And So It Begins...

The Dallas Cowboys have signed defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad on Thursday. This comes days after defensive end Sam Williams (knee) tore his ACL. The Cowboys are in need of another pass rusher with Williams done for the season. Muhammad is a six-year veteran with 12 total sacks over his career. His best season of his career came with the Indianapolis Colts in 2021. This looks to be a depth signing as Muhammad isn't even a lock to make the 53-man roster.

From RotoBaller

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton (ankle) was forced to leave practice early on Thursday. Luckily, Burton doesn't appear to have suffered a serious injury. The organization is calling it only an ankle tweak. The third-round rookie was pulled out of practice as a precaution and isn't expected to miss much time. Burton has been seeing increased reps in practice with Ja'Marr Chase currently out. The assumption is that Burton is going to fill the vacant spot left by Tyler Boyd, which should mean steady targets.

From RotoBaller

Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (knee) is in danger of missing the beginning of the regular season. The veteran wideout suffered a knee strain during Tuesday's practice. Hopkins was reportedly wearing a wrap on his knee during Thursday's practice session. The organization believes that Hopkins could miss four to six weeks of action because of this injury. Hopkins could potentially be unavailable for the Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears. When healthy, Hopkins should be considered a high-end WR2 for fantasy purposes. The knee injury is a concern, but it shouldn't drop him too far on draft boards.

From RotoBaller

The New Orleans Saints have signed wide receiver Marquez Callaway to a one-year deal. This is far from a blockbuster move, but the addition of Callaway does give the Saints depth at wideout. Most notably, Callaway hauled in 46 receptions for 698 yards and six touchdowns during the 2021 season. Since then, Callaway has been quiet with only 16 total receptions over the last two seasons. He should slot into the back end of the wide receiver depth chart which means Callaway is unlikely to have any kind of fantasy value.

From RotoBaller

Philadelphia Eagles TE Grant Calcaterra 'has really done an excellent job to be the second tight and currently' and 'has a great awareness and understanding of the game,' according to offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby (ankle) suffered an ankle injury during practice and had to be carted off the field. Fortunately, preliminary X-rays showed no fractures, relieving Diaby and the team. An MRI is scheduled later in the day to assess the full extent of the injury. Diaby, selected by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Louisville, had a strong rookie season, starting in seven of 17 games and recording 38 combined tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and a team-leading 7.5 sacks. The Buccaneers expect Diaby to start opposite Joe Tryon-Shoyinka as an outside linebacker. The Buccaneers also used their second-round pick on former Alabama pass rusher Chris Braswell and signed veteran Randy Gregory, though Gregory has yet to report for camp. Such an injury would significantly weaken the Buccaneers' defense, likely leading to more high-scoring games for Tampa Bay. This situation could enhance the fantasy value of playmakers like Rachaad White, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin.

New England Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon returned to practice on Thursday after a productive meeting with head coach Jerod Mayo. This was after Judon wasn't dressed to participate as the Patriots began their first full-pads practice of training camp on Monday, leading to a heated confrontation with Mayo. He was also absent the following day but rejoined the team as a full participant in Thursday's non-full-pads practice, following a team rest day on Wednesday. The dispute arose because Judon is looking for a new contract before the season begins. He is currently set to earn $6.5 million in the final year of the four-year, $56 million deal he signed in March 2021, but he feels this does not reflect his actual value. Complicating matters, Judon, who turns 32 in August, missed 13 games last season due to a torn biceps. With Judon, the Patriot's defense/special teams can fill in with the right match-up; without him, they are a defense to target wanting to play against.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been diagnosed with an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot. Doctors have recommended approximately two weeks in a boot for Herbert, which will be followed by a graduated return-to-play protocol with the expectation being that he will be ready for the start of the regular season.

The Los Angeles Chargers have announced that quarterback Justin Herbert (foot) has been diagnosed with an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot following Wednesday's practice at training camp. Doctors have recommended approximately two weeks in a boot for Herbert, which will be followed by a graduated return-to-play protocol, with the expectation being that he will be ready for the start of the regular season. Herbert's fantasy stock was already down heading into the 2024 season after the Chargers let most of their supporting cast go during the offseason, and this development should drive down his late-round ADP even further. He still has time to be ready by September, but he'll be working against the clock by the time he's ready to resume practicing. 2019 fifth-rounder Easton Stick is the next man up at quarterback on LA's depth chart, which would hurt the appeal of the entire offense if he were to be under center for Week 1.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins tight end coach Jon Embree says that Jonnu Smith and Durham Smythe have a rotation every other day at training camp. The Dolphins signed Smith this offseason as a potential upgrade over Smythe, who failed to carve out a meaningful role in Miami's prolific passing attack behind target hogs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Smith, on the other hand, was quietly productive as the No. 2 tight end behind Kyle Pitts for the Atlanta Falcons a year ago, registering a career-high 50 catches on 69 targets for 582 yards. The 28-year-old also put up the seventh-most yards per target (8.4) and yards per catch (11.6) at the position, so he'll try to beat out veteran wideout Odell Beckham Jr. as star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's No. 3 target as a TE2 option in the closing rounds of 2024 fantasy drafts this summer.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill told reporters at Thursday's training camp that he is optimistic that he'll get a new contract done. Hill signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension with Miami back during the 2022 offseason, so he won't be an unrestricted free agent until 2027. The Dolphins just inked star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a long-term extension, however, while Pro Bowl wideout Jaylen Waddle also bagged a three-year, $84.75-million contract extension with the Dolphins this offseason, so Hill wants his next payday as well. The 30-year-old All-Pro is a consensus top-five selection in fantasy drafts this summer, after compiling a league-leading 1,799 receiving yards through 16 games in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Browns running back D'Onta Foreman (neck) sustained a concerning injury during a kickoff drill, suffering a direct hit to the head that led to neck pain. The situation became alarming as he was immobilized and transported by ambulance, then airlifted to a medical center in Roanoke, Virginia, for further evaluation. Fortunately, Foreman retained movement in all his extremities. The 28-year-old is expected to be released from the hospital on Thursday afternoon as his X-rays and CT scans came back negative. The 28-year-old, who joined the Browns in March after a stint with the Chicago Bears, had his most successful season in 2022 with the Carolina Panthers, rushing for 914 yards and five touchdowns. The Browns signed Foreman to bolster their running back depth alongside Nick Chubb (knee) and Jerome Ford, which is especially important, with Chubb recovering from a season-ending knee injury. If Foreman is sidelined, Ford could become a valuable RB2, particularly early in the season, as Chubb recovers.

