RADIO
Chris Bell Ramping Up Practice Work
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Chris Bell (knee) will remain in a red non-contact jersey Tuesday, but head coach Jeff Hafley said the rookie is set to do a little more after making his practice debut Monday. Bell was activated from the non-football injury list Monday as he works back from the torn ACL he suffered at Louisville on Nov. 22. He only took part in individual drills in his first session back. The next step is team work while still wearing red, though Hafley said he doesn't expect Bell to practice against the Giants or play in Saturday's preseason game. Miami is taking this one slowly. Bell, the 94th overall pick in April, caught 72 passes for 917 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games last season before the injury ended his year. There's still no clear date for full contact. Bell getting back onto the field matters, but he's not close enough yet for fantasy managers to count on an immediate role.
Source: Marcel-Louis Jacques
Source: Marcel-Louis Jacques
Jayden Higgins Leaves Practice With Leg Injury
Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins (leg) left Tuesday's joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders after going down during a red-zone period. Trainers checked on him for several seconds before Higgins got back up and left the field under his own power. He did not return. C.J. Stroud offered some encouragement afterward, saying he thinks Higgins will be fine, but Houston has not announced a diagnosis or timetable. Higgins has been one of the standouts of Texans camp after catching 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. He started 10 games last season and has been pushing for a bigger role in Year 2. That makes the injury worth watching even if the early signs aren't especially alarming. Stroud's reaction helps, and so does Higgins getting off the field on his own. The next update from Houston will carry more weight than either, especially if Higgins has to miss practice time.
Source: Aaron Wilson
Source: Aaron Wilson
Jaylen Waddle Back in Full Pads Tuesday
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (leg) was in full pads Tuesday, another step forward after returning to practice Monday. Waddle had been out since leaving an Aug. 5 practice with a muscle strain in his left leg. Head coach Sean Payton initially expected him back within four or five days, but Denver gave him more time. He was nearly a full participant Monday and even caught a pass from Bo Nix during a red-zone period. Now the pads are back on. Waddle came over from Miami in a March trade after posting 64 catches for 910 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games last season. Denver gave up first-, third- and fourth-round picks in that deal while also getting a fourth-rounder back with Waddle. The Broncos have plenty invested in him, and he is expected to be a major part of the passing game alongside Courtland Sutton. After almost two weeks of dealing with the strain, Tuesday's step is a good sign.
Source: Chris Tomasson
Source: Chris Tomasson
Justin Herbert to Start Preseason Game on Thursday
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that the team's starters will play a series on Thursday in the preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, including quarterback Justin Herbert, according to Steve Wyche of the NFL Network. It will be important for Herbert in terms of game operation and to get game reps with new center Tyler Biadasz. It will be the first preseason action this year for the 28-year-old after he sat out the opener last week against the Houston Texans. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has given the 28-year-old signal-caller plenty of praise for picking up his offense extremely quickly during training camp. McDaniel should put Herbert in a better position to succeed in 2026 in his sixth year in the league, and with his dual-threat abilities at the position, Herbert will be an intriguing midrange QB1 for fantasy managers after the big names come off the board. Although the Chargers' receiving corps does not strike fear in opposing defenses, the Chargers' offense should be more explosive with McDaniel running the show.
Source: NFL Network - Steve Wyche
Source: NFL Network - Steve Wyche
Tyquan Thornton Suffers Strained Hamstring on Tuesday
The Kansas City Chiefs are saying that wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (hamstring) suffered a strained hamstring in Tuesday's training camp practice, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. Thornton had to be carted to the locker room, so he is probably looking at missing some time going forward, although it's unclear if his hamstring strain is serious enough to potentially keep him out of the Week 1 Monday night showdown against the division-rival Denver Broncos. The 26-year-old almost certainly will not be active this Saturday for the preseason contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Thornton misses extensive time, it will give rookie Cyrus Allen and Jalen Royals more of an opportunity to earn WR3 duties in KC behind starters Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. Thornton, a former second-rounder by the New England Patriots from Baylor, caught 19 of 37 targets for a career-high 438 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games in his first year with the Chiefs in 2025. If fully healthy, he mostly profiles as an unpredictable boom/bust downfield threat for the Chiefs' offense. It is hard to justify drafting Thornton in 12-team fantasy leagues if both Rice and Worthy are fully healthy.
