NFL Player News

The Bills have just three healthy DEs after the surprising move, so it’s likely they have someone lined up to take Powells’ place. They now have two open roster spots.

Ojulari was expected to take a second-year leap with the Cards after totaling four sacks and five TFLs as a rookie last season. The 2023 second-round pick reportedly suffered his injury during Friday’s training camp practice and was confirmed out for the season shortly after. Rookie Darius Robinson, who the team selected with the No. 27 overall pick in this year’s draft, will likely be tasked with filling a bigger role in Ojulari’s absence.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, a source told him Hopkins’ four-week absence is likely but not guaranteed, indicating that he could miss more time. Titans beat writer Paul Kuharsky reported earlier this week that Hopkins “could miss four to six weeks,” which appears to be in line with the team’s thinking. In his first season with the Titans, Hopkins posted a receiving line of 75-1057-7 while averaging 14.7 YPR — the third-highest average of his career. His absence could make life tough for Will Levis in what’s expected to be a revamped passing attack in 2024, but he still has Calvin Ridley, who could absorb a significant target share if Hopkins’ misses time in the regular season.

Former Chiefs passing-down specialist Jerick McKinnon handled 55.0 percent of third- and fourth-and-long snaps and 50.0 percent of the two-minute drill snaps last year. Adding the sizable, vacated role to Pacheco’s workload would be a significant boon to his 2024 fantasy prospects. Reid went on to say Pacheco “can run all the routes, he’s got great hands so... he can do [handle that role].” Pacheco has strong odds of sailing past his RB15 PPR finish from 2023.

The comments come as Laube competes for the Raiders’ primary passing-down-back and kickoff-returner roles. The former New Hampshire running back dominated FCS defenders both in the receiving and return games. He led the position in targets (88), receptions (68), receiving yards (708) and receiving touchdowns (seven) while also ranking No. 1 overall among FCS returners (min. 25 total returns) by averaging 33.9 yards and 0.7 missed tackles forced on kickoff returns. He is quietly in play as a late-round PPR sleeper.

Condotta reports a “source confirmed that Smith’s injuries are not considered significant, as first reported by ESPN Friday morning. But the team will know for certain once the test on his hip is completed Friday.” He carefully reiterated that it “is still the expectation that Smith won’t miss much time. But the team will have a firmer idea of all of Smith’s ailments after the hip imaging on Friday.” Smith appears highly likely to suit up for Week 1 but this remains a situation to monitor. Backup Sam Howell reportedly “took all of the snaps with the first team offense on Thursday... and did so during the early portion of Friday’s practice, as well.”

The report comes from NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. Haener is currently competing with fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler for the backup quarterback role, and while Derek Carr likely remains the starter through 2024, the team can save $30 million in 2025 cap money with a post-June 1, 2025 release. Establishing the preferred backup quarterback this preseason is no doubt important for the team’s long-term plans.

O’Connell stopped short of declaring an expected return-to-play date before saying the team wants Tonyan to “take part” in preseason play. Vikings coaches were undoubtedly hoping one of their veteran tight ends would establish himself as an early-season replacement for recovering starter T.J. Hockenson (ACL and MCL). Tonyan’s back issue leaves the team with Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt for now. Both players respectably averaged 1.50 yards per route run last year while earning 18.0-plus-percent target rates. The competition’s winner could have streaming viability in September.

Auman’s comments come three days after Todd Bowles smilingly told reporters McMillan is “having a great camp. He’s a good football player.” McMillan led the Washington Huskies’ pass-catching corps in both targets (118) and receptions (79) in 2022 before dealing with recurring MCL injuries in 2023. His evident return to form could yield a fantasy-friendly role in year one, making him an ideal late-round draft target.

This is the first we’ve heard about Jeudy’s injury. The veteran receiver didn’t log his first practice of training camp until Thursday and was able to log another limited session on Friday. In June, it was reported by Cabot that Jeudy was dealing with a non-descriptive “minor” injury, so it’s possible the June injury and the knee injury that’s limited him in camp are one and the same. The Browns acquired Jeudy from the Broncos earlier this offseason in exchange for 2024 fifth and sixth-round picks and signed him to a three-year, $58 million extension a week later. He’s expected to operate as the Browns’ primary slot receiver this season and could have some high-end WR3 value in PPR leagues if the target volume is there.

Petit-Frere was placed on the PUP list before the start of camp while rehabbing a knee injury. The 2022 third-rounder is expected to compete for the Titans’ starting right tackle job, a position he manned for all 16 games he appeared in as a rookie. An injury and suspension limited Petit-Frere to just three games last season, but he started in two of the three games he appeared in, with both starts coming at right tackle. Fourth-year tackle Dillon Radunz figures to have the inside edge on Petit-Frere at this time, but there’s still plenty of camp left to go.