RADIO
Ted Hurst Looking Sharp in Tuesday's Joint Practice
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie third-round wide receiver Ted Hurst has been impressive during training camp this summer, and that continued during Tuesday's joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars, when he caught a 15-yard pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield while being matched up against cornerback Travis Hunter, according to Pewter Report. The 22-year-old from Georgia State didn't catch his lone target in Saturday's preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but he's been a rising name in camp with Emeka Egbuka (toe), Jalen McMillan (knee), and Tez Johnson (groin) all recently missing practice time with injuries. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder has a lot to like, but he was not exactly going up against high-end competition in the Sun Belt Conference in college. Hurst caught 127 passes for 1,965 yards and 15 touchdowns in his two seasons at Georgia State. If Egbuka, McMillan, and Chris Godwin Jr. are healthy, it might be tough for Hurst to stand out in his rookie campaign, but he is becoming a name to monitor in deeper fantasy football leagues in 2026.
Source: Pewter Report
Source: Pewter Report
Brian Thomas Jr. Appears to be Fine
Updating a previous report, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said that he thinks wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder) will be "alright" after he was shaken up following a catch during team periods at training camp practice on Tuesday, according to Jaguars reporter Mia O'Brien. It sounds like the Jaguars held Thomas out of the rest of team drills as a precaution to make sure that he will be good to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sept. 13. The 23-year-old could miss some practice time moving forward and probably will not suit up for the team's preseason finale this Friday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he should be ready to roll for the start of the 2026 season in early September. BTJ and the other Jags receivers have been overshadowed this summer by Parker Washington, but Thomas has also stood out as he looks to bounce back following a disappointing sophomore season in which he caught 48 passes for 707 yards and only two touchdowns following a 1,000-yard season and 10 TDs as a rookie. Thomas could end up being an excellent value pick in fantasy drafts as a WR3/flex in 2026.
Source: Mia O'Brien
Source: Mia O'Brien
TreVeyon Henderson Undergoing "Precautionary Tests" on his Ankle
New England Patriots second-year running back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) is undergoing some "precautionary tests" done on his right ankle, but he is walking and moving around fine, a league source told Christopher Price of The Boston Globe. Henderson's injury is being described as a lower-ankle issue that he suffered in training camp practice on Monday when he slipped on the turf. Before his injury, he was not expected to play in the preseason finale this Thursday against the Cleveland Browns. Price thinks that the next time we will see Henderson at practice will be in the days leading up to the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. It sounds like the Ohio State product will not have to miss time to begin the season, but we will keep a close eye on his status in the next few weeks. If he is limited or out for Week 1, Rhamondre Stevenson will become a must-start in fantasy lineups, with either Lan Larison or rookie Jam Miller having an expanded role as the RB2 for the Pats. Despite the injury, fantasy managers should still be targeting Henderson as an RB3/flex option with upside going into his second year in the NFL.
Source: The Boston Globe - Christopher Price
Source: The Boston Globe - Christopher Price
Alec Pierce Expected to Return to Practice This Week
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) is expected to return to practice this week if all goes to plan, head coach Shane Steichen told Stephen Holder of ESPN. The Colts will have to activate Pierce from the Physically Unable to Perform list before he is eligible to practice with the rest of the team. Pierce had a clean-up procedure on his ankle in April that prevented him from taking the field for the start of training camp, but if he returns this week, there's still a chance he could be ready for Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens in early September. The 26-year-old returning to action this week would give fantasy managers more reason to take a chance on the former second-rounder in upcoming drafts as a big-play threat in the Colts' offense. Pierce led the NFL in yards per catch in each of the last two seasons, had his first 1,000-yard campaign last year, and is set for a bigger role in the passing attack in 2026 with Michael Pittman Jr. now in Pittsburgh. He is currently ranked as the No. 48 wideout for fantasy purposes this year, but his stock could rise once he returns to practice.
Source: ESPN.com - Stephen Holder
Source: ESPN.com - Stephen Holder
Bhayshul Tuten Showing Big-Play Upside
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten continues to display big-play upside at training camp and got outside and loose for a touchdown in practice on Tuesday after taking a handoff from quarterback Trevor Lawrence in 11-on-11 team drills, according to Jamal St. Cyr of WJXT4 Sports. The 23-year-old has reportedly been catching more passes out of the backfield lately after LeQuint Allen Jr. (undisclosed) recently suffered an undisclosed injury, although Chris Rodriguez Jr. could be the team's second-best pass-catching option behind Allen. Tuten is the highest-ranked fantasy RB at RotoBaller (No. 26) because of his home run ability anytime he touches the football. The former fourth-rounder from Virginia Tech only had 83 carries for 307 yards (3.7 yards per carry) and five rushing touchdowns as a rookie in 2025, adding 10 catches for 79 yards and two more TDs in 15 regular-season games. The presence of Rodriguez and Allen will hurt Tuten's overall fantasy upside, but he is still the best overall upside option in the Jags' backfield.
