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The Los Angeles Chargers placed rookie linebacker Junior Colson (illness) on the Non-Football Illness list on Wednesday. The specifics of Colson's illness/injury remain unclear, but it means that he won't be able to take part in on-field workouts for the start of training camp next week. The 21-year-old third-round pick back in April out of Michigan can be activated at any time during camp and could still be ready in plenty of time for the 2024 regular-season opener in September. Still, it's bad news for a young player trying to get up to speed going into his first NFL season. When healthy, Colson was expected to compete for the starting job at middle linebacker for the Bolts with both Eric Kendricks and Kenneth Murray having moved on in the offseason.

Updating a previous report, free-agent Randall Cobb is not officially retired from the NFL and is still open to playing if an opportunity arises, according to sources Thursday, July 18.

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Former Green Bay Packers and New York Jets WR Randall Cobb has retired from the NFL and accepted a position with the SEC Network as a studio analyst.

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Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith is entering a 'make-or-break' season, in the opinion of The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar, who notes Smith has a cap hit of $38.5 million in 2025 and will need to prove to the new coaching staff that he's worth having his contract reworked.

Fantasy Spin: Smith wasn't nearly as productive last year as he was in 2022, and he enters 2024 on the low end of QB2 territory despite a talented top-three receivers. Given that the Seahawks traded for QB Sam Howell, who started for the Washington Commanders last season, you can imagine Smith could be on a relatively short leash.

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Buffalo Bills right tackle Spencer Brown (shoulder) said at a youth football camp that he's co-hosting with tight end Dalton Kincaid that he'll be a full-go when training camp starts next week after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. Despite having offseason shoulder surgery, Brown managed to start in all 17 regular-season games in 2023 in his third year in the NFL for the first time in his career. He was originally a third-round selection (93rd overall) in the 2021 draft out of Northern Iowa and has started all but three of the 44 games he's appeared in over his three NFL campaigns. The 26-year-old could be eased into training camp practices this summer, but barring a setback with his surgically-repaired shoulder, he should be ready for Week 1 of the regular season as Buffalo's starting right tackle.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks recently received high praise from his teammate. During a sit-down with Bleacher Report, Packers quarterback Jordan Love said he believes Wicks is going to have a monster year. The second-year wideout totaled 39 receptions, 581 yards, and four touchdowns during his rookie season. Wicks has shown flashes of big-play ability, but the lack of a true No. 1 receiver does put more stress on Wicks and his teammates. The fact Love is saying these things about Wicks should mean that the young wideout will have an increased role next season. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation heading into camp. Wicks might be a sneaky late round option as fantasy draft season approaches.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans tight end Teagan Quitoriano (groin, oblique) has made a full recovery from his groin and oblique surgeries and is expected to be active for training camp next week, according to a league source. Quitoriano wasn't placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list, so that just confirms it. He could be eased into practices this summer, but barring a setback, he should be ready to go for the start of the 2024 regular season this fall. The 24-year-old was limited to seven games (five starts) in 2023 in his sophomore campaign due to injuries and was held to just two receptions for 33 yards. While he did have flashes in his rookie season, Quitoriano is a blocking-first tight end for the Texans and shouldn't be on the fantasy radar at all going into the 2024 campaign. In 17 career NFL games, he's been targeted just 16 times.

From RotoBaller

The Houston Texans placed fullback Andrew Beck (calf), cornerback D'Angelo Ross (undisclosed) and linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips (shoulder) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Wednesday, meaning they will not be ready to take part in the start of training camp next week. Beck strained his calf earlier this offseason and now won't be able to take part in practices to kick off the summer, but it doesn't necessarily mean he won't be ready for Week 1 of the regular season this fall. With Beck sidelined for the start of camp, Troy Hairston will get more repetitions as the club's fullback. The 28-year-old Beck played in 15 games (12 starts) in his first year with the Texans in 2023 and had 11 receptions for 55 yards and two touchdowns while adding five rushing attempts for three yards and another TD. He is not on the fantasy radar.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins was recently in the running for the league's top wide receivers. This is a well deserved mention after Collins put together a breakout campaign last season. He hauled in 80 receptions for nearly 1,300 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games. This performance earned him a three-year, $72 million extension this offseason. Collins is now one of the highest-paid players at his position. Recently, NFL executives, coaches, and personnel members were surveyed to determine the best wideouts in the league. Collins fell short but was an honorable mention. It's pretty impressive to see Collins up there after one outstanding campaign. It'll be interesting to see if Collins can replicate it with Stefon Diggs competing with him for targets next season.

