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| Updated August 11, 2008 JunkyardJake.Com |
Plaxico Burress has not practiced since the Giants opened training camp, and has been receiving treatment for his right ankle. Burress is hoping that the extra time will allow him to open the season at full-speed, in contrast to last year where he played through an ankle injury the entire season. Link
The Dolphins are hoping that Chad Pennington can provide a quick boost to their passing game, while grooming probable future QB Chad Henne. Pennington is already familiar with Dan Henning's offense, as the two worked together with the Jets in 2000. Link
Braylon Edwards will miss an unspecified amount of preseason after requiring stitches for a foot injury that occurred in practice on Saturday. Evidently, Edwards was running a sprint in his socks, when Donte Stallworth accidently stepped on the back of his foot wearing cleats. Link
After dealing with the contract drama, the Packers are now hoping that Ryan Grant can quickly overcome the minor hamstring problems that have been preventing him from practicing. The injury is considered minor, but Grant has been unable to run for the past couple days. Greg Jennings has also been hampered with a knee injury in Packers camp. Link
Titans rookie RB Chris Johnson continues to impress this summer, as he was a key contributor in the exhibition win over the Rams, finishing with 6 carries, 77 yards and a TD. His TD run was from 66 yards out, demonstrating his big-play potential. Link
Anquan Boldin returned to practice for the first time since late July. Boldin has been taking it slow after experiencing a minor hamstring strain, but doesn't expect the injury to keep him from missing any regular season time. Link
After losing QB Charlie Batch this week to a broken collarbone, the Steelers signed former Jaguar and Atlanta Falcon QB Byron Leftwich to handle backup duties. Batch is expected to miss at least 6 weeks with his collarbone injury. Link
Matt Ryan is considered the QB of the future for the Atlanta Falcons, but that future may be arriving sooner than anyone thought if he continues to outplay incumbent starter Chris Redman like he did in this weeks exhibition game against Jacksonville. Ryan shined with a 9 for 15, 115 yard, 1 TD performance, while Redman had 3 completions for 13 yards and one INT. Link Much like the former Falcon coaching staff, the new regime under head coach Mike Smith has been singing the praises of RB Jerious Norwood and vowing to give him a more prominent role in the offense. We can believe it when we see it, but word is that Norwood may even be used as a wide receiver. Link
The Eagle passing game may have a new dynamic weapon in rookie WR DeSean Jackson who saw his first significant game action this week, and came through with a decent 5 catch 51 yard outing. Blessed with game-breaking speed, Jackson was considered by many to be the top receiver in the 2008 draft. Link
Although Tatum Bell is still technically the starting RB in Detriot, Kevin Smith was the slightly better RB in Detroits first preseason game, and has started to see increased first-team action. Bell had 8 yards on 7 carries to Smith's 22 yards on 8 carries. Link
Rookie WR Eddie Royal has been a star at Broncos training camp, and has at least temporarily passed veteran Darrell Jackson on the depth chart to assume the role as the #2 receiver opposite Brandon Marshall. Link
Expectations are high for newly signed WR Bryant Johnson this year, but the Forty-Niners were without their potential #1 receiver in their preseason opener, and he remains questionable for their next game on Aug 16 with a lingering hamstring injury. Link Ryan Torain will likely miss three months after undergoing elbow surgery this week, elavating Andre Hall and possibly Anthony Alridge into more prominent roles in the Broncos RB rotation. Selvin Young remains the favorite to start at tailback for the Broncos. Link
The Seahawks plan to use both Julius Jones and Maurice Morris in an RB rotation this season, but Morris (6 carries for 62 yards) significantly outplayed Jones (4 carries for 15 yards) in Seattle's first exhibition game. Jones gets a chance to redeem himself when he gets the start in the 2nd preseason game vs. Chicago. Link
With Tampa Bay's leading receiver Joey Galloway sidelined with a groin injury , Antonio Bryant was given a chance to show what he could do, after sitting out the entire 2007 season. Bryant was decent in limited action, making some tough catches in traffic, and finishing with 20 yards. Link
The Patriots are hoping that 3rd year wideout Chad Jackson might finally live up to his potential this year, but his inauspicious performance in the first preseason game didn't create much reason for optimism. Jackson, who is competing with Jabar Gaffney for a #3 WR spot, had 1 catch for 0 yards and a drop. Link
Aside from some minor injuries, Ronald Curry and Drew Carter have both had good training camps, and are considered 'co-starters' opposite Javon Walker in the early going. Walker in contrast has not had a great camp, so he remains a risky pick in fantasy drafts. Link
Early reports on Rudi Johnson described a player that was somewhat revitalized after a lost season in 2007, but over the past week he has missed time with a hamstring injury. Johnson remains a risky pick in fantasy drafts this year, and Kenny Watson remains very much fantasy-relevant as his top backup. Link
After Robert Meachem's 129 yard 1 TD preseason showing against the Cardinals, Devery Henderson #3 wide receiver spot for the Saints has to be considered in jeopardy. In fact, Henderson has just returned to practice after sitting with a hamstring injury, and could be in danger of being cut if he does not show something soon. Link
