8.22.22: Brady, Turpin, Likely, Pickett, RB, WR, Bills

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Brady

Tom Brady returns to the Bucs; came close to playing for the Raiders in 2020

Details:?According to Jenna Laine (ESPN), Brady has returned to Tampa and is?expected ?to practice today. The 45-year-old left the team on Aug 11. to reportedly?vacation ?with his family at an exclusive resort in the Bahamas.

OL Issues:?Brady will return to a battered offensive line. The unit is currently without three starters — Pro Bowl C Ryan Jensen (knee), LG Aaron Stinnie (torn ACL/MCL), and Pro Bowl RT Tristan Wirfs (oblique).

Raiders:?Over the weekend UFC president Dana White said that Joe Gruden?blew up ?a deal that would’ve sent Brady and Rob Gronkowski to the Raiders in 2020.

• White claims Gruden scrapped the deal at the last minute — even though Brady had already begun searching for houses in the Las Vegas area.
• Gronkowski immediately confirmed the story.

:?White’s insight seemingly confirms that Derek Carr is the quarterback Brady?called ?a “mother****” last year.

Image: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire

Turpin

Cowboys WR KaVontae Turpin wins a roster spot with heroic performance vs. the Chargers

Details:?Turpin, who played in the USFL earlier this year, had two return touchdowns vs. the Chargers (watch ).

• The first was a 98-yard kick return and the second was an 86-yard punt return.

Lock:?Multiple Cowboys beat reporters believe Turpin is now a?lock ?to make the roster. HC Mike McCarthy even said: “I think there is a great chance he will return kicks (in the opener) against Tampa Bay.”

Profile:?Turpin (5-7, 158) was dismissed from TCU in 2018 due to assault charges. After his dismissal, he played in the Fan Controlled Football League, the Spring League, and the European Football League (in Poland).

MVP:?This past spring, he earned USFL MVP honors while starring for the New Jersey Generals.

• Turpin caught 44 passes for 540 yards and 4 touchdowns in New Jersey. He led the USFL in receiving yards, yards after the catch, return touchdowns, and yards per punt return.

Since Deion:?Long-time Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr.?tweeted ?during the game: “Cowboys haven't had a punter returner this electrifying since Deion Sanders… the moves, the cuts, the speed. It's all there.”

Image: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire

Likely

Ravens rookie TE Isaiah Likely dominated the Cardinals' secondary

Details:?Likely, a fourth round pick, caught 8-of-8 targets for 100 yards and a touchdown. Arizona had no answer for his combination of size and speed — before and after the catch.

Interesting:?Some of Likely’s?production ?came out of two-TE-sets, which could indicate that the rookie will play a significant regular season role opposite (not behind) All-Pro Mark Andrews.

• Two-TE-sets could be the Ravens’ answer to an underwhelming WR depth chart.

Huntley:?Taylor Huntley started at quarterback and was excellent — he completed 13-of-14 passes for 129 yards, 1 touchdown, and no interceptions.

Image: David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire

Pickett

Kenny Pickett put together another impressive preseason performance

Details:?Pickett completed 6-of-7 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown against the Jaguars.

• Completions included a 17-yard pass to Diontae Johnson, a 24-yard pass to Pat Freiermuth, and an 11-yard touchdown to Benny Snell.

Hot Start:?Through two preseason games, Pickett has now completed 19-of-22 passes (86%) for 171 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Competition:?Pickett appears to have passed Mason Rudolph on the depth chart, though he continues to play behind expected Week 1 starter Mitch Trubisky.

Image: @steelers on Instagram

RB

Preseason Week 2: RB depth chart observations

Dolphins:?Chase Edmonds drew the start vs. the Raiders and played ten consecutive snaps before Sony Michael entered the game. Salvon Ahmed operated as the third option.

• Edmonds, who will likely start Week 1 against the Patriots, finished the game with 24 scrimmage yards on 5 touches.

Texans:?Rookie sensation Dameon Pierce was held out vs. the Rams — a sign that he’s won the primary ball carrier role and is seen as too valuable to risk getting injured.

• The team’s other backs — Rex Burkhead (2.5 ypc), Marlon Mack (3.6 ypc), and Royce Freeman (3.3 ypc) — were all underwhelming.

Commanders:?Rookie Brian Robinson — who totaled 31 rushing yards on 8 carries — started over Antonio Gibson. At this point, Robinson should be considered the favorite to start Week 1 against the Jaguars.

Image: Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire

WR

Preseason Week 2: Rookie WR observations

Olave:?Saints rookie Chris Olave caught two of three targets for 28 yards and a touchdown against the Packers. The eleventh overall pick is set for a featured regular season role — especially with Micheal Thomas nursing a?hamstring ?injury.

Doubs:?Packers rookie Romeo Doubs caught 3 of 5 targets for 24 yards and a touchdown against the Saints. He also found the end zone last week.

Thornton:?Patriots rookie Tyquan Thornton caught one pass for 13 yards against the Panthers before exiting with a broken collarbone. The speedster is expected to?miss ?eight weeks.

• His absence could open up a roster spot for offseason standout Tre Nixon.

McCutcheon:?Rams undrafted rookie Lance McCutcheon caught 5 of 6 targets for 96 yards against the Texans. Last week, he caught 5 of 6 targets for 86 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Chargers.

Image: Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire

Bills

WR Gabriel Davis and RB James Cook star in Bills’ win over the Broncos

Davis:?During the first drive of the game, Davis caught two passes from Josh Allen for 47 yards and a touchdown.

• Joe Buscaglia (The Athletic) wrote last week that Davis could finish the 2022 season with?more ?snaps than even Stefon Diggs.

Cook:?Cook, a second-round pick, played behind Devin Singletary and ahead of Zack Moss. The rookie totaled 38 yards on just 4 carries (9.5 ypc) and caught a pass for 12 yards. He will have a role to start the season and could be the team’s primary ball carrier by the end of it.

Also Notable:?After catching 5 passes for 92 yards last week, rookie WR Khalil Shakir reeled in 3 passes for 59 yards against Denver. The fifth-rounder is pressing for a slot role.

Image: Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire

More News

• Giants ?OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux did not suffer a serious knee injury
• Aquib Talib ?steps away from Amazon
• Cardinals ?DE JJ Watt has COVID
• Seahawks ?have no return timetable for RB Ken Walker III (hernia)
• Packers ?activated LT David Bakhtiari (knee) off PUP