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FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

Falcons QBs Michael Penix Jr., Kirk Cousins to sit another preseason game

Tue Aug 12 11:14am ET
Field Level Media

Easton Stick and Emory Jones are in line for the majority of the snaps for the Falcons when Atlanta plays the Tennessee Titans on Friday night.

Michael Penix Jr. is the starter when the regular season opens and head coach Raheem Morris declared he would not play his second-year quarterback this week. A decision on No. 2 quarterback Kirk Cousins wasn't final but Atlanta is unlikely to play him in the game after multiple days of joint practices at the team's Flowery Branch facility this week.

Last week, Cousins dressed -- Penix didn't -- but wasn't used in the Falcons' preseason opener.

Stick was strong in that game against the Detroit Lions last week, completing 15 of his 18 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown in the first half.

Jones completed 4 of 5 passes and rushed for nine yards before the game was suspended in the fourth quarter due to an injury to Lions safety Morice Norris.

The Falcons kick off the regular season on Sept. 7 in Atlanta with a visit from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The preseason finale is Aug. 22 at Dallas.

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Player Notes
Tyrion Davis-Price Aug 12 11:30am CT
Tyrion Davis-Price

Free-agent running back Tyrion Davis-Price is signing an undisclosed deal with the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Davis-Price heads to the NFC North after he was released by the Tennessee Titans in th middle of July. The 24-year-old was originally a third-round pick (93rd overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2022 NFL draft out of LSU. He never panned out in the Bay Area in two seasons there, carrying the ball a combined 40 times for 120 yards and no touchdowns on the ground in only seven games. Davis-Price appeared in one game with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 and had three carries for seven yards. He will provide some depth in the RB room during the preseason behind Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson, MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks. Wilson and Lloyd have been banged up in camp.

From RotoBaller

Tyrod Taylor Aug 12 11:20am CT
Tyrod Taylor

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said that veteran backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor (knee) had a "procedure" on his knee, but the team hopes that he will be ready to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. Taylor missed practice on Monday with his knee injury and will now likely miss the rest of the preseason. With the 36-year-old sidelined, Adrian Martinez and Brady Cook will see additional reps in practices and the preseason behind starter Justin Fields. Taylor is in his 15th season in the NFL and is going into his second year with the Jets. Last year behind Aaron Rodgers, he played in only two games and threw for 119 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions on 22 pass attempts. Taylor is completely off the fantasy radar as long as Fields is healthy.

From RotoBaller

Brevin Jordan Aug 12 11:10am CT
Brevin Jordan

The Houston Texans plan to place tight end Brevin Jordan (knee) on the season-ending Injured Reserve after he suffered a serious injury in Monday's training camp practice, a source tells Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. It's unclear exactly what injury that Jordan suffered, but the 25-year-old was coming back from a torn ACL that limited him to just two games last year. It's a brutal blow for Jordan, who had been looking good in practices this summer as he competed for playing time behind starter Dalton Schultz. With Jordan now out for the entire 2025 season, Cade Stover and Irv Smith Jr. will be competing for playing time as the TE2 in Houston behind Schultz. In his four years in the NFL (all with Houston), Jordan has 53 catches on 80 targets for 532 yards and five touchdowns in 36 games (12 starts).

From RotoBaller

James Cook Aug 12 10:13am CT
James Cook

Dynasty | Bills running back James Cook was seen practicing on Tuesday. Dynasty Analysis: This is significant as Cook has been a "hold-in" during camp as he seeks out a new contract. One must surmise his contract discussions have now turned positive with a new deal likely coming in the next few days. Dynasty managers have been waiting for something positive as Cook has RB1 potential again this season and this has to considered good news.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Jordan Love Aug 12 10:13am CT
Jordan Love

Dynasty | Packers quarterback Jordan Love will undergo surgery on his left thumb. Dynasty Analysis: This is going to cast some doubt on his week one availability but Green Bay is reportedly hoping he can return to practice next week. Love needs to make it through a full season healthy and productive to justify keeping him as a true dynasty QB1 and this is a rough start. His dynasty value shouldn't be affected much as long as he doesn't miss regular season games. Stay tuned.

