RADIO
Puka Nacua Not Spotted at Practice on Thursday
ESPN's Sarah Barshop did not spot Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (groin) at training camp practice on Thursday. It doesn't come as much of a surprise after Nacua was pulled from Tuesday's practice as a precaution with a minor groin injury. ESPN's Adam Schefter said on Wednesday that the Rams could keep Nacua out for "a few days," and he almost certainly won't be available to suit up in the preseason opener on Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Barring a setback with his groin, Nacua should be all systems go for a Week 1 showdown in Australia against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers in early September. The 25-year-old former fifth-rounder in 2023 from BYU has quickly become one of the best receivers in the NFL through three seasons, making two Pro Bowls and accumulating 4,191 receiving yards, 313 catches, and 19 touchdowns in 44 regular-season games for the Rams. Nacua is the team's undisputed top target for quarterback Matthew Stafford, and he's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 2 fantasy WR as he enters his fourth year in the league.
Source: ESPN.com - Sarah Barshop
Source: ESPN.com - Sarah Barshop
Bears' "Sole Focus" is on Building New Stadium in Indiana
Chicago Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren said the organization's "sole focus in this point in time" is building a new stadium and development in Hammond, Indiana, according to Jonathan Jones of The Athletic. Sites for the new stadium are still being explored, though, and conversations with the state of Illinois continue. The Bears' new stadium search has now been ongoing for around five years after the announced plans in September of 2021 to purchase the 326-acre Arlington Park property in northwest suburban Arlington Heights, the former site of Arlington International Racecourse. The sale was finalized in 2023, but the following year, Warren and team officials held a press conference announcing a proposal to build a new stadium on the lakefront in Chicago, just south of Soldier Field. Stadium discussions stalled in the city and suburbs, which led to Indiana lawmakers stepping up their efforts to entice the Bears to move over state lines to Northwest Indiana.
Source: The Athletic - Jonathan Jones
Source: The Athletic - Jonathan Jones
Dontayvion Wicks Looking Like Eagles' WR2 in Training Camp
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks keeps making noise in training camp. John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia called Wicks the Eagles' WR2 on Thursday and said he was "outstanding again" before highlighting another connection with Jalen Hurts. Wicks beat cornerback Riq Woolen for a touchdown on the play, talked a little trash afterward and then celebrated with Hurts. This hasn't been a one-day flash, either. Wicks has been making plays throughout camp, including a one-handed grab earlier this month, and Philadelphia has him with the starting group on its first unofficial depth chart. The Eagles acquired him from Green Bay in April after he caught 30 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns last season. He has 108 catches for 1,328 yards and 11 scores through three NFL seasons. With A.J. Brown now in New England, there was always going to be room for another receiver to step forward. So far, Wicks looks like he is doing exactly that.
Source: John Clark
Source: John Clark
Barion Brown Draws Comparison to Former Saints Wideout
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Barion Brown received a pretty notable comparison from Chris Olave on Thursday. According to Erin Summers, Olave said Brown reminds him a lot of former Saints receiver Rashid Shaheed, adding that the two are "basically the same player." Brown came to New Orleans as a sixth-round pick after finishing his college career with 175 catches for 2,060 yards and 12 touchdowns. His return work stands out even more. Brown averaged 29.4 yards on 65 kickoff returns and took six of them for touchdowns, an SEC career record. He has also been making plays as a receiver in camp, with Kellen Moore praising his progress earlier this month and the Saints noting that Brown was on the receiving end of several deep balls early in camp. New Orleans has plenty of competition at receiver, including Chris Olave, first-round pick Jordyn Tyson, Devaughn Vele and fourth-round pick Bryce Lance. Brown may not have an immediate redraft role, but he is giving dynasty managers something to watch.
Source: Erin Summers
Source: Erin Summers
Caleb Williams to Sit Out of Preseason Opener
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said that the team will sit "a number" of their starters in their preseason opener on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns, which includes quarterback Caleb Williams, who will not play, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN. Johnson could very well rest Williams for the entire preseason as he heads into his third year as the team's starter in 2026. With the 24-year-old sitting this weekend, QBs Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum, and Miller Moss should all see playing time against the Browns. In his second NFL season in 2025, Williams, the former first overall pick out of USC, took a step forward with 3,942 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions in 17 starts after he took a league-high 68 sacks as a rookie. He also added 383 rushing yards and three rushing TDs to finish as a top-10 fantasy signal-caller. Even though Williams lost receiver DJ Moore to an offseason trade, the third-year QB has plenty of weapons to work with, and he has the overall athleticism to take another step forward in Johnson's system with potential to become a high-end QB1 sooner rather than later. RotoBaller has Williams ranked as the QB8 for 2026.
