Tue Jul 9 9:59pm ET
Field Level Media
Brett Favre's legal team was back in court on Tuesday, according to multiple media reports, trying to convince the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans to reinstate the former quarterback's defamation lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe.
The case was dismissed by a federal judge in Jackson, Miss., in October.
The dispute involves comments Sharpe made on the Fox Sports show "Skip and Shannon: Undisputed" in September 2022. At the time, Favre was at the center of an alleged corruption scandal involving the state of Mississippi's welfare system.
Among his broadcast comments, Sharpe said Favre was "taking from the underserved," that he "stole money from people that really needed that money," and, "The problem that I have with this situation, you've got to be a sorry mofo to steal from the lowest of the low."
The lower court ruled that Sharpe's remarks were "rhetorical hyperbole" and "loose, figurative language." Favre's lawyers are arguing that the comments represent "actionable defamation."
Favre was never charged with a crime, but the state of Mississippi still has a lawsuit pending against him and others involved in the welfare scandal. State representatives maintain that he received more than $1 million for planned speaking engagements to which he was a no-show. He paid back that money but is being pursued for interest.
Sharpe has since left Fox Sports and now works for ESPN.
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday due to an ankle injury. Apparently Schultz is a little gimpy after the team's Week 1 win over the division-rival Indianapolis Colts. The 28-year-old played a healthy 79 percent of the team's offensive snaps but disappointed his fantasy managers in the season opener by catching all three of his targets for just 16 yards. His status for the rest of the week should now closely be monitored, and he could head into Sunday's Week 2 game against the visiting Chicago Bears with an injury designation. Schultz is on the TE1/2 borderline most weeks given all the mouths to feed in Houston's passing game. If Schultz's injury is too serious for him to play this weekend, Brevin Jordan would most likely take his spot as the top pass-catching tight end for the Texans on Sunday.
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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (knee) was listed on the team's first practice report for Week 2 on Wednesday, but he practiced in full and should be fine to play this Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. It's something to watch moving forward, but it shouldn't make fantasy managers hesitant to use the 27-year-old signal-caller as a QB1 in starting lineups this weekend. Murray was inconsistent in the Week 1 loss on the road to the Buffalo Bills, going 21-for-31 for 162 yards and a touchdown. He also had five carries for 57 yards and a lost fumble. Murray connected with rookie first-round receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. just once for four yards. It's nothing to be too concerned about yet, and Murray's rushing abilities at QB give him QB1 upside most weeks. Expect Murray to look Harrison's way a lot more in Week 2.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf), who didn't play in the season-opening win over the Atlanta Falcons, opened the week on the injury report and was limited on Wednesday. "He feels better (Tuesday) than he did over the weekend," said head coach Mike Tomlin of Wilson. "But as I sit here Tuesday, we're preparing as if Justin is going to be our quarterback. I think that's the appropriate way to do it. Speculation is a waste of time." Fields didn't do anything to wow and didn't even lead the offense to a single touchdown, but he didn't turn the ball over, which is most important. For now, Wilson is day-to-day, but things are trending toward Fields getting a second straight start in Denver in Week 2 against the Broncos. Until he can get back on the field, the 35-year-old Wilson is only worth stashing in superflex fantasy leagues.
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Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson (ankle) was a limited participant in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Steelers.com's Teresa Varley writes that things are looking up for Wilson, who didn't play at all in the preseason or the season-opening win over the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday. "Expect an uptick in the participation of guys like Roman Wilson, who's working his way back to us, who's a partial participant at times and so forth," said head coach Mike Tomlin. "We're excited about getting him in the fold and seeing him maybe take a step." The third-rounder was also limited all of last week before being inactive on Sunday. There is plenty of opportunity in Pittsburgh's inexperienced receiving corps, but it's hard to expect Wilson to have much of a role when he gets fully healthy after all the developmental time he missed in training camp and the preseason.
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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (thigh) continues to deal with a thigh injury and was listed as limited for the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Lockett has been dealing with a thigh injury since the middle of August at training camp. He also was limited in practices last week but ultimately suited up for the Week 1 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Lockett played 54 percent of the offensive snaps, which was third behind DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but he still managed to catch six of seven targets for a healthy 77 yards. As he gets healthier, the 31-year-old's snap count should rise, and he should be able to play in Week 2 against the New England Patriots unless he suffers a setback in practice later this week. Lockett is shaping up as a WR4/flex play for fantasy managers for the second week in a row.
