Team news: Atlanta Falcons | Page 4

Entering his second year, the former sixth-round pick Malik Washington has been one of Tua Tagovailoa's top receivers this summer, with Tyreek Hill missing the past three weeks of practice with an oblique injury. After Miami's preseason finale, during which he scored an impressive 25-yard touchdown, Washington said the chemistry he's built with Tagovailoa is the result of a deliberate effort on his part.

Related players: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Darren Waller

Washington has earned the team's WR3 job this summer, which could be worth noting for fantasy rosters. Hill and Waddle have had injuries in the past, and with Waller a bit of a question coming out of retirement to play TE, Washington could get his chances. Many quickly forget Washington was a sixth round pick last season and considered a sleeper in dynasty leagues.

The Bucs plan to release quarterback Kyle Trask, per source.

Related players: Baker Mayfield, Teddy Bridgewater

Trask will revert to IR with a shoulder issue, then work out a settlement or release and look for a new team, the post went on to say. The move means the team will stick with Bridgewater as the QB2 behind Mayfield.

Kyle Shanahan was firm about Brian Robinson's expected role after San Francisco sent a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Washington Commanders for him last week.

"We brought him here to be our [No.] 2 back," Shanahan said. "I've always been a big fan of Brian. Loved him coming out of college. ... We were pumped that he was available and pumped that we were able to get him."

In 2024, Robinson was third in the league on a third or fourth down of 3 or fewer yards (7.8 yards per carry), though the sample size was just 14 attempts.
Christian McCaffrey will remain the focal point of San Francisco's running game, but Robinson provides an experienced backup who could offer some value in short-yardage situations.

Related players: Isaac Guerendo

The story said the 49ers were 18th in the league in short-yardage situations, averaging 3.2 yards per rush. The story went on to say Guerendo has struggled to stay healthy. Though he just got back from a shoulder injury, he had a pair of fumbles in a recent practice and is more likely to have an early-season spot on various special teams units.

Trade: Commanders are trading RB Brian Robinson to the 49ers in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, sources tell ESPN.

Related Players: Austin Ekeler, Jacory Crosky-Merritt, Christian McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo

This is awful news for Guerendo drafters, but with all the injuries to the 49ers' running back room, they needed a dependable body in the room. This dings McCaffrey a little bit, but his passing-game involvement should be enough to secure another top-10 (or higher finish), while Robinson will pick up most of the slack and deliver as a FLEX play in tough weeks.

Back in Washington, Crosky-Merritt should be boosted out of low-end RB4 territory into an RB3 while Ekeler has some sneaky upside to finish in the same range.

From The Insiders on NFL Network: The Commanders will likely move on from RB Brian Robinson Jr., a rare starting RB available.

Related players: Austin Ekeler, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez

This isn't really a surprise, but there was some talk that made it seem like the door may still be open for Robinson to stay when the news first broke. But that no longer appears to be the case. It seems, according to Rapoport, the team just doesn't want to extend Robinson, and nothing necessarily happened between the two sides. Rapoport said the Commanders could eat some salary to get a better draft pick in return. The Commanders will likely turn the RB duties over to Ekeler, Croskey-Merritt, McNichols and Rodriguez.

Veteran Austin Ekeler remains a key piece of the offense and special teams as Washington’s lead kick returner.

Related players: Chris Rodriguez, Jeremy McNichols, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Brian Robinson

The Commanders RB room has been a hot topic this week and it's only Tuesday. Robinson was held out of Monday night's preseason game amid trade rumors. The story discussed how an AFC GM said the team made Robinson available last year already. Rodriguez had a big run in the Monday night game and rookie sensation Croskey-Merritt had a long TD run as well. The story called McNichols the team's best blocking back. The story didn't mention how much of a role Ekeler would have in the offense, but needless to say it's a crowded RB room right now, with all four of those backs expected to make the team. If the Commanders do trade Robinson, this situation will need to sort itself out. But right now, Rodriguez and JCM are popular pickups in leagues that already had their drafts.

Jeremy McNichols re-signed in the offseason on a one-year deal, giving offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury another versatile option who is also the team’s best blocking back. (His blitz pickups last season warranted more headlines.)

Amid speculation about his future with the Commanders, RB Brian Robinson Jr. will not play tonight against the Bengals, sources say.

Related players: Austin Ekeler, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez

The post went on to say it’s a mutual decision between Robinson and the team, as a trade before the cut to the 53-man roster remains a possibility. This situation seems to be escalating quickly. Those in dynasty leagues are likely no stranger to Crosky-Merritt, whose stock seems to be skyrocketing. If Robinson is dealt, Croskey-Merritt could find himself as the team's RB1 with Ekeler and McNichols perhaps the change of pace options. Rodriguez would also be an option to get early down work. However, Crosky-Meritt has been a sneaky-good prospect for a while now so he's a name to keep an eye on.

The Commanders have been shopping running back Brian Robinson Jr. to teams around the NFL.

Robinson is entering the final year of his contract and the Commanders have been enamored with 7th-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Chris Rodriguez is also still in the mix. Those two are combining to start making Robinson expendable. Robinson will likely fetch a late-round pick.

The ball skills that made Jahan Dotson a 2022 first-round pick by the Washington Commanders are showing up more in his first full training camp in Philly. Among the signs, Dotson hauled in a contested catch on Tuesday against rookie cornerback Mac McWilliams along the right sideline. There’s a growing sense that Dotson could contribute more than the 19 catches for 216 yards that he fielded on short notice last season.

“I’ve always had a lot of confidence in Jahan,” Eagles wide receiver coach Aaron Moorehead said. “We really liked him coming out (of the draft) and was super excited when Howie traded for him last year and just thought that he adds a great dimension to the offense as a third guy."

Related players: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Johnny Wilson, Ainias Smith, Terrace Marshall, Saquon Barkley, Dallas Goedert

There isn't much behind Brown and Smith, of course besides Barkley, as a pass-catching threat. Goedert has been good at times, but is 30-years-old, and the Eagles haven't traditionally got a lot from their WR3 over the years. So, it's certainly possible Dotson has a bigger role, especially of Goedert starts to show some age at the TE position. Dotson isn't getting drafted in most leagues so he should be around very late in drafts if you want to take a chance.

Here is Raheem Morris' update on WR Darnell Mooney.

"Kind of just waiting and rolling. Kind of a week-to-week basis. I feel good about getting him back healthy and ready to go. When? I don’t know. We’ll have him back healthy this year, though."

Interpret as you will.

Related players: Drake London, Ray-Ray McCloud, KhaDarel Hodge, Casey Washington, Michael Pitts, Bijan Robinson

Mooney owners could be waiting a while to get back their receiver for fantasy lineups, depending on how you read into these comments. With Mooney out of the lineup, it could mean more work for McCloud, Hodge and maybe even Pitts. McCloud shined at times last season, especially in a three game stretch where he caught 18 passes for 239 yards on 23 targets in weeks 11-14. Hodge was limited to 7 catches for 131 yards all season, most of which came in a 2-67-1 line in a Week 5 game against the Buccaneers. Robinson and the running backs could also get more involved.