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Player News
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Mike Williams NYJ WR
Jets' Mike Williams: On side field to start OTAs
1m agoWilliams (knee) has not yet been cleared for football activity and is working on the side field at OTAs on Tuesday, Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record reports.
Williams went down to a left ACL tear in Week 3 last season, while a member of the Chargers, so he was never a truly likely candidate to be ready for OTAs. The start of training camp come July could represent a better target for Williams to resume on-field activity, though the Jets haven't offered an official estimate for his return timetable. On the plus side, Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) is participating in OTAs without any setbacks, so Williams will be able to begin chemistry with his new quarterback as soon as he gains clearance. The big-bodied 29-year-old profiles to complement top wideout Garrett Wilson as the No. 2 option for New York, once healthy.
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Tank Dell HOU WR
Texans' Tank Dell: Participating in OTAs
8m agoDell (leg) is on the field for the start of OTAs on Tuesday with no apparent limitations, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Dell, who sustained a left leg wound as an innocent bystander in a shooting in Florida in late April, is already back on the practice field and running routes, and he seems to be an unrestricted participant to begin OTAs. The 2023 third-rounder has already recovered from the fibula injury he suffered last December, and he now rejoins a wide receiver room that added Stefon Diggs as a trade acquisition, and returns Nico Collins, Robert Woods, Noah Brown (shoulder) and John Metchie.
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Aaron Rodgers NYJ QB
Jets' Aaron Rodgers: No limitations at OTAs, as expected
20m agoCoach Robert Saleh said Tuesday that Rodgers (Achilles) is "doing everything" at OTAs, Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record reports.
Rodgers was expected to be without restrictions at OTAs, but confirmation that he's doing everything at practices so far is positive sign as to the 40-year-old's recovery progress. While Rodgers' progress will still need to be monitored until he's resumed handling full contact activities, it's worth noting that he did manage to resume practicing with the Jets down the stretch of the 2023 season. Meanwhile, Mike Williams (knee) hasn't yet been cleared to do more than work off to the side.
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Jonathan Ward TEN RB
Steelers' Jonathan Ward: Inks one-year deal in Pittsburgh
1h agoThe Steelers signed Ward to a one-year contract Tuesday.
Ward handled a depth role across eight regular-season appearances with the Titans in 2023. He'll now get a chance to compete for a similar reserve spot in Pittsburgh, where Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson stand above him on the depth chart.
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Cole Strange NE OG
Patriots' Cole Strange: Won't be ready for Week 1
2h agoStrange (knee) is expected to miss the start of the regular season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Strange's knee injury could keep him sidelined until the middle of the 2024 regular season, per Rapoport. The starting guard missed New England's first day of OTAs while continuing to rehab from the knee issue he sustained Week 15 versus the Chiefs in 2023, with coach Jerod Mayo calling him "month-to-month." Per Chad Graff of The Athletic, the Patriots started Sidy Sow and Nick Leverett at guard to kick off OTAs.
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Tee Higgins CIN WR
Bengals' Tee Higgins: Not expected for start of OTAs
14h agoHiggins is not expected to sign his franchise tender by the end of the week, which will make him ineligible to report in time for the start of OTAs next week, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Higgins formally requested a trade from Cincinnati after the team placed the franchise tag on him prior to free agency. He appeared to have a change of heart in April, as the wideout hinted that he anticipated playing for the Bengals in 2024 at his youth camp, per Ben Baby of ESPN.com. It remains to be seen if that will occur via the franchise tag or the long-term extension the pass catcher has been seeking. As of now, it looks like this conflict will linger into OTAs.
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Korey Lee CHW C
White Sox's Korey Lee: Tallies third stolen base
6m agoLee went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and a stolen base Monday against the Blue Jays.
Lee has had a poor start to the White Sox's current road trip, as he's struck out eight times across 13 plate appearances. However, he's been surprisingly aggressive when he's reached base, attempting three stolen bases across in his last five contests while being successful twice. Lee has slowly taken over the primary catcher role, though he still alternates time behind the dish with Martin Maldonado.
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Jesse Winker WAS LF
Nationals' Jesse Winker: Goes yard for second straight game
23m agoWinker went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a solo home run and a second run scored in Monday's win over the Twins.
He led off the fourth inning by working the count full against Pablo Lopez before crushing a fastball over the fence in center field. Winker has left the yard in back-to-back games and has four hits in his last three contests, but that comes on the heels of an 0-for-21 stretch. On the season, the 30-year-old is slashing .232/.346/.411 with six homers, five steals, 21 RBI and 22 runs in 44 games, but Winker may need to stay hot if he wants to hang onto a significant role in the OF/DH mix with Lane Thomas (knee) closing in on his return and top prospect James Wood (.393/.493/.689 in May for Triple-A Rochester) pounding on the door for a promotion.
