2013 NFL Rookies

[BINGO]

Geno Smith - QB - Jets

The NY Daily News believes Geno Smith needs just "two turnover-free quarters" in Saturday's preseason game to win the Jets' starting job.

Beat writer Manish Mehta calls Smith's competition with Mark Sanchez "farcical," and a "charade." Per Mehta, "many people in the organization" want Smith to start despite a shaky camp and preseason. Most signs suggest Smith isn't ready, but after two years of deteriorating play from Sanchez, Gang Green does not care. Smith is also rookie GM John Idzik's handpicked QB of the future.
Source: New York Daily News

Aug 20 - 11:10 PM

 

[BINGO]

Le'Veon Bell - RB - Steelers

Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell has been diagnosed with a mid-foot sprain, and could be sidelined "a while."

It appears Bell has avoided a Lisfranc injury, but as top Steelers beat writer Ed Bouchette points out, any mid-foot sprain is a big issue for a running back. It's safe to rule Bell out for the rest of the preseason, and consider him questionable for Week 1. Bell has 19 days to get healthy. The Steelers would likely go with a committee of Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer and La'Rod Stephens-Howling in the opener if their prized rookie runner isn't ready. The Steelers seem to have a remarkably difficult time keeping linemen and runners healthy.
Source: Ed Bouchette on Twitter

Aug 20 - 7:58 PM

 

[BINGO]

Le'Veon Bell - RB - Steelers

Le'Veon Bell (foot) has been diagnosed with a Lisfranc injury, and the Steelers are unsure if he will require surgery.

He has no timetable for a return. FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reports the Steelers are "hoping" Bell can avoid surgery, but "won't be sure until he gets it double checked." NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports Bell could be out "some time," and that the team is "pretty frustrated." Bell obviously needs to be removed from draft boards until we get a clearer idea of his timeline, but even a best-case scenario would likely have him missing 4-6 weeks. It's a tremendous disappointment for a player who was locked in as an RB2. As it is, the Steelers will likely now turn to a committee of replacement-level talents Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer and La'Rod Stephens-Howling.
Source: Jay Glazer on Twitter

Aug 21 - 2:14 PM

 

[BINGO]

DeAndre Hopkins - WR - Texans

DeAndre Hopkins (concussion) hasn't been ruled out for Sunday's preseason game, but remains in phase one of the NFL's five-phase concussion protocol.

"Can you make up five stages between now and Sunday? Yes, you can," coach Gary Kubiak said. "But we’ll see. He’s day-to-day." It's highly doubtful Hopkins will be cleared in time for Sunday, while the Texans' starters may not play in the preseason finale. If Hopkins' exhibition season is through, he finishes with six catches for 74 yards. He's a WR3/4 flier.
Source: Houston Chronicle

Aug 21 - 6:50 PM

 

[BINGO]

Report: Le'Veon Bell could miss 6-8 weeks

CBS' Jason La Canfora reports doctors are "hopeful" Le'Veon Bell (Lisfranc) can heal without surgery, but that he'll be sidelined 6-8 weeks.

ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms Bell is expected to miss at least six weeks. That has Bell returning sometime after the Steelers' Week 5 bye, and perhaps quite later. He's shaping up as a candidate for I.R./designated to return. Bell would be eligible to return from short-term I.R. in Week 9, which is 75 days from today. The news wrecks the Steelers' plan to remake their rushing attack, and leaves them with the unappealing trio of Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer and La'Rod Stephens-Howling. It's unclear who the leader of the committee will be, but we'll get some clues in Saturday's regular season dress rehearsal.
Source: Jason La Canfora on

Twitter Aug 21 - 4:10 PM

 

[BINGO]

Kenjon Barner - RB - Panthers

Panthers sixth-round RB Kenjon Barner has been getting increased reps.

Jonathan Stewart (ankles) is a real candidate for reserve/PUP, meaning he'd miss the first six weeks of the season. That would leave DeAngelo Williams as a workhorse, with Barner and Mike Tolbert in specialist roles. Through two preseason games, Barner has rushed 15 times for 42 yards (2.8 YPC) and caught three passes for 16 yards. Extreme deep leaguers can put the speed back on their radar.
Source: Associated Press

Aug 22 - 9:25 AM

 

[BINGO]

Le'Veon Bell - RB - Steelers

Le'Veon Bell will not need surgery to repair the sprain in his right foot.

