Deshaun Watson Absent From Tuesday's Practice

Despite his trade request and looming legal troubles, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has been present at the team's training camp practices so far. But on Tuesday, with the team having their first padded practice, Watson was not on the field. Considering he's been practicing with the fourth team so far, Watson's absence as the […]

Titans Claim Sam Ficken, Waive Blake Haubeil

The kicker competition in Tennessee has taken a turn, as the Titans have claimed former Jets kicker Sam Ficken off waivers and have waived Blake Haubeil. Haubeil had been competing with Tucker McCann for the role, but both players have struggled in camp, especially on longer kicks. Ficken should be expected to win this job […]

Deshaun Watson Practicing, But With Fourth Team

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is practicing again with the team on Monday, but John McClain of the Houston Chronicle says that he's practicing with the fourth team behind Tyrod Taylor, Davis Mills, and Jeff Driskel. It's another sign that Watson isn't playing football for the Houston Texans in 2021 and that Taylor -- who […]

Nico Collins Having Impressive Camp

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins continued his impressive training camp performance on Monday, catching a deep touchdown after getting past corner John Reid. Collins is expected to play a key role as an outside receiver for this Texans team, though how soon he plays that role is still unclear. It's probably safe to assume […]

Rodrigo Blankenship, Eddy Pineiro Competing For Starting Job

We have a kicker competition on our hands. The Colts have a pair of promising players competing for the starting job, with second-year kicker Rodrigo Blankenship trying to hold off Eddy Pineiro. Blankenship had a decorated college career at Georgia, then went 32-for-37 last season. But he was just 1-for-3 on kicks of at least […]

DeVante Parker Off PUP List, Preston Williams On COVID List

The Miami Dolphins have made a pair of moves at wide receiver, activating DeVante Parker (foot) off the Physically Unable To Perform list and placing Preston Williams on the COVID-19 list. For Parker, this move gets Miami's No. 1 receiver -- for now -- back in the mix as he works to build more rapport […]

Marquise Brown Has Hamstring Injury

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Marquise Brown is currently dealing with a hamstring injury that's reportedly worse than originally thought, according to head coach John Harbaugh. Brown has now missed three consecutive practices. There's still a lot of time before the regular season, so while hamstring injuries are a definite concern, especially with a receiver like […]

Devonta Smith Week To Week With Knee Sprain

Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver DeVonta Smith is currently "week to week" with a knee sprain. It doesn't sound like it's something that's worrying the team at this point and a sprain is probably the best-case scenario when it comes to a knee injury, but it's worth noting that Smith will miss some valuable practice […]

Fool Me Once... Second-Year Running Backs Who'll Bust Again

Out of pretty much every NFL position, running back is the one where immediate success should be the most expected. It's a position with the shortest shelf life, so players need to prove themselves quickly. So when a player's rookie year doesn't go well, that's a bad sign. And while some players will have a […]

2021 NBA Draft Winners and Losers - Instant Analysis

Last night, the annual NBA Draft happened. It was wild, and it included a Russell Westbrook trade that I'll be writing about soon in a different article, because there were just too many moving parts there. The first three picks of this draft went as expected, but then things went off the rails after that, […]

O.J. Howard Practices For First Time

For the first time since tearing his Achilles in October, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard has practiced with the team. Entering his fifth NFL season, Howard -- a former first round pick -- looks like he isn't going to fulfill the massive promise that he entered the NFL with, though maybe another year […]

Colts Need Michael Pittman Jr. To Take Next Step

The Indianapolis Colts enter the 2021 season without a true No. 1 receiver for quarterback Carson Wentz, as T.Y. Hilton has seen his numbers dip the past two seasons. The team will be looking for second-year receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to be the guy who steps up and takes on that role. According to Zak […]

Blake Haubeil, Tucker McCann Battle For Titans Kicker Job

The Tennessee Titans have a kicker battle in training camp, with Blake Haubeil and Tucker McCann competing for the job. Neither player has attempted a field goal in an NFL game, so training camp results will matter a lot here, which is why Thursday's showing from both players was such a disappointment. Turron Davenport of […]

Melvin Gordon III In Line To Be "Clear-Cut Starter"

Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon III "is in line to be the clear-cut starter at running back," says The Athletic's Nick Kosmider. While the team drafted Javonte Williams and signed Mike Boone, it appears those two will mainly work as relief for Gordon, at least in the early going. Gordon spent last training camp […]

Teddy Bridgewater Appears To Have Edge In QB Competition

Through two training camp practices, it looks like Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has the lead over Drew Lock in the team's competition to be the Week 1 starter. The Athletic's Nick Kosmider reports that "there has been only one ball thrown by quarterback Teddy Bridgewater that has hit the ground during team drills." Bridgewater […]

