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Training Camp UpdateVolume 11, Issue 1 – 8/10/16

We say it all the time because it's true: Things change fast in the NFL. And they never change faster than they do in August. And nobody covers those changes and team situations more comprehensively than Footballguys.com. Our Training Camp Updates come out once a week in August and our staff covers everything you need to know about every NFL team. This is the deep stuff that gives you an edge. We're not going to rave that Cam Newton, Antonio Brown or even David Johnson is great. You already know that.

Read our weekly updates to get the inside scoop on how the Bears running backs are practicing and which player is the best bet for your draft. Or the Saints WR corps. Or which Browns receiver is shining in practice. It's the kind of information that will put you over the edge and on the way to dominating your draft.

Happy reading and let's have a great 2016 season,

Joe Bryant and David DoddsOwners, Footballguys.com

Follow our Footballguys Training Camp crew on Twitter: @FBGNews, @theaudible, @Joe_Bryant, @fbg_dodds, @sigmundbloom, @cecillammey, @JayBWood, @JeneBramel, @fbgchase, @MattWaldman, @bobhenry, @cianaf, @Andrew_Garda, @JeffHaseley, @Maurile, @AdamHarstad, @a_rudnicki, @kylewachtel, @mpwimer, @draftdaddy, @JamesBrimacombe, @Hindery, @RyanHester13, @Bischoff_Scott, @cm_feery, @PhilTWR, @xfantasyphoenix

Arizona Cardinals

QB: Drew Stanton isn't thinking about replacing Carson Palmer this year but he revealed that he thinks he will have a chance to be Palmer's long-term heir in Arizona during the first week of training camp. Unfortunately, Stanton’s wait got longer when Palmer signed a one-year contract extension. Palmer took a day off during the first week of camp as the

focus shifted onto the third and fourth quarterbacks. Veteran Matt Barkley appears comfortably ahead of Jake Coker but comfortably behind Stanton.

RB: The Cardinals can't talk up David Johnson enough. Cardinals coach Stump Mitchell was the latest to chime in, “I don't think there's a back in Cardinals history that can do the things David Johnson can do.” Despite the hype surrounding David Johnson, Chris Johnson doesn't look set to go anywhere anytime soon. During the first week of camp Chris said he felt faster than he did 12 months ago. 12 months ago he was coming back from being shot during the offseason. Offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin said, “I think David is a little more comfortable than Chris in the passing game...but running the ball, they are both even.” The almost forgotten Andre Ellington had a solid first week of training camp but he looks set to mostly be used on special teams unless one of David or Chris is injured. Kerwynn Williams and Stepfan Taylor will compete for the fourth spot on the depth chart. Williams missed time early in the week but returned quickly. Neither player has distinguished himself to this point.

WR: John Brown suffered a concussion on the first Sunday of camp. He sat for the rest of the week but that may be the Cardinals being cautious because they can be given we are still five weeks from the start of the regular season. J.J. Nelson was also injured at the start of camp as he suffered a groin injury that sidelined him for the week. Brown and Nelson's absences made Jaron Brown the third receiver and opened up more opportunities for Jaxon Shipley. Shipley impressed beat writer Darren Urban. Larry Fitzgerald sat out a practice but he wasn't hurt. He was asked about retirement and brushed off the question before signing a one-year contract extension on Friday. With Brown and Nelson injured and Fitzgerald resting, Michael Floyd was featured prominently throughout the week. Floyd had an impressive week of practice reeling in a number of big plays. Head coach Bruce Arians is typically good for developing receivers on the lower rungs of his depth chart during training camps but his work over recent years combined with the presences of Floyd and Fitzgerald mean that the Cardinals have a deep, stable and established receiving corps.

TE: Jermaine Gresham missed most of the first week of practice with a hamstring issue. Bruce Arians' tight ends typically catch more passes in training camp than they do in actual games. Troy Niklas took advantage of the opportunities that went his way by consistently catching the ball while making good adjustments at the point of attack. Niklas has to try and force his way ahead of Gresham and/or Darren Fells at this point. While it's not a position that is going to produce many fantasy points, this is a rare spot on the Cardinals roster where there is legitimate competition.

Defense: Tyrann Mathieu signed a 5-year, $62.5 million contract with $40 million guaranteed in spite of being on the PUP list following his late-season ACL tear last year. Arians

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expects Mathieu back in two weeks. Mathieu hasn't been alone on the sidelines as the team's first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche suffered a high-ankle sprain just before the beginning of camp. Nkemdiche has been making progress but is expected to miss a few weeks. The other new addition to the defense line, Chandler Jones, was active throughout the week and looked imposing. His teammates are talking about him getting 20+ sacks. Jones is an established player though, so the more notable development has been the impressive play of Markus Golden. “Golden has vastly improved...he's gotten quicker and more explosive.” said General Manager Steve Keim. The Cardinals GM wasn't alone in his praise, while Mike Jurecki noted that Jones and Golden were moving around the formation as pass rushers early in the week. Rookie cornerback Brandon Williams could play a big role as the Cardinals' second starter behind Patrick Peterson this year. Williams needs to win the job first and has played well early in camp.

Returners: While Patrick Peterson and Kerwynn Williams are likely to reprise their roles as punt and kickoff returner, respectively, head coach Bruce Arians has recently given John Brown and Andre Ellington some reps to help ease the logjam at wide receiver and running back.

Cardinals Depth ChartQB: Carson Palmer, Drew Stanton, Matt Barkley, Jake CokerRB: David Johnson, Chris Johnson, Andre Ellington, Kerwynn Williams (KR), Stepfan Taylor, Jared BakerWR: Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, John Brown (KR), Jaron Brown, J.J. Nelson (PR), Brittan Golden, Jaxon Shipley, Amir Carlisle, Damon Powell, Chris Hubert, Jeff BeathardTE: Darren Fells, Jermaine Gresham, Troy Niklas, Gerald Christian, Ifeanyi Momah, Hakeem VallesLT: Jared VeldheerLG: Mike Iupati, Taylor BoggsC: Lyle Sendlein, AQ ShipleyRG: Evan Mathis, Earl WatfordRT: DJ Humphries, Cole TonerK: Chandler CatanzaroNT: Rodney Gunter, Red Bryant, Xavier Williams, Corey Peters,Olsen PierreDE: Calais Campbell, Frostee Rucker, Robert Nkemdiche, Ed Stinson, Josh Mauro, Jason BabinILB: Deone Bucannon (SS), Kevin Minter, Donald Butler, Alani Fua,Zack Wagenmann, Kenny Demens, Daryl Washington (susp)OLB: Chandler Jones, Markus Golden, Alex Okafor, Kareem Martin, Shaq Riddick, Lamar LouisCB: Patrick Peterson (PR), Brandon Williams, Justin Bethel (inj), Harlan Miller, Mike Jenkins (inj), Alan Ball, Joel Wilkinson, Ronald Zamort, Trevon Hartfield, Eli BoukaS: Tyrann Mathieu (FS/CB), Tony Jefferson (SS), Tyvon

Branch (FS),D.J. Swearinger (SS), Marqui Christian, Chris Clemons, Matthias Farley

Atlanta Falcons

QB: Matt Ryan is pleased with his new number two wide receiver, Mohamed Sanu. ”We've all been impressed with the way he works and the way that he performs in practice,” Ryan said. “I think as he gets more comfortable, he's going to continue to showcase what a great player he is.” During the annual Friday Night Lights scrimmage on August 5, backup Matt Simms tossed a touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Devin Fuller inside the red zone during the two-minute drill. Sean Renfree also played effectively. Matt Schaub threw two interceptions during the Friday night event, but remains listed as Ryan's primary backup on the depth chart. Ryan further praised his receiving corps: ”Our receivers have done a great job through the first week of practices. They've came out and competed and in great shape. They are running hard. I think we've been improving on a daily basis.“ Ryan also commented on the improved offensive line play now that Alex Mack is the team's center: 'It's not a small thing. It's a huge thing. When you have a veteran guy up in front of you and they understand what is going on and they are comfortable doing it, it's huge. For my first five years having a guy like Todd McClure, when I could just go out there and be on autopilot and he would get us right - that really helps. I think Alex is that kind of guy. He's done a great job.'

RB: Tevin Coleman returned to practice Friday after missing three days with a mild foot injury. He went through the individual drills but didn’t play during the 11-on-11 portion of the practice/scrimmage. The current depth chart as of Friday's scrimmage yielded no surprises: 1) Devonta Freeman, 2) Coleman, 3) Terron Ward, 4) Gus Johnson and 5) Brandon Wilds.

WR: As of Saturday, Julio Jones was back at practice, having overcome the 'tightness' that had held him out of practices early on during training camp. While Jones was out, Sanu had some issues with dropped passes, but receivers' coach/assistant head coach Raheem Morris isn't concerned: “He's had some challenges in practice,” Morris said. “He's been able to fight through those challenges. I couldn't be happier with the guy and what he's bringing to the table... right now he's trying to fill the second wideout spot. It's being heavily contended with Justin Hardy. Those three guys have been out there working together, fighting together. I couldn’t be more pleased with them. I'm happy with how the group is panning out.” Julio Jones echoed the excitement for Sanu: “But Sanu, he's a great addition to the team, and we'll see that when the season comes around. He looks great out here with his route-running ability, running little routes, short routes inside, choice routes and those things.” On Friday, the Falcons signed veteran Lance

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Moore; he's seen as a depth player who can help mentor the younger Falcons' receivers. Moore had 29/337/4 receiving with the Lions last year (over 14 games played). Jones, Sanu, Hardy and Moore are the top four receivers on the depth chart entering the second week of camp. Fuller is among a large group of players vying for a reserve spot on the roster (12 different wide receivers are listed on the depth chart). Coach Morris acknowledged the competition: “Aldrick Robinson, (Jordan) Leslie, J.D. (McKissic) and some of our young guys in David Glidden, a bunch of guys are fighting. Some of our new guys, they’ve really been a pleasant addition to the team.” Nick Williams was also mentioned favorably by Morris.

TE: Austin Hooper had a pass intercepted in front of him during the night practice on Friday. He remains third on the depth chart behind Jacob Tamme and Levine Toilolo. Hooper had to miss OTAs due to NCAA rules, but he is keeping up with the NFL pace according to Head Coach Dan Quinn. “You know what, I don’t feel like he's behind, as hard as he worked to get up to speed. You can't do anything about the practices that he missed. But what he did during that time is he made sure, even though he wasn’t going to be on the field getting the reps, he was going to have to do it by himself and he did that. It's going to be important quarters for him during the preseason getting the looks, getting the reps, getting the plays. But he's off to a good start,” said Quinn.

Defense: During the Friday Night Lights scrimmage, starting cornerback Desmond Trufant was held out due to a 'minor' hip injury. C.J. Goodwin filled in and made an interception. Coach Quinn was pleased with Goodwin's play. Weakside linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, middle linebacker Deion Jones and strongside Vic Beasley opened with the first-team defense during Friday's scrimmage. Atlanta signed veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney on August 2nd and will be used as a pass-rushing specialist. Freeney did some light jogging at the Friday night event, and is expected to start practicing with the team this week. Rookie cornerback Brian Poole has been making a case for playing time which is opportune considering the Falcons be without nickel corner Jalen Collins' for the first four games (suspension) of the season. “We’ve played him at nickel and we've played him at safety, as well,” said Quinn of Poole. “He's done a nice job in the zone. We are going to keep forcing it on to see where he can get to.”

Returners: One of the most stable return games in the NFL was thrown into disarray when the Falcons cut Devin Hester nearly a month ago. In his place, running back Tevin Coleman has surprisingly taken an inside track on the kickoff return job, while veteran Eric Weems is on pace to handle punts.

Falcons Depth ChartQB: Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub, Sean Renfree, Matt SimmsRB: Devonta Freeman (3RB), Tevin Coleman (KR), Terron Ward, Gus Johnson, Brandon WildsFB: Patrick DiMarcoWR: Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Justin Hardy, Devin

Fuller, Eric Weems (KR/PR), Nick Williams, Aldrick Robinson, Jordan Leslie, David GliddenTE: Jacob Tamme, Austin Hooper, Levine Toilolo, D.J. Tialavea, Arthur LynchLT: Jake MatthewsLG: Andy Levitre, Mike PersonC: Alex MackRG: James Stone, Chris ChesterRT: Ryan Schraeder, Tom ComptonK: Matt Bryant, Shayne GrahamDT: Tyson Jackson, Grady Jarrett (NT), Ra′Shede Hageman, Jonathan Babineaux, Joey Mbu (NT)DE: Derrick Shelby, Brooks Reed, Dwight Freeney, Adrian Clayborn, Malliciah Goodman, Brandon WilliamsMLB: Deion Jones, Paul WorrilowOLB: Vic Beasley (S), De′Vondre Campbell (W), Courtney Upshaw (S), Sean Weatherspoon (S), Philip Wheeler, Laroy Reynolds, Tyler StarrCB: Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford, Phillip Adams, Jalen Collins (susp), Brian Poole, CJ Goodwin, Demarcus Van DykeS: Ricardo Allen (FS), Keanu Neal (SS), Kemal Ishmael (SS), Robenson Therezie (FS), Damian Parms (SS), Akeem King

Baltimore Ravens

QB: Joe Flacco tore his ACL in Week 11 last season, resulting in the first missed games of his career. Flacco’s rehab has gone well. He earned clearance to practice, but he has yet to do so. The team is handling him with kid gloves. Flacco has hinted that he may not participate in the preseason at all. Behind him, 2015 mid-season signee Ryan Mallett has retained his roster spot. Mallett was released by Houston last year for being a malcontent – not for being a bad player. He’s far from the worst backup in the league.

RB: Justin Forsett is 31 years old and returning from a season-ending injury. He entered the preseason as the presumptive favorite to be the starting running back, but is being pushed by several other players. Second-year pro Javorius Allen performed admirably last year when pressed into duty. His pass blocking and receiving skills are (like Forsett’s) a nice fit for an offense coordinated by Marc Trestman, who loves using his backs in the passing game. Former Cleveland third-round pick Terrance West has impressed many so far in camp. After failing in Cleveland and Tennessee, West appears to have re-committed to the game. He lost weight and is making plays consistently. Rookie Kenneth Dixon is also in the mix. He tweaked his knee early in camp, but it was minor and resulted in a week of missed time. Dixon is considered an all-around player who could eventually play every down. Preseason games will likely have a say how the final depth

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chart and 53-man roster shake out. Depending on how well the younger backs play, it’s not inconceivable Forsett could end up a roster casualty due to the $3 million in cap savings his release would create.

WR: This group is as difficult to forecast as any in the NFL. Steve Smith and Mike Wallace have been pegged as starters since early in the offseason, but Smith hasn’t been able to practice yet in OTAs or camp after a double rupture of his Achilles tendon last season. He’s now 37 years old, and that’s a massive injury to overcome. Wallace failed his conditioning test to open camp but has run with the “ones” since. Behind Smith and Wallace are a pair of University of Central Florida alums whose paths to the NFL were wildly different. 2015 first-round pick Breshad Perriman still hasn’t played a down of NFL football after a chronic PCL injury ruined his rookie season. Perriman partially tore his ACL in spring practices, but he avoided major surgery. He opened camp on the PUP, but the team expects him to participate at some point and be ready for Week 1. Kamar Aiken was an undrafted rookie free agent and was cut by three teams before landing in Baltimore. Aiken got snaps by default in 2014 and even more for the same reason in 2015. Considering Smith’s age and recovery and Perriman’s inability to get on the field, Aiken could once again find himself as a starter.

TE: Despite drafting a tight end in the second round last year and seeing Crockett Gillmore emerge in 2015, Baltimore signed Ben Watson this offseason. Watson comes off a career year in New Orleans and could be relied upon as a second or third target, should he hold off all comers to be the starter. Last year’s second-round pick Maxx Williams is a talented all-around tight end, but with the team’s depth at tight end, he’ll have to earn playing time regardless of his draft pedigree. Gillmore had two shoulder injuries in the offseason (once of which required surgery) and he has already tweaked a hamstring in camp. Dennis Pitta is bravely attempting a comeback, but it was derailed when he hurt his finger in a camp fight with a teammate. Pitta’s timetable is unknown.

PK: Justin Tucker made headlines when he said he could make a kick from 84 and a half yards under ideal conditions. Tucker claims that he hit the crossbar from 85 yards in Denver last year, but Denver’s punter and kicker both ridiculed the claim, with Brandon McManus offering Tucker an all-expense paid trip to Denver to try.

Defense: Up front, Baltimore no longer has the “golden days” of Haloti Ngata. Instead, Brandon Williams holds down the fort in the middle. Timmy Jernigan is the team’s best defensive end with Lawrence Guy book-ending him. Rookie third-round pick Bronson Kaufusi broke his ankle Thursday and will likely miss the season, a big blow to depth. The linebackers are led by pass rush specialists Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil, though Dumervil is on the PUP with an injured foot. C.J. Mosley is among the game’s best inside linebackers. There’s a spirited camp battle emerging for the

other ILB spot between Arthur Brown, Zach Orr, Albert McClellan and rookie 2nd rounder Kamalei Correa. Correa has done everything so far in camp, including injuring Dennis Pitta during a scuffle. Eric Weddle comes over from San Diego in an attempt to stabilize what was a horrific secondary in 2015. Weddle’s fellow safety is converted corner Lardarius Webb. Despite being highly-touted out of college, Webb didn’t pan out as a corner. Jimmy Smith remains a projected starter at cornerback, though he’s also injured at the moment with a calf injury. The injuries are unfortunate for Baltimore because they need continuity to improve on last year’s putrid pass defense.

Returners: Baltimore’s punt return job is shaping up as a battle between Michael Campanaro, who opened last year as the returner, and Kaelin Clay, who was a standout after Campanaro went down to injury. Kickoffs will likely be contested by a pair of rookies— defensive back Tavon Young and converted quarterback Keenan Reynolds.

Ravens Depth ChartQB: Joe Flacco, Ryan Mallett, Jerrod Johnson, Josh JohnsonRB: Justin Forsett, Terrance West, Javorius Allen, Kenneth Dixon, Lorenzo TaliaferroFB: Kyle JuszczykWR: Steve Smith, Kamar Aiken, Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman (inj), Chris Moore, Michael Campanaro, Jeremy Butler, Keenan Reynolds (RB/KR), Chris Matthews, Kaelin Clay, Daniel BrownTE: Benjamin Watson, Maxx Williams, Crockett Gillmore, Dennis Pitta, Darren Waller (susp), Nick Boyle (susp)LT: Ronnie StanleyLG: John Urschel, Ryan Jensen, Vlad DucasseC: Jeremy ZuttahRG: Marshal Yanda, Alex LewisRT: Rick Wagner, James HurstK: Justin TuckerNT: Brandon Williams, Kapron Lewis-MooreDE: Timmy Jernigan, Lawrence Guy, Carl Davis, Bronson Kaufusi (inj), Willie Henry, Brent Urban, Matt Judon, Mario Ojemudia, Nordly CapiILB: C.J. Mosley, Zachary Orr, Arthur Brown, Albert McClellan, Kavell ConnerOLB: Terrell Suggs (inj), Elvis Dumervil (S), Za′Darius Smith (DE),Kamalei Correa, Chris Carter, Brennen Beyer, Victor OchiCB: Jimmy Smith (inj), Shareece Wright, Kyle Arrington (inj), Jerraud Powers, Will Davis, Tavon Young, Maurice Canady, Julian Wilson, Sheldon Price, Jumal Rolle (inj)S: Eric Weddle (FS), Lardarius Webb (SS/PR), Kendrick Lewis (FS), Anthony Levine (SS), Terrence Brooks (FS), Matt Elam (SS), Nick Perry (SS), Jermaine Whitehead (FS), Will Hill (susp)

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Buffalo Bills

QB: The Bills saw a lot to like from Tyrod Taylor last year, but didn’t sign him to an extension so he’s entering the final year of his contract. All reports throughout the offseason and early in training camp have been positive, however, and that has led to speculation that a new short-term deal could be close. In any event, he has become a team leader and has a lot riding on his shoulders and legs. It’s key that he shows improvement throwing over the middle of the field as he did most of his damage last year throwing outside and deep. EJ Manuel returns as the backup in the last year of his contract. The former 1st round pick hasn’t developed as expected, but he can fill-in for a few games if called upon. Rookie Cardale Jones won a national championship at Ohio State so he has exceptional talent but is also very raw. He’s being groomed to take over the backup job next year, and figures to see a lot of work in the preseason.

RB: The Bills led the league in rushing last year, and LeSean McCoy is back to lead the way. The veteran was banged up at times last year, and figures to see very little time in the preseason as the team hopes to keep him healthy. His expected backup Karlos Williams showed up overweight earlier this offseason, and will also miss the first four games while serving a suspension. That created an opening for the team to sign Reggie Bush to an incentive-laden contract, although it remains unclear how much he actually has left. Rounding out the group will be rookie Jonathan Williams, Mike Gillislee, and some additional camp bodies like Dan Herron and James Wilder Jr. This is one of the deepest position groups on the team, and that could lead to some tough decisions on cut down day. Fullback Jerome Fulton is back but the Bills hope he’ll be pushed by Glenn Gronkowski. The undrafted brother of the more famous Patriots tight end had a strong college career, but had a disappointing debut in the team’s scrimmage Saturday night as he gave up a sack and saw a TD pass sail through his hands.

WR: Sammy Watkins demonstrated how valuable he can be down the stretch in 2015, and he will hope to build on that this year. Unfortunately, he has been injury prone early in his career and suffered another setback this offseason when he broke his foot in April and had to have it surgically repaired. He was cleared for practice on Monday; a welcome sight to Bills coaches and fans alike. Robert Woods served primarily as a blocker downfield last year while he played through injuries. He’s fully healthy this year, and has picked up some of the slack created by the absence of Watkins during the early part of camp. The rest of the depth chart is wide open, but there are some intriguing players with potential that will have a chance to earn key roles on the team. Greg Salas has had a strong start to camp, while Greg Little brings some much needed size to the group. Marquise Goodwin is a deep threat as he showed on Saturday with a 43-yard touchdown catch from EJ Manuel. Dez Lewis was an undrafted free agent last year who also figures to be in the mix for playing time.

TE: This is a position with minimal depth. Charles Clay is the starter and one of the better 2-way tight ends in the league. Jim Dray was signed from the Browns to be the primary blocking tight end, but he doesn’t figure to offer much help downfield. That leaves players like Blake Annen, Chris Gragg, and Nick O’Leary to likely fight over one roster spot but none stood out in the Saturday scrimmage.