Source: ESPN.com - Nate Taylor
Source: ESPN.com - Nate Taylor
Najee Harris Signs With the Giants
The New York Giants are signing free-agent running back Najee Harris (Achilles) to an undisclosed one-year deal on Tuesday, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. The veteran Harris will be added to an already crowded Giants' RB room that includes Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary. The 28-year-old former first-rounder in 2021 by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the University of Alabama had four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons to begin his career in the Steel City before playing in just three games in 2025 with the Los Angeles Chargers due to a torn Achilles tendon. Harris appears to be fully recovered from his injury after impressing the Giants during his visit with the team on Monday, but he will have a steep hill to climb in 2026 for a fantasy-relevant role in the Big Apple. For now, Harris should remain off the fantasy football radar in standard-sized leagues. In his three games with the Bolts last year, Harris had 15 carries for 61 yards on the ground while catching all three of his targets for 25 yards.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Fernando Mendoza Gets Extensive Reps With First-Team Offense
Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza got extensive reps with the first-team offense on Tuesday during the team's joint practice with the Houston Texans, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. Veteran Kirk Cousins would go first, but Mendoza subbed in for a few team periods. The first overall pick from Indiana is gaining steam to potentially steal the starting gig from Cousins to begin the 2026 regular season, and he looked like a future star in his NFL debut in last Thursday's preseason loss to the Arizona Cardinals, going 10-for-16 passing for 97 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. He also had six yards rushing. Cousins will most likely open the year as the Raiders' starter under center, but if Mendoza continues to impress, he will get his shot sooner rather than later. Fantasy managers in single-year leagues must still temper expectations, as Mendoza could face a steep learning curve with a weak collection of receivers if he is making starts in 2026.
Source: The Athletic - Sam Warren
Source: The Athletic - Sam Warren
Jeremiyah Love Won't Need Surgery on his Ankle
Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) does not need surgery on his high-ankle sprain, head coach Mike LaFleur told Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. Love, the third overall pick in April from Notre Dame, suffered a high-ankle sprain in Thursday's preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders and is unlikely to play in the team's final two preseason contests. The good news is that the 21-year-old do-it-all back will not need surgery, and the Cardinals are hopeful that he will be ready to make his regular-season NFL debut in Week 1 versus the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 13. Arizona's RB room is pretty banged up right now with Love, James Conner (foot), and Trey Benson (knee) all nursing injuries, leaving more work for Tyler Allgeier to close out training camp and the preseason. Love easily has the most short- and long-term upside of all the Cardinals' RBs, but reports have suggested that he might be more of a featured back in his rookie season instead of an every-down one. Still, he is going to come off the board in the early rounds of most fantasy drafts as at least a high-end RB2 in what is expected to be a run-heavy offense in 2026 under LaFleur.
Source: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
Source: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
Colts Expect Alec Pierce to be Ready by Week 1
Andrew Moore of Sports Illustrated reports that the Indianapolis Colts are "still happy" with wide receiver Alec Pierce's (ankle) progress from offseason ankle surgery and "expect him to be ready for Week 1." The team's signing of veteran wideout Keenan Allen on Monday night "has nothing to do" with Pierce's recovery. Pierce had surgery on his left ankle and remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list at training camp. The 26-year-old is not expected to return during camp, yet the Colts think he will still be recovered in time to take the field in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 13. Without Pierce in the fold, Josh Downs has stepped up as the Colts' top wideout, with tight end Tyler Warren also seeing plenty of run as a top target for quarterback Daniel Jones. Pierce has led the NFL in yards per catch in each of the last two seasons and broke out in 2025 with a 47-1,003-6 line in 15 games played, but fantasy managers should be concerned about his chances of an encore after missing valuable time this offseason, especially now that Allen is in the mix. He has fallen to No. 50 in RotoBaller's WR rankings for the 2026 campaign.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Andrew Moore
Source: Sports Illustrated - Andrew Moore
Jayden Higgins Exits Tuesday's Practice Early
Houston Texans second-year wide receiver Jayden Higgins (undisclosed), who has been the team's most impressive player in training camp, exited Tuesday's practice early due to an undisclosed injury, according to Cole Thompson of Texans Wire. Higgins was on the ground in pain but was able to get up on his own. He headed to the locker room for further evaluation, and he is unlikely to return for the rest of the day. We will have more information on Higgins' injury once more details emerge, but this is concerning for the Texans' offense. The 23-year-old second-rounder in 2025 from Iowa State enters his second year in the NFL as the leading candidate for WR2 duties across from WR1 Nico Collins after catching 41 of his 68 targets for 525 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in his first year in the league. If Higgins' injury is not serious, he will be a nice second-year breakout target in the later rounds of fantasy drafts in 2026. Stay tuned for more details on his injury and how long he might be out.
