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Jacksonville gives go-ahead to $1.4B upgrade to Jags’ stadium

Tue Jun 25 9:31pm ET
Field Level Media

The Jacksonville City Council approved a $1.4 billion renovation for EverBank Stadium, home of the Jaguars, in a resounding vote Tuesday night.

The measure passed 14-1 with two abstentions. The last step is to receive approval from at least 24 of the 32 NFL team owners at the next league meetings in October.

"This is a historic day for our city," Jacksonville mayor Donna Deegan said. "As I said to the council, this is what we can do when we all row together and we focus on a goal together."

As part of the deal, dubbed by the Jaguars as the "Stadium of the Future," Jacksonville is committing $775 million to the project -- $625 million to the renovation itself and $150 million over the next two years for maintenance to prepare the stadium for construction. The Jaguars will also spend $625 million, with team owner Shad Khan on the hook for any overruns.

Crucially, the agreement also includes a 30-year lease for the Jaguars to stay in Jacksonville, kicking in once the stadium re-opens. The Jaguars would be limited to playing one home game a year in London, as they have done for several years; all other home games will be reserved for EverBank Stadium.

Construction would begin after the end of the 2025 season and conclude before the 2028 season. The Jaguars' plan calls for reduced capacity during the 2026 season, with the upper deck unavailable, before making a temporary home elsewhere for 2027.

The University of Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville and Camping World Stadium in Orlando are the Jaguars' two options for 2027.

The renovation itself calls for a similar layout to the Los Angeles Rams' and Chargers' SoFi Stadium, with a canopy hanging over every seat to keep temperatures down. Capacity would b 63,000 for Jaguars games and could be expanded to 70,000-plus for events like the annual Florida-Georgia football game and the Gator Bowl.

EverBank Stadium hosted Super Bowl XXXIX in February 2005 but has not hosted a Super Bowl since.

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Player Notes
Ray-Ray McCloud Jul 29 7:00pm ET
Ray-Ray McCloud

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III was spotted working with the first-team offense on Monday. McCloud is currently listed as the No. 3 wide receiver on the Falcons' depth chart. Throughout his career, McCloud has primarily served as a depth piece and special teamer. In 2023, he caught 12 passes for 135 yards and no touchdowns. His career high is 277 yards, and he only has two touchdowns from scrimmage in his careernevertheless, the Falcons' offense projects to be very high-powered. If McCloud sees a significant snap share, he could be a solid bench target in deep leagues. He should have solid PPR flex value if he ultimately wins the slot receiver role. This development may also suggest what the Falcons think of Rondale Moore. Currently, Moore projects to be the No. 4 wide receiver on this depth chart.

From RotoBaller

Nick Chubb Jul 29 6:50pm ET
Nick Chubb

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (knee) reportedly still has a way to go in recovering from a devastating knee injury suffered in Week 2 of 2023. Chubb's injury was so catastrophic that he had to undergo two surgeries to repair the damage. While he has been spotted sprinting and doing light agility work at Brown's training camp, general manager Andrew Berry said Monday that Chubb has "a little way to go." Given his injury, this should come as no surprise. Chubb was placed on the active/PUP list to start training camp, and it appears he will remain there longer. In essentially one and a half games in 2023, Chubb had picked up right where he left off the prior season with 170 yards and 6.1 YPC. Hopefully, Chubb can get back to his old form. For now, his fantasy stock drops a little as there is a possibility he could miss some games to start the season.

