The Facts: Brown missed practice again, and it was because of his helmet, again. Just 24 hours after participating in the Raiders' walkthrough, the wide receiver did not attend Oakland's workout. GM Mike Mayock delivered a stern message afterward -- which the team issued itself on Twitter -- regarding Brown's absence. "You all know that A.B. is not here today," Mayock said. "So, here's the bottom line. He's upset about the helmet issue. We have supported that, we appreciate that. OK? But at this point we've pretty much exhausted all avenues of relief. So from our perspective, it's time for him to be all-in or all-out. OK?" Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: Mayock continued: "So we're hoping he's back soon. We got 89 guys busting their tails. We are really excited about where this franchise is going, and we hope A.B.'s going to be a big part of it, starting Week 1 against Denver. End of story No questions. OK? Just wanted you guys to know where we were. ..." As NFL.com recounted, it's another about-face in a saga that's been filled with them. Brown was away from the team for the majority of camp because of his desire to use his old helmet model that is no longer legal in the NFL. The All-Pro wideout has also been hampered by frostbitten feet after not wearing proper footwear while using a cryogenic chamber. A day after his grievance to use the old helmet was denied, Brown returned to Napa last Tuesday. He accompanied his new team to Arizona for its preseason game against the Cardinals. He was still with them as of Saturday. Sunday was a different story, this time with his GM seemingly issuing an ultimatum to the player he traded for just a few months back and subsequently signed to a $50 million deal: Be here or be gone. Stay tuned.

The Facts: Metcalf needs knee surgery, per HC Pete Carroll. Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Metcalf’s injury happened a few days ago. Carroll said doctors have a clear look on the MRI. Think it’ll be a really quick recovery. No details on type of surgery. Asked if Metcalf has shot for Week 1, Carroll just repeated they’re very optimistic.

The Facts: Luck worked out before Saturday’s preseason game against the Browns. The Colts quarterback didn’t play, but he obviously appears closer to playing. How close? HC Frank Reich said after the game they will evaluate Luck in the “next couple of days.” Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: Rich said earlier in the week he wants to make a decision on his starting quarterback for the season opener after the third preseason game on Aug. 24. Luck did footwork drills, including going side-to-side before attempting a pass, according to Wells. the side-to-side movement has proved the most painful for Luck. ESPN.com Wells reports that Luck has done workouts in private as he works his back way from calf and ankle injuries.

The Facts: The NFL is reinstating Gordon, a league source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter. Reported by ESPN.com

Diehards Line: Gordon was suspended Dec. 20 for violating the terms of his reinstatement under the league's substance abuse policy, missing the Patriots' final two regular-season games and all three playoff games. But now, he’s back. Gordon caught 40 passes for 720 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games for the Patriots last season, and they certainly can use the deep threat element to their offense.

The Facts: According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Chargers and Gordon have not made progress towards a new deal, per sources. Reported by ESPN.com

Diehards Line: Gordon still wants to return in time for the regular season, but he is prepared to sit out if no new deal is reached. ... In other words, nothing new.

The Facts: According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, there is a "guarded optimism" about Luck being ready for the Colts regular season opener. Reported by ESPN.com

Diehards Line: Guarded, for obvious reason, but maybe the optimism is a surprise. Again, GM Chris Ballard told reporters on Wednesday the team hopes to know Luck's Week 1 status after their third exhibition game, which is next week.

The Facts: Brown isn't far from a return. Despite a frostbitten foot and helmet issues, Brown is "very close to practicing," per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: The Raiders will make a decision on Saturday to determine if he will practice. Brown rejoined the team on Tuesday after dealing with the foot injury and grievance with the NFL over his unapproved helmet. The former Steeler was seen on the field in uniform (helmet and all!) prior to the Raiders' preseason game on Thursday night vs. the Cardinals.

The Facts: If Elliott returns to the Cowboys before the start of the season, owner Jerry Jones expects the running back to be ready to go. If Elliott doesn’t return by the start of the season, Jones is OK with what the Cowboys have at the position behind the star running back. When asked if he was concerned the Cowboys weren’t making significant progress on a new deal for Elliott, Jones, via the team website, said, “No, not really. Not at all.” Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: The Cowboys began training camp without Elliott, and they will finish the California portion of their training camp without Elliott. They return home Sunday after playing the Rams in Hawaii on Saturday. Elliott continues training on his own in Cabo, while holding out for a new deal. “Zeke has the ability to just completely hit the ground running, if I may use that,” Jones said. “He has that, and we expect that. He says it, and I believe him, that he’s in great shape. So I don’t think that’ll be an issue when he does come back.” As Profootballtalk.com reminded readers, the Cowboys have Elliott under contract for $3.85 million in 2019 and $9.09 million in 2020 under his fifth-year option. They then could use the franchise tag on him. They repeatedly have said they have made the star running back a “solid” offer, but the Cowboys want to pay Elliott somewhere in the range of what the Jets signed Le'Veon Bell for this offseason, not what the Rams gave Todd Gurley in July 2018. Gurley’s average annual salary is $14.375 million; Bell’s is $13.125 million. Elliott reportedly wants $15 million a season.

The Facts: Players who have leverage should use it, up to and including holding out in order to get their best possible financial arrangements. But players also should be careful not to overplay their hand, and Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio contends that continues to be what Gordon is doing. He has missed all of training camp, subjecting him to daily fines of $30,000 per day -- not $40,000 due to a quirk of the the fifth-year option. But the other quirk of the fifth-year option is that, for every preseason game he misses, Gordon can be fined the full amount of a regular-season game check. Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: At a fifth-year salary of $5.605 million, that’s more than $329,000 for the Week 1 preseason game, $329,000 for the next one, and a potential total fine of $1.316 million if he misses all four of them. Meanwhile, the Chargers aren’t budging. Why should they? At the moment, it makes far more sense to move on with what they have, as quarterback Philip Rivers had said than to give Gordon a market-value contract. That appears to be a widely held view or someone would have tried to trade for Gordon by now. That’s not going to happen, because a new team would have to pay him more than his skill and his position justify, and a new team would have to give the Chargers something better than the third-round compensatory pick they stand to get in 2021 if Gordon leaves via free agency in 2020. ... Sitting out the full year won’t help Gordon like it helped Le’Veon Bell, because it won’t make Gordon a free agent. Gordon’s contract would toll into next year, and he’d be in the same position that he is now. ... Stay tuned.

The Facts: HC Frank Reich said the Colts want to be able to make a call on Luck's status for Week 1 by the end of the third preseason game. "I think with that, ideally the more time you have, the better," Reich said. "But by the end of the third preseason game you have to know something. You have to be able to make a call and move from there in whether we're full speed with Andrew after that third preseason game or if at that point we're going with Jacoby (Brissett). We'll make that decision with that when the time comes." Reported by ESPN.com

Diehards Line: Luck's left ankle, which has been giving him pain, was wrapped while taking to Brissett after today's practice. He's dealt with a calf strain since the offseason program. He also has a high-ankle injury, General Manager Chris Ballard revealed Tuesday. Brissett played for Luck in 2017 when Luck missed the year with a shoulder injury. The Colts went 4-11. Brissett has much to gain as he becomes a free agent in 2020.