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Without Chris Olave, the Saints will also be without breakthrough wideout Rashid Shaheed for their Thursday night Broncos matchup. Shaheed will undergo knee surgery, which will rule him out for the foreseeable future.
The downfield threat has a chance to return this season, but that is not assured. The outcome of Shaheed’s meniscus surgery will determine if he misses a few weeks or the rest of the year, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Losing Shaheed would be a harsh blow to a New Orleans offense that has already played without multiple offensive linemen for stretches this season. Dealing with an oblique tear, Derek Carr will also miss a second game.
Dennis Allen subsequently announced that Shaheed will undergo an exploratory procedure to determine if the third-year wideout will need a meniscus trim or a full repair, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds. A full repair would knock the recently extended receiver out for the season.
Averaging 17.5 yards per catch, Shaheed has continued his transition from UDFA to starter. Olave’s top sidekick has scored three long-range TDs and exited Week 6 with 20 receptions for 349 yards. Shaheed, last season’s first-team All-Pro punt returner, also returned a punt for a score for a second straight season. While Olave is the Saints’ top receiver investment, Shaheed currently leads the team in yardage.
The Saints did well to identify Shaheed out of Division I-FCS Montana State, bringing him in as part of their 2022 UDFA class. With Michael Thomas rarely available over the previous two seasons — and when he was, the former All-Pro displayed an injury-driven decline that has him out of the league — Shaheed stepped in to give the team an intriguing WR2 option. Last season, Shaheed totaled 719 yards and five TD receptions in 15 games. He then entered this year as a clear-cut New Orleans starter.
Shaheed, 26, signed an ERFA tender this offseason but later inked a one-year bump that calls for a $4.2M base salary in 2025. This transaction prevented the Saints from needing to apply for a second-round RFA tender for the Weber State alum next year. But the team risks losing a blossoming player, continuing a tough stretch following an explosive 2-0 start.
The Saints will again deploy Spencer Rattler as their starting QB, but he will not have any reliable wideouts to target. The team cut 2023 draftee A.T. Perry, who is now on Denver’s practice squad. Beyond Shaheed and Olave, rookie Bub Means leads Saints WRs with five receptions for 45 yards.
More must-reads:
- Saints rule out Chris Olave for TNF; surgery for Rashid Shaheed
- Jets interim HC reveals Davante Adams' status for Week 7
- The 'NFL mascot names' quiz
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Justin Fields Called 'Biggest Loser' In Jets Training Camp
The New York Jets opted to cut Aaron Rodgers and sign Justin Fields to replace him during the offseason. This kind of commitment to Fields should bolster his confidence, but it could also place a lot of pressure on his shoulders. To this point, Fields has looked solid in training camp, aside from a scary toe injury that was quickly resolved in July. Justin Fried of the Jet Press recently reported that Fields' training camp may have reached a new low over the weekend as the young signal caller struggled. "Justin Fields put together his best practice of the summer to this point on Friday, completing his first 12 passes en route to an excellent all-around performance. The same can't be said about his showing on Saturday, however," Fried wrote. "Fields finished the day an abysmal 2-of-10 in the air, including a drop from rookie tight end Mason Taylor. "Some of his incompletions were catchable balls, but the Jets' passing game struggles on Saturday can largely be blamed on No. 7. Fields did flash his running ability with a 25-yard rushing score on the first play of red-zone drills, but the Jets would like to see more consistency in the air from the starting quarterback. Saturday's scrimmage was far from his best showing of the summer." Fields is a runner first at the NFL level, but his arm is nothing to scoff at. For most of training camp, his arm talent has been better than advertised, but during Saturday's scrimmage, it just wasn't there. A 2 for 10 performance is unacceptable for a $40 million quarterback who was signed to take over the team. The running game should open up the passing game for the Jets, which is going to need to be the case if Fields is going to struggle like this. However, it's just one day of camp. It's nothing to be too concerned about. Just because Fields lost this specific practice doesn't mean he's heading in the wrong direction as a whole.
Al Horford to Warriors Receives Update After Jonathan Kuminga News
The Golden State Warriors’ offseason has been dominated by the unresolved standoff with forward Jonathan Kuminga. After a 2024-25 season where he averaged 15.3 points per game, Kuminga declined the team’s two-year, $45 million offer, citing issues with the second-year team option and the lack of a no-trade clause. Kuminga has also drawn interest from other teams—most notably the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns—but Golden State has shut down all trade discussions, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The franchise has instead chosen to wait, leaving major offseason decisions on hold, including the potential signing of veteran big man Al Horford, who remains a free agent. Kuminga Set to Stay With the Golden State Warriors With the Warriors determined to stand their ground on the Kuminga saga, and the 6-foot-7 forward yet to accept their terms or the $7.9 million qualifying offer, all signs point to one likely scenario – Kuminga remaining a Warrior for at least one more season. According to Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard, Golden State has no plans to trade Kuminga for the bare minimum this summer. He is expected to return to the Warriors’ roster—either by signing their current offer or accepting the qualifying offer. “The word I got when I checked in with a Warriors source on Sunday: Kuminga won't be traded this summer,” Kawakami wrote. “He'll be back on the Warriors' roster to start the season. And it'll either come when he signs the Warriors' offer or accepts the $7.9 million one-year qualifying offer.” The Warriors refusing to budge on their Kuminga stance means they will maintain the flexibility needed to make other moves that have been on hold — like the signing of Boston Celtics free agent Al Horford. What the New Jonathan Kuminga Report Means for Al Horford As it stands, it appears that the Warriors’ signing of Horford could be happening sooner than later. ESPN’s Anthony Slater noted towards the end of last month that Golden State identified Horford as its main target for a stretch-shooting center since the start of the offseason. However, his decision was believed to hinge on how the Kuminga situation played out. ESPN’s Marc Spears also recently noted that even players like Gary Payton II are waiting to see what Kuminga decides, further illustrating how his contract saga is impacting the entire roster. “I saw Gary Payton II two days ago. I'm like, what's going on? He's like waiting on [Jonathan Kuminga]. He is, Al Horford is.” With Kuminga presumably set to return next season, and seemingly under the Warriors' financial terms, the team will retain cap flexibility and avoid losing a core piece for nothing. It also positions them to move quickly on Horford or similar targets to solidify their frontcourt. If Kuminga opts for the qualifying offer, Golden State keeps his rights but risks future complications with trade leverage. Either way, the outcome of this standoff will likely shape how the Warriors enter training camp—and whether they can maximize what may be the final competitive window of the Stephen Curry era.
