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Tavon Austin didn't know playbook as rookie

Tavon Austin acknowledged he struggled to learn the Rams' playbook as a rookie.

It's worth noting Austin scored a 7 on his 2013 Wonderlic test. "I didn't really know what was going on," he said. "Everything looked like Spanish and sounded like Spanish to me." Entering his second season, Austin now claims to have OC Brian Schottenheimer's system down pat. He's expected to be a sub-package weapon, playing limited snaps. Austin is a long shot for steady WR3 value.

Source: Associated Press

Wed, Jul 23, 2014 12:06:00 PM

Gruden 'concerned' about Doctson's Achilles'

Coach Jay Gruden said he's "very concerned" about Josh Doctson (Achilles').

Doctson has taken a step back after getting in limited practices all last week. He ended up not feeling right in pregame wramups before the Giants game and was inactive. Gruden said Doctson will "take it easy" again this week. Though tests have shown no further damage, Doctson is week to week. He's looking like a long shot to make any meaningful year-one contributions.

Source: ESPN.com

Sep 28 - 2:59 PM

Dez has fracture in knee, hopes to play at SF

Coach Jason Garrett said Dez Bryant has a hairline fracture in his knee, but the Cowboys are hopeful he'll be able to play Week 4 at the 49ers.

Garrett called it a "day by day, week by week" thing, so who knows what that means. If we were to simply make an educated guess, we'd say Bryant doesn't play Sunday. Hairline fractures in the fibula, which is at the base of the leg rather than the knee, often require multiple weeks of recovery. Bryant didn't practice Wednesday and will likely be a game-time decision Sunday.

Source: Matt Barrows on Twitter

Sep 28 - 2:41 PM

Report: Kenneth Dixon (knee) targeting Week 5

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports Kenneth Dixon (knee) is targeting a Week 5 return.

RapSheet riled up the masses with a tweet earlier Wednesday morning that Dixon was returning to practice Wednesday, but he didn't do much of anything besides working out by himself on a side field. Dixon is still recovering from a sprained MCL. Coach John Harbaugh expressed frustration with the running game Wednesday, so Dixon could be given a decent workload as soon as he hits the field. He's worth picking up as a bench-stash flier if you have roster room.

Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Sep 28 - 2:36 PM

Julius Thomas (elbow) misses practice Wed

Julius Thomas (elbow) is not practicing Wednesday.

It's a new injury for Thomas. He played his normal snap count last week against the Ravens, so it could just be a minor thing. For now, we'd expect him to play Sunday against the Colts in London where he'd be a TE1.

Source: ESPN.com

Sep 28 - 2:00 PM

Chip Kelly still 'real confident' in Gabbert

Coach Chip Kelly said he remains "real confident" in Blaine Gabbert as the starter.

Gabbert is completing just 55.2 percent of his passes at 5.5 yards per attempt with a 3:3 TD:INT ratio. He simply isn't getting it done, as the 49ers have been rocked in two-straight games. Kelly said Colin Kaepernick will continue to be the No. 2 until he gets his body (gains weight) back to its 2013 form.

Source: Cam Inman on Twitter

Sep 28 - 1:51 PM

Doug Martin (hammy) not practicing Wednesday

Doug Martin (hamstring) is not practicing Wednesday.

Martin is fully expected to miss another 1-2 weeks. Charles Sims will continue to carry the bulk of the load and be backed up by Jacquizz Rodgers.

Source: ESPN.com

Sep 28 - 1:47 PM

Garoppolo, Brissett both practice Wednesday

Jimmy Garoppolo (shoulder) and Jacoby Brissett (thumb) both practiced on Wednesday.

Garoppolo reportedly is "still in pain and doesn't yet have full mobility" in his throwing shoulder, but he didn't look any worse for the wear while throwing at Wednesday's practice. He and Brissett split the first-team reps. Don't expect gamesman coach Bill Belichick to name a starter until the end of the week.

Source: Ryan Hannable on Twitter

Sep 28 - 1:26 PM

DeSean Jackson (ankle) not practicing on Wed

DeSean Jackson (ankle) is not practicing on Wednesday.

Jackson went into Week 3 with an ankle ailment, but he played through it and ran right by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for a 44-yard touchdown. He appeared to re-tweak the ankle but quickly returned. At this point, we'd expect Jackson to play Sunday against the Browns. Check back Thursday.

Source: John Keim on Twitter

Sep 28 - 1:22 PM

Ravens considering changes at running back

Coach John Harbaugh expressed disappointment in the Ravens' running game and said he's looking at potential changes in the backfield.

"More than changes," Harbaugh said. "It's about seeking to improve." Justin Forsett has been dreadful with just 98 scoreless yards on 31 attempts (3.2 YPC) as the "starter." Terrance West hasn't been much better with 119 scoreless yards on 33 carries (3.6 YPC), but he recorded the Ravens' longest run of the young season last week, a 15-yarder to open the third quarter. Rookie Kenneth Dixon (knee) is nearing a return and will likely be given a shot to handle a chunk of the load.

Source: ESPN.com

Sep 28 - 12:49 PM

Brees' 'trust factor' in Fleener on the rise

Drew Brees said his "trust factor and confidence level" in Coby Fleener "just continues to go up."

"We’re still growing, big time," Brees said. "But I think there were some things that happened out here [Monday night] where it’s the way that I envisioned. The way that we’ve been talking about, the way I've been communicating to him and we’ve been working on it during practice. So when those things begin to happen, the trust factor and the confidence level just continues to go up." Fleener exploded for a 7-109-1 line on 11 targets in the Week 3 loss to the Falcons and will again be a mid-range TE1 in a dream matchup with the Chargers this Sunday.

Source: ESPN.com

Sep 28 - 12:29 PM

Jonathan Stewart (hammy) DNP on Wednesday

Jonathan Stewart (hamstring) is not practicing Wednesday.

As expected. Stewart is fully expected to miss multiple games with his strained hammy. Cameron Artis-Payne, Fozzy Whittaker, and Mike Tolbert will again carry the running-back load Week 4 against the Falcons.

Source: Joe Person on Twitter

Sep 28 - 12:25 PM