NFL News & Analysis

August 5 Training Camp Notes: Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin practices, Raiders HC Josh McDaniels' thoughts on Josh Jacobs' preseason workload and more

Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) scores a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin takes part in practice for the first time since his injury

  • It’s another big step forward for Godwin, who suffered a torn ACL in Week 15 of last season.
  • The Bucs did not place Godwin on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list at the beginning of camp, signaling they had confidence that he would be able to get back on the practice field.
  • This still does not mean Godwin is guaranteed to be on the field come Week 1. The team still plans to take a cautious approach and will not rush him.
  • Godwin is coming off a season in which he tallied a career-high 98 receptions for 1,103 yards and five touchdowns. He earned an 81.3 PFF grade. 
  • Tampa rewarded him with a three-year, $60 million deal earlier this offseason.

Las Vegas Raiders HC Josh McDaniels on RB Josh Jacobs: It’s good for backs to play in preseason.

  • Jacobs started and played multiple series, rushing five times for 30 yards while adding two receptions for 14 yards. It was one of the biggest surprises from Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars
  • “I always think it's good for backs to carry the ball in the preseason,” McDaniels said after Thursday's game. “There's a lot of things that happen when you're getting tackled and hit that you can't simulate in practice. I think all our guys had the ball tonight. I think all our guys either caught it or were handed the ball and had to get tackled. We can't really simulate that or rep that in practice.”
  • The Raiders, under new general manager Dave Ziegler, declined Jacobs’ fifth-year option this offseason, meaning he’s now scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
  • The Raiders did add some new running backs this offseason, signing veterans Brandon Bolden and Ameer Abdullah in free agency and also using a fourth-round pick on Georgia running back Zamir White. Veteran running back Kenyan Drake is also on the roster.

San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel still taking backfield reps in camp

  • Samuel just re-signed on a three-year, $71.5 million deal after a drama-filled offseason. One of the rumors that came out earlier in the offseason when he requested a trade was that he didn’t like being used as a “wide-back.”
  • Samuel refuted that earlier this week, telling reporters: “That’s false. There’s a lot of things that came out that I wanted to speak on, but at the end of the day, I wasn’t allowed to.”
  • Samuel was seen taking backfield reps today, and in fact, his new contract has $650,000 in annual incentives based solely on rushing yards or touchdowns.

NFLPA officially files reply brief to NFL's appeal of Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson

  • Today was the deadline for the union to file a reply to the league’s appeal of a six-game suspension.
  • Roger Goodell’s designee, Peter Harvey, now has all of the information at his disposal to write his ruling on the appeal.
  • The appeal will be based on a “review of the existing record,” meaning no new evidence or testimony will be permitted. The findings must be based on Judge Sue L. Robinson’s 15-page report and nothing else.
  • The policy calls for an expedited decision on appeal, so Harvey’s ruling should come in the near future.

San Francisco 49ers sign WR Willie Snead IV

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