After skipping 2 weeks of voluntary OTAs, Bears WR Allen Robinson showed up for mandatory minicamp. On Wednesday, the veteran confirmed that he won’t be a training camp holdout. “That [contract negotiations] is not in my control,” Robinson said. “That is what it is. I’m comfortable with that. Obviously that [signing an extension] is a possibility. My main focus right now is to continue to get better.” The Bears have until July 15 to extend Robinson. The 27-year-old has rolled up 200-2,397-13 over the past 2 seasons.
Panthers HC Matt Rhule is “hoping” to “add some vertical element” to WR Robby Anderson’s game this season. That was Anderson’s forte across 4 years in New York, where his average depth of target ranged between 13.6 and 17.3 yards. Last year in Carolina, his tally stood at only 9.8 yards. “When you look at it, my game in New York was more down the field and vertical, but I didn’t have the intermediate opportunities,” Anderson said via the Charlotte Observer. “I think with Coach Rhule expressing that, and then you mix that with last year, I think that’s something to look forward to.” Anderson, coming off the board deep in WR3 territory, remains a value option in 2021 drafts.
In an interview with Cris Collinsworth, Bears HC Matt Nagy said “Andy [Dalton] is our starter … Justin [Fields] is our #2, and we’re going to stick to this plan.” Time will tell on that one. But if the plan holds and Dalton starts, he’ll face tough road tests early on: Week 1 at Rams, Week 3 at Browns. We still see Fields starting the majority of Chicago’s games this fall. See where the rookie sits in our QB Rankings.
Broncos HC Vic Fangio said he doesn’t see “any limits” with rookie RB Javonte Williams. “We could work him and Melvin, just spelling each other as we go, and one could go in and predominately do third-down stuff,” Fangio said via the Denver Post. “(The rotation) will work itself out and we think (Javonte’s) capable in all downs and distances and all situations for us. And I also believe that him and Melvin will be a good combination back there, along with Boone.” We’re not buying Boone as a real piece of Denver’s backfield rotation. But it’s nice to hear the early confidence in Williams, who the Broncos traded up to select in Round 2. He’s a potential RB2 right out of the gate.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow expects his surgically repaired left knee to be back to 100% for the start of training camp. "The knee still has a little ways to go, but my upper body, my right leg, everything else feels better than it ever has before," Burrow said. "When I'm on the field and executing, I'm playing better than I ever have before. So I'll continue the program we were on and get back to 100% before camp." Burrow was able to get on the field for minicamp. And while we thought he still looked a bit hobbled, he was moving around and throwing with nice velocity. We'll continue to keep a close eye on his progress leading up to Week 1.
Browns WR Odell Beckham took the field for minicamp practice on Tuesday for the first time since tearing his ACL last October. He was held out of full-team work but participated in individual drills without a brace or wrap on that surgically repaired knee. "He looked good to me," HC Kevin Stefanski said. It's still uncertain if Beckham will be a full-go for the start of training camp -- but he's trending toward being ready come Week 1.
Seahawks WR D'Wayne Eskridge is missing minicamp with a toe injury, HC Pete Carroll said Tuesday. We don't have any other details on the injury or when Eskridge will be back. It's obviously not ideal for a rookie to be missing practice reps. It's also worth noting that Eskridge missed time with 3 separate injuries over his 5 seasons at Western Michigan. We'll see when he's able to get back on the field.
Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny had knee surgery this offseason to "get something cleaned up," HC Pete Carroll said Tuesday. Penny isn't participating in minicamp, but the always-optimistic Carroll expects him to be ready for the start of training camp. Penny missed all but 3 games last season after tearing multiple ligaments in his left knee in December of 2019. It's a concern that he's still having issues with that knee. And at this point, it's unclear if he'll regain pre-injury form. Penny is just a late-round dart in fantasy drafts, while RB Chris Carson remains a safe bet for nice volume this season.
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton (knee) won't start training camp on the PUP list, HC Vic Fangio said. Sutton is still rehabbing last September's torn ACL and MCL. But he'll evidently at least be ready for some work at the start of camp and is on track to be on the field for the season opener. We'll continue to track his progress.
Bills RB Zack Moss has worn a red, non-contact jersey throughout offseason practices, per team beat writer Matt Parrino. It’s a reminder that he’s still working back from January ankle surgery. If he’s a full-go for training camp, Moss will be in a good spot to lead this backfield in touches ahead of Devin Singletary and Matt Breida.
Update: Per Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic, Bills HC Sean McDermott said the team is "looking forward to getting Moss back for training camp for drill work." McDermott added that Moss has done a "phenomenal job" with rehab.
