FiveThirtyEight @FiveThirtyEight
Rookie Leonard Fournette is so far not impressed with the NFL. 53eig.ht/2vP9N1g
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Mike Rodak ESPN Staff Writer
Bills RT Jordan Mills is not practicing Friday, and is instead working with other rehabbing players on the sideline. That adds context to why rookie Dion Dawkins is taking left tackle reps in positional drills Friday, with Seantrel Henderson at right tackle.
Mike Rodak ESPN Staff Writer
Bills rookie second-round pick Dion Dawkins is taking reps at left tackle in positional drills during Friday's practice. Seantrel Henderson is lined up at right tackle. However, coach Sean McDermott said earlier Friday he would not yet consider moving Dawkins to left tackle with Cordy Glenn (foot) still out.
Eric D. Williams ESPN Staff Writer
ROOKIE REPORT: Third-round offensive lineman Dan Feeney continues to get a handful of snaps with the starters at right guard, along with playing center with the second unit. "I did all right," said Feeney, when asked how he played against the Seattle Seahawks last week. "There's still a bunch of stuff I have to work on. But for the first preseason game I think I did all right." Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said Feeney remains in a battle for the starting right guard job with Kenny Wiggins. Undrafted rookie tight end Sean Culkin has looked comfortable as a blocker at H-back and catching the ball lined up in the slot. Lynn noted that undrafted rookie receiver Artavis Scott out of Clemson has made some plays in the passing game this week.
Eric D. Williams ESPN Staff Writer
PLAY OF THE DAY: Chargers undrafted rookie Austin Ekeler made a nice catch and run on an arrow route near the goal line from Kellen Clemens, diving into the end zone and getting mobbed by his teammates. The cat-quick running back out of Western State Colorado University has made an impact as a pass-catcher out of the backfield his week. Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said Ekeler is playing faster now that he has a better understanding of the offense.
Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer
Saints TE Coby Fleener was absent for the second straight practice Friday for an unspecified reason, according to reporters on site. WR Ted Ginn Jr. was present but not participating – his third straight missed practice for an unspecified reason. Anthony has been sidelined all week with an unspecified issue.
Eric D. Williams ESPN Staff Writer
INJURY UPDATE: Left tackle Russell Okung returned to practice on a limited basis after sitting out of Thursday's activities with what head coach Anthony Lynn said was a sore leg. However, Okung was limited to individual work while right tackle Joe Barksdale watched from the sidelines with a protective boot on his right foot. "If we had a game, those guys would probably be playing," Lynn said. "But now is the time to take care of those guys, let them rest and let them get well. And give us an opportunity to evaluate what's behind them." Lynn said CB Craig Mager remains out with a soft tissue injury. Others who did not practice include CB Casey Hayward (hamstring), CB Trovon Reed (hip), TE Sean McGrath (knee), TE Jeff Cumberland (legs), DE Jerry Attaochu (hamstring), DE Chris Landrum (shoulder), LB Denzel Perryman (ankle) and OL Forrest Lamp (knee). Rookie receiver Mike Williams remains on the physically unable to perform list with a lower back disc herniation. RB Kenjon Barner (concussion) is practicing on a limited basis, and Lynn said he does not anticipate the Oregon product playing on Sunday vs. the Saints.
Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer
Rams announce that they have signed OLB Davis Tull and CB Carlos Davis. WRs CJ Germany and Justin Thomas were waived. Tull was a fifth-round pick by the Saints in 2015 and spent last year on the Falcons' practice squad. Davis is an undrafted rookie out of Ole Miss, where he excelled as a kick returner.
Mike Rodak ESPN Staff Writer
Bills coach Sean McDermott gave a vote of confidence Friday in Tyrod Taylor, saying Taylor will remain the starter next week in Baltimore and is the expected Week 1 starter.
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
The Pressure of Being Marshawn Lynch, via Rolling Stone:... fb.me/3Ioi0eZNv
SportsCenter @SportsCenter
Le'Veon Bell reportedly nixed an offer from the Steelers "at the last minute" before the franchise-tag deadline. es.pn/2vQwrqa
Mike Rodak ESPN Staff Writer
Bills coach Sean McDermott said Friday that he expects Tyrod Taylor to be the starting quarterback in Week 1 against the Jets. McDermott, in general, is giving Taylor a vote of confidence after his 8-for-18 showing in Thursday's preseason loss to the Eagles.
Mike Rodak ESPN Staff Writer
Bills coach Sean McDermott did not directly answer Friday if rookie QB Nathan Peterman would receive first-team reps in practice next week, which are closed to the media after stretching. McDermott said Taylor will start next Saturday's preseason game in Baltimore and play early into the third quarter.
John Keim ESPN Staff Writer
The Redskins waived receiver Kendal Thompson from their injured reserve list with an injury settlement. Thompson was on their precise squad last season but was unable to practice this summer while recovering from a leg injury.
Mike Rodak ESPN Staff Writer
Sean McDermott said Friday that the Bills will "look into" bringing officials into practice in order to cut down on their penalties. Buffalo was flagged 21 times (15 accepted) in Thursday's preseason loss to Philadelphia.
Mike Rodak ESPN Staff Writer
Bills coach Sean McDermott confirmed Friday that QB Tyrod Taylor will start next Saturday at Baltimore and McDermott has "all the confidence in the world" in Taylor. McDermott said after Thursday's preseason loss to the Eagles that he would "evaluate" the position.
Jeremy Fowler ESPN Staff Writer
Plays of the day: Receivers Cobi Hamilton and Sammie Coates with back-to-back deep balls from quarterback Bart Houston. Hamilton made a slick one-headed catch against contested coverage, while Coates came back for the ball and went over the top.
Jeremy Fowler ESPN Staff Writer
LB Ryan Shazier is back at practice after missing most of camp. He's limited but in pads, a good sign.
Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer
Rookie Saints defensive backs Marshon Lattimore and Marcus Williams both had some highlights in Friday's joint practice with the Chargers in Los Angeles, according to reporters' observations. Lattimore had some highs and lows while getting a lot of snaps with the first string defense – and Saints defensive end Hau'oli Kikaha said he congratulated Lattimore for sticking his head in there on a run-support play. Williams, meanwhile, had an interception against Chargers backup Cardale Jones in full-team drills while playing in center field (his specialty). Neither rookie has won a starting job yet, but both should be heavily involved in nickel and dime packages at the very least. And both will be key to turning around a defense that ranked 32nd in the NFL against the pass last year.
Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer
Michael Thomas on the improved performance of the Saints' offense in their second day of joint practices with the Chargers in Los Angeles: "I don't know if it was a little jet lag or what it was exactly, but I feel like we definitely improved today." Based on observations from reporters at practice, Thomas had another standout day to continue his strong camp. All signs so far have been pointing to the second-year receiver building on his breakout rookie season.
Jeremy Fowler ESPN Staff Writer
RB James Conner is scheduled to play Sunday against the Falcons. "I'm going to give him as much as he can handle," said coach Mike Tomlin, while stressing he will watch his workload after minimal practice work.