NFL Player News

The former Bills tight end got some second half playing time with Zach Ertz sidelined by a foot injury. He found himself wide open on the end zone and made the most of his one target. If Ertz can’t play Thursday against the Giants, it would most likely be Richard Rodgers who operates the team’s top tight end. The Eagles use a lot of two-tight end sets, however, meaning Croom will probably be on the field quite a bit if Ertz and Dallas Goedert are out in Week 7.

For those who continue to follow the Niners/Aiyuk saga, this is no surprise. Aiyuk’s designation means he does not count against the 49ers’ 90-man roster for camp, and the designation requires him to apply to the NFL for reinstatement before he can be released or traded. Aiyuk has been active on his Instagram account, and appears to be trying to manifest a move to the Commanders to play with long-time friend and former college teammate Jayden Daniels, but the ball is ultimately in his court to take the steps necessary for anything to be facilitated. It was reported earlier this month by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that he “doesn’t think” the Commanders would be interested in Aiyuk if he were to come available. Aiyuk last played in 2024, posting a 25-374-0 line in seven games before suffering a torn ACL in Week 7.

Delane suffered a shoulder injury this offseason at OTAs and was sporting a non-contact jersey at the Chiefs’ first training camp. The No. 6 overall pick in this year’s draft said things are “getting better every day” and has spent most of his time in the playbook and conditioning. The fact he didn’t open camp on the PUP list suggests this is a relatively minor injury for Delane, who is expected to provide an immediate boost to a new-look secondary that last starting corners Trent McDuffie (trade) and Jaylen Watson (free agency) to the Rams this offseason.

Corum took a nice leap in his second season as a pro, posting a 145-746-6 rushing line over 17 games while competing with Kyren Williams for touches every step of the way. Like Corum, Williams was also healthy for 17 games, but that didn’t stop Corum from popping up for a few top-24 PPR finishes last season. Corum’s 9.4 opportunities per game weren’t enough to make him a reliable option in start/sit leagues, as he managed only one double-digit PPR performance from Weeks 1-12, but his production could pave the way for a more even split with Williams this season. It may take some time to determine whether or not we can view Corum as a player who has standalone value this season, but he remains one of the best handcuffs in fantasy playing in an elite offense that could feature him in a high-volume role should Williams ever miss time.

Shanahan was seriously injured in a car accident on July 14th that resulted in multiple broken bones and required more than 40 stitches in his face. It was already reported that he will be limited during training camp, but Lynch seems fairly optimistic Shanahan will be ready for the team’s regular-season opener in Australia, set for September 10th. Lynch said Shanahan has to “meet certain markers” in his recovery in order to be cleared but added “I think the expectation is that long before that he’ll be better.” We’ll likely get more updates on Shanahan in the days/weeks ahead.

Madubuike was placed on the active/PUP list to begin camp, but the 28-year-old lineman has been cleared by doctors to return to the field. According to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, the Ravens are now taking “time to assess his conditioning and acclimate his return to the field,” with the expectation being that he will be activated from the PUP list sometime this week. Madubuike suffered a neck injury in Week 2 of last season and there was some belief that he may miss all of the 2026 season, if not longer. Madubuike earned Second-team All-Pro honors in 2023 when he racked up 56 tackles, 13 sacks, and 11 TFLs, and has proven to be a premier player at his position when healthy.

Johnson lasted all of three days on PUP before the team deemed him healthy enough to activate. The Cardinals are currently in day three of camp but have yet to progress to padded practices. The former first round pick will again be charged with protecting the quarterback’s blind side and will need to turn the corner on the field if the Cardinals want to make good on their investment.

Speaking to the media Saturday, 49ers general manager John Lynch said that Kittle, Alfred Collins, and Isaac Guerendo will be moved to the PUP list ahead of the start of camp but that he is “optimistic on all of them hitting the practice field sooner than later.” As a reminder, players can be moved from the PUP list at any point during camp, meaning the fact that they currently find themselves with that designation does not mean they will miss anything meaningful to their fantasy value in 2026.

The contract comes fully guaranteed and includes a $14.94 million signing bonus and fifth-year option. Simpson should immediately challenge for the primary backup role behind veteran starter Matthew Stafford, the latter of whom recently signed a one-year extension that ties him to the Rams through the 2027 season. It appears as if Simpson will learn behind Stafford for a couple seasons before hopefully ascending to a franchise quarterback in a Sean McVay offense.

Entering the final year of his rookie contract, there was some speculation that Nacua would hold out for an extension this offseason. That said, Nacua was present with the team in April for their offseason program, never truly giving any credence to the rumors. The somewhat troubled offseason notwithstanding, Nacua sets up well to return first-round value in fantasy circles as the primary option through the air for the Rams in 2026.

Shanahan will participate in team activities on a limited basis at the start of training camp as he recovers, according to a statement released by the team. Assistant Head Coach Chris Foerster and coordinators will handle head coach responsibilities during this period. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Shanahan broke his nose, three ribs, his hand, needed more than 40 stiches in his face and suffered a severe concussion following the collision with an SUV near Shanahan’s home on July 14. He was taken to the hospital by paramedics and spent most of the day there before he was released. According to Schefter, Shanahan is believed to be healing well. The 46-year-old head coach has guided the 49ers to at least 12 wins in three of the last four seasons.