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    Kraft (knee) says team may ramp up reps in-season

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    Packers TE Tucker Kraft (knee) said the team will “probably” keep him on a snap count until halfway through the 2026 season.

    Kraft is recovering from a season-ending ACL tear. He is on track to play in Week 1. Easing him into action before “sending [him] to the wolves” partway through the year, as Kraft says, makes sense. Kraft proved himself to be a top-tier real-life tight end and a locked-in TE1 in fantasy last year. He can still return TE1 numbers while playing on a snap count, likely receiving a few first-read passes that are designed with his post-catch skill set in mind. These comments should not impact his ADP negatively. For what it’s worth, Kraft also said that he is hoping to play his normal allotment of snaps in Week 1. The team may simply choose to take a conservative approach. Kraft notably resumed participating in 11-on-11 drills today.
Cronin talks Bears' season outlook, stadium move
Courtney Cronin joins Tony Reali to discuss the Chicago Bears potentially moving home games to Hammond, Indiana in the future and this season's outlook with a high-caliber offense.

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  • GB Tight End #85
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    According to Rapoport, the “biggest question” Kraft faces is whether he will get a contract extension that makes him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL before the season kicks off. Kraft led the team in receptions (16) and receiving yards (225) when he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 9 last year. At 25 years old, he is early in his prime.
  • GB Tight End #85
    ESPN’s Rob Demovsky notes this is Kraft’s first absence since he returned from the physically unable to perform list. The Packers are having their annual Family Night this evening, and Demovsky believes the team is simply giving Kraft the night off. There is no cause for concern at this time.
  • GB Tight End #85
    LaFleur elaborated that Kraft will have to hit all his benchmarks to get there, but that it’s squarely in play is great news for Kraft’s chances of being available for Week 1. We’d still expect him to be eased into camp practices, but this is trending in the right direction.
  • GB Tight End #85
    This is tremendous news for Kraft, who said earlier in the week that he expected to be activated “very soon.” Head coach Matt LaFleur said Kraft will practice on Friday but also added that he will not participate in 11-on-11s for the time being. Regardless of his participation, Kraft being back in any capacity is a great sign for his availability entering the season, and we would expect him to be a full participant in practice sooner rather than later. The fourth-year tight end caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns over eight games last season before a torn ACL ended his breakout campaign, but he should be in line for a big 2026 if he can return to the player we saw before his injury.
  • GB Tight End #85
    Kraft said all the way back in June that he would likely begin training camp on the PUP list. He added that he may simply need some time to get his conditioning right before taking the field, and his comments from today seem to confirm that. He was on pace to finish as the TE4 before suffering a torn ACL last year. Even if he starts slow in 2026, Kraft appears to be a safe bet for high-end fantasy production this year.
  • GB Tight End #85
    Kraft had left open the possibility he would be full-go for the beginning of camp, but this was always a more likely outcome. Kraft can be activated at any time, but the conservative Packers will undoubtedly take their time. Once you are off the active/PUP list, you cannot return and are no longer a candidate for reserve/PUP. In other words, the Pack will want to be sure Kraft is healthy. The ascending fourth-year pro has a strong chance at being ready for Week 1, but it is not a forgone conclusion. We will keep you updated.
  • GB Tight End #85
    This news comes shortly after the Packers signed Devonte Wyatt to a three-year, $57 million extension. Kraft, who, like Wyatt, is also in the final year of his rookie deal, is recovering from a torn ACL that ended his 2025 season but is trending toward being ready for Week 1 based on recent reports and has been among the most efficient tight ends in the league. Since earning a full-time role in 2024, Kraft has totaled 82 receptions for 1,196 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging an impressive 14.6 YPR. With training camp drawing near, it wouldn’t be surprising to see this deal get done in the very near future.
  • GB Tight End #85
    Kraft has said earlier this offseason that he plays to play in Week 1 with “no pitch count,” and Schneidman himself said late last month that the tight end “should be full go” by then. That said, whether or not Kraft is playing in full by the start of training camp is to be determined. Kraft suffered a torn ACL in Week 9 of last season and could be a candidate for the PUP list to open camp when the Packers take the field for their first practice in 10 days. His status will be one to monitor, but Kraft taking the field in any capacity to start camp would be a good sign.
  • GB Tight End #85
    Kraft has said that he plans to play in Week 1 with no pitch count after a torn ACL he suffered in Week 9 of last season. Going on the PUP list at the start of camp would not be abnormal or cause for concern, the question would simply be how long he stays on it. Kraft is going to be one of the most fantasy-interesting injuries to track over the course of training camp. Stay tuned.
  • GB Tight End #85
    Kraft did note that he will likely begin training camp on the PUP list. He specifically mentioned that he could use that time to get his conditioning ready ahead of Week 1. Kraft is still recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in Week 9 of last year, but all signs point to him being on or ahead of schedule. On a points-per-game basis, he exited 2025 as the TE4. He may not open the year at quite that level, but fantasy managers should bank on him being an every-week starter sooner rather than later.

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    ESPN’s Turron Davenport reports that Titans OC Brian Daboll’s intent to improve on third down was a “key reason” for signing WR Wan’Dale Robinson.

