NFL

Watson’s recovery from shoulder surgery continues to go well. After participating in 11-on-11s without pads earlier in the week, Stefanski believes Watson is also ready for padded practices. Given the way teams protect quarterbacks during training camp, Watson shouldn’t be at risk of re-injury in padded practices since defenders aren’t allowed to hit him. He continues to trend in the right direction, which is an encouraging sign so early into camp.

Hines suffered a torn ACL in a freak jet ski accident last season, costing him an entire year’s worth of football. Now with the Browns, Hines reunites with former Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, who was part of the regime that traded for him during the 2022 season. Hines brings versatility as a satellite back and can also contribute as a kick/punt returner. He’s been spotted rehabbing with Nick Chubb during camp, but like Chubb, we don’t know when he could return to full football action.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the contract’s $55 million-per-year average makes Love the highest-paid QB in NFL history and includes “a record $75M Signing Bonus plus $155M in new full guarantees.” The deal comes following Love’s breakout, inaugural season as the Packers’ starter. He finished seventh in regular season passing yards (4,158), second in passing touchdowns (32) and tied for 21st in interceptions (11), while establishing himself as a capable dual-threat, totaling 252 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on 49 carries. He enters 2024 with one of the NFL’s deepest pass-catching corps, locked in as a fantasy football QB1.

The Friday practice report comes from NBC Cincinnati’s Charlie Clifford. Three days prior, Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin told reporters that Brown would “have an opportunity to be the guy, or the second guy, or in tandem with Zack [Moss].” The repeated first-team opportunities are a positive sign thus far. Brown was also filmed returning kickoffs on Friday—a potentially fantasy-relevant role with the NFL’s new kickoff return rules.

Per ESPN’s Field Yates, the Lions also worked out Lucas Havrisik, Matthew McCrane and Andre Szmyt following Michael Badgley’s season-ending injury. Ammendola (67.0 percent) and Havrisik (75.0 percent) are coming off shaky field-goal conversion rates in 2023. McCrane (80.0 percent) and Szmyt (87.0 percent) fared better in their recent UFL stints, though none of the four inspire confidence. The Lions’ fantasy-friendly kicker role may underwhelm in 2024.

The deal includes $167 million in guarantees and his $53.1 million per-year average ranks third at the position. He is the highest-paid player in Dolphins history. Some may critique the deal given the Dolphins’ cold-weather struggles over the last two years. Tagovailoa’s overall play is undeniably top-notch though. Among 34 NFL quarterbacks with at least 600 dropbacks over the last two years, he ranks eighth or better in big-time-throw rate (5.2 percent), completion rate (66.8 percent), yards per passing attempt (8.4) and NFL passer rating (101.6). The Dolphins should experience cozy environs for much of December, with Weeks 14 and 16 home games sandwiching a Week 15 trip to Santa Clara. Weeks 17 and 18 include trips to Cleveland and New York, which will again bring the contract into focus though.

Rotational CB Derion Kendrick suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Wednesday’s practice as well, worsening the impact of Williams’ soft-tissue issue. The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue reports Williams’ injury, of unknown severity, occurred during the final play of Thursday’s practice. The Rams front office signed Williams and Tre’Davious White, formerly of the Bills, to man the perimeter cornerback positions this offseason. While White is currently a full practice participant, it should be noted he suffered season-ending injuries in both 2021 (ACL tear) and 2023 (Achilles tendon rupture).

The training staff has yet to determine the injury’s severity but the Broncos are already in a tough spot at safety. The front office released four-time second-team All-Pro S Justin Simmons this offseason and both S Caden Sterns (patellar tendon) and S Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) are currently on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. P.J. Locke is the only active Broncos safety who logged triple-digit defensive snaps last year, though he worryingly earned a 55.2 PFF coverage grade.

Popper made it a point to say that these reps can provide us with “some insight into the rotations.” Former first-round pick Quentin Johnston worked with the second-team offense during this portion of practice. Johnston imploded as a rookie and amassed just 431 yards on 38 grabs. Chark hasn’t done much lately either, but has plenty of NFL experience and can fill the vacant X receiver role in LA. Johnston’s role is alarmingly shaky heading into his second season. Chark, on the other hand, is a viable final pick in deep drafts.

Jackson is continuing to battle an illness that sidelined him earlier this week. In a statement posted to the team’s social media account, the Ravens said, “QB Lamar Jackson remains sidelined with an illness and will not practice today. He continues to undergo further evaluation and receive care from our medical team.” Jackson seems to regularly battle illnesses that come and go with time. He managed to practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but could be in line to miss a few more day of practice with this latest news.