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Ex-Raider Chandler Jones pleads no contest, may avoid jail time

Tue Jun 25 10:40am ET
Field Level Media

Former Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones may not face jail time after pleading no contest to a domestic violence charge.

He received a suspended 90-day jail sentence on June 17, however he will avoid time behind bars if he stays "out of trouble" for the next six months and has no contact with the victim "with the exception of family court orders," according to Clark County (Nev.) court documents.

Jones, 34, was arrested in October on one count of violating a temporary protection order for domestic violence, mere weeks after he was arrested on the same charge. The Raiders released him following the initial arrest.

Jones signed a three-year, $51 million deal with Las Vegas as a free agent in March 2022.

Jones recorded 38 tackles, 4.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries in 15 games (all starts) during the 2022 season, his first with the Raiders. His signature moment with Las Vegas came in Week 15 when he grabbed a New England Patriots lateral in the closing seconds and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown to give the Raiders an unlikely 30-24 victory.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Jones has 511 tackles, 112 sacks and 13 fumble recoveries -- including two returned for touchdowns -- in 154 career games (151 starts) with the Patriots (2012-15), Arizona Cardinals (2016-21) and Raiders.

Jones was a first-round draft pick (21st overall) by the Patriots in 2012 out of Syracuse.

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Player Notes
Kirk Cousins Jul 25 12:10pm CT
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said that quarterback Kirk Cousins (Achilles) "is read to go" and medically cleared for training camp, but that the team will do some "modifications" for his work this summer. Cousins will not start camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which is great news for all involved in Atlanta's offense heading into the 2024 campaign. The 35-year-old veteran tore his Achilles in late October last year and is now attempting to learn a new offense in his first year with the Falcons. Although he won't be throwing to All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson anymore, Cousins will have plenty of weapons around him in his new home. But with no rushing ability and coming off a serious injury going into his age-36 campaign, Cousins has a limited ceiling and cannot be trusted as anything more than a midrange QB2 in fantasy.

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Russell Wilson Jul 25 12:10pm CT
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) "woke up with a tight calf" on Thursday and was held out of training camp practice. Tomlin is calling Wilson day-to-day. With Wilson taking the day off, backup Justin Fields got first-team repetitions. The 35-year-old Wilson probably won't miss much time and is still fully expected to open the 2024 regular season as Pittsburgh's QB1 after two disappointing seasons with the Denver Broncos. At this point in his career, Wilson's leadership abilities are probably his greatest asset on the football field. In what is expected to be more of a run-first Steelers offense, Wilson will be more of a game manager in his first year in the Steel City and won't have a ton of fantasy upside as a low-end QB2 in fantasy with receiver George Pickens as his No. 1 wideout.

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Kirk Cousins Jul 25 10:13am CT
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins (Achilles) was medically cleared to practice, according to sources Thursday, July 25. The Falcons will be diligent with his workload, but Cousins is still expected to receive all first-team reps.

Fantasy Spin: Cousins has a great group of weapons around him to be a solid QB2 with some QB1 upside in certain weeks as long as he's healthy.

From TheHuddle

Haason Reddick Jul 25 10:03am CT
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New York Jets LB Haason Reddick was placed on the Reserve/Did Not Report list Thursday, July 25.

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Lamar Jackson Jul 25 9:10am CT
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (illness) returned to practice on Wednesday after missing Monday and Tuesday's action with an illness, but the two-time NFL MVP left the field after just one hour. According to team reporter Jamison Hensley, Jackson " looked weary while walking across the field and into the team facility." The former No. 32 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft has missed at least one practice every year due to an illness, but the bright side is it is not a major injury. For now, Baltimore is going to take it slow with Jackson. "We are going to work him back in, for sure," Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said with a smile. "I know I'm being kind of a smartass. You'll have to ask him how he feels. But he was great in meetings. When we were on the field at the start [of practice], he said he was feeling good." The team has its first scheduled day off on Thursday, so hopefully, the day off will allow Jackson enough time to feel better and return to full practice in short order. He remains a high-end QB1 in fantasy football heading into his seventh pro campaign.