PK: The Bills released rookie UDFA kicker Marshall Morgan to make room for Reggie Bush. Morgan had been seen as competition for Dan Carpenter, who is making $1.8 million dollars this year coming off of a season with four extra point misses. Carpenter’s job appears to be safe now, but the same can’t be said of kickoff specialist Jordan Gay, who may not be needed if the Bills decide to avoid touchbacks because of the new rule putting them at the 25-yard line.

Defense: The Bills defense never really seemed to work together last year, so Rex Ryan made some changes and brought in his twin brother to help run the defense. Mario Williams was released, but the 1st round pick expected to replace him (Shaq Lawson) underwent shoulder surgery during the summer and could start the year on the PUP list. Meanwhile, 2nd round pick Reggie Ragland was expected to upgrade the ILB spot, but he suffered a partial ACL tear during the first week of camp and could be a candidate for IR if surgery is required. The Bills immediately made moves to address this by signing Brandon Spikes and David Hawthorne on Sunday. The secondary is in great hands at cornerback with Stephon Gilmore and last year’s rookie star Ronald Darby, but Gilmore is entering a contract year and looking for a big money, long term contract. Most of the starting spots are set, so camp and the preseason will be most important for filling out the depth charts behind them and making sure all players are comfortable with the system that Ryan wants to run.

Returners: The newly-signed Reggie Bush figures to immediately take over as the team’s primary punt returner. On kickoffs, Javier Arenas is battling to make the roster as a return specialist. Pay attention to preseason games; if Arenas is cut, the Bills could go with existing players like Marquise Goodwin or Mike Gillislee.

Bills Depth ChartQB: Tyrod Taylor, EJ Manuel, Cardale JonesRB: LeSean McCoy, Karlos Williams (susp), Mike Gillislee, Jonathan Williams, Reggie Bush, James Wilder Jr., Dan Herron, Cierre Wood, Dri ArcherFB: Jerome Felton, Glenn GronkowskiWR: Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, Greg Salas, Leonard Hankerson, Marquise Goodwin, Kolby Listenbee, Dezmin Lewis, Marcus Easley, Greg Little, Jarrett Boykin, Walter PowellTE: Charles Clay, Jim Dray, Nick O′Leary, Chris Gragg, Blake Annen,Jacob MaxwellLT: Cordy Glenn, Jordan MillsLG: Richie Incognito

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C: Eric WoodRG: John Miller, Cyril RichardsonRT: Cyrus Kouandijo, Seantrel HendersonK: Dan CarpenterDT: Marcell Dareus (NT), Kyle Williams, T.J. Barnes, Leger Douzable, Casey Walker (NT), Justin ZimmerDE: Adolphus Washington, Corbin Bryant, Lavar Edwards, Jerel Worthy, Cedric ReedILB: Preston Brown (M), Zach Brown, Brandon Spikes, David Hawthorne, Jamari Lattimore, Kevin Reddick, Reggie Ragland (inj)OLB: Jerry Hughes, Shaq Lawson (inj), Manny Lawson (S), IK Enemkpali, Eric Striker, Randell Johnson, Max VallesCB: Stephon Gilmore, Ronald Darby, Nickell Robey, Mario Butler, Javier Arenas, Sterling MooreS: Aaron Williams (FS), Corey Graham (SS) , Robert Blanton (FS), Duke Williams (FS), Jonathan Meeks (SS), Johnathan Dowling

Carolina Panthers

QB: Cam Newton threw two interceptions to safety Dre Boston over the course of two practices on Friday. Newton had cautioned the defensive backs on Wednesday about playing too deep, and threw a touchdown to wide receiver Philly Brown during a two-minute drill to press home the lesson. However, he then went over the top of the secondary in 11-on-11 drills and completed long touchdown throws to Ted Ginn Jr. (on a stop-and-go) and Damiere Byrd. It's fair to say that the battle between the Carolina defensive backs and Newton has been lively during the first week of training camp. As expected, when the first unofficial depth chart came out on last week Newton was the starter, Derek Anderson was #2 and multi-faceted Joe Webb was listed third.

RB: The Panthers had great news from Jonathan Stewart to open training camp, he feels 100% recovered from the foot injury that dogged him during the Super Bowl loss to Denver. “When you're working you have to find different ways to work without putting your body through a lot of stress. But I feel pretty good. This is my ninth year. I feel like it's my fifth year,” said Stewart. “My offensive line, they really wanted me to get to that 1,000-yard mark because I know it means a lot to them. When you have a 1,000-yard rusher in the backfield it says a lot about the offensive line and everybody on that offense.” Stewart missed crossing the 1,000-yard ribbon by 11 yards rushing last year. The first unofficial depth chart of the season lists Stewart as the starter with Fozzy Whittaker at #2. Cameron Artis-Payne is running third with Brandon Wegher and Jalen Simmons in the reserve roles.

WR: Devin Funchess is playing well to open training camp. According to the Charlotte Observer's Johnathan Jones,

“Funchess is enjoying an outstanding training camp in his second season. His momentum from the end of last season — when he had 31 catches for 473 yards and five touchdowns — has carried into this summer.” Funchess is pleased with his start to camp. “I'm more comfortable. I just want to do more. I want to be a bigger part and help the other guys - make sure we're all making plays and make sure we get the W at the end of the day.” The Panthers' first depth chart showed Kelvin Benjamin and Ted Ginn Jr. as the starters, with Funchess and Philly Brown as the main backups. A gaggle of nine other receivers are vying for reserve roles. Stephen Hill suffered a setback/tweak to his surgically repaired knee (massively repaired - three torn ligaments and a torn hamstring last season) and missed time during the first week of training camp.

TE: Backup Ed Dickson spoke about his role: “I signed up to win a championship. And we put ourselves in a position to win a championship. I've never been about personal stuff in my career. I wanted them to see the value I bring to the table...Say I get 60 catches this year, it just exceeds the expectations, I know it's within me to do it. There's a positive way to look at everything and I look at it in a positive way. I'm trying to get that second ring. I'm trying to get Cam his first ring and a lot of guys their first ring.” Scott Simonson, Beau Sandland, Marcus Lucas and Braxton Deaver are all competing for the third tight end spot.

Defense: The Panthers' first team offense couldn't punch in rushing scores against the first-team defense during two attempts at Fan Fest on Friday. Coach Rivera commented: “I thought that was outstanding. I really liked the energy the guys played with and the way they attacked. On the inverse, on the offensive line we’ve got to get our pad level down and knock them back. That'll be a really good tape for us to watch as coaches.” According to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, the Panthers may be introducing rookies James Bradberry and Daryl Worley as their starting cornerbacks in Week One, with rookie Zack Sanchez possibly manning the slot (depending on how Bene Benwikere's surgically repaired leg holds up in training camp). Benwikere praised the rookie defensive backs: “That's one good thing is they're not too loud. That's good, they're all humble and they take coaching very well. I know our coaches and the staff love that.” When asked about the possibility of starting three rookie defensive backs in regular season, Rivera pointed to the 1981 San Francisco 49ers, who started three rookie defensive backs – Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson. And they won the Super Bowl. So you just never know. Defensive end Kony Ealy resumed practicing after being cleared from a concussion sustained early during training camp.

Returners: Disappointed with last year’s results, the Panthers have been working with primary punt returner Ted Ginn over to handle kickoff returns, as well. Should Ginn falter, Fozzy Whittaker and Joe Webb have also been receiving lots of early work at the position.

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Panthers Depth ChartQB: Cam Newton, Derek Anderson, Joe Webb (KR)RB: Jonathan Stewart, Cameron Artis-Payne, Fozzy Whittaker (KR), Brandon Wegher, Devon Johnson, Jalen SimmonsFB: Mike Tolbert, Andrew BonnetWR: Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess, Ted Ginn (KR/PR), Corey Brown, Brenton Bersin, Stephen Hill, Keyarris Garrett, Kevin Norwood, Damiere Byrd, Miles ShulerTE: Greg Olsen, Ed Dickson, Beau Sandland, Scott Simonson, Jake McGee, Braxton Deaver, Marcus LucasLT: Michael OherLG: Andrew Norwell, Chris ScottC: Ryan Kalil, Gino GradkowskiRG: Trai TurnerRT: Mike Remmers, Daryl Williams K: Graham GanoDT: Star Lotulelei (NT), Kawann Short, Paul Soliai, Vernon Butler, Kyle Love, Robert Thomas (NT), Eric CrumeDE: Charles Johnson, Kony Ealy, Mario Addison, Ryan Delaire, Wes Horton, Arthur Miley, Larry Webster, Rakim CoxMLB: Luke Kuechly, Ben Jacobs, Jared NorrisOLB: Thomas Davis (S), Shaq Thompson (W), A.J. Klein (W/M), David Mayo, Jeremy Cash, Brian Blechen, Jared BarberCB: Bene Benwikere, James Bradberry, Robert McClain, Daryl Worley, Zack Sanchez, Teddy Williams, Leonard Johnson, Louis Young, Ras-I Dowling, Shaq RichardsonS: Kurt Coleman (SS), Tre Boston (FS), Colin Jones (SS/CB), Trent Robinson, Dean Marlowe (SS)

Chicago Bears

QB: Jay Cutler had one of his best seasons in 2015, and much of the credit went to offensive coordinator Adam Gase. He’s now the head coach in Miami, so Cutler will get his 6th different offensive coordinator in 8 years as QB coach Dowell Loggains was promoted. For a quarterback prone to turnovers, the Bears hope Loggains will provide some stability and help Cutler continue to play within himself. The Bears made a significant upgrade to the backup position when they signed veteran journeyman Brian Hoyer in the spring. He’s certainly capable of winning games, as he showed during his time with the Browns and Texans, but he offers limited upside. David Fales figures to hold down the #3 job again, but undrafted rookie Connor Shaw will also compete for that spot.

RB: Matt Forte is no longer around, so it’s a new era for the Bears running game. Jeremy Langford looked perfectly capable as an all-around back last year, but he’ll likely get some competition from rookie Jordan Howard who has more of a between-the-tackles power game. In anticipation of taking on a full-time role, Langford bulked up during the offseason which isn’t always an ideal decision (major weight shifts tend to be overplayed by the media). At minimum, Howard figures to see time early on as the short-yardage back and that could limit Langford’s fantasy potential. Ka’Deem Carey and Jacquizz Rodgers are also still around to provide additional depth, but both are complementary players. The Bears may start to make use of the fullback position as they signed veteran Darrel Young last week, who spent the first 7 years of his career with Washington. They also have a former rugby player from New Zealand competing for a roster spot in Paul Lasike, who spent last year on their practice squad.

WR: The Bears have the makings of one of the best receiver tandems in the league, but Alshon Jeffery just can’t seem to stay on the field. He only started 8 games last year, but still managed to pick up 54 receptions for 807 yards so the potential is obviously there for some huge numbers. He’s been sitting out during the early part of camp with a strained hamstring, and will hope to prove himself while playing on a 1-year franchise tender. Meanwhile, last year’s 1st round pick Kevin White is expected to provide a boost after missing his entire rookie year, but he’s been having some struggles early in camp as he attempts to adjust to the NFL game. Slot receiver Eddie Royal has been going through the league’s concussion protocol the past week, so hasn’t had much of a chance to rebuild his rapport with Cutler either.

TE: Martellus Bennett was one of the better 2-way tight ends in the league, but he was shipped out of town for a 4th round pick from the Patriots back in March. He may have been a problem in the locker room, so it could be addition by subtraction but his absence puts a lot of pressure on Zach Miller. He’s looked impressive when he’s played, but that hasn’t happened all too often and he’s already missing time in camp with a concussion. Rob Housler has experience with the Cardinals and could wind up playing a bigger role than expected this year.

Defense: The Bears are in Year 2 of their transition to a 3-4 run by coordinator Vic Fangio. They brought in Akiem Hicks up front to try and solidify the defensive line, and also signed two productive veteran inside linebackers in Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman. That should give them a much stronger core on the defensive side of the ball, as Trevathan won a Super Bowl with the Broncos last year and is very good against the run. Meanwhile, the pass rush should get a boost from the addition of 1st round pick Leonard Floyd, although he may only see time as a specialist early on. The secondary is a huge question mark as cornerback Kyle Fuller needs to become more consistent and comfortable in this system. Meanwhile, there will be a competition for the starting spot

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opposite him although Tracy Porter is expected to hold off the challengers. 2nd year pro Adrian Amos figures to hold down one of the safety spots, but the other position could see as many as four different players competing for playing time. There are some solid pieces in place here – particularly in the front 7 – but this is still a work in progress.

Returners: Return specialist Marc Mariani is having a great training camp and is well on his way to earning a roster spot and the starting punt return duties. Last year’s top kickoff returner, Deonte Thompson, has likewise impressed and should be able to secure another roster spot.

Bears Depth ChartQB: Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer, David Fales, Connor ShawRB: Jeremy Langford, Jordan Howard, Ka′Deem Carey, Jacquizz Rodgers, Senorise PerryFB: Khari Lee (TE), Darrel Young, Paul LasikeWR: Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White, Eddie Royal, Marquess Wilson (inj), Marc Mariani (KR/PR), Daniel Braverman, Deonte Thompson (KR), Cameron Meredith, Joshua Bellamy, Darrin Peterson, Derek Keaton, Kieren DuncanTE: Zach Miller, Rob Housler, Ben Braunecker, Tony Moeaki, Gannon SinclairLT: Charles Leno, Nick BectonLG: Cody WhitehairC: Hroniss Grasu, Ted LarsenRG: Kyle LongRT: Bobby Massie, Nate ChandlerK: Robbie GouldNT: Eddie Goldman, Terry WilliamsDE: Akiem Hicks, Jonathan Bullard, Will Sutton, Mitch Unrein, Keith Browner, Ego Ferguson (IR)ILB: Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman, Christian Jones, Nick Kwiatkoski, Jonathan Anderson, John TimuOLB: Pernell McPhee, Lamarr Houston, Willie Young, Leonard Floyd, Sam Acho, Roy Robertson-Harris, Lamin BarrowCB: Kyle Fuller, Tracy Porter, Bryce Callahan, Sherrick McManis, Deiondre′ Hall, Jacoby Glenn, Kevin Peterson, De′Vante Bausby, Taveze Calhoun, Joel Ross, Brandon Boykin (IR)S: Adrian Amos (FS), Deon Bush (SS), Chris Prosinski, Harold Jones-Quartey, Deandre Houston-Carson (FS), Demontre Hurst (SS)

Cincinnati Bengals

QB: Last preseason, all eyes were on Andy Dalton, watching carefully to see if he could put together a complete and consistent season. Though the season ended in yet another early playoff loss, Dalton avoided many of the critical mistakes that had plagued him earlier in his career. All eyes on

are Dalton for a different reason as the 2016 opener approaches. With Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu lost in free agency and Tyler Eifert likely to be unavailable for the start of the regular season, Dalton will be looked upon to keep this offense moving without many of its formerly productive options. Dalton, with the help of A.J. Green, has looked very good in the first two weeks of camp. In last weekend’s scrimmage, Dalton tuned up the Cincinnati defense by completing nine passes for around 120 yards in just two drives. He’ll have to remain at the top of his game in September. A.J. McCarron continues to be more than solid as Dalton’s backup.

RB: Jeremy Hill has reportedly looked strong early in camp. That’s reassuring after a disappointing 2015 season behind a strong offensive line and a brutal playoff fumble ended his season on an even lower note. The Bengals may need to lean heavily on Hill with the wide receiver group in flux and Tyler Eifert likely to miss time as the season begins. Gio Bernard is also expected to see heavy use with Eifert out. Bernard will see slot snaps in rotation with Tyler Boyd.

WR: No one can cover A.J. Green in camp. Healthy and in sync with Andy Dalton, Green has been abusing every Cincinnati defensive back. In two series in last weekend’s team scrimmage, Green had four catches for 70 yards in two series and could have had more had he not dropped a well-thrown ball on a long sideline route. For now, Brandon LaFell is drawing the majority of first team reps opposite Green, with Tyler Boyd getting the majority of slot reps. Boyd has been particularly impressive, drawing the praise of his coaches and every writer on the Bengals’ beat. Like Mohamed Sanu before him, Boyd has also been asked to contribute by running the football. If he can maintain his strong start, Boyd could get the bulk of the opportunity left with Marvin Jones and Sanu gone in free agency.

TE: Tyler Eifert underwent ankle surgery in late May and the early timetable for return was 3-4 months. That’s an aggressive timetable, however, and there are already indications Eifert will miss multiple regular season games. Tyler Kroft was expected to fill Eifert’s role as a pass-catching option, but sprained a knee last week and is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks. Any hiccups in Kroft’s rehab would keep him out of the season opener, too. C.J. Uzomah is the next tight end up and has been very good so far. In the team’s weekend scrimmage, Uzomah caught a 30-yard pass on a well-run crossing pattern then grabbed a 7-yard touchdown pass on a seam route to end the drive.

PK: Mike Nugent hadn’t missed yet in training camp as of Saturday and appears to be in great shape to hold off Zach Hocker. Hocker missed the mock game over the weekend for an undisclosed reason, while Nugent nailed a 38-yard field goal.

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Defense: The Bengals’ defense is a work in progress. The stellar defensive line returns intact and has added rookie Andrew Billings to the defensive tackle rotation. Vontaze Burfict came to camp with a foot injury but has been activated and practicing well. He’ll miss the first three games this season due to repeated safety violations. First round pick Will Jackson suffered a torn pectoral last week and is in jeopardy of missing the season. With veterans Leon Hall and Reggie Nelson gone in free agency, the secondary will need to stay healthy and gel quickly.

Returners: The Bengals have been sharing return duties between the steady Brandon Tate and the boom/bust Adam Jones for several years, and the status quo is likely to be maintained in 2016. The Bengals have been giving Mario Alford plenty of reps at kickoff returner to see if he could push Tate a bit in the role, though.

Bengals Depth ChartQB: Andy Dalton, A.J. McCarron, Keith Wenning, Joe LicataRB: Jeremy Hill (SD), Giovani Bernard (3RB), Rex Burkhead (WR),Cedric Peerman, Bronson HillFB: Ryan Hewitt (HB)WR: A.J. Green, Brandon LaFell, Tyler Boyd, James Wright, Brandon Tate (KR), Jake Kumerow, Mario Alford, Cody Core, Angelo Russell, Rashawn Simonise, Alex Erickson, Michael BennettTE: Tyler Eifert (inj), Tyler Kroft (inj), C.J. Uzomah, Matthew Lengel, John PetersLT: Andrew Whitworth, Jake FisherLG: Clint Boling, Christian WestermanC: Russell Bodine, T.J. JohnsonRG: Kevin ZeitlerRT: Eric Winston, Cedric Ogbuehi K: Mike NugentDT: Geno Atkins, Domata Peko (NT), Brandon Thompson, Andrew Billings, Pat Sims, Marcus Hardison, David DeanDE: Carlos Dunlap, Michael Johnson, Margus Hunt, Will Clarke, Jack GangwishMLB: Vincent Rey, Nick Vigil, Jeff Luc, Trevor RoachOLB: Rey Maualuga (S), Karlos Dansby (W/M) , Vontaze Burfict (W) (susp), Jayson DiManche (S), Paul Dawson (W), Marquis Flowers (S), Darien HarrisCB: Adam Jones (PR), Dre Kirkpatrick, Darqueze Dennard, William Jackson III (inj), Josh Shaw, Chris Lewis-Harris, Corey White, Corey TindalS: George Iloka (SS), Shawn Williams (FS), Derron Smith (FS), Jimmy Wilson, Clayton Fejedelem, Floyd Raven

Cleveland Browns

QB: Despite early reports Josh McCown looked better at times in spring practices than Robert Griffin III, Griffin has dominated first team snaps in training camp and was named the starter on Monday. By all accounts, Griffin has been getting better with each day of camp. His connections of 35, 53, and 41 yards with Corey Coleman in Friday night’s intrasquad scrimmage generated plenty of buzz and Griffin kept it going on Saturday, finishing 12-of-19 with a pair of touchdowns during the Browns’ annual scrimmage at Ohio Stadium. Browns head coach Hue Jackson sounds confident in Griffin’s ability to revive his career. "The biggest area he has grown is just his confidence in playing the position,'' said Jackson. "You have to know how to play quarterback in the National Football League, and with (associate head coach – offense) Pep (Hamilton) and myself, we pride ourselves on getting guys ready to play. He has accepted every challenge we've given him.'' After Cowboys backup quarterback Kellen Moore broke his ankle on Tuesday, McCown’s name popped up in trade rumors. It seems McCown would be open to a trade, but the Browns prefer to keep him. McCown finished 3-of-5 in Saturday's scrimmage, including a 75-yard touchdown pass on a deep ball to Terrelle Pryor. Third round draft pick Cody Kessler has reportedly made good progress in practice, which makes Austin Davis the odd man out if the Browns decide not to carry four quarterbacks.

RB: Jackson, Hamilton, and running backs coach Kirby Wilson have consistently stated they want the Browns to have a physical, run-oriented offense. Second year back Duke Johnson backed up those assertions with his comments on the first day of camp. “We’re looking forward to game in and game out just being physical,” Johnson said. “That’s something that Coach wants from everyone, starting up front and passed onto everybody.” It remains to be seen how Cleveland will divvy up carries between Johnson and incumbent early-down back Isaiah Crowell, but it appears Jackson is not holding Crowell’s controversial Instagram post against him. The Akron Beacon Journal anticipates Crowell receiving the majority of the carries, with Johnson viewed as an explosive receiving threat the coaching staff won’t want to burn out with too many rushing attempts. Raheem Mostert, Terrell Watson, and Glenn Winston are battling for the third spot on the depth chart, with Watson being a player of interest since Jackson brought him over from Cincinnati. The Browns’ rushing attack got off to a poor start in Friday’s scrimmage. “I didn’t like it,” Jackson said of the running game. “We have got to become a gritty group up front.” Johnson caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Griffin on third-and-goal in Saturday’s scrimmage.

