NFL Training Camp Report, July 31: Deebo Samuel Rejoins the 49ers + Fantasy Football Training Camp News for Every Team

This report refreshes every morning throughout training camp with the previous day's biggest fantasy football news for all 32 NFL teams, collected overnight from the nearly 300 beat writers and insiders we track across every camp in the league. Bookmark this page — the URL never changes, and a new edition is waiting here before your first coffee every day of camp.

Editions: Latest (September 5) · September 4 · September 3 · September 2 · September 1 · August 31 · Week of Aug 24: · August 28 · August 27 · August 26 · August 25 · August 24 · Week of Aug 17: · August 23 · August 22 · August 21 · August 20 · August 19 · August 18 · August 17 · Week of Aug 10: · August 16 · August 15 · August 14 · August 13 · August 12 · August 11 · August 10 · Week of Aug 3: · August 9 · August 8 · August 7 · August 6 · August 5 · August 4 · August 3 · Week of Jul 27: · August 2 · August 1 · July 31

Yesterday's Five Biggest Stories

1. Deebo Samuel Signs Back With the 49ers

Free agent WR Deebo Samuel is returning to San Francisco on a one-year deal worth up to $7 million, reuniting with the franchise where he became a star (@RapSheet). The timing is the tell: Rapoport separately noted that Ricky Pearsall's status is murky with a PCL injury dating back to last season, and Deebo arrives as reinforcement (@RapSheet). David Lombardi framed the fit as a specialty weapon who can backfill a possibly Pearsall-less offense and even factor in as a return man (@LombardiHimself).

Fantasy angle: Deebo lands in a Kyle Shanahan offense that knows exactly how to manufacture him touches, and the discount in best ball lobbies is worth grabbing before the price corrects — watch his number move in our NFL DFS Data Hub once slates go live. Every dollar of this news is also a red flag on Pearsall's draft cost until San Francisco clarifies that knee.

2. Chris Olave Gets Paid: Four Years, Up to $132 Million

The Saints signed WR Chris Olave to a four-year extension worth up to $132 million, with $90 million locked in (@AdamSchefter). Nick Underhill called it a win-win at $33 million per year, locking in a key piece around QB Tyler Shough (@nick_underhill), and noted the deal ends a standoff, with Olave eager to rejoin team drills (@nick_underhill).

Fantasy angle: Contract security plus a 100-catch baseline makes Olave one of the safest target-volume bets in the WR2 range on our early boards — the kind of role certainty our Stokastic Sims reward all season, and getting him back into full team work with Shough this early in camp only helps the chemistry case.

3. Panthers Rookie WR Chris Brazzell Out for the Season

Carolina rookie WR Chris Brazzell will undergo season-ending surgery on the torn LCL he suffered in Wednesday's practice, after a second opinion confirmed surgery as the best path (@AdamSchefter). Field Yates noted the brutal big picture: not even a week into camp, the Panthers have lost two exciting young players for the year, Brazzell and edge Nic Scourton (@FieldYates).

Fantasy angle: Brazzell goes to the do-not-draft list, and the target vacuum matters. Mike Kaye flagged JT Sanders as a beneficiary who could free up the slot, especially in red-zone 11 personnel (@mike_e_kaye).

4. Shedeur Sanders Takes Browns First-Team Reps With Deion Watching

Shedeur Sanders ran with Cleveland's first team on Day 2, and the cameras caught him talking things over with his father Deion Sanders after practice (@DanielOyefusi). Mary Kay Cabot confirmed the first-team plan before practice, with Deion chatting up OC Todd Monken inside the fieldhouse (@MaryKayCabot), and she openly posed the question of why Cleveland wouldn't just start the younger QB if both are NFL-caliber starters (@MaryKayCabot).

Fantasy angle: Nothing in the Browns' pass-catching room can be priced correctly until this QB picture settles. Shedeur's live reps to Denzel Boston and Harold Fannin Jr. are the early clues worth tracking for late-round stacks.