Source: Texans Wire - Cole Thompson
Source: Texans Wire - Cole Thompson
Caleb Douglas Back at Practice on Tuesday After Injury Scare
Miami Dolphins rookie third-round wide receiver Caleb Douglas (lower body) is back at training camp practice on Tuesday after a little injury scare on Monday, according to David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Douglas worked with the starters in the preseason opener last Friday against the Washington Commanders and caught one of his two targets for a 28-yard gain. Nobody is expecting much of the Dolphins' new offense led by QB Malik Willis, but there is plenty of opportunity for Douglas to seize a starting role in 2026 in his first year in the NFL. Right now, Jalen Tolbert and Malik Washington are the team's top pass-catchers, with Douglas competing with Tutu Atwell and fellow third-round rookie Chris Bell (knee) for the WR3 role. Douglas had over 800 receiving yards in each of his final two seasons in college at Texas Tech and 13 total touchdowns in 2024 and 2025. He will probably go undrafted in most shallow fantasy leagues, but he's worth a look as a late-round flier in deeper formats for his opportunity alone in a weak WR room in Miami.
Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel - David Furones
Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel - David Furones
Cade Otton Out With Undisclosed Injury on Tuesday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (undisclosed) is out of training camp practice again on Tuesday with an undisclosed injury, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Auman does not think that Otton will be cleared to play with the rest of the starters in the second preseason game this Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 27-year-old should be considered day-to-day for now. Otton caught a career-high-tying 59 passes on 81 targets for 572 yards and just one touchdown in 16 starts for the Bucs in 2025 in his fourth year in the NFL. The former fourth-rounder from the University of Washington could see a larger target share in 2026 if receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) is not ready for the start of the regular season, although Otton still profiles as more of a touchdown-dependent, low-end TE2 in fantasy football leagues. Otton's career year came in 2024, when he caught 59 passes for 600 yards and four touchdowns on 87 targets to finish as the TE11 in half-PPR formats. There might be more opportunities for spike weeks this year, though, with future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans no longer in town.
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Source: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
Jaylin Noel Returns to Practice on Tuesday
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel (hamstring, finger) is back at training camp practice on Tuesday, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Noel was expected to be sidelined for a few weeks with hamstring and finger injuries, but he was seen in full pads without a no-contact uniform on, a pleasant surprise for Texans fans. The Texans will still likely ease the 23-year-old second-year wideout back into practice, and it is unclear if he will be cleared to play in the second preseason game this Thursday against the Las Vegas Raiders. The former third-rounder from Iowa State is battling for WR3 duties going into his second year in the NFL, and how much of a role he has in the passing game could depend on the recovery of Tank Dell, who missed all of 2025 with a serious knee injury. Noel took a back seat to fellow receiver Jayden Higgins last year, catching 26 of 35 targets for 292 yards and two touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. He is going undrafted in standard 12-team fantasy leagues and is currently ranked as the No. 118 WR at RotoBaller.
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
Jordan Love Will Play on Friday Against Denver
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love will play in Week 2 of the preseason against the Denver Broncos, head coach Matt LaFleur told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Love also played the opening drive of the Packers' first preseason game, so this will be the second week in a row he sees the field. LaFleur noted that several offensive starters will play, so it will be good for Love to get some reps with members of the first-team offense. The 27-year-old is looking to improve upon a modest 2025 campaign in which he threw for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He was the QB15 last year, but he's just a few years removed from his QB5 finish in 2023, so managers would like him to return to that level of play. The good news is that Love should have a stronger supporting cast this year. Matthew Golden is trending toward making a Year 2 leap, Christian Watson is on the precipice of a career year, and Tucker Kraft (knee) will hopefully be healthy for the full season.
Source: Matt Schneidman
Source: Matt Schneidman
Garrett Wilson Returns From Illness on Tuesday
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (illness) returned to training camp practice on Tuesday after sitting out on Monday due to an illness, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday. Wilson took part in the team's preseason opener last Friday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, catching two of his three targets for 32 yards while playing 11 offensive snaps. It remains to be seen if the 26-year-old will suit up for the second preseason contest this Friday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Going into his fifth year in the NFL, the former 10th overall pick from Ohio State is the Jets' unquestioned WR1 in a new offense led by veteran quarterback Geno Smith. Wilson has never had high-end QB play in his first four years in the league, but he has produced three 1,000-yard seasons in his three healthy campaigns. He played in only seven games in 2025 due to an injury, finishing with 36 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns. Wilson is an obvious bounce-back candidate in 2026 if he plays a full season, and he should have a solid fantasy floor as a WR2 target.
Source: Newsday - Al Iannazzone
Source: Newsday - Al Iannazzone