From RotoBaller

James Washington Jul 29 6:40pm ET
James Washington

The Falcons signed former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver James Washington on Monday. After spending his first four seasons in Pittsburgh and one year with the Cowboys, Washington was out of the league in 2023. In 2022, Washington only played in two games and did not record a statistic. His best season came in 2019 when he caught 44 passes for 735 yards and three touchdowns. Washington was an important depth piece for the Steelers during his tenure. The Falcons have a crowded wide receiver room with Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud III, and Rondale Moore, who are all currently ahead of Washington on the depth chart. This signing is of little consequence to fantasy. Hopefully, Washington will have a chance to make the team, but it is not on the fantasy radar in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Jul 29 6:40pm ET
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is still not practicing. He has not practiced to start training camp, and the Bengals have not publicly justified his lack of participation. The Bengals star wideout is conducting his own "hold-in." Chase is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal, and the Bengals have already picked up his fifth-year option. Generally, players in his position will receive an extension after their fourth season. For now, there does not appear to be any animosity between Chase and the Bengals, but this situation will be essential to monitor. Chase caught a career-high 100 passes for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games in 2023. The mid-season wrist injury to quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist) derailed Chase's fantasy season. He will look to bounce back in 2024, and you should feel comfortable with him as your WR1.

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Drake Jackson Jul 29 5:10pm ET
Drake Jackson

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Drake Jackson (knee) will miss all of training camp as he recovers from patellar-tendon surgery that ended his season after just eight games in 2023. "We've got to see how rehab continues to go, but definitely not any time in camp," head coach Kyle Shanahan said. "Anytime you do that type of surgery that he had. those are big surgeries. They're tough to come back from. You never know how they're going to react. We always know it's a possibility to take a long time, and it's taking a long time." The second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft has posted six sacks through his first 23 NFL games. Recently signed defensive end Leonard Floyd is expected to start opposite Nick Bosa to begin the 2024 campaign.

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Jacob Cowing Jul 29 5:00pm ET
Jacob Cowing

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jacob Cowing (hamstring) is expected to be out roughly 10 days as he deals with a hamstring injury, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. It's a bummer for the rookie fourth-round pick as he looks to earn a role in one of the best offenses in the NFL. The Arizona product posted 175 receptions for 1,882 yards and 20 touchdowns in his final two collegiate seasons and was viewed as a great value pick by the 49ers in April. Hopefully, he'll recover on time and take part in preseason action this offseason. Either way, he is unlikely to be on the fantasy football radar this season in a crowded wide receiver room consisting of Deebo Samuel Sr., Brandon Aiyuk, and Ricky Pearsall. If Aiyuk eventually gets traded before Week 1, Cowing has an outside chance to post a few fantasy-friendly weeks. For now, he can be ignored in 12-team fantasy drafts.

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Troy Franklin Jul 29 4:50pm ET
Troy Franklin

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, joining his college quarterback and first-round pick Bo Nix with the organization. The chemistry with Nix could give him a leg up on the wide receiver depth chart to begin his career, but Broncos reporter Benjamin Allbright said he's likely to be brought along slowly. "You see flashes here and there, but I don't think he's likely to be starting, let alone a big part of the plan this year," Allbright wrote on X. " (Courtland) Sutton, (Marvin) Mims, and (Josh) Reynolds are probably the starters with Tim Patrick first man off the bench. While this could surprise some people, it's common for Day 3 picks to have limited roles as rookies. Franklin struggled at the 2024 NFL Combine, and his 176-pound frame might limit his upside while he adjusts to the NFL.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Jul 29 4:40pm ET
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed a few days of practice last week while dealing with an illness, but the two-time MVP said he feels "fully back" following Monday's practice. This is great news as the calendar nears August with preseason action just around the corner. As usual, Jackson is expected to be a top-five fantasy quarterback in 2024, and he could contend for the overall QB1. Although he posted a career-low 5.5 yards per carry (minimum eight starts) last season, he remains the best rushing quarterback in the NFL, and tight end Mark Andrews and ascending wideout Zay Flowers provide him with enough pass-catching firepower to continue to improve his numbers as a passer.

