Latest On Chiefs WR Marquise Brown
The Chiefs’ receiving corps took a hit in their preseason debut when Marquise Brown suffered an SC joint injury. The worst-case scenario has been avoided, though, and as such Brown could still make his Kansas City debut in the season opener. 
Brown was hospitalized as a result of the injury, but head coach Andy Reid said on Monday (via Nate Taylor of The Athletic) surgery was not required in this instance. That is a positive development, and Reid added he has not yet ruled Brown out for Week 1. Kansas City’s first game will come on Thursday night to kick off the 2024 campaign.
“Yeah, we’ll see,” Reid said during his press conference (video link). “We’ll see how that goes. But without him in there and his experience and that in the league… we’ve also got some other guys who can step in and play. We’ll be OK there, but we’re pulling for him to get back, obviously.”
Adding at the receiver spot was a key priority for the Chiefs this offseason. Brown signed a one-year deal to operate as a deep threat coming off his three years in Baltimore and two in Arizona. The expiration of his rookie contract did not yield a long-term commitment for the former first-rounder, with consistency being an issue so far in his career. Brown could parlay a productive season in Kansas City into a strong market in 2025, though.
The 27-year-old will be joined by returnees Rashee Rice, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, Mecole Hardman and Justin Watson in the WR room. The Chiefs added further to that group on Day 1 of the draft by selecting Xavier Worthy. The latter broke the all-time 40-yard dash record at the Combine and expectations are high for him to provide Kansas City with a vertical threat early and often in his career.
Brown – who has one 1,000-yard campaign on his resume and has averaged 11.6 yards per catch over his career – will look to give his new team a similar option when healthy. Any long-term absence should not be expected in any case, but Reid’s comments point to Week 1 still being a possibility for Brown.
Bengals RT Amarius Mims In Danger Of Missing Regular Season Time
Amarius Mims could have his NFL debut delayed due to injury. The rookie Bengals right tackle is dealing with a strained pectoral muscle, head coach Zac Taylor said on Monday. 
[RELATED: Recapping Bengals’ Offseason]
Taylor noted (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer) Mims will not require surgery, but the first-rounder will nevertheless be out for “several weeks.” That means Mims will not take part in the Bengals’ remaining preseason contests, and his availability for Week 1 is now in question. Taylor did not rule out Mims being able to suit up for the season opener, though.
In any event, missed training camp and preseason reps will be critical for Mims. The Georgia alum flashed considerable potential during his college career, but injuries limited his time on the field to a major extent. The 6-7, 330-pounder had impressed to date in training camp, however, and the door was open to him winning the starting RT gig over free agent signing Trent Brown.
The latter was added on a one-year deal featuring incentives this offseason. Brown has made 100 appearances and 93 starts in his career, but his signing was known to be part of a wider strategy on the Bengals’ part of finding a long-term answer at right tackle. As expected, Jonah Williams departed on the open market, creating the need for a stopgap option to be added and a developmental contributor to be drafted.
Mims will no doubt take over a starting role at some point relatively soon, especially if he manages to recover quickly. For now, attention will turn to his rehab process and Browns’ readiness to handle first-team duties if needed at the start of the campaign.
Patriots’ Matt Judon Drawing Trade Interest
No agreement has been reached between Matt Judon and the Patriots as he approaches the final year of his current contract. To little surprise, teams around the NFL are looking into a potential acquisition. 
New England has received trade inquiries from “multiple teams,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. The four-time Pro Bowler has not been a full participant in training camp this summer, although he recently resumed practicing on a daily basis. Judon wants to finish his career with the Patriots, but no deal on an extension or an upgraded pact for 2024 appears to be imminent.
As Fowler’s report confirms, New England made an offer earlier this summer. That was rejected by Judon, who is due $7.5MM for the coming season. The top of the edge market is much higher than that, and while the soon-to-be 32-year-old will not command a deal near the top of the pecking order his production suggests he could be due a raise. Judon has recorded 32 sacks in 33 games as a member of the Patriots.
