Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill has dealt with a variety of ailments so far in the 2024 season, and now we can add a wrist injury to the list.
The two-time team MVP didn't practice Friday when the Dolphins continued their preparations for the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Monday night, one of thre players who sat out.
Starting right tackle Austin Jackson sat out for a second consecutive practice with a knee injury that has his status for the game very much up in the air. Wide receiver Dee Eskridge, meanwhile, didn't practice because of a personal issue.
Safety Jevon Holland returned to practice after missing the Week 9 game against the Buffalo Bills with a knee injury, though he was limited.
Calais Campbell, Jordan Poyer and Terron Armstead all were back at practice after getting a vet day, but Armstead practiced on a limited basis as he's also dealing with a knee issue.
Cornerback Cam Smith was listed as a limited with a knee injury after getting examined near the end of the portion of practice open to the media.
The rest of the injury report remained the same as Thursday, with CB Storm Duck (ankle), TE Julian Hill (shoulder), FB Alec Ingold (calf), OL Robert Jones (knee), CB Kader Kohou (neck), S Patrick McMorris (calf), LB Emmanuel Ogbah (bicep) and DT Zach Sieler (eye) all listed as limited; and LB Tyus Bowser (knee) and WR River Cracraft (shoulder) both listed as full participants.
McMorris and Cracraft both are still on injured reserve, but they can be activated at any time since they've returned to practice.
The final injury report for the game, complete with game status designations, will be released after practice Saturday.
The Rams' injury report was expected later in the day, but their first report of the week showed five players not practicing Thursday.
That list included starting offensive linemen Rob Havenstein (ankle) and Kevin Dotson (ankle, knee), along with WR Demarcus Robinson (toe, hip), S Kamren Curl (knee), and DT Neville Gallimore (shoulder). Gallimore, of course, signed with the Dolphins this offseason as a free agent before being among the cuts when they trimmed the roster to the 53-player limit.
The Rams earlier this week designated starting offensive linemen Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson to return from IR.
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According to Nick Harris of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue suffered a bone bruise in his heel on Thursday. Blue was stepped on during practice, initially looking at an ankle sprain. Thankfully, the MRI came back with some positive news. “Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue’s MRI revealed a bone bruise in his heel after it was stepped on in today’s practice, according to a @startelegram source,” Harris said via X. “No ankle sprain. Good news for the young back who has emerged as an offensive playmaker in camp.” Blue previously told Harris that an ankle injury was what he suffered. Questions about the running back’s availability for Saturday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams are now present. Something to watch as kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT from SoFi Stadium. Dallas took Blue in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, hoping to address its running back situation. Blue played his college ball inside the Lone Star State, suiting up for the Texas Longhorns. Plenty of guys at the position have come out of Austin and found quick success. Blue is hoping to be the next one. For now, there is an injury for him to deal with. No exact timeline has been provided per a report or by a team official. Hopefully, Blue is able to get things cleared up quickly and get his first taste of the NFL before Sept. 4’s season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. More on Jaydon Blue, Cowboys running back situation Running back was a position the Cowboys needed to desperately figure out this offseason. Rico Dowdle, the team’s leading rusher, was no longer on the roster. Behind Dowdle, Dallas did not have much else. A nice mix of veteran presence and youngsters was needed. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders provide the former, while Blue was a part of the draft class alongside Phil Mafah. A combination of those four figures to be on the opening night roster. Exactly how head coach Brian Schottenheimer splits up the carries is not yet known. Blue’s injury certainly does not help the situation. Cowboys players, in general, have been going down throughout training camp thus far. Making sure everyone is healthy will be critical heading into the season. Especially an explosive back like Blue, someone who can change the outcome of any game in just the snap of your fingers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers got hit with quite a bit of interesting news on Thursday. It started when NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that veteran defensive lineman Cam Heyward was staging a hold-in, attending training camp but not fully participating as he seeks a new contract. Not long after that, kicker Chris Boswell was also reported to be interested in a new deal, adding another contract situation to the team’s growing list of concerns. As for Heyward, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly quickly suggested a possible solution that could effectively end the hold-in without requiring a full contract extension. Kaboly proposed the idea of adding incentives to Heyward’s existing deal, which would reward performance while avoiding a long-term financial commitment. He believes this compromise would allow the Steelers to show respect for Heyward’s contributions while keeping the team’s salary cap in check. Kaboly explained that the Steelers used a similar approach in 2016 with star wide receiver Antonio Brown. At the time, Brown was also seeking a new deal, and instead of offering an extension, the team added incentives to his contract to keep him satisfied for the season. The move kept Brown on the field and productive, and Kaboly believes this method could work just as well for Heyward, helping resolve the situation without complicating the team’s financial outlook. "Steelers don't restructure contracts until a year out, but Cam Heyward has 2 years remaining on his deal," Kaboly posted on his social media. "Here is the kicker and this is what I would use if I were Heyward: The Steelers worked some funny math with Antonio Brown in 2016 to get him a $4 million raise." Heyward just received a new deal ahead of the 2024 season. Now, Kaboly is pointing out that with two years remaining on his contract, the Steelers typically don’t restructure deals until there’s only one year left. However, Kaboly believes that if the team follows the same approach they used with Brown, it could help resolve Heyward’s situation. "They moved $4 million of AB's 2017 money to 2016, then tore up the contract in 2017 and made him the highest-paid WR in the NFL," Kaboly said. "AB got a $4 million raise, and the Steelers were able to keep their long-standing policy intact." Both sides could technically come out ahead with this approach. The money was going to Heyward anyway, but by advancing a portion of it to this year, he gets earlier financial recognition without requiring a full extension. Then, when the time comes to negotiate a new deal, both parties can do so in good faith, working toward a contract that makes sense for everyone involved. For now, moving some money forward would be a clear sign of appreciation for Heyward’s contributions and an acknowledgment of how the market has shifted for elite defensive linemen. It would also allow the Steelers to maintain their long-standing policy of waiting until a player enters the final year of his contract before negotiating an extension. Ultimately, it’s a short-term financial gesture that builds trust and buys time for a more permanent solution. Steelers And Cam Heyward Both Could Come Out As Winners This approach not only benefits Heyward financially in the short term but also helps preserve the relationship between the player and the organization. It shows the Steelers value his contributions and want to keep him motivated without rushing into long-term decisions prematurely. By handling things this way, the team retains flexibility in managing their salary cap and future roster moves. It also avoids the potential pitfalls of a large extension that might limit options later. For Heyward, it offers a sense of security and respect while keeping open the door for a more comprehensive agreement when the time is right.