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Jordan Love Aug 12 10:00am CT
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said that quarterback Jordan Love (thumb) is undergoing a procedure to fix a ligament issue in his left thumb, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky. Gutekunst says the hope is that Love will return to practice next week, and that the injury is not expected to affect him long-term or impact his Week 1 availability. The good news for both Packers fans and fantasy managers is that the injury is on Love's non-throwing hand, but this is still something to monitor throughout the remainder of the preseason. Love profiles as a mid-to-low-end QB2 in fantasy who needs passing volume to be a consistent contributor. If he were to miss time, Malik Willis would be the favorite to step in at quarterback in Green Bay, which would significantly impact the fantasy outlook of the Packers' pass-catchers.

From RotoBaller

Hunter Henry Aug 12 9:50am CT
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (undisclosed) is dealing with an undisclosed injury that he suffered on Sunday and missed practice on Monday as a result, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. New England is holding joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday and Thursday, and Reiss writes that Henry might not be available for those sessions. The 30-year-old Henry started 16 games for New England in 2024, recording 66 catches for 674 yards and two touchdowns. If he were to miss time, veteran Austin Hooper would likely step in as the Patriots' TE1. Henry's absence could also improve the target-share outlooks for the team's top wide receivers, Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas.

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Malik Nabers Aug 12 9:40am CT
Malik Nabers

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (shoulder/toe) is not participating in the team's joint practice with the New York Jets on Tuesday, according to Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com. Nabers suffered a minor shoulder injury earlier in training camp and is also managing a toe injury he's been battling since college. Neither ailment is expected to keep him out of regular-season action. The 22-year-old earned 170 targets in 15 games as a rookie in 2024 and should be the focal point of the Giants' offense once again in 2025. Nabers is a high-end fantasy WR1 with a chance to be the overall WR1, particularly in PPR-scoring formats.

From RotoBaller

Darnell Mooney Aug 12 9:30am CT
Darnell Mooney

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said that wide receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) is "week-to-week" and that he expects to "have him back healthy this year." Mooney injured his shoulder during the first week of training camp and appears to be at risk of missing the start of the regular season. The 27-year-old played in 16 games for Atlanta last season, recording 64 catches for 992 yards and five touchdowns. If Mooney misses games, KhaDarel Hodge and DJ Chark could be in line for more regular snaps. Falcons WR1 Drake London would likely see a sizable jump in target share, as would top tight end Kyle Pitts.

From RotoBaller

Michael Penix Jr. Aug 12 9:10am CT
Michael Penix Jr.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will not play in the team's second preseason game on Friday, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi. Backup quarterback Kirk Cousins is also unlikely to play, although it has not been completely ruled out by the team. Neither Penix Jr. nor Cousins played in Atlanta's first preseason game against the Detroit Lions last Friday, leaving Easton Stick and Emory Jones to handle signal-calling duties. Penix Jr. has a long injury history dating back to his time in college, so it makes sense why the team would want to be cautious with him in the preseason despite his limited NFL experience as a starter (three games).

From RotoBaller

Terry McLaurin Aug 12 9:00am CT
Terry McLaurin

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was seen talking to team GM Adam Peters on the sidelines during Tuesday's practice. McLaurin has been holding-in over the past few weeks as he is seeking a long-term extension from the Commanders. The Commanders have thus far been reluctant to budge on their price while McLaurin is rumored to be seeking a contract similar to what DK Metcalf got from the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in the offseason. While there is no way to tell what exactly was said between McLaurin and Peters on Tuesday, it at least provides a glimmer of hope that the two are talking. The Commanders would have a hard time replacing their No. 1 receiver's production on the field if he's not in the fold by the time Week 1 rolls around. If McLaurin ultimately rejoins the team, he can be treated as a rock-solid WR2 in fantasy drafts later this summer.

From RotoBaller

Mike Boone Aug 12 9:00am CT
Mike Boone

Free-agent running backs Mike Boone and Aaron Shampklin have signed contracts with the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins wasted little time beefing up their running-back corps after they lost Alexander Mattison (neck) to a season-ending neck injury following their first preseason game on Sunday. Boone played in six games for the Carolina Panthers in 2024, handling 13 carries for 51 yards. Shampklin appeared in four games for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, carrying the ball six times for 17 yards. Both players will compete with Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright for a reserve role behind locked-in starter De'Von Achane.

From RotoBaller

Marquez Callaway Aug 12 8:50am CT
Marquez Callaway

The Las Vegas Raiders signed free-agent Marquez Callaway and waived wide receiver Kawaan Baker in a corresponding move on Monday. Callaway is beginning his second stint with the Raiders after spending some time on the team's practice squad back in 2023. The veteran wideout has 83 catches for 1,069 yards and seven touchdowns across 47 games in his career since entering the NFL in 2020. Callaway will battle for a reserve spot on the Raiders' initial 53-man roster as the regular season approaches.