A biceps injury limited the former fifth-rounder to four games last season, something which has hurt his leverage in contract talks. To little surprise, though, Judon has expressed frustration with his situation this offseason, one in which the Eliot Wolf-Jerod Mayo regime has retained a slew of in-house players. Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux was similarly upset with his deal until an extension was worked out.
New England currently has nearly $45MM in cap space, and the team sits third in terms of projected 2025 finacial flexibility. A raise for Judon in the short term or a deal making him one of the Patriots’ higher-paid players in the long term is therefore feasible, but it remains to be seen if either commitment will be made. While that question remains unanswered, it will be interesting to monitor how aggressively outside suitors pursue a trade and how willing New England is to listen to offers.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson Cleared For Full Contact
AUGUST 12: While Watson will not take part in Cleveland’s second preseason contest, he will make his 2024 debut one week later. Stefanski said on Monday (via Cabot) the Browns plan to play Watson in their exhibition finale against the Seahawks. Making it through that contest healthy would set the stage for a critical regular season slate.
AUGUST 11: Deshaun Watson has hit another checkpoint in his recovery process. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Sunday the team’s franchise quarterback has been cleared for full contact. 
Watson was limited to just six games last season due to a lingering shoulder injury. After being shut down for the campaign – the second of his fully guaranteed, $230MM contract – his attention turned to rehab. That process has gone well to date, with an update from June stating he was ahead of schedule.
Now, Watson will continue his preparation for the 2024 season during this week’s joint practices with the Vikings. Stefanski confirmed the three-time Pro Bowler will not play in Cleveland’s second preseason contest, as was the case this past weekend (by which time, as Stefanski clarified via Cleveland.com’s Mary KayCabot, Watson had received clearance). The 28-year-old will, however, receive the “vast majority” of first-team reps over the coming days.
The Browns dealt with a slew of injuries at several offensive positions last season, and the team relied on Joe Flacco at quarterback down the stretch and in the postseason. Flacco departed in free agency and Cleveland has brought in the likes of Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley in addition to returnee Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Regardless of how the rest of the depth chart shakes out, though, Watson will of course face high expectations as starter once the campaign begins.
After sitting out the first 11 weeks of the 2022 season through suspension for a personal conduct policy violation, the former Texan did not impress in his opening Cleveland starts. The Browns went 5-1 during his six appearances this past season, but his passer rating in that span (84.3) fell well short of his career average and his best Houston years. Returning to his previous form – and thus making the monster trade price the Browns paid to acquire him, in addition to the historic extension, easier to justify – would be critical for Cleveland’s chances of making a postseason run.
Unlike last offseason, the team did not adjust Watson’s contract. As a result, he is set to carry a record-breaking cap charge of $63.77MM in 2024. The pact also calls for cap hits of just under $64MM in 2025 and ’26, so remaining healthy and delivering a strong outing on Watson’s part will be critical for the team’s finances now and in the future. This latest update is another sign he is back at 100% well before Week 1.
WR Martavis Bryant Lines Up Second Commanders Workout
Martavis Bryant‘s efforts to return to NFL action will once again take him to the nation’s capital. The veteran wideout is set to visit the Commanders for a workout tomorrow, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. 
Bryant first visited Washington in May as part of his bid to land a roster spot ahead of the 2024 season. No deal was worked out at that point, but this week’s summit could produce a different result. The 32-year-old last played an NFL game in 2018, but he continues to seek out an opportunity to return to the league.
A combination of substance abuse-related suspensions left Bryant sidelined for years after the end of his one-year Raiders tenure. The former Steelers fourth-rounder saw time in the CFL and XFL before making his ongoing attempt at a finding an NFL roster spot. Given the fact the Commanders already hosted him once, it will be interesting to see if tomorrow’s visit produces mutual interest from team and player to work out a deal.