WR: As previously mentioned, first round draft pick Corey Coleman lived up to the hype in his first week of camp. Even before putting on a show in Friday night’s scrimmage, beat writer Tony Grossi called Coleman “the real deal”, while Hamilton also had high praise for the rookie. “He can score the ball,” Hamilton said. “That’s what we’re going to need him to do. We need a big-play threat or two or three on the

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perimeter, and we feel like he’s the guy who can do those things.” Unfortunately, Coleman was forced to watch Saturday’s scrimmage from the sideline with a hamstring injury, though it appears minor. "He'll be fine," Jackson said. "He just had a little hamstring issue, and I didn't want to push it too far. We're too close to getting ready for the season." The other standout in the Browns wide receiver corps this week was converted quarterback Terrelle Pryor. In Coleman’s absence, Pryor dominated the Orange and Brown Scrimmage, catching five passes including touchdowns of five and 75 yards. “Before I was like a bear, but now, it’s a gazelle,” Pryor said after the game. Griffin had high praise for Pryor’s progress as a receiver. “He’s a big guy, physical, he’s got an elite trait that you can’t coach and that’s size,” Griffin said. “So he’s been able to utilize that while he’s been in camp this spring and we love the progress that he’s made.” Grossi even went as far as to guess Pryor is the favorite to open the season as the number two receiver, though Josh Gordon’s Week 5 return from suspension is bound to shake up the depth chart. Gordon hasn’t seen the practice field yet due to a quad injury, but Jackson has been impressed with his dedication. “He wants to play, he's been outstanding,” Jackson said. “He's been great in the building, been great outside the building. I think he has a burning desire to be a part of this football team.” Andrew Hawkins suffered a hamstring injury in Tuesday’s practice. If he’s forced to miss extended time, rookies Rashard Higgins, Jordan Payton, and Ricardo Louis should receive more opportunities. Louis caught a touchdown pass from McCown on Friday.

TE: After undergoing sports hernia surgery in June, there was some doubt about Gary Barnidge’s availability for the start of camp, but he was active in Saturday’s scrimmage and had a nice sideline catch from Griffin. Connor Hamlett -- who has been described as one of the most pleasant surprises of Browns camp -- has emerged as the favorite to back-up Barnidge. The 6-foot-7, 259-pound Hamlett still has to hold off Seth DeValve and E.J. Bibbs, but he’s made a good impression on Jackson. “He’s done great,” Jackson said Tuesday. “That guy is tall. He’s got long arms. You can kind of throw up there. He goes and gets it. He’s done a great job. I’ve been really pleased with him. I’m very, very impressed.”

PK: Travis Coons is getting pushed by 2014 Tampa kicker Patrick Murray, who missed last season with an injury. Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said Murray was very consistent with a good kickoff leg and no ill effects from his injury. Coons struggled late last year with misses in three of the last five games, so his job is far from secure.

Defense: The biggest story on defense for the Browns is defensive end Desmond Bryant being placed on season-ending injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle. With Cleveland’s 2015 sack-leader on the shelf, second round pick Emmanuel Ogbah has been working as a defensive end in coordinator Ray Horton’s 3-4 defense, after the initial plan was to play him at outside linebacker. "It feels good," the

Oklahoma State product said. "Back to putting my hand on the dirt, just getting after the quarterback." Another position change has seen cornerback Pierre Desir move to safety. “We like him, he’s long, he’s talented. But maybe he might find an area where he’s better suited to play. Again, he has cover skills, but seeing him play safety, too, is exciting to me because he gives us a different element back in the middle.” Cornerback Joe Haden, who had ankle surgery in March and missed all the offseason camps, appears on track to practice soon and be ready for the start of the regular season.

Returners: Tasked with replacing departing punt returner Travis Benjamin, the Browns seem ready to turn to incoming rookie Corey Coleman. Should he falter, Raheem Mostert and Tramon Williams has plenty of previous experience. On kickoffs, Raheem Mostert and Justin Gilbert are the leading candidates, with Corey Coleman a dark horse to see some work here, too.

Browns Depth ChartQB: Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown, Cody Kessler, Austin DavisRB: Isaiah Crowell (SD), Duke Johnson (3RB), Terrell Watson, Raheem Mostert, Glenn WinstonFB: Malcolm JohnsonWR: Josh Gordon (susp), Corey Coleman, Terrelle Pryor, Andrew Hawkins, Rashard Higgins, Taylor Gabriel, Jordan Payton, Ricardo Louis, Darius Jennings, Marlon Moore, Rannell HallTE: Gary Barnidge, Connor Hamlett, E.J. Bibbs, Seth Devalve, Randall TelferLT: Joe Thomas, Michael BowieLG: Joel Bitonio, Kaleb Johnson C: Cameron ErvingRG: John Greco, Spencer DrangoRT: Alvin Bailey, Austin Pasztor, Shon ColemanK: Travis Coons (inj), Patrick Murray, Jaden OberkromNT: Danny Shelton, Jamie Meder, Nile Lawrence-StampleDE: John Hughes, Xavier Cooper, Carl Nassib, Emmanuel Ogbah, Nick Hayden, Dylan Wynn, Desmond Bryant (IR)ILB: Christian Kirksey, Demario Davis, Tank Carder, Joe Schobert, Scooby Wright III, Justin TuggleOLB: Paul Kruger, Armonty Bryant, Barkevious Mingo, Nate Orchard, Jackson Jeffcoat, Dominique AlexanderCB: Joe Haden, Tramon Williams, K′Waun Williams, Jamar Taylor, Justin Gilbert, Trey Caldwell, Eric Patterson, Kenya DennisS: Jordan Poyer (FS), Ibraheim Campbell (SS), Rahim Moore (FS), Pierre Desir (FS/CB), Don Jones (SS), Derrick Kindred, Sean Baker (FS), Tim Scott (FS)

Dallas Cowboys

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QB: When the most controversial thing about the first week of camp is a debate about whether Tony Romo gained a few pounds in the offseason, that’s good news. Romo’s surgery to strengthen his collarbone (after dual breaks caused him to miss most of last season) appears to have gone well – but won’t truly be tested until he takes hits from opposing defenders. Romo has been a tad erratic in early practices, but it’s far more important that he feels healthy and has been a regular contributor.

Presumptive backup Kellen Moore broke his ankle and will be sidelined for several months; he’s likely done for the season. The Cowboys looked hard at signing Nick Foles but he took an offer from the Chiefs instead. The team has also been linked to Josh McCown, although the Browns haven’t acknowledged McCown is available via trade. For now, rookie Dak Prescott is running as the #2 but it’s hard to imagine the Cowboys will go into the season without an established veteran given Tony Romo’s recent injury history. Jameill Showers is competing for a roster spot, but it’s hard to imagine he’ll do enough to hold off Prescott from overtaking him as the QB3 once the regular season gets underway. Both young quarterbacks showed well in Sunday’s Blue/White scrimmage, with Stephen Jones going so far as to say continued play at that level will make adding a veteran quarterback less of a priority.

RB: All eyes have understandably been on Ezekiel Elliott, but unfortunately a hamstring injury will sideline him for at least a week. While not considered serious, it’s a setback considering Elliott’s presumed role as the centerpiece of the offense. Prior to injuring his hamstring, Elliott hadn’t done all that much in early practices to stand out one way or another. Off the field, there has been no news on Elliott’s ex-girlfriend’s claims of abuse. The police have not charged him and there have been no public updates on the investigation in two weeks. Elliott’s injury leaves the Cowboys with precious little depth at the position considering Darren McFadden remains on the NFI List with a broken elbow he suffered in the offseason (in a non-football related injury). Alfred Morris has been getting the majority of starter reps, and could credibly push McFadden for the #2 role behind Elliott with a strong preseason. Lance Dunbar started camp on PUP as he recovers from last season’s torn ACL – but rehab is going well and the team is cautiously optimistic he’ll return soon. 6th round rookie Darius Jackson has been getting 2nd team reps and has a chance to impress in early preseason action thanks to the veteran injuries.

WR: Dez Bryant and Tony Romo only started and finished one game together last season, and were last on a field together Thanksgiving Day. Cowboys fans and fantasy owners should consider the first week of camp a welcome sight as the QB-WR duo have spent a lot of time together rebuilding chemistry. The lack of on-field time has been evident, as the dynamic duo have yet to recapture the magic that made them one of the league’s most potent tandems; patience is warranted. Those waiting for someone to step up and

challenge Terrance Williams for a starting role may need to wait a bit longer. Williams has been solid early in camp including a number of highlight-reel grabs in drills with Dak Prescott. Meanwhile, no other receiver in camp poses a credible threat. Cole Beasley looks sharp in his role as the 3rd receiver and primary slot option. Brice Butler – a long-time fantasy dark horse – has been inconsistent in the first week and needs to bounce back in order to secure a roster spot. He’s being pressured by undrafted rookie free agent Andy Jones. Jones – 6’1”, 214 lbs. – has gotten snaps with the 1st team offense. Jones starred in the Blue/White scrimmage, further adding to his impressive early camp resume.

TE: Jason Witten had a solid but relatively quiet first week. Entering his 14th season, the questions about his future are getting louder but – for now – he remains primed and ready to contribute. Witten attributes his youthful productivity to the mental exercise of starting each season as though it’s his first. Gavin Escobar’s recovery from a torn Achilles is progressing well. Escobar is back on the field and has made his presence known, particularly in 7-on-7 red zone drills. Escobar is in a contract year and – with Jason Witten nearing the end of a Hall of Fame career – could be auditioning for a major role with the Cowboys in 2017 or perhaps a starting role elsewhere. Veteran contributor James Hanna is on the PUP list with a knee injury, but is expected back soon.

Defense: The biggest story on the defensive side of the ball has been the inspired play of veteran cornerback Morris Claiborne. Claiborne has made plays every day, and has generated turnovers while also staying with Dez Bryant step for step in 1-on-1 drills. Fellow veteran cornerback Brandon Carr hasn’t intercepted a ball since 2013, and had to accept a $5mm pay cut to remain with the Cowboys this offseason. “I got bags under my eyes – I don’t get much sleep, man. Still trying to find the ball,” Carr said. “But you’ve just got to keep pursuing it, keep believing in yourself and come out here, battling each and every day. Because once they come, they come in bunches.” His lack of turnovers is endemic of a broader issue; the team created just 11 turnovers in 2015. With the 10-game suspension of Rolando McClain (and possible end of his Cowboys tenure after not reporting to training camp), the linebacker position has major question marks. Early camp injuries have opened the door for players like Kyle Wilber (himself injured a few days ago) and Mark Nzeocha to see snaps with the first team. The good news is Sean Lee appears fully recovered from last season’s knee injury. Lee’s presence in the lineup is critical to turning around a defense that scared no one last season.

Returners: Early returns suggest that Dallas’ kickoff and punt returner jobs are both Lucky Whitehead’s too lose, his roster spot is still not entirely guaranteed.

Cowboys Depth ChartQB: Tony Romo, Kellen Moore (inj), Dak Prescott, Jameill Showers

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RB: Ezekiel Elliott, Darren McFadden (inj), Alfred Morris, Darius Jackson, Lance Dunbar (inj), Rod Smith, Ben MalenaWR: Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Brice Butler, Devin Street, Vince Mayle, Lucky Whitehead (KR/PR), Rodney Smith, Chris BrownTE: Jason Witten, James Hanna, Gavin Escobar, Geoff Swaim, Rico GathersLT: Tyron Smith, Darrion WeemsLG: Lael Collins, Ronald LearyC: Travis FrederickRG: Zack MartinRT: Doug Free, GreenK: Dan BaileyDT: Tyrone Crawford, Cedric Thornton, Terrell McClain, Jack Crawford, Maliek Collins (inj)DE: Benson Mayowa (inj), David Irving, Ryan Russell, Charles Tapper, Demarcus Lawrence (susp), Randy Gregory (susp)MLB: Anthony Hitchens, Andrew Gachkar, Mark Nzeocha (W), Jaylon Smith (inj), Rolando McClain (susp)OLB: Sean Lee (W), Kyle Wilber (S), Justin Durant (W), Damien Wilson (W), Deon King (S), Keith Smith (W), James Morris, Ka′Lial Glaud, Jerrell Harris, Derek AkunneCB: Brandon Carr, Orlando Scandrick, Morris Claiborne (inj),Anthony Brown, Josh Thomas, Isaiah Frey, Dax SwansonS: Barry Church (SS), Byron Jones (FS), J.J. Wilcox (SS), Jeff Heath (FS), Ayodeji Olatoye (FS), Kavon Frazier (SS)

Denver Broncos

QB: The Denver Broncos opened training camp with some serious questions at the quarterback position, and those questions are no closer to being answered with a full week of camp in the books. The competition appears to be legitimately wide open, and the team has not even named a starter for the first preseason tilt against the Chicago Bears. “I don’t think anybody has taken off and done anything, I think they’ve all done what they did in the offseason. They all continue to do it. We’ll just going here. We’ll start playing some people and playing some games. We’re going to find out,” said head coach Gary Kubiak. Mark Sanchez has had his share of struggles in camp, and the decision making that has plagued him throughout his career is an early area of focus. “I can tell you right now, as a coach, one of the things I’m coaching Mark on is when plays get extended, sometimes plays get long and some of his decision process needs to be better,” Kubiak said. Trevor Siemian’s early results have been mixed as well, but he did have a solid day towards the end of the first week. "He’s very confident. He knows exactly what we are doing. He’s really a first year player in a lot of ways. You see him getting better," Kubiak said. Paxton Lynch has shown some

early flashes, but the rookie remains a clear work in progress. “I think the biggest thing here is just coming out here, relaxing and doing your thing," said Lynch.

RB: The Broncos matched the offer sheet that the Miami Dolphins waved in front of C.J. Anderson this offseason, and Anderson responded to the team’s vote of confidence with a little commitment of his own. He arrived in camp about 10 pounds lighter than last year, and that’s added a little extra burst for the fourth year pro. "I just worked on conditioning. I did a lot of stadium steps, a lot of hill sprints. I did a whole lot. I have had success before in college putting myself in position to be ready to carry the load," he said. Anderson has been serving as a mentor for promising rookie Devontae Booker as well. The team sees big things in the future for the fourth round draft pick, and he could even carve out a bit of a role this season. “He’s under my wing, and I can help him out so he can help our football team,” Anderson says. Kapri Bibbs has been one of the early bright spots in camp, and he’s even begun to steal reps away from Ronnie Hillman. “Now this year they are telling that this is the year that I go out and showcase and have my opportunity, I am going to take full advantage of that. I’m going to go out and get it.” Bibbs said.

WR: The question of who will be behind center when the games begin to count remains unsettled for the Broncos, but whoever is at the helm will have a wealth of talent at their disposal. Demaryius Thomas is ready to help fill any perceived leadership void, and also bounce back from what he views as a disappointing 2015 season on the individual front. “But I can be a leader on the field, make sure everybody is doing the right thing, and I can be the player I know I can be," he said. We can count Emmanuel Sanders among those who are ready to move forward, even though things will be quite different in 2016. “We have to get past that Peyton Manning era. Right now we're trying to find ourselves a quarterback and that's what it's about," Sanders said. Beyond the big two of Thomas and Sanders, the Broncos also have a wealth of young talent at the position. The young guns have been some of the bright spots of the early part of camp as well. “Bennie Fowler’s been making plays, Cody’s been making plays, Jordan Taylor’s been making plays. It’s a good thing,” said Sanders.

TE: The leap forward that Virgil Green was expected to take in 2015 failed to come to fruition, but the enthusiasm is beginning to ramp up again. Green has had a tremendous start to training camp, and he’s fully cognizant of what he needs to do to have that translate into playing time. “Every day you gotta go out there and be consistent. That’s my biggest thing – I can make plays. I just have to show them that I can be consistent and do those things every single day,” he said. Green’s has been earning the praises of coaches as well. “Virgil is the red-hot player of the day here in Dove Valley. What a day he had. He made a bunch of plays in the red zone," Kubiak said. Jeff Heuerman is clearly in the mix as well, and the Broncos remain high on their 2015 third round draft

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choice. He’s made a full recovery from the ACL tear that cost him the 2015 season, and he knows there’s no guarantees as far as playing time goes. “Cycling through tight ends is part of the game. Tight ends rotate in and out; you got all different types of personnel groupings, so you are used to that,” he said.

Defense: Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is setting the bar pretty high for what he expects in 2016. "We want them to be the best. That’s what our goals were last year. I said when we started out, in OTAs we wanted to be in the top five," he said. The Broncos will have a better shot at making that happen now that the contract squabble with Von Miller has been put to bed. Miller picked up in camp right where he left off, and shows no signs of rust from his extended vacation. “Von is ready to go,’’ Phillips said. The defense as a whole is off to a fantastic start at camp, and they capped it off with two defensive touchdowns in less than 30 minutes in one of the first week’s final practices. “We wanted to treat it like a game today,” said cornerback Bradley Roby. Aqib Talib is expected to return from the non-football injury list this upcoming week pending a physical. He’s been on the shelf for the past two months stemming from an off-the-field incident.

Returners: Emmanuel Sanders was Denver’s “break glass in case of emergency” punt returner last year, but the Broncos would prefer to use him less on special teams. To this point, both kickoff and punt return duties are shaping up as a three-player battle between veteran Jordan Norwood and undrafted free agent receivers Kalif Raymond and Bralon Addison.

Broncos Depth ChartQB: Mark Sanchez, Paxton Lynch, Trevor SiemianRB: C.J. Anderson, Devontae Booker, Ronnie Hillman, Juwan Thompson, Kapri BibbsFB: Andy JanovichWR: Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders (PR), Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer, Jordan Norwood, Kalif Raymond, Jordan Taylor, DeVier Posey, Durron Neal, Mose Frazier, Bralon AddisonTE: Jeff Heuerman, Virgil Green, Garrett Graham, Richard Gordon, John Phillips, Nick Kasa, Henry Krieger-Coble, Manasseh Garner, Anthony NorrisLT: Russell OkungLG: Max Garcia, Robert MyersC: Matt Paradis, James FerentzRG: Ty Sambrailo, Connor McGovernRT: Donald Stephenson, Michael SchofieldK: Brandon McManusNT: Sylvester Williams, Darius Kilgo, Calvin Heurtelou, Kyle Peko, Billy Winn, Phil Taylor (IR)DE: Derek Wolfe, Vance Walker, Jared Crick, Adam Gotsis, Kenny Anunike, George Uko, Vontarrius Dora, Shaniel Jenkins, David Moala, Eddie YarbroughILB: Brandon Marshall, Todd Davis, Corey Nelson, Zaire AndersonOLB: Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Shaquil Barrett, Shane Ray, Dekoda Watson, Frank Shannon, Sadat

Sulleyan, Dwayne NormanCB: Aqib Talib (susp), Chris Harris Jr., Bradley Roby, Kayvon Webster, Lorenzo Doss, John TidwellS: T.J. Ward (SS), Darian Stewart (FS), Justin Simmons (FS), Shiloh Keo, Will Parks, B.J. Lowery, Ryan Murphy, Antonio Glover

Detroit Lions

QB: Another training camp arrives and there is very little (read this as none) competition for the starting quarterback job in Detroit. Matthew Stafford is unchallenged and entrenched as the starter and there are realistically no fantasy options behind him on the depth chart. There has been some turnover on offense and the Lions are doing their best to get Stafford and his new weapons on the same page. Stafford is having a fine camp, but Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reported that the first-team offense looked a little rusty during their mock game. He reported that Stafford struggled early but later in the game he showed nice chemistry with wide receiver Marvin Jones. Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press has reported that Stafford has been more vocal as a leader in this training camp. The battle for the backup quarterback job is between veteran Dan Orlovsky and rookie Jake Rudock. There is stability with Orlovsky but there’s little upside and Rudock is a young quarterback going through growing pains. Carlos Monarrez of The Detroit Free Press reports that Orlovksy easily remains as the No. 2 quarterback here, but that Rudock is doing a nice job adjusting after coming out of pro-style offenses at Iowa and Michigan. Monarrez also reports that Rudock is playing mostly with the third-string offense, but he is displaying good decision making, efficiency and accuracy. As of now it looks like Stafford and Orlovsky are No. 1 and No. 2 with Rudock headed for a developmental year.

RB: It’s tough to name a starter in the Detroit backfield with multiple players having a role that others don’t, and a running back by committee is truly what exists in Detroit. The most likely candidate to lead this team in touches is Ameer Abdullah, and he had off-season shoulder surgery and to this point he isn’t taking any contact. There isn’t any long-term concern with Abdullah’s shoulder as the season nears as he should be good to go. Theo Riddick is absolutely locked into a pass catching role out of the backfield as he is easily one of the NFL’s most dangerous weapons with the ball in his hands. He consistently makes the first man miss and helps the offense to stay in rhythm and move the chains. The Lions are looking for a power back to compliment Abdullah and Riddick, and the competition for that job is between second-year pro Zach Zenner and recently acquired free-agent Stevan Ridley. Also in the mix is 2016 late-round pick Dwayne Washington, but he is not a power back and most likely is headed for the practice

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squad. Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press reported that Ridley has had a good camp and that he looks bigger than his listed 220 pounds. Ridley runs with good pad lean, power and is what the Lions are looking for in a big back. Birkett also reports that while Zenner (playing with the second-team offense) doesn’t look as powerful or quick as Ridley, he runs with good vision. The battle for the “power back” job will likely continue through camp into late August. Rookie Dwayne Washington is an intriguing young player, but he is super raw and has a ways to go before he unseats any of the players ahead of him on the depth chart. He has very good quickness and speed, but his path to winning a job is likely on special teams. Brendan Savage of www.mlive.com has reported that Washington has flashed talent, and reports that he has caught the eye of head coach Jim Caldwell. Savage reports that Caldwell has commented on Washington, saying: "He had a couple pretty nice runs, he shows up. He has ability but he's young and he's learning. So he's got a ways to go but we've got something to work with there."