Source: ESPN.com - Courtney Cronin
Source: ESPN.com - Courtney Cronin
Kyler Murray Showing Strong Chemistry With Top Receiver
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver Justin Jefferson have given the offense some encouraging signs during training camp. MLFootball said the two have "looked elite together," and there have been several plays to back up the growing chemistry. Earlier in camp, Murray gave Jefferson a chance on a deep ball into double coverage during a two-minute drill, and Jefferson went up between two defenders before taking it into the end zone. Murray also found him for about 20 yards on a high-pointed curl Tuesday, the same day he was officially named Minnesota's starting quarterback. Jefferson is coming off a down year by his standards, finishing 2025 with 84 catches for 1,048 yards and only two touchdowns. Murray played just five games for Arizona last season before a foot injury ended his year. There is a long way to go before camp connections mean anything on Sundays, but Murray and Jefferson getting comfortable with each other this quickly is a good start.
Source: MLFootball
Source: MLFootball
Chiefs Lead Polymarket Odds for Tyreek Hill
Free-agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) continues to be connected to his former team, but the latest link to the Kansas City Chiefs comes from a prediction market rather than an NFL report. According to NFL Rumors, Kansas City is currently the leading team on Polymarket's market for where Hill will play in 2026. The Chiefs are only around 12%, however, so this is hardly an indication that a reunion is close. Hill remains unsigned after Miami released him in February and is still working his way back from the major left knee injury he suffered last September. The 32-year-old said in July that he still had "no power" in the leg and has not announced a timetable for his return. Kansas City was reportedly planning to monitor Hill's recovery earlier in the offseason, but there has been no verified indication that a deal is currently in the works. For now, the Chiefs connection remains speculation rather than a developing transaction.
Source: NFL Rumors
Source: NFL Rumors
Hollywood Brown Gets Extra Work After Practice
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Hollywood Brown put in some extra work with quarterback Jalen Hurts following Thursday's practice. According to Jeff McLane, Hurts and Brown stayed behind to work specifically on an out route into the end zone. Earlier in 7-on-7 drills, a Hurts pass intended for Brown was intercepted, though there was no indication that Brown was responsible for the turnover. The veteran joined Philadelphia on a one-year deal in March after catching 49 passes for 587 yards and five touchdowns with Kansas City last season. Brown has made some plays during camp, but McLane described his overall showing as underwhelming earlier this week. The Eagles expected Brown to be heavily involved in the receiver rotation this summer, so the extra work with Hurts is notable as the two continue trying to sharpen their timing before the season.
Source: Jeff McLane
Source: Jeff McLane
Ricky Pearsall Officially Undergoes Knee Surgery
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) underwent season-ending surgery for his PCL injury to his right knee, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. In Pearsall's social-media post, the former first-rounder said he had never missed a game due to a football injury in his entire career at any level. The 49ers expect Pearsall to miss anywhere from six to 12 months, and he's already been ruled out for the entire 2025 season. The 25-year-old played in just 20 games (13 starts) in his first two years in the NFL due to injury, including only nine starts last year. He's recorded 67 catches on 99 targets for 928 yards and three touchdowns in his 20 regular-season games. It's unclear if Pearsall will be ready for the start of training camp and the regular season in 2027. Pearsall's redraft and dynasty/keeper value has hit rock bottom. In his absence in 2026, rookie second-round receiver De'Zhaun Stribling will have an opportunity to carve out a larger role alongside veterans Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel Sr., and Christian Kirk.
Source: The San Francisco Standard - David Lombardi
Source: The San Francisco Standard - David Lombardi
Zay Flowers Returns to Team Drills on Thursday
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (quadriceps) returned to team drills at training camp practice on Thursday, according to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Banner. The Ravens held Flowers out of team drills earlier this week due to a minor left-quad contusion, but he's back in team drills now. Even though he appears to be back to full health, the Ravens are expected to hold their top wideout out of the preseason opener this Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 25-year-old former 22nd overall pick from Boston College had a career-high 1,211 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 17 starts in 2025 for his second straight 1,000-yard campaign in his third year in the NFL. Flowers is without question Baltimore's WR1, and he could have an even higher target share in new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle's scheme in 2026. Especially in PPR leagues, Flowers has a high fantasy floor as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 target in upcoming drafts.