At this point, it's the best news the Steelers could hope for. While surgery to repair a Lisfranc sprain would have cost Bell the entire season, a rest-and-rehab regiment could get him back as soon as six weeks. If that's the case, the second-round rookie would have an outside shot at playing sometime around Week 3. Still, there are no guarantees when it comes to this serious of an injury. Maurice Jones-Drew put off surgery on his Lisfranc ailment last year and tried to return, but never got back on the field and went under the knife after the season. Santonio Holmes' foot is still bothering him 11 months after his Lisfranc. While Bell is sidelined, backup-caliber talents Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer will duel for the starting job. Related: Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer
Source: Jim Wexell on Twitter

Aug 22 - 12:32 PM

 

[BINGO]

Dion Jordan - DL - Dolphins

Sources tell the Miami Herald that the Dolphins are concerned first-round DE/OLB Dion Jordan (shoulder) won't be ready for Week 1.

Jordan originally sustained his shoulder injury while at Oregon and then underwent surgery in February. His rehab is not going according to plan as he's suffered a few setbacks. He's missed multiple weeks of practice, a bad thing for a tremendously talented yet raw rookie battling for backup snaps. An early-season impact from the surprise No. 3 overall pick appears highly unlikely.
Source: Miami Herald

Aug 22 - 12:21 PM

 

[BINGO]

Aaron Mellette - WR - Ravens

Aaron Mellette caught two passes for nine yards in the Ravens' third preseason game against Carolina.

Mellette was the third receiver in the games for the Ravens, behind Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones, but he couldn't do much with his three targets. Mellette was out-shined by fellow rookie Marlon Brown in the all-important third preseason game. After three exhibition contests, Mellette has four catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns. He'll see plenty of work in next week's preseason finale.

Aug 22 - 11:17 PM

 

[BINGO]

Marlon Brown - WR - Ravens

Undrafted WR Marlon Brown led the Ravens with four catches for 59 yards and a touchdown in Baltimore's third preseason game Thursday night.

Brown got plenty of work with the first-team offense and secured all four of his targets. His first reception came on a nice out-breaking route and resulted in a first down, while his 24-yard touchdown from Joe Flacco came on a deep post over the middle. It's always important to shine in the third preseason game, also known as the dress rehearsal, and Brown did just that. Through three preseason games, Brown has six catches for 90 yards and the score. After Torrey Smith, the Ravens' receiver depth chart is open. Brown's a guy to monitor.

Aug 22 - 11:10 PM

 

[BINGO]

Le'Veon Bell - RB - Steelers

Speaking Thursday, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin implied Le'Veon Bell's mid-foot sprain is not of the Lisfranc variety, and that he's week to week.

Specifically, Tomlin said Bell's injury was not a Lisfranc sprain similar to the one suffered by Matt Spaeth. It's not entirely clear if Tomlin meant Bell had avoided a Lisfranc injury, or just suffered a less serious one than Spaeth. It's also unclear how seriously those in the know are taking Tomlin's comments, as they didn't generate much national traction on Thursday. It was widely reported on Wednesday, from FOX to CBS to ESPN, that Bell had a Lisfranc injury. Teams can be fairly loose with injury information in the preseason, and even in the regular season, they regularly decline to disclose whether a sprained foot is of the Lisfranc variety. The Steelers' Friday acquisition of Felix Jones is a sign they don't expect Bell back in the near future. We still consider Bell out indefinitely.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Aug 23 - 12:35 PM

 

[BINGO]

Le'Veon Bell - RB - Steelers

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette describes Le'Veon Bell's right foot injury as a "small ligament tear," and expects Bell to miss "up to six weeks."

Six weeks seems like a long time at first glance, but it's nothing compared to initial fears of a Lisfranc sprain or fracture. Bell appears to have avoided that, and a six-week timetable could get him back into game action by the first week of October. Bell is worth no more than a late-round fantasy stab, but not all is lost. He still has a chance to be a 2013 fantasy football asset.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Aug 23 - 4:25 PM

 

[BINGO]

Cordarrelle Patterson - WR - Vikings

Cordarrelle Patterson caught two passes for 11 yards in the Vikings' third preseason game Sunday night at San Francisco.