5. Ja'Kobi Lane Delivers the Catch of Camp in Baltimore

Rookie WR Ja'Kobi Lane made the play of practice at Ravens camp, elevating over Malaki Starks and Marlon Humphrey to haul in a Lamar Jackson pass (@jeffzrebiec). Jamison Hensley pegged it as a leaping 30-yard grab over the middle and a strong start to camp for the third-round pick (@jamisonhensley).

Fantasy angle: A Day 3 rookie winning contested reps against Baltimore's starting secondary is exactly the kind of July signal that turns into a September waiver dash — and the kind that moves projections before price catches up. Lane belongs on watchlists in dynasty and deep redraft leagues before the preseason games do the marketing for everyone else.

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Team-by-Team Camp Notes

Arizona Cardinals

Quiet day in Cardinals camp — nothing that moves the fantasy needle.

Atlanta Falcons

• QB Tua Tagovailoa returned to practice but threw only a few times in individual drills; Michael Penix Jr. didn't throw at all on a scheduled rest day (@marcraimondi).

Baltimore Ravens

• Rookie WR Ja'Kobi Lane's leaping 30-yard grab over Malaki Starks and Marlon Humphrey was the play of practice, and Lamar Jackson went back to him again later (@jeffzrebiec). Full story above.

Buffalo Bills

• Buffalo signed veteran WR Dante Pettis after trying out several receivers; Jalen Virgil was waived/NFI (@AdamSchefter).
• Jacob Infante likes DJ Moore's fresh start in Buffalo and sees a rebound into WR1 territory as a genuine possibility (@jacobinfante24).

Carolina Panthers

• Rookie WR Chris Brazzell is done for the year following LCL surgery (@josephperson).
• JT Sanders' summer just got bigger; his hybrid body type could free up slot work, particularly red-zone 11 personnel (@mike_e_kaye).

Chicago Bears

• Adam Hoge charted one of Caleb Williams' better practices: well over 70%, only four incompletions all day across 7-on-7 and team, with Luther Burden and Rome Odunze both looking great (@AdamHoge).
• Kalif Raymond owned the highlight reel, including a deep touchdown from Williams against Tyrique Stevenson (@adamjahns).
• Rome Odunze clarified his "new normal" comment, saying his foot feels great and he doesn't think about it anymore (@sean_hammond).
• TE Sam Roush got a bunch of first-team reps, and Cam Lewis and Jaylon Jones split nickel work with the ones (@sean_hammond).

Cincinnati Bengals

• Edge Shemar Stewart's scary cart-off turned out to be just a hyperextended knee, with no ligament damage believed (@AdamSchefter). Zac Taylor says he'll miss several weeks but avoided serious injury (@Ben_Baby).
• Joe Burrow found Ja'Marr Chase on a perfect sideline pattern in 11s (@Trags).

Cleveland Browns

• Shedeur Sanders was the No. 1 QB on Day 2, with Spencer Fano at No. 1 left tackle; Monken is keeping rookie WRs with the second group to even out reps early (@AkronJackson).
• Live-rep highlights: Shedeur to Denzel Boston in 11-on-11 (@AshleyBastock42) and a connection with Harold Fannin Jr. (@AshleyBastock42).

Dallas Cowboys

• Unofficial 11-on-11 QB lines: Dak Prescott 14-of-17, Sam Howell 5-of-9, Joe Milton 3-of-7, with the RB room drawing praise (@calvinwatkins).
• Jerry Jones said George Pickens could be a Cowboy for the rest of his career, and Pickens loved hearing it (@jonmachota). Dak-to-Pickens was a recurring highlight (@jonmachota).
• Defensive nugget: coaches faked a headset outage to test DeMarvion Overshown's command of the green dot, and he immediately made the right call (@VoiceOfTheStar).

Denver Broncos

Quiet day in Broncos camp — nothing that moves the fantasy needle.

Detroit Lions

• The Lions signed veteran TE Anthony Firkser (@AdamSchefter).

Green Bay Packers

• The Packers are signing UFL champion WR Kaden Prather, a former Bills seventh-rounder, to a one-year deal (@RapSheet).

