Team news: Atlanta Falcons | Page 9

George Kittle has missed the last three days of practice due to a groin injury but was quoted as saying, “Feeling significantly better than where we were at Monday, even better than Wednesday, even better than Thursday. Taking great steps forward. Definitely doing everything I can to be on the field Sunday. I’ve had games in the past where I haven’t practiced all week and played. Hopefully, getting off the plane, I feel better tomorrow and Saturday, and then I have an actual opportunity to be out there and play.”

Related Players: Charlie Woerner

Judging by his comments, a betting person would likely put money down that Kittle plays on Sunday, but to what extent may be a question. In the first game of the season against the lowly Bears, the 49ers could be conservative with one of the, if not the, best all-around tight ends in the league. Charlie Woerner is listed as the TE2 on the depth chart, and the overall offensive explosiveness would take a hit if Kittle has to spend some or all of Sunday on the sideline.

Interior offensive lineman joins Rondale Moore in the Out category, while veteran Zach Ertz is questionable heading into Sunday.

Related Players: A.J. Green, Trey McBride

This doesn't look good for Kyler Murray coming out of the gate, going against an explosive Chiefs offense on the other sideline. Marquise Brown and A.J. Green may join James Conner as being the focal point of the Cardinals offense.

Rondale Moore's leg will need further examinations, including an MRI, before judging if and how much time he is likely to miss.

Related Players: AJ Green

If Moore is forced to miss time, the team's wide receiver room will feature Marquise Brown, A.J. Green, and not much else. TE Zach Ertz is also dealing with a calf injury, possibly further limiting Kyler Murray's passing game options for Week 1.

49ers injury alert:
Tight end George Kittle has a groin issue and won't practice today.

Related players: Tyler Kroft, Ross Dwelley

The tweet quoted Shanahan as saying he, "Was hoping [Kittle would] be good today, did little Monday, we’ll have to see day by day." Owners will want to monitor this leading up to Sunday. Kroft and Dwelley are up next on the depth chart. The 9ers do have an early game at Chicago in Week 1 so owners will be able to adjust.

Falcons rookie WR Drake London (knee) moving around like a guy who will be playing Sunday against the Saints. Atlanta still officially on the fence about his availability.

We just posted a report about how the Falcons don't expect to know about London's status until later in the week. However, Kendall's video looks promising and London appears to be moving smoothly in the drill.

Falcons HC Arthur Smith on Drake London, "We won't know until the end of the week."

Related players: Kyle Pitts, KhaDarel Hodge, Bryan Edwards, Olamide Zaccheaus

London practiced Monday, but beyond that and for Sunday's game the team doesn't expect to know much else until later. Pitts could be in line for a ton of targets if London is out and the WR work falls to Hodge, Edwards and Zaccheaus.

Falcons wide receiver Drake London, the eighth overall pick in this year’s NFL draft, returned to practice Monday.

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith on London: "He’s progressing." On if he expects him to be ready to play, "We’ll see what he looks like.” The team may ease the rookie into action, so his fantasy viability could be iffy to kickoff the season. He is currently ranked as a WR3 here at 4for4, but could shape into a main focal point of the offense alongside teammate Kyle Pitts.

Rondale Moore and Zach Ertz will also “be close,” per Kingsbury.

Moore's injury hasn't been announced, while Ertz is dealing with a calf injury. It's at least a good sign for both as we're still over a week away from Week 1.

Kellen Mond won't get a second season in Minnesota.

The Vikings are waiving the 2021 third-round pick, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday, per a source informed of the situation.

Related players: Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens

As the story put it, we often see new regimes move on from young players they weren't as high on, and this is a good example. The Vikings front office signaled the likely end of Mond's time in Minnesota when it traded for backup Mullens last week.

Heading into their final preseason game, the Chicago Bears' wide receiver depth chart is clear for their top-four options; Darnell Mooney, Byron Pringle, Equanimeous St. Brown, and Velus Jones.

An uninspiring group, to say the least. Pringle may technically be operating as the WR2, but all signs point to TE Cole Kmet benefitting from being the second option in the passing game. Pringle does make for an interesting late-round addition in best ball formats.