NFL Player News

Vidal injured his neck in Week 16 and was unable to play in Week 17. He practiced throughout Week 18, including two full sessions to close the week. Forecasting Vidal’s role is difficult, with the Chargers declaring QB Justin Herbert, S Derwin James Jr., RB Omarion Hampton (ankle), S Elijah Molden (hamstring), OLB Tuli Tuipulotu, OT Jamaree Salyer (hamstring) and C Bradley Bozeman (concussion) inactive for Week 18 against the Broncos. The team is clearly trying to preserve its health for the postseason and Vidal has meaningfully contributed to the offense this season. While we tentatively expect him to start, RB Hassan Haskins (concussion) and RB Jaret Patterson could also be regularly involved. Patterson is the backfield’s lone fully healthy player.

We are still waiting for more details on this one, but according to reporters who were at the field, Bryant could be seen grabbing at his left knee as he made his way off the field. The 27-year-old safety signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the Bears this offseason after spending the previous four seasons with the Seahawks. Bryant totaled 66 tackles and four interceptions with the Seahawks last season and is expected to see a significant role for the defense this season. We will check back in when we learn more about Bryant’s injury.

The drumbeat continues to grow louder for Likely, who has been rumored multiple times throughout the offseason as the player the team was planning to feature. In June, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan said Likely was Jaxson Dart’s “favorite target” in practice, so this latest piece of news hardly comes as a surprise. According to Hughes, Likely has “displayed clear early chemistry with Dart” in training camp, and the 26-year-old tight end “appears to be the No. 2 option behind Nabers.” Currently going around the 10th round in fantasy drafts, Likely could emerge as a solid late-round option for fantasy managers who pass on the elite tight end options early in drafts.

According to Hughes, Skattebo is “the first up in almost every running drill,” and he has also handled the majority of carries in practice. While it’s certainly an encouraging sign for Skattebo’s usage, Hughes also notes that the preferred options in the passing game are Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary. If the Giants were to dial back Skattebo’s role in the receiving game, it could deal a bit of a blow to his fantasy stock. He was on a 17-game pace to catch 51 passes last season, and his work in the passing game made up 43.7 percent of his fantasy scoring in PPR leagues last year. Skattebo’s role as an early-down grinder and goal-line back should be more than enough to satisfy fantasy managers this season, but a reduced role in the passing game would put a bit of a cap on his ceiling.

Rodgers didn’t take a preseason snap for the Steelers last season, but it sounds like the 42-year-old vet will be on the field for each of the Steelers’ first two preseason games this year. Interestingly, they are against the Packers and Jets. Speaking with The Athletic’s Michael Silver, Rodgers didn’t seem particularly excited about taking preseason snaps, but said, “If (McCarthy) wants me to, I will.”

We still don’t know the specifics of Monangai’s injury, but Johnson said the team is “taking it day-by-day” with the second-year back and that his absence “should be on the shorter side.” While it doesn’t sound like the team is overly concerned at this point, it is worth pointing out that Monangai hasn’t practiced since last Wednesday. We’ll see if he can return to the field before the end of this week.

Breer believes Mendoza is proving the Raiders’ scouting reports right. The young quarterback is “living in the building as a tireless, football-obsessed worker.” Although he is only working with the second team right now, Breer thinks Mendoza has a chance to earn first-team reps over the next couple of weeks. Breer celebrates Mendoza’s “unteachable traits,” noting his ability to monitor the pass rush and pass catchers simultaneously, even when all five eligibles are out running routes, and his ability to bounce back from bad plays. That said, Mendoza is still learning to play from under center and “with his back to the ball,” but the early signs are “good.” He believes Kirk Cousins “is still clearly the best guy at running coach Klint Kubiak’s offense.” Mendoza’s odds of starting this season are still unknown, but promising No. 1 overall picks don’t sit for long.

Per Breer, Jeanty “is showing explosion and violence running without pads on.” Assuming those traits carry over to padded practices and the regular season, coach Klint Kubiak “will have a pretty valuable centerpiece for the run game that serves as the foundation for his scheme.” It’s been months since we heard talk of a split backfield. The idea is seemingly a thing of the past after May and June reports indicated Jeanty could serve as a featured three-down player. Treat him as a locked-in RB1 with upside.

This admittedly isn’t much of an update, but it is something. Rodriguez took his first two reps in team drills at the Jaguars’ fourth training camp practice on Sunday. He took one handoff from QB Nick Mullens and one from starting QB Trevor Lawrence. Rodriguez’s return from foot surgery has been slow going. The Jaguars will host their first padded practice tomorrow. Upgrading to two team-drill reps does not suggest Rodriguez is ready for contact, but we’ll find out soon enough. For now, RB Bhayshul Tuten has the inside track to the starting job.

Washington seemingly has decent odds of being the Jaguars’ most efficient target earner this season. Does that mean he will be the most productive wide receiver? Not necessarily, but it is possible. The Jags ranked third in 11 personnel rate last year, and 18th in 12 personnel. Jags coach Liam Coen wants to increase the latter rate, but has an embarrassment of riches at wide receiver. Washington logged 300-plus snaps both in the slot and on the perimeter last year. He can play both roles. If they do increase 12 personnel, and he can earn even a rotational role in that package, returning value as a WR3 with positively volatile showings is absolutely in play. Otherwise, he might be best viewed as a PPR FLEX.

Walker tore the ACL in his left knee during training camp last year, ending his rookie season before it began. The Bucs had high hopes for him and coach Todd Bowles plans to line him up all over the formation this summer to see how versatile the second-year player can be this season. Per Bowles, Walker’s quickness and speed have already returned.