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Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (toe) was listed as a limited practice participant on Wednesday. In addition to Fant, fellow tight end Pharaoh Brown (foot) was limited due to a foot injury. Fant was also limited in practice early last week before ultimately suiting up in the Week 1 win over his former team, the Denver Broncos. In the season-opening victory, the 26-year-old caught just two of four targets for 11 yards while playing 75 percent of the offensive snaps for Seattle. Barring a setback with his toe injury, he should be just fine to play in Week 2 against the New England Patriots. Fant took a major step back in this offense last year, so unless one or two of the Seahawks' trio of wide receivers go down with an injury, he's likely to be a low-upside, low-floor, low-end TE2 option for fantasy managers in 2024.
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When asked if the door is open for Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (knee) to suit up in Week 2 this Sunday at Lambeau Field against the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Matt LaFleur said, "I'd say it's pretty open." Love did not practice on Wednesday after suffering a Grade 1/2 MCL sprain in his left knee at the very end of the season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last Friday in Brazil. The Packers are not placing the 25-year-old on Injured Reserve, which means they are confident he can return within the next four games. However, despite LaFleur's comments about Love having a shot to play this weekend, fantasy managers should have already formulated a plan to be without Love in Week 2 and possibly beyond. Love's injury typically comes with a three- to six-week timetable, so the smart money is on him missing multiple weeks. The Packers offense could struggle mightily with backup Malik Willis under center in the meantime.
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Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (oblique) did not take part in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday. Walker suffered an oblique injury in the Week 1 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, but luckily his injury forced him out of the game late and he was able to provide 20 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown before leaving. He also added two catches for six yards. The 23-year-old is considered day-to-day as of Wednesday, but his status for the Week 2 contest against the New England Patriots is very much up in the air. Walker is a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 if he's active as Seattle's lead back, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he carries a questionable tag into the weekend. If Walker doesn't get cleared to play, backup Zach Charbonnet would work as Seattle's starting RB. Charbonnet is rostered in only 51% of Yahoo leagues currently.
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Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) was given a rest day at practice on Wednesday, according to head coach Matt Eberflus. The Bears will evaluate Allen on Thursday and see where he's at. Allen tweaked a heel injury that he also dealt with in training camp in August in the Week 1 season-opening victory over the Tennessee Titans and even went into the medical tent on the sideline to be checked, but he eventually returned to the field and finished out the game. In addition to Allen, rookie Rome Odunze's (knee) is dealing with an MCL sprain and may not be able to play in Week 2 at the Houston Texans. The 32-year-old Allen's status should be closely monitored the next few days. If both he and Odunze are unable to play against the Texans, DJ Moore will see as many targets as he can handle, with tight end Cole Kmet also see a sizeable uptick in targets from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (wrist) said that his surgically-repaired right wrist is not impacting his ability to throw the ball down the field. Burrow was seen flexing his right wrist on the sideline of the Week 1 upset loss to the New England Patriots, but he said it's normal and he does it all the time to keep the joint loose after his offseason surgery. The 27-year-old practiced in full on Wednesday and will be ready to roll for a tough Week 2 date this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Burrow struggled mightily in the season opener without receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) and after not practicing with Ja'Marr Chase at all during training camp and the preseason. Higgins could miss another game this weekend. We're expecting Burrow and Cincy's offense to eventually figure it out, but after the ugly Week 1 performance, Burrow is more on the QB2 radar than the QB1 for fantasy managers.
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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) wouldn't practice on Wednesday and instead would stay inside and get treatment on his injured ankle. Addison injured his right ankle in the Week 1 blowout win over the New York Giants, and it's unclear exactly if he will be able to play in Week 2 this Sunday versus the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings are hopeful that the 22-year-old second-year pass-catch can play against the Niners, but they are playing it smart with his ankle, and it will ultimately come down to how much Addison can do in practice later this week. Despite the Vikings winning comfortably in Week 1, Addison had only three catches on four targets for 35 yards. If he's inactive in Week 2 or limited at all by his ankle, Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell will compete for targets behind WR1 Justin Jefferson.
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When asked if the team's Week 6 bye will help get Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee), and offensive linemen Steve Avila (knee) and Joe Noteboom (ankle) back after only missing the required four games while on Injured Reserve, head coach Sean McVay said, "They each have unique injuries that as of right now could keep them out longer than that." The Rams officially placed all three players on IR on Wednesday, meaning they have to sit out Weeks 2-5. The 23-year-old Nacua will have an extra week to recover because of the team's bye, but it sounds like he may not even be ready for Week 7 against the Raiders due to a PCL sprain in his right knee that he suffered in the Week 1 loss to the Lions. WR1 Cooper Kupp is going to eat with Nacua sidelined, while Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson will also be much more involved in the passing game, as well as tight end Colby Parkinson.
