Team news: Philadelphia Eagles | Page 40

Earlier this month, Eagles Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz made it abundantly clear that he wants to remain in Philadelphia for the rest of his NFL days, saying that "my goal is to be like Kobe Bryant and play for one organization my entire career." Well, it looks like he may soon inch one step closer to that ultimate goal as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports the Eagles have reengaged contract extension talks with the 29-year-old.

Related players: Dallas Goedert

Ertz still has two years left on his deal and many thought Goedert would eventually take over as the Birds top TE. But it looks like the Eagles want to keep Ertz around. The TE spot was a go-to position for Carson Wentz last year when a rash of injuries to the team's WRs hit. Ertz is ranked fourth on our TE list despite Geodert also being a threat at the position. Goedert is ranked 12th, proving just how much the Eagles target the position.

John Ross was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list when he left the team earlier this month in order to help care for his son and his son’s mother after they tested positive for the coronavirus. The Bengals announced on Sunday that Ross has been activated from the list.

Related players: A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd

Ross will look to be the speed threat in the Bengal offense behind Green and Boyd, but he's not seeing a lot of action in typical draft formats.

Eagles TE Dallas Goedert has a hairline fracture in one of his thumbs, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. It's not a major injury according to Pelissero's source. Goedert could be back with a splint as soon as next week.

Rough times for Goedert, who was also sucker-punched by a random person this offseason. Goedert has the opportunity to thrive as the second TE on the Eagles and would be a must-start if teammate Zach Ertz were injured.

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, the Eagles second round pick, is getting a lot of reps so far at camp.

Related players: Carson Wentz, Nate Sudfeld

The hosts of the podcast said it's "eye-opening" how many reps Hurts is getting. They also talked about how Hurts could be used in the offense, especially in the red zone where he ran three-straight times in that area during his reps. The hosts also admitted the team likely doesn't want to take Wentz off the field, but they concluded the Eagles could be thinking of ways to get Hurts on the field if he has a good month of practice leading up to the season. Hurts could end up the Eagles QB2.

Bengals WR John Ross left training camp on Wednesday after learning both his son and his son's mother tested positive for COVID-19. He is expected to go on the reserve/COVID list.

Ross is putting family first here and it is hard to blame him in light of the news. He will go on the reserve/COVID list due to him being in close proximity to people known to have tested positive. Ross will have to pass through the league's new testing and treatment protocol whenever he decides to return to the team. If Ross's absence extends into the regular season, it could mean additional snaps for rookie WR Tee Higgins.

A.J. Brown, who finished third in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year category a year ago, said he feels like a different player heading into training camp compared to last year, when he spent a good part of the offseason getting ready for the NFL Draft.

Earlier this offseason, Brown said part of his plan includes catching 1,000 footballs a day.

"I am definitely in a better place (physically), and I'm in a better shape mentally as well," Brown said. "Last year I was flying and going places, and I never could really sit still and put in the work."

We've heard this from rookies before, how their second season training and not having to worry about the draft is a big deal for progress. The story said Brown felt tired in the fourth quarter and is working to fix that and feels overall he's in better shape. We think he's a nice, fourth-round value in fantasy drafts.

Joe Burrow has already started to build a rapport with at least one Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver.

According to a source, Burrow and John Ross have trained together out in the west coast. Burrow worked out with Ross prior to the 2020 NFL Draft and those on-field workouts continued post-draft.

The story said establishing a connection with Burrow will have a major impact on Ross’ future with the franchise. Ross is on the final year of his rookie deal and the Bengals declined to pick up his fifth-year option this offseason. Injuries have hampered Ross throughout his Cincinnati career. He got off to a promising start in 2019, but his season was derailed due to a sternoclavicular injury in Week 4.

WRs Corey Davis and Kalif Raymond are both in concussion protocol, per Titans HC Mike Vrabel.

Related players: Tajae Sharpe, A.J. Brown

Sharpe saw an increased workload with Davis out of the game and would be the WR2 behind Brown for Week 17, assuming Davis can't get out of protocol.