NFL

Stafford leaving practice is likely a precautionary measure for the Rams to ensure any hamstring issue does not escalate. Head coach Sean McVay said, “unfortunately, [Stafford] had some tightness” in Wednesday’s joint practice against the Cowboys. The 36-year-old just agreed to a re-worked contract in the offseason and the Rams anticipate Stafford continuing to run the offense at a high level. Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett took over reps for the second half of the practice.

Just days after it was reported Judon had multiple teams inquiring about him, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reports the Patriots are finalizing a trade to send him to the Falcons. He is entering the final year of his deal, set to make a base salary of $6.5 million. Judon was a brief hold-in to Patriots camp and now gets dealt. The Falcons presumably would be willing to give Judon a larger contract than the Patriots were and get the four-time Pro Bowler to bulk up their pass rush. ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds the Falcons are sending a third-round pick to the Patriots in return. While the Falcons do not yet have a new contract in place with Judon, he has been practicing with the Patriots and this is unlikely to turn into a situation like Haason Reddick’s with the Jets. Judon will be 32 at the start of the season, performing at a high level in New England with 32 sacks in 38 games. He previously spent five productive seasons with the Ravens. The Falcons now add Judon to wreak havoc as the most experienced edge rusher on the team.

Ward hit his head in Monday’s practice and head coach Kevin Stefanski announced at a Wednesday press conference that he was in concussion protocol. If diagnosed with a concussion, it will be Ward’s fifth since 2018. He is projected to be a starter opposite Greg Newsome this season. However, with Newsome also dealing with a hamstring, the Browns are using Kahlef Hailassie and Martin Emerson Jr. as their top corners.

The team released safety Clayton Isbell in a corresponding move. Ford, soon to be 30 years old, spent the past two seasons in Green Bay. He totaled five interceptions and nine pass breakups across 30 games with the Packers. Ford is a versatile third safety who will slot into a part-time role with the Panthers out of the gate.

Davis retired just before the start of the 2023 season but has since decided to attempt a comeback. The Jets released him early in the offseason, allowing him to sign with any team willing to take a shot on him. The Bills are shockingly thin at wide receiver heading into the season, creating a need for extra depth at the position. Davis won’t be a fantasy-relevant option in Buffalo, but he could provide the team with a veteran presence as they attempt to figure out their rotation.

Addison is still undergoing tests, but things don’t look to be serious. It’s a sigh of relief for Vikings fans and fantasy drafters alike after Addison was carted off the practice field earlier today. Assuming the tests don’t reveal anything unexpected, Addison should have a good shot at suiting up for the Vikings’ Week 1 opener in less than a month. He can remain in the WR4 range until we get another update from the team.

Per Lewis, Addison went up for a contested ball before going down. He hobbled off the field with the help of trainers at first but eventually left on a cart. Having just lost J.J. McCarthy for the season to a lower-body injury, this is not the news Vikings fans want to see. However, it’s fairly standard for players to be carted to the locker room with even minor injuries during camp as a precaution, so fantasy managers shouldn’t panic just yet. Should Addison miss any time, Jalen Nailor would seemingly be in line for the WR2 job opposite Justin Jefferson.

Per Payton, Nix will also get the majority of the first-team reps in practice this week. Jarrett Stidham got the same treatment heading into his start in the Broncos’ preseason opener versus the Colts. Nix went 15-of-21 for 125 yards and a touchdown in relief of Stidham in that game. A good outing this week should lock him in as the Broncos’ Week 1 starter. If he struggles, the door will remain cracked for Stidham to get the nod in Week 1.

McCarthy suffered the knee injury during the Vikings’ preseason opener last weekend. It was initially reported as knee soreness, but the issue was later revealed to be a meniscus injury that required surgery. Barring any setbacks, McCarthy should be ready for training camp next year. Without the No. 10 overall pick looking over his shoulder, Sam Darnold is locked in as the Vikings starter this year. With Kevin O’Connell calling the shots and Justin Jefferson as his top receiver, this is the best situation Darnold has ever found himself in as a starter. He will rank as a QB2 to open the season.

Everyone’s definition of a great year is different, but the Ravens have consistently talked up Likely this offseason. They have also mentioned using more 12-personnel looks to get him on the field more. With their lack of depth at receiver, it makes sense to put him and Mark Andrews on the field together more often. Likely didn’t play much before Andrews went down with a serious ankle injury last year. He caught more than one pass in one game over the first 11 weeks of the season. Likely putting up even TE2 numbers with Andrews healthy would be a massive win for his fantasy outlook.