This article is part of our Training Camp Notes series.
Football is finally back! The first preseason game was played Thursday as the Cowboys took on the Steelers in the Hall of Fame Game. Every team will be in action by the end of next weekend, and accordingly, NFL news is pouring in.
• Kenny Golladay is scheduled to miss two to three weeks with the hamstring injury he suffered Tuesday. That timetable would leave him plenty of room to be ready for Week 1. Coming on the heels of the hip injury that cost him all but five games last season, perhaps drafters will shy away from the 27-year-old even more as a result of this setback. But given the massive, top-5 talent he displayed the two seasons prior, he is still undervalued as just the 25th receiver off the board.
• D'Andre Swift appeared in our prior iteration of Camp Notes due to an early exit from practice Wednesday after already seeing reduced loads earlier in the week. Now, we finally understand why as the second-year back has been nursing a tight groin. The Lions also have managed his reps because of his "body composition," so the lesser workload was pre-planned. One does wonder, however, if this means the team is worried about the 5-foot-9 back's ability to hold up over a full season as the lead ball carrier, and accordingly, whether Jamaal Williams' role may end up being larger than anticipated by those drafting Swift currently at 27th overall.
• Tua Tagovailoa has drawn mixed reviews in camp as his deep ball has improved, but he is still having trouble against the blitz. These were his two major issues as a rookie, so while any improvement is obviously welcome news, any negativity emerging from camps this early is certainly something to follow closely. The 23-year-old at least has a greater stable of weapons heading into 2021 with Will Fuller and first-round pick and former Alabama teammate Jaylen Waddle joining established options DeVante Parker and tight end Mike Gesicki this offseason. As the 21st quarterback off the board in ADP, Tagovailoa is definitely worth a late flier for those hoping he takes the next step in an improved Dolphins offense.
• Emmanuel Sanders hurt his foot Wednesday and missed the Bills' subsequent practice. Specifics aren't known at this time, but the injury is presumed to be minor. The 34-year-old has a high floor and is being taken at the tail end of drafts with an ADP of 192, but he does have some upside as the presumed second option in the high-volume Buffalo passing game behind Stefon Diggs.
• CeeDee Lamb was among a host of starters who did not play in Thursday's preseason game with the Steelers. The bigger news is the glowing reports emerging from Cowboys camp likening his dominance in practice to that of Dez Bryant.
• Tyreek Hill missed Tuesday's practice with knee tendinitis but was back and not limited Thursday. No reason to drop him any in your ranks as it sounds like he'll be just fine for Week 1.
• Deshaun Watson missed his second consecutive practice with calf and ankle tightness. Given how little the embattled signal-caller was reportedly doing in Texans practice, it is fair to wonder how he came up lame. It is also fair to wonder if he's even worth a flier in drafts until his trade demand and legal issues are resolved. The Texans seem prepared to move forward with Tyrod Taylor.
• As predicted, Kirk Cousins did in fact return to Vikings camp from the COVID list Thursday, meaning he was just placed there as a close contact of Kellen Mond and never contracted the illness himself.
