Indianapolis Colts running back Salvon Ahmed (ankle) was taken down by a defender with an illegal hip-drop tackle in training camp practice on Sunday and suffered a season-ending ankle injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Colts placed Ahmed on season-ending Injured Reserve on Friday and have signed former Dolphins RB Nate Noel in a corresponding move. Jonathan Taylor is the unquestioned RB1 in Indy, with Tyler Goodson and rookie DJ Giddens battling for backup duties in 2025. With Ahmed now done for the entire 2025 campaign, it will mean added opportunities for Khalil Herbert, Ulysses Bentley and Noel as they look to make the 53-man roster out of training camp. The 26-year-old Ahmed spent his first four seasons in Miami and had a combined 593 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 163 carries over 38 games (four starts).

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (hamstring) is not expected to play in the team's preseason opener on Friday night against the Cleveland Browns, but he is hopeful to return for the second preseason game next week against the Houston Texans. Renfrow's hamstring injury isn't all that serious, but he hasn't practiced at training camp since late July, and the Panthers aren't going to push him into the first preseason game. The 29-year-old is pushing for a depth role in his first year in Carolina and probably won't be better than the WR4 in 2025 behind rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette and veteran Adam Thielen. The Clemson product had a 1,000-yard receiving season in 2021 with the Raiders but was never able to recapture that magic and didn't play at all in 2024 due to health issues. Renfrow can be avoided in most fantasy leagues.

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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is expected to play in the team's first preseason game against the Washington Commanders on Friday night, according to Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston. The number three overall pick in the 2024 draft, Maye is entering his first full season as the starter in New England after appearing in 13 games (12 starts) as a rookie. The soon-to-be 23-year-old completed 66.6% of his passes for 2,276 yards while throwing 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Maye has reportedly been taking better care of the football in training camp practices, and he'll get his first chance at translating that into game action on Friday night. He profiles as a fringe QB1 in fantasy with significant upside.

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Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford is among the players who are not expected to play for the team in its first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Friday night. Many key offensive contributors for Cleveland are not expected to play, including wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, tight end David Njoku, and quarterback Joe Flacco. Notably, Browns rookie running back Dylan Sampson is expected to suit up. With fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins still unsigned due to a July arrest, Sampson and Ford are competing for backfield snaps in Cleveland. Ford is entering his fourth season with the Browns, so he has less to prove in preseason action than Sampson.

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Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins has waived his right to a speedy trial in his ongoing misdemeanor battery/domestic violence case, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. A second-round pick in the 2025 draft, Judkins has yet to sign his rookie contract with the Browns after being arrested in July. This latest update in the case means that a resolution is unlikely to happen quickly. Judkins' timeline for making his Browns debut is uncertain, and the team has made it clear that handling his legal issues is the priority. Without him, running backs Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson are set to share the majority of the backfield workload in Cleveland.

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Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was noncommittal about the status of running back Najee Harris (eye) for the start of the regular season, saying, "there's a chance he is" when asked if Harris is playing in Week 1. Harris was injured on July 4 due to a fireworks mishap and has spent training camp on the non-football injury list as a result. Los Angeles signed Harris to a one-year deal in free agency this past offseason, and he's expected to share carries with rookie first-rounder Omarion Hampton. If Harris does miss time, Hampton could be in line for a large workload right away. Even if Harris avoids being sidelined for regular season action, the training camp absence may have put him behind Hampton in the backfield pecking order. With the current uncertainty, Hampton profiles as a fringe RB1 in fantasy, while Harris is more of a depth piece/handcuff option.

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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (back) returned to the practice field on Friday. This is a good sight after Ferguson exited early during Thursday's practice due to a back contusion. Ferguson told reporters that he's dealing with some pain, but there's no structural damage. He wants to stay in his routine and he went through Friday's practice session without any issues. There's a decent chance that Ferguson sits out the preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. However, Ferguson should be fine in time for the regular season.

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The Dallas Cowboys have signed free-agent running back Malik Davis on Friday. The team needed additional depth with Jaydon Blue (ankle) and Miles Sanders (knee) both banged up right now. Davis figures to give this team an extra body ahead of Saturday's preseason contest versus the Los Angeles Rams. Davis spent last season on the Cowboys practice squad, so he knows the system. The 26-year-old is likely just an extra player for camp, but maybe he'll catch on as depth.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert won't play during Sunday's second preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Taylor Heinicke will get the starting nod for this contest. Trey Lance started during the Hall of Fame game last week. The two of them are competing for the backup gig behind Herbert to begin the season. It's unclear if Herbert is going to play at all during the preseason. At the moment, Herbert should be considered a fringe top-10 fantasy quarterback.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (undisclosed) was seen back on the practice field on Friday. According to Kris Rhim, McConkey was seen in uniform going through a walkthrough. This is the first time that we've seen McConkey on the field since July 28. He has been missing practice due to an undisclosed injury. Fantasy managers shouldn't be worried, as the coaching staff has downplayed the issue. McConkey is unlikely to play in the first preseason game, but this shouldn't be something that lingers into the regular season. He is a low-end WR1 option in fantasy after a breakout rookie season.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and the starters on offense are not expected to play in Friday's preseason opener against the New England Patriots. The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala writes that it will be the Josh Johnson and Sam Hartman show. Daniels and the starters presumably will see their most preseason work next week on Aug. 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Veteran backup Marcus Mariota is dealing with a lower-leg injury and did not travel with the team this weekend. Daniels played about as well as any QB last year, but what made it really impressive is that it was his first year in the league. The 24-year-old former second overall pick out of LSU looked to have the "it" factor as a playmaker with both his arms and legs. Daniels finished as the QB5 in fantasy in 2024 and has quickly jumped into the top-five rankings at the position.

