Houston Texans tight end Irv Smith Jr. (ankle) has suffered an ankle sprain that could lead to him being placed on injured reserve, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. The Texans already lost some talent at the position earlier this summer when Brevin Jordan (knee) went down with a serious knee injury. Without Smith Jr. and Jordan, 2024 fourth-rounder Cade Stover and recent trade acquisition Harrison Bryant make up the depth behind top tight end Dalton Schultz. Schultz is a low-upside TE2 in fantasy, but his playing time in Houston may be a bit more secure now than it was when the preseason began.

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The Kansas City Chiefs have released running back Carson Steele, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. An undrafted free agent signee in 2024, Steele earned some playing time early last season for Kansas City and finished the year with 56 carries for 183 yards. The Chiefs have much better depth at the position heading into 2025 after bringing back veteran Kareem Hunt, signing Elijah Mitchell in free agency, and using a seventh-round pick on Brashard Smith. With Steele now out of the picture, Hunt, Mitchell, and Smith will compete for touches in Kansas City behind undisputed RB1 Isiah Pacheco.

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The Indianapolis Colts are releasing tight end Jelani Woods, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. A third-round pick in 2022, Woods had 25 catches and three touchdowns in his rookie season, but injuries have prevented him from playing in an NFL game in either of the last two years. After drafting Tyler Warren in the first round of this year's draft, the Colts have a deep tight end room that also includes Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, and Will Mallory. Woods is an intriguing talent with excellent physical traits, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him get a second chance elsewhere.

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Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (ankle) will start the season on injured reserve and miss a minimum of four games, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Spears suffered a high ankle sprain in preseason play that will end up sidelining him for close to two months. With Spears set to miss the start of the season, Tony Pollard should be in for a significant volume of snaps and touches in the Titans' backfield. Rookie sixth-rounder Kalel Mullings (ankle) now looks like the leader to be the RB2, but he's dealing with an ankle injury of his own. When Spears returns, he profiles as a low-end RB3/flex option, but fantasy managers need to downgrade him given the now-guaranteed missed time.

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San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Jordan Watkins (ankle) worked out on a side field during the team's practice on Monday, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Watkins suffered a high-ankle sprain in the team's preseason opener and has not practiced since. A fourth-round pick out of Ole Miss, Watkins was reportedly having a solid training camp before the injury. The initial timeline provided for Watkins was a one-month absence, which means he's still likely a couple of weeks away from returning in full. Both Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Jauan Jennings (calf) may still be sidelined when Watkins returns. If that's the case, the 23-year-old will have a chance to earn regular playing time and possibly even be the 49ers' WR2 behind Ricky Pearsall.

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The New Orleans Saints are waiving quarterback Jake Haener, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. A fourth-round pick by New Orleans in 2023, Haener started training camp in competition with Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough for the team's QB1 role. Haener had clearly fallen behind Rattler and Shough in recent weeks, and he will now get a chance to latch on elsewhere. The 26-year-old played in eight games (one start) for the Saints in 2024, completing 18 of 39 pass attempts for 226 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Haener may have an opportunity to sign with another team as a backup, but he's unlikely to be fantasy-relevant in 2025.

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The New York Jets are expected to release wide receiver Malachi Corley. Corley was selected in the third round of last year's NFL Draft out of Western Kentucky. However, with a new coaching staff in New York led by Aaron Glenn, Corley was unable to earn a spot on the final roster. In his rookie season, Corley was not given many opportunities as he appeared in only nine games. During this brief stint with the Jets, he caught just three passes and tallied 16 yards. He also carried the ball twice and tallied an additional 26 yards. In the preseason, Corley was also very quiet and did not make a strong case to hold a spot on the roster. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Garrett Wilson to serve as the clear WR1 in New York, with Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard serving as the No. 2 and No. 3.

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According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the New York Giants are cutting tight end Greg Dulcich. This is a surprising movie, as the veteran tight end enjoyed a productive preseason. In their preseason finale, the 25-year-old found the back of the end zone twice and tallied 26 yards. However, Dulcich was unable to earn a spot on the final roster. The former third-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft began his NFL career with the Broncos. With the Broncos, Dulcich enjoyed a productive rookie season, totaling 411 yards, but would only catch eight passes in his following two seasons. In 2024, Dulcich appeared in five games for the Giants but never caught a pass. Given his productive preseason, Dulcich could draw some interest in the free agent market as a depth tight end. However, given his lack of regular-season production, fantasy managers should leave him off draft boards.

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The Cleveland Browns have released veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson, making him one of Tuesday's notable roster cuts. Johnson, a 2021 Pro Bowler with the Steelers, was battling for a reserve role behind Cedric Tillman and Jerry Jeudy but fell short. The six-year veteran has bounced around recently, spending time with the Panthers, Ravens, and Titans last season, struggling to regain his early-career form. Still, Johnson's polished route running and proven production give him a chance to latch on elsewhere. As teams finalize their rosters before Week 1, the 289-year-old could emerge as a depth option for a contender.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released wide receiver Trey Palmer ahead of Tuesday's roster deadline. Palmer, a sixth-round pick in 2023, appeared in 32 games with 11 starts over the past two seasons, recording 557 receiving yards and four touchdowns. After flashing early in his career, his role diminished last year, and the offseason additions of Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson made him the odd man out in a crowded receiver group. At just 24, Palmer still offers speed and versatility, and the Pittsburgh Steelers showned interest earlier in camp, giving him at least one possible landing spot for 2025.

