Bengals WR Tee Higgins went to the locker room in the 1st half to be evaluated for a concussion. We'll watch for results of that testing.
Update: Higgins has been ruled out. We'll watch his progress through the concussion protocol this week.
Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki rotated with 2 teammates during 1st-team work in the preseason finale vs. Philadelphia. Durham Smythe led the position in snaps across the 1st 3 drives, while Gesicki led TEs in pass routes, according to Pro Football Focus. Cethan Carter also worked in for 2-TE sets, playing 7 such snaps to Gesicki's 5. For the preseason, PFF counted 24 "inline" snaps for Gesicki vs. 14 in the slot, 4 split wide and 1 at FB. That's 55.8% of his snaps inline, compared with the 85% he spent in the slot or out wide last season. The 1 thing that does seem clear with Gesicki is that we should expect his 2022 role to look a lot different than it has to this point -- which doesn't bode well for his receiving production. Gesicki has been a faller in our TE rankings.
Pro Football Focus' Doug Kyed reports a league source told him the Dolphins have "brought up" TE Mike Gesicki in trade talks with other teams. Such a move would make sense for Miami, with Gesicki set to play on the franchise tag and seemingly about to play out of position as an in-line TE. Gesicki has operated much more as a slot receiver thus far in his career and looks much better suited for that type of role. Given the reports this preseason on his deployment as a blocker, a trade would probably be good for Gesicki's 2022 fantasy outlook. We'll see if something materializes.
"It’s been a struggle to get [TE Mike Gesicki] involved in the new offense so far this summer," ESPN's Cameron Wolfe said Saturday. It was part of a tweet pointing out that Gesicki was the last Miami starter still playing late in the 2nd quarter of the 2nd preseason game. Basically an oversized WR listed as a TE, Gesicki always looked like an awkward fit in HC Mike McDaniel's offense, which requires the TE to block quite a bit (think George Kittle). Throw in the increased target competition with the arrival of WR Tyreek Hill, and it's tough to like Gesicki as a fantasy-draft target.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow spoke to the media on Wednesday about his recovery from his appendectomy. He said he's eating "everything" to gain back 20 pounds, per insider Mike Petraglia. Burrow added that he'll return to 11-on-11 work in Wednesday's practice. And, while he won't play in the preseason, he feels confident that he'll be ready to go for Week 1. We'll continue to monitor Burrow's progress, but we haven't altered his 2022 projections.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow practiced Sunday for the first time since his late-July appendectomy. Per The Athletic’s Paul Dehner, the Bengals will gradually increase Burrow’s practice load over the next few days. Based on some highlights from today, though, Burrow certainly looks close to 100%. We’re not concerned about his effectiveness for Week 1.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins continues to be eased into practice after offseason shoulder surgery. But HC Zac Taylor has no concerns about his readiness for the start of the season. “On the physical part of things, he’s ready. I know he feels great. I know he’s ready to go, and trust me, he tells me every day," Taylor said. "But it’s good to slowly integrate him in there, so he’s been doing the one-on-ones. He’ll do seven-on-sevens going forward. I think that he feels really good, and man, he’s really attacked that rehab the right way and looks really good.” Higgins is safe to draft in the late 2nd or early 3rd round of fantasy drafts.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor said Monday that he's "not going to make any predictions" on when QB Joe Burrow returns to the field following his July appendix surgery, according to The Athletic. The team is reportedly optimistic, though, and doesn't expect him to miss the regular-season opener. We'll keep an eye on Burrow's progress.
Bengals TE Drew Sample left Thursday's practice on a cart after hurting his left knee. HC Zac Taylor told reporters Friday that he's only expected to miss a couple of weeks, though, with a mild sprain. That should put Sample on track to begin the season on time. Sample played in every game last year but tallied only 15 targets. Sample has performed well as a pass-blocker, though. So any regular-season absence could hamper that area. The Bengals have also been without new RT La'el Collins, as he works through a back issue.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor said Friday that QB Joe Burrow is "day to day" after his late-July appendectomy. Burrow still isn't practicing but has been leading meetings, Taylor said. It doesn't sound like Burrow is in any danger of missing the start of the season, but it'd be nice to see him get in a few weeks of practice before the opener.