Bryant signed with the Cowboys in November, but he spent the following months on Dallas’ practice squad. After signing a futures deal, the Clemson product was released in May. That has led to a lengthy free agent spell and no known visits with a team other than the Commanders. In Washington, Bryant would spend the coming weeks competing for a complementary role in the team’s passing game.
Terry McLaurin remains comfortably atop the Commanders’ WR depth chart. Recent draftees Dyami Brown and Jahan Dotson are set to hold roster spots in 2024, while Washington also has veterans Olamide Zaccheaus, Jamison Crowder and Byron Pringle in the fold. The Commanders selected Luke McCaffrey in the third round of this spring’s draft, and he too is in the mix for a regular role. Bryant would thus have plenty of competition for a roster spot if he were to sign with Washington.
Falcons To Host S Justin Simmons
Another NFC South team is interested in Justin Simmons. The free agent safety is set to visit the Falcons today and tomorrow, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
[RELATED: Falcons’ DeMarcco Hellams To Miss ‘Signficant’ Time]
Simmons remains on the open market, but the recent increase in interest could soon produce a deal. The Saints hosted him last week, and head coach Dennis Allen noted team and player had previously been in communication during the spring. New Orleans and Simmons seemed to achieve better clarity on the matter of a potential agreement in the wake of last week’s meeting, but today’s news means the team could have competition in finalizing a contract.
Atlanta made a major safety investment via free agency last offseason. Jessie Bates inked a four-year, $64MM deal, and he delivered on expectations during his first Falcons campaign. The former Bengal racked up six interceptions, 11 pass deflections and three forced fumbles; those totals earned him a Pro Bowl invitation and a second-team All-Pro nod.
While Bates thrived in 2023, the Falcons did not enjoy success in the takeaway department. The team only totaled eight interceptions, and adding another playmaker to partner with Bates would go a long way in spurring a step forward in production. Since entering the league in 2016, Simmons has posted 30 interceptions, the most in the NFL during that span. The two-time Pro Bowler has notched at least three picks in each of the past six campaigns.
Simmons has yet to play a postseason game in his eight-year career, and he has said the ability to join a contender in 2024 is a higher priority than securing the most lucrative deal available. Just like the Saints, the Falcons were unable to win an underwhelming NFC South last season and they missed the playoffs as a result. Atlanta now has a new coaching staff and quarterback Kirk Cousins in the fold, though, leading to expectations for a rebound from the Arthur Smith era.
With two weeks remaining in the preseason, Simmons still has some time to find a new home. The 30-year-old will be counted on to handle starting duties wherever he lands, and in the case of Atlanta that would mean partnering with another centerfield-type safety in Bates and relegating Richie Grant to second-team duties. It will certainly be interesting to see how this Falcons visit goes over the coming days. Atlanta currently sits at the bottom of the league in terms of cap space with $3.5MM available, so any Simmons investment would need to be a modest one.
Rams TE Tyler Higbee Likely To Miss Regular Season Time
Tyler Higbee suffered an ACL tear during the Rams’ wild-card loss, and he has remained sidelined during training camp. The veteran tight end should not be counted on to recover in time for Week 1. 
Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic notes the Rams expect Higbee to miss time during the fall (subscription required). That comes as little surprise given the timing of his injury; moving him to the reserve/PUP list would ensure a four-week absence at the start of the year. Higbee is projected to miss at least that much time as he continues to recover, Rodrigue writes.
Higbee has served as a full-time starter since his second season in the league. His eight-year career has been played exclusively with the Rams, and he has posted between 495 and 734 yards each year since 2019. The 31-year-old is under contract for the next two years on his current pact, so it would be logical from the team’s perspective to stick to a cautious recovery approach.
Los Angeles signed Colby Parkinson in free agency. The former Seahawk inked a two-year deal worth $22.5MM to make the intra-divisional move, and he is in line to serve as starter while Higbee is on the mend. Parkinson, 25, saw an uptick in playing time over the past two seasons after primarily being used on special teams during his first and second Seattle campaigns. He will look to offer a pass-catching option to complement Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua during the early portion of his Rams tenure.