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The New York Giants have released quarterback Tommy DeVito, ending his two-year run with the team. DeVito, a fan favorite, appeared in 12 games and made eight starts, posting a 3-5 record with eight touchdowns against three interceptions. Despite his flashes, the depth chart in New York left little room, as veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, along with rookie Jaxson Dart, secured roster spots. While his release was expected, DeVito's experience and poise under pressure could make him an attractive waiver target for teams seeking quarterback depth ahead of the 2025 season.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars have released veteran safety Daniel Thomas, ending his five-year stint with the franchise. A 2020 draft pick, Thomas carved out his role primarily on special teams, providing depth in the secondary when called upon. Despite his consistency, Jacksonville's offseason overhaul at safety -- adding Eric Murray, Caleb Ransaw, and Rayuan Lane -- left the roster crowded and forced tough decisions. Thomas' departure signals the team's commitment to developing a younger, more versatile group in the defensive backfield. While he may draw interest as a special teams asset, his immediate future in the NFL remains uncertain.

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The Kansas City Chiefs have released veteran safety Mike Edwards, ending his second stint with the team. Edwards, a six-year pro, played every game for Kansas City in 2023, starting five, and contributed across special teams and the secondary. He began last season with the Bills, appearing in three games before joining the Buccaneers for five more. His departure is a mild surprise given his expected role in the safety rotation, but the Chiefs appear ready to pivot toward younger options like Kevin Knowles or Major Williams as they continue shaping their defensive backfield for 2025.

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Dynasty | The Broncos have released running back Blake Watson. Dynasty Analysis: A dynasty rookie darling at this time a year ago, Watson couldn't unseat Jaleel McLaughlin or Tyler Badie (at least at the moment) to crack the roster of the Broncos. He seems like a player who could resurface on another roster, especially as it seemed there was some teams rumored to be interested in trading for him prior to him spraining his knee this week. Dynasty managers should keep their eye on him but he's no longer a priority on rosters.

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Dynasty | The Chargers have released wide receiver Brenden Rice. Dynasty Analysis: It's a tough break for "son of Jerry" who just hasn't been able to make much of an impact over the past year or so for the Chargers. Rice could be headed for the practice squad but the Chargers seem pretty content with the young receivers they have including KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Tre Harris, so he may be better off finding another home. Regardless, Rice is now squarely off the dynasty radar.

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Dynasty | The Browns have traded quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Raiders. Dynasty Analysis: We pretty much called this one in our player news updates over the last 24 hours after Aidan O'Connell fractured his wrist. The Raiders needed a backup quarterback, the Browns really didn't need four signal callers and it just made too much sense. Pickett has been banged up over the off-season and Cleveland apparently saw enough from Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel to feel comfortable having a fifth round pick instead. Pickett's dynasty value will fall now that he has no chance of starting without a Geno Smith injury and those who took a chance on Gabriel or Sanders could be rewarded.

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Dynasty | The Browns have traded quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Raiders, likely opening up a roster spot for Shedeur Sanders. Dynasty Analysis: Sanders has gone from impressive to awful in the span of three weeks during preseason action but the Browns are seemingly going with Joe Flacco, Sanders and Dillon Gabriel to round out the quarterback room to start the season after shipping Pickett out. While this is clearly good news for both rookies, neither has done anything to inspire much confidence in thinking they could be the future of the franchise in Cleveland. Still, Sanders should have a chance to continue his development and it wouldn't be shocking to see him start games this year. Still a candidate to be overdrafted in any format, he remains simply a late round flier in dynasty leagues.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard (hand) is "moving in the right direction in terms of [achieving] full participation very soon," head coach Mike Tomlin said on Monday. Tomlin added that Howard has met with a hand specialist and received positive news. As a result, the Steelers have altered the rookie quarterback's brace and increased his level of activity in practice. Injury statuses can change by the minute, but for now, it looks like Howard should open the season on Pittsburgh's 53-man roster as the third-string quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. He's off the fantasy football radar for now.

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Carolina Panthers kicker Matthew Wright has been released, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. As a result, rookie Ryan Fitzgerald has won the kicking job. Wright failed to convert his only field goal attempt of the season, missing wide from 55 yards out. No stranger to being an NFL journeyman, Wright played for six organizations over five seasons, including three teams in 2024. He made 15 of his 16 field goal attempts last year. Now, he will proceed to search for a kicking job elsewhere, perhaps adding another team to his resume.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (ankle) is expected to practice fully next week, head coach Mike Macdonald told members of the media, including ESPN's Brady Henderson. Horton has been sidelined ever since injuring himself during the second week of the preseason, but it sounds like he's very close to returning to the field. A fifth-round rookie, Horton once totaled 167 catches, 2,267 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns over the course of two seasons at Colorado State. However, in his third and final season there, his counting stats dropped as he was limited to just six games. Now, Horton is looking to make an impact at the NFL level. As soon as he's cleared to practice, he should step in as the Seahawks' No. 3 receiver behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp.

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