Team news: New England Patriots | Page 11

Washington Commanders rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. was shot multiple times during an attempted robbery in August, and two and a half weeks later, he's making some pretty incredible progress as he attempts to return to the practice field.

On Wednesday, multiple Washington beat reporters noted that Robinson was doing work on the side at practice. ESPN said the rookie was completing some agility work, and several reporters observed Robinson on the stationary bike. Per The Athletic, Robinson was wearing a wrap over his right knee/lower leg -- the area where he was shot.

Related players: Antonio Gibson

Washington placed Robinson on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, which makes him unavailable for at least the first four weeks of the regular season. Head coach Ron Rivera has not laid out an official recovery timeline for his running back, but Robinson may not miss an extended amount of time. Last week, he ditched his crutches as the swelling in his knee went down, the story went on to say.

The Patriots are placing RB Ty Montgomery on IR. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey will be signed to the 53-man roster.

Related players: Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson

Montgomery, who injured his right knee Aug. 26 and surprisingly was active for the season opener Sept. 11, will miss at least four games by going on IR. Montgomery actually scored the team’s lone TD on Sunday as part of their three man RB rotation and played 21 snaps. More passing down snaps should now go to Stevenson and he should continue to be the back to own in an always-muddled Patriot running game.

Bill Belichick said this morning on The Greg Hill Show that every Patriots player except Tyquan Thornton, who's on IR, "should have a shot" to play Sunday vs. Miami.

That includes Ty Montgomery and Isaiah Wynn, who are dealing with injuries.

"Hopefully they'll all make it."

Related players: Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson

It's a situation to watch heading into Week 1. If Monty is active and plays, it would most likely cut into Stevenson's fantasy production in the passing game and perhaps two minute drills. Montgomery is a risky play because of his limited role though.

The Philadelphia Eagles are trading former first-round receiver Jalen Reagor to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2023 seventh-round pick and a 2024 conditional fourth-round selection, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday, per sources.

Reagor was taken with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2020 draft.

Related players: Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, K.J. Osborn, Ihmir Smith-Marsette

Reagor needed a fresh start as he never was able to take off in Philly as a first round pick. Ironically, the Eagles passed on Jefferson that year and drafted Reagor instead, and now the two are teammates. Reagor could battle for a WR3 or WR4 spot with the Vikings but will have a way to go before being fantasy relevant.

The Jaguars have claimed RB JaMycal Hasty.

Related players: James Robinson, Travis Etienne, Snoop Conner

Hasty mostly handled receiving duties when with the 49ers, so the move could make some sense for the Jags. If Robinson isn't ready to go or isn't 100% at Week 1, Etienne could handle a majority of the work with Hasty serving as a change of pace and receiving back. He looks to be more of an insurance policy for the Jags as this point.

That was fast: The Bengals are hosting FA TE O.J. Howard on a visit today, and assuming all goes well with the physical, he’s expected to sign, the source said. The former first-rounder was a surprising cut yesterday, and this should come together today.

Related players: Hayden Hurst, Drew Sample, Mitchell Wilcox

Howard didn't have a great camp with the Bills, which caused his release. He had one standout game with the Bucs last year against the Eagles on a Thursday night, but other than that, it's been a while since Howard has been fantasy relevant. He could carve out a role on the Bengals, but the team has plenty of other targets for Joe Burrow. However, C.J. Uzomah - now with the Jets - was a red zone target for Burrow last season.

The Patriots are waiving rookie sixth-round pick RB Kevin Harris, per source.

Related players: Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, Ty Montgomery, Pierre Strong Jr.

The Pats are pretty deep at RB but those in dynasty leagues were hoping Harris had a path to more work in the near future. With Strong getting picked a couple of round earlier, he makes the cut with the injured Montgomery, and of course the two at the top of the depth chart - Damien Harris and Stevenson.

49ers are waiving RB JaMycal Hasty, per source.

Related players: Elijah Mitchell, Tyrion Davis-Price, Jeff Wilson, Trey Sermon

Hasty last year served as the team's primary third-down back. It speaks volumes for how good of camps backs like Davis-Price and even Sermon have had. Reports are saying Sermon could even be the team's RB2 behind Mitchell.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson was released from the hospital Monday, one day after being shot twice in an armed robbery attempt.

Robinson will meet with Washington's doctors Tuesday at the team's facility to determine the extent of his rehabilitation, according to a source. Washington remains optimistic about his chances of playing this season, but coach Ron Rivera said Monday they're uncertain when he'd be able to return.

Related players: Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic

Robinson was shot in Washington, D.C., early Sunday evening. He underwent surgery and posted an Instagram story that his "surgery went well." Depending on what doctors determine Tuesday, Robinson could be placed on the non-football injury list, which would require him to miss the first four games, the story said. While the news about Robinson is positive overall, there is no timetable for a return. Gibson and McKissic will lead the way until the promising rookie makes it back onto the field.

Ron Rivera on if RB Antonio Gibson will be the team's top kick returner this season: "You still need to see some more stuff, but you know, I think he is. I do. I think he's done a nice job.”

Related players: Brian Robinson, J.D. McKissic

Rivera added he's seen Gibson get "more and more comfortable" on KRs. Fortier's tweets went on to quote Rivera: “When you watch it on tape, you see him circling the ball, getting under it, making a good catch. It's something he did well in college, and we're pretty excited having him do it.”

We first got wind of Gibson returning kicks as what some who follow the team deemed a punishment for a key fumble in a preseason game. He was also working with the third team but did get first team reps eventually. There is always a fear of additional injury when returning kicks, but it seems like the Commanders feel comfortable with rookie running back Brian Robinson's development this summer and he could be in store for a significant workload.