WR: Yes, Calvin Johnson has retired and the Lions must move on, and they’ve brought in multiple pieces to do just that. The Lions signed free-agent receiver Marvin Jones in the offseason and have recently brought in veteran Anquan Boldin. At this point, it looks like Golden Tate and Marvin Jones will be 1A and 1B in this offense. Boldin is a veteran, long in the tooth but he brings a winning mentality and incredible physicality to the position. Boldin separates in short areas with his big body and he’ll help to move the chains in the Detroit offense. Tim Twentyman of www.detroitlions.com reports that Jones has emerged as the Lions deep threat on the outside and that he’s looked the part in camp. Twentyman further noted that Jones commands the entire route tree and will be a big part of the offense. Golden Tate is what he is and he’ll continue to take short throws and make defenders miss to gain yards after the catch. He should be a primary weapon for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Shawn Windsor of The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Boldin was brought in by general manager Bob Quinn to make catches in heavy traffic and that’s exactly what he’ll do in this offense. Windsor says Boldin will mentor the younger receivers and help them during film study, practice and on the sidelines during games. Boldin is extremely sure handed and he’ll extend drives to help put points on the board. The Lions have a group of smaller slot types in veterans Andre Roberts, Jeremy Kerley and Andre Caldwell. There is a battle happening with these three and T.J. Jones, and the return game is what could separate one from the others. Another battle to watch is for the backup outside receiver position. That is currently being fought by undrafted free agents Jay Lee and Quinshad Davis, and veteran Corey Fuller. Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press reports that Fuller will likely start the season on the PUP list due to a June foot surgery. Carlos Monarrez of The Detroit Free Press writes that Lee caught all five passes thrown his way and scored a touchdown at the Lions mock game on Saturday. Paula Pasche of The Oakland Press called Lee a standout and a player making the most of his chances. Kyle Meinke of www.mlive.com is

saying that Davis is turning heads and that he has been excellent working with the reserves in training camp, and offers intriguing size at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds. The Lions have multiple battles at different positions throughout their receiver corps and these battles will move through August as it is still very early in the process.

TE: The Lions are expecting a breakout type campaign from third-year pro Eric Ebron and the path for a significant increase in volume is there for him with Johnson retiring. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports that Ebron has had a solid camp and quotes Caldwell as saying: “He’s been OK, he’s made a lot of catches out here. He's caught the ball better than he’s caught it before, which I think is good. He’s doing a lot of things better. I think he also is one of those that’s a little bit more familiar with the system so he’s executing better. He’s not perfect. Got a lot of talent that’s still yet unearthed and we just got to keep working with him. But I think he’ll be alright." His status is very much unclear at this point however, as he left the Lions mock game on a cart with a reported Achilles injury. Luckily, followup reports show the injury to be an ankle sprain instead. Ebron will miss time, but the situation could have been much worse. Veteran Brandon Pettigrew suffered a torn ACL last year and will start the season on the PUP list. Veteran Matthew Mulligan has bounced around the league and is more a blocker than a pass catcher. There is some decent amount of intrigue in undrafted free agent Cole Wick who is making plays, but he’s nowhere near the athlete that Ebron is. He is a plodding type but a good route runner and he made a bunch of plays in OTAs due to injuries to Ebron and Pettigrew. Wick is certainly a player to watch as the Ebron news unfolds.

Defense: The Lions added a big piece to the puzzle in defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson in the second round of the draft, and he’ll play in a rotation behind veteran starters Haloti Ngata and Tyrunn Walker. Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press reported that the defensive line is well ahead of the offensive line in the early part of camp. Linebacker DeAndre Levy remains out and is on the non-football injured list to start camp. This is a situation that bears monitoring, as his loss would be an enormous blow to the defense. The Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett quotes Quinn as saying that, “it’s not much of a concern to me” and "He is on NFI right now and we don’t think this is a long-term thing, so I’m hoping to see him back out here soon." Cornerback Darius Slay signed a long-term extension at the start of camp and he is a very good starting cornerback. The Lions need to solve the other starting cornerback position and currently they have Nevin Lawson starting there. He’ll have to hold off second-year pro Alex Carter and others. Glover Quin starts at free safety but one of the biggest holes on the roster is the strong safety position. There are a bunch of veterans in the mix to go along with rookie Miles Killebrew. Rafael Bush, Don Carey and Tavon Wilson are locked in a battle for the starting job, but Brendan Savage of www.mlive.com is reporting that Bush is the favorite to win the spot. Savage

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reports that Bush has received the majority of first team reps after through the first week of camp.

Returners: Despite their likely-large role on offense this year, the Lions have named Golden Tate and Ameer Abdullah their top punt and kickoff returners, respectively, on their first depth chart of the season. Versatile specialist T.J. Jones backs up both positions.

Lions Depth ChartQB: Matthew Stafford, Dan Orlovsky, Jake RudockRB: Ameer Abdullah (KR), Theo Riddick (3RB), Zach Zenner (SD),Stevan Ridley (SD), Dwayne Washington, George WinnFB: Michael BurtonWR: Golden Tate (PR), Marvin Jones, Anquan Boldin, TJ Jones (KR/PR), Jeremy Kerley, Andre Caldwell, Corey Fuller (inj), Jay Lee, Quinshad Davis, Andre Roberts, Jace Billingsley, Ryan Spadola (IR)TE: Eric Ebron (inj), Brandon Pettigrew (inj), Cole Wick, Matthew Mulligan, Adam Fuehne, Ben McCord, Tim Wright (IR)LT: Taylor Decker, Corey RobinsonLG: Laken Tomlinson, Joe Dahl, Gabe IkardC: Travis Swanson, Graham GlascowRG: Larry Warford, Geoff SchwartzRT: Riley Reiff, Michael Ola, Cornelius LucasK: Matt PraterDT: Haloti Ngata, A′Shawn Robinson, Tyrunn Walker (inj), Caraun Reid, Khyri Thornton, Gabe Wright, Stefan Charles, Kerry HyderDE: Ezekiel Ansah, Devin Taylor, Wallace Gilberry, Anthony Zettel, Quanterus Smith, Deonte Gibson, Louis PalmerMLB: Tahir Whitehead (S), Antwione Williams, Dominique Tovell (S)OLB: DeAndre Levy (W), Kyle Van Noy (S), Josh Bynes (S),Jonathan Bostic (W/M), Khaseem Greene, Brandon Copeland, Zaviar GoodenCB: Darius Slay, Nevin Lawson, Quandre Diggs, Alex Carter, Darrin Walls, Crezdon Butler, Adairius Barnes, Ian Wells, Charles WashingtonS: Glover Quin (FS), Rafael Bush (FS), Tavon Wilson (SS), Miles Killebrew (SS), Don Carey, Johnson Bademosi (FS), Isaiah Johnson (SS)

Green Bay Packers

QB: Neither Aaron Rodgers (precautionary reasons) nor Brett Hundley (ankle injury) were expected to play in the Hall of Fame game on Sunday. To the sorrow of many NFL fans, there was no Hall of Fame game. The majority of the snaps

were to fall to Marquise Williams and Joe Callahan, a pair of undrafted rookies vying for a roster spot. “I think they’re doing OK,” GM Ted Thompson said recently. “I don’t know how easy that is to be a rookie quarterback and be thrust into NFL training camp where, for all the world for them, it probably looks like they’re going against first-teamers all the time. But I think they're holding their own, and we'll see what they can do down in Ohio.” Callahan has acknowledged a steep learning curve: “Trying to adjust to Aaron’s style of play and some of his mechanics early on, that was one of the things that I had to learn and try to learn as fast as possible. I think that month that we had off was critical in my ability to pick that up fast. It was something that I was able to work on with so much free time. Aaron has a unique style of footwork. The way that it's built into the offense, it's all based off of timing and everything just times up so well. You try and do what Aaron does out there. You try to mimic as much as you can, if that's possible, because we know who Aaron Rodgers is. You try to play as much like him as possible.”

RB: Eddie Lacy is listed as the starting running back on the Packers' initial depth chart followed by James Starks and John Crockett. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Pete Dougherty estimated that Eddie Lacy reported to camp 'around the 240-pound mark.' That is about 20 pounds lighter than he began camp last season. Fullback John Kuhn, recently signed by the Saints, bid his Green Bay faithful farewell on Twitter this week, saying “My years in Green Bay will always be incredibly special and I will never forget how the fans embraced me from day one. As a small school college player from a tiny town in Pennsylvania, having the opportunity to hear your name chanted by thousands of fans, both at home and on the road, is an experience I will always cherish." Aaron Ripkowski is Kuhn's replacement at fullback.

WR: The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Michael Cohen and Bob McGinn agreed on their Packers Podcast Friday, that Jeff Janis has had a 'disappointing' training camp so far. Despite Aaron Rodgers spending extra time with Janis after practices this past week, he is not synching with Rodgers in practices. Rodgers would have been held out of the Hall of Fame game, so Janis will have to wait until next week for more reps with the Packers' starter. The initial depth chart (unofficial, released August 2) showed Janis behind second-teamers Jared Abbrederis and Davante Adams (with Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb listed as starters). Nelson has missed all the practices this week due to a sore knee/knee tendinitis. OC Edgar Bennett said that “it's just a matter of time” until Nelson is back to his normal self. Bennett also indicated that Davante Adams “continues to improve,” though he added, “Just like all the members of our offense, we want (Adams) to be more consistent.”

TE: Richard Rodgers is listed as the starting tight end as of with Jared Cook running second on the depth chart in spite of missing practice due to his injured/surgically repaired foot. Cook may be out of the second week of practices, as well.

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Rodgers has slimmed down to 258 pounds after playing as high as 275 last season, and has impressed Aaron Rodgers. “He's had a great offseason, and we're primed for him to continue to build on the things he's done in the first couple years,” said Rodgers.

Defense: The Packers plan for Nick Perry to be their lead outside linebacker, while Julius Peppers is going to play limited snaps and serve as the backup to Perry during 2016. “I think Nick will play a bigger role in our defense clearly just from an opportunity standpoint,” coach McCarthy said. “His opportunities will increase. I think that's something that's been evident since Day 1 in the off-season program. Going back to the postseason conversations that we had, this is the first off-season Nick has gone through. He's been coming off an injury each and every year and he looks like a whole different player. I look for Nick to be a prominent player in our defense this year.”

Returners: Undrafted rookie Trevor Davis is battling to make the roster as a return specialist, but faces challenges from a crowded WR depth chart. Should he fail in his bid, Jeff Janis, (himself perhaps on the roster bubble), would likely handle kickoffs, while veteran Micah Hyde handled punt returns.

Packers Depth ChartQB: Aaron Rodgers, Brett Hundley, Joe Callahan, Marquise WilliamsRB: Eddie Lacy, James Starks, John Crockett, Brandon Burks, Brandon Ross, Don JohnsonFB: Aaron Ripkowski, Alstevis SquirewellWR: Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Jared Abbrederis, Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery, Jeff Janis (KR), Trevor Davis (KR/PR), Geronimo Allison, Jamel Johnson, Ed Williams, Herb Waters, Harvey BinfordTE: Richard Rodgers, Jared Cook, Justin Perillo, Kennard Backman, Casey Pierce, Mitchell HenryLT: David Bakhtiari, Jason SpriggsLG: Josh Sitton, Lane Taylor, William CampbellC: Corey Linsley, J.C. TretterRG: T.J. Lang, Josh WalkerRT: Bryan Bulaga, Kyle MurphyK: Mason CrosbyNT: Letroy Guion, Kenny Clark, Christian Ringo, Brian PriceDE: Mike Daniels, Datone Jones, Mike Pennel, Dean Lowry, Tyler Kuder, Demetris Anderson, Reggie GilbertILB: Sam Barrington (M), Jake Ryan, Blake Martinez, Carl Bradford (M), Joe ThomasOLB: Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, Nick Perry, Jayrone Elliott, Kyler Fackrell, Lerentee McCray, Beniquez Brown, Manoa PikulaCB: Sam Shields, Quinten Rollins, Damarious Randall, Demetri Goodson (susp), LaDarius Gunter, Robertson Daniel, Josh Hawkins, Makinton DorleantS: Morgan Burnett (SS), Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (FS), Micah

Hyde (FS/PR), Chris Banjo (SS), Kentrell Brice, Marwin Evans

Houston Texans

QB: Brock Osweiler had a shaky start to camp but came on strong as the week progressed. He is getting the timing down with his receivers and has been able to complete a number of deep balls to DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller against the first-team defense in recent practices. Tom Savage has turned some heads early in camp with his command of the offense and big arm. "Very improved player," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said of Savage. “He's put a lot of hard work on and off the field. He's really worked hard to change his body, become stronger, become quicker, quicker release. He has a much better knowledge of our offense. It takes a while for that position. The only thing Tom needs is an opportunity. Tom is a good football player and he's put a lot of time in to get to where he is right now."

RB: Lamar Miller is the clear starter for the Texans and has taken most of the first-team reps. He has been working on his timing in the Texans' I-formation running plays behind Jay Prosch as the duo works on their chemistry. "Lamar is awesome," Prosch said. "Now, it's time to put it all together. It's a learning process. I think we're a good fit. We definitely have to have some chemistry built up before we actually start. I think we're building that. Lamar does a good job of bringing the block to the blockers and setting up the blocks. It helps me a lot. He's definitely a powerful guy with a good burst. It's exciting." After the offense struggled mightily in goal line drills early in camp, they began to pick things up in more recent practices as Miller found the end zone multiple times on Thursday and Friday. Tyler Ervin has shown surprisingly well on some runs between the tackles, displaying an ability to bounce off would be tacklers and keep his balance. He has also proven especially dangerous in the open field, where he is too quick for linebackers to cover. Akeem Hunt has been similarly impressive early in camp and brings a similar skillset to Ervin to the table. Alfred Blue is likely to stick around as the big back and he has reportedly shown modest improvement as he hopes to carve out a role behind Miller.

WR: Following a short holdout, DeAndre Hopkins returned to the field and has been making plays on a regular basis in camp. Even against tight coverage by the Texans top corners, Hopkins always seems to find a way to come down with the ball when it’s thrown in his direction. After arriving as a rookie weighing 237 pounds, Jaelen Strong has shown up to camp in tremendous shape (200 pounds) as he enters his second season. "It got out of hand," Strong said. "Now, I'm in better shape than I've ever been. I got my body right." Bill O'Brien noted that Strong “nailed the conditioning test.” “He’s been able to really refine his skillset as a receiver,” said

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O’Brien. Long-time beat writer John McClain has called Strong the “most improved player” on the team. Strong is poised to open the season as the #2 receiver across from Hopkins. The Texans duo of highly drafted rookies is going to make an impact as well and they could steal snaps from Strong along the way. First-rounder Will Fuller has made some of the big plays that he is known for. Beat-writers have noted, “no one can run with him.” He has unsurprisingly had some issues getting off the line against press coverage, but has made progress throughout the offseason. Braxton Miller has also made some big plays with the first-team offense. Observers have noted that his reputation as a “project” is overblown and Miller has picked up the offense quickly. Cecil Shorts has been “fantastic” throughout the start of camp and is getting open against “anyone and everyone.” The battle for the final roster spot at receiver will be fierce. Young veteran Keith Mumphrey will have to hold off a slew of talented youngsters. The most intriguing of the young guys battling to make the team is Wendall Williams. His blazing speed (reportedly ran in 4.2 range at his pro day) has been on full display. He’s also flashed natural hands and his ability as a returner may help earn him a spot on the roster.

TE: The tight end group overall has been struggling with catching the ball early in camp. O’Brien has praised the development of C.J. Fiedorowicz as a route-runner and blocker, but his hands remain questionable. Fiedorowicz has improved enough to be the probable starter. Undrafted rookie Stephen Anderson has made a lot of catches in camp and stood out as a bright spot. He’s shown an ability to make adjustments and come down with poorly thrown balls. O’Brien called Anderson a “very, very smart kid. He’s got good hands. He’s got good route-running ability.”

PK: Nick Novak and rookie UDFA Kai’mi Fairbairn are in a “very close battle” according to head coach Bill O’Brien. He added that both are working “extremely hard.” Most observers expect preseason game performances to determine the outcome.

Defense: Whitney Mercilus looks to have taken another step towards being an impact player. He can win in so many different ways now than he could a couple of years ago. He’s reportedly gotten bigger, quicker and more explosive all at once. Bernardrick McKinney has flashed surprising skills in coverage, including a play where he ran step for step with Lamar Miller on a deep route. The second-year linebacker could emerge as a big-time playmaker. Rookie defensive tackle D.J. Reader has made his presence felt early in camp. He has shown the strength to hold the point against double teams and some pass rushing chops.

Returners: Disappointed with their return game last year, Houston drafted Tyler Ervin in part to shore it up. While undrafted players are always a long-shot to make the final roster, rookie Wendall Williams has been routinely impressing as a returner in training camps and could latch on. Last year’s

primary returner, Keith Mumphery, is also still around and in the mix.

Texans Depth ChartQB: Brock Osweiler, Brandon Weeden, Tom SavageRB: Lamar Miller, Alfred Blue, Tyler Ervin, Jonathan Grimes, Akeem Hunt, Kenny HilliardFB: Jay ProschWR: DeAndre Hopkins, Jaelen Strong, Will Fuller, Cecil Shorts, Braxton Miller, Keith Mumphery, Wendall Williams, Josh LenzTE: Ryan Griffin, C.J. Fiedorowicz, Anthony Denham, Stephen Anderson, Eric TomlinsonLT: Duane Brown, Chris ClarkLG: Xavier Sua-Filo, Jeff AdamsC: Nick Martin, Tony Bergstrom, Greg ManczRG: Jeff Allen, Oday Aboushi, Kendall LammRT: Derek NewtonK: Nick Novak, Kai’mi FairbairnNT: Vince Wilfork, D.J. ReaderDE: J.J. Watt (inj), Christian Covington, Devon Still, Brandon Dunn, Jeoffrey Pagan, Joel Heath, Dan PettinatoILB: Brian Cushing, Benardrick McKinney, Akeem Dent, Max Bullough, Brian PetersOLB: Whitney Mercilus (S), Jadeveon Clowney (J), John Simon (S/J), Reshard Cliett, Tony Washington, Carlos ThompsonCB: Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson, Kevin Johnson, A.J. Bouye, Charles James, Richard Leonard (inj)S: Andre Hal (FS), Eddie Pleasant (SS), Quintin Demps (FS),Antonio Allen (SS), KJ Dillon (SS), Kurtis Drummond (FS), Lonnie Ballentine (SS), Corey Moore

Indianapolis Colts

Note: The Colts were slated to play the Packers in the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday, August 7th, but the game was canceled due to poor field conditions.

QB: After the disastrous 2015 season, fantasy owners are hoping that the draft addition of center Ryan Kelly can help keep Andrew Luck upright. Luck’s is optimistic. “I think physically and mentally I feel like I have gotten better as a quarterback, better as a thrower and better at understanding this offense. … I think the more we’ve practiced, the more we’ve gotten our reps in I think the faster we have gotten as an offense. The faster we’re playing and that certainly lends itself to confidence, yeah.” Despite a statistically forgettable and injury-tainted year, Indianapolis made Luck the highest paid player in the NFL with a $123 million dollar extension that will keep him with the team through 2021. Vocal owner Jim Irsay recently said of Luck, “Andrew’s feeling really healthy. ... He feels great and that makes me feel great.”

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However hopeful the team feels about its starter, Indianapolis’ backup quarterback situation is one of the more dismal in the league. Matt Hasselbeck retired in the offseason, leaving a large void at the position. Only former undrafted free agents Scott Tolzien (formerly of the Packers) and Stephen Morris are on the roster.

RB: Frank Gore remains atop the depth chart. Unlike last year, the Colts don’t plan to keep Gore on a “pitch count” for carries. Instead, they will assess how fresh Gore is feeling from game to game throughout the year. Newly appointed Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski said of the situation, “I don’t like the word ‘pitch count,’ but I think the word is that we have to be smart in making sure that we have a rotation that keeps (Gore) fresh and effective throughout the course of the season. What that is in numbers isn’t as important. I think, as a coach, you assess that as you’re going through the course of the season.” On the depth chart that was released by the team last week, Robert Turbin was listed as the backup. A committee including Turbin, journeyman Jordan Todman, and rookie newcomer Josh Ferguson could split the workload should Gore break his five-year healthy streak and succumb to injury. Of this backup group, Ferguson has been the standout in camp so far. He has had some strong practices, showing nice hands out of the backfield and contagious energy on his touches.

WR: The starting wide receiving corps for Indianapolis remains one of the more exciting in the NFL. T.Y. Hilton is seen as the leader of this group by both the coaches and his teammates. Head Coach Chuck Pagano said of Hilton’s place on the team, "Naturally, guys grow into that role and he embraced that role as far as a leader, mentoring the young guys. But really, it was by his actions and being here and being present, working his tail off and playing at a really high speed and high level." T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief will be the starters in two-wide sets with last year’s first-round pick Phillip Dorsett seeing time when plays call for three wideouts, which should become more common this year. Beyond these three, there is little depth. The most notable name is former Patriots receiver Josh Boyce, who flashed at times but never quite panned out in New England. However, it is UDFA Chester Rogers (Grambling State) and UDFA Tevaun Smith (Iowa) that have been the ones impressing in camp practices.

TE: Coby Fleener departed for a big contract in New Orleans, leaving Dwayne Allen as the Colts’ primary tight end. The team expressed confidence in him by signing him to a four-year, $29.4-million-dollar deal. Allen has historically been one of Luck’s favorite targets in the red zone, but staying healthy throughout his career has been an issue. The day Colts camp started, Allen gave a short interview in which he stated, “I just want to be healthy and available so I can help my team. … I did a lot of talking before. I felt the talking came from not having the opportunities, so I needed to talk. But this year, regardless of opportunities, I want to be the teammate and the player that people speak for and I don’t have to speak for

myself.” Backup Jack Doyle functions more as a blocker. Erik Swoope would be of great interest to owners if Allen again misses time, as Swoope has the natural receiving and jump ball skills that players are looking to add to their fantasy teams.

Defense: The Colts fired Greg Manusky and hired Ravens’ linebackers coach Ted Monachino. While the Colts base defense won’t change, Monachino will simplify concepts and instill an attacking mentality in his players. Monachino likes to bring pressure. In a recent interview, Monachino explained, “We love pressure, but pressure can come from a variety of different ways. We can come from three-man pressure. We can rush four and affect the quarterback by forcing him to hold the football and getting a guy home. We can bring additional rushers. We can bring additional rushers and drop guys who are typical rushers. But yes, I’m a pressure guy. There’s enough variety that you’re not going to know who it is and where it’s coming from.” Overall, the defensive personnel remains questionable, which is good news for those who own Colts skill position players. The offense will have to score points to compensate when the defense lapses. Nose tackle Arthur Jones, who had missed all the previous season with an injury, was busted for a performance enhancing drug violation and will miss the first four games of 2016. The battle for the inside linebacker spot opposite D’Qwell Jackson rages on between ex-Bronco Nate Irving and ex-Raider Sio Moore. Colts star corner Vontae Davis recently had an injury scare in practice, but returned to play after spending a few moments on the trainer’s table.

