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It’s August 14th, yet we’ve already hit a truckload of injury news and another holdout? Ja’Marr Chase skipped practice yesterday amid contract extension discussions. Not ideal for Cincy.

Today:

• 🚑 J.J. McCarthy among injured
• 🎙 Kliff Kingsbury on Jayden Daniels
• 🥇 Top 25 young players
• 👥 Cincinnati’s RB1 …

NFL Offseason Injury Update: J.J. McCarthy latest

“Routine soreness” was the term Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell initially used when describing J.J. McCarthy’s knee pain. Unfortunately, it was much worse for this year’s No. 10 pick; McCarthy will undergo surgery this week on a torn meniscus in his right knee. Ouch. Or as McCarthy put it, amor fati. Embrace fate!

Timing: Until surgery, his return timetable is uncertain. If it’s a full meniscus repair, McCarthy could miss the season. I hope it’s the alternative (a trim), which is what Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey had done in late July last year before returning to the practice field mid-October and playing in Week 8.

Going forward: Sam Darnold is further entrenched as the starter, a proposition included in beat reporter Alec Lewis’ 53-man roster projections (completed prior to McCarthy’s injury).

How’s Darnold looking? The six-year veteran “comfortably called the offense and spread the ball around” in his first preseason action and “is ahead of schedule in terms of where Minnesota believed he’d be in his first season with O’Connell,” noted Alec, who added that “having [Darnold] start the season remains a sensible choice.” One positive, Vikings fans!

Other notable injury news, with plenty of running backs to watch:

• QB Justin Herbert is still in a walking boot with plantar fasciitis. While the injury will likely linger, Herbert’s expected to play Week 1.

• QB Jake Browing, the Bengals No. 2, suffered a rib injury and “will miss some time,” according to HC Zac Taylor.
• RB Alvin Kamara missed yesterday’s practice with back tightness, but Saints HC Dennis Allen called the injury “not a big deal.”
• RB Jahmyr Gibbs injured his hamstring on Monday. A similar injury cost him two games last season, but Gibbs should be ready for Week 1.
• RB Nick Chubb is expected to start the season on Cleveland’s PUP list, which would sideline him until at least Week 5.
• RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., the Giants’ RB2, has a low ankle sprain. He’s week-to-week. There’s a reason they’re excited for Tracy in New York.
• WR Puka Nacua is week-to-week with a knee injury but remains on track to play in Week 1. His absence gives impressive rookie Jordan Whittington more reps with the first-team offense.
• WR Malik Nabers expects to be ready for Week 1, despite missing consecutive Giants practices with an ankle injury. Testing confirmed no serious damage.
• WR DeAndre Hopkins is nearly two weeks into his four- to six-week absence after suffering a knee sprain. Titans beat reporter Joe Rexrode called Hopkins “a possibility” for Week 1 in Chicago.
• WR Marquise Brown was hospitalized with a left shoulder injury. While he avoided surgery, there’s a chance he misses the Chiefs’ Sept. 5th matchup against the Ravens.
• WR Josh Downs’ high ankle sprain means his Week 1 availability for Indianapolis is in jeopardy.
• TE Sam LaPorta has missed multiple practices with a lingering hamstring injury, although the Lions’ staff is conservative with injuries.
• TE T.J. Hockenson is ahead of schedule, per Alec Lewis, and might return shortly after Week 1. Massive value in fantasy drafts.
• DT Kalia Davis, one of the 49ers’ preseason standouts, will miss roughly half the season after suffering a knee injury on Saturday.

Over to Dianna, who spoke with Kliff Kingsbury about Jayden Daniels:

What Dianna’s Hearing: Kingsbury’s back, this time with Jayden Daniels

After a season at USC — and, sure, a little bit of time in Thailand — Kliff Kingsbury is back in the NFL as the Commanders’ new offensive coordinator. He’s keeping a pretty low profile, but I was fortunate to get some time with him during last week’s (very rainy!) joint-practice with the Jets for the latest episode of the Scoop City Podcast.

Ultimately, No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels didn’t see a lot of action in Washington’s preseason opener, but Kingsbury shed some light on how his rookie QB might be ahead of the curve.

• When asked to describe the 23-year-old’s greatest strength: “I would say his ability to progress through reads. A lot of times young guys will get hung up on their first read and either throw it or run. He’s a guy who can get to a second, a third read. And (using) the running backs — you have to be able to find your check downs. He’s really excelling at that at an early age.”

• Just like Kingsbury, Daniels is well-traveled, transferring to LSU and winning the Heisman after up-and-down seasons at Arizona State. Kingsbury thinks that journey, especially the season under Brian Kelly — “he coaches quarterbacks as hard as anybody ever,” Kingsbury said — has put Daniels in a great spot as far as his NFL readiness.

• And one more thing: “I mean, he talks as much trash as anybody on the field,” Kingsbury said. “Off the field, you’d never guess it. He gets going with everybody, Bobby Wagner, the vets … But he shows up ready to work, and he attacks it with a great energy everyday.”

You can listen here. Back to you, Jacob.

NFL’s best 25 and under: Where C.J. Stroud lands

Where does training camp absentee Ja’Marr Chase rank among the the league’s young players? I’d place him exactly where 12 anonymous league members placed him in the list we’re about to discuss: third, behind Justin Jefferson and Micah Parsons.

When reading the list of the top 25 players who are 25 and under, assembled by The Athletic’s Mike Jones, two players caught my eye, for very different reasons:

• No. 8 C.J. Stroud: Eighth!? He was the best rookie quarterback since 2011 Cam Newton, posting the lowest interception percentage since Aaron Rodgers’ 2021 MVP season. The Texans went from 3-13-1 to 10-7 with a playoff win. Stroud is still just 22, playing the most valuable position in all of sports. If all 25 players on this list are re-drafted, Stroud goes first. Throw in everybody over 25 as well, and he’d still go very early.

• No. 10 Amon-Ra St. Brown: The Lions WR has had my support since I saw him recount all 16 receivers drafted before him, a list he memorized by heart. If we’re only considering stats, this ranking is fine. Still, I’d prefer the three players behind him — Jordan Love (11), Brock Purdy (12) and Sauce Gardner (13).

One thing is evident: Detroit’s future is in great shape. Five Lions made the list. See the full list here.

Ask the Beat: Cincinnati’s RB1 is …

Every Wednesday, we’ll publish a Q&A with a beat writer or two to answer your pressing questions. Submit questions for next week here. Today, a reader asks:

I keep seeing Cincy’s Chase Brown’s name as a fantasy sleeper. He’s currently competing with Zack Moss, but there’s a chance they add another back, too. Who do you expect to be the Week 1 starter in Cincy?

Around the NFL

Browns rookie DT Mike Hall Jr. was arrested following an alleged domestic dispute.

In Detroit, injuries are piling up. In addition to Gibbs, there are three defensive backs — first-round pick Terrion Arnold (upper body), second-round pick Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (ankle) and seventh-year veteran Emmanuel Moseley (torn pec) — who have missed or left practice.

The Lions also added former Georgia star QB Jake Fromm, a depth signing, since No. 2 QB Hendon Hooker is unlikely to play Saturday vs. the Chiefs due to injury.

The 49ers signed former Chargers DT Nick Williams, a 12-year veteran, to provided needed depth on their line.

Washington signed WR Martavis Bryant, the 32-year-old former Steeler who last played pro football in the XFL in 2023.

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