It's t-minus 10 days and counting until Week 1 begins and there'll be a lot of information to process over that time period. It'll be important to watch the news on a daily basis as job battles are decided and players are either cut or traded. Here's a look at what happened Monday as teams prepare for their first game.
- Keke Coutee and Will Fuller both returned to practice after both missing recent practices. Fuller left practice early Thursday but it appears to be cautionary as the young wide receiver returns from an ACL injury. Coutee suffered what appeared to be a bad ankle injury in the Texans first preseason game but his return suggests he could be ready when the Texans open up the season in New Orleans on Monday Night Football. Obviously, the return of both players has the arrow pointing up on Deshaun Watson's fantasy value.
- Bill O'Brien stated Monday Duke Johnson is picking up the offense well and will have a strong knowledge of it by Week 1. With the Lamar Miller injury Johnson has shot up draft boards will him likely adding plenty of carries to whatever numbers were forecasted a couple of weeks ago. It's likely the Texans will add some running back depth via trade or signing a cut player; the key will be whether the player is just depth or a threat to Johnson's touches. Houston's offensive line has looked horrible this preseason and they may end up throwing more from shotgun or moving the pocket to help disguise that weakness.
- Mike Evans and George Kittle were back at practice while Julio Jones and Amari Cooper are on track to be ready to play Week 1. None of them appear to be in danger of missing any time at this point so this is just an update if you drafted them or were considering doing so.
- Not surprisingly Jacoby Brissett got a full vote of confidence from Frank Reich with the Indy head coach saying, "We are in good hands with Jacoby Brissett as our starting quarterback." Remember that Reich knows something about winning as a backup quarterback and this offense is one of the better in the league especially looking at the offensive line.
- Kenyan Drake returned to the Dolphins' practice and the reports on his return were positive. Short of a setback he'll enter Week 1 in the dreaded timeshare with Kalen Ballage with both backs likely seeing pretty even touches. It'll likely take a lack of ball security or lack of production from one of the two for the other to get the lion's share of backfield touches.
- DeVante Parker also returned to practice for the Dolphins and could be in for an even bigger workload with Miami reportedly thinking about trading or cutting Kenny Stills.