Returners: After performing admirably last season, Quan Bray is the only Colt listed on the initial depth chart at either punt or kickoff returner. Should he falter in his duties, though, Indianapolis is likely to give receivers Phillip Dorsett or Donte Moncrief a chance.

Colts Depth ChartQB: Andrew Luck, Scott Tolzien, Stephen MorrisRB: Frank Gore, Robert Turbin, Josh Ferguson, Jordan Todman, Trey WilliamsFB: Abou ToureWR: T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, Phillip Dorsett, Quan Bray (KR/PR), Josh Boyce, MeKale McKay, Chester Rogers, Marcus Leak, Tavaun Smith, Joshua Stangby, Daniel Anthrop, Andre DeboseTE: Dwayne Allen, Jack Doyle, Erik Swoope, Chase Coffman, Emil Igwenagu, Darion Griswold, Nick Truesdell, Mike McFarland (IR)LT: Anthony Castonzo, LeRaven ClarkLG: Jack MewhortC: Ryan Kelly, Jonotthan Harrison, Austin BlytheRG: Hugh Thornton, Denzelle GoodRT: Joe Reitz, Joe HaegK: Adam VinatieriNT: David Parry, Zach Kerr, Ricky LumpkinDE: Kendall Langford (inj), Henry Anderson (inj), Arthur

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Jones (susp),Earl Okine, Hassan Ridgeway, Delvon Simmons, Kelcy QuarlesILB: D′Qwell Jackson, Nate Irving, Sio Moore, Antonio Morrison, Trevor Bates, Josh McNary, Amarlo HerreraOLB: Trent Cole, Erik Walden, Robert Mathis, Junior Sylvestre, Curt Maggitt, Sterling BaileyCB: Vontae Davis, Patrick Robinson, Darius Butler, D′Joun Smith, Jalil Brown, Tevin Mitchel, Patrick Robinson, Tay Glover-Wright, Darius White, Winston Rose, Christopher MiltonS: Mike Adams (FS), Clayton Geathers (SS) (inj), Winston Guy (FS),T.J. Green (SS), Dezmen Southward, Andrew Williamson, Stefan McClure

Jacksonville Jaguars

QB: Within the first three minutes of the Jaguars 11-on-11 drills on Thursday, both Blake Bortles and Chad Henne were intercepted. Bortles was picked off by Telvin Smith who made a great read in coverage on a pass that was intended for Julius Thomas. Henne’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and Dwayne Gratz made the interception. Beat writer Ryan O’Halloran tracked Bortles at 56.3% (40-of-71) on his passing attempts with four interceptions during 11-on-11s, and 66.0% (35-of-53) with one interception during 7-on-7s. There’s no official tally of the touchdown passes thrown during those drills, but there were several. Bortles has looked sharp in training camp despite the interceptions as the defense has also been shining in camp so far. Head coach Gus Bradley had some kind words for Bortles, “I’ve been very, very pleased with him. Very excited about him. It comes back to his command of the offense, seeing him going up to receivers, tight ends and talk to them. He has a stronger command. He’s playing with good poise. I think that if there’s a mistake made he reacts quicker to it, recovers quicker from it.” With Bortles entering his second year in coordinator Greg Olson’s offense he has set lofty goals for himself and the offense as a whole. Olson said Bortles is more comfortable and confident in his knowledge of the offense, but still isn’t at the point where he can have  a picture in his mind at the moment the play is called of everyone’s role and how the defense is going to react. “He’s getting better at that,” Olson said.

RB: “I think we’re going to be as good as our running game is,” Blake Bortles told reporters on Monday. “I think last year we were forced to throw the ball maybe a little bit more, maybe a little bit more than we had planned either because we weren’t running the ball well or we were behind the chains or down in the game.” Chris Ivory has started strong in the first days of camp and his lower-the-shoulder style will help the running game as T.J. Yeldon will be able to see a slight decrease in volume this season. Coach Bradley said that Chris Ivory was signed in part to help keep T.J. Yeldon healthy.

“It’s a long season and to have two or three backs that you can count on, that’d be an asset for our team.”

WR: Allen Robinson and cornerback Prince Amukamara have been competing against each other early in camp with Amukamara getting the best of Robinson early in the 7-on-7 red zone drills. Later on Robinson took advantage of Amukamara on a route that was away from the ball. Robinson was bummed the pass didn’t go his way, as he was wide open after shaking free of Amukamara. Robinson also had an impressive play on the first unit’s final play of practice as he lined up in the right slot against cornerback Jalen Ramsey. At the snap, Robinson juked inside and Ramsey bit, Robinson then darted outside to catch a touchdown pass from Blake Bortles. Undrafted rookie wide receiver Jamal Robinson has put together back to back impressive performances at practice. He made two acrobatic catches, including an impressive touchdown catch. Marqise Lee is dealing with a hamstring injury and missed practice for a sixth-straight session. Arrelious Benn is attempting an NFL comeback with the Jaguars. Benn has not caught a regular season pass since 2012 but yet continues to capture headlines for his impressive performances over the last three summers. Benn will be battling for a roster spot with the likes of Bryan Walters, Tony Washington and Rashad Lawrence.

TE: Veteran Marcedes Lewis has looked good thus far but had a rough spot during a midweek practice as the ball sailed right through his hands on a Bortles throw. After finishing the 2015 season with a 46/455/5 stat line in 12 games, Julius Thomas is looking to rebound and get to 8-10 touchdowns. The key to achieving his goal will be staying healthy and playing a full season; something he’s historically been unable to do.

Defense: Last year’s 1st round pick defensive end Dante Fowler has looked great so far. Fowler blew past offensive linemen during 1-on-1 drills, as he owned backup tackle Josh Wells on two-straight battles, with the first time using his speed and hands and then by using his power and strength to knock him into a big blue cone. He also got the best of veteran right tackle Jermey Parnell as he used his athleticism to quickly get around him. Starting Cornerback Davon House has been sidelined with a hamstring injury. 

Returners: After a short but electric stint at punt returner to end his rookie season, Rashad Greene returns as the favorite to get an extended look. At kickoffs, the athletic Nick Marshall and Denard Robinson— both former college quarterbacks— open as favorites for the job.

Jaguars Depth ChartQB: Blake Bortles, Chad Henne, Brandon AllenRB: T.J. Yeldon (3RB), Chris Ivory (SD), Denard Robinson (WR),Jonas Gray, Corey Grant, Joe BanyardWR: Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Rashad Greene (PR), Marqise Lee, Bryan Walters, Arrelious Benn, Shane

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Wynn, Tony Washington, Rashad Lawrence, Shaq Evans, Jamal Robinson, Rasheed BaileyTE: Julius Thomas, Marcedes Lewis, Nic Jacobs, Ben Koyack, Neal Sterling, Braedon BowmanLT: Luke Joeckel, Kelvin BeachumLG: Mackenzy Bernadeau, Tyler ShatleyC: Brandon Linder, Luke BowankoRG: AJ CannRT: Jermey ParnellK: Jason MyersDT: Malik Jackson (DE), Senderrick Marks, Roy Miller, Tyson Alualu, Michael Bennett, Sheldon Day, Abry JonesDE: Dante Fowler Jr., Jared Odrick, Yannick Ngakoue, Chris Smith, Ryan Davis, Jonathan Woodard (inj)MLB: Paul Posluszny, Thurston ArmbristerOLB: Telvin Smith (W), Myles Jack (S/M), Dan Skuta (S), Jordan Tripp (S), Tyrone Holmes, Hayes Pullard III (W), Joplo Bartu (W),Bjoern Werner, Sean Porter (S)CB: Davon House, Prince Amukamara, Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Colvin (susp), Nick Marshall, Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Dwayne Gratz, Demetrius McCrayS: Tashaun Gipson (FS), John Cyprien (SS), James Sample (SS),Josh Evans (SS), Jarrod Wilson (FS), Craig Loston (SS), Peyton Thompson (SS), Earl Wolff

Kansas City Chiefs

QB: Alex Smith returns for his fourth season at the helm of the Chiefs offense. He continues to carry around the label of game manager, but he’s a highly efficient one at that. That works fine on the field for what he’s asked to do in the offense, but it leaves him as little more than a QB2 consideration for fantasy squads. That being said, there have been glowing reports about Smith’s performance in camp thus far, and he could see a boost in productivity this season as a result. "His decision making is great. There's no second-guessing," says co-offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. The Chiefs made a move to shore up the backup position with the signing of Nick Foles, who has a history with head coach Andy Reid. Foles is no threat to unseat Smith, as Reid explains. “Nick knows that it’s Alex’s team and Alex knows that it’s his team. Let’s go play,” he said. The signing of Foles creates a logjam at the quarterback position, as the team is currently carrying five players at the position. Aaron Murray appeared to be in line for the backup role due to the departure of Chase Daniel in free agency, but he’s been passed on the depth chart by Tyler Bray. Kevin Hogan was selected in this year’s draft and appears headed for a practice squad designation. Bray and Murray could be battling for a roster spot, but a release or trade of one or both can’t be ruled out at this point.

RB: Jamaal Charles was placed on the active/PUP list as camp opened. He continues to recover from the ACL injury that brought an abrupt end to his 2015 season, and the Chiefs are being understandably cautious with him. It’s a pretty safe bet that we won’t see too much of Charles in the preseason, but he appears to be coming along well in his recovery and should be a full go for Week 1. Similar to what happened last season, the absence of Charles is allowing more time for Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware to shine. Both backs proved more than capable when they were thrust into playing time, and the Chiefs wisely held on to both of them as insurance against another Charles injury. There’s no clear-cut answer as to who will be the primary backup, but Ware appears to be in the lead at the moment. “He’s got great vision, he’s got good feet and he can catch. Those things work in our offense,” said Reid. Knile Davis, the former primary backup for Charles, remains with the club as well. He’s clearly been passed over on the depth chart, but he will resume his role as the club’s top kick returner.

WR: The book on Chiefs receivers for fantasy purposes typically starts and ends with Jeremy Maclin, but early reports indicate it may not be a one-man show at the position for too much longer. That would open things up further for Maclin, who delivered a solid effort in his first year with the Chiefs in 2015. A calf strain has sidelined projected starter Albert Wilson, and that’s opened things up for Rod Streater. He’s taking full advantage of the opportunity, and he could push himself into the conversation for more playing time if his strong camp continues. “I think Rod’s done a phenomenal job. We’ve asked him to play outside, we’ve moved him to the slot and I think he’s a very intelligent guy,” Maclin said. Second-year pro Chris Conley appears in line for more playing time too, and early reports on 2016 draft pick Demarcus Robinson have been glowing. Tyreek Hill, another 2016 draft choice, has been one of the early stars of camp. "The biggest part of coming into this offense as a wide receiver is the mentality of being able to handle the volume of the reps that we have, the formations, the personnel, how things adjust. He’s done it so far," Nagy said. Add it all up, and it sounds like the days of Maclin being the only wide receiver threat may be numbered.

TE: The Chiefs showed their commitment to Travis Kelce by signing him to a five-year extension this offseason. He’s produced mirror image statistics in both of his years as a starter, and he hasn’t even scratched the surface of his full potential. Kelce has showcased just how hard it is to stop him in the early days of camp, and he’s fully secure in his role as the third option in the offense behind Charles and Maclin. Backup Ross Travis has been one of the early darlings at training camp. He hauled in two touchdowns during red zone drills on Saturday. Travis is a former college basketball player that brings great size to the table, and he could be an interesting long-term prospect if he’s able to hang on through camp. James O’Shaughnessy, Demetrius Harris and Brian Parker round out a deep tight end depth chart for the Chiefs.

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Defense: The Chiefs surprised many with their performance on the defensive side of the ball in 2015, and they are projected to be one of the top units again in 2016. Before they are able to live up to those expectations, there are several question marks that need to be sorted out. Eric Berry has yet to report due to a contract dispute, and Justin Houston and Tamba Hali are both on the active/PUP list for the start of camp. Those question marks have led to a ton of opportunities for other members of the roster. “Every guy here is counting on you to be prepared. We count on you so that’s been an advantage from the standpoint of reps. They have to take advantage of that right now,” said defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. Early camp standouts have included ILB Justin March and CB Marcus Peters, the 2015 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Peters appears poised to improve on his stellar debut campaign, and that should be a scary thought for opposing offenses if the Chiefs are able to close the book on all of their question marks before camp closes out.

Returners: Special teams coach Dave Toub compared rookie Tyreek Hill to Devin Hester when he was drafted and has called Hill the fastest player he’s coached. An electrifying camp increased the odds he earns the first-team punt return duties. Knile Davis could make the roster just for his kickoff returns, provided Hill doesn’t earn those duties, too.

Chiefs Depth ChartQB: Alex Smith, Nick Foles, Tyler Bray, Aaron Murray, Kevin HoganRB: Jamaal Charles, Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West, Knile Davis (KR), Darrin ReavesFB: Anthony Sherman, Trey MillardWR: Jeremy Maclin, Chris Conley, Albert Wilson, Rod Streater, De′Anthony Thomas, Tyreek Hill, Demarcus Robinson, Frankie Hammond, Seantavius Jones, Da′Ron Brown, Mitch Mathews, Kashif Moore, Mike WilliamsTE: Travis Kelce, James O′Shaughnessy, Demetrius Harris, Brian Parker, Ross TravisLT: Eric Fisher, Jah ReidLG: Parker Ehinger, Zach Fulton, Jarrod PughsleyC: Mitch Morse, Jordan DeveyRG: Laurent Duvernay-TardifRT: Mitchell Schwartz, Reid FragelK: Cairo SantosNT: Dontari Poe, Chris Jones, Alamedu Ta′amuDE: Jaye Howard, Allen Bailey, Nick Williams, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, David King, Jimmy Staten, Efe ObadaILB: Derrick Johnson, Josh Mauga, D.J. Alexander, Ramik Wilson, Terrance Smith, Justin March, Tyrell AdamsOLB: Justin Houston (inj), Tamba Hali, Dee Ford, Frank Zombo, Dezman Moses, Dadi Lhomme Nicolas, Jonathan Massaquoi, Andy MalumbaCB: Marcus Peters, Phillip Gaines, Steven Nelson, Keivarae Russell, Marcus Cooper, Eric Murray, D.J. White, Deveron Carr, Shannon Edwards, Shakiel Rudolph, Vernon Harris

S: Eric Berry (SS), Ron Parker (FS), Steve Brown, Daniel Sorenson (SS), Jamell Fleming (FS), Akeem Davis

Los Angeles Rams

QB: Jeff Fisher named Case Keenum as the Rams starter for the preseason opener. What Jeff Fisher does right now means nothing for what he will do at the start of the regular season. Fisher has previously made statements about quarterbacks that he has almost immediately backed off of. What is more concerning for Jared Goff is how he has played this week. Bucky Brooks of NFL.com visited Los Angeles and came away convinced that Goff was nowhere near ready to start. Goff started the week relatively well but by Friday fans could be heard calling for Case Keenum when the rookie panicked in the pocket. On the bright side, Goff has made a number of very difficult throws that have excited local beat writers. His talent is there, it's just a matter of how long it takes for it to outweigh his struggles.

RB: Todd Gurley has looked incredible in the first week, repeatedly breaking off big runs whenever given the opportunity. With Gurley expected to be one of the most heavily worked running backs this season, there aren't many snaps left to fight for among the backups. Tre Mason didn't report to training camp for the Rams. Mason had gone missing his NFL future is in doubt. His absence means that Benny Cunningham will be essentially uncontested for the Rams' primary backup role. Cunningham should also be the team's third-down back. Aaron Green, Malcolm Brown and Chase Reynolds are competing for roster spots behind Gurley and Cunningham. Green has the upper hand thanks to his performance thus far on special teams.

WR: Brian Quick said that Mike Groh – the team’s passing game coordinator and receivers coach – is working the unit harder than ever before. Quick had a decent first week of practice. He’s healthy twelve months after suffering a career-threatening shoulder injury. Quick is the favorite to start across from Kenny Britt in the Rams base offense but is facing stiff competition from rookie Mike Thomas. Thomas and teammate Jared Goff have developed a quick rapport. Thomas’ length and athleticism were always going to stand out in training camp situations. The real questions for Thomas will come in preseason and regular season games. On the inside, Tavon Austin had an injury scare early in the first week of camp but returned to the field. His backup, rookie Pharoh Cooper, missed time later in the week with a quad problem. Duke Williams, another rookie, struggled at the beginning of camp because of drops but made a strong finish to the week while Cooper was out. Williams has a tough road to make the roster as an outside receiver but would make sense as a practice squad player if he performs well throughout camp.

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TE: Jake Stoneburner was signed during the first week of training camp after being released by the Miami Dolphins. Stoneburner is a versatile player with limited offensive upside. Lance Kendricks and Cory Harkey are established as tight end/fullback options for the Rams. It's up to rookies Tyler Higbee, a fourth-round pick, and Temarrick Hemingway, a sixth-round pick, to take snaps from them. Higbee has been a stand out through the first week+. His athleticism is apparent and Higbee has shown an immediate ability to work underneath routes.

PK: Greg Zuerlein is facing competition from Taylor Bertolet, but his 64-yard field goal in the LA Coliseum wowed the crowd and should help his case. The team felt the need to bring in another kicker to push him, but so far Zuerlein has responded.

Defense: The big concern coming out of the first week of training camp was the injury to E.J. Gaines. Gaines missed all of last season after starring during his rookie season. He was the natural replacement for Janoris Jenkins across from Trumaine Johnson. Gaines has a mild hamstring strain and could miss the first preseason game but it's not expected to be a long-term issue. Former Titans cornerback Coty Sensabaugh took Jenkins' number and has played a lot across from Johnson to this point in camp. Sensabaugh is a veteran who has struggled throughout his career. The secondary is where the Rams need to focus through training camp. T.J. McDonald was arrested during the offseason but arrived in training camp on time and received praise from Jeff Fisher. McDonald is entrenched as the starting safety with Maurice Alexander penciled in as the team's free safety. The former fourth-round pick and linebacker will need to prove himself in preseason games because he won't truly be tested in camp. Lamarcus Joyner could also play a big role this year. Alec Ogletree has continued his transition from outside linebacker to inside linebacker. He is now making alignment calls and audibles. Both Ogletree and defensive end Robert Quinn are healthy after missing large chunks of the 2015 season.

Returners: In one of the rare islands of stability on special teams, neither punt returner Tavon Austin nor kickoff returner Benny Cunningham faces any serious challenges to their role in 2016.

Rams Depth ChartQB: Jared Goff, Case Keenum, Sean Mannion, Dylan ThompsonRB: Todd Gurley, Benny Cunningham (3RB/KR), Malcolm Brown (RFA),Chase Reynolds, Trey Watts, Aaron Green, Tre Mason (res)FB: Corey Harkey (TE)WR: Kenny Britt, Tavon Austin (PR), Brian Quick, Pharoh Cooper, Michael Thomas, Marquez North, Paul McRoberts, Nelson Spruce, Bradley Marquez, Isiah Ferguson, Kain ColterTE: Lance Kendricks, Tyler Higbee, Temarrick

Hemingway, Justice Cunningham, Jake StoneburnerLT: Greg Robinson, Isaiah BattleLG: Rodger Saffold, Garrett Reynolds, Cody WichmannC: Tim Barnes, Demetrius Rhaney, Eric KushRG: Jamon Brown, Andrew DonnalRT: Rob Havenstein, Darrell WilliamsK: Greg Zuerlein, Taylor BertoletDT: Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Doug Worthington, Dominique Easley, Louis Trinca-Pasat, Cam ThomasDE: Robert Quinn, William Hayes, Eugene Sims, Quinton Coples, Ethan WestbrooksMLB: Alec Ogletree, Bryce Hager, Zack Hodges, Josh ForrestOLB: Akeem Ayers (S), Mark Barron (W), Marshall McFadden, Cameron LynchCB: Trumaine Johnson, E.J. Gaines, Lamarcus Joyner (FS/CB), Coty Sensabaugh, Marcus RobersonS: T.J. McDonald (SS), Cody Davis (FS), Maurice Alexander (SS), Christian Bryant (FS), Jordan Lomax

Miami Dolphins

QB: Head Coach Adam Gase has said he “feels great with where” Ryan Tannehill is right now. Offensive Coordinator Clive Christensen has been effusive in his praise of Tannehill’s work ethic: “He works unbelievably hard. I think he works as hard as anybody I've been around. I think I've been around elite workers at the quarterback position. Those guys are elite. Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck are elite workers, and this guy works his tail off.” However, Christensen also acknowledged that learning the offense is a multi-year process and Tannehill is doing “just ok” with his communication at the line (including choice of audibles). In Saturday’s Offense vs. Defense scrimmage, the offense only managed to get past mid-field once and never threatened to score. It’s clear that the offense is a major work in progress at this point and Tannehill has to pick up his game. He managed just 22 yards on 4-of-6 passing and was sacked multiple times. Seventh-round draft pick Brandon Doughty has impressed with his improvisational skills. "He figures out a way to get completions,” Gase said. “It happened again, like three times, no idea how he got completions." The rookie has thrown a number of interceptions however and has an uphill battle to make the roster.

RB: Arian Foster spent the first few days of camp on PUP, but immediately made his presence known in his first practice, making plays like this spectacular one-handed catch. He showed up in outstanding physical shape and “annihilated” the conditioning test. Gase has praised Foster’s early work in the passing game, saying he looks “smooth and effortless.” Beat-writer Armando Salguero has described Foster as “head and shoulders the best RB on Dolphins” based upon his work so

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far in training camp. Perhaps most important for fantasy owners is the recent declaration from OC Clive Christensen: “We really need someone to emerge as the guy. ... We don't want to substitute. ... We really need one guy to be a three-down back, stay in there for that drive.” While Miami may rotate backs between drives, the desire is for one guy to be able to handle both early-down and third-down work, giving Foster an edge due to his versatility. “Any time we run a lot of plays that he’s run in the past, his ability to feel holes in the run game and when he gets the ball in the passing game, how smooth he is, how effortlessly he catches the ball, it's an impressive thing for me to see,” Gase said of Foster. “I've been around one other guy in Matt Forte, as far as a guy who can do that much.” Jay Ajayi suffered a bone bruise to his knee that caused swelling and missed multiple practices early in camp. He returned to practice August 5th and reports had him moving well and looking to be fully recovered, though Gase indicated that Ajayi wasn’t quite 100% yet but wanted to get back as soon as possible. While Foster has received the first snaps in team drills, Ajayi is also rotating in with the ones. Kenyan Drake was injured seven times during his career at Alabama and is now dealing with the second hamstring injury of his short NFL career. He left Friday’s practice after pulling up on a run. Drake is expected to be a “special teams demon,” but it is unclear how much of a role he will have on offense.

