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Eagles WR A.J. Brown (hamstring) misses practice

Sun Aug 3 2:24pm ET
Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles standout wide receiver A.J. Brown did not practice Sunday due to a hamstring injury.

He left practice early Friday because of the issue. There was no timetable provided for his return.

A three-time second-team All-Pro and a three-time Pro Bowl selection, Brown is entering his seventh NFL season -- fourth with the Eagles.

In 13 games (all starts) last season, Brown caught 67 passes for a team-leading 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns.

Brown, 28, has appeared in 90 games (82 starts) with the Tennessee Titans (2019-21) and Eagles. He has five 1,000-yard seasons and 446 receptions for 7,026 yards with 49 scores. He also has one rushing touchdown.

The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles open preseason play Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. They will host the NFC East-rival Dallas Cowboys in the NFL season opener on Thursday, Sept. 4.

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Player Notes
KeAndre Lambert-Smith Aug 3 3:50pm ET
KeAndre Lambert-Smith

Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith continues to turn heads at training camp, following up his impressive preseason debut with another standout performance on Saturday. According to beat reporter Kris Rhim of ESPN, Lambert-Smith caught two deep touchdowns from quarterback Justin Herbert, with one being a 53-yard catch. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman praised the rookie, stating, "He took the practice field to the game." This consistent play follows his strong outing in the Hall of Fame Game, where he led the team with 43 receiving yards on two catches and a touchdown. While Lambert-Smith is currently not a factor in fantasy drafts, his strong camp and early preseason play are worth monitoring as he looks to climb the depth chart.

From RotoBaller

Salvon Ahmed Aug 3 3:10pm ET
Salvon Ahmed

Indianapolis Colts running back Salvon Ahmed (leg) suffered a "severe leg injury" and had to be carted off the field from the team's practice on Sunday, according to Colts head coach Shane Steichen. Ahmed was reportedly the victim of an (inadvertent) hip-drop tackle from his teammate, rookie safety Trey Washington. Ahmed did not appear in an NFL game in 2024, but played in 38 games (four starts) between 2020-2023 for the Miami Dolphins. He had been fighting for a depth role in the Colts' backfield with Tyler Goodson, but it sounds as though this injury could potentially end Ahmed's 2025 season.

From RotoBaller

Dillon Gabriel Aug 3 3:00pm ET
Dillon Gabriel

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel has been "wildly down and wildly inaccurate in recent days," according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Jackson notes that Gabriel still gets reps ahead of fellow rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders but "has done nothing to make anyone observing believe he's ready to be trusted as a No. 2 quarterback." A third-round pick out of Oregon, Gabriel appears to be significantly behind veteran Joe Flacco, who is the reported favorite to win the starting quarterback job in Cleveland out of camp. It seems like both Gabriel and Sanders are likely also behind Kenny Pickett (hamstring), who is recovering from a hamstring injury but is the favorite to win the backup job. Based on this report, Gabriel should not be expected to push for playing time early in his rookie season.

From RotoBaller

Dontayvion Wicks Aug 3 2:50pm ET
Dontayvion Wicks

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (calf) was not able to participate during Saturday's practice. It's worth noting that Wicks missed practice time earlier in the week due to a calf issue. It's unclear if Saturday's absence was a planned rest day or if Wicks couldn't participate due to the injury. The absence of Wicks meant more snaps for Matthew Golden, Romeo Doubs, and Malik Heath. Last season, Wicks saw a career-high 76 targets, but finished with 39 receptions for 415 receiving yards with five touchdowns in 17 games. The addition of Golden is going to make it more difficult for Wicks to see consistent snaps in Green Bay. Right now, the focus is getting Wicks back on the field, so fantasy managers should check back later on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Dylan Sampson Aug 3 2:40pm ET
Dylan Sampson

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Jerome Sampson is "essentially playing the 1-B role" next to veteran Jerome Ford, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. A fourth-round rookie out of Tennessee, Sampson rushed for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns in 13 games last season for the Volunteers. With second-round running back Quinshon Judkins still unsigned by the team due to a July arrest, Sampson appears to be in line for a significant role as a rookie. Ford is entering his fourth season in Cleveland, but he's never truly earned a workhorse role throughout a full season. The backfield mix for the Browns will remain a bit muddled until Judkins' legal situation gets ironed out, but it sounds like Ford and Sampson will share the workload relatively evenly while Judkins is out.

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Harold Fannin Jr. Aug 3 2:20pm ET
Harold Fannin Jr.

Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has "already played his way into significant snaps with the No. 1 offense," according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. A third-round pick out of Bowling Green, Fannin Jr. led FBS in receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555) while scoring 11 total touchdowns in his final collegiate season. The Browns have established veteran David Njoku atop their tight end depth chart, but Jackson writes that Fannin Jr. is "going to play a role" as a rookie. The Browns could deploy both of their tight ends on the field together, but it's also possible that Fannin Jr. eats into Njoku's snaps and targets. Fannin Jr.'s deployment is something to monitor throughout the preseason, both for 2025 and beyond.

