SI.com's Corbin K. Smith reports that Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny "showed up for camp in peak condition." The RB reportedly credits running sprints in the sand for "his improved conditioning and health," particularly in his surgically repaired knee and hamstrings. We'll see what comes of further camp reports on Penny and then any preseason action. But signs have pointed to the late-2021 stud getting 1st shot to lead this year's backfield in touches -- ahead of 2nd-round rookie Kenneth Walker.
Cardinals WR Marquise Brown is on the non-football injury list with a "tweaked" ankle he suffered last week, HC Kliff Kingsbury said Wednesday. It was previously reported that Brown was dealing with a hamstring injury. An ankle is actually less worrisome, but we'll see when Brown is able to get back to practice.
Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott admitted that he was a little nervous about the status of his right PCL injury early in the offseason. "But by the time OTAs hit, I was back to 100 [percent]," he said. Elliott suffered that injury in Week 4 last season, so it's fair to assume he was never at full strength the rest of the way. It's certainly possible he has a more efficient season in 2022.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers said Wednesday that he thinks Allen Lazard "is ready to make a jump and be a #1 receiver." It's not the 1st time Rodgers has talked up Lazard this offseason. The advanced metrics aren't as kind to Lazard, but we know how important chemistry and trust is with Rodgers. If he's going to target Lazard like a true #1 WR, he could certainly deliver a nice profit at his WR46 ADP.
Robert Mays of The Athletic recently spent a couple of days at Rams training camp, and here was his "main takeaway" from the time: "The staff here is in love with Allen Robinson. From his approach in meetings to what he can give them in this offense. His route tree and where he can line up are more varied than they'd even hoped. Potential monster year incoming." We're not quite sure a "monster year" will be in order, given that incumbent #1 WR Cooper Kupp is coming off his own monster year (plus other talent on hand). But Robinson has undoubtedly landed in a good situation. And we're at least on board with liking him in fantasy football drafts.
Seahawks HC Pete Carroll confirmed to reporters after practice Wednesday that WR D.K. Metcalf is sitting out practices in hopes of landing a contract extension -- and not because of lingering effects from his winter foot surgery. "We are right there," Carroll said, referring to the negotiations. We'll keep an eye on Metcalf's status.
The Saints have placed LB Pete Werner on the non-football injury list. We haven't seen specifics on the injury, but John Sigler of Saints Wire reports that it's "minor." The 2nd-year LB has a shot at earning a full-time role but is not a lock for 3-down duty.
Commanders DE Chase Young opened training camp on the physically unable to perform list. Young is still working back from the ACL tear that ended his 2021 season. He told reporters Tuesday, however, that "everything is going as planned," according to the team website. We'd bet on Young being ready for the regular season.
The Broncos placed DE Randy Gregory on the physically unable to perform list ahead of training camp. Gregory is returning from shoulder surgery but is expected to be ready for the season. The large contract ($28 million guaranteed) that Denver gave him in free agency says the team assumes he'll be just fine.
The Falcons opened training camp with LB Deion Jones on the physically unable to perform list. Jones is working back from shoulder surgery that kept him out of the offseason program. The team said at the time that it expected him to be ready for the start of training camp. We'll see how long the veteran stays on the PUP. (Atlanta can activate him at any point.)
Commanders RB Antonio Gibson worked on a side field on Wednesday as he recovers from a hamstring injury. HC Ron Rivera said they'll "ramp up" Gibson and slowly work him back into practice. This injury sounds minor, but Gibson has had trouble staying healthy over his first 2 NFL seasons. We'll keep an eye on him.
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson ran with the 1st-team offense on Wednesday, while RB Damien Harris was with the 2s, according to multiple sources in attendance. It's the 1st day of Patriots training camp, so we're not overreacting or even adjusting projections for the backfield yet. But it's a situation to keep a close eye on through the rest of camp and preseason action.
Per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Packers WR Christian Watson underwent “minor” knee surgery in June. "I think there was kind of a thought process [of] do you want to try to push through the season and finish this after the season or should we just go ahead and do it now?" Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said. "And we just did it now. So he'll miss a little bit of time in camp, but it's nothing long term." Any missed time alongside Aaron Rodgers figures to hurt Watson’s early-season outlook. We’ll keep an eye out for a return date, but the rookie was never a redraft priority.
Saints WR Michael Thomas (ankle) was activated from the PUP list and practiced on Wednesday. Here's video proof. "Thomas moved well," insider Nick Underhill tweeted. "No limp. Participated in individual, routes on air. No full team work yet." We'll keep a close eye on Thomas over the next few weeks -- and see where his ADP goes. He's sunk all the way to WR41 in recent Underdog ADP.
Giants WR Kadarius Toney (knee) is ready for the start of training camp. He had minor knee surgery earlier this offseason and was limited in OTAs. But it should be a non-issue going forward. Toney remains an exciting pick at his WR47 ADP.
Cowboys WR Michael Gallup (knee) has been place on the PUP list. No surprise as he continues to recover from early-February surgery to repair a torn ACL. We'll see if Gallup remains on the PUP list to start the season, which would cost him the first 4 weeks. Owner Jerry Jones admitted earlier this offseason that Gallup is iffy for Week 1.
We know that RBs Ken Walker and Rashaad Penny will duke it out for early-down work in the Seahawks' backfield this season. But The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar believes passing downs will go to either DeeJay Dallas or Travis Homer. "Dallas is arguably the best pass-catching running back on the roster and Homer, who is in the final year of his rookie deal, is the best pass protector among the tailbacks," Dugar writes. It makes some sense considering neither Walker nor Penny is an accomplished pass-catcher. A 3-man committee backfield in a bad offense behind a bad offensive line sounds like a nightmare fantasy scenario.
Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire was out on the field and doing "everything" in Wednesday's training-camp practice, according to Arrowhead Pride's Pete Sweeney. Edwards-Helaire was placed on the PUP list on Tuesday, but it looks like he's already been removed. Sweeney did notice a compression sleeve on CEH's left leg, so that'll bear monitoring going forward.
Giants TE Daniel Bellinger (quad) has evidently been activated from the PUP list. He was on the field for the start of Wednesday's training-camp practice -- and running with the 1st-team offense. At this point, the rookie looks like the favorite to open the season as the Giants' starter, ahead of veterans Ricky Seals-Jones and Jordan Akins. Bellinger is still just a late-round fantasy flier in what figures to be a WR-centric passing game.
Bears LB Roquan Smith has reported to training camp, despite a report that he planned to hold out. The team has placed him on the physically unable to perform list, however, and we have yet to see a specified injury. Smith is in the final year of his rookie contract and seeking an extension, but it doesn't sound like the 2 sides have been close. We'll see where this apparent "hold in" goes.
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