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Rico Dowdle Jul 29 4:30pm ET
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle has been a popular fantasy football sleeper this offseason after the departure of Tony Pollard. The team brought back Ezekiel Elliott, and many assume Dowdle and Elliott will split backfield duties in 2024. However, in a radio interview, Cowboys executive Stephen Jones suggested that Royce Freeman is likely to make the roster, while Dowdle and Malik Davis could be competing to be the third active running back in the regular season. [Freeman will] be a good addition and great complement to (Ezekiel Elliott)," Jones said. "And then we'll let these young guys between (Rico Dowdle and Malik Davis) and those guys battle it out." It's too early to draw any conclusions, but this is not a great look for Dowdle, who rushed 89 times for 361 yards and two touchdowns in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Royce Freeman Jul 29 4:30pm ET
Royce Freeman

Veteran running back Royce Freeman signed with the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, joining one of the worst running back rooms in the NFL. Tony Pollard left for the Tennessee Titans this offseason, and the organization brought back long-time running back Ezekiel Elliott. It has been assumed that Elliott and Rico Dowdle will split time in the Dallas backfield, but Freeman has reportedly impressed this offseason. "He's a great 2-3 combination in terms of what he can do as a backup," Cowboys executive Stephen Jones said. "He's a big, thick guy. And he's a hell of a special teams player as well. He'll be a good addition and great complement to (Ezekiel Elliott). And then we'll let these young guys between (Rico Dowdle and Malik Davis) and those guys battle it out." Freeman, who has handled touches for four teams through his first six NFL seasons, has rushed 471 times for 1,792 yards and 10 touchdowns in 79 career games. If he's involved in the Dallas offense in any capacity, he will be well worth stashing in deeper fantasy football setups.

From RotoBaller

Isaac Guerendo Jul 29 4:20pm ET
Isaac Guerendo

San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo (hamstring) is dealing with a significant hamstring strain and will be out for a few weeks, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. It's a tough development for the fourth-round rookie from Louisville, who will miss valuable reps as he looks to compete for the RB2 job behind Christian McCaffrey. Guerendo was widely unknown heading into the pre-draft process, but his 4.33 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine raised eyebrows and got him selected at the start of Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft. While his injury could slow down his development and chances to make an impact early in his career, he remains an intriguing late-round flier in deep fantasy football leagues.

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Rashod Bateman Jul 29 4:10pm ET
Rashod Bateman

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Tank Dell Jul 29 2:00pm ET
Tank Dell

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (leg) has been working with the first-team offense during training camp practices after recovering from a broken fibula he suffered last December. Dell was also shot in the leg in April, but he's recovered from both incidents and is on track to be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season. There is more competition for targets in Houston's passing attack now that Stefon Diggs is in town, but the 24-year-old is looking to build on an impressive rookie season that saw him catch 47 passes on 75 targets for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in his first 11 NFL games. Even though Dell is going to have more competition for targets between Diggs and Nico Collins mainly, there could still be enough passing volume in Houston for Dell to solid WR3/flex in fantasy as long as he can stay healthy in Year 2.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall Jul 29 1:40pm ET
Ricky Pearsall

The San Francisco 49ers announced on Monday that they activated rookie first-round wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) from the Non-Football Injury list. Pearsall was working out on the side at training camp practice at the end of last week and will now be able to join the rest of his teammates as he prepares for his first NFL season in 2024. Many considered the 23-year-old to be a reach at the tail end of the first round in April, but his excellent route-running skills make him an attractive dynasty/keeper stash in Kyle Shanahan's offense. Pearsall probably isn't going to have a huge role this year as long as Brandon Aiyuk sticks around, but that could change as soon as 2025. Unless Aiyuk is traded or Deebo Samuel is injured, Pearsall can probably open the year on the waiver wire in standard 12-team fantasy leagues.

From RotoBaller

Samson Ebukam Jul 29 1:40pm ET
Samson Ebukam

Indianapolis Colts veteran defensive end Samson Ebukam (Achilles) suffered a torn Achilles in training camp practice on Sunday, according to a source. Ebukam will now miss the entire 2024 season as a result. It's an early blow for Indy's defensive-line depth. The 29-year-old former fourth-round pick (125th overall) by the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 out of Eastern Washington was hoping to build off a career year in 2023 with the Colts in which he set career-highs in total tackles (57), solo tackles (39), sacks (9.5), tackles for loss (10) and QB hits (17) in 17 regular-season starts. Ebukam also forced three fumbles. He was projected to start off the edge for the Colts this year, so Indy will now be looking for someone to step up as a pass-rusher in his place this season.