Commanders QB not seen at practice, starting WR out
The Washington Commanders are dealing with a few absences ahead of their preseason opener against the New England Patriots on Friday night. Five players missed practice to begin the week as quarterback Marcus Mariota, wide receiver Noah Brown, offensive lineman Brandon Coleman, defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste, and linebacker Jordan Magee were not with the team on Monday. Mariota is expected to be the backup to rising star Jayden Daniels in 2025 while Brown started in nine of his 11 appearances with the Commanders last season. Coleman actually limped off the field over the weekend and he was the only player that head coach Dan Quinn provided a direct update on during his press conference. Quinn is unsure if he'll be able to participate in joint practices with the Patriots. As for the others, this could simply be a rest day. It's unclear if Quinn plans to play his starters in the first exhibition game in New England. Marcus Mariota To Assume Critical Role Behind Jayden Daniels A former No. 2 overall pick himself, Mariota understands what it takes to get done at the professional level. After all, he's been doing it for a decade. After signing with the Commanders last season, Mariota played an important role off the bench as a mentor for Daniels. He'll be able to do that once again this fall, only now the two are even closer after establishing a relationship. In a pinch, Mariota can still bring it between the lines. He appeared in three games last season, finishing off Washington's 23-19 victory against the Dallas Cowboys in the regular season finale. Overall, Mariota completed 34/44 passes for 364 yards with four touchdowns to zero interceptions while rushing 18 times for 92 yards and another score. Daniels remains healthy and is thriving ahead of his second season. The Commanders also have second-year quarterback Sam Hartman and veteran Josh Johnson on the roster. Noah Brown Produced Washington's Most Exciting Play Last Season Though Brown only reached the end zone one time in 2024, it came on a moment that was arguably the most exciting in the entire league. Brown corralled a tipped pass on a 52-yard Hail Mary to deliver the Commanders an electric win over the Chicago Bears on October 27. On the season, he appeared in 11 games and made nine starts, catching 35 passes for 453 yards and the lone touchdown. Brown suffered a kidney injury late in the year which forced him onto injured reserve. Back healthy, Brown is battling for his spot in Washington's wide receiver room. The team traded for Deebo Samuel this offseason, convinced Michael Gallup to come out of retirement, and drafted Jaylin Lane in the fourth round. As things stand, Brown is listed as a starter alongside Samuel and McLaurin on the unofficial depth chart. The competition has increased and that should only lead to increased consistency from the unit this season, especially if the Commanders are able to work out a deal with star Terry McLaurin. Washington Commanders Preseason Information The Commanders will return to the field later this week to kick off the preseason against the New England Patriots. Washington and New England will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 8, from Gillette Stadium.
Broncos' Sean Payton adds to Bo Nix hype with bold prediction
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton believes his team is a legitimate Super Bowl contender after quarterback and 2024 first-round draft pick Bo Nix was better than advertised as a rookie starter. During a recent chat with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Payton gave the Nix hype train some extra momentum via a bold prediction regarding what the 25-year-old will be a couple of years down the road. "I honestly think he’s gonna be one of the top quarterbacks within the next two years," Payton said about Nix. "I think he’s going to be a superstar." Some suggested in the spring of 2024 that Payton and Co. reached when they made Nix the 12th overall pick of last year's draft. Nix then went 10-7 as a starter as he guided the club to a playoff berth. Per Pro Football Reference, Nix ended the 2024 regular season ranked sixth in the NFL with 29 touchdown passes, 12th with 3,775 passing yards and 19th among qualified players with a 56.8 adjusted QBR. In total, 23 quarterbacks took more sacks than Nix (24) during the campaign. According to StatMuse, no signal-caller took more sacks than Russell Wilson did with the Broncos from Week 1 of the 2022 campaign through the end of the 2023 regular season. "Who gets the blame? 'God, the line’s gotta get better.' And it’s always the line. The sack is a quarterback stat," Payton added. "We had 24 [in 2024]. I had Bobby Hoying [in the late 1990s], third-round pick. Man, he was a great-looking prospect. He took three or four sacks a game. It’s a processing thing. It’s decision-making, multi-tasking, ball out." As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Broncos at -140 betting odds to make the playoffs for the upcoming season. Somewhat interestingly, that same outlet had Nix and Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams at +3500 odds to claim the Most Valuable Player Award for the campaign. If Nix can follow in Stafford's footsteps through early 2026, Payton could be right about the current Denver squad competing for more than just a postseason berth.
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