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James Cook Aug 3 2:00pm ET
James Cook

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook did not practice at training camp on Sunday and when asked why he wasn't present, responded, "Business." When asked if he would return to practice on Monday, Cook said, "business." ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg says that Cook kept repeating "business." There were questions as to whether Cook would hold out during training camp this summer as he seeks a new contract extension, but he showed up and had been practicing with the team until now. The 25-year-old sounds unhappy that he hasn't been able to lock up an extension with the Bills so far in camp, so he may refuse to practice until that happens. The two-time Pro Bowler had 1,009 rushing yards and a league-high 16 touchdowns in his third season in 2024 and is heading into the final year of his deal in 2025. A hold-in will allow both Ray Davis and Ty Johnson more reps in Buffalo's backfield.

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Joe Flacco Aug 3 1:40pm ET
Joe Flacco

Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett (hamstring) is doing everything he can to get back to full speed but also acknowledged he's losing ground in the QB competition with veteran Joe Flacco, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Flacco's two best throwing days at training camp have been on Friday and Saturday, and he's "gone from presumed favorite to strong favorite." There's still a lot to be settled with Flacco and Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, but as things currently stand, it would be a surprise if Flacco wasn't starting under center in Week 1. Neither Gabriel nor Sanders never had a realistic shot to win the QB competition this summer. For fantasy purposes, nobody should be putting their faith in the 40-year-old Flacco in 2025, especially since he'll likely be on a short leash.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Aug 3 1:30pm ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (undisclosed) has been activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list on Sunday and will return to the individual portion of practice at training camp. Meanwhile, head coach Dan Campbell said that Dan Skipper (ankle) will be out of practice for around a week. Decker will now be able to practice with the rest of the team due to a minor undisclosed injury that kept him sidelined for the start of camp. The 30-year-old veteran should be ready for the start of the regular season this fall and will be the Lions' starting left tackle on quarterback Jared Goff's blind side. Decker has been a stape for the up-and-coming Lions team, starting all 131 regular-season and playoff games that he's appeared in since being a first-rounder in 2016. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Pat Freiermuth Aug 3 1:30pm ET
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is the team's unquestioned No. 1 tight end and "the heartbeat of this offense," according to Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show. Kaboly adds that Jonnu Smith was a late addition to the roster and "will provide a significant target for quarterback Aaron Rodgers." It sounds like the Steelers plan to use Smith in a lot of different ways, but as of right now before the start of the preseason, Freiermuth is going to be the team's top pass-catching tight end. Freiermuth caught a career-high 65 passes on 78 targets last year for 653 yards and a career-high-tying seven touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (11 starts). Both Friermuth and Smith should be on the field together plenty, and it's probably going to be impossible to predict which one might go off for fantasy purposes on any given week.

From RotoBaller

DeVonta Smith Aug 3 1:20pm ET
DeVonta Smith

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (back) returned to practice in pads at training camp on Sunday after missing the previous four practices with back tightness. Smith being held out of practices this week was likely just a precautionary move by the Eagles early in camp. For now, there should be nothing to worry about with the 26-year-old, who has become one of the best No. 2 wideouts in football for the reigning Super Bowl champions. The former 10th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft out of Alabama actually had a career-low 833 receiving yards on 68 catches (career-low 89 targets), but he found the end zone a career-high eight times in 13 regular-season games. Smith has at least seven touchdowns in each of the last three seasons. Volume is an issue in this Philly offense, but Smith has been efficient with his opportunities and is on the WR2/3 borderline in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Justice Hill Aug 3 12:13pm ET
Justice Hill

Dynasty | The Ravens have signed running back D'Ernest Johnson. Dynasty Analysis: Productive whenever given opportunities, Johnson oddly signs with one of the deepest running back corps in the league. The former Brown and Jaguar will now face an uphill battle to make the team since they already have Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell all on board. A strong preseason could also be a bit of a showcase for Johnson latching on elsewhere if he doesn't make the squad. Regardless, he belongs on waiver wires at the moment.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Russell Gage Aug 3 11:10am ET
Russell Gage

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Russell Gage has "run some really crisp routes" in training camp practices and has drawn the praise of quarterback Brock Purdy, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic. The veteran wideout has been forced into a more prominent training camp role as a result of injuries to San Francisco receivers Brandon Aiyuk (knee), Jauan Jennings (calf), and Jacob Cowing (hamstring). Gage last appeared in an NFL game in 2022 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 74 career games, he's recorded 244 catches for 2,491 yards and 14 touchdowns. Gage is probably still a long shot to make an impact in fantasy this season, but he could earn some playing time early in the season if San Francisco continues to deal with injuries in their wide receiver room.

