Pro Football Network continues its NFL training camp tour today with Adam Beasley visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Kaye watching the New York Giants, and Aaron Wilson checking out the Houston Texans. We’re also keeping tabs on injury news from around the rest of the league, including the latest on newly-extended Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
Kyler Murray and Pete Carroll test positive for COVID
Is the return of COVID upon us? Both Murray and Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll tested positive for COVID today, meaning they’ll each be away from training camp for at least five days — unless they test negative earlier.
The reserve/COVID list is no more, so Murray doesn’t need to be involved in a transaction to move him off the active roster. While the NFL training camps are currently using any sort of COVID protocols, the league told teams in June that anyone who tests positive must isolate for at least five days, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.
James Washington goes down in practice
Cowboys wideout James Washington suffered a foot injury on Monday after getting tangled while going up for a pass. Dallas fears that Washington suffered a Jones fracture, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. That’s the same injury that took Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry down in 2021, and it comes with a recovery timeline of 6-10 weeks.
The Cowboys can ill-afford to lose any wide receiver depth. They traded Amari Cooper to the Browns and lost free agent Cedrick Wilson Jr. to the Dolphins earlier this year, while Michael Gallup is unlikely to be ready for Week 1. Rookie third-rounder Jalen Tolbert could open the season as a starter, and the Cowboys could use more bodies behind Noah Brown and Simi Fehoko.
Van Jefferson to see knee specialist
The Cowboys aren’t the only NFC contender dealing with wide receiver injuries. Rams WR Van Jefferson was due to see a knee specialist on Monday, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. If Jefferson is forced to undergo surgery, even a minor operation could threaten his Week 1 availability.
Los Angeles has plenty of wide receiver star power in Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson, but they’d be forced to turn to Ben Skowronek — who has seemingly leaped 2021 second-round pick Tutu Atwell on the Rams’ depth chart — as their WR3 if Jefferson is sidelined. The Rams could turn to a free agent such as Odell Beckham Jr., but he’s not expected to be ready to play until at least November.
49ers lose DT Maurice Hurst
The 49ers announced that they placed defensive tackle Maurice Hurst on injured reserve with a biceps injury, ending his season before it began. Hurst, 27, entered the 2021 campaign on IR with an ankle sprain — he later returned for 41 snaps before a calf injury sidelined him for the rest of the year. San Francisco added veteran DT Akeem Spence to replace Hurst.
Giants rookie safety Dane Belton breaks collarbone
Fourth-round rookie safety Dane Belton suffered a broken collarbone at Giants camp, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN. Belton, an Iowa product who posted five interceptions in 2021, was competing to become New York’s third safety behind Xavier McKinney and Julian Love. Instead, Andrew Adams, whom the Giants just signed last week, could step into that role.
PUP activations
The following players were activated off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list today: Broncos WR KJ Hamler, Browns OT Jack Conklin, Panthers CB Jaycee Horn, and Patriots DB Jabrill Peppers.