NFL Catchup: Jeanty Injured, Kittle Activated, Browns QB Drama & More

We’re finally entering the last week of the preseason, which means the regular season is right around the corner. Sunday only brought us one preseason matchup, with the Tennessee Titans taking down the Seattle Seahawks. But there was also a bit of good and bad injury news on Sunday. The San Francisco 49ers got a couple of key stars back, while the Las Vegas Raiders might be without one of their promising young players to open the year. But the biggest news of the weekend might have come on Saturday, when Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson called out the team’s fans after getting booed for his outing against the Buffalo Bills. As you begin your week, here are some of the things you need to know about what happened around the NFL this weekend. Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty left Sunday’s practice with an ankle injury after colliding with cornerback Darien Porter while diving for a catch. However, the injury might not be as serious as initially expected. Jeanty is believed to have a high ankle sprain, according to ESPN. Jeanty remained on the ground before being helped off the field without placing weight on his right leg. Head coach Klint Kubiak planned to feature Jeanty as a focal point of the offense alongside tight end Brock Bowers. If Jeanty is forced to miss time, fourth-round rookie Mike Washington Jr. is listed second on the depth chart and would take over primary backfield duties. Jeanty recorded 975 rushing yards and five touchdowns in his 2025 rookie season. The Raiders open their regular season at home against the Miami Dolphins. The San Francisco 49ers activated tight end George Kittle from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list on Sunday. Kittle took individual reps in full pads for his first practice session since suffering a torn right Achilles in January. Running back Christian McCaffrey also returned to practice after sitting out sessions since August 10 due to tightness, participating in individual drills and team period work. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak spoke about the impact of having both players back on the field. “It definitely just gives us energy,” Kubiak said. “It just changes things. You have two Hall of Fame-caliber players out there who are back out there and getting their work in, and they practice at a high standard, and they lift everybody up. It’s good to see them back out there.” Kittle expressed hope regarding his potential availability for the regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Rams while acknowledging the full length of the schedule. “I want to play in every football game that I possibly can play in but I’m also aware it’s an 18-week season,” Kittle said. “If you miss Week 1 and you’re playing Week 2, hey, it is what it is. I’m just going to keep that as my goal and then we’ll adjust from there if we need to.” McCaffrey addressed his recent practice absence, explaining that the time off was part of a planned workload management strategy leading up to September. “Obviously when you don’t practice, the way the media works now it’s a firestorm,” McCaffrey said. “But this was kind of part of the plan from the jump was to ramp up pretty big, get nine, 10 practices in, kind of come back down and then ramp back up so we’re fresh for the duration. Our staff’s done a great job of coming up with specific plans. And again, I feel great. I feel fresh, and it’s good to be back out there.” Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson addressed fan reaction after receiving boos during Saturday’s 31-7 preseason loss to Buffalo. Watson completed 5 of 12 passes for 36 yards and an interception in his first home action since his 2024 Achilles injury. Watson called the crowd reaction personal. “I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance,” Watson said. “It’s a little bit more personal than that.” Watson recalled the crowd’s reaction when he suffered his Achilles injury in 2024 when evaluating his relationship with local fans. “Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. And that same fanbase, they cheered when I got hurt,” Watson said. “So what does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city, and they cheer?” Our Greg Auman argues Cleveland should cut Watson, citing his bellow .500 winning percentage as the Browns starter, performance struggles, and fractured relationship with the fanbase, despite significant salary cap penalties. Asked if he held any regrets regarding his time with Cleveland, Watson doubled down. “I don’t regret anything in my life,” Watson said. Addressing the crowd atmosphere for the upcoming schedule, Watson noted that “maybe it’s 17 away games” in terms of environment. Auman wrote that Cleveland should move on and cut Watson despite the financial impact, which includes $127 million in dead money against the salary cap over two seasons. Head coach Todd Monken told reporters he hopes to name a starting quarterback Monday, potentially bringing an end to competition between Watson and second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders ahead of Week 1. Cam Ward put up a respectable stat line for the Titans in their victory over the Seahawks on Sunday night, even if he only led Tennessee to three points. He completed 8 of 12 passes for 69 yards over three drives, setting his team up for a 55-yard field over his outing. But the Seahawks’ offensive backups had a pretty strong night. Backup quarterback Drew Lock completed 12 of 14 passes for 102 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown to tight end Elijah Arroyo, as he got the start on Sunday. Running back Jacardia Wright added a 69-yard rushing touchdown, helping Seattle take an early 16-3 lead. Seahawks rookie safety Bud Clark left Saturday’s preseason game against the Tennessee Titans in the first quarter after suffering a lower leg injury on the Titans’ opening offensive series. Clark was carted off the field with what appeared to be an air cast applied to his leg following the play. The second-round rookie was expected to provide depth in Seattle’s secondary during his rookie season. Head coach Mike Macdonald previously told reporters about Clark’s development and workload during training camp. “Bud’s one of those rookies that we’re asking a lot of him right now, and I’m impressed with how he’s handling it,” Macdonald said. “It’s not perfect, but how he goes about his business is what we’re looking for.” With Clark facing a potentially extended absence, Seattle will look to backup safeties AJ Finley and D’Anthony Bell to step into increased depth roles. On offense, rookie first-round running back Jadarian Price has positioned himself as the clear primary back following Kenneth Walker’s free-agent departure and Zach Charbonnet’s ongoing recovery from a torn ACL suffered late last season. Seattle has decided to sit Price for the remaining preseason games to protect his health. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton made a strong push for the backup job behind Dak Prescott during Saturday’s preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. Milton started the contest, completing 9 of 13 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown before giving way to Sam Howell. “I was able to go out there and showcase what I got, what we’ve been working hard towards this whole camp, so it was great,” Milton said. Milton, who joined Dallas in 2025, stated he feels a “major difference” in his comfort level with the offense compared to a year ago as he finds himself in a competition with Sam Howell for the Cowboys backup position. “That’s out of my control,” Milton said about the final decision. “The only thing I’m able to do is go out there and call the play, and just make sure the offense is moving. Whatever they decide, they decide.” The Cowboys will evaluate both quarterbacks through the remainder of training camp before determining their Week 1 depth chart.

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