The rest of the Rams’ tight end depth chart includes 2023 fifth-rounder Davis Allen and former trade acquisition Hunter Long. Both members of that pair are likely to see playing time at the start of the season in particular while Higbee rehabs. At some point in 2024, though, the latter will be expected to return to action as a key member of Los Angeles’ offense.
Dolphins Activate OLB Jaelan Phillips
Miami has received positive news on the health front with respect to Jaelan Phillips. Head coach Mike McDaniel announced on Monday the fourth-year edge rusher has been activated from the active/PUP list. 
As a result, Phillips is now eligible to return to practice. The 25-year-old has been sidelined since the Achilles tear he suffered on Black Friday, and his offseason has been centered on his ability to recover. Returning to action in time for Week 1 has long been a goal, and today’s news is an encouraging sign Phillips will be able to meet it.
Having at least one of Phillips or Bradley Chubb in place by that point would be critical for Miami’s edge rush corps. The latter is rehabbing an ACL tear, and his availability for the start of the campaign remains a question mark. The Phillips-Chubb tandem will handle starting duties when healthy, and with Shaquil Barrett retiring before making his Miami debut, veteran depth could be an issue. The Dolphins do, of course, have rookies Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara in place as rotational options.
Miami made the expected decision of picking up Phillips’ 2025 fifth-year option this spring. That move set him up to earn $13.3MM next season, although a long-term deal could be in the cards as well. The UCLA and Miami alum flashed considerable potential as a rookie, racking up 8.5 sacks. That was followed up by seven the year after and another strong showing in the first portion of the 2023 campaign. Phillips recorded 6.5 sacks and 17 pressures before suffering the injury. He now has a short window to ramp up in time for the start of the campaign.
In other Dolphins news, Wyatt Ray‘s efforts to return to the NFL have led him to Miami. The veteran edge rusher has joined the Dolphins, per an announcement from his agency. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reported earlier Monday that Ray, 27 worked out for the team. The former UDFA has made 23 appearances in the NFL split across three teams. He posted 5.5 sacks with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas this spring, and that production has landed him the opportunity to compete for a roster spot.
Falcons S DeMarcco Hellams Suffers Ankle Injury
DeMarcco Hellams‘ efforts to secure a starting spot on defense in 2024 have come to a halt. The second-year safety is set to miss “significant time” due to an ankle injury, head coach Raheem Morris said (via team reporter Tori McElhaney). 
Hellams was selected in the seventh round of last year’s draft after pick No. 224 was included in the Bryan Edwards trade. He logged a special teams role right away during his rookie campaign, but as the season progressed he also took on defensive responsibilities. The 24-year-old ultimately made four starts late in the year, surpassing former second-rounder Richie Grant on the depth chart.
In all, Hellams totaled 40 tackles and did not allow a touchdown in coverage last season. That level of play – coupled with his third phase role – had him in line to compete for a full-time defensive spot or at least a key rotational workload in 2024. Now, his attention will turn to recovery and minimizing the time he misses during the regular season.
Today’s news means Grant will regain his starting spot in time for Week 1. That was already the way things appeared to be headed, as noted by ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, based on training camp performances. The 26-year-old took on first-team duties in 2022, racking up 123 tackles and seven pass deflections. Grant once again filled the statsheet last season (103 stops, three sacks), but he surrendered six touchdowns and a 126.6 passer rating in coverage. Those struggles led to Hellams seeing additional snaps late in the campaign, but Grant will no longer have competition for the time being.
The latter is entering the final year of his rookie contract, so a strong showing would help his market value on a second Falcons deal or one sending him to a new team. Atlanta already has one major financial commitment on the books in the form of Jessie Bates, but for 2024 Grant and Hellams constitute cost-effective starting options. The team’s depth at the safety spot will be limited for a stretch at the start of the year, though.