From RotoBaller

The Cleveland Browns say that X-rays and CT scans on running back D'Onta Foreman (neck) are negative, and he will be released from the hospital this afternoon and return to the team. It's very encouraging news after Foreman was immobilized following "a direct blow to the head that resulted in neck pain" before getting transported to the hospital to undergo further evaluation. The team previously added that Foreman had movement in all his extremities before he was airlifted from Thursday's practice. From a fantasy perspective, the 28-year-old veteran journeyman stands as Cleveland's No. 2 back behind Jerome Ford at the moment with starter Nick Chubb (knee) and satellite back Nyheim Hines (knee) not currently practicing. The Browns are certainly going to be cautious and likely ease Foreman back into action after such a scary incident.

From RotoBaller

New York Jets running back and kick returner Tarik Cohen has announced his retirement. Despite having a promising training camp and expressing optimism about his return, Cohen has decided to step away from the game. Known for his standout performance as an All-Pro returner with the Bears in 2018, Cohen's career was significantly impacted by injuries. His last NFL game was in 2020 after he suffered a severe leg injury and torn knee ligaments. Cohen also endured an Achilles' tear in the spring of 2022. Though he hoped the new kickoff rules would help him secure a spot on the 53-man roster, something changed his decision. Drafted by the Bears in the fourth round in 2017 from North Carolina A&T, Cohen finished his career with 2,676 scrimmage yards, 14 touchdowns, 985 punt return yards (including one touchdown), and 628 kickoff return yards. He spent most of his NFL career with the Bears, with a brief stint on the Carolina Panthers practice squad last season.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (groin) isn't practicing on Thursday due to a groin injury. No word on the severity of Jacobs' issue, but it's fair to believe the Packers are simply monitoring the reps of their key offseason acquisition. Jacobs has nine days if he wants to be available for Green Bay's preseason opener on Aug. 10 against the hosting Cleveland Browns, but he may not be active if healthy, anyway. The 26-year-old Pro Bowl tailback remains safe to draft along the RB1/2 borderline in the second or third round of fantasy leagues this summer, after leading his position in percentage of total carries and targets (84.9%) across 13 appearances with the Las Vegas Raiders last season. Jacobs' void in the backfield leaves veteran AJ Dillon and rookie third-rounder MarShawn Lloyd as the temporary top two backs at training camp.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (leg) is "very close" to practicing, head coach Kevin Stefanski told reports at Thursday's training camp. Jeudy is going through individual drills at Thursday's session, with the hope being that he'll be able to resume all activities and overcome a leg injury in the very near future. The 25-year-old former first-round pick out of Alabama is trying to revive his career in 2024 with star quarterback Deshaun Watson and the Browns, after posting 8.7 PPR fantasy points per game over 16 contests with the Denver Broncos in 2023. Although Jeudy begins the year as Cleveland's No. 3 target behind star wideout Amari Cooper and tight end David Njoku, he could eventually become one of Watson's preferred deep threats and can be drafted in the later rounds as a post-hype sleeper WR4/5 choice this summer.

From RotoBaller

Updating a previous report, Cleveland Browns RB D'Onta Foreman (neck) 'had movement in all his extremities' when he was taken by helicopter to a hospital on Thursday, Aug. 1. Foreman was participating in a punt coverage drill when he was injured 'a direct blow to the head.' Foreman was immobilized and taken away by an ambulance before he was transported via helicopter to the hosptial.

From TheHuddle

Free-agent DE Markus Golden (Steelers) re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on an undisclosed deal Thursday, Aug. 1, and LB David Perales was waived.

From TheHuddle

Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett (hamstring) is close to returning, according to sources Thursday, Aug. 1.

From TheHuddle

Free-agent OL Jake Burton (Giants) and DL Patrick O'Connor (Buccaneers) signed undisclosed deals with the Detroit Lions on Thursday, Aug. 1.

From TheHuddle