As the NFL regular season approaches, this article will cover IDP-relevant news and topics from training camps and preseason games. We'll examine injuries, contract situations, camp battles, rookie buzz, and other pertinent IDP topics.
The plan is to have this article ready for you to view every Thursday until the start of the season. Thanks for tuning in; let's get to it!
IDP News: EDGE Nick Bosa, San Francisco
Nick Bosa was cleared for takeoff to start training camp, looking healthy and ready.
49ers' star pass rusher Nick Bosa was cleared from his previous knee injury, hitting the field when San Francisco kicked off training camp. Bosa suffered a torn ACL in Week 3 last season, but worked his way back to be ready when the team opened camp this past weekend. Teammate Trent Williams gave rave reviews, saying, "I see him every day; I can't tell he had an injury and came back from anything. Most people with an injury that catastrophic, you can see it with something, like with atrophy in the leg."
Bosa is a force off the edge. The 49ers' defense sorely missed his presence last season, finishing last in the league with just 20 sacks. A healthy Bosa should be back to his DL1 ways for us IDP gamers, and the recent news should alleviate some of the weariness surrounding his return from his devastating injury suffered last season.
IDP News: DT Jalen Carter, Philadelphia
Jalen Carter gets a massive four-year, $152 million extension from Philadelphia.
Carter, a 2023 first-round pick, had his fifth-year option exercised this offseason and will now be with the Eagles for the foreseeable future under his new, lucrative extension that features $106 million guaranteed. Carter's play last season was subpar with his talent and ability; however, he dealt with nagging shoulder injuries that required medical treatment. Over 11 games, Carter produced just 33 tackles (21 solos), five tackles for loss, and three sacks. Carter's talent isn't a question, as he can play all three downs with the ability to make a major impact getting pressure from the interior. Now healthier and paid, Carter is primed for a nice bounce-back 2026 campaign, and is a prime defensive tackle target in your true-position IDP leagues.
IDP News: S Grant Delpit, Cleveland
Cleveland signs safety Grant Delpit to a three-year, $48 million contract extension.
Delpit was entering the final year of his previous deal, but the Browns decided to keep him in town for a while. After posting a career-best 111 tackles (68 solos) in 2024, Delpit's tackle production dipped a bit last season, producing just 89 tackles (48 solos), but he did add four tackles for loss and a career-high three sacks. With his new deal, Delpit is locked into his starting spot. However, at the other starting safety spot, Ronnie Hickman will be looking over his shoulder at second-round rookie Emmanuel McNeil-Warren as training camp takes shape.
IDP News: DT DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis
DeForest Buckner has been medically cleared to practice from his neck injury.
In exciting news for the Colts and IDP gamers alike, DeForest Buckner has been cleared for practice before Indianapolis hits the field for training camp. Buckner suffered a herniated disc in his neck, which required surgery, in Week 9 last season. He returned in Week 16, but then reaggravated the injury, ending his season. Buckner has been a stalwart at defensive tackle throughout his career. Last season, over 10 games, Buckner compiled 47 tackles (30 solos), nine tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, and four sacks. Buckner turned 32 earlier this year, but if healthy, he has plenty of gas in the tank to continue to be a productive IDP asset, especially in true-position IDP leagues.
IDP News: EDGE Nic Scourton, Carolina
In unfortunate news, Nic Scourton suffered a torn ACL in Carolina's first day of training camp.
The worst part of training camp season kicking off is the inevitable injury grim reaper lurking not far behind. Carolina's defense took the first hit, losing second-year edge rusher Nic Scourton to a torn ACL. This sucks. Scourton was viewed as an ascending talent, coming off a solid rookie campaign last year, posting 47 tackles (20 solos), seven tackles for loss, and five sacks over 17 games (8 starts).
Scourton had looked to be the main counterpart to the newly-signed Jaelan Phillips off the edge for the Panthers defense. With Scourton gone for this season, veteran Patrick Jones II and 2025 third-round pick Princely Umanmielen will likely be leaned on to carry the load. Jones is a mediocre talent, while Umanmielen has intriguing upside as a young pass rusher with some juice. Umanmielen played just 222 defensive snaps last season, but showed plenty of pass-rushing prowess in college, posting 10.5 sacks in his final season at Ole Miss in 2024. It's also worth noting that Umanmielen's pass rush ability drew big-time praise from his teammate Phillips. Umanmielen is a nice taxi-squad or bench stash where available in IDP dynasty leagues and is worth a late-round dart throw if you're looking for a sleeper in deep-roster IDP redraft leagues.
