NFL Training Camp Injuries, News and Notes

[Maveric]

Ravens trade kicker Vedvik to Vikings for pick

The Ravens traded kicker Kaare Vedvik to the Vikings on Sunday, reportedly in exchange for a 2020 fifth-round draft pick.

www.espn.com

 

[icup]

 

[Maveric]

NFL Network's Michael Giardi reports N'Keal Harry missed practice due to "a variety of ailments."

Harry reportedly has a hamstring and ankle or toe injury. The Patriots don't expect this to be a "significant" setback, but it's not ideal for a rookie to miss preseason action. Expect Harry to miss practice time and possibly the second preseason game, but the Patriots don't think this will cost him regular-season action. Harry remains nothing more than a double-digit round dart throw until he wins a starting job.

Source: Michael Giardi on Twitter

Aug 12, 2019, 6:46 PM ET

 

[Maveric]

Titans TE Jonnu Smith (knee, active/PUP) has been cleared for side work.

It's good news for Smith, who missed the entire offseason recovering from an MCL tear. Smith's injury was never expected to take this long to return from, but he's starting to make some progress. Smith is in a race to get cleared for Week 1.

Source: Turron Davenport on Twitter

Aug 12, 2019, 2:43 PM ET

 

[Maveric]

Free agent WR Rishard Matthews has announced his retirement from the NFL after seven seasons.

The announcement comes two days after Matthews was let go by New Orleans, who had signed him two months prior. "Rishard Matthews the football player no longer exists and it’s okay," wrote Matthews in an Instagram post Monday morning. "It was cool being a professional football player and getting to play a kid's game for work. I will always be a fan of the best sport in the world but for me, that kid's game no longer exists." Drafted 227th overall in 2012, Matthews enjoyed a productive seven-year stint in the pros, logging 220 catches for 3,160 yards and 21 touchdowns over 87 games for the Dolphins, Titans and Jets. The 29-year-old Nevada alum enjoyed his best statistical year in 2016, setting career highs in catches (65), yards (945) and touchdowns (nine) in his debut season with Tennessee.

Related:

• Tennessee Titans
• , Miami Dolphins
• , New Orleans Saints
• , New York Jets

Source: instagram.com

Aug 12, 2019, 12:26 PM ET

 

[Maveric]

Colts coach Frank Reich said Andrew Luck (calf) won't take part in joint practices with the Browns this week.

The Colts will practice alongside the Browns (their next preseason opponent) on Wednesday and Thursday, but they'll be doing so without Luck, who continues to be hampered by a nagging calf injury. ESPN's Mike Wells notes that Luck has only gotten three practices under his belt all offseason. Luck has been working on the side with quarterback guru Tom House, though there's still no estimate on when we'll see him back on the gridiron. The Colts and Luck have both maintained that he'll be ready for Week 1, but we've seen this song and dance from Indy before. This is starting to look like 2017 all over again.

Source: Mike Wells on Twitter

Aug 12, 2019, 11:07 AM ET

 

[Maveric]

Eagles No. 2 QB Cody Kessler suffered a concussion in Thursday's preseason game against the Jaguars.

Kessler is the Eagles' fill-in backup while Nate Sudfeld rehabs a wrist injury. Fifth-round rookie Clayton Thorson is now the team's only healthy quarterback behind Carson Wentz. A signing will need to be made ahead of next weekend's regular season dress rehearsal. Concussions can linger, but a normal recovery time would have Kessler healthy well in advance of the opener.

Source: Zack Rosenblatt on Twitter

Aug 15, 2019, 9:48 PM ET

 

[Maveric]

Back to reality maybe?

Kyler Murray completed 3-of-8 passes for 12 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions in Thursday's preseason game against the Raiders.

Murray's struggles went beyond the box score, as he was flagged for a pair of false start penalties and took a safety trying to spin away from contact on a sack. The flags were for "fake clapping" before the snap. As a passer, Murray air mailed Christian Kirk twice and missed Larry Fitzgerald twice. It was a "welcome to the NFL" moment against the Raiders' poor defense. It also says very little about how Murray will fare once the lights come on next month. If this puts a pin in Murray's soaring ADP, all the better.

 

[Maveric]

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports holdout RB Melvin Gordon is prepared to sit out regular season games if he does not have a new deal before Week 1.

Per Schefter, the sides have "not made progress." Contract-year Gordon has seemed to be the most serious of this summer's holdouts. Le'Veon Bell is still more the exception than the rule, but it would be silly not to be worried about Gordon's Week 1 status. There is a real chance he is still away from the team. Austin Ekeler would start and be spelled by Justin Jackson.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Aug 15, 2019, 7:37 PM ET

 

[Maveric]

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports Chargers SS Derwin James (foot) is expected to miss three months.

James will have foot surgery this week. He's dealing with a stress fracture in his fifth metatarsal, an injury that can be difficult to come back from. The Chargers will likely place James on IR with the hope he can return later in the season. Adrian Phillips is the next man up behind James.

Source: Mike Garafolo on Twitter

Aug 17, 2019, 12:40 PM ET

 

[Maveric]

Eagles signed QB Josh McCown to a one-year, $2 million contract.