WR: Jarvis Landry has had a strong camp. Gase is clearly impressed with his young receiver, noting that Landry “is rare because he can play both outside and on the inside. I haven't been around a guy that has as much grit as him." DeVante Parker showed a knack for creating slight separation at the last minute and winning contested catches against tight coverage in the first couple practices, but injured his hamstring early in camp. Parker has missed nearly a week of practices with the injury. He is expected to make his return to practice soon. The Dolphins are counting on Parker having a breakout second season as Christensen recently noted that Parker has “got to be our bell cow in the red zone.” Receivers coach Shawn Jefferson has called Parker an “unbelievable talent” but notes that Parker has to learn the routine of how to do things (eating the right breakfast, hydrating, etc.) to stay healthy and meet his potential. Kenny Stills has impressed the coaching staff early in camp. He has a small lead in the battle for the third receiver job to start the season and has taken on a leadership role. Rookie Jakeem Grant has already become a popular player with coaches and has had some impressive moments in camp. He’s been called “nasty” by beat writers and has been winning consistently against the Dolphins top slot defenders. While he is still raw as a receiver, he should make the team due to his athleticism and explosiveness as a returner.

TE: Gase has focused on moving Jordan Cameron all around the formation to make life difficult for opposing defenses. Cameron has spent time in training camp lined up next to the tackle, in the slot and even as an outside receiver on occasion. Dominique Jones is an under-the-radar player who has shined

in camp with his athleticism and soft hands. He’s on his eighth NFL team, but could stick as the third tight end if he continues to play well.

PK: Second-year kicker Andrew Franks is having an even better camp than in 2015, when he beat out Caleb Sturgis to start for the Dolphins. Franks has all but vanquished his competition, UDFA Marshall Koehn.

Defense: Rookie corner Xavien Howard opened camp on PUP, but is expected to be activated in the next 1-2 weeks and should be ready for Week 1 of the regular season. He has a good chance to claim a starting job. "He's a second round pick for a reason," DC Vance Joseph said of Howard. "He's talented. From what we saw in the spring he could be a starter.” Slot corner Bryce McCain also started on PUP due to cramping issues during the conditioning test, but was activated after just a few missed practices. Michael Thomas started camp working with the starters at safety, but may end up as the starting nickel back over McCain if he cannot win the starting safety job. Dion Jordan has been re-instated following a 15-month absence, but will not make his training camp debut until mid-late August due to a knee injury. He showed up at 275 pounds, so his days as a linebacker are probably over. DE Cameron Wake looks explosive in his return from an Achilles injury and should remain an impact player at age 34.

Returners: The Dolphins return both of last year’s top kickoff returners— Jarvis Landry and Damien Williams— and list them at 1 and 2 on their opening depth chart. Landry is poised to once again handle punt return duties, too, with Jakeem Grant backing him up.

Dolphins Depth ChartQB: Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore, Brandon DoughtyRB: Arian Foster, Jay Ajayi, Kenyan Drake (KR) (inj), Damien Williams, Isaiah Pead, Daniel ThomasWR: Jarvis Landry (KR), DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Leonte Carroo, Jakeem Grant (PR), Rashawn Scott, Matt Hazel, Griff Whalen, A.J. Cruz, Tyler MurphyTE: Jordan Cameron, Dion Sims, Thomas Duarte,  Dominique Jones, MarQuies Gray (inj)LT: Branden Albert, Vinston Painter, Sam YoungLG: Laremy Tunsil, Dallas ThomasC: Mike Pouncey, Jamil DouglasRG: Jermon Bushrod, Kraig Urbik, Billy TurnerRT: JaWuan James, Ulrick JohnK: Andrew Franks, Marshall Koehn DT: Ndamukong Suh, Earl Mitchell, Jordan Phillips, Chris Jones, Deandre ColemanDE: Mario Williams, Cameron Wake (inj), Jason Jones, Andre Branch, Terrence Fede, Dion Jordan, Chris McCainMLB: Kiko Alonso, Zach Vigil, Mike HullOLB: Jelani Jenkins (W), Koa Misi (S), Spencer Paysinger (S), James-Michael Johnson, Neville Hewitt, Danny Lansanah

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CB: Byron Maxwell, Xavien Howard, Tony Lippett, Bobby McCain, Chimdi Chekwa, Brandon Harris, Chris CulliverS: Reshad Jones (SS), Isa Abdul-Quddus (SS), Walt Aikens (FS),Michael Thomas (SS), Jordan Lucas (FS), Shamiel Gary, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (IR)

Minnesota Vikings

QB: Teddy Bridgewater is now entering his third season as the Vikings starting quarterback and the confidence is continuing to grow. “Our guys know that once the ball’s in the air, it belongs to the Vikings. That’s our mindset going into this season, and I think we’ve been doing a much better job just pushing the ball down the field.” Bridgewater had his strongest practice of the week on Saturday as he showed confidence in his ability to get the ball downfield. He also showed a remarkably improved zip on his intermediate passes and touch on his deep balls. Not only has Bridgewater improved his deep accuracy this offseason, he has improved his overall arm strength. He connected with Stefon Diggs on multiple bombs down the field and one to Adam Thielen as well. He moved the ball down the field with ease getting the ball into tight windows and being on target.

RB: Saturday’s practice was not a tackling exercise but at the same time it was a physical one. Adrian Peterson showed bursts of explosiveness in his limited work on the field. Peterson is entering his 10th season in the league and at 31-years old the Vikings know what they have in him at this time and are simply playing it safe with their star running back.  Jerick McKinnon sat out most of the week after tweaking his lower back on Monday but returned to the field for individual drills on Friday. “It felt good. I got moving around a little bit - that’s what it was really about,” McKinnon said after practice. “I’m just taking it a day at a time and not rushing back. Like I said, it’s nice to be back out there with the teammates, moving around a little bit in individuals."

WR: Rookie Laquon Treadwell is continuing to do and say all the right things during training camp. After practice on Friday he stayed late to work on individual skills. Vikings.com tracked Treadwell’s receptions total between the morning walk-through session, a full-padded afternoon practice and almost an hour spent with a JUGS machine for a total of 307 catches. Treadwell also spent 15 minutes working on his footwork before he even hit the machine, and maneuvered through 11 different cone drills, tapping his feet on the grass in various motions while catching passes out of the machine. Treadwell caught 277 passes from the JUGS machine and 11 hit the ground, most of which he tried to catch them one-handed. Treadwell was surprised by his catch ratio of 96.2 percent but said he wants to be perfect. “I shouldn’t have dropped any. I didn’t know it was that many catches, so that’s

a good ratio, but my goal is to always never drop any. I just took my eyes of them and dropped it. Just trying to create good habits.” Treadwell is slowly gaining chemistry with Teddy Bridgewater and with the added practice time it is showing in the team drills. Coach Zimmer had nothing but praise for Treadwell, “I think Treadwell has come to camp in much better shape. He’s an extremely hard worker. He continues to get better, and he want to be really good. Good so far."

Stefon Diggs showed off his speed and ability to catch the deep ball in Saturday's practice. Diggs made an impressive 40-yard touchdown catch against safety Jayon Kearse. “Stefon’s a guy who understands what we want him to do,” Bridgewater said after practice. “I try to get him to think like a quarterback, and he wants that challenge. He’s doing a great job of just understanding what we’re asking of him, and he’s flying around making plays for us.” Diggs also has the team’s most dramatic catch of this year’s training camp as he went sky high and grabbed a Bridgewater throw out of midair with his right hand for a touchdown. “This year, I want to approach it as if I was underrated,” Diggs said. “I’ve got a lot of work to do and a lot to prove still. Just show maturity. In your second year, you don’t want to be making the same mistakes you made in your first year. You just want to show your growth as a player and teammate." During a two-minute drill Charles Johnson converted a fourth-and-8 with a 21-yard pass from Bridgewater but on the very next play Bridgewater was intercepted by Xavier Rhodes as he targeted Johnson once again. 

TE: Kyle Rudolph had a very strong practice and has been improving his skills as a run blocker which may not be great for his fantasy output but will be a boost to both Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson. Early in practice, Rudolph handled two defenders to help seal the edge for what would have been a long touchdown run for Adrian Peterson. Rudolph also caught several short passes from Bridgewater one which was a crowd pleasing one-handed catch on a swing route. 

PK: After his crushing miss that cost the Vikings a chance to advance in the playoffs, Blair Walsh has been strong in training camp, going 22-for-24 in team drills. He has sounded like he is over his miss in offseason interviews, but it won’t be clear until the games count in September.

Defense: During team red zone drills, Everson Griffen tipped a Teddy Bridgewater pass that was intended for Stefon Diggs. The ball fluttered in the air for a moment before linebacker Anthony Barr came down with the interception. On the very next play, Bridgewater threw a short pass over the middle that was intercepted by defensive end Brian Robison.

Returners: Assuming both players make the final roster, it will be a huge surprise if anyone other than long-time mainstays Marcus Sherels (punts) and Cordarrelle Patterson

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(kickoffs) handles more than a handful of returns for the Vikings in 2016.

Vikings Depth ChartQB: Teddy Bridgewater, Shaun Hill, Taylor Heinicke, Joel StaveRB: Adrian Peterson, Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata, Jhurell Pressley, Blake RenaudFB: Zach LineWR: Stefon Diggs (PR), Charles Johnson, Laquon Treadwell, Jarius Wright, Adam Thielen, Cordarrelle Patterson (KR), Mortiz Boehringer, Isaac Freuchte, Terrell SinkfieldTE: Kyle Rudolph, MyCole Pruitt, Rhett Ellison, David Morgan, Brian Leonhardt, Kyle CarterLT: Matt Kalil, T.J. Clemmings, Austin ShepherdLG: Alex Boone, Willie Beavers, Zac KerinC: John Sullivan, Joe Berger, Nick EastonRG: Brandon Fusco, Mike Harris, Jeremiah SirlesRT: Andre Smith, Phil LoadholtK: Blair WalshDT: Linval Joseph (NT), Sharrif Floyd, Tom Johnson, Kenrick Ellis, Shamar StephenDE: Everson Griffen, Brian Robison, Danielle Hunter, Justin Trattou, Scott Crichton, Zach Moore, Thieren CockranMLB: Eric Kendricks, Kentrell Brothers, Terrance Plummer, Audie ColeOLB: Anthony Barr (S), Chad Greenway (W) , Edmond Robinson (S), Stephen Weatherly, Brandon Watts (W), Emmanuel Lamur (W), Alex Singleton (W), Jake GanusCB: Xavier Rhodes, Captain Munnerlyn, Terence Newman, Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, Marcus Sherels (PR)S: Harrison Smith (FS), Andrew Sendejo (SS), Michael Griffin (SS), Antone Exum (FS), Jayron Kearse, Anthony Harris (SS), Melvin White (FS), John Lowdermilk (SS)

New England Patriots

QB: Jimmy Garoppolo was the focus of the first week of training camp. Garoppolo started fast on day one after hearing Bill Belichick dismiss in disgust the idea that Garoppolo could take over the job in a full-time role. Garoppolo has neither starred nor imploded so far. At this rate he won't force a quarterback controversy nor will he allow Jacoby Brissett to do much more than carry pads. Brissett, a rookie, has dealt with typical rookie issues like bad exchanges and turnovers but his accuracy has been the biggest question mark so far.

RB: The first surprise of Patriots camp was a pleasant one. LeGarrette Blount was expected to open camp on the PUP list but instead was a full go from the start. Blount had dealt with

a hip injury throughout the offseason that limited what he could do. Blount could have a key role in a Tom Brady-less Patriots offense so his health will be imperative to monitor moving forward. Dion Lewis was less fortunate. Lewis isn't expected to miss time in the regular season but he opened training camp on the PUP list. Lewis practiced without a brace before the beginning of camp so the Patriots are likely just taking every precaution while they can. ESPN's Mike Reiss told ESPN's Mike Clay that Lewis' snaps will likely dip by 20 percent or so this year. That means the preseason performances of Donald Brown and James White could have a bigger-than-expected impact. Brown appears to be ahead of White at this point having taken the first team snaps in front of his younger teammate. It's possible that Brown is just getting the veteran benefit of the doubt because Patriots.com's Andy Hart believes that he needs a strong training camp to even make the roster. Then again, Lewis was in a similar position this time last year. The Patriots have a lot to figure out at the running back spot over the coming weeks.

WR: Just like last year, injuries are a big problem for the Patriots at receiver. Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, Keshawn Martin and Nate Washington have all missed time during the first week of training camp. Those injuries have allowed a forgotten name to rise to prominence. Aaron Dobson was Tom Brady's favorite target through the first week of training camp. By Thursday he had been targeted 20 times by Brady, one more time than Rob Gronkowski and eight more times than the third-place player. Of course, being targeted by Brady in this training camp is different than being targeted by Brady in previous camps but noteworthy nonetheless. While he still may be facing an uphill battle to carve out a role, Dobson is a player who Bill Belichick singled out for praise at the start of training camp. Belichick also praised Chris Harper and DeAndre Carter though, so he may just be softening in his old age.

TE: ESPN's Mike Reiss confirmed what most of us expected during the first week of training camp: The Patriots' base offense will feature two tight ends. Reiss also said that he expects Martellus Bennett to be heavily involved on goal-line plays. Rob Gronkowski and Bennett have dominated in the red zone during drills so far, racking up touchdowns with relative ease. Part of that is likely a result of how many wide receivers the Patriots first-team offense is missing. The competition behind Gronkowski and Bennett is yet to truly get going because Clay Harbor opened training camp on the PUP list. Harbor and Bear Pascoe are the veterans of the group but James Develin, a fullback, could ultimately be competing with the tight ends for a roster spot because of the depth at running back.

Defense: Nate Ebner was the big story from the Patriots defense this week. Ebner has been excused from the team to compete in the Olympics so it's unclear what his immediate future holds. Amongst the players who are actually at training

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camp, the biggest area to watch is the defensive line. The Patriots traded Chandler Jones and cut Dominique Easley, leaving roles to fill. Jabaal Sheard has been described as “unblockable” though that description comes with a qualifier regarding the quality of the Patriots offensive linemen he has faced. Chris Long should help spell Sheard, along with Trey Flowers, as he tries to replace the impact lost by Jones. Long is also going to help create interior pressure by also playing some on the inside. Belichick explained the difference between rushing from the inside and outside while also talking about how extensively he examined Long's skill set when he came out in the draft. Expect Long to be an important player in the Patriots' rotation. The Patriots' back seven is a settled unit for the most part. Shea McClellin is a new face at linebacker but has had a relatively quiet camp so far. In the secondary, second-round pick Cyrus Jones has struggled to adjust, both defensively and on special teams, but Belichick lavished praise on his skill set as a whole.

Returners: The Patriots are loaded with proven and successful returners, including Julian Edelman, who has a higher punt return average than any modern player except for Devin Hester, and both Danny Amendola and Keshawn Martin, who have spent much of their respective careers as full-time return specialists. All should factor into the mix.

Patriots Depth ChartQB: Tom Brady (susp), Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby BrissettRB: Dion Lewis (3RB) (inj), LeGarrette Blount (SD) (inj), James White (3RB), Brandon Bolden, Donald Brown, D.J. Foster (3RB/WR), Tyler Gaffney, Joey IosefaFB: James DevelinWR: Julian Edelman (PR) (inj), Danny Amendola (inj), Aaron Dobson, Malcolm Mitchell, Chris Hogan (inj), Nate Washington, Matt Slater, Keshawn Martin (KR/PR), Devin Lucien, DeAndre CarterTE: Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett, Clay Harbor, A.J. Derby, Bear Pascoe, Michael Williams (IR)LT: Nate Solder, Marcus CannonLG: Shaquille Mason, Joe Thuney, Josh KlineC: Bryan Stork, David AndrewsRG: Tre Jackson, Jonathan CooperRT: Sebastian Vollmer, LaAdrian Waddle, Cameron FlemingK: Stephen GostkowskiNT: Malcom Brown, Alan Branch, Vincent Valentine, Markus Kuhn, Frank KearseDE: Rob Ninkovich (S/DE) (inj), Jabaal Sheard, Chris Long, Geneo Grissom, Trey Flowers, Rufus JohnsonMLB: Shea McClellin, Elandon RobertsOLB: Jamie Collins (S), Dont′a Hightower (W), Jonathan Freeny (S), Ramon Humber (W), C.J. Johnson, Kevin SnyderCB: Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan, Justin Coleman, Cyrus Jones, Darryl Roberts, E.J. Biggers, Cre′von LeBlanc, Jonathan Jones, V′Angelo BentleyS: Devin McCourty (FS/CB), Patrick Chung (SS), Duron Harmon (SS/FS), Jordan Richards (SS), Brandon King

(FS), Nate Ebner (SS), Brock Vereen (FS), Vinnie Sunseri, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Cedric Thompson

New Orleans Saints

QB: Drew Brees had a tough outing on Saturday, throwing four interceptions during the session: 'It was a rough day. Probably one of the rougher days I've had in a long time, maybe ever — in a training camp practice especially,” he added. “So, those are frustrating, but I'm glad I'm getting them all out of the way right now.” According to NOLA.com, Luke McCown has played well during the first seven practice sessions, and Garrett Grayson has shown improvement in the latter half of the first week. Sunday's practice was cancelled.

RB: Mark Ingram is the clear number one running back after the first week of practices, while Tim Hightower is holding off an improved C.J. Spiller for the number two spot on the depth chart. There is some push coming from the reserve running backs. Tommy Lee Lewis scored two touchdowns in padded practice, one an eight-yard run and another on a long 'go' route reception, according to NOLA.com. Lewis is competing with Marcus Murphy for a reserve running back spot and is also working as a kick- and punt-returner along with Murphy. Daniel Lasco, another running back who also plays special teams, seems to be positioned to earn a spot on the 53-man roster after the first week.

WR: Willie Snead, Brandin Cooks and Michael Thomas have been the star receivers of the first week of training camp, but Brandon Coleman is also playing well. “He's been solid,” Saints coach Sean Payton said on Friday. “He's kind of a steady player... We are working with his yards after the catch. Obviously he has good size and that will be a plus for us on third down, in the red (zone) area. So far, I don't know that he's jumped out at us necessarily, but I don't know if there have been many minuses. Just his consistency. I think that experience last year helped him.” Cooks suffered an undesignated injury last week and has since missed practice sessions; stay tuned to see how long he is sidelined. R.J. Harris is said to be tightening his grip on the fifth receiver position. Michael Thomas shared his philosophy with reporters this week: “I take a lot of pride in my ball skills, so if I get my hands on it, I want to make a play.”

TE: Coby Fleener is catching touchdowns from Drew Brees on a regular basis and is the clear-cut starter at the position. “There's absolutely some catching up to do on my part,” Fleener said. “Drew can write the playbook if he wanted to. He's just that well versed in what we're doing. So for me, it's all about making sure that if he wants to make an adjust that I'm right there with him to understand where he wants to make that adjustment and what I have to do to make sure that happens.” Brees commented on Fleener, as well: “I think he's

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feeling very good right now so I'm excited to see what we are able to put together over the next few weeks as we get a lot of time and a lot of reps together but listen his role, as a tight end in this offense, you get a lot of opportunities, you get a lot of favorable match ups, and you can be a guy that catches a lot of balls and I certainly see him in that role.” Michael Hoomanawanui has missed part of the first week due to an unspecified injury; while Josh Hill is running third on the depth chart despite not playing particularly well early in camp. Rashuan Allen is playing inconsistently and has dropped some catchable balls.

PK: Head coach Sean Payton believes both Kai Forbath and Connor Barth will be kicking in the NFL this season, even though only one will be the Saints kicker. Both have started strong, with Payton saying it is still early. So far Forbath has been perfect in team drills, which should give him an early edge that could easily disappear in the preseason.

Defense: The Saints' defense dominated practice at The Greenbrier on Saturday, as Brees' passes repeatedly ended up in the hands of defensive players. This was accomplished by a largely second-string group, as Kenny Vaccaro, Jairus Byrd, Delvin Breaux, Keenan Lewis and Damian Swann were all sitting out. Rookie cornerback Ken Crawley had the first interception while covering wide receiver Willie Snead in a 7-on-7 drill, but the next three were in team drills. One came off a pass tipped by defensive end Cameron Jordan at the line, giving linebacker James Laurinaitis a chance to make the catch. Crawley's second interception was on a play where he simply fought harder for position than wide receiver Brandon Coleman. “There's one play where we have a bust in the route; the receiver doesn't come back to the ball,” Payton said. “We had two or three things wrong with the pattern. But, we'll get on the tape and get those things cleaned up.” Crawley has accumulated four interceptions off of the Saints' quarterbacks (three from Brees) in the first week+ of camp. “These young guys are playing,” coach Payton said after Saturday's session. “And I said it, there are going to be opportunities here. P.J. (Williams) is receiving a lot of playing time. These other two young free agents (Harris and Crawley) are receiving a lot of playing time. That's been encouraging. They are doing a good job competing.” Safety Alden Darby was released with an injury settlement.

Returners: In New Orleans’ first depth chart of the season, Marcus Murphy— 2015’s top return specialist— was listed at second on both punts and kickoffs behind the more sparsely-used Travaris Cadet. If this holds up, Murphy’s roster spot could be in jeopardy.