Houston Texans

• RB David Montgomery caught a touchdown out of the backfield from C.J. Stroud (@AaronWilson_NFL).
• Houston tried out veteran RBs Hassan Haskins and Alexander Mattison (@AdamSchefter).

Indianapolis Colts

• WR Josh Downs, entering a contract year, is working through individual drills (@RomeovilleKid).
• Alec Pierce (ankle surgery) played catch with WRs coach Reggie Wayne on the sideline and is no longer limping, a sign of progress (@RomeovilleKid).
• The Colts worked out veteran WR Chase Claypool (@MikeGarafolo).

Jacksonville Jaguars

Quiet day in Jaguars camp — nothing that moves the fantasy needle.

Kansas City Chiefs

• Nate Taylor's Day 2 notes: Justin Fields bounced back, the offense worked under center a lot, and Patrick Mahomes scrambled with no issues rolling right; Nohl Williams has been the best corner so far (@ByNateTaylor).

Las Vegas Raiders

Quiet day in Raiders camp — nothing that moves the fantasy needle.

Los Angeles Chargers

Quiet day in Chargers camp — nothing that moves the fantasy needle.

Los Angeles Rams

Quiet day in Rams camp — nothing that moves the fantasy needle.

Miami Dolphins

Quiet day in Dolphins camp — nothing that moves the fantasy needle.

Minnesota Vikings

• Will Ragatz saw a rough Day 2 from Kyler Murray, who took most of the first-team reps: misses and botched snap exchanges, against a second straight solid day from J.J. McCarthy with a high completion rate at lower depth of target (@WillRagatz).
• Alec Lewis adds nuance: Murray took a hefty share of starter snaps and hit Dontae Fleming deep, while McCarthy worked more with the twos (@alec_lewis).
• Ben Goessling logged two Murray interceptions and botched snaps from both centers, but also a long back-shoulder completion to Tai Felton (@BenGoessling).

New England Patriots

• Drake Maye looked more in sync with A.J. Brown in the low red zone as practice closed with all three QBs working that area (@ezlazar).
• WR Kyle Williams had a red-zone day, capped by a one-handed touchdown in the corner of the end zone (@MikeReiss).
• CB Christian Gonzalez allowed one catch on four targets with three pass breakups in 1-on-1s, though Brown beat him once (@DougKyed).

New Orleans Saints

• Chris Olave's extension is done: four years, up to $132 million (@AdamSchefter). Underhill says Olave was itching to get back into team drills and wanted the deal wrapped so he could rejoin them (@nick_underhill).
• Tyler Shough hit Jordyn Tyson at the front pylon for Tyson's first touchdown catch of camp, a red-zone rep against pressure that nearly the whole roster celebrated (@RossJacksonNOLA).

New York Giants

• Malik Nabers looked as at ease as he's ever been post-practice, and reporters noted his growth into a leadership role (@art_stapleton). He says he's been running routes for weeks and that the reported date of his second surgery was incorrect (@JordanRaanan).
• Abdul Carter was the star of Day 2: constant backfield pressure, roughly 2.5 sacks worth of wins, and a batted Dart pass (@art_stapleton).

New York Jets

• The QB split: Geno Smith went 3-of-4 in 11-on-11 but took four sacks, while Cade Klubnik went 6-of-7 (@ZackBlatt). Smith connected twice with AD Mitchell, and TE Kenyon Sadiq had an active, versatile day (@RichCimini).
• Edge David Bailey was the story of practice, with Kingsley Enagbare also strong (@ZackBlatt).

Philadelphia Eagles

• Jalen Hurts closed practice with a rolling 50/50 dart that Dontayvion Wicks essentially one-handed 30-plus yards downfield (@EliotShorrParks).
• DeVonta Smith stacked back-to-back catches on Quinyon Mitchell in 7-on-7 (@BrandonGowton).
• Roster math: Will Shipley probably holds RB3 (the staff likes him more than fans do), but Dameon Pierce is showing juice (@BrandonGowton).

