One pattern you may discover should you comply with coaching camp reporting within the NFL lately is how a lot much less data you may have entry from numerous groups than we used to. An instance of that may be seen in Miami, the place Jaylen Waddle has apparently missed a good period of time over the previous few weeks in follow with an undisclosed proper leg harm, one thing CBS Fantasy’s Dave Richard famous in his go to to a Dolphins-Eagles joint follow Wednesday.
Waddle had his leg wrapped and was restricted to stretching on the facet, and coach Mike McDaniel acknowledged that they’re being cautious with Waddle to forestall an extra harm. Waddle has been sidelined for a few weeks with the harm, and whereas all indications at this level are that the harm is not thought-about severe, it is one thing to keep watch over over the following few weeks.
McDaniel is a brand new head coach, and we do not fairly know what to anticipate from him – is he a Pete Carroll sort, who’s at all times overwhelmingly optimistic, to the purpose the place you do not really know whether or not to take something he says at face worth? He had loads of reward for Waddle, as you’ll be able to learn in Dave’s piece from follow, which additionally famous that new Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill was “uncoverable, always shaking free from protection when he minimize and dashing previous defenders on downfield routes.”
Hill continues to be being drafted as a top-12 WR whereas Waddle is extra of a WR2 coming off a wonderful rookie season, however there are issues about each – Jamey Eisenberg had Waddle as a bust decide even earlier than this harm. The harm actually does not assist his possibilities, even when it is not a severe challenge at this level.
Darren Waller continues to be on the sidelines
Waller has missed a lot of coaching camp together with his harm, although it is not really clear how severe the difficulty is – Waller is engaged in contract negotiations with the workforce and it is attainable it is a de facto hold-in. For what it is value, Raiders coach Josh McDaniels has been fairly tight-lipped about Waller’s standing, telling reporters he is not involved about Waller however “mentioned he did not really feel snug making a prediction about his standing for the Raiders regular-season opener in opposition to the Chargers,” per The Athletic’s Tashan Reed. I am not too apprehensive about Waller’s well being at this level, however I feel it is truthful to be somewhat down on him – he is a 30-year-old who struggled to remain wholesome, has missed a lot of his first coaching camp with a brand new coach, and has way more goal competitors within the type of Davante Adams. Waller continues to be going across the Spherical 5/6 flip, and there is fairly a little bit of danger at that value.
Josh Palmer cleared the concussion protocol
Palmer, the Chargers No. 3 WR, suffered a concussion within the second week of preseason video games, which is a disgrace as a result of he was spectacular in that sport, going for 3 catches, 75 yards, and a landing earlier than the harm. That he was already again to practising Wednesday is an efficient signal that this is not a priority transferring ahead, and Palmer has some late-round sleeper enchantment in what figures to be top-of-the-line offenses within the league if he can carve out an even bigger position after catching 33 passes for 353 yards and 4 scores as a rookie.
Sterling Shepard is off the PUP checklist
Satirically, the Giants bought Shepard again the identical day they seemingly misplaced Collin Johnson to his personal ruptured Achilles. Shepard has about two weeks to work his manner as much as sport velocity, and with Johnson out and Kadarius Toney nonetheless not at follow whereas persevering with to take care of lingering leg accidents, there may really be room for Shepard to make a right away affect. It is a bit of an extended shot, given how powerful Achilles accidents might be to return again from, but it surely’s one thing to maintain at the back of your thoughts. Shepard had seven or extra catches in three of his first 4 video games final season earlier than accidents derailed him.