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Jacob Young WAS CF
Nationals' Jacob Young: Nabs 15th steal
29m agoYoung went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base in Monday's win over the Twins.
The 24-year-old center fielder's ability to flip the lineup over from the nine hole was a key part of the Nationals' 12-run eruption Monday. Young has hit safely in five straight games and is up to 15 steals in 17 attempts on the season, but his overall numbers have sagged in May -- he's slashing .208/.304/.271 through 56 plate appearances.
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Walker Martin SF SS
Giants' Walker Martin: Makes pro debut
33m agoMartin (hamstring) made his pro debut Monday for the Arizona Complex League Giants, going 1-for-2 with a strikeout and a run scored.
The No. 52 overall pick in last year's draft, Martin received the equivalent of first-round money (just shy of a $3 million signing bonus) due to his upside, but he didn't face good competition against Colorado high schoolers, and he's already 20. Given that he is a couple years older than most of the top prospects at the complex, the expectation should be that he will spend the bulk of this season at Single-A.
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Cade Cavalli WAS SP
Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Sharp in first rehab start
34m agoCavalli (elbow) allowed one hit and one walk in 2.2 scoreless innings for the Nationals' Florida Complex League team Monday. He struck out five.
Seeing his first game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2023, Cavalli simply overmatched FCL hitters over 44 pitches. The 25-year-old right-hander touched 97 mph with his fastball, per Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports, and the one hit off him came from MLB veteran Jose Abreu. Washington will now have 30 days to decide whether Cavalli is ready to join the big-league rotation in mid-June, but if the front office decided he needs more time to complete his recovery, he could be optioned to Triple-A Rochester. Either way, Cavalli should be back on the 26-man roster some time this summer.
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Brett Baty NYM 3B
Mets' Brett Baty: Starting spot in jeopardy
44m agoBaty went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Monday's loss to the Guardians, and he's at risk of losing his starting job at third base to Mark Vientos, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Since a two-homer game May 3, Baty is slashing an anemic .125/.186/.150 with a 43.2 percent strikeout rate. Vientos has mainly been used as a short-side platoon option since his most recent promotion, but he's gone 4-for-14 with two doubles in four games. Baty hasn't let his struggles impact his defense, and that might be the only thing keeping him in the starting nine at the moment. With the Mets scrambling to find offense, though, they might decide they can live with Vientos' inferior glove at the hot corner if he can produce at the plate.
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Xavier Tillman BOS C
Celtics' Xavier Tillman: Questionable for Game 1
18h agoTillman is questionable for Tuesday's Game 1 against the Pacers due to personal reasons, Taylor Snow of the Celtics' official site reports.
Tillman hasn't been a consistent part of the rotation during the playoffs, appearing in just three matchups and averaging 1.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 8.3 minutes per game. While it's unclear whether he'll be available to begin the Eastern Conference Finals, his status shouldn't significantly impact the rotation.
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Kristaps Porzingis BOS C
Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis: Remains out for Game 1 of ECF
18h agoPorzingis (calf) has been ruled out for Tuesday's Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Pacers.
As expected, Porzingis will remain sidelined to start the Eastern Conference Finals due to a right calf strain he suffered in Boston's opening-round series versus Miami. The Latvian big man didn't practice Monday, so it doesn't appear he's close to game action. However, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported Friday that Boston is optimistic that Porzingis could return at some point during the series versus Indiana.
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Kristaps Porzingis BOS C
Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis: Doesn't practice Monday
22h agoPorzingis (calf) didn't participate in Monday's practice session, Jay King of The Athletic reports.
Porzingis sustained a calf injury during the first round of the playoffs and isn't expected to be available for the start of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers. His absence from practice reflects that pessimism, while Al Horford and Luke Kornet should continue to see an uptick in playing time during Tuesday's Game 1.
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Kentavious Caldwell-Pope DEN SG
Nuggets' Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: Poor offensive showing Sunday
1d agoCaldwell-Pope racked up five points (2-7 FG, 1-4 3Pt), six rebounds, three assists, one block and two steals in 40 minutes during Sunday's 98-90 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Caldwell-Pope scored single digits for the sixth time in the past eight games, highlighting the Nuggets' struggles when it comes to depth on the offensive end. While he continues to play a key role for Denver, his lack of production cannot be ignored when it comes to fantasy value. Looking ahead to next season, there is no reason to think he will be anything more than a situational streamer, utilized for steals and threes.
