Training Camp Notes: Ryan Fitzpatrick Signs After All

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Published on July 28, 2016

The biggest news of the day was Ryan Fitzpatrick signing a one-year, $12 million deal to return to the Jets. While the team still doesn't know what it has in Geno Smith, let alone Christian Hackenberg, Fitzpatrick provides a solid floor for the offense, in particular for Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker who thrived with him under center last year. The duo should reprise their large workloads especially with last year's second round pick, Devin Smith, not expected to be ready for Week 1 as he rehabs from an ACL tear. Matt Forte and Bilal Powell should see a small uptick too as the offense is likely to be more stable.

• Seahawks coach Pete Carroll expects Jimmy Graham (patellar tendon) to be ready for the start of the year. A torn patellar tendon is one of the most severe lower-extremity injuries a player can suffer, but Graham has yet to have a setback. It remains to be seen what version of Graham we get, even if he is able to suit up out of the gate.

• Thomas Rawls (ankle) isn't likely to practice on the Seahawks first day of camp Saturday, though the team expects him to be ready for the start of the season. While it's reassuring the team expects him for the start of the year that he's still not practicing due to an ankle injury suffered last December is concerning.

• Josh Doctson's foot/Achilles injury is still bothering him enough to keep him on the PUP list for the start of training camp. Coach Jay Gruden has already indicated Doctson will begin as the team's fourth receiver, so it behooves Doctson to get as many reps as possible during training camp if he has any chance of moving up the depth chart as a rookie. For now, that's on hold.

• Kenneth Dixon suffered a Grade 1 sprain of his MCL, and while it isn't expected to sideline him for long, there's a lot of competition for carries between him, Justin Forsett, Javoris Allen and Terrance West.

• Jameis Winston looked sharp throwing on the move in practice, and the Buccaneers might be adding that dimension to his game. While Winston rushed for a whopping six TDs last year, he averaged only 3.9 yards per carry. Winston also shed some weight this offseason and appears to be a dedicated pro entering Year 2.

• Lions coach Jim Caldwell was evasive when asked about the condition of Ameer Abdullah's surgically repaired shoulder. Assuming Abdullah's healthy, he'll carve out a role as a pass catcher and early down rusher, but Theo Riddick is likely to see third-down work, and Stevan Ridley (or Zach Zenner) could vulture goal-line looks.

• Victor Cruz (calf) has avoided the PUP list and will take the practice field Friday. He'll still have to pass a conditioning test, but this is good news for the Giants passing game. Even if Cruz resembles his former self (far from a sure thing), Sterling Shepard should be on the field quite a bit as coach Ben McAdoo likes to run three-receiver sets.

• Darren McFadden (elbow) is on track to be ready for Week 1 after receiving good news from a recent bone scan. With Ezekiel Elliott accused of domestic violence, the Dallas backups (McFadden and Alfred Morris) make interesting late-round gambles running behind their stout offensive line.

• Jared Cook (foot) has no precise timetable for a return to practice, but the second week of the preseason is a rough estimate for him. Being new to the team and playing with Aaron Rodgers for the first time, Cook is likely to need a fair number of reps to beat out incumbent Richard Rodgers for the starting job.

• Julio Jones apparently "tweaked something" at practice, but he could have kept playing and was merely held out as a precaution. One of the top players on virtually every draft board, Jones has missed 15 games in his five-year career.