the eighth overall pick in 2024 from the University of Washington, and the Falcons are still holding out hope that he is the long-term answer under center. Given how bad Tua has looked this summer, it is looking more plausible that Penix could be named the Week 1 starter despite missing a big chunk of camp while rehabbing his knee. Still, for fantasy purposes, Penix should be viewed as nothing more than a low-end QB2 option in superflex leagues after throwing for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three picks in nine starts in 2025.
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Jeremiyah Love Doing Light Agility Work on a Side Field
Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) was seen doing some agility work with trainers on a side field ahead of Wednesday's training camp practice, according to Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. Love suffered a high-ankle sprain in the preseason game on Aug. 13, which puts his Week 1 availability for the contest against the Los Angeles Chargers in question. James Conner (foot) continues to rehab from foot surgery, and Trey Benson (knee) has been ruled out for the entire 2026 season, so Tyler Allgeier is getting even more work as he enters his first year with the team. The 21-year-old Love is making progress, but he will not appear in the team's preseason finale and is just trying to work himself into a position to be active for the regular-season opener on Sept. 13. Love's ankle injury almost guarantees that the Cardinals will ease him back into their backfield early on in his rookie campaign alongside Allgeier, so fantasy managers should be drafting him as an RB2 with upside instead of surefire RB1.
Source: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
Source: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
Tua Tagovailoa to Start Friday Against Former Team
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will start Friday night's preseason finale against his former team, the Miami Dolphins, according to Ari Meirov. Tagovailoa spent six seasons in Miami before the Dolphins released him in March, and he landed with Atlanta shortly afterward. His Falcons debut didn't offer much, as he completed three of five passes for 22 yards against Denver. He didn't play in Atlanta's second preseason game. Meanwhile, Michael Penix Jr. has now been cleared for full-team work and rotated with Tagovailoa during first-team periods Monday. Atlanta still hasn't named its Week 1 starter. Tagovailoa is coming off a 2025 season in which he threw for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 14 starts. Friday gives the 28-year-old one more preseason opportunity, this time in a familiar building. The start itself doesn't settle Atlanta's quarterback situation, especially with Penix finally back in the mix.
Source: Ari Meirov
Source: Ari Meirov
Zay Flowers Will Be Ready for Week 1
Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said that wide receiver Zay Flowers (undisclosed), who was held out of training camp practice on Wednesday for precautionary reasons, will be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, according to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Banner. The Ravens are just playing it safe with their WR1 in the latter stages of training camp this summer. The 25-year-old remains the team's unquestioned top wideout, and the former 22nd overall pick from Boston College could have even more fantasy upside in 2026 in the team's new offense under coordinator Declan Doyle as he enters his fourth year in the league. Flowers has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons with a total of 2,270 yards, nine touchdowns, and 160 receptions on 234 targets. Especially in point-per-reception fantasy leagues, Flowers is a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 target with a high floor if he can stay healthy. He also had 77 receptions for 858 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games played in 2023 as a rookie in Baltimore.
Source: The Baltimore Banner - Jonas Shaffer
Source: The Baltimore Banner - Jonas Shaffer
Luther Burden III Gets Light Work in Return From Groin Injury
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) was back on the field Wednesday for the first time since getting injured on Aug. 8, according to Sean Hammond. Burden only took part in a short, light practice, so this wasn't a full return to action, but it's an encouraging step after more than two weeks on the sideline. The Bears previously expected him to miss the entire preseason while hoping to have him available for their Sept. 13 opener against Carolina. Burden remains listed as a starter on Chicago's latest unofficial depth chart after catching 47 passes for 652 yards and two touchdowns across 15 games as a rookie. With DJ Moore traded to Buffalo during the offseason, Burden is positioned for a larger role alongside Rome Odunze in his second season. Wednesday's limited work is a positive sign, though he'll still need to progress beyond a light practice before his Week 1 status can be considered settled.