Saints Depth ChartQB: Drew Brees, Luke McCown, Garrett GraysonRB: Mark Ingram, Tim Hightower, C.J. Spiller, Travaris Cadet (KR/PR), Daniel Lasco, Marcus Murphy (KR/PR)FB: Austin Johnson, Sione HoumaWR: Brandin Cooks, Michael Thomas, Willie

Snead, Brandon Coleman, Tommylee Lewis, Reggie Bell, R.J. Harris, Kyle Prater, Jared Dangerfield, Jordan Williams, Jake Lampman, Vince Brown (IR)TE: Coby Fleener, Josh Hill, Michael Hoomanawanui, RaShaun Allen, Chris Manhertz, Garrett GriffinLT: Terron ArmsteadLG: Andrus PeatC: Max UngerRG: Tim Lelito, Senio KelemeteRT: Zach StriefK: Kai Forbath, Connor BarthDT: John Jenkins (NT), Sheldon Rankins, Tyeler Davison (NT), Nick Fairley, Lawrence Virgil, Ashaad Mabry (NT)DE: Cameron Jordan, Bobby Richardson, Obum Gwachum, Darryl Tapp, David Onyemata, D.J. Pettway, C.J. Wilson, Matt ShaughnessyMLB: James Laurinaitis, Michael Mauti (S), Nathan StuparOLB: Dannell Ellerbe (W), Stephone Anthony (S), Kasim Edebali (S/DE), Craig Robertson (W), Davis Tull (W), Tony Steward, Erik Harris, Dillon Lee, Hau′oli Kikaha (IR)CB: Delvin Breaux, Keenan Lewis, PJ Williams, Damian Swann, De′Vante Harris, Ken Crawley, Brandon Dixon, Brian Dixon, Jimmy Pruitt, Kyle Wilson (IR)S: Kenny Vaccaro (SS), Jairus Byrd (FS), Vonn Bell (FS), Alden Darby (SS), Roman Harper (SS), Trae Elston (SS), Jamarca Sanford (IR)

New York Giants

QB: Eli Manning is coming off his best season, which is one of the reasons Ben McAdoo is the team’s new head coach after guiding the offense for two seasons. The first week of camp was all about getting new faces like Sterling Shepard and old faces like Victor Cruz acclimated to the system; and Manning looks sharp and prepared. New quarterback coach Frank Cignetti is thrilled with what he’s seen of the 2-time Super Bowl champion: "Eli has been outstanding. In the classroom, what a pro. Great preparation," Cignetti said. "You can see on the practice field that he has been a great decision maker. I am so impressed with his fundamentals. I am very impressed with Eli so far in training camp." Ryan Nassib remains entrenched as the backup and will be a free agent next season. The preseason may be his best chance to showcase his talents to other teams given Manning’s history of durability.

RB: The Giants running game was a disappointment last season, in stark contrast to the potent passing attack. To hear running back coach Craig Johnson tell it, gone are the days of a 4-man committee. “What I've learned is that if you can have a couple of guys playing a lot, then a spare guy, that's the best way to go,” he said. “We're going to see if we can find the

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rhythm with a pair and maybe a third guy and, obviously, if it was like we finished the year, like Rashad finished, that would take care of a lot of problems.” You’ll note the key there is Johnson citing Rashad Jennings as the guy who will get first shot at the feature back role. Shane Vereen’s role is to be determined, particularly with the Giants impressive depth at the receiver position – but if the first week of camp is any indication, Vereen is going to be the Giants #2 to start the season and will be more than just a 3rd down receiving back. Where does that leave rookie Paul Perkins? For now, he’s a depth player with a promising long-term future. “I’ve seen flashes, which is always a good thing you want to see out of a young player like him,” running backs coach Craig Johnson said. “He’s made a couple of good catches, he’s had a couple of nice bursts through the line of scrimmage. Like a lot of rookies, he’s unsure, he’s a little hesitant. That’s what happens when you have all the things going on with a rookie at his position. As a young player sometimes they feel their way. He did that early and he’s doing it less and less, which tells me he’s able to play faster and more aggressive.” Andre Williams hasn’t done much through a week of camp; he could be a long shot to make the 53-man roster.

WR: Is it possible that the Giants could have an embarrassment of riches at the receiver position? Everyone knows about Odell Beckham – who had the greatest first two seasons in NFL history. He missed some time in early camp after being cleated by Janoris Jenkins, but dominated upon his return; including an 80-yard touchdown from Eli Manning in passing drills on Saturday. People are quickly learning about rookie Sterling Shepard – who has been as good as advertised in early practices. Optimism abounds for Victor Cruz – who is practicing as promised. If Cruz can stay healthy (so far, so good), he will have a significant role in the passing game regardless of Shepard’s presence. It’s the back end of the receiving corps that should have Giants fans elated. The competition is fierce between Geremy Davis, Roger Lewis, Myles White, Tavarres King and Darius Powe.

TE: Will Tye outplayed Larry Donnell last season after Donnell went down with injury, but the first week of camp has reminded everyone not to count Donnell out. He’s been the best tight end on the roster and looks explosive. If Donnell can sustain this level once preseason games get underway, the Giants could be looking at a true committee this season. Matt LaCosse had a strong week, but suffered a minor knee injury on Wednesday.

Defense: General manager Jerry Reese prioritized the secondary in the offseason, using a 1st round pick on cornerback Eli Apple and signing free agent Janoris Jenkins to a monster contract. The team also drafted safety Darian Thompson in the 3rd round; he’s going to get every opportunity to earn a starting role this preseason. The selection of Apple was ridiculed by some draft “experts” but the first week of camp points to Apple being ready for NFL prime time. “What was encouraging about Eli is he got a holding

penalty early and bounced back and didn’t get one the rest of the (practice),” McAdoo said after Saturday’s practice. “He had some tight man-to-man coverage, was physical out there and forced some guys to the sideline, to the boundary, and really leaving the quarterback no room to throw the ball. So that was exciting to see.” The team also signed veteran Leon Hall last week in an effort to bolster depth and strengthen the nickel defense. Linebackers coach Bill McGovern acknowledged that the linebacker positions are wide open at present. Giants beat writers Dan Salomane and Lance Meadow agree that free agent defensive end Olivier Vernon was the top playmaker on defense in the first week of training camp. Jason Pierre-Paul has also looked good as he returns from the gruesome hand injury that cost him part of his right hand.

Returners: In their first unofficial depth chart, return specialist Dwayne Harris occupied the top punt and kickoff return slot, which comes as no surprise. The top backup on kickoffs is Shane Vereen, and on punts it is Odell Beckham suggesting that Harris could be very busy returning punts this year.

Giants Depth ChartQB: Eli Manning, Ryan Nassib, Josh Woodrum, Logan ThomasRB: Rashad Jennings, Shane Vereen (3RB), Andre Williams, Paul Perkins, Orleans Darkwa, Bobby Rainey, Marshaun CoprichFB: Will Johnson, Nikita WhitlockWR: Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, Dwayne Harris (KR/PR),Victor Cruz, Geremy Davis, Roger Lewis, Myles White, Tavarres King, Anthony Dable, Darius Powe, KJ MayeTE: Will Tye, Larry Donnell, Matt LaCosse, Jerell Adams, Ryan MalleckLT: Ereck Flowers, Byron StingilyLG: Justin PughC: Weston RichburgRG: John Jerry, Adam GettisRT: Marshall Newhouse, Bobby HartK: Josh Brown, Tom ObarskiDT: Damon Harrison (NT), Johnathan Hankins, Jay Bromley, Montori Hughes, Louis NixDE: Olivier Vernon, Jason Pierre-Paul, Kerry Wynn, Owa Odighizuwa, Stansly Maponga, Mike RoseMLB: Jasper Brinkley, Keenan Robinson, Kelvin Sheppard, B.J. Goodson (M), Uani Unga (IR)OLB: Devon Kennard (S), Jonathan Casillas (W), Mark Herzlich (S), J.T. Thomas (W), Nico JohnsonCB: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Janoris Jenkins, Leon Hall, Trevin Wade, Eli Apple, Bennett Jackson, Leon McFaddenS: Landon Collins (FS), Darian Thompson (SS), Nat Berhe (SS), Cooper Taylor (SS) (inj), Mykkele Thompson (FS), Justin Currie (SS), Andrew Adams

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New York Jets

QB: After signing a one-year, $12 million contract, Ryan Fitzpatrick finally showed up to Jets camp. His arrival did not go smoothly, as he tossed three interceptions on his first day, per Connor Hughes of NJ Advance Media. Hughes cautioned that Fitzpatrick just needed to get chemistry with his receivers again, and by the end of the week, his play had improved. Receiver Eric Decker said, "He's definitely throwing it like he was last year. I'm just impressed. It doesn't feel like we've missed any time from him being gone this offseason, which is nice. I'm excited about what this training camp is going to do for us." While he has work to do, it appears Fitzpatrick is getting back into his groove. Of course, what does this mean for Geno Smith? "Geno's here at number two right now unless Bryce (Petty) and (Christian Hackenberg) have some great gain, if they come along like gangbusters," Head Coach Todd Bowles said. "Number two right now, it's open. If Fitz has some setbacks ... something else. Geno's one, I mean Fitz is one, Geno's two, Bryce is three, Hack is four." That doesn’t exactly ring with an endorsement, though rolling with an unproven player as backup (as the other two quarterbacks are) is very risky for a team which wants to win, now. It remains to be seen if he lasts and Smith has struggled at points in camp, as well. Petty has actually been helping Hackenberg get acclimated to the NFL game, something he had been praised for this offseason. He’s also struggled a bit in practice. The rookie has also been hanging with Fitzpatrick at practice and said, "It's awesome to be able to sit there and watch Fitz operate because it's so natural for him. I think he'll tell you it took him a while to get to that point; it's not something that happens overnight.”

RB: Matt Forte is hurt (hamstring) and will miss the preseason opener. The Jets are just being careful with his injury, and there is no indication that this is a long-term problem. In fact, there’s a strong argument that being careful now will avoid it turning into a long-term problem. Bilal Powell has been getting the majority of Forte’s reps and has looked sharp. He worked on his explosiveness by augmenting his preseason workout routine. That should help him be even more effective out of the shotgun, where he averaged 4.5 yards per carry – a personal best. Like Forte, Khiry Robinson has been sidelined by injury but is expected to get ample work this preseason. He’s being touted as a short yardage back. Bernard Pierce was signed to replace him at least this summer, but Pierce is suspended for the first two weeks of the season and has also been hurt and absent from practice. Dominique Williams has had a few moments, including bowling over rookie linebacker Darron Lee in a goal-line drill. It will be interesting to see if he can get into the mix with Robinson and Pierce sidelined.

WR: Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker spent the week getting back on the same page with Ryan Fitzpatrick, but were noticeably happy the Harvard signal caller back in the fold. Both receivers played well this week; neither looked rusty. The most notable thing about the Jets receivers this week was the fight Marshall and cornerback Darrelle Revis got into. After Marshall beat Revis on a big touchdown, the two were seen jawing at each other and later, Marshall took a swing at Revis. Both players and the team have downplayed the brouhaha, with Revis saying that the dust up was indicative of their respective intensity; which ultimately is a good thing. Marshall admitted that maybe things "went too far." Devin Smith is on the PUP list and might start the regular season there. Quincy Enunwa, who carried Marshall off the field during the fight with Revis, continues to have the inside track on the WR3 job and has been playing well. Seventh round rookie Charone Peake turned heads Friday with an outstanding one-handed catch but will have to continue making those plays to stick on the 53-man roster.

TE: Jace Amaro has slowly been improving his status during camp, and had a notable practice last Wednesday, including a good catch on a seam route from Geno Smith and a touchdown from Ryan Fitzpatrick later. He is still behind Kellen Davis, but NJ Advance Media’s Connor Hughes says he won’t be surprised if Amaro ends up with the starting job. Davis is a serviceable tight end, but Amaro has the potential to be a dynamic weapon if he can stay healthy.

PK: Rookie UDFA Ross Martin is trying to unseat veteran Nick Folk, and he has shown a big leg plus occasionally more accuracy than Folk, but Todd Bowles did not paint a pretty picture for Martin, “He’s got to make them all. He’s going to have to perform in preseason. Obviously (Nick) Folk is going to have to look pretty bad for him. It’s a good competition right now, we’re just going to see how it plays out.” The competition has been even by most accounts, which is probably not enough for Martin to displace Folk, although it could be enough to cause another kicker poor team to sign Martin if/when the Jets release him.

Defense: Aside from the scuffle between Darrelle Revis and Brandon Marshall, the defense has been solid. Mo Wilkerson is still on the PUP but the team is confident he will be ready for Week 1 at the latest. The New York Post’s Brian Costello says this unit might even be better than the excellent 2015 version, especially if Leonard Williams steps up as expected. “He was dominant last year,” veteran cornerback Buster Skrine said. “He can only get better in his second year. It’s not like he’s a quarterback who could have a sophomore slump. Leo works every day. That’s one thing I’ve noticed about him. He’s so mature for being that young. I think he’s going to have a great year.” Pressure up front is the key for the Jets and it seems they will have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL again this year.

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Returners: The Jets return situation is something of a mess, with little incumbency or clarity. Undrafted rookie Jalin Marshall should play a big role if he makes the final roster, and Jeremy Ross is perhaps the most experienced option. After them, there’s a half-dozen players who could be dropping back to field the ball at some point this season.

Jets Depth ChartQB: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith, Christian Hackenberg, Bryce PettyRB: Matt Forte, Bilal Powell, Khiry Robinson, Bernard Pierce (susp), Dominique WilliamsFB: Tommy Bohanon, Julian Howsare (LB)WR: Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Quincy Enunwa, Devin Smith, Charone Peake, Kenbrell Thompkins, Jeremy Ross, Jalin Marshall, Robby Anderson, Chandler Worthy, Titus Davis, Joseph Anderson, Kyle WilliamsTE: Jace Amaro, Kellen Davis, Zach Sudfeld, Brandon Bostick, Wes Saxton, Jason Vander LaanLT: Ryan Clady, Ben IjalanaLG: James CarpenterC: Nick Mangold , Wesley JohnsonRG: Brian Winters, Dakota Dozier, Jarvis HarrisonRT: Breno Giacomini, Brandon Shell, Brent QvaleK: Nick Folk, Ross MartinDT: Steve McLendon, Deon SimonDE: Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson (susp), Leonard Williams, Jarvis Jenkins, Mike Catapano, Lawrence ThomasILB: David Harris (M), Erin Henderson, Darron Lee, Taiwan Jones, Julian StanfordOLB: Lorenzo Mauldin, Jordan Jenkins, Trevor Reilly, Josh Martin, Deion Barnes, Freddie BishopCB: Darrelle Revis, Buster Skrine, Marcus Williams, Dee Milliner, Juston Burris, Darryl Morris, Dexter McDougleS: Marcus Gilchrist (FS), Calvin Pryor (SS), Dion Bailey (FS), Rontez Miles (SS), Ronald Martin (SS)

Oakland Raiders

QB: Derek Carr’s primary focus has been working on building chemistry with his targets, especially second-year pros Clive Walford and Amari Cooper. To that end, Carr has been rooming with Cooper during camp and the two have spent plenty of time talking about routes and adjustments to coverage. “It’s good to come back and just talk ball with him,” Carr said. “He tells me his goals, I share my stuff with him and we’re able to … I know how he thinks. I know how he likes to go about his business. I know what he likes to do off the field. Amari and I should have the best relationship ever.” Carr has also spent extra time before practice throwing to Walford. Carr has picked up right where he left off last season, throwing with excellent accuracy in the first week of camp.

Matt McGloin has struggled with interceptions early, but should be able to hold onto the backup job for another season. He has developed a real rapport with Andre Holmes. Connor Cook has shown some flashes but is struggling with consistency. He has also had trouble getting through his reads and throwing tight spirals.

RB: Latavius Murray is again poised to be the bell cow for the Raiders. He has made some nice catches in camp, but has more competition for third-down snaps than he did last season and may lose some passing game work. DeAndre Washington has received plenty of reps with the first team and should establish himself as the complement to Murray if he can carry over his strong offseason play into the preseason. He has been able to rip off big runs throughout camp. Washington is seven inches shorter than Murray, but that can play to his advantage. “That’s when being a smaller guy works in my favor,” Washington said. “Being behind those big guys makes it hard to see me. It’s definitely a good feeling when I can hide, surprise some people and do my thing.” Undrafted rookie Jalen Richard has also impressed early in camp, especially as a receiver out of the backfield. He has been working with the third-team. His build and skillset are very similar to Washington. “It’s crazy how identical we are as far as size, almost weight, and skill set. We use it to our advantage, the guys can’t really see us behind the line, we’re very precise in our cuts, and we have great vision,” said Richard. Richard could stick as the third back with a strong preseason. Taiwan Jones should make the team as the fourth back. He is the clear frontrunner to return kicks.

WR: Amari Cooper has not had any issues with drops in camp, which is a great sign as he struggled with his concentration down the stretch of his rookie season. He has had a number of “spectacular” catches in camp and looks poised to build upon his promising debut. Michael Crabtree has been catching everything in camp and like Cooper has made some impressive catches (like this one-handed grab). Seth Roberts has been working primarily out of the slot and has shown the speed and run-after-the-catch skills that have thrust him into the starting lineup as the third receiver. Andre Holmes is running as the fourth receiver and has been dominating the second-team defense. The battle for the fifth receiver job is wide open. Undrafted rookie Johnny Holton has been one of the early stars of camp and is one of the players best positioned to win the job. “Not only what you see out here, but then we go in to tape and talk about it as a staff, you find out maybe he’s doing a little extra, find out he’s spending extra time in meetings,” head coach Jack Del Rio said of Holton. “He’s doing everything right in the weight room; all the different factors that add up. Usually you start getting a lot of positive feedback from your staff, throughout the building and those are the kind of guys that end up finding a way to stick.” Holton has made some flashy catches and impressed the fans with his speed.

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TE: Clive Walford is being eased back into full-time duty as he recovers from an offseason injury suffered when he fell off an ATV. He is working his way back into shape and hoping to put together a full training camp for the first time. “Even this time last year, he was on the shelf,” Musgrave said. “So it’s good to have him out there, again, for Derek and the quarterbacks to have a feel for the way he runs his routes, where to place the ball. He has a lot of ability, so we’re looking for him to be a big part of what we do.” With Walford missing time, Mychal Rivera has received a bigger chunk of first-team reps and has shown the hands and receiving ability that have made him a valuable receiver for Derek Carr the past two seasons. He should again be the team’s third tight end.

PK: Special teams coach Brad Seely called Giorgio Tavecchio an “NFL kicker”, and he has been around the league since 2012. Sebastian Janikowski has been the Raiders kicker for a lot longer than that, but Seely called it a “competition”, albeit one with Janikowski as the “frontrunner”. Janikowski lost 14 pounds in the offseason and said he’s not feeling any pressure.

Defense: First-round pick Karl Joseph is slated to start at safety despite missing the entire offseason program recovering from a torn ACL. He has quickly fit in with the first unit and has picked up the defense quickly. David Amerson signed a big-money contract extension in the offseason and has had a strong start to camp, regularly blanketing the Raiders talented receivers. Second-year linebacker Ben Heeney is poised to step into a starting role and will be the quarterback of the defense, wearing the radio helmet that receives calls from the sideline. "He's smart, he's fast and he's relentless,'' DC Ken Norton, Jr. said of Heeney. "He has a nose for the ball, very instinctive. He's always getting better. You can't get him out of the film room." Third-round pick Shilique Calhoun has impressed as a pass rusher. In one pass rush drill against the tight ends, he “abused” four guys in a row. Calhoun could be a key piece of the puzzle for the Raiders defense with Aldon Smith’s future in question.

Returners: The Raiders seem likely to enter the season with Taiwan Jones as their primary kickoff returner and T.J. Carrie handling punts, but they list RB DeAndre Washington as the primary backup at both positions, and the electrifying rookie will get a chance to earn some reps during preseason.

Raiders Depth ChartQB: Derek Carr, Matt McGloin, Connor Cook, Garrett GilbertRB: Latavius Murray, Deandre Washington, Jalen Richard, Taiwan Jones, George Atkinson IIIFB: Jamize Olawale, Marcel Reece (susp)WR: Amari Cooper (PR), Michael Crabtree, Seth Roberts, Andre Holmes, Johnny Holton, K.J. Brent, Nathan Palmer, Max McCaffrey, Jaydon Mickens, Marvin Hall, Joe HansleyTE: Clive Walford, Lee Smith, Mychal Rivera, Ryan O′Malley, Gabe Holmes, Colton Underwood

LT: Donald Penn, Matt McCantsLG: Kelechi Osemele, Jon FelicianoC: Rodney HudsonRG: Gabe Jackson, Vadal AlexanderRT: Austin Howard, Menalik WatsonK: Sebastian JanikowskiDT: Justin Ellis (NT), Jihad Ward, Dan Williams (NT), Stacy McGee, Darius Latham (NT), Leon OrrDE: Mario Edwards Jr., Denico Autry, Shilique Calhoun, Damontre Moore, James Crowser, Branden JacksonMLB: Ben Heeney, Cory James, John Lotulelei, Kyrie Wilson, Chase WilliamsOLB: Kahlil Mack (S), Malcolm Smith (W), Bruce Irvin (S/DE), Aldon Smith (susp), Neiron Ball, Korey Toomer, Daren Bates, Neiron Ball, Perez FordCB: Sean Smith, David Amerson, TJ Carrie (FS/CB), D.J. Hayden, Neiko Thorpe, Dexter McDonald, Antonio Hamilton, Kenneth DurdenS: Reggie Nelson (FS), Karl Joseph (SS), Nate Allen (FS) (inj), Dewey McDonald (SS), Keith McGill (SS), Brynden Trawick (FS), Chris Hackett (FS), Chris Edwards, Jimmy Hall

Philadelphia Eagles

The first two weeks of training camp have looked a lot different under Doug Pederson; but for the players and fans, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Pederson has implemented longer practices and emphasizes teaching “in the moment” whereas Kelly preferred not to interrupt his tightly coordinated practices and saved criticism and instruction or the film room. Pederson explains why his methods work well: “That’s the only way we’re going to get better,” Pederson said. “I’m also a believer that you spend time in the meeting room at night, watching the tape and making corrections there as well. But when you get that immediate impact, right now, on the field, it goes [a long way]. For instance, it happened yesterday with [tight end] Zach Ertz. He was a split end as a tight end. He ran a slant [route] and got jammed up. He came back later and ran the same exact play. He got the same coverage. He learned from it, and we completed the pass. We were able to get that instant feedback.”

QB: The Eagles offseason was littered with controversy, much of it related to the quarterback position. Sam Bradford was signed to a hefty extension, only to see Carson Wentz drafted 2nd overall. Bradford initially pouted, asked for a trade, but ultimately accepted his fate. Meanwhile, the team signed Chase Daniel – from Doug Pederson’s former team, the Chiefs – to a solid contract as the presumptive backup. The first week+ of training camp has illustrated the complexity of managing three quarterbacks in a new system. One thing is clear, Sam Bradford is the starter. He’s received the lion’s

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share of reps with the 1s and has been, by far, the most accurate passer. Wentz has looked exactly as one would expect – moments of brilliance and moments of maddening frustration. Daniel has, objectively, been disappointing in that he’s looked pedestrian and incapable of challenging for a starter role even though he knows the system better than his teammates. Both Wentz and Bradford appear set to downplay any tension between them. “Sam’s been great,” Wentz said. “He was once the top draft pick. He’s been through it all. There’s lots of things we’ve talked about. It’s a really good room for me to not only grow mentally in the playbook, but also off the field and everything. It’s been great.”