From RotoBaller

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed linebacker Tyler Matakevich to a one-year deal. The veteran linebacker is a former seventh-round pick of the Steelers. He spent his first four seasons of his career with Pittsburgh. After that, Matakevich headed to the Buffalo Bills for the next four seasons. He recorded 23 tackles during his first season in Buffalo, but never surpassed that total over the next three seasons. Matakevich has been mainly playing on special teams lately. This is a depth signing as Matakevich will likely end up as a third or fourth string linebacker.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (shoulder) is expected to be ready for the beginning of training camp. Collins has been sidelined throughout the spring while he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. He's coming off a season where he recorded 80 receptions, 1,297 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns in 15 games. It was a breakout campaign that earned him a three-year, $72 million extension in the offseason. The hope is that Collins can build off his 2023 campaign after undergoing successful surgery. However, Collins could lose targets with Stefon Diggs coming to town. Collins will be stuck fighting for targets with Diggs and Tank Dell (ankle) who is making his way back from injury. Despite that, Collins should still be able to hold WR2 value heading into fantasy drafts.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (pac) has been placed on the physically unable to perform list to begin training camp. Both Kraft and center Zach Tom were placed on the PUP list after suffering torn pectoral muscles. Luckily, head coach Matt LaFleur said he doesn't expect either player to miss much of camp. Kraft will compete with Luke Musgrove for snaps as the starting tight end. The loss of snaps gives Musgrove a sight edge, but it doesn't sound like Kraft will be gone for too long. Musgrove is the favorite to be the starter, but Kraft could be a reliable second option.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers OT Donovan Jennings (undisclosed), TE Tucker Kraft (undisclosed), WR Alex McGough (undisclosed) and OT Zach Tom (undisclosed) were placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list Wednesday, July 17. The team also placed S Kitan Oladapo (undisclosed) on the Active/Non-Football Injury list.

From TheHuddle

Free-agent LB Tyler Matakevich (Bills) signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers Wednesday, July 17. Financial terms were not disclosed. The team also released S Jalen Elliott.

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Houston Texans WR Noah Brown (shoulder) is expected to be on the field at some point during training camp. He underwent shoulder surgery during the offseason.

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Free-agent S Justin Simmons (Broncos) said he wants to sign with a contender and is willing to wait for the right opportunity.

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Free-agent S Justin Simmons (Broncos) and S Quandre Diggs (Seahawks) have received interest from the Tennessee Titans.

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The Kansas City Chiefs placed defensive end Charles Omenihu (knee), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (triceps), offensive guard Joe Thuney (pectoral) and cornerback Jaylen Watson (undisclosed) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Wednesday. The team also placed defensive end B.J. Thompson (undisclosed) on the Non-Football Injury list and signed free-agent wide receiver Kyle Sheets. Omenihu suffered a torn ACL in the AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens and had surgery on his knee in February, so the 26-year-old will not be ready for the start of the 2024 season. Nnadi was injured in the wild-card win over the Dolphins, and it remains to be seen if he'll be ready for Week 1. Thuney is expected to be ready for Week 1 and will be KC's starting left guard when healthy.

From RotoBaller

It's highly probable that the Pittsburgh Steelers will label Cordarrelle Patterson as the Joker in his first year with the team. "Running back, kick returner, tackle, tight end I can do it all. Whatever they need me to do," Patterson said last month. The 33-year-old veteran floated from the RB room to the receiver room last year with the Atlanta Falcons under head coach Arthur Smith, who is now Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator. Patterson fully embraced the role in 2023 and was signed by the Steelers just hours after the NFL passed a new kickoff rule. He has returned 273 kicks in his career with an NFL-record nine touchdowns. Patterson was primarily a RB last year in Atlanta but had just 181 rushing yards and no TDs on 50 carries after posting a career-high 695 rushing yards in 2022. Pittsburgh hasn't offered clues on how they plan to use Patterson, but he'll most likely be used on kickoffs and as a depth option for the backfield.

From RotoBaller

Kansas City Chiefs rookie first-round wide receiver Xavier Worthy (hamstring), who suffered a hamstring injury and missed most of the offseason practices, will not start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Worthy is good to go but will be eased back in at practices this summer. He's not going to get a ton of reps early on, but he's healthy, which is big as he tries to establish chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes going into his rookie campaign. It's good news for the 21-year-old speedster, who isn't expected to be eased into the offense in Year 1. And with Rashee Rice likely facing a suspension, Worthy should be starting in three-wide sets right away, which makes him an intriguing late-round flier in fantasy drafts as a WR4/5 in a KC offense that is looking to bounce back after a down year in 2023.

From RotoBaller