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Gilbert Manzano of Sports Illustrated writes that New Orleans Saints rookie second-round quarterback Tyler Shough showed improvement at practice on Thursday while working with the first-team offense. Head coach Kellen Moore said he hasn't decided how he'll divvy up the QB snaps in the preseason opener on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, but it's a good sign that Shough was the first to see first-team reps on Thursday. The 25-year-old showed confidence and made quick decisions with the football while also using his legs a few times. According to receiver Rashid Shaheed, Shough is thinking less and allowing his pass-catchers to make plays. Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener are still competing for the QB job, and the Saints don't seem to be in a rush to name a Week 1 starter. Fantasy managers should be avoiding the situation entirely in 2025.

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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on the team radio on Thursday that rookie fifth-round quarterback Shedeur Sanders will play the majority of the team's preseason opener on Friday night against the Carolina Panthers. "Fifty plays of game work, which I think will be great for him," Stefanski said. The Browns are choosing to rest veteran Joe Flacco, the favorite to start in Week 1, while Kenny Pickett and rookie Dillon Gabriel are both managing hamstring injuries. Once Sanders exits on Friday, the newly signed Tyler Huntley will take over under center. The 23-year-old Sanders has reportedly held his own during training camp, but he could struggle on Friday since he hasn't taken any snaps with the first-team offense during practices. Sanders isn't going to win the Browns' starting job in 2025, and he's merely competing to prove he belongs on their roster going into 2026.

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (undisclosed) will not play in the team's preseason game on Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. The Steelers are going to play it safe with Austin in their preseason opener, but Austin and DK Metcalf are locks for the receiver room in 2025. The departure of George Pickens (traded to Dallas) definitely opens up opportunity for Austin as the WR2 in Pittsburgh this year, but can he take advantage? The 26-year-old former fourth-rounder took a step forward last year with 36 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (eight starts). What Austin lacks in size, he makes up for in speed. However, the Steelers are expected to be a run-first offense that uses a lot of two-tight end sets, so Austin's volume may not increase all that much. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is also a big question mark.

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In the Detroit Lions' second preseason game on Friday night against the Atlanta Falcons, starting quarterback Jared Goff will not suit up, giving third-year signal-caller Hendon Hooker the start. Kyle Allen made the start in the first preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers and played the entire first half. Allen and Hooker, who went 3-for-6 for 18 yards, combined to throw three interceptions in the opener, so head coach Dan Campbell is looking for better communication, execution and ball movement on Friday. Allen and Hooker are in a close competition to be Goff's backup entering the 2025 season, according to Lions beat writer Tim Twentyman. If Hooker can get off to a good start against Atlanta and keep the offense moving, he could separate himself from Allen a bit in the backup competition this summer.

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (finger) dislocated his right pinkie finger in the preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night and was removed from the game, but ESPN's Stephen Holder reports that he could return to practice as early as Saturday, according to multiple sources. Members of the Colts' medical staff quickly popped Richardson's finger back into place, and Richardson tested his ability to grip a football before eventually being shut down. X-rays came back negative on A-Rich's finger, and if he can throw the ball effectively, he'll likely return to practice on Saturday. The former first-rounder only went 2-for-3 passing before his injury, while Daniel Jones went 10-for-21 for 144 yards. Richardson continues to be injury-prone, but his latest injury isn't a big issue, and he's still very much in the thick of the QB competition this preseason.

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Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson went 3-for-5 on field goals in Thursday's 23-23 tie with the Seahawks. The veteran connected from 27, 51, and 56 yards, but missed a 55-yarder before halftime and had another from the same distance blocked on the game's final play. Despite the inconsistency, Carlson's powerful leg remains a key asset. With the Raiders' offense expected to improve under new leadership, his scoring opportunities should increase. Fantasy managers should remain confident, Carlson is still a strong candidate to finish as a top-10 kicker in 2025.

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Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai is getting work with the first-team offense during 11-on-11 drills at training camp practice on Friday, according to Zack Pearson of 247 Sports. Monangai was seen working mostly with the second-string unit in practices earlier this week, but the 23-year-old seventh-round pick is getting a shot with the starters at the end of the week. It probably has something to do with Roschon Johnson (foot), who is the favorite for goal-line work this year, dealing with a foot injury at camp right now. In addition to Johnson, D'Andre Swift is also ahead of Monangai on Chicago's RB depth chart heading into his first NFL season. A lot can change in this Bears backfield as the season progresses, but as things currently stand, Monangai will be the RB3, at best, in a change-of-pace role that won't yield a ton of weekly opportunities.

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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (oblique) was present but not suited up at Friday's practice as he manages an oblique injury, per head coach Mike McDaniel. The team is exercising caution with the star wideout, and Hill is expected to return soon as he ramps up for Week 1. In his absence, Malik Washington, Erik Ezukanma, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine should see increased reps with the first team. Hill is looking to bounce back from a relatively down 2024 season, where he totaled 81 receptions for 959 yards and six touchdowns, well below his typical production.

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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (back) is dealing with a back contusion that he suffered when he took a hard hit during Thursday's training camp practice, a source told ESPN's Todd Archer. Ferguson's injury isn't considered serious, though, so the Cowboys appear to have avoided an injury scare with the No. 1 tight end. The Cowboys are definitely exhaling after signing the 26-year-old to a four-year, $52 million extension just a few weeks ago. He probably won't practice on Friday or suit up for Saturday's preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams, but Ferguson should be fine for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4. Injuries to himself and quarterback Dak Prescott derailed his 2024 campaign, but Ferguson is looking to bounce back as a low-end TE1 in fantasy in 2025 after he was a Pro Bowler in 2023.

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