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Denver Broncos running back Audric Estime (ankle) was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, forcing him to miss at least four games. The rookie running back had a limited role in the Week 1 26-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, totaling two rushing attempts for 14 yards, including a 12-yard rush. While the former Notre Dame star was the No. 3 running back on the depth chart, his time on injured reserve could open up playing time for Blake Watson. The undrafted free-agent running back is worth adding in dynasty and deeper redraft leagues. Meanwhile, Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin should again receive most of the backfield workload in the Week 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau (concussion) practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday, according to Nick Underhill of New Orleans Football. Moreau left Sunday's game early due to concussion protocol and did not return. Before the injury, Moreau caught all four of his targets for 43 yards and a touchdown. Seeing the 27-year-old on the practice field is a good sign for his potential status for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. However, he will need to pass a specific concussion protocol in order to suit up. Given his workload in the season opener, Moreau is shaping up to be a solid TE2 if he plays on Sunday. However, if he is unable to play, Juwan Johnson is likely to see an increase in snaps.
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Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (back) was limited in practice on Wednesday with a back injury according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. The Packers are likely easing the practice workload on their newly acquired running back prior to their Week 2 match against the Indianapolis Colts. Jacobs saw a heavy workload on Friday evening against the Eagles as presumed backup MarShawn Lloyd was inactive with a hamstring injury. Jacobs logged a hefty 42 offensive snaps in that game. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Jacobs' status prior to the weekend. Lloyd was also a limited participant in practice as well. If Jacobs were to face any limitations in Week 2, Emmanuel Wilson will likely see an uptick in work.
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In Week 2, the Miami Dolphins will face their division rivals, the Buffalo Bills, on Thursday Night Football. The Dolphins are 2.5-point favorites, while the matchup has a 48-point implied total for the two teams. Miami's D held up well against Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday in their 20-17 victory. They allowed just 139 yards and a score through the air against the Jags, though they did let up 128 and a score on the ground. While Josh Allen might be missing his leading wide receivers from 2023, he still found a way to put up 271 total yards and four combined scores against the Cardinals. Miami's defense fared better in their second matchup (at home) against Buffalo in 2023, but they got gashed for 48 points in Week 4 when they took them on in Buffalo. The unit can be left on waivers and benches ahead of Week 2 as RotoBaller's DEF24.
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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Kadarius Toney (undisclosed) was not practicing on Wednesday due to a minor undisclosed injury, according to Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram. Toney recently signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns on Monday to join the practice squad. The 25-year-old will likely need substantial time to get accustomed to the Cleveland playbook and should not be expected to join the active roster anytime soon. Last season, the former first-round selection played in 13 games for the Kansas City Chiefs but totaled just 169 yards and a score on 27 catches. He added 31 yards on the ground. Toney should remain on all waiver wires until he earns a consistent role in the Cleveland offense.
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (ankle) was limited at practice on Wednesday, according to Richard Silva of the Detroit News. The 23-year-old did not show any injury concerns earlier this week, so the Lions could be leaning on the side of cation with their former first-round pick. Williams saw very limited playing time throughout the first two seasons of his career but began to find some consistency late last season. In the season opener on Sunday, the Alabama product led all Detroit pass-catchers with 121 yards. This was highlighted by an impressive 52-yard touchdown catch. Fantasy managers should follow Williams' status prior to Sunday. The wideout is shaping up to be a high-end flex play as the Lions face the Buccaneers in a Divisional Round rematch.
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Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders will again look to help his team to a victory when they face the Buffalo Bills in a Thursday Night Football divisional matchup. Sanders successfully converted both of his extra-point tries and 2-of-3 field goals -- including a 52-yard game-winner with time expiring -- against the Jacksonville Jaguars this past Sunday. His miss was a 42-yard attempt in the third quarter. The 28-year-old did not attempt a field goal in his matchups against the Bills last season and was just 4-for-4 on point attempt tries over the two contests. Buffalo's defense doesn't hold quite the star power it once did, so it's fair to expect Sanders to score more than two fantasy points -- his total in both matchups last season. Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater connected on both of his FG and XP tries last week in the team's 34-28 loss. The Bills will probably play the Fins tough, but Sanders should still have a nice game. He's RotoBaller's K8 in this week's rankings.
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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (knee) was held out of practice on Wednesday. The 25-year-old suffered an MCL sprain and a bone bruise in the season opener but has yet to be ruled out for Week 2. Earlier this week, head coach Mike McCarthy expressed that the tight remains "optimistic" about his chances to play on Sunday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Ferguson's practice status as he will need to log at least one session prior to the weekend to have a good chance to suit up on Sunday. Before the injury, Ferguson caught three of his five targets for 15 yards in Week 1. If Ferguson were to sit out on Sunday, Luke Schoonmaker will likely serve as the starting option and could be a sneaky play in DFS formats.
From RotoBaller