McCown retired this summer, but he's leaving his ESPN job to back up Carson Wentz. It's a solid get for the Eagles with Nate Sudfeld (wrist) and Cody Kessler (concussion) sidelined. Wentz's injury history makes this an interesting landing spot for McCown — one of the league's better No. 2 quarterbacks. McCown plans to return to broadcasting after playing out his one-year deal in Philly.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Aug 17, 2019, 10:14 AM ET

 

[Maveric]

Josh Gordon WR, New England Patriots

NFL reinstated Patriots WR Josh Gordon.

This is one of the quickest turnarounds we've seen from the league after Gordon applied for reinstatement earlier this month. Gordon missed the final two games of the regular season and three playoff games last year, so his latest violation only resulted in a five-week suspension. Starting this weekend, Gordon can attend meetings and participate in individual workouts. He needs to clear some hurdles before he can practice and play in games, but this is obviously great news. Gordon's return is a boost for Tom Brady but clouds New England's receiver depth chart, potentially cutting into first-round WR N'Keal Harry's snaps.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Aug 16, 2019, 6:37 PM ET

 

[icup]

Josh Gordon WR, New England Patriots

NFL reinstated Patriots WR Josh Gordon.

This is one of the quickest turnarounds we've seen from the league after Gordon applied for reinstatement earlier this month. Gordon missed the final two games of the regular season and three playoff games last year, so his latest violation only resulted in a five-week suspension. Starting this weekend, Gordon can attend meetings and participate in individual workouts. He needs to clear some hurdles before he can practice and play in games, but this is obviously great news. Gordon's return is a boost for Tom Brady but clouds New England's receiver depth chart, potentially cutting into first-round WR N'Keal Harry's snaps.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Aug 16, 2019, 6:37 PM ET

gotta be a good sign for gregory

 

[Scot]

Until he fails his next drug test

Again

 

[Maveric]

The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson doesn't believe LB Kiko Alonso is a lock to make the Dolphins' 53-man roster.

Alonso has been sidelined most of the summer with an undisclosed injury. The Dolphins are rebuilding and want players on the defensive side who are versatile and can fill many roles. Alonso just turned 29 last week and carries a massive cap number at over $8.2 million. Miami would clear just $25K in cap space by releasing Alonso, but they'd save $4 million in cash. Sam Eguavoen and Jerome Baker have been working as the Dolphins' starting linebackers under new coach Brian Flores.

Source: Miami Herald

Aug 19, 2019, 7:49 PM ET

 

[Maveric]

The Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson reports D’Onta Foreman (biceps, injured reserve) will rehab with the Colts for the 2020 season.

Foreman is working with a four-month rehab timeframe, but he’s ineligible to return and play this season since he was officially placed on injured reserve prior to final cuts. He’ll recover with a return to the team in 2020 in mind. The 23-year-old still faces an uphill battle to make Indy’s final 53 next year given his lengthy injury history.

Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter

Aug 19, 2019, 3:44 PM ET

 

[Maveric]

Vikings FB C.J. Ham has been working as the third-down back at training camp.

He's been getting some first-team reps. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Andrew Krammer thinks Ham could see time as a pass protector on third downs this year. Ham's not going to cut into Dalvin Cook's workload, but this is a bad sign for rookie Alexander Mattison's early-season role.

Source: Andrew Krammer on Twitter

Aug 19, 2019, 9:15 AM ET

 

[Maveric]

DK Metcalf (knee) will have surgery this week but isn't expected to be sidelined too long.

This could be a knee scope, but we're awaiting official word from the team. If that's the case, Metcalf could be looking on the wrong side of questionable for Week 1, but the Seahawks are optimistic that's not the case. Metcalf's injury history is one of the reasons why he "fell" in the 2019 NFL Draft, so they'd be smart to not rush him back. When he returns, Metcalf is expected to start in two-receiver sets with Tyler Lockett.

Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter

Aug 18, 2019, 11:46 PM ET

 

[Maveric]

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports Cam Newton's (foot) injury "doesn't appear to be serious."

Rapsheet's report matches David J. Chao's instant analysis post-injury. The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue added that the injury is currently being characterized as a sprain. Newton did exit Carolina's locker room in a walking boot Thursday (and is scheduled for X-rays Friday morning), but that could be entirely precautionary to avoid swelling on the flight home. We'll have an update following Newton's evaluation.

Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Aug 22, 2019, 11:07 PM ET

 

[Maveric]

Dwayne Haskins completed 7-of-13 passes for 74 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions in the Redskins' third preseason.

Presumed starter Case Keenum played the entire first half, leaving post-break scraps for his rookie teammate. The No. 15 overall pick has far, far more juice than Keenum, but the Redskins opted against getting him ready to be starter. Haskins will still make starts, of course, possibly before the opening month of the season is through. He closes the book on the summer 22-of-41 (53.6 percent) for 305 yards (7.43 YPA), one score and three turnovers. The problem for Haskins will be a ghastly supporting cast.

Aug 22, 2019, 10:40 PM ET