This article is part of our Training Camp Notes series.
Here are some of the top fantasy football headlines from Thursday.
-The injury apparently looked worse initially, but the groin strain suffered by David Montgomery on Wednesday was announced as a 2-to-4 week injury Thursday. That's still a significant hit to Montgomery's value, and a major problem for an already thin Chicago offense, but at least it's far from the worst-case scenario that most had in mind when Montgomery hit the deck Wednesday. If Montgomery returns in precisely two weeks he will have the chance to log three practices before Chicago's Week 1 game, and if he can do that then he should be ready to play at least in a part-time role that week. The four-week version of the prognosis would keep him out until Sept. 23, which would still leave him in good position to suit up against Atlanta in Week 3. Tarik Cohen is of course the next running back in line, but he may as well be thought of as a different position. The Bears might need to add a veteran runner if Montgomery's Week 1 prospects fade, lest they otherwise lean on a pair of former undrafted Oregon State players in Ryan Nall and Artavis Pierce.
-Joe Mixon has been missing practice time and it's evidently due to migraines, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. There was some speculation that Mixon might be holding out, but that seems far fetched. People do strange things of course, but for Mixon to show up for initial practices and only after practicing hold out without saying so just doesn't make any actual strategic sense. With all that said, it's not clear what the migraines mean for Mixon. Giovani Bernard is the presumed backup in the meantime, and it appears Samaje Perine and Trayveon Williams are in a race for the third spot.
-Another day, another fresh round of hype for rookie third-round pick Zack Moss, whose brand benefited Thursday from reports that incumbent starter and 2019 third-round pick Devin Singletary had struggled with ball security to this point in Buffalo's training camp. The Athletic reported that Singletary suffered his second lost fumble of camp Thursday, which alarmed beat writers Matthew Fairburn and Joe Buscaglia given that the Bills have not had "a whole lot of team drills" in their seven padded practices.
Both players were highly productive workhorses in college, so it will probably be a situation where the two take turns developing the hot hand from week to week, but Moss might be both the better pass catcher and the better short-yardage player between the two, even if Singletary is competent or better in both areas himself. With a strong Buffalo defense keeping the run game viable most weeks, the Bills will have the opportunity to give both Singletary and Moss lots of work if they want to play it that way. It would also be a means of limiting the hit exposure of Josh Allen, though Allen will be a limiting factor to the running backs if he keeps running as much as he has through the quarterback's first two seasons.
-After participating in individual drills Wednesday, D'Andre Swift (leg) sat out Thursday's practice. This probably shouldn't be viewed as a setback – Matt Patricia said Wednesday that Swift and Bo Scarbrough (undisclosed) would be "in and out" of practice as part of a reacclimation plan, Lions broadcaster Tori Petry reports.
-The Eagles suffered a major offensive line injury when left tackle Andre Dillard suffered a torn biceps. That injury will force Jason Peters from right guard, where he was expected to replace the previously injured great guard Brandon Brooks, over to left tackle. Peters was moved from left tackle to guard specifically over concerns about his ability to hold up at left tackle at 38 years old. Peters was a longtime great at that spot, but 38 is pushing it. Dillard's absence really could limit the number of downfield shots Carson Wentz can take in 2020, especially against teams with lively pass rushes. Both Washington and Dallas threaten to qualify as such, so it's not ideal.
-The Dillard injury, while unfortunate, shouldn't change much for Jalen Reagor, who's reportedly seeing reps in just about every conceivable wide receiver capacity. The Dillard injury would be more concerning for Reagor if Reagor were mostly being deployed as a deep-route specialist, but by all accounts the Eagles are preparing to get him the ball all over the field, including the short and intermediate routes. Reagor's rare explosiveness seemingly drew infatuation from the Eagles coaches as soon as he arrived to camp, and by now he seems the near-favorite to serve as the team's WR1, and out of no disrespect to DeSean Jackson. Reagor just seems like the real deal. Second-year second-round pick J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is also earning plenty of training camp praise, but he's more so competing for peripheral functions.
-Jordan Akins has earned praise from Texans coaches for his work in training camp, making the third-year tight end a candidate for improved production after posting 36 receptions for 418 yards and two touchdowns on 55 targets in 672 snaps last year. Akins already turned 28 in April due to spending previous years of his career as a MLB baseball prospect – a centerfielder, believe it or not – but it's possible that he's still developing even at that old age. Darren Fells appears to remain the lead tight end all the same, with fringe prospects Jordan Thomas and Kahale Warring hanging out in the background otherwise.
-Tyler Bass won the Buffalo kicker competition, resulting the Bills cutting Stephen Hauschka on Thursday. Although Bass only went 2-of-4 on field goals attempted from 50 yards or more during his three years as Georgia State's starting kicker, his leg strength is evidently a selling point. The Bills defense is strong and the offense has its share of unique threats, too, so Bass could be a useful fantasy kicker on a team that should be among the best in terms of field positioning.