Paul Skenes tossed six shutout innings and struck out eight to lead the host Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night. Despite allowing a career-high seven hits (five singles), Skenes (7-8) delivered another dominant performance to bolster his case for the National League Cy Young Award. Skenes also beat the Reds for the fourth time in four starts in his career and first time this season. Jared Triolo and Henry Davis each had two hits and two RBIs to give Skenes more than enough of a cushion to secure a win for the third time in his past four starts. It was Skenes' third consecutive start with eight or more strikeouts. It was also the Pirates' fifth shutout of the season in a Skenes start and their 14th overall shutout. It was the Reds' 10th shutout loss. Skenes lowered his major-league best ERA to 1.94 and continues to be exceptionally good at PNC Park, where he has not allowed an earned run since June 3. Bryan Reynolds, who also had two hits, homered in the first inning off Reds' starter Brady Singer (9-9), who lasted only 3 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on six hits, walked four and struck out two. Reynolds' home run came with two outs. Singer proceeded to issue three consecutive walks to Oneil Cruz, Andrew McCutchen and Jack Suwinski to load the bases, setting up a two-run single by Triolo, which gave the Pirates a 3-0 lead. Cruz and Spencer Horwitz each had an RBI and Davis belted a two-run home run off Reds reliever Brent Suter in the bottom of the seventh. Gavin Lux had three hits, and TJ Friedl and Matt McLain each had two hits to lead Cincinnati offensively. But the Reds went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base. McLain and Elly De La Cruz hit back-to-back singles off Skenes with one out in the first. But Austin Hays grounded into an inning-ending double play to end the threat. -Field Level Media
The Pittsburgh Steelers have very high expectations for their offensive line in 2025. The interior players had an excellent 2024 season, and the hope is that they continue to grow and mesh well together. The offensive tackle position is the real question mark. Second-year player Troy Fautanu only had one start in his rookie year before suffering a season-ending leg injury. Third-year player Broderick Jones has had significant issues playing on the right side, and the hope is that he can develop properly while moving to the blind side (his natural position). Jones has not been having a great training camp so far. While the Steelers do have elite edge rushers across the board, the former first-round pick has not been able to do anything to slow them down on a consistent basis. There have been many clips of him getting beat with ease. Pittsburgh even went out and signed a veteran tackle in case he continues to struggle. However, Jones may have finally woken up. During Thursday's practice, reporter Christopher Carter noticed that he may have turned himself around after a great day in training camp. Like with Roman Wilson previously in training camp, the idea of losing his job and maybe even a roster spot could have lit a fire under Jones. He's fighting for more than just the respect of the fans and his peers. Now, he has to go out and stop some of the best pass rushers in the NFL to make sure he's not benched or, even worse, cut completely. Also like with Wilson, one great day at camp is not enough for Jones to stick around. Now that he showed some of his upside, that is the expectation for him going forward. He has to put it all together and stack these practices up until gameday, where the team will expect him to have his way with plenty of other great edge rushers. The days of him playing at a junior-varsity level should now be officially over. Steelers' Offensive Attack Is Almost Entirely On Jones' Shoulders Jones will now be protecting Aaron Rodgers every single day for the rest of the year. During his time with the New York Jets, the 41-year-old was statistically one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL when being blitzed/rushed. At his age, he is more reliant on the men in front of him than ever before in his career, which includes Jones. This is absolutely not the year for him to slack off. If Jones continues to struggle into the regular season, Rodgers is likely going to have another rough, painful season like when he was with the Jets. If he plays like he did in Thursday's practice, the Steelers could see flashes of Rodgers' old form from when he was winning multiple MVP Awards. As long as the established players of the interior line continue to do their job, the outside of the line will be under a microscope all season long. Being under that microscope could cause Jones to be benched quickly if things go awry. Andrus Peat is a veteran tackle that has seen and done plenty in the NFL. The three-time Pro Bowler can step in and take over if needed. As long as Jones keeps competing like he did on Thursday, he won't have to worry about losing his job.
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