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Buffalo Bills WR Stevie Johnson revealed Thursday, June 13, that the back injury he suffered in March was a slight fracture in his L-5 vertebrae. He was filming a workout session for BuffaloBills.com when it happened. Johnson said he was given a cortisone shot and an epidural during his recovery.
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Huddle Up: This sounds worse than it probably actually was as Johnson has been participating in offseason drills since then as he prepares for a season with a new QB, be it free-agent signee Kevin Kolb or first-round pick E.J. Manuel.
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Montee Ball
- RB - Denver Broncos
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Posted 6/14/13 12:56am et   |
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The Denver Broncos signed RB Montee Ball Thursday, June 13. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
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Huddle Up: Ball struck a deal on the very day veteran starter Willis McGahee was released. Coincidence? We think not as the second-round pick is expected to be the Broncos' Week 1 starter. Even so, second-year back Ronnie Hillman and vet Knowshon Moreno still could see plenty of action as well so resist the temptation to place Ball too high on your fantasy draft board.
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Derek Hagan - WR - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Posted 6/14/13 12:56am et |
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed WR Derek Hagan (Raiders) Thursday, June 13. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
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Huddle Up: This will be the fifth stop in the past 5 years for Hagan, the 2008 3rd-round pick of the Dolphins. In Tampa, he figures to battle Tiquan Underwood and kevin Ogletree for playing time and targets behind starters Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams.
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San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy lauded RB Danny Woodhead for his versatility and expects him to be in a lot of offensive packages this coming year.
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Huddle Up: Woodhead, who has spent the past 3 seasons as part of the Patriots' RB jumble, figures to be the main beneficiary of Ryan Mathews' inability to step up as a durable, do-it-all No. 1 back.
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Jacksonville Jaguars WR Justin Blackmon (groin) is sitting out the final day of minicamp Thursday, June 13.
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Huddle Up: If there's a positive side to any of this, at least Blackmon has an extra month to get ready as his season will start with a 4-game substance abuse suspension.
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Atlanta Falcons RB Steven Jackson questioned the notion that a running back is officially toast at age 30. 'This is not the '70s or '80s, when it was just hard-nosed football. The game has changed. As long as I can evolve with it, I'll be just fine.' He's trying to fight off effects of age by going on a gluten-free diet.
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Huddle Up: Jackson hits 30 right before the start of training camp and will certainly put the theory to the test having had at least 293 touches and 1,363 yards from scrimmage in each of the past 5 seasons.
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Antonio Gates - TE - San Diego Chargers
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Posted 6/13/13 11:52am et |
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San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates, who turns 33 next week, has looked quick and fit in workouts this offseason. He's been using his height advantage against defenders in non-pads work.
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Huddle Up: Gates can still get it done -- but just not at the consistent and dynamic elite-TE level he once did. He's missed 10 games over the past 3 seasons, and receiving-yard totals have dipped in each of the past 4 years. Adjust his rank on your fantasy TE draft board accordingly.
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New England Patriots WR Michael Jenkins has spent a lot of time this offseason picking the brain of QB Tom Brady or listening in on conversations Brady has had with other receivers.
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Huddle Up: Jenkins, entering his 10th NFL season, hasn't had more than 53 catches or 777 receiving yards in any one season but is clearly in the best situation of his career as the senior member of a young and unproven New England WR corps.
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The Denver Broncos released RB Willis McGahee on Thursday,, June 13.
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Huddle Up: Either McGahee or Knowshon Moreno figured to be a summer roster casualty after the Broncos spent a 2nd-round pick on Montee Ball, and the team decided to cut bait early, getting rid of the soon-to-be-32 McGahee, his recent injury issues and his $2.5 million salary.
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The Washington Redskins have signed free-agent WR Devery Henderson (Saints). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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Huddle Up: Henderson goes from one crowded WR corps in New Orleans to perhaps an even busier one, joining Pierre Garcon, Santana Moss, Leonard Hankerson, Joshua Morgan, Aldrick Robinson and the also newly signed Donte Stallworth in D.C. Clearly there doesn't figure to be enough roster spots to go around, let alone fantasy-worthy targets.
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New York Jets TE Kellen Winslow reportedly didn't stand out as much Wednesday, June 12, at his minicamp tryout as opposed to his performance Tuesday, June 11, but he likely has done enough to receive a contract offer from the team.