5 Key Stories: 8/4/24 – 8/11/24
With exhibition contests underway around the league, the 2024 regular season is nearing. Plenty of key developments continue to take place in the NFL as teams sort out a number of unsettled contract matters. In case you missed any of the past week’s top stories, here is a quick recap:
- 49ers Extension, Steelers Trade Remain Options For Aiyuk: The past few days have produced a new round of updates on Brandon Aiyuk’s future. The second team All-Pro was reported to be the subject of trade agreements with the Browns and Patriots, although New England is now out of the running. Cleveland’s package to San Francisco would have included Amari Cooper and a pair of draft picks, but Aiyuk is not interested in a Browns extension. That is the case for the Steelers, though, and Pittsburgh has re-engaged in talks. To date, no agreement has been reached in terms of a trade with the 49ers or a long-term deal, one which would pay the 26-year-old roughly $30MM per year. As San Francisco continues to entertain offers (and seek a receiver in return from any trade partner), the team is also still attempting to work out an extension which will keep Aiyuk in the Bay Area for the long-term future. A deal on that front, or a trade sending him to Pittsburgh, remain the likeliest outcomes in this fluid situation.
- Werner Lands Saints Extension: A number of veterans are set to again hold key roles on the Saints’ defense in 2024, but linebacker Pete Werner is among the ascending talents also in line for first-team duties. The 25-year-old inked a three-year extension worth a base value of $22.5MM, keeping him in the fold through 2027. Werner saw notable playing time as a rookie and has served as a full-time starter over the past two years. He set a new career high in tackles (90) last season, and expectations will remain high moving forward. The former second-rounder received a practical guarantee of roughly $17.5MM on his new deal, and he will join free agent addition Willie Gay as a central figure on the Saints’ defense this year.
- Patriots Release Smith-Schuster: The Patriots’ 2023 investment in JuJu Smith-Schuster did not pay off, and it resulted in a separation. New England released the veteran wideout, incurring a dead money charge of $7MM in the process. 2023 saw him produce only 260 yards and one touchdown while struggling to remain healthy. Smith-Schuster, 27, is in better shape from a health perspective now but he was already known to be on the roster bubble. The Patriots added at the WR spot via free agency (K.J. Osborn) and the draft (Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker) this offseason, the first of the Eliot Wolf-Jerod Mayo regime. Efforts to land Calvin Ridley and Brandon Aiyuk were unsuccessful, but Smith-Schuster will nevertheless need to find a new team in the coming weeks. The latter’s next contract will no doubt be less valuable than the $25.5MM one he signed last offseason.
- Prescott Seeking Historic AAV; Cowboys Making Progress On Lamb Talks? Speculation continues to swirl regarding how the Cowboys will sort out extension talks with quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb. The former is reportedly attached to an asking price above $55MM per season; that would make his next deal the most lucrative one in league history in terms of AAV. Prescott cannot be franchise tagged next year, holds a no-trade clause and is set to carry major cap hits in 2024 and ’25. While no deal on that front appears imminent, the Cowboys may be closer to inking Lamb. Jerry Jones does not feel a sense of urgency in getting a deal done with the All-Pro, one which will reach or at least approach the top of the receiver market ($35MM per year). A Micah Parsons mega-extension looms next year, but at least one major pact could be on the books by that point.
- Chiefs Extend Butker: A number of extension priorities remain in the waning weeks of the summer for the Chiefs, but one has been taken care of. Kansas City worked out a four-year, $25.6MM deal with kicker Harrison Butker. He is now the league’s highest-paid kicker in terms of annual compensation ($6.4MM) and guarantees ($17.75MM). The 29-year-old has proven to be a highly consistent contributor during his career, one in which he has posted a field goal accuracy rate of at least 88.9% five times in six years. Butker (who was set to enter a walk year) has proven to have one of the strongest legs in the league, and he will be counted on to remain a key contributor for the defending champions for years to come.