From RotoBaller

Khalil Shakir Aug 3 11:00am ET
Khalil Shakir

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) has suffered a high ankle sprain and is considered "week-to-week," according to Bills head coach Sean McDermott. Shakir left the team's Friday practice early due to the injury. It doesn't seem like this will threaten Shakir's availability for the start of the regular season, but he could miss a good portion of the remainder of training camp. The fourth-year receiver emerged as a favorite target of Bills quarterback Josh Allen in 2024. In 15 games, Shakir recorded 76 catches for 821 yards and four touchdowns. If he were to miss time, Elijah Moore could be the leading candidate to step into his role as Buffalo's primary slot receiver. Outside receivers Joshua Palmer and Keon Coleman would also be in line for more targets, as would tight end Dalton Kincaid. Shakir is currently ranked as the WR40 for PPR-scoring formats, but that could change depending on how he recovers from this injury.

From RotoBaller

A.J. Brown Aug 3 10:50am ET
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) will not practice on Sunday, according to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia. It's unclear how severe this hamstring ailment is for the superstar wide receiver, but this is an injury worth monitoring. Brown missed three games in 2024 due to a hamstring issue. The 28-year-old is a crucial part of the Eagles' offense and is coming off a year in which he recorded 67 catches for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games. Any potential missed time for Brown would massively improve that fantasy outlook for Eagles WR2 DeVonta Smith. Jahan Dotson, Johnny Wilson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. are other Philadelphia wideouts who might see a bump in usage as well. Assuming this is just a minor injury for Brown, he profiles as a low-end WR1 in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Dalton Kincaid Aug 3 10:30am ET
Dalton Kincaid

Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid had his "best practice" of training camp on Friday night and was "especially impressive against one-on-one coverage," according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. It's a good sign for the third-year tight end, who missed practice earlier this week due to soreness in his left knee. Kincaid tore the PCL in that same knee during the 2024 season. It was a frustrating 2024 overall for Kincaid, who recorded 44 catches for 448 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games played. He hasn't quite developed into the star the Bills were hoping for when they drafted him in the first round in 2023, but Buscaglia writes that there's still an opportunity for Kincaid to become a "standout piece of the passing offense." Kincaid will be competing with fellow tight end Dawson Knox for playing time, although the Bills like to deploy both players in two tight end sets. Kincaid profiles as a fringe TE1 for fantasy, but one with a higher upside than some of the other tight ends drafted in his range.

From RotoBaller

Kenneth Gainwell Aug 3 10:20am ET
Kenneth Gainwell

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin praised running back Kenneth Gainwell's versatility as both a rusher and a receiver, saying that Gainwell has a "well-rounded game." Mike DeFabo of The Athletic writes that Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has been deploying Gainwell "in a variety of roles, including outside at receiver." Gainwell signed a one-year contract with Pittsburgh this offseason after spending the first four years of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles. In 17 games last year with Philadelphia, he recorded 406 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 91 total touches. Gainwell figures to be part of a Steelers' backfield committee that also features Jaylen Warren and rookie third-rounder Kaleb Johnson. Arthur Smith has shown a preference for utilizing multiple running backs in the past, and it sounds like Gainwell's usage could cut into the fantasy production for both Warren and Johnson.

From RotoBaller

Jayden Reed Aug 3 10:00am ET
Jayden Reed

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed worked solely as a slot receiver during Saturday's practice. Instead, Matthew Golden, Malik Heath, and Romeo Doubs saw a majority of the snaps from wideout. Reed only saw 10 snaps during the entire practice, but it's also worth noting he has been dealing with a toe issue. Possibly, the Packers wanted to take the cautious approach here. Reed is most impactful when he is coming out of the slot. His target volume took a step back whenever he'd line up as the No. 1 or No. 2 wideout on the field. This is something to keep an eye on throughout training camp.

From RotoBaller

Dontayvion Wicks Aug 3 9:40am ET
Dontayvion Wicks

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (calf) was able to participate during Saturday's practice. It's worth noting that Wicks missed practice time earlier in the week due to a calf issue. It's unclear if Saturday's absence was a planned rest day or Wicks couldn't participate due to the injury. The absence of Wicks meant more snaps for Matthew Golden, Romeo Doubs, and Malik Heath. Last season, Wicks saw a career-high 76 targets, but finished with 39 receptions for 415 receiving yards with five touchdowns in 17 games. The addition of Golden is going to make it more difficult for Wicks to see consistent snaps in Green Bay. Right now, the focus is getting Wicks back on the field, so fantasy managers should check back later on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Terrance Ferguson Aug 3 9:30am ET
Terrance Ferguson

Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson (groin) was unable to participate in practice on Saturday. Head coach Sean McVay has downplayed the severity of the issue, but he also said Ferguson has no timetable to return. This is certainly frustrating given Ferguson was reportedly looking good during camp. The expectation was Ferguson could be an immediate impact player after being selected in the second-round of this year's draft. Tyler Higbee figures to continue working as the No. 1 while Colby Parkinson gets extra snaps as the backup. This injury shouldn't impact Ferguson's status in dynasty leagues, but he might lose steam in re-draft formats.

From RotoBaller