Training camp notebook: Jaxon Smith-Njigba to undergo wrist surgery

Each weekday throughout NFL training camps and the preseason, our ESPN Fantasy team will have you covered with the latest news from around the league as you prepare for your fantasy football drafts. We will provide fantasy context off of the news and deliver the latest developments in camps that could impact rosters around the league.

All notes from ESPN Fantasy analyst Eric Moody, unless noted otherwise.

Wednesday notes (updated at 5 p.m. ET)

As expected, Kupp (hamstring) returned to practice on Wednesday. It marked his first practice since Aug. 1.

Other notes:

• The Colts have given RB Jonathan Taylor until next Tuesday to find a suitable trade partner. Indianapolis has received inquiries from six teams and offers from two.

• Browns QB Deshaun Watson said that he’ll play in the final preseason game on Saturday against the Chiefs.

• Ravens TE Mark Andrews is dealing an undisclosed injury that, according to head coach John Harbaugh, “isn’t serious.”

• According to head coach Kevin O’Connell, Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson is dealing with lower-back stiffness after recovering from an ear infection.

• Panthers WR DJ Chark Jr. is dealing with a hamstring injury.

• Jets WR Allen Lazard left practice on Wednesday with an undisclosed injury and did not return. The injury is not expected to be a long-term issue.

• Jets WR Corey Davis has retired from the NFL.

• Saints head coach Dennis Allen hopes TE Jimmy Graham will be at practice Wednesday. He said the veteran tight end will be OK, but didn’t go into details about what happened.

• Saints RB Darrel Williams left Tuesday’s practice early with a groin injury.

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Tuesday notes (updated at 6:30 p.m. ET)

The Seahawks’ rookie WR suffered the injury in Saturday’s preseason game against Cowboys. During his first training camp, Smith-Njigba has impressed his teammates and the Seattle coaching staff. The surgery itself will determine his recovery period, which will affect Smith-Njigba’s average draft position. In fantasy drafts, he’s still worth targeting as a WR4. Smith-Njigba should be a factor in 2023, even as the team’s WR3 behind veterans DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

Other notes:

• Commanders WR Terry McLaurin suffered a toe sprain in Monday’s preseason game against the Ravens. Head coach Ron Rivera said the X-rays were negative and McLaurin will be day-to-day. He has had three straight 1,000-yard seasons and hasn’t missed a regular-season game since 2020.

• Commanders QB Sam Howell threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns with a passer rating of 123.4 on Monday night. Howell also rushed for 17 yards. Don’t overlook him in Superflex formats.

• Patriots TE Mike Gesicki, who was dealing with a shoulder injury, returned to practice on Tuesday.

• Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said QB Baker Mayfield will be Tampa Bay’s starter against the Vikings in Week 1. Marking his third consecutive Week 1 start for a different team, he joins the ranks of just five other quarterbacks in league history to achieve this streak. When playing with wide receivers like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Mayfield is worth taking a flier on as a QB3. Evans and Godwin have played in 84 career games together. In those games, the Buccaneers quarterback group has averaged 20.3 fantasy points.

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Monday notes

Cooper Kupp to return to practice this week

Rams head coach Sean McVay expects his star wide receiver to resume practice this week. Kupp has been out since Aug. 1 with a hamstring injury.

Other notes:

• Panthers RB Miles Sanders returned to practice Monday after missing most of training camp and both of Carolina’s preseason games with a groin injury.

• Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) might play in Kansas City’s third preseason game against the Browns, according to head coach Andy Reid.

• Dolphins rookie RB De’Von Achane is week-to-week after suffering a shoulder injury against the Texans last Saturday.

• Browns WR Elijah Moore participated in team drills Sunday after sitting out last week’s joint practices in Philadelphia. While playing against the Commanders on Aug. 11, Moore fell on the football and hurt his ribs. Head coach Kevin Stefanski expects him to be an important part of the Browns’ offense.

• Patriots RB Pierre Strong Jr. is expected to return from the concussion protocol this week. Prior to Ezekiel Elliott signing, he was battling Kevin Harris for the backup running back spot. ESPN’s Mike Reiss believes Strong will have a role behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Elliott, although Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien believes Elliott is capable of playing on all three downs.

• Titans RB Tyjae Spears rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown on seven carries in Saturday’s preseason game against the Vikings. He’s the frontrunner to start the season as Derrick Henry’s backup. Over the past three seasons, Henry has averaged 25.4 touches per game. Spears would inherit a significant portion of that volume if Henry misses time. Spears is another player to target near the end of your fantasy drafts.

• Bears RB Roschon Johnson has another solid performance in Saturday’s preseason game against the Colts. He finished with 43 total yards on eight touches. Johnson is the frontrunner to begin the season as the Bears’ No. 2 back. Considering Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman’s injury history, fantasy managers should target Johnson in the later rounds of drafts.

• Raiders RB Zamir White finished with 40 rushing yards on 10 attempts in Las Vegas’ preseason game against the Rams on Saturday. If Josh Jacobs holds out into the season or gets injured, White should get most of the touches in the Raiders’ backfield. However, Jacobs is expected to return to Las Vegas before Week 1.

• Cardinals RB Keaontay Ingram finished with 48 yards and a touchdown on nine touches against the Chiefs on Saturday. He also played some snaps with the first team. Ingram is the frontrunner for the No. 2 RB role with the Cardinals. James Conner‘s injury history makes Ingram someone to target near the end of drafts.

• Broncos RB Javonte Williams returned to game action against the 49ers on Saturday, 321 days after tearing multiple ligaments in Las Vegas. Williams finished with 30 total yards on seven touches. Fantasy managers should be pleased that he passed the physical test. There will be plenty of action in the Broncos’ backfield this season for Williams and Samaje Perine.

• Dolphins RB De’Von Achane suffered a shoulder injury in Miami’s preseason game against the Texans on Saturday. While Jeff Wilson Jr. was out with an undisclosed injury, Raheem Mostert ran for 30 yards and a touchdown on six carries. The Dolphins’ backfield could prove to be frustrating for fantasy managers.

• Jaguars RB Tank Bigsby finished with 70 rushing yards on 13 carries on Saturday against the Lions. So far this preseason he’s amassed 122 rushing yards on 22 carries. Bigsby’s role will expand as the season progresses, according to ESPN’s Michael DiRocco. Add Bigsby to the growing list of potential late-round options in drafts.

• Saints TE Jimmy Graham had a medical episode on Friday night that led to his arrest. New Orleans’ team doctors believe he had a seizure that resulted in Graham becoming disoriented.

• Falcons RB Bijan Robinson did not disappoint in his first preseason game against the Bengals on Friday. He rushed for 20 yards on four carries and caught his only target for six yards. Robinson is the RB3 in our draft trends.

• Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo made his preseason debut on Saturday and played well. Fantasy managers’ biggest concern about him in 2023 is durability.

• Packers QB Jordan Love continues to look sharp during the preseason. He finished with 84 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots on Saturday night. In Superflex formats, managers should not overlook him as a potential low-end QB2 or QB3.

• Commanders K Joey Slye appears to have won the job after the team released Michael Badgley on Sunday.

• Commanders TE Logan Thomas returned to practice on Saturday.