Source: The Baltimore Banner - Jonas Shaffer
Source: The Baltimore Banner - Jonas Shaffer
Jordyn Tyson Suffers Minor Hamstring Injury on Thursday
New Orleans Saints rookie first-round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) suffered what is believed to be a minor hamstring injury in training camp practice on Thursday, according to Nick Underhill and Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. It's not a serious injury for Tyson, but it's also not ideal as he looks to gear up for his first NFL season. The 22-year-old also had his reps managed during the offseason program due to a hamstring issue that occurred before the NFL Draft in April. The Arizona State alum had an injury-plagued collegiate career as well, so this is definitely not ideal news with the regular season around a month away. If healthy, Tyson is expected to carve out a role as the Saints' WR2 in his first NFL campaign behind Chris Olave in an up-tempo offense under head coach Kellen Moore, giving Tyson plenty of fantasy value in Year 1. But given his injury history and the fact that he lost valuable developmental reps this offseason, fantasy managers in redraft leagues should consider him more of an upside WR3/flex target than a strong WR2 choice in upcoming drafts.
Source: NewOrleans.Football - Nick Underhill
Source: NewOrleans.Football - Nick Underhill
Patrick Mahomes Will Not Play in Preseason Opener
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) will not play in the team's preseason opener on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Andy Reid told Matt McMullen of the team's official website. With Mahomes sitting, Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier, and Chris Oladokun will split up the game under center. Mahomes has been participating in all 11-on-11 work in training camp as he recovers from a torn ACL and LCL in his knee last December, but the Chiefs are in no rush to throw the 30-year-old veteran into a preseason game, especially the first one. Barring a setback with his knee, Mahomes looks to be on track to suit up for the Week 1 showdown against the division-rival Denver Broncos on Monday night on Sept. 14. It will be a pretty tough first matchup for the two-time MVP as he and the Chiefs look to bounce back from missing the postseason entirely in 2025. Mahomes and KC's offense are looking for more explosiveness, and coming off major knee surgery, Mahomes is better off drafted as a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 this year with some question marks about his mobility going forward.
Source: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen
Source: Chiefs.com - Matt McMullen
Ja'Tavion Sanders Might Have to Battle to Keep his Job
ESPN's Mike Kaye writes that Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders "might need to battle to keep his job" in Carolina after the addition of veteran Darren Waller on a one-year deal on Wednesday. Sanders has struggled with ankle injuries over the last two seasons and had surgery for his most recent ankle injury last season. The Panthers kept Sanders, Mitchell Evans, Tommy Tremble, and James Mitchell on their 53-man roster in 2025, but with Waller now on board, a dynamic shift could be coming to the team's TE room. Evans and Tremble are traditional TEs, with Waller and Sanders primarily pass-catchers. The 34-year-old Waller will become the oldest non-specialist on the roster when he officially signs. Kaye observes that the Panthers entered Wednesday with just three non-specialists over 30 years old. Feleipe Franks is also held in high regard for his contributions on special teams, which could push Sanders off the roster at the end of the preseason.
Source: ESPN.com - Mike Kaye
Source: ESPN.com - Mike Kaye
Makai Lemon Missing Another Practice on Thursday
Philadelphia Eagles rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring) is missing his seventh straight training camp practice on Thursday due to a hamstring injury, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com. The good news is that Lemon was seen with a helmet on while catching passes from a JUGS machine on a side field on Thursday. Fellow wideout DeVonta Smith is also missing his seventh straight practice with a hamstring injury, and both pass-catchers are unlikely to play in the preseason opener on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens. With Smith and Lemon sidelined, Dontayvion Wicks has cemented himself as the team's WR2 behind Smith and has displayed strong chemistry with quarterback Jalen Hurts as he heads into his first season with the Eagles after a trade sent Pro Bowler A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots. The 22-year-old Lemon should have a key role in the Eagles' new offense in 2026 after being taken in the first round, but Wicks' emergence and Lemon's hamstring injury have put a damper on his redraft fantasy stock. Lemon is now ranked as the No. 50 WR at RotoBaller and could get off to a slow start in the NFL.
Source: 94WIP.com - Eliot Shorr-Parks
Source: 94WIP.com - Eliot Shorr-Parks
Tyler Shough "Cooking" in Thursday's Practice
NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill reports that New Orleans Saints second-year quarterback Tyler Shough is "cooking" during training camp practice on Thursday. Shough is apparently picking up where he left off this summer after an impressive rookie campaign in the Big Easy in which he threw for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions in his first 11 games (nine starts) in the NFL. The 26-year-old second-rounder from the University of Louisville immediately connected with WR1 Chris Olave and benefited from head coach Kellen Moore's up-tempo offense to go 5-4 as a starter as a rookie. The Saints added running back Travis Etienne Jr. and rookie first-round receiver Jordyn Tyson to the offense, potentially helping Shough to a breakout in his sophomore season in the NFL. To do so, Shough will need to improve his deep passing game, but he has the rushing ability to be a strong QB2 for fantasy managers in 2026.
Source: NewOrleans.Football - Nick Underhill
Source: NewOrleans.Football - Nick Underhill