Bills Sign Bug Howard

The Buffalo Bills have signed free agent tight end Bug Howard, a 28-year-old from the University of North Carolina. Howard has bounced around NFL teams but has mainly just been a practice squad guy, though he did see some playing time in 2019 for the Atlanta Legends in the Alliance of American Football, as he […]

Taysom Hill, Jameis Winston Continue To Swap Reps

It appears we're in for a real quarterback competition in New Orleans, with Saints head coach Sean Payton saying that Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill will swap reps daily as the first-team QB. Winston's received the most praise so far in camp, but Hill's still a clear threat to Winston in the battle for the […]

Jacob Harris Sidelined For Next Couple Weeks

Los Angeles Rams tight end Jacob Harris will be held out of practice for the next couple of weeks after undergoing a procedure for a core injury. While it doesn't sound like the injury will impact Harris' availability for the regular season, he'll be missing valuable practice time, which is especially important as Harris is […]

Grizzlies Take Santi Aldama To End First Round

With the final pick of the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies have selected center Santi Aldama, a Spanish player who played at Loyola Baltimore last season. Aldama averaged 21.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, though he wasn't playing against elite competition. There's a ton of upside here as Aldama […]

Nets Take Day’Ron Sharpe At 29

With the 29th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Brooklyn Nets — who acquired the picks from the Suns in a deal that sent Landry Shamet to Phoenix — have selected North Carolina center Day'Ron Sharpe. Last season, Sharpe averaged 9.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game. He's an athletic big and […]

Sixers Draft Jaden Springer

With the 28th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Phladelphia 76ers have selected Tennessee guard Jaden Springer. Last season, Springer averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest while shooting 43.5 prcent from three. He'll provide the Sixers with some useful bench scoring, but it's really hard to know what […]

Nets Take Cam Thomas At 27

With the 27th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Brooklyn Nets have selected LSU guar Cam Thomas. Thomas showed a knack for scoring with LSU last season, averaging 23.0 points per game, though he shot just 40.6 percent. That efficiency should rise in Brooklyn though, as Thomas will be surrounded by James Harden, Kevin […]

Nuggets Draft Bones Hyland

With the 26th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets have drafted VCU guard Bones Hyland. The Atlantic-10 Player of the Year, Hyland is a great scorer who can hit the three but can also score inside. There are concerns about his strength, but Denver is a great landing spot for Hyland, who'll […]

Knicks Take Quentin Grimes At 25

With the 25th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks have selected Houston guard Quentin Grimes, who started his college career at Kansas before transferring and spending two seasons with the Cougars. Last year, Grimes fulfilled the promise he'd long had, averaging 17.8 points on 40.6 percent shooting while also connecting on […]

Rockets Use 24th Pick On Josh Christopher

With the 24th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets have selected Arizona State guard Josh Christopher. A favorite of NBA Draft Twitter, Christopher averaged 14.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game last season. He shot just 30.2 percent from three, but he's a good at making tough shots. Of course, […]

Rockets Take Usman Garuba With 23rd Pick

With the 23rd pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets have drafted Real Madrid center Usman Garuba. This is the second international big taken by Houston in this draft after they traded up for Alperen Sengun. You can argue that both players were steals based on their upside, and if this works for […]

Wizards Draft Isaiah Jackson, Trade Him For Aaron Holiday

With the 22nd pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards selected Kentucky center Isaiah Jackson, then traded Jackson to the Indiana Pacers for guard Aaron Holiday. It's a weird trade for the Wizards, who acquire a player who averaged 7.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game last year for the Pacers. […]

Clippers Trade Up For Keon Johnson

The Los Angeles Clippers have traded up in the 2021 NBA Draft, acquiring New York's No. 21 pick and using it on Tennessee wing Keon Johnson. Johnson is a great athlete who averaged 1.1 steals per game last year and can block shots as well. Defense is how he'll make his living in the NBA, […]

Hawks Take Jalen Johnson With 20th Pick

With the No. 20 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks have selected former Duke forward Jalen Johnson, who made waves when he opted out of college basketball during last season. In the 13 games he played, Johnson averaged 11.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, plus added on 1.2 blocks and 1.2 […]

Charlotte Trades For 19th Pick, Takes Kai Jones

The Charlotte Hornets have traded a future first-round pick to the New York Knicks. In return, the Hornets netted the 19th pick in this year's NBA Draft, which the team used on Texas center Kai Jones. Jones is an incredibly athletic big, though he wasn't super productive for the Longhorns last season, averaging 8.8 points […]