Patterson isn't a starter, but he played early with the Christian Ponder group, and the Vikings "manufactured" his touches, one on a wide receiver screen and another on a carry, with the latter gaining four yards. Patterson is more likely to be a return-yardage league producer early in the season. To become a serious standard-league fantasy asset, the first-rounder will need to bypass Jerome Simpson on the depth chart at "X" receiver.

Aug 25 - 10:34 PM

 

[BINGO]

Quinton Patton - WR - 49ers

49ers rookie WR Quinton Patton caught four passes for 35 yards and a touchdown in his preseason debut Sunday night.

Patton missed the first two preseason games due to a fractured thumb. He's 100 percent now, and looked sharp working out of the left slot in Colin Kaepernick's spread-option offense. Patton ran as the No. 3 receiver with Kyle Williams (injuries) inactive, playing alongside Anquan Boldin, Marlon Moore, and Vernon Davis. Patton is a name to monitor closely in re-draft leagues.

Aug 25 - 9:41 PM

 

[BINGO]

Kenny Stills - WR - Saints

Saints rookie WR Kenny Stills caught two balls for 54 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's third preseason game against Houston.

He's wrapped up the Saints' No. 3 receiver job. Stills beat Kareem Jackson down the sideline for a 40-yard strike, before putting a shiver move on Johnathan Joseph to score from 14 yards out. With seven preseason receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns, Stills has put himself squarely on the re-draft radar, where he's worth late-round consideration. He's still a long shot for box-score consistency behind Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston, Darren Sproles, and Lance Moore in the race for Drew Brees' targets.

Aug 25 - 6:33 PM

 

[BINGO]

Menelik Watson - T - Raiders

Second-round pick Menelik Watson has been inserted as the Raiders' starting left tackle.

He's probably going to struggle -- mightily -- but couldn't possibly be worse than swinging-gate penalty collector Alex Barron. The 42nd overall pick in April's draft, Watson is a former basketball player and college right tackle at Florida State. He's now playing left tackle in the NFL, where in the AFC West he'll face Dwight Freeney, Tamba Hali, and Von Miller once Miller gets back from suspension. Watson is quite likely to prove in over his head.
Source: Oakland Tribune

Aug 25 - 3:12 PM

 

[BINGO]

Jarvis Jones - LB - Steelers

Steelers first-round pick Jarvis Jones has been released from the hospital after tests on his chest came back negative.

The Steelers can breathe a sigh of relief. The 17th overall pick in April's draft, Jones suffered the injury in Saturday night's preseason game following an interception. He should be all systems go for the season opener.
Source: Josina Anderson

Aug 25 - 3:01 PM

 

[BINGO]

Jordan Mills - T - Bears

Fifth-round pick Jordan Mills has won the Bears' starting right tackle job.

Mills started the second and third preseason games, and Jay Cutler "clearly" feels comfortable with a rookie right side of Mills and RG Kyle Long. The Bears' O-Line is coming together. If the season began today, it would involve LT Jermon Bushrod, LG Matt Slauson, C Roberto Garza, RG Long, and RT Mills. It's still a bottom-five unit on paper, but has played well together in August.
Source: ESPN Chicago

Aug 25 - 1:41 PM

 

[BINGO]

Da'Rick Rogers - WR - Bills

UDFA WR Da'Rick Rogers didn't play a single snap in the Bills' third preseason game against the Redskins on Saturday.

The Bills went three-and-out on nine of their 12 possessions and ran just 49 offensive plays. Still, bottom-of-the-roster receivers Marcus Easley (6 snaps), Chris Hogan (3), Demarco Sampson (3), Brad Smith (2), and Brandon Kaufman (2) all got into the game ahead of Rogers. Rogers is going to have to light it up in the preseason finale if he wants to make the team, but that still might not be enough. Buffalo could be looking to stash him on the practice squad.
Source: Buffalo News

Aug 25 - 12:44 PM

 

[BINGO]

Stepfan Taylor - RB - Cardinals

Cardinals rookie RB Stepfan Taylor had two carries for nine yards in Saturday's preseason game.

He added two catches for 15 yards. With Rashard Mendenhall potentially dealing with a serious knee injury, Taylor could be a candidate for early-season fantasy value. He has 29 carries for 92 yards (3.2 YPC) through three preseason games and is competing for backup duties with Ryan Williams.

Aug 25 - 2:59 AM