The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia notes that Bills RB Zack Moss "has worked in with the Josh Allen-led offense every day, which shows he is still very much a part of the running back discussion for 2022." Buscaglia specifically mentions short-yardage situations as an area where Moss could make an impact. We're still not banking on him being a fantasy factor this season without an injury ahead of him on the depth chart. But Moss could be a drain on James Cook and, especially, Devin Singletary if he vultures goal-line carries.
Paul Dehner of The Athletic writes that WR Ja’Marr Chase “has picked up right where he left off” last season. You know, because All-Pro talents don’t just decline in their 2nd season. “It’s not a surprise, and it’s hard to imagine his stock soaring any higher, but Chase looks like he’s playing a different game,” Dehner shares. Good to know. The LSU product is currently coming off the board 3rd among WRs — and rightfully so.
Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki admitted that HC Mike McDaniel’s offense has him blocking more than in past seasons. "Yeah, I mean, I don't think I took one snap from a receiver stance today," Gesicki said at training camp. "So it's definitely different. And but I mean, it is what it is. And I'm excited about it. I'm looking forward to another challenge and another opportunity.” Gesicki, 26, is likely to be an inconsistent fantasy asset this fall.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow will miss "some practice time" after undergoing surgery to remove his appendix, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. We'll see how long Burrow is sidelined, but the missed practice reps aren't a huge deal considering he's returning to the same offense with the same top 3 WRs. Consider Burrow's fantasy stock unaffected.
The Dolphins and TE Mike Gesicki let Friday's deadline pass without a longer-term extension. That means the franchise-tagged TE will play out 2022 on his 1-year tender. We're not changing our fantasy football outlook for Gesicki, barring a training-camp holdout. The biggest issue facing Gesicki in 2022 is the challenge of drawing target share with WR Tyreek Hill and WR Cedrick Wilson joining WR Jaylen Waddle in a crowded passing offense. Concerns on that front, however, have pushed his ADP below where he sits in our 2022 fantasy football rankings.
Per the Bengals’ official website, WR coach Troy Walters “envisions” WR Ja’Marr Chase playing in the slot more this season. "I'm cool in the slot,” Chase said. “I just need more reps in it. It doesn't really matter to me. It's just another way for me to get the ball.” According to Pro Football Focus, Chase spent 15.8% of his snaps in the slot as a rookie. Unsurprisingly, he posted an elite 2.49 yards per route run from the inside alignment. The 22-year-old remains a top-5 fantasy WR.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor confirmed on Tuesday that WR Tee Higgins (shoulder) is on track to be ready for training camp. Higgins underwent surgery to repair his left labrum in March and is doing rehab work at this week's OTA sessions. We'll continue to monitor his progress, but Higgins is fine to draft at ADP in early best balls.
The Bengals chose S Daxton Hill with the penultimate pick of Round 1 in the NFL Draft. A versatile 3-year starter at Michigan, Hill finished his college career with 4.7 tackles per game, 4 total INTs and 15 passes defensed. He joins a Cincinnati defense that already has Jesse Bates and Vonn Bell in place. Hill could compete for early snaps at slot corner, and Bates is no lock beyond this season after getting the franchise tag this offseason. We'll see about Cincinnati's plans.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor doesn't expect WR Tee Higgins (shoulder) to participate in any of the team's offseason program. Higgins had surgery on his left shoulder after the Super Bowl and is expected to be out for a couple of months, Taylor said. It sounds like Higgins should at least be ready for training camp, but we'll keep an eye on his recovery.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins had surgery on the labrum in his left shoulder in March, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. Higgins is expected to be ready "well before training camp," so this shouldn't be an issue for his 2022 outlook.
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