"I'm fine," Patriots RB Damien Harris told the media after appearing to injure his left knee late in Sunday's win over the Steelers. Just the fact that he was allowed to speak with the media is a good sign that his injury (if there is one) isn't serious. We'll keep an eye on Harris this coming week, but he should be available for Week 3 vs. Ravens.
For the 2nd straight game, WR Curtis Samuel led all Commanders in targets Sunday. He drew 9 in the 36-27 loss to Detroit, catching 7 for 78 yards and a TD. (Samuel added a carry for 21 yards.) WR Terry McLaurin checked in 2nd, catching 4 of his 8 targets for 75 yards. J.D. McKissic rebounded from a quiet Week 1 to rank 3rd with 7 targets, catching all of them for 54 yards. WR Jahan Dotson and TE Logan Thomas garnered 5 looks apiece and each caught a TD.
Patriots RB Damien Harris appeared to injure his left knee late in Sunday's win over the Steelers. He was able to hobble off the field but was in obvious pain. Stay tuned for an update. RB Rhamondre Stevenson would be the obvious beneficiary of Harris' absence.
Patriots RBs Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson each got carries on the 1st offensive possession of Sunday's loss to the Dolphins. They finished nearly even -- Harris 9, Stevenson 8 -- but Harris ran more efficiently. He averaged 5.3 yards per rush to Stevenson's 3.1 and added 10 receiving yards on 2 catches among 3 targets. (Stevenson caught both of his targets for just 2 yards.) Ty Montgomery played through his questionable tag and led the backfield with 4 targets but managed just 15 yards on 3 catches and lost 2 yards on his 2 carries. Expect this backfield to remain frustrating for lineup-setting.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that the Steelers will give QB Mitchell Trubisky a "long look" as the starter. 1st-round rookie QB Kenny Pickett had a strong preseason, but according to Rapoport, the Steelers would like this to play out like it did for Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, with Trubisky starting all year and Pickett taking over in 2023. We'll see if Trubisky can play well enough to make that happen. We're still betting on seeing Pickett this year.
The Bills have agreed to a 4-year extension with TE Dawson Knox, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Buffalo had already made it clear that Knox would be the lead TE heading into the season. This further displays the team's belief in the 4th-year player, who had been in the final year of his rookie deal.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin officially named QB Mitch Trubisky the starter for Sunday's opener vs. the Bengals. He played well enough in the preseason to hold off a hard-charging Kenny Pickett. “We're really comfortable with what Mitch has shown us," Tomlin said. We're still expecting Pickett to take over at some point this season. In the meantime, Trubisky's rushing ability and weaponry gives him some QB2 appeal.
The Steelers' Week 1 QB depth chart reads: Mitchell Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett. HC Mike Tomlin hasn't announced his Week 1 starter, but it sure looks like it'll be Trubisky under center vs. Cincinnati. We're still expecting to see Pickett make multiple starts this season.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin announced Friday that QB Mitchell Trubisky will start the preseason finale. He did not specify how much each QB will play in the game. This doesn't necessarily mean Trubisky will open the regular season as starter. But it would seem to make sense for the team to get a look at Kenny Pickett to open the game if it planned to put him behind center in Week 1. We're certainly betting on the 1st-round rookie taking over at some point this season, and we'll see about the Week 1 plan. Signs points to Pittsburgh opening with the vet, though.
ESPN's Mike Reiss believes the Patriots might deploy both Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson as 3-down backs this season. The idea is that they'd rotate series -- like they did in the 2nd preseason game -- but stay on the field for 3rd downs. Reiss believes RB Ty Montgomery might play "when it's a two-minute offense type of situation." If Reiss is right, Harris and Stevenson would be just RB3s in fantasy lineups when both are healthy. But if either gets hurt, the other would become a strong fantasy play.
Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic writes that rookie WR Khalil Shakir "has been outstanding this summer, to the point that the Bills are likely trying to find ways to get him involved on game days." Shakir has apparently gone from being viewed as a slot receiver to getting a lot of reps on the outside. Shakir has a shot to hit the regular season as the #4 WR, or at least the backup to Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis. Perhaps more importantly, the impressive 1st camp makes it easier to like Shakir's long-term upside in dynasty leagues.
The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia writes that WR Khalil Shakir has enjoyed an “excellent” training camp. Buscaglia notes the rookie’s ability to play inside and outside while also pointing out some potential return value. Shakir, a 5th-round pick, will certainly start out buried on Buffalo’s depth chart, but he’s a name to file away in deep formats. Current projections have Josh Allen pegged for the 4th-most pass attempts league-wide.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin made it official Thursday by announcing that QB Mitchell Trubisky will start the preseason opener. He has been working as the lead QB throughout offseason practices and training camp, so this comes as no surprise. We'll see exactly how Mason Rudolph and Kenny Pickett work in behind Trubisky.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes Steelers QB Mitchell Trubisky is the “clear favorite” to start Week 1. Fowler points out Trubisky’s improved play in recent practices. HC Mike Tomlin even admitted that Trubisky would start should the team need to play a game today. Meanwhile, Fowler writes that “there’s not much feeling” the Steelers will “rush” rookie Kenny Pickett into the starting lineup. With Mason Rudolph turning some heads in camp, this situation might eventually see all 3 guys making starts in 2022.
Browns WR Amari Cooper returned to practice on Wednesday. He tweaked his right ankle on Monday, but it looks like a non-issue going forward.
Commanders HC Ron Rivera admitted to "some concern" about WR Curtis Samuel's "overall football conditioning and shape." Samuel, of course, basically missed the entire 2021 season with a lingering groin injury that required offseason surgery. He participated in OTAs, though, so this news is a bit of a surprise. “The ultimate goal is really the regular season more than anything else,” Rivera said. “This has nothing to do with last year’s groin injury or anything like that. This is just about the plan for him specifically.” We'll continue to keep a close eye on Samuel's status leading up to Week 1. He's just a late-round flier in fantasy drafts right now.
Browns WR Amari Cooper hurt his right ankle late in Monday's practice. HC Kevin Stefanski had no update afterward. "I haven't gotten the full report," he said, per Cleveland.com. "I'll update you guys tomorrow." Cooper did remain out with the team (not participating) for the end of practice. We'll watch for the update.
Bills beat writer Jay Skurski has “concern” over the team’s O-line situation. “I hate to say it, but [Josh] Allen’s ability to be healthy and play 17 games might be at stake here,” Skurski admits. Buffalo’s projected starters along the O-line have yet to practice together due to injuries (Rodger Saffold, Mitch Morse, Ryan Bates and Spencer Brown) and an absence for personal reasons (Dion Dawkins). We’re not adjusting projections, as this unit should all be together come Week 1. But that matchup — on the road against Aaron Donald and the Rams — might lead to a rocky start.
Bills TE Dawson Knox is "well ahead" of TE O.J. Howard based on the first few days of training camp, according to The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia. "Howard just hasn’t been a good pass catcher so far," Buscaglia writes. "Although he’s a good blocker, he’s not the best mover on routes and failed to secure a pair of catches he should have on Tuesday." There's still time for Howard to gain ground on Knox, but we'd only consider him a late-round option in TE-premium fantasy drafts at this point. Knox is fairly priced at his TE9 ADP.
NFL insider Albert Breer writes that the Bills view RB James Cook as “more than just a passing-down back.” Per Breer, the Bills see similarities between James and brother Dalvin. A smooth mover with strong hands, the Georgia product could quickly work his way into the RB2 (PPR) conversation. For now, he’s best drafted as an RB3/FLEX.
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