We are now just a little over a week away from the start of the regular season. Teams have played their third preseason game which is the one time that starters usually get extending playing time. With the rash of injuries that has swept the NFL over the past few weeks, you should be praying that no one with any fantasy value sees the field for the final preseason game. So without further adieu, here is the next edition of the gridiron walking wounded.
Randall Cobb (WR-GB)
Just a few days after losing Jordy Nelson to a season-ending knee injury, the Packers and fantasy owners got another scare when Randall Cobb went down with a shoulder injury during Green Bay’s third preseason game. The injury appeared worse than it really is as he has been diagnosed with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder. This is good news across the board because he will not need surgery and will most likely be ready for Week 1. At this time, you do not need to adjust your draft rankings and should still consider him a solid WR1.
Tre Mason (RB-STL)
Mason re-aggravated his hamstring injury in this weekend’s preseason game and is now considered questionable for Week 1. He was going to share carries with rookie Todd Gurley, but with both of them dealing with injuries it could mean an uptick in short-term value for Benny Cunningham.
Mike Pouncey (C-MIA)
Dolphins’ center Mike Pouncey left the third preseason game after suffering a knee injury during the team’s first offensive series. He did come back in the game only to leave once again. An MRI was scheduled for Sunday so check back early this week for the results. The severity of Pouncey’s injury could have an effect on multiple players’ value including Lamar Miller and Ryan Tannehill.
Leonard Williams (DL-NYJ)
Jets’ first round pick Leonard Williams sustained a knee injury over the weekend and is considered day-to-day. The x-rays came back negative and there was no ligament damage, so chances are he should have enough time to rest up and be ready for Week 1.
David Cobb (RB-TEN)
Rookie running back David Cobb suffered a calf injury and will likely be shut down for the remainder of the preseason. His status for Week 1 is up in the air but he would still only be the backup to Bishop Sankey in the Titans’ offense.
Duke Johnson (RB-CLE)
Duke Johnson had already missed significant time in training camp with a hamstring injury, but now you can add a concussion to his list of maladies. Johnson was concussed in the Browns’ most recent preseason game and will now go through the league’s concussion protocol. He had a chance of being Cleveland’s featured running back, but this concussion could change those plans at least in terms of Week 1. Check back later in the week for an update on where he stands with respect to the concussion tests.
Ryan Mundy (DB-CHI)
The Bears already have one of the worst secondaries in the league and just recently cut cornerback Tim Jennings. Now they will also be without safety Ryan Mundy who sustained a hip injury which landed him on I.R. ending his season. Mundy did have 103 tackles and six sacks in 2014, so he was a viable IDP option. Now fantasy owners should salivate even more at offensive matchups against the Bears’ defense.
Garrett Hartley (K-PIT)
It is rare that a kicker ends up on this list, but Hartley is the second Steelers’ kicker to make an appearance. Incumbent Shaun Suisham suffered a season-ending injury a couple weeks ago so Pittsburgh brought Hartley in to replace him. Now Hartley got injured suffering a hamstring injury over the weekend and his status for Week 1 is questionable at best. Jay Feely looks like he is next in line for an opportunity.
Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service, and is also the co-host of the Fantasy Alarm podcast. You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment),
Player News
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team does not “have any feelings on competition” when asked about the quarterback room.
O’Connell was asked about a potential quarterback competition on the Rich Eisen Show Wednesday and was unclear on whether J.J. McCarthy would have to compete to start. He said, “we’ve got an obligation as coaches to put our players in position to attack that competition phase.” O’Connell discussed first putting Brett Rypien and the newly acquired Sam Howell in a position to play before any competition would occur. He continued that McCarthy is “owning it” this offseason and is taking snaps from starting center Ryan Kelly. After missing last season with a torn meniscus, McCarthy has been ramping up workouts in the offseason and is the front-runner to start for the Vikings in 2025. As of now, Howell looks to be reinforcement at the backup spot in case it turns out McCarthy is not ready to start.
Texans re-signed DT Foley Fatukasi.
Fatukasi initially joined the Texans last offseason on a one-year contract. The 30-year-old was a rotational defensive lineman, tallying four tackles for loss and one sack. He returns to Houston for 2025, where he will be a part of a deep Texans front seven.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Tyreek Hill’s second wrist surgery was part of the original plan and his timeline remains unchanged.
Hill announced the second surgery on social media and Pelissero quickly added some context to the situation. The speedy receiver suffered the wrist injury just before the start of the season and it lingered throughout the year, though he never missed a game because of it. If the second surgery truly is a non-story, an offseason to recover might be what Hill needs to return to form after a down 2024 season. On the other hand, Hill is 31 years old, played his worst football last year, and his offense prioritized targets for Jonnu Smith and De’Von Achane. As it stands, Hill might have the highest risk-reward split in fantasy drafts.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports there are “multiple people in the league who believe the new regime is not so high on Travis Etienne.”
Fowler also noted Tank Bigsby’s fumbling issue but didn’t directly relate that to the feelings of the new brain trust in Jacksonville. The Jags clearly felt they were lacking at running back this offseason and addressed that opening via the draft with Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round and LeQuint Allen in the seventh. The pair of additions complicate an already-messy backfield by committee. Etienne is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is a long-shot to be brought back in 2026. The Jags could opt to move on early by trading him, clearing $6.1 million in cap space in the process. If the team does trade Etienne, Tuten would likely be the team’s top back in the long run, making him a high-upside bet in early fantasy drafts.
Broncos signed third-round pick WR Pat Bryant to a four-year contract.
The deal includes $1.4 million guaranteed and is worth $6.6 million in total. Sean Payton compared aspects of Bryant’s game to those of Michael Thomas in his post-draft press conference and there are at least a few similarities in their profiles. Bryant stands at 6'2/204 and ran a 4.61-second Forty at the combine. Thomas measured in at 6'3/212 and clocked a 4.57-second Forty. Though the two have similar physical characteristics, Thomas was known for his proficiency from the slot while Bryant primarily played on the outside as a field-stretcher at Illinois. Bryant’s transition to slot duties may take some time, but third-round draft capital makes him worth a shot in dynasty leagues.
Colts EDGE Samson Ebukam (Achilles) said he is expected to be cleared for training camp.
Ebukam suffered a torn Achilles in training camp last year and did not play in the 2024 season. He broke out in 2023 with a career-high 9.5 sacks in his first season with the Colts. He now has one year left on his deal and will be looking for a rebound season as he stares down free agency in 2026