Source: WJXT4 Sports - Jamal St. Cyr
Source: WJXT4 Sports - Jamal St. Cyr
Tyler Warren Could be Held Out of Practice This Week
Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren (groin) could be held out of training camp practice this week while he recovers from a groin injury that he suffered last week, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59. Warren did not play in the team's second preseason game on Saturday against the Atlanta Falcons after tweaking his groin in practice last Wednesday, but the Colts aren't too worried that the 24-year-old won't be available for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. The Colts are not taking any chances with one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the league, especially with receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) still on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Warren's injury is worth monitoring as the regular season approaches, but as of now, it should not dissuade fantasy managers from selecting him as a top-five player at the TE position. After being taken 14th overall last year out of Penn State, Warren caught 76 passes for 817 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games to finish as the TE6 in half-PPR scoring.
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
Malik Willis Making Visible Progress
The Miami Dolphins kicked off their final week of training camp practices on Monday, and after a summer of focus on fundamentals and technique, the progress made by quarterback Malik Willis was notable, according to team writer Travis Wingfield. During a short and rainy session, Willis impressed with his ability to get the ball out on time and in rhythm, showing continued development that only adds to his late-round fantasy appeal. On a small sample size of three career starts and some extended relief work with the Packers and Titans, Willis has been among the league's most efficient rushing quarterbacks, and if he can continue to progress as a passer, he possesses one of the highest fantasy ceilings to be found at the end of drafts. Currently coming off the board as the QB21, Willis has the ability to rack up points in a hurry and is a player who should not escape the final rounds of single-quarterback drafts.
Source: Travis Wingfield
Source: Travis Wingfield
Mike Washington Jr. Impresses While Working with First-Team Offense
Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. saw his most extensive action working with the first-team offense on Monday, filling in for Ashton Jeanty (ankle), who left Sunday's practice in dramatic fashion with an ankle injury. Following up his impressive performance in Thursday's preseason win over the Texans, Washington continued to make noise, hauling in a touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins during a red zone period and earning the praise of his offensive coordinator. "He works very hard every day," Andrew Janocko told the media. "He's on his craft all the time, and it's something that you see translate into the practice field. It's something that we keep pushing him [on] every single day." Washington's 7.9 yards per attempt across two preseason games leads all players with double-digit carries, and with Jeanty's unclear injury timeline providing the rookie with the potential to see starting work early in the year, he is a must-roster player coming out of 2026 drafts.
Source: Levi Edwards
Source: Levi Edwards
Brian Thomas Jr. Being Looked at by Trainers After Grabbing at His Shoulder
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder) came down with a touchdown catch from Trevor Lawrence on the first play of competitive 11-on-11s during Tuesday's joint practice with the Buccaneers, but Juston W. Lewis of the Florida Times-Union notes that he has been grabbing at his shoulder since and is being looked at by trainers after initially attempting to return to action. Part of one of the deepest positional units in the league, the Jaguars receiver room has been among the most dissected throughout training camp, and none of the team's top three receivers have gotten through the summer without ailment. Parker Washington (undisclosed) only recently returned to practice after missing several sessions with an undisclosed injury, and Jakobi Meyers (hand) was held out of Sunday's practice with a hand injury. The status of Thomas, who is RotoBaller's WR33, will now need to be monitored as the busiest drafting weeks of the fantasy season approach.
Source: Juston W. Lewis
Source: Juston W. Lewis
Skyler Bell Returns to Practice on Monday
Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Skyler Bell (groin) was back on the practice field on Monday after being sidelined for more than two weeks with a groin injury. Fortunate to have avoided serious injury throughout his four-year collegiate career, the absence was a new experience for Bell and one he was happy to put behind him. "I felt like a kid in a candy store," he told reporters after practice. "I've been out for a little minute. I haven't actually missed this much time ever in football, so it was just so good to be back out there with the guys." The fourth-round pick out of Connecticut had enjoyed a strong start to camp before the injury, but his time away will leave him playing catch-up, and it is unclear if he will participate in Buffalo's final preseason outing against the Steelers on Thursday. At RotoBaller's WR119, Bell is not a player who needs to be drafted, but his participation should be monitored early in the season as the Bills look to find production behind DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir.