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Alexander Mattison Aug 12 8:40am CT
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Miami Dolphins running back Alexander Mattison (neck) was officially placed on injured reserve on Monday. Mattison injured his neck during a preseason game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday and later went for surgery. It was announced on Monday that he would miss the remainder of the year, with the team placing him on IR just as a procedural move to clear roster space. Mattison's absence will open up reps for second-year running back Jaylen Wright and rookie Ollie Gordon II behind starter De'Von Achane.

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James Cook Aug 12 8:30am CT
James Cook

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is expected to practice on Tuesday, according to head coach Sean McDermott. Cook has been holding in at camp for over a week while calling his absence a "business decision." He dressed for Buffalo's first preseason game against the New York Giants on Saturday but refused to take the field. According to McDermott, the Bills and Cook have been having good conversations, which may have led to Cook's change of heart when it comes to practicing. Assuming Cook continues to participate throughout the remainder of training camp, Cook sets up as a solid RB2 in fantasy drafts later this summer.

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Curtis Samuel Aug 12 12:33am CT
Curtis Samuel

Buffalo Bills WR Curtis Samuel (hamstring) could be in jeopardy of not making the 53-man roster, in the opinion of Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic, who notes that this is the second consecutive training camp that Samuel has suffered a multi-week injury. Cutting Samuel now would be the same as cutting him in the offseason, and though Buscaglia believes Samuel's play late last season still could be enough to land on the initial roster, he isn't 'ruling out' the possibility that Samuel will be released.

From TheHuddle

Javon Baker Aug 12 12:10am CT
Javon Baker

New England Patriots wide receiver Javon Baker has been working with the special teams unit during practice and in the preseason opener against Washington. Additionally, the second-year wideout continuously makes highlight catches when given the opportunity on offense. It's a positive to see Baker taking on and succeeding in any possible role under the new coaching staff, as it could earn him an opportunity down the line in a thin receiver room. The 23-year-old saw little action as a rookie but brings good size at 6'2", 195 pounds, along with solid athleticism and a strong final season at UCF. He totaled over 1,100 receiving yards and averaged 21.9 yards per reception, the second most in the country. There is still upside in the tank with Baker, and he could be a name to keep in mind if he gets an opportunity.

From RotoBaller

Joe Flacco Aug 12 12:00am CT
Joe Flacco

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco took all of the first-team reps during the team's 11-on-11 session on Monday, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. After rookie Shedeur Sanders generated plenty of buzz in his solid preseason debut against the Panthers, it was still the veteran signal caller who dominated reps, which limited Sanders and Dillon Gabriel to alternating reps with the second and third teams. It is almost assuredly Flacco's job to lose at this stage in training camp, and that is a positive for Cleveland's pass catchers. There should be plenty of pass volume as the Browns are expected to trail in games a good amount of the time. Flacco doesn't scramble and does well enough in avoiding sacks to support a functional pass-catching group. However, it is also likely that we see one or both of the rookie signal callers at some point during the second half of the season.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Lynn Polk Aug 11 11:50pm CT
Ja'Lynn Polk

New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk (shoulder) was on the outside looking in of beat reporter Chad Graff of The Athletic's latest 53-man roster projection. Graff notes that the shoulder injury Polk suffered in the team's first preseason game on Friday "further hurts his chances at making the team." Polk had a horrible rookie season in 2024, recording 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games (seven starts). Even still, it would be a rapid fall from grace to see him get cut before his second season, given that he was the 37th overall pick of the 2024 draft. Graff has 2024 fourth-rounder Javon Baker making the team as the WR6 ahead of Polk.

From RotoBaller

Jacob Cowing Aug 11 11:40pm CT
Jacob Cowing

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jacob Cowing (hamstring) is expected to return to practice on Tuesday, according to David Lombardi of the SF Standard. Cowing has been nursing a hamstring injury that he suffered a few weeks ago, but he looks set to return to the practice field before the second preseason game. The 49ers receiver room has been dealing with multiple injuries, including Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk, and most recently, rookie Jordan Watkins. Cowing had an uneventful rookie season but had gaudy production during college and has an opportunity to emerge. He won't be on many fantasy radars in drafts, but he could be a name to keep in mind as the season gets closer.

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