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D'Ernest Johnson: Bound for Baltimore
Sunday, August 3, 2025 1:23 PM
The Ravens signed Johnson on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Johnson has six years of NFL experience on his resume, with his best campaign coming in 2021 when he logged 534 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 100 carries during the regular season with Cleveland. He provided depth at RB for the Jaguars last year, recording 143 yards on 32 carries and 96 receiving yards on 12 catches over 14 contests. Johnson also has experience as a kick returner, which can only help his chances of making Baltimore's final roster. Johnson's signing was precipitated by the absence of Marcus Major, who is dealing with a concussion.
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Cooper Kupp: Set to sit preseason opener
Sunday, August 3, 2025 1:16 PM
Kupp and the rest of the Seahawks' starters won't play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Raiders, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.
We'll have to wait to see how well Kupp functions with Sam Darnold in the Seahawks' new offense under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Kupp has missed 18 games over the past three seasons, but he was still impressive when healthy last year with three 100-yard performances and six touchdowns over 12 regular-season games. However, he's now 32 years old and is expected to be the No. 2 wideout behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Sitting out preseason opener
Sunday, August 3, 2025 1:11 PM
Smith-Njigba and the rest of the Seahawks' starters won't play in Thursday's preseason game against the Raiders, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.
Cooper Kupp also won't play, but it's unclear if any of the other wide receivers will be sidelined considering rookie Tory Horton and veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling are battling for the No. 3 job. Smith-Njigba is coming off a proficient second NFL season where he recorded 1,130 yards and six touchdowns on a Seahawks' record 100 receptions. He's the clear No. 1 receiver now that DK Metcalf (Steelers) and Tyler Lockett (Titans) are out of the picture.
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Nate McCollum: Gets chance with Cardinals
Sunday, August 3, 2025 1:05 PM
Arizona signed McCollum on Saturday.
McCollum signed with Seattle as an undrafted free agent in May but was waived in early June. He'll now get a look from the Cardinals after the team placed Quez Watkins (undisclosed) on injured reserve. McCollum is a long shot to make Arizona's final roster, but he'll have a chance to make his case for a spot on the team or the practice squad throughout the remainder of training camp.
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Zach Charbonnet: May see more work in 2025
Sunday, August 3, 2025 1:04 PM
Charbonnet is pushing for a timeshare in the backfield with Kenneth Walker in 2025, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.
While Charbonnet doesn't match Walker's explosiveness or big-play ability, but the former showed he can handle the starting duties when called upon. When Walker missed six games last season, Charbonnet tallied 91 carries for 433 yards (4.8 YPC) and six touchdowns while adding 19 receptions (23 targets) for 169 yards. The coaches have been cautious with Walker during training camp to keep him healthy, and using Charbonnet more regularly during the season could help keep Walker upright. The Seahawks' scheme may focus more on the run this year, too, meaning there could be enough carries to make both players fantasy viable. Charbonnet should be considered one of the league's top No. 2 backs regardless. Head coach Mike Macdonald said that the starters won't play in Thursday's preseason game versus the Raiders, and it remains to be seen if that will extend to Charbonnet.
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Quez Watkins: Moved to IR
Sunday, August 3, 2025 1:01 PM
The Cardinals placed Watkins (undisclosed) on injured reserve Saturday.
Watkins left practice Friday with an undisclosed injury, and he's now required to miss the entire season unless he reaches an injury settlement with Arizona. The Cardinals signed Nate McCollum in a corresponding move to take Watkins' roster spot as wideout depth.
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Sam Darnold: Won't play in preseason opener
Sunday, August 3, 2025 12:46 PM
Darnold and the rest of the Seahawks' starters won't play in Thursday's preseason game versus the Raiders, Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.
This likely means Kenneth Walker, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and the starting offensive line will sit out, but it remains to be seen who else will stay in street clothes. Darnold has put forth a solid training camp thus far and is locked in as the starter after throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season. Rookie third-round pick Jalen Milroe and Drew Lock are battling for the No. 2 job and are expected to be active for Thursday's game.
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Joe Flacco: Strengthening hold on QB1 role
Sunday, August 3, 2025 12:31 PM
Flacco is the "strong favorite" to begin the regular season as Cleveland's starting quarterback, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Flacco has been the "presumed favorite" since the beginning of training camp, and multiple factors have helped him tighten his grip on the role. First, Jackson reports that the veteran QB had his best two days of throwing Friday and Saturday. Second, Kenny Pickett strained a hamstring July 27 and is still working his way back to full speed, though he's returned to practice in a limited capacity. Finally, rookie Shedeur Sanders hasn't been able to do much as he deals with arm soreness, though Jackson suggests that neither Sanders nor fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel ever had a "realistic chance" of winning the starting job out of the gate. It all adds up to Flacco looking like the Browns' starter Week 1 against Cincinnati, though Pickett could still make a case for the role if he outshines Flacco upon returning to full health.
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Jermaine Burton: Continued progress
Sunday, August 3, 2025 12:08 PM
Burton has made some nice plays in training camp so far, and more importantly has avoided all the pratfalls that plagued him last year, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic reports.
While the Bengals are happy with how Burton has showed up in camp, they are also treating this as a "necessary but not yet sufficient" status for him to elevate his status on the field. Said offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher, "That's a prerequisite, right? That doesn't mean you're gonna be a successful pro. That gives you a chance to be a successful pro. He's making the right steps in that direction." Burton remains behind Andrei Iosivas on the depth chart, with Iosivas also having a good camp.
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Michael Pittman: Sidelined by groin again
Sunday, August 3, 2025 11:58 AM
Pittman (groin) didn't practice Sunday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Pittman first hurt his groin in practice Tuesday, though he was able to resume participation Thursday. However, the star wideout was held out again Saturday and Sunday, so it appears he's not fully past the injury yet. The Colts likely want to make sure Pittman is fully in the clear before he resumes practice given that the team is still in the early stages of training camp.
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