Source: Mike Maynard
Source: Mike Maynard
New Study Reveals High Rate of CTE Among NFL Players
A study published on Tuesday by the British Medical Journal revealed that at least one in four NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy, as reported by ESPN. In a study of 878 players who appeared in at least one NFL game and died in that six-year period, at least 25% had CTE, a condition that can be diagnosed after death. Dr. Daniel Daneshvar, the study's lead author, says that the one-in-four estimate is on the "low end" and that the maximum possible prevalence of CTE was around 97%, but the true rate "is somewhere in the middle." The study also found that more than 90% of samples with Stage IV CTE were also diagnosed with dementia. The study is a reminder of the risks associated with America's most popular sport, and Daneshvar offers that some of that risk can be mitigated by eliminating hits during practices and preventing children from playing tackle football.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Dealing with Groin Injury
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) was limited in practice on Monday with an undisclosed injury, but head coach Dan Quinn clarified on Tuesday that the running back is dealing with a lower-body injury. According to Ben Standig, it is a groin injury but is not considered significant. Croskey-Merritt was spotted catching passes and jogging lightly on Tuesday, and he could be on his way to another limited practice. The second-year back led the Commanders with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries last year and added nine catches for 68 yards. He could return to full practice later this week and still be good for a regular workload in Week 1 against the Eagles, but his progress will definitely be important to monitor. Rachaad White (hamstring) is also working through an injury that isn't considered to be serious, leaving rookies Kaytron Allen and Robert Henry, along with veteran Craig Reynolds, as the Commanders' healthy running backs right now. Croskey-Merritt is the RB37 in RotoBaller's rankings, with White not far behind him at RB40. Watch carefully to see who is ready for Week 1, since both have good upside but also significant risk factors with their current injuries.
Source: Ben Standig
Source: Ben Standig
Kenny Gainwell Could Lead Tampa Bay in Receptions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell had an excellent training camp and is set up for a big role in the team's offense. Gainwell could even lead the team in receptions, according to Greg Auman, since he has been working so well as a receiving back out of the backfield this preseason. Gainwell will be working in a timeshare with Bucky Irving, with both backs as effective options as pass-catchers in space. Gainwell had 73 catches for 486 yards and three scores in 2025 with the Steelers, but he could be even more involved in Tampa, depending on how the timeshare shakes out. Right now, Gainwell is the RB38 in RotoBaller's rankings, but he could be a great RB3 or flex option if he gets more work in the offense, especially near the goal line. Gainwell and Irving are both volatile options with lots of upside to consider in fantasy drafts, since their roles are unclear despite obvious upside from each side of the timeshare.
Source: Greg Auman
Source: Greg Auman
Sean Tucker on the Roster Bubble?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker has had some fantasy football bursts in the past when given an opportunity, but now he may not be assured of a roster spot. The fourth-year running back out of Syracuse is battling with Josh Williams for the third spot on the running back depth chart behind Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell. Williams made a strong impression with eight carries for 27 yards and a touchdown in the first preseason game against the Jets, and he played ahead of Tucker in the second preseason game. Tucker did make an impact with 23 yards on five carries and the game-winning touchdown once he entered, but both running backs continued to look strong. Williams is a much cheaper option, which could give him the advantage if the Bucs only keep three running backs on the roster. Tucker and Williams have both shown enough to get a chance somewhere this season, and the Bucs could possibly still keep both on the roster. If not, where they land would dictate their potential fantasy value. The Bucs' backfield will remain one of the top roster battles to watch through the rest of the preseason.
Source: Matt Matera
Source: Matt Matera
Ashton Jeanty Not Believed to Have a Serious Injury, Uncertain for Week 1
Las Vegas running back Ashton Jeanty (ankle) suffered what many feared was a serious injury on Sunday in practice, but the team received positive news over the last few days about his status. According to the latest updates from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Jeanty's ankle injury is more of a low sprain than a high ankle sprain and is not considered to be a major injury. Despite the positive overall news, there is still a real chance Jeanty will not play in Week 1 against the Dolphins. The fact that he has any chance to play in Week 1 is a great sign for his fantasy managers, and even if he misses that game, he isn't expected to be out long-term or miss the entire season, as was initially feared. If Jeanty is sidelined for that contest, Mike Washington Jr. and Dylan Laube would likely split the workload, with Washington bringing significant sleeper potential after his promising preseason. This is definitely a situation to watch closely leading up to the season opener, but for now, Jeanty remains one of the highest-upside running backs available in fantasy drafts. In PPR leagues, he's the RB17 in RotoBaller's rankings, but for standard-sized leagues, he's a strong RB2 with RB1 upside if this injury proves to be just a preseason scare.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