According to Jon Machota of The Athletic, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott appears “on track” to be a “full participant” in training camp. Machota observed Dak moving well in OTAs, all while “never seeming to favor his surgically repaired right ankle.” HC Mike McCarthy added the following: “Physically, I think he’s right where he needs to be. He’s done everything. He hasn’t missed anything that’s been slated. He’s doing a lot of extra, frankly, so the anticipation would be for him to go every day (in training camp) is the outlook. We’re not naïve. It’s just like any player that comes back from injury, especially a major joint injury, the first year back there’s going to be some things you have to work through. But I would anticipate we’d start with him in full mode, get him into the team periods and get back to playing football.” Prescott, almost 28, remains a high-ceiling QB1.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Jets and WR Jamison Crowder have agreed to a renegotiated contract that will keep him with the team through this season. (Crowder would then hit free agency in spring 2022.) This would seem to be bad news for the 2021 outlook of 2nd-round pick Elijah Moore, who stands near-identical in size. But HC Robert Saleh says Moore can play any of the WR positions. So the biggest losers here might be Denzel Mims and Keelan Cole. Corey Davis clearly signed for starter money in free agency, and the Jets would have little reason to retain Crowder if they didn't view him as the top option in the slot. The upgraded WR corps lowers the target ceiling, though, for a wideout who has depended on volume to drive his fantasy value. The Jets offense will be interesting to track throughout the summer, given the bevy of changes to personnel and staff.
Patriots QB Cam Newton is expected to handle a "full complement of reps" at minicamp this week, according the The Boston Globe's Jim McBride. Newton suffered a bone bruise to the right hand at OTAs a couple of weeks ago, but it's obviously not a concern. Early reports out of New England have Newton a strong favorite to open the season as the starter, ahead of 1st-round rookie QB Mac Jones.
Jets HC Robert Saleh believes WR Elijah Moore is capable of playing all 3 receiver spots in the offense. “He’s a dynamic young man,” Saleh said. “One of the things that’s really been great for him, not that it’s been a surprise, but to see it actually happen, what makes those guys difficult to defend is he can line up as the Z, F or X (receiver). He can line up wherever you want, and he’s going to execute it at a very high level.” It's an important note because it means that Moore doesn't need the Jets to get rid of slot receiver Jamison Crowder in order to land an every-down role. Of course, if Moore keeps playing like he did in OTAs and minicamp, the Jets won't be able to keep him off the field.
Jaguars coaches are "buzzing" about WR Laviska Shenault, according to insider Hays Carlyon. Shenault has garnered heaps of praise from beat writers for his work in OTAs and minicamp -- and it sounds like Jacksonville's coaching staff has seen the same thing. Shenault turned in a promising rookie season and is getting a big QB upgrade in Trevor Lawrence this year. He's a 2021 breakout candidate.
Texans OC (and play-caller) Tim Kelly talked up a higher volume run game at OTAs. “I’ve got to do a good job calling more runs and letting our backs and line get into a rhythm as far as how that game’s being played out up front,” he said via the Houston Chronicle. “Each year you go into the offseason looking at different schematic ways and personnel ways you can improve, and we feel like we’ve done that.” RB coach Danny Barrett called the backfield a “healthy competition,” with presumed starter David Johnson, Mark Ingram, Phillip Lindsay and Rex Burkhead in the mix for touches. Houston clearly has room to run more after ranking 29th in run rate last season. Still, it’s tough to get behind any piece of this backfield — especially if Deshaun Watson isn’t under center.
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson talked about running a more up-tempo offense under new OC Shane Waldron, formerly of the Rams. "We have some nuances across the board that really challenge the defense, using the whole field and really expanding the offense," Wilson said via USA Today. "Just using everybody as much as possible, in all different formations and different looks and different tempos.” With Waldron on the Rams staff in 2020, Jared Goff ranked 3rd league-wide in no-huddle dropbacks, per Sports Info Solutions. So there’s some weight behind the sentiment. Entering the summer, Wilson checks in as a top-8 fantasy QB.
Cordarrelle Patterson is expected to provide "depth at RB" for the Falcons, according to insider Orlando Ledbetter. Patterson played 70% of his offensive snaps for the Bears last year at RB, finishing with 64 carries and 21 catches. Atlanta is weak at both RB and WR, so Patterson might end up contributing a bit at both spots this season. He's an intriguing late-round pick in best-ball drafts.
After watching spring practices, The Boston Globe's Ben Volin believes Patriots QB Mac Jones still has "a long way to go" to beat out QB Cam Newton for the starting job. Even with Newton sidelined the past week with his hand injury, Jones worked behind QBs Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer. “There’s a lot going on in my brain,” Jones admitted. “You’re trying to see everything; sometimes you see too much or whatever, and then you see nothing. I have to figure out in this offense how I can break down the plays, what’s my job, what I have to do on this specific play and slot the plays individually. I did that obviously good in college or whatever, but this is the pros and I have to figure out how to do it here. So that’s what I’m going to do.” We'll see how much ground Jones can make up in training camp and preseason action, but bet on Newton being under center for New England come Week 1.
Saints HC Sean Payton admitted that the team is still monitoring the ankle injury that cost WR Michael Thomas 9 games last year. “We still monitor it, pay attention to it, scan it, and all those things," Payton said. "He’s getting treatment and doing the things necessary. So, so far, so good.” It's slightly concerning that the issue isn't completely behind Thomas. But he's participating in minicamp, so the Saints obviously aren't too worried. Thomas remains a nice value pick in the 3rd round of fantasy drafts.
Search