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Jamal Murray DEN PG
Nuggets' Jamal Murray: Scores game-high 35 points
1d agoMurray provided 35 points (13-27 FG, 4-12 3Pt, 5-5 FT), three rebounds and three assists over 43 minutes during Sunday's 98-90 loss to Minnesota in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Murray did everything he could to get the Nuggets over the line but ultimately came up short. He and Nikola Jokic scored 69 of the Nuggets' 90 points, highlighting just how unimpactful their bench was. While it was a disappointing end for Murray, his production this year aligned with what fantasy managers expected coming into the season. Given they will likely be contending again next season, there is no reason to think anything changes from a fantasy perspective in 2024-25.
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Michael Porter Jr. DEN SF
Nuggets' Michael Porter: Goes cold in Game 7 loss
1d agoPorter posted seven points (3-12 FG, 1-6 3Pt), nine rebounds and two blocks across 34 minutes during Sunday's 98-90 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Porter went just 1-for-6 from the three-point line, continuing a rough series for the sharpshooter. Over the seven-game span, Porter scored fewer than 10 points on five occasions. It was an unfortunate end for Porter after he managed to put together a strong season. Despite the poor postseason performance, Porter should be able to maintain mid-round value in most fantasy formats next season.
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Elias Lindholm VAN C
Canucks' Elias Lindholm: Generates helper Monday
11h agoLindholm logged an assist, two shots on goal, five hits and two blocked shots in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Oilers in Game 7.
Lindholm did his part in the second round with three goals and four assists over seven games, but it wasn't enough to extend the Canucks' season. The center produced 22 points over 39 contests between the regular season and playoffs with Vancouver following his trade from Calgary. The 29-year-old is set for unrestricted free agency and figures to be one of the biggest names on the market July 1, assuming he doesn't re-up with the Canucks before then.
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Quinn Hughes VAN D
Canucks' Quinn Hughes: Deals assist in loss
11h agoHughes notched an assist in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Oilers in Game 7.
Hughes produced five assists over seven second-round games. The 24-year-old defenseman concluded the postseason with 10 helpers, 21 shots on net, 14 blocked shots and a plus-1 rating across 13 appearances. Hughes' goal-scoring took a step forward with 17 tallies among his 92 points in the regular season, but he's always been more of a facilitator from the blue line. The Canucks' captain remains an integral part of the club's future heading into 2024-25.
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Filip Hronek VAN D
Canucks' Filip Hronek: First playoff goal not enough
11h agoHronek scored a goal on two shots and added three hits in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Oilers in Game 7.
Hronek earned his first career playoff tally late in the third period, but the Canucks couldn't follow it up with an equalizer. The 26-year-old defenseman was limited to two points, 13 shots on net, 25 hits, 15 blocked shots and a minus-3 rating over 13 postseason appearances in his first taste of playoff action. Hronek will be a restricted free agent this summer -- the only skater on the Canucks' roster with that status -- so getting him signed will likely be a top priority for general manager Patrik Allvin.
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Conor Garland VAN RW
Canucks' Conor Garland: Nets goal in Game 7 loss
11h agoGarland scored a goal on three shots in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Oilers in Game 7.
Garland had three goals over seven games in the second round, but his contributions couldn't make up for the Canucks' overall unsteady offense. The winger posted five points, 24 shots on net and an even plus-minus rating over 13 playoff appearances. Garland enters 2024-25 with two years left on the five-year deal he signed in 2021, so it's likely he'll remain in a middle-six role for the Canucks going forward.
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Arturs Silovs VAN G
Canucks' Arturs Silovs: Loses Game 7
11h agoSilovs allowed three goals on 29 shots in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Oilers in Game 7.
Silovs took consecutive losses at the NHL level for the first time in his career, and it couldn't have come at a worse time for the Canucks. He allowed eight goals on 56 shots over Games 6 and 7. Overall, he went 5-5 in the playoffs, allowing 29 goals over 10 contests. It's not a particularly impressive body of work, but it's enough to think Silovs will enter 2024-25 as backup to Thatcher Demko (knee) if Casey DeSmith walks in free agency. Silovs will also need a new contract as a restricted free agent.
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Brett Kulak EDM D
Oilers' Brett Kulak: Sets up opening goal
11h agoKulak notched an assist in Monday's 3-2 win over the Canucks in Game 7.
Kulak has a helper in two of the last three contests. The 30-year-old set up defense partner Cody Ceci's tally in the second period of Game 7. Kulak is up to four points, eight shots on net, 18 blocked shots, 17 hits and a plus-3 rating through 12 playoff appearances while filling a third-pairing role.