Source: Sean Hammond
Source: Sean Hammond
Jalen Tolbert Losing Appeal as a Late-Round Redraft Pick
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jalen Tolbert looked like a reasonable late-round flier when camp opened because Miami had no established pecking order at receiver. That case has weakened. Tolbert did not play on Miami's 14-play opening drive in the preseason opener against Washington, with Malik Washington and rookie Caleb Douglas handling most of the first-team work and Jalen Reagor joining them in three-receiver sets. Tolbert later caught one of three targets for 27 yards. Douglas has been one of Miami's camp standouts and is listed with the starters, while fellow third-round rookie Chris Bell (knee) has now shed his non-contact jersey and is expected to play in the preseason finale. Tolbert is not out of the picture. He caught a 15-yard touchdown from Malik Willis in Monday's practice and remains a strong bet to make the roster. Still, the competition is getting tougher for a veteran whose production fell from 49 catches for 610 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024 to 18 catches for 203 yards and one score last season. RotoBaller's updated half-PPR top 400 has Tolbert 248th overall. He is looking more like a deep-league dart throw than a standard redraft target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Too Early to Tell if James Conner Will be Ready for Week 1
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters in Green Bay that running back James Conner (foot) is "progressing well," but it's too early to tell if he will be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. Conner is still working his way back from foot surgery that ended his 2025 campaign after only three games played. When healthy, the 31-year-old former third-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of Pittsburgh figures to operate as the team's RB3 behind Jeremiyah Love (ankle) and Tyler Allgeier, but that type of role isn't going to make the veteran back relevant in any single-year fantasy leagues. Conner had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2023 and 2024 in the desert, but it all came crashing down last year, when he played in just three games. Until Conner is able to make his way back onto the field, Bam Knight figures to operate as the team's RB3 with Trey Benson (knee) done for the season.
Source: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
Source: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
Tucker Kraft to Take Part in Team Drills on Wednesday
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) will participate in 11-on-11 team drills in training camp practice on Wednesday, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Kraft has been taking part in team drills in camp for a week-plus, but he will also be cleared to take part in team drills on Wednesday in a joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals, which is notable. There have been reports that the Packers plan on easing the 25-year-old tight end into their offense early on in the 2026 regular season, which is not what fantasy managers want to hear. Despite that news, the former third-rounder in the 2023 NFL draft from South Dakota State is an easy top-10 fantasy TE who could easily break out in 2026 if he can stay healthy following his ACL tear a year ago. Before Kraft's season-ending knee injury, he was among the best players at his position, catching 32 of his 44 targets for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight starts. RotoBaller currently has Kraft ranked as the No. 6 overall TE for 2026.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Ja'Seem Reed Getting Run With First-Team Offense
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ja'Seem Reed is getting plenty of run with the first-team offense with Xavier Legette (ankle) sidelined at training camp, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. The Panthers already lost rookie Chris Brazzell II (knee) for the entire season, which has opened up an opportunity for Reed, David Moore, Jimmy Horn Jr., and Brycen Tremayne to compete with Legette for the WR3 gig behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker heading into the start of the 2026 season. Reed, who stands at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, is a former undrafted free agent out of the University of San Diego who has yet to play in an NFL game. The 23-year-old spent the entire 2025 campaign on the Panthers' practice squad. It is notable that he is getting some run with the first-team offense in camp, but Reed should be viewed as a long shot for any kind of fantasy relevance in 2026, with Legette's injury not deemed very serious.
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
Chris Rodriguez Jr. Sees Key Pass-Protection Reps Over Teammate
Sports Illustrated's John Shipley points out that Jacksonville Jaguars running backs Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten got seemingly equal reps throughout the entire training camp practice on Wednesday, but when the team went to their end-of-game drill in the final portion of practice, it was Rodriguez "who got the nod at RB." It mostly meant pass protection for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, although the Jags did throw a screen to Rodriguez earlier on the drive. It is important to note that pass-catching back LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) is out with a soft-tissue injury and will miss the rest of camp. Without Allen, there is a clear void when it comes to the passing-down depth chart. Shipley recently stated that he thinks C-Rod is the team's best pass-protecting RB with Allen injured, which means his fantasy stock could receive a significant early-season boost if Allen is not ready to handle his normal pass-blocking and third-down role. The 25-year-old Rodriguez has been lauded this summer for his power running as well, and his previous experience with head coach Liam Coen in college at Kentucky could eventually give him the upper hand over Tuten in 2026, despite Tuten's obvious explosive tendencies and home run ability at the position.
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Ja'Marr Chase Not Practicing on Wednesday With Knee Injury
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (knee) is not taking part in Wednesday's training camp practice after he banged up his left knee on Tuesday, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Chase was not sporting any protective equipment on his knee, though, and the 26-year-old All-Pro wideout downplayed the injury after getting hurt on Tuesday. For now, it appears that Chase has dodged a potentially significant knee injury, but we will obviously keep close tabs on his progress with the 2026 regular season quickly approaching in early September. Chase has had 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first five seasons in the NFL with the Bengals and has added 54 touchdown receptions, including a league-high 17 scores in 2024, when he also led the league in catches (127), targets (175), and yards (1,708). He led the league with 185 targets last year as well and finished with 125 catches for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns in 16 starts. Chase's knee injury in camp should not dissuade fantasy managers from making him the first WR off the draft board.
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
