NFL News & Rumors This Week: Dotson Trade & Starting QBs + Fantasy Help
This is it, folks. The FINAL preseason games are this weekend. Then we have roster cutdown day next Tuesday by 4 PM ET. And the first game of the NFL season will kick off on Thursday, September 5th between the Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs.
We only have ONE MORE of these Friday update articles before the season kicks off. So, let’s just keep doing what we’ve been doing every Friday to make sure you haven’t missed anything.
First, we’ll hit on the big NFL news and rumors this week regarding trades, contracts, injuries, etc. Then we’ll get into those juicy rumors and hype that can help us get an edge in our fantasy football leagues. Football is (almost) BACK!
NFL News & Rumors This Week: Washington Commanders Trade Jahan Dotson To Philadelphia Eagles
- With roster cuts looming, teams have begun shopping around the guys on the bubble. Cade York was recently traded to the Commanders under these circumstances, and now, Jahan Dotson has been traded from the Commanders to the Eagles. Dotson and a fifth go to Philadelphia, a third and two sevenths go to Washington. We gave a full breakdown of the fantasy football impact regarding the Dotson trade here.
NFL News & Rumors This Week: Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa Says Brian Flores “Told Him He Sucked”
- Tua Tagovailoa didn’t hold back in a recent interview on the Dan Le Batard Show when it came to former coach Brian Flores. He said that Brian Flores’ hard-nosed, old-school approach included telling him that he “sucked” and “didn’t belong” in the NFL, going as far as to mention other QBs that should be there. Well, Brian Flores ended up losing his job and Tua secured a monster contract, so it looks like things worked out just fine for Tua. Flores has since addressed the comments saying he is working on growing as a person and a coach, but he’s mostly focused on the Vikings and 2024.
News & Rumors This Week: NFL Starting QB Jobs Are Finalized
- We are getting close folks, so it’s time for some of these battles to finally be decided. Antonio Pierce has officially named Gardner Minshew as the Raiders starting quarterback.
- Rookie Jayden Daniels has officially been named the starting quarterback for the Washington Commanders.
- Sean Payton also named Bo Nix as the Denver Broncos starting quarterback.
- We are still waiting on some teams. Jerod Mayo hinted that the Patriots would name a starting quarterback by Monday night.
- Russell Wilson has been operating as the Steelers starting QB and Mike Tomlin has said “nothing has changed”. Yet, that doesn’t quite serve as an official announcement.
NFL News & Rumors This Week: Signings, Extensions & Holdouts
- Falcons CB A.J. Terrell received a four-year, $81M deal.
- Chiefs C Creed Humphrey received a four-year, $72M deal. That’s the highest contract for a center in NFL history.
- Bengals K Evan McPherson signed a three-year, $16.5M deal.
- The Vikings have signed CB Stephon Gilmore to a one-year, $10M deal.
- The following players continue to hold out from camp:
NFL News & Rumors This Week: Training Camp Injuries Continue
- J.J. McCarthy underwent a successful meniscus repair that will end his 2024 season.
- Bengals running back Chris Evans suffered a torn patellar tendon which will end his 2024 season as well.
- Jahmyr Gibbs is dealing with a hamstring issue but is expected to be fine for Week 1.
- Matthew Stafford also suffered a hamstring injury on Wednesday.
- Malik Nabers was stepped on and suffered a minor ankle sprain in practice.
- Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison was carted off the field with an ankle injury.
- Bills linebacker Matt Milano tore his bicep – a return in December could be possible.
- Bills WR Chase Claypool was placed on season-ending IR.
- Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown suffered a sternoclavicular joint dislocation and is expected to miss some time to start the season.
- Brandin Cooks was seen “heading to the injury tent” on Wednesday.
- Diontae Johnson is day-to-day with a groin sprain.
Fantasy Football News & Rumors
This section is dedicated to fantasy-relevant rumblings from around the various off-season practices and meetings.
- Aaron Rodgers claims that training camp is “much harder this year”. Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s injury or maybe this Jets team is just taking things very seriously.
- Rams’ Jordan Whittington hype is steaming up after two great games to start the preseason. Puka Nacua 2.0?
- Deshaun Watson is dealing with “general arm soreness”. He had surgery last year and has not played much football over the last couple of years.
- Dennis Allen continues to bash Kendre Miller for his lack of availability.
- Anthony Richardson has reportedly struggled in camp and also struggled in the preseason game this week.
- Michael Penix has not played much in the preseason but that’s reportedly because he has already won the QB2 job.
- Daniel Jones continues to look rough though he has the support of the team.
- Saquon Barkley is dealing with a minor back injury that has kept him out of team drills.
- Ricky Pearsall remains out, meaning he won’t play at all this preseason.
- Week 1 is now in doubt for Jaylen Warren following a hamstring issue.
- Jermaine Burton continues to make highlight reel plays.
- The legend of preseason Carson Steele and his pet alligator continue to grow.