Team news: Dallas Cowboys | Page 15

Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams, who suffered a torn ACL in Week 4 last season, said Sunday "the plan'' is for him to be cleared for the start of training camp and to participate at least some in practices after the team's veteran players report July 25.

Related Players: Samaje Perine, Tyler Badie

The article doesn't really give any definitive answers beyond Williams being quoted as saying, "I mean, that's the plan. I feel like I'm ready to go" when asked if he would be medically cleared for training camp. An optimist could take away that it means he will be ready for Week 1, but we should probably wait for some more ringing endorsements before we jump on that train. With those worries still in the air, Javonte should still be considered a low-end RB2 for the time being.

Panthers free-agent acquisition Miles Sanders is back —he hopes— to being a three-down back. Sanders, now 26, is confident that reuniting with running backs coach Duce Staley, who was a Pederson assistant in Philly, will help him re-emerge as a receiving threat out of the backfield.

Related Players: Chuba Hubbard, Raheem Blackshear

Sanders bottomed out as a pass-catcher in 2022, with new career lows in receptions (20), yards (78), and receptions for first downs (two). He's really got nowhere to go but up after finishing the season, ranking 49th/49 qualifying backs with a 0.28 yards per route run mark. Leaving a team that has a quarterback that is prone to taking off with the ball on third downs should help, but his efficiency marks last year were stark. The good news is, he doesn't have a ton of competition for backfield touches with the way the depth chart is set up at the moment. Sanders is currently ranked as a mid-tier RB2.

It was mostly Parris Campbell working out of the slot, Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins out wide, and Darren Waller all over the field with the first-team offense. That’s in part because Sterling Shepard (knee) and Wan’Dale Robinson (knee) worked on the side as part of their rehab from torn ACLs.

Related Players: Jalin Hyatt

Campbell, who was signed this offseason as a free agent, is destined for a significant role regardless. The Giants think he can do more than be the 68-catch player he was with the Indianapolis Colts last season if he’s healthy in this offense. This spring only validated what they thought they could be getting.

This usage has sent a clear message about third-round rookie Jalin Hyatt, who is "coming along slowly and working primarily with the third-team offense."

The Giants are bringing rookie wide receiver Jalin Hyatt along slowly. The third-round pick mostly worked with the third-team offense this spring. Wide receivers coach Mike Groh dismissed concerns about Hyatt’s limited route tree in college, while acknowledging that it’s a big adjustment for any rookie receiver to transition to the NFL.

Related Players: Isaiah Hodgins, Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, Wan'Dale Robinson, Parris Campbell

The article would go on to mention that Hyatt "could" have a role as a deep-threat specialist as a rookie but that it will be an "uphill climb" for him to unseat an established veteran. In Underdog drafts, Hyatt is currently coming off the board as the WR70 around guys who have already proved they can be valuable at times in fantasy, such as; K.J. Osborn, DJ Chark, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Broncos coach Sean Payton said Saturday the team expects running back Javonte Williams to be ready for the start of training camp, the most optimistic timeline given yet for the third-year starter recovering from a major knee injury he suffered last October.

Related Players: Samaje Perine, Tony Jones

Williams, a second-round pick in 2021, suffered an ACL tear in Week 4 against the Raiders last season and sustained other damage in the knee as well. Being ready for the start of training camp would represent a relatively rapid recovery for Williams, whose absence was felt significantly by Denver’s league-worst offense last season.

We'll need more positive reports before we can feel wholly comfortable drafting Williams in ongoing best ball leagues. It still feels very likely that the team may add an additional veteran piece to this equation.

The Rams and Steelers are working to finalize a trade that would send Robinson to Pittsburgh, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday. Pittsburgh has been granted permission to give Robinson a physical, and if the Steelers are comfortable with the results, the former Pro Bowler is expected to land in Pittsburgh.

Related Players: George Pickens, Calvin Austin

Assuming Robinson can return to form, this is a huge upgrade over 5'8" slot receiver Calvin Austin. Robinson is coming off two disappointing seasons but lodged a 1,305-108-6 year in 2020 with the Bears.

The Cowboys have agreed to a deal with RB Ronald Jones, who visited The Star Monday. Jones spent last year with KC after a four-year run with Tampa Bay.

Related Players: Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis

Ronald Jones logged 40 snaps on a 2022 Chiefs team that was looking for a consistent answer at the running back position all year long. There is a very good chance that Jones is back in free agency by the time Summer comes along.

The Texans are signing TE Dalton Schultz to a one-year deal worth up to $9 million. Schultz has 198 catches and 17 TDs over the past three seasons in Dallas. He’s still only 26.

Related Players: Brevin Jordan, Jake Ferguson, Peyton Hendershot

So Schultz will remain in Texas and provide another option for the future 2nd-overall pick. The Texans have had intriguing names at the position over the years but never one that has consistently produced for fantasy. Hopefully Schultz changes that.

Wanting to add speed and a complement to Pro Bowler CeeDee Lamb, the Dallas Cowboys acquired Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks on Sunday for a fifth-round pick in 2023 and a sixth-round pick in 2024.

Related Players: Michael Gallup, Nico Collins, Robert Woods, Noah Brown

As the luster has worn off of Michael Gallup as the Cowboys' WR2, Dallas looks to add a compliment to CeeDee Lamb. Last year's offseason additions, James Washington and Jalen Tolbert, combined for two receptions on the season. Cooks should have some useful fantasy games but is still currently ranked as a WR4.

Buccaneers are signing former Broncos’ running back Chase Edmonds to a one-year deal.

Related Players: Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Rachaad White, Ke'Shawn Vaughn

Edmonds will more than likely split snaps with Ke'Shawn Vaughn and possibly even another late-round running back in Tampa Bay.