From RotoBaller

Joe Mixon Jul 29 1:30pm ET
Joe Mixon

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (hamstring) still remains absent at Monday's training camp practice. Mixon has missed more than a week now with his hamstring injury, which has allowed backup Dameon Pierce extra repetitions after a disappointing sophomore campaign in Houston. There are no indications that Mixon's injury will put him in danger of missing the start of the 2024 regular season, but the longer he remains out, the more time Pierce will have to impress the coaching staff. When healthy, Mixon should be Houston's primary RB in an up-and-coming offense. Fantasy managers will want to target him ideally as a high-end RB2, but Mixon is probably going to need to be much more efficient as a runner to be worth his draft price, as he's most likely not going to be as involved as a pass-catcher with the Texans as he was with the Bengals.

From RotoBaller

Denico Autry Jul 29 1:20pm ET
Denico Autry

Houston Texans defensive lineman Denico Autry is being suspended six games on Monday for violating the league's policy against performance-enhancing drugs. "It was important to me that the NFL know that I did not intentionally or even knowingly ingest a banned substance," Autry said in a statement. It comes after Autry signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Texans back in March. The 34-year-old veteran is now clearly off the fantasy radar in IDP leagues now that he'll miss the first six games of the 2024 campaign. The former undrafted free agent spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Raiders before also spending time with the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. In his 10 years in the NFL, he has 310 tackles (213 solo), 59 sacks, 80 tackles for loss and 107 QB hits. Autry had a career-best 11.5 sacks in 17 games (14 starts) in Tennessee in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Trey Hendrickson Jul 29 1:10pm ET
Trey Hendrickson

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (knee) left Sunday's training camp practice with a knee injury and underwent an MRI on Sunday night, but a source said the test results were good and Hubbard should be OK. While Hubbard could sit out a few days at camp, he should be fine for the start of the 2024 regular season after an injury scare on Sunday in which he was carted off. The 29-year-old pass-rusher is the team's second-best defensive end behind Trey Hendrickson, but he can still be a streamer in IDP fantasy leagues in the right matchups. The former third-round pick (77th overall) in 2018 out of Ohio State has had at least six sacks in all but one of his six NFL seasons and racked up 58 tackles (38 solo), six sacks, seven tackles for loss and 17 QB hits in 15 regular-season starts in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Jerod Mayo Jul 29 1:10pm ET
Jerod Mayo

New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon appears to be holding in at training camp as he seeks a new long-term contract extension. On the first day of padded practices on Monday, Judon showed up in a sweatshirt, chatted with head coach Jerod Mayo for a while and then left the main field. The Patriots and Judon appear to be far apart on a contract extension. The 31-year-old is currently scheduled to make $6.5 million in 2024 in the final year of his current deal. A torn biceps caused Judon to miss the final 13 games of last season, but he made four straight Pro Bowls before last year, including a career-high 15.5 sacks and 60 tackles (36 solo) in 17 games (15 starts) for the Pats in 2022. The former fifth-round pick in 2016 by the Baltimore Ravens out of Grand Valley State combined for 28 sacks in 2021 and 2022 and could be back on the IDP fantasy radar this year if he proves he's fully healthy.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Jul 29 12:50pm ET
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has missed his fourth consecutive practice and has yet to participate in 2024 training camp. Instead of a traditional "hold out," Chase is engaging in a "hold in," as he needed to report to camp on time to complete an entire season under his rookie contract. Although he is present at camp, he is not participating in drills while negotiating a new deal following this offseason's surge in receiver salaries, highlighted by Justin Jefferson's record-setting $35 million per year contract. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has stated that the situation aligns with their plan and that he and Chase are on the same page. Chase will earn under $5 million this season and approximately $21 million on his fifth-year option next year. As long as Chase stays in shape, maintains his conditioning, and has sufficient time to prepare for the regular season, his current absence from practice should not significantly impact his performance or the team. Despite the hold-in, Chase remains a surefire first-round pick and is currently going around the sixth pick in recent NFFC drafts.

From RotoBaller