Pittsburgh Steelers

• WR Roman Wilson has easily been the most targeted player through two days, with the Aaron Rodgers connection looking sharper than Day 1 (@FarabaughFB).
• CB Asante Samuel Jr. has been the standout of camp, piling up plays on the ball while taking first-team reps with Joey Porter Jr. on PUP (@Alex_Kozora).
• QB Drew Allar says Mike McCarthy's offense has slowed down for him and he's finally playing fast and in rhythm (@FarabaughFB).

San Francisco 49ers

• Deebo Samuel returns on a one-year deal worth up to $7 million (@RapSheet). Lombardi noted the WR room now has field-stretchers like Mike Evans, De'Zhaun Stribling and Christian Kirk around him, a far cry from the broken 2024 infrastructure (@LombardiHimself).
• Matt Maiocco tied the reunion directly to Ricky Pearsall being sidelined with a knee injury (@MaioccoNBCS).
• The 49ers also tried out veteran RBs Raheem Blackshear, Khalil Herbert and Owen Wright (@AdamSchefter).

Seattle Seahawks

Quiet day in Seahawks camp — nothing that moves the fantasy needle.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Baker Mayfield told ESPN the Bucs offered only a two-year deal, which he called probably the most disappointing part; he wanted a long-term commitment and says the sides were far apart on his ask north of $50 million per year (@JFowlerESPN).
• Mayfield addressed the team, insisted the contract situation won't be a distraction, and made it plain he expects a big year (@JFowlerESPN).

Tennessee Titans

Quiet day in Titans camp — nothing that moves the fantasy needle.

Washington Commanders

• Deebo had interest in re-signing with Washington, but the San Francisco return proved too enticing (@Schultz_Report).
• John Keim reports Washington continues to monitor Stefon Diggs and that no other free agent WR looks like a legit option (@john_keim).

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Camp Battles Tracker

The NFL camp battles below are compiled from the day's depth-chart reporting, since no formal battle designations landed in today's sheet.

Browns QB Battle: How to Read the Reps

Shedeur Sanders taking the first-team reps with Watson sidelined is the loudest depth-chart signal Cleveland has sent all camp, and it came with Deion Sanders standing on the sideline watching it happen (@DanielOyefusi). The read: reps are the currency of camp, and whoever holds the first-team share when preseason games start owns the inside track on Week 1 — our projections treat camp reps as the leading indicator until game snaps exist.

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Injury Watch

• Ricky Pearsall, WR, 49ers (knee/PCL): Status described as murky, with the PCL issue dating to last season; the Deebo signing is the clearest signal yet (@RapSheet).
• Malik Nabers, WR, Giants (recovery): No target date for his return, but he's been running routes for weeks and disputes the reported timing of his second surgery (@JordanRaanan).
• Chris Brazzell, WR, Panthers (LCL): Season-ending surgery after a second opinion (@AdamSchefter).
• Rome Odunze, WR, Bears (foot): Says the foot feels great and he no longer thinks about it, walking back his earlier phrasing (@sean_hammond).
• Alec Pierce, WR, Colts (ankle): Playing sideline catch without a limp; trending the right way (@RomeovilleKid).
• Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Bengals (knee): Hyperextension only, several weeks out, no ligament damage believed (@AdamSchefter).
• Carlton Davis III, CB, Patriots (hamstring): Sidelined, opening first-team reps in the secondary (@MikeReiss).
• Christian Darrisaw, OT (knee): Says he feels the best he has in two years and is back to his pre-injury baseline (@SeifertESPN).
• Broderick Jones, OT (neck): Said he was shocked to learn his neck injury was season-ending, having felt the best he ever had after that game (@bepryor).
• Jalen Virgil, WR, Bills: Waived/NFI as Buffalo reshuffles its receiver depth (@AdamSchefter).

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Keep Building Your 2026 Draft Board

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• Fantasy WR1 2026: What the Models Say
• NFL DFS Strategy Guide
• NFL Training Camp Betting Guide (OddsShopper)

Sourced from 294 NFL beat writers and insiders — our pipeline reads roughly 2,200 camp posts per day — refreshed every morning.