Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith is trying t...

Sep 30, 2010

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith is trying to diffuse any potential controversy involving him and rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen.

Smith, a four-time Pro Bowl player, said Wednesday that his sideline comments to Clausen during the Panthers' 20-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last weekend have been overblown by the media.

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Television cameras caught Smith walking over to Clausen, who was talking with an assistant coach on the bench, and screaming at the rookie.

Smith walked away, then returned and said something else before being escorted away by tight end Jeff King. At that point, a frustrated Smith threw down his cup of Gatorade.

"It was said that I was just about to 'go off,' and I wasn't," Smith said after Wednesday's practice. "I thought it was interesting because here, I was obviously agitated and frustrated, but sometimes people think they know me better than I know myself. I think that's a joke, and I think the people that reported it are jokes."

Fantasy Impact:

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Chargers RB Najee Harris sustains eye injury, expected to be ready for regular season

Christian Gonzales

3 hours ago

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris sustained a superficial eye injury at a Fourth of July event but is expected to be ready for the 2025 NFL season, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday.

Harris' agent, Doug Hendrickson, said a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to his client and multiple people attending the event.

"Najee Harris was present at a 4th of July event where a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to several attendees," Hendrickson said in a statement, via Rapoport. "Najee sustained a superficial eye injury during the incident, but is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season."

Related Players: Omarion Hampton, Hassan Haskins, Kimani Vidal

Fantasy Impact:

Harris is "likely" to miss the start of training camp, but that's about all the follow-up news we've been allotted to this point. Hampton was already going to give the veteran a run for his money, but the rookie could very well end up as the lead back heading into Week 1, and if it goes well, he might not give it up. He is currently projected as a fantasy RB2.

Jul 08

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott to be "full-go" for start of training camp

Jon Machota

Jul 08 · 2:55 PM EDT

A year ago at this time, Dak Prescott was being questioned about a photo that surfaced of him on vacation wearing a walking boot on his right foot. No such injury concerns this year as the Dallas Cowboys franchise quarterback prepares for his 10th training camp.

“I’m healthy,” Prescott said Tuesday from his annual youth football camp. “I’ll be a full-go for camp. I’m healthy. I think soon here I’ll probably get the official sign-off from Doc, but I’m healthy.”

Related Players: Joe Milton, Will Grier

Fantasy Impact:

The article goes on to mention Prescott's excitement around his potential connection with newly added George Pickens, which is clearly what we want to hear. Pickens and CeeDee Lamb create the best 1-2 punch we've seen at the quarterback's disposal and could help Prescott return to the heights we saw from him in his near-MVP season of 2023. We currently have him ranked in the middle ground of the league's QB2s, but he will consistently be on the streaming radar in plus matchups.

Jul 03

Josh Reynolds is "clear-cut" leader for Jets WR2 job

Rich Cimini

Jul 03 · 11:49 AM EDT

After a strong offseason, Reynolds is the clear-cut leader for the WR2 job. He arrived with little fanfare as a free agent (one year, $2.8 million), mainly because of a down 2024 with the Broncos and Jaguars. It also was a turbulent year; he suffered arm and head wounds in a shooting.

New Jets coach Aaron Glenn knows Reynolds from their time in Detroit, where the 30-year-old receiver was a solid complementary option. Beyond Garrett Wilson, the Jets lack big-play ability after cutting Davante Adams. Reynolds has separated from Allen Lazard and others.

Related Players: Tyler Johnson, Arian Smith, Malachi Corley

Fantasy Impact:

This seems a little surprising, until you look at the rest of the depth chart, that is. With Justin Fields at the helm, we should expect a very run-heavy offense in New York, and even if he loses the job, we would expect more of the same from Tyrod Taylor. Reynolds makes for an interesting stacking partner with Fields, though he's much closer to a fantasy WR5 than a WR2.