Training Camp Daily Dose: Dose: Geno Gets Jaw Jacked
With Chan Gailey bringing his spread offense to the Jets, replacing ex-OC Marty Mornhinweg’s complicated West Coast system, Geno Smith had a real chance to take control of his NFL career after a mostly-nauseating first two seasons in the league. He ended 2014 on a high note with a 6:2 TD:INT ratio over the final four weeks, giving the Jets hope there may be something there with Smith. And we haven’t been the only ones talking the third-year quarterback up as a potential value stab late in best-ball drafts. By all accounts, Smith was enjoying a great start at Jets camp. Until Tuesday.
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Last year’s sixth-round pick, OLB IK Enemkpali, allegedly sucker-punched Smith in the Jets locker room Tuesday, breaking Geno’s jaw and putting him on the shelf for 6-10 weeks. Reports are Enemkpali cold-cocked Smith over $600. Yes, six hundred dollars. These are professional athletes who make hundreds of thousands of dollars we’re talking about here. Only the Jets.
Anyway, Smith will now miss Week 1 at the very least and could be sidelined into October or November depending on “how he heals” and the nature of his surgery. Being that the gap between he and veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick was never large, there’s a chance Fitzpatrick will keep the job upon Smith’s return. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, obviously. In the meantime, the Jets’ skill-position players don’t take any noteworthy hits to their fantasy stocks nor receive bumps. The offense will remain the same with Fitzpatrick under center. He has plenty of experience in this scheme having played under Gailey in Buffalo from 2010-2012, starting 45 games.
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In Other News…
According to ESPN’s Dianna Marie Russini, the Cardinals have offered free agent Chris Johnson a one-year contract. This comes a day after coach Bruce Arians expressed extreme displeasure with his current running back situation. Both Andre Ellington and rookie David Johnson have missed practice time with injuries. While Johnson has the “name”, he’s really been lacking in the “game” department the past couple years. Turning 30 next month, we doubt he’d have value in Arizona.
Onto another veteran free-agent running back. Coach Mike Pettine said the Browns recently discussed signing radioactive RB Ray Rice. “We’ve talked about it, but I don’t think we’re there at this point,” Pettine said. While it’s noteworthy a team is considering Rice, we take this as more of a kick in the pants from Pettine to his current running backs. Isaiah Crowell has fumbling issues, Terrance West an attitude problem, and Duke Johnson is battling hamstring woes.
Sammy Watkins’ stock was at an all-time low at one point earlier this offseason and remains down in the dumps thanks to a god-awful quarterback situation. But word out of Bills camp is Watkins has been virtually un-coverable at practice. However, the problem has been the accuracy of the Bills’ quarterbacks. Watkins has reportedly been torching cornerbacks and has refined his route running. He has all the ability in the world. On the WR2/3 borderline in redraft leagues, quarterback will be Watkins’ biggest hurdle to clear. In dynasty leagues, however, now is a good time to buy low.
Quarterback & Running Back Slants
The Bucs are excited about Doug Martin possibly returning to his 2012 self. Looking “leaner and quicker” this year, Martin has a stranglehold on No. 1 duties in Tampa Bay. … Todd Gurley (knee) admits he’s unsure if he’ll play Week 1. He’s already not expected to see any preseason snaps as the Rams take a cautious approach. … Johnny Manziel (elbow) is expected to be ready for Thursday’s preseason opener. … Adrian Peterson is battling a “minor” thigh injury. … C.J. Spiller has been sidelined since last Friday with a “minor” injury of his own. … Jay Cutler has yet to throw an interception through 11 training camp practices. … Joique Bell (knee, Achilles’) “ramped up” his side work on Tuesday. … Alfred Blue is listed as the Texans’ No. 1 running back on their initial training camp depth chart. … Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer are listed as co-starters on the Texans’ initial depth chart. This battle will be settled in the next couple weeks. … E.J. Manuel has been the Bills’ third-best quarterback at camp behind Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor. This is a battle between Cassel and Taylor at the moment. … Rashad Jennings is listed as the Giants’ No. 1 tailback. … Fifth-round RB Karlos Williams continues to impress at Bills camp. … Joseph Randle (oblique) took part in Tuesday’s practice. His status for Thursday’s preseason opener is up in the air. … The Chargers aren’t expected to reach a long-term contract with Philip Rivers ahead of Week 1. … Coach Mike Pettine said Terrance West’s attitude still needs improvement. … Arian Foster (groin) is expected back “no later” than the second half of the season. … LeGarrette Blount has easily been the top back at Patriots camp.
Wide Receiver & Tight End Slants
Terrelle Pryor, Dwayne Bowe and Duke Johnson have all been ruled out for Cleveland’s preseason opener on Thursday night with hamstring injuries. … Raiders rookie TE Clive Walford returned to practice Tuesday after sitting out about a week with a strained hamstring. … Seahawks second-rounder Tyler Lockett has looked “really impressive” at training camp. He has a shot at No. 3 receiver duties, but it’s not going to produce consistent numbers in the box score. … Michael Floyd (fingers) is hopeful he’ll be ready to play Week 1. … Eric Ebron said he was never able to “get healthy” as a rookie after battling nicks and dings from college. … Corey Fuller “continues to impress” at Lions camp. … John Brown has bulked up 189 pounds after entering the NFL at 179 last season. … Rueben Randle is listed as a starter on the Giants’ initial training camp depth chart. Three receivers appears to be the Giants’ base look with Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham alongside Randle. … Rod Streater remains on the Raiders’ active/NFI list with an illness. … OC Chan Gailey said Jace Amaro being listed as the No. 3 tight end on the Jets’ initial depth chart is insignificant. … Jordan Reed is day-to-day with a hamstring injury. Stop us if you’ve heard this before. … Niles Paul underwent an MRI on his shoulder, but the results came back clean. … Steelers waived/injured WR Devin Gardner. … Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett are listed as the Colts’ second-team receivers on the initial depth chart. … Nelson Agholor and Josh Huff are beginning to rotate reps with the first-team offense. … Breshad Perriman (knee) missed his 10th consecutive practice Tuesday. … The Colts and contract-year WR T.Y. Hilton’s agent will resume long-term talks Wednesday. … Rob Housler needs to work on catching the football, per coach Mike Pettine. … Brandon Coleman has the inside track on the Saints’ No. 3 receiver job. … The Bucs have “big plans” for second-year TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins. … The Titans have begun mixing Dorial Green-Beckham into the first-team offense at practice. … Lions placed TE David Ausberry on I.R. with a broken finger. … Kenny Stills (calf) hasn’t practiced in more than a week. … Darren Fells appears locked in as the Cardinals’ top tight end.
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