    Davenport penned a lengthy piece detailing how OC Brian Daboll is focused on developing QB Cam Ward’s play on third down, in the red zone and in the two-minute drill. This is pretty straightforward. Those are all high-leverage situations, so harping on Ward’s performance there makes sense. Robinson played on all three drives in the Titans’ first preseason game while veteran Calvin Ridley was on the field for one. Rookie WR Carnell Tate was on the field for the first and third drives. It is tough to get a read on Robinson’s status in the starting wide receiver trio, but a featured role on third downs could help him return FLEX value if Tate and Ridley take the Nos. 1 and 2 roles, respectively.
  • MIN Linebacker #32
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Vikings LB Jamal Adams suffered a season-ending knee injury in Saturday’s preseason game against the Giants.

    Adams, 30, has had some tough injury luck over the course of his career. This is very unfortunate. Adams was set to play on a one-year, $1.3 million contract this season. He totaled 38 tackles, seven quarterback pressures and one sack with the Raiders last year.
  • FA Defensive End #92
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    Free agent DE Marcus Davenport worked out for the Bears on Sunday.

    Davenport, 29, totaled just seven quarterback pressures and one sack for the Lions last year. He is likely best suited to a rotational role at this point. The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs notes that Davenport began his career with the Saints in 2018, playing for the Bears’ current defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen.
  • CHI Running Back #25
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    ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Bears RB Kyle Monangai (knee) is believed to be “fine” after undergoing initial testing.

    According to Schefter, initial tests indicate Monangai’s knee is structurally sound. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI to confirm the results, but it sounds like Monangai avoided suffering a consequential injury. This is great news for the second-year back, who warrants standalone FLEX treatment if his knee checks out. Starting RB D’Andre Swift can easily shoulder a few extra touches if Monangai needs to be eased into action next month.
  • LV Wide Receiver #85
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    Raiders signed WR Noah Brown, formerly of the Commanders.

    Brown, 30, dealt with knee, groin and rib injuries last season. He profiles as a rotational player at this point in his career, but the Raiders’ wide receiver depth chart is fairly thin. He is unlikely to be fantasy-relevant, though he can help out at the team level. The Raiders correspondingly released DT Benito Jones.
  • PIT Running Back #13
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    FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano believes RB Rico Dowdle “should end up as the workhorse in the Steelers’ backfield” this year.

    Recent reporting from ESPN suggests the Steelers will employ a run-heavy approach this season. Vacchiano agrees and adds that Steelers coach Mike McCarthy believes Dowdle could help the team produce a strong running game this season. That said, Vacchiano also said that Dowdle and RB Jaylen Warren could form “a potent tandem,” so Vacchiano may only be indicating that Dowdle will be the team’s primary rusher while Warren changes the pace and plays on passing downs. Both players sit in the fringe RB2/FLEX barrel right now.
  • CHI Offensive Lineman #75
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    Bears activated OT Ozzy Trapilo (knee) from the physically unable to perform list on Sunday.

    Trapilo even resumed practicing today. This is quite an accomplishment. Trapilo suffered a season-ending patellar tendon rupture in the Bears’ Wild Card Round win over the Packers last year. He was expected to be sidelined “deep into next year,’ per general manager Ryan Poles, but Trapilo’s recovery has apparently gone very well. Trapilo proved himself as a capable pass protector and run blocker. He may need a while to ramp up, but the Bears are currently hosting a competition for the left tackle job. Veteran OT Braxton Jones has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury, but coach Ben Johnson recently said he could resume practicing this week. He got in one limited session last week.
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    49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (tightness) did not practice on Sunday.

    The 49ers do not have to disclose any details here, so we just have to wait until McCaffrey either tells us himself or retakes the practice field. The veteran running back has plenty of time to get right for Week 1. We are not overly concerned. He remains a high-end RB1 for the 2026 season, but we will provide an update whenever we get one.
  • CHI Running Back #25
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    Bears RB Kyle Monangai left practice early on Sunday after suffering an apparent right knee injury.

    According to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, Monangai “got tangled up” with DT Grady Jarrett when the injury occurred. The second-year running back was able to walk off the field and into the locker room under his own power. The fact that the cart was not needed might be a good sign, but unfortunately, we are simply in wait-and-see mode for the time being. Bears RBs Roschon Johnson and Brittain Brown sit on the depth chart behind him. Starting RB D’Andre Swift could absorb a big chunk of Monangai’s workload if he misses time.
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    49ers TE George Kittle (Achilles) said he is “nearing a return to practice” and has “a chance” to play in Week 1 against the Rams.

    Kittle is “very confident” he will be activated from the active/PUP list before Week 1, meaning he should resume playing sometime in Weeks 1-4. The veteran tight end has not yet resumed practicing, but “hinted he’d be back at practice shortly but declined to give a timeline,” per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. Kittle said that he is running “a lot” and hitting top speeds while doing so. The 49ers are scheduled to fly out for the Week 1 game in Melbourne, Australia roughly one week before the game. Kittle said that the next couple of weeks will determine whether he joins his teammates on that flight. From the way Kittle is discussing his recovery, it almost sounds like he expects to play in Week 2 at the latest, though that is purely an interpretive conclusion. Whether Kittle returns to form as a post-catch dominator remains to be seen, but the 32-year-old remains a top-12 player at his position at this time.