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Jordan Love Jul 25 9:00am CT
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Earlier in the week, it was reported that Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love will not practice at training camp until he reaches an agreement on a new contract with the organization. According to NFL insider Dianna Russini, the two sides are getting close to reaching a deal. "Based on my conversations today, it's all making progress and heading there. Just not done at this time," Russini wrote on X. The 2020 first-round pick finally got a chance to start in 2023 following the departure of Aaron Rodgers, and he exceeded all expectations with 4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. More importantly, he led Green Bay to a playoff victory over the No. 2 seed Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card round despite having one of the youngest offensive supporting casts in the NFL. Given the boom of the quarterback market, don't be surprised if Love signs a deal in the $50 million-salary range.

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Derion Kendrick Jul 25 8:50am CT
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Matthew Stafford Jul 25 8:40am CT
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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has been in the offseason retirement rumors over the last two seasons, but he is back for a 16th NFL campaign (fourth with the Rams), and team reporter Stu Jackson said he is looking sharp at the start of training camp. "Matthew Stafford picked up where he left off with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, but best connections were on TD passes to TEs Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen," Jackson wrote on X. The 36-year-old gun-slinger is unlikely to be a trustworthy fantasy option in single-QB leagues, but he's a fine backup or QB2 in Superflex or two-QB formats. Stafford has thrown for at least 4,000 yards in nine of the 10 seasons that he has played in at least 16 contests. With a healthy Kupp and more experienced Nacua, don't be surprised if Los Angeles' continues to have a high-powered passing attack.

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Allen Lazard Jul 25 8:30am CT
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard signed a four-year, $44 million contract to join his longtime quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the organization last offseason, but after Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles on the first drive of the year, Lazard had a disastrous campaign. The former undrafted free agent caught just 23 passes for 311 yards and one touchdown in 14 games. With Rodgers back, Jets reporter Rich Cimini labeled Lazard as a potential bounce-back candidate. "Lazard was one of the standouts in the Jets' first practice, making two nifty catches on passes from quarterback Aaron Rodgers," Cimini wrote. "One good practice doesn't equate to a full comeback, but it should do wonders for his confidence. Privately, some in the organization felt he suffered from a confidence problem last season, his first in New York after signing a big free agent deal." With Mike Williams (knee) on the PUP list, Lazard will see extra reps with the first-team offense. Additionally, there's no guarantee that third-round rookie Malachi Corley will start the season ahead of Lazard in the target pecking order. While it's tough to get excited about Lazard's fantasy prospects, his cost outside the top 100 wide receivers makes him worth a dart throw in deep leagues. After all, he has the most chemistry with Rodgers, who is known for being a stickler on familiarly.

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Mekhi Blackmon Jul 25 8:30am CT
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Baker Mayfield Jul 25 8:20am CT
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Lamar Jackson Jul 24 11:23pm CT
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Updating an earlier report, Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (illness) departed practice midway through on Wednesday, July 24, as he continued to deal with symptoms relating to an illness that kept him out of the first three days of practice. The Ravens have a day off on Thursday, July 25.

From TheHuddle

Cordarrelle Patterson Jul 24 9:40pm CT
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Theo Johnson Jul 24 9:20pm CT
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J.K. Dobbins Jul 24 9:10pm CT
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After working on the side during June's minicamp, Gus Edwards was seen working out in full uniform and going through individual drills during training camp on Wednesday along with J.K. Dobbins. Edwards was reported to have had an offseason procedure, but it looks like Edwards will increase his work as camp continues. Both Edwards and Dobbins will jockey for touches in a competitive backfield along with rookie Kimani Vidal and veteran Isaiah Spiller. Edwards should have a leg up on the group as an early-down back and also receiving goal-line work, while Dobbins' Achilles injury recovery will likely be handled more cautiously by the team. It's looking like Edwards is a mid-round value RB3 for fantasy managers in 2024, while Dobbins' status throughout training camp should be closely monitored.

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Javonte Williams Jul 24 8:50pm CT
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Julian Love Jul 24 8:50pm CT
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Donovan Peoples-Jones Jul 24 8:40pm CT
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The Detroit Lions activated wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (undisclosed) from the active/Non-Football Injury list on Wednesday. Acquired from Cleveland in 2023 for a 2025 sixth-round pick, Peoples-Jones primarily served as a depth receiver last season, recording five receptions for 58 yards across eight games. This year, he will maintain a similar role, positioned behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Kalif Raymond on the wide receiver depth chart. With Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, and Sam LaPorta also contributing, Peoples-Jones is unlikely to see significant involvement in the Lions' offense. Unless Detroit faces substantial injuries, he remains off the fantasy radar.

From RotoBaller