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Huddle Up: It doesn't take much to be a standout in the Jets' passing game, and apparently K2 showed enough for Gang Green to take a shot. Last year's offense did seem to frequently find the now-departed Dustin Keller, and with the Jets' top wideouts banged up perhaps Winslow will become a favored target of Geno Smith and/or Mark Sanchez.
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Indianapolis Colts RB Ahmad Bradshaw was spotted with his right foot in a walking boot during minicamp practice Wednesday, June 12. He had surgery on the foot six months ago and continues to be brought along slowly in his recovery. He plans to be ready to go when Indy's training camp opens July 27. The Colts see him as more than an occasional contributor, but his role will be clarified the closer they get to Week 1.
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Huddle Up: At this point Bradshaw should have an Imelda Marcos-sized collection of protective boots in his closet. He definitely has fantasy upside as the lead back in Indy, but history tells us he can't be counted on for a full 16-game slate.
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New York Jets WR Santonio Holmes offered "no comment" on whether he will be ready for Week 1. He said rehab has been "great" but that he's limited in what he can do.
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Huddle Up: That's not exactly reassuring. Then again, if you're looking to the Jets' passing game for fantasy help you're in your own world of hurt.
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Isaiah Pead - RB - St. Louis Rams
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Posted 6/12/13 11:38pm et |
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St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said the team is expected to use a committee approach in the backfield this year between Daryl Richardson, Isaiah Pead and Zac Stacy. The overall youth in the backfield is a concern in terms of pass protection. Stacy caught the ball well during a practice session Tuesday, June 11.
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Huddle Up: Stacy is a popular sleeper pick as the favorite to head up the Rams' backfield committee, but even the Rams won't know how the rotation will shake out until their young backs get some quality reps in training camp and the preseason.
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Mike Williams - WR - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Posted 6/12/13 4:48pm et |
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Williams said he is very close to signing a contract extension with the team. General manager Mark Dominik said he would like to get a deal done with Williams before the start of training camp.
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Huddle Up: Williams has outperformed his rookie contract, and the Bucs would do well to lock him up before he hits the open market--especially when you consider Josh Freeman is also playing for a new deal and will be looking to boost his stats as well.
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The Washington Redskins have signed free-agent WR Donte' Stallworth. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
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Huddle Up: Throw Stallworth into the mix with a bunch of guys all hoping RG3 can get healthy soon. Unless and until the Redskins' crowded receiving corps sorts itself out, there's little fantasy value aside from a healthy Pierre Garcon.
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Jacksonville Jaguars WR Justin Blackmon said he is still dealing with a left groin injury. Blackmon appeared to have some issues during practice Wednesday, June 12.
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Huddle Up: The good news for Blackmon is, he'll have a whole month at the start of the season to get healthy thanks to his suspension.
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Carolina Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart continues to recover from offseason surgeries on both of his ankles and is sitting out the team's three-day minicamp this week as a result. Head coach Ron Rivera said that Stewart is recovering well but didn't say whether he'd be ready for training camp. "The hard part is any time you have both of them done -- whether it's two ankles, two knees, two hips, two shoulders, whatever -- it's going to be a while."
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Huddle Up: Clearly Stewart is in midseason form--in that he's hurt. There should be plenty of time for him to get healthy before training camp, but then it's only a matter of time until he gets hurt again. Meanwhile, DeAngelo Williams, Cam Newton, and Mike Tolbert are all lining up to take Stewart's touches off his plate.
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New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan said the team could use more two-back sets. RBs Chris Ivory, Mike Goodson and Bilal Powell are in the mix.
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Huddle Up: The Jets aren't going to throw anyway--effectively, at least--so why not have options in the backfield? Goodson still has some legal hurdles to clear before he joins Ivory, Powell, and Joe McKnight in the backfield mix, and Ivory's contract--and talent--suggest he's the lead dog, but there is still some fantasy value to the rest of the backs especially given Ivory's penchant for injury.
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Miami Dolphins fifth-round pick PK Caleb Sturgis has a live, accurate leg and could emerge as the starter over more expensive PK Dan Carpenter.
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Huddle Up: With the Dolphins hoping for a more explosive offense this season the Miami kicker might have a little fantasy value. Compare the Sturgis situation to Blair Walsh with the Vikings last year, and keep an eye on Sturgis heading into the season.
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