RB: The Eagles welcomed back Ryan Mathews late in the week after missing the first few days of camp while recovering from an offseason ankle injury. He looked explosive and in shape in his return, which was important considering how thin the position has been in early practices. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich was encouraged: "I know it was a toned down practice and no pads, but we're still playing fast. He's an explosive, physical runner. We've got a good array of backs. We want to mix him in. Ryan will be prominent in the mix. You want to get a guy like that, with the track record like that and the way he's run the ball the last couple years, we want to get him the ball as much as we can." 33-year old Darren Sproles took the majority of the 1st team reps in Mathews’ absence, which speaks to Sproles having a regular role offensively in spite of his age and the coaching changes. The team rewarded Sproles with a $4.5mm extension last week, further cementing his importance. The most pleasant surprise of the first week+ has to be the play of Kenjon Barner. Many assumed Barner’s role would be non-existent considering he was brought in by Kelly (after playing for him at Oregon), but Pederson and Reich kept an open mind and have been impressed all preseason. “He's an explosive guy with the ball in his hands,” Pederson said. “Pretty good out of the backfield as a receiver. That's one area that he can improve — route-running ability. But I love the fact that anytime you put the ball in his hand, he has the ability to make some big plays for you. He's shown that here in the first week of camp.” Rookie Wendell Smallwood missed a few days with a quad injury, and has yet to make his mark.

WR: During much of the offseason, it was speculated that Doug Pederson would free Jordan Matthews from the shackles of playing the slot. Yet, if early camp is any indication, Matthews’ future appears to resemble his past. He’s been lined up in the slot in most situations. The “starting” lineup features Matthews in the slot and generally Nelson Agholor and Chris Givens on the outside. Coaches have worked other receivers into the starting mix outside, including Rueben Randle. Randle has been a particularly controversial player thus far as some beat writers have praised his play while others – including Sports Illustrated’s Peter King – have gone so far as to question whether he’ll make the final roster. The truth lies somewhere in between. Randle has been inconsistent, but it

would be a shock to see him off the final roster. The player that should be worried about a roster spot is Josh Huff. Huff has will see plenty of work in the next few weeks as Jordan Matthews rehabs from a bone bruise (he’s expected to be out 2-4 weeks but the knee had no structural damage). Huff is dropping balls and is tentative with the ball in his hand; a disappointing combination. Chris Givens is never going to be an All Pro, but his chemistry with Sam Bradford (they played together in St. Louis) has been apparent. Agholor has shown a positive attitude and is embracing the fresh start after a disappointing rookie season. "One thing that does pop up on the film, even just in a couple practices here with the pads on, he's got a quickness off the line of scrimmage," OC Reich said. "He has some vertical speed to challenge it deep, and he just has very good footwork. In this league, you have to be able to beat press coverage. You have to, have to, have to beat press coverage. And he has a natural ability to get off the line versus press, and he's got to be able to use that to his advantage to help our team."

TE: Make no mistake, the tight end position is of paramount importance in the new offense. Head coach Pederson wants to keep four tight ends on the game-day roster – which highlights his belief in the position. Three of those positions will be held down by Zach Ertz, Brent Celek and Trey Burton. The Eagles are giving Chris Pantale every chance to be the 4th tight end, but he must show more consistency as a receiver to win the role. Fantasy owners may be discounting Zach Ertz too much based on what we saw from him under Chip Kelly. Pederson and Reich are favoring him all over the field, and have featured him in red zone drills in the early days of camp.

PK: Caleb Sturgis and Cody Parkey are squaring off in a wide open kicker battle this summer. The two are good friends, but the competition should be stiff, as the ability to consistently place kickoffs inside the five could be as important as field goal and extra point accuracy. Sturgis has been decisively better than Parkey, who is coming back from a groin injury that cost him 2015. Parkey has made 20 of his 28 kicks, while Sturgis has made 25-of-28.

Defense: The Eagles are considering signing veteran linebacker Stephen Tulloch. Tulloch was released by the Lions last month and would fill a need, not to mention he already knows the defense well having played under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz for years. Rodney McLeod – the Eagles big free agent addition – has been a ‘can’t take your eyes off him’ player every day. There hasn’t been a practice that McLeod hasn’t put his stamp on. The defensive line is going to be a strength barring injury. Fletcher Cox is an established star (hence the massive contract extension this offseason) but his teammate Bennie Logan has been making plays daily. Defensive end Vinny Curry has arguably been the most impressive defender (not named McLeod) in the first week+ of camp. Overall, the defense has been aggressive and attacking, yet Schwartz is downplaying the progress. "You saw what happened today. We'd make a play, give up a play.

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Make a play, give up a play. That's not a way to play defense; that’s not a way to play football. We've got to be consistent and that's our challenge. … What I'm really talking about is repeat mistakes. Everybody's going to make a mistake. I make a lot; players make a lot. The key is don't make the same one twice. Learn from your mistake. That's where our challenge is, and we're probably like 31 other teams in the NFL this time in training camp. Everybody's striving for the same thing – to be consistent from front to back, to have everybody on the same page, and then that allows the guys' talent to show."

Returners: With last year’s top punt returner (Darren Sproles) and kickoff returner (Josh Huff) back, almost guaranteed a roster spot, and sitting atop the first unofficial depth chart, the Philadelphia Eagles special teams should look very familiar in 2016.

Eagles Depth ChartQB: Sam Bradford, Carson Wentz, Chase Daniel, McLeod Bethel-ThompsonRB: Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles (3RB/PR), Wendell Smallwood, Kenjon Barner, Byron Marshall, Kevin MonangaiWR: Jordan Matthews (inj), Nelson Agholor, Rueben Randle, Josh Huff (KR), Chris Givens, Cayleb Jones, T.J. Graham, Jonathan Krause, Marcus Johnson, Xavier RushTE: Zach Ertz, Brent Celek, Trey Burton, Chris Pantale, M.J. McFarlandLT: Jason Peters, Andrew Gardner, Halapoulivaati Vaitai LG: Allen Barbre, Isaac Seumalo, Josh AndrewsC: Jason Kelce, Stefen Wisniewski, Barrett JonesRG: Brandon Brooks, Matt TobinRT: Lane Johnson, Dennis KellyK: Caleb Sturgis, Cody ParkeyDT: Fletcher Cox, Bennie Logan, Beau Allen, Mike Martin, Travis RacitiDE: Vinny Curry, Connor Barwin, Brandon Graham, Taylor Hart, Marcus Smith, Alex Mccalister, Ryan MuellerMLB: Jordan Hicks, Joe WalkerOLB: Mychal Kendricks (W), Nigel Bradham (S), Najee Goode (W), Bryan Braman (S), Travis Long, Deontae SkinnerCB: Leodis McKelvin, Nolan Carroll II, Ron Brooks, Jalen Mills (FS), Eric Rowe, Blake Countess, Jaylen Watkins, Denzel RiceS: Malcolm Jenkins (FS), Rodney McLeod (SS), Jerome Couplin (SS), JaCorey Shepherd (FS), Chris Maragos (SS), Ed Reynolds (FS)

Pittsburgh Steelers

QB: Reports in the spring said Ben Roethlisberger had planned to enter his 13th season lighter than his usual weight.

A camp visit from MMQB’s Albert Breer confirmed that the veteran quarterback was noticeably slimmer. Roethlisberger hopes the decreased weight will make him more mobile and able to avoid injury more effectively. Bruce Gradkowski missed all of 2015 with shoulder and finger injuries, leaving the team with Michael Vick and Landry Jones when Roethlisberger missed time. Gradkowski was brought back to compete with Jones for the primary backup position. Thus far in camp, Jones and Gradkowski are splitting work, and both have received mixed reviews, with reports suggesting the superior of the two changes by the day.

RB: While his four-game suspension was bad news for LeVeon Bell, his health is a nice surprise. He didn’t begin camp on the PUP List, and he has declared his knee 100%. Behind Bell, veteran DeAngelo Williams returns. He had a renaissance season after Bell was lost for the year in Week 8. After Williams is a cavernous drop in talent and experience. 2015 playoff goat Fitzgerald Touissant returns after a critical fumble that set up Denver’s game-winning drive in the Divisional Round. Behind him, though, is Daryl Richardson – yes, that Daryl Richardson, he of the flash-in-the-pan relevance as Steven Jackson’s supposed heir apparent in St. Louis when Jackson left for Atlanta. Despite seeming like old news, Richardson is only 26 years old. A few nice plays in the preseason, and he could earn 10-12 plays per game during Bell’s absence.

WR: Antonio Brown has made comments about wanting a new contract, but he has promised it won’t be a distraction. The team is standing behind their policy of not negotiating extensions until the player has just one year left on his current deal. Brown is elite and steady; it’s behind him where the stories begin. Martavis Bryant will miss the entire season due to suspension, so the team has a huge void. Second-year player Sammie Coates will look to fill the vertical playmaking void. Coates has been receiving compliments from just about everyone thus far – from coaches to national media. Long-time, highly-esteemed beat writer Ed Bouchette thinks Coates can surpass Markus Wheaton and start on the outside. Wheaton has been a disappointment for the majority of his career, first being passed by Bryant and now potentially by Coates. He’s probably best suited for the slot anyway as he struggles to beat solid coverage. If (when) Coates passes him, Wheaton could be in a competition in the slot with Eli Rogers. Undrafted last season out of Louisville, Pittsburgh stashed Rogers on IR last season. He has already drawn praise from OC Todd Haley, who said: “We haven’t had a slot guy like him since I’ve been here. It hasn’t been close.” At the very least, Rogers should be a return man (especially punts) and seems a lock for the 53-man roster. Darrius Heyward-Bey should also make the team, but the performances of the young receivers in camp suggest his contributions will be mainly on special teams.

TE: Pittsburgh signed Ladarius Green in the offseason to replace the retired Heath Miller. Green hasn’t practiced yet

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after having offseason ankle surgery but is unconcerned about being ready for Week One. 6’7” Jesse James is slotted as Green’s primary backup. Getting valuable reps in Green’s absence, the second-year player is expected to have a role in the offense as a red zone weapon. Xavier Grimble is running third and isn’t likely to factor on offense.

Defense: The front seven is loaded with high-end draft picks and was the bright spot of the defense last season. Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt on the ends of the line were both indispensable last season. Daniel McCullers is slated to replace the departed Steve McLendon. McCullers is unproven but massive (6’7”, 345 pounds). While size is nice, leverage is what the best 3-4 nose tackles have, and it’s hard to gain have great leverage when you’re that tall. The linebacking corps is a mix of young and old. Jarvis Jones has been disappointing as a first-round pick. Last year’s first rounder, Bud Dupree showed some promise last season. Veteran James Harrison is still around as a passing downs specialist (and more if the two young players aren’t getting it done). Anthony Chickillo, a sixth-round pick last season has shed weight and gained speed. He is turning heads. In the middle, Ryan Shazier and Lawrence Timmons offer what is probably the most athletically dynamic middle linebacking duo in the NFL. Shazier has already wowed in one particular drill for which the Steelers are famous. The back four was the weakest part of the team last season. To improve, they drafted cornerback Artie Burns in the first round, safety/corner hybrid Sean Smith in the third, and expected to get back last year’s third-round pick Senquez Golson, who didn’t play at all last year due to a camp injury. Unfortunately, Golson is injured again and could miss as many as 12 weeks with a Lisfranc injury. His loss is Davis’ gain as the rookie is likely to be tasked with being a rare 6’1” slot corner. Burns’ camp has been up and down so far, but the fact that there’s any “up” at all after he asked to be matched up with Antonio Brown as often as possible could be considered promising. He’s being thrown to the fire in August, but the team would rather he not be throughout the fall. He’s not likely to start, pending further injury. Those duties project to belong to William Gay and Ross Cockrell. Mike Mitchell and Robert Golden (a first-time starter) should start in a razor-thin safety group. Veteran Will Allen could be brought back at some point. He’s currently a free agent.

Returners: Is this the year that Pittsburgh takes Antonio Brown off punt returns? The Steelers had rookie DeMarcus Ayers as the top-rated punt returner on their board this draft. On the other hand, Brown is a long-time standout with five career special teams’ scores who won’t go quietly. At kickoffs, Markus Wheaton leads the competition, though he’s generally happiest taking touchbacks and letting the offense get to work.

Steelers Depth ChartQB: Ben Roethlisberger, Landry Jones, Bruce Gradkowski, Dustin VaughnRB: Le′Veon Bell (susp), DeAngelo Williams, Fitzgerald

Toussaint, Daryl Richardson, Rajion Neal, Christian PowellFB: Roosevelt NixWR: Antonio Brown (PR), Sammie Coates, Markus Wheaton (KR), Darrius Heyward-Bey, Eli Rogers, Demarcus Ayers, Issac Blakeney, Levi Norwood, Shakim Philips, Tobias Palmer, Canan Severin, Martavis Bryant (susp)TE: Ladarius Green (inj), Jesse James, Xavier Grimble, David Johnson (FB), David Reeves, Jay RomeLT: Alejandro Villanueva, Ryan Harris, Jerald HawkinsLG: Ramon FosterC: Maurkice Pouncey, Cody WallaceRG: David DecastroRT: Marcus GilbertK: Chris BoswellNT: Daniel McCullers, Javon Hargrave, Lavon Hooks, Roy PhilonDE: Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, L.T. Walton, Caushaud LyonsILB: Lawrence Timmons (R), Ryan Shazier (L), Vince Williams, Jordan Zumwalt, Tyler Matakevich, Steven JohnsonOLB: James Harrison, Bud Dupree, Arthur Moats, Jarvis Jones, Travis Feeney, Anthony ChickalloCB: William Gay, Ross Cockrell, Sean Davis (SS/CB), Artie Burns, Doran Grant, Donald Washington, Senquez Golson (inj)S: Michael Mitchell (FS), Robert Golden (SS), Shamarko Thomas (SS), Ross Ventrone (FS), Jordan Dangerfield (FS), Jacob Hagen, Ray Vinopal

San Diego Chargers

QB: Philip Rivers has been reunited with Ken Whisenhunt, who has returned to the Chargers to assume offensive coordinator duties. The pair spent a single season together back in 2013, but that also happened to be one of Rivers’ most productive years as a pro. "Whiz has a feel for the game as it's going, both in the preparation part and adjusting as the game is going, that's very good," Rivers said. While there’s plenty to optimistic about for the prospects of Rivers and the passing attack in 2016, the same can’t be said for the remainder of the quarterback depth chart. Kellen Clemens and Zach Mettenberger are battling for backup duties, and early reports out of camp have not painted a bright picture on either player’s capabilities. We’ll see if they can turn it around in the preseason, but the Chargers could be in some serious trouble if disaster strikes with Rivers. The Chargers first preseason date is on the road against the Titans. That game should provide some clarity on whether it’s really time for panic mode. Undrafted free agent Mike Bercovici has showed some flashes in the early going, but it’s too early to tell if he could be a long-term answer for the backup job.

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RB: All signs point to Melvin Gordon having zero limitations as a result of offseason microfracture surgery. He’s slated to handle early down running back duties in 2016, with Danny Woodhead on tap to resume his role as one of the league’s more productive pass catching running backs. Woodhead suffered an ankle sprain during minicamp, but he’s back to 100% as training camp gets underway. The Chargers have actually given Gordon some reps at returning kicks in the early part of camp. “I think that’s something we’re going to discuss over time. I’m not going to say definitely no or definitely yes yet. We’ll see. That’s going to be a battle back there,” said head coach Mike McCoy. Branden Oliver has been one of the early bright spots at camp. A foot injury brought an unceremonious end to his 2015 campaign, and he has his sights set on being a big part of things in 2016. “I’m focused on the field, producing and doing what I need to do to help the team win. The game has slowed down for me. The playbook is easier, so I am really trying to make this a blueprint year,” he said.

WR: The Chargers received a scare when Keenan Allen had to leave the field after having his foot stepped on at camp. He was held out of drills the following day as a precaution, but there appears to be no cause for concern. “He’s fine,” McCoy said. The Chargers have already lost one wide receiver, so fans and coaches are understandably on edge. Stevie Johnson suffered a torn meniscus in the very early days of camp, and that led the club to bring in veteran free agent James Jones. Travis Benjamin joined the Chargers in the offseason, and he slots in as the WR2 opposite Allen. Isaiah Burse has been one of the early bright spots in camp, and he’s capturing the attention of the coaching staff. “Isaiah (Burse), it’s been great to see how he is playing right now,” McCoy said. Tyrell Williams is another young Chargers receiver whose stock is clearly pointing up. The second-year pro has received time with the starters since the injury to Johnson. He’s shown some serious flashes of his impressive combination of size and speed, as well as the ability to hang in there against the team’s veteran corners.

TE: Father Time still hasn’t caught up with Antonio Gates, who delivered solid production in 2015 despite only playing 11 games. He’s looked great in the early part of camp as well, and the veteran is poised to remain a big part of the Chargers passing attack. In one of the early highlights of camp, he caught a touchdown in the back of the end zone from Rivers - over triple coverage. Despite having the seemingly ageless wonder at their disposal, the Chargers set their sights on the future with the selection of Hunter Henry in this year’s draft. Henry took full advantage of some extra reps with Rivers when Gates was given a veteran day off. “I can get out there and just try to build that relationship with Philip. It’s about building trust, so the extra reps help a lot,” he said. The Chargers could be in line to employ a healthy amount of two tight end sets in 2016.

Defense: Contract talks have broken down between the Chargers and Joey Bosa, the third overall pick in this year’s draft. It sounds like both sides have clearly dug their feet in the ground, and a lengthy holdout is not out of the question at this point. There have been several bright spots on the defensive side of the ball in the early part of camp, including safety Adrian Phillips, who has earned some glowing reviews. “Good things happen to good people. I am very happy for him, and what he has done on the field does not surprise me because of his work ethic,” McCoy said. Cornerback Brandon Flowers had a challenging 2015 campaign, but he appears to be a strong bounce-back candidate this season. “He looked like he was 25 today so I like the way he looks. He has come back with a different mentality this year,” McCoy said. Inside linebacker Manti Te’o has been another bright spot, and his forcing of two turnovers in one practice was one of the early camp highlights.

Returners: New acquisition Travis Benjamin has been a standout punt returner through his career and is highly likely to reprise that role in San Diego. The kickoff returner position is far more muddled, with Javontee Herndon, Branden Oliver, Isaiah Burse, DeAndre Reaves, and even Melvin Gordon getting a look.

Chargers Depth ChartQB: Philip Rivers, Kellen Clemens, Zach Mettenberger, Bryn Renner, Mike BercoviciRB: Melvin Gordon, Danny Woodhead (3RB), Branden Oliver, Dreamius Smith, Kenneth FarrowFB: Derek Watt, Chris SwainWR: Keenan Allen, Travis Benjamin (PR), Stevie Johnson (inj), Dontrelle Inman, Tyrell Williams, James Jones, Javontee Herndon, Isaiah Burse, Torrence Allen, Jamaal Jones, Dom WilliamsTE: Antonio Gates, Hunter Henry, Jeff Cumberland, Sean McGrath, Asante Cleveland, Tim SemischLT: King Dunlap, Chris HairstonLG: Orlando Franklin, Kenny WigginsC: Matt Slauson, Max Tuerk, Trevor RobinsonRG: D.J. Fluker, Chris Watt, Donavon ClarkRT: Joe Barksdale, Tyreek BurwellK: Josh LamboNT: Brandon Mebane, Sean Lissemore, Ryan CarrethersDE: Corey Liuget, Joey Bosa, Damion Square, Darius Philon, Tenny Palepoi, Ben GardnerILB: Denzel Perryman, Manti Te′o, Joshua Perry, Nick Dzubnar, Dexter McCoilOLB: Melvin Ingram, Jeremiah Attaochu, Kyle Emanuel, Tourek Williams, Jatavis BrownCB: Jason Verrett, Brandon Flowers, Casey Hayward, Trevor Williams, Craig Mager, Greg Ducre, Trevor WilliamsS: Jahleel Addae (SS), Dwight Lowery (FS), Darrell Stuckey (FS),Matt Daniels (SS), Adrian Phillips (FS)

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San Francisco 49ers

QB: 49ers offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins said it’s too early to call the quarterback battle between Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert: “I think naturally every quarterback's skillsets are a little different. What's great is both of their skillsets are really great for our offense. We'll get to see more of their skillsets once we get further along in this camp. And when we get into the preseason games, they'll be able to show more.” Modkins observed that Kaepernick had made some nice runs during practices on read-option plays. "Kaep's done a good job. He was very visible in the spring, he was around here, doing all he could do. He's done all we've asked him to do so far. The competition is really just getting started. I've seen him (Kaepernick) from afar for a long time. He's a good player. And I think he's right on track,” said Modkins. Beat writer Matt Maiocco notes that Blaine Gabbert and Kaepernick are neck and neck in the battle to start; rating the contest 'too close to call.' He also noted that rookie Jeff Driskel is “making a strong bid for the 49ers to carry a third quarterback on the 53-man roster.” Head coach Chip Kelly echoes Modkins’ sentiment that the quarterback competition is just getting started. “It's just, let's get some quality reps for both Blaine and Kap, and I think they've done a good job taking advantage of that. It'll be an ongoing process... So, really, the big determination with those guys will be the preseason games. The games are going to be huge for those guys,” he said.

RB: On Thursday, Maiocco observed that there has been just one padded practice so far in camp, but his initial impressions of the running back depth chart are as follows: “There is no proven depth behind (Carlos) Hyde. (Shaun) Draughn has yet to stick with any club for a prolonged period of time. But this could be his chance. He's an adequate runner, but he makes his mark with his ability to catch passes out of the backfield and willingness to play special teams. (Kelvin) Taylor probably has an advantage at one reserve spot because the 49ers want to give him a long look. (Mike) Davis has to show much more than he did in his first season.”

WR: The Sacramento Bee's Matt Barrows notes that Torrey Smith is lining up on the right side, Quinton Patton on the left and Bruce Ellington at the slot position. DeAndre Smelter was bumped up to the first team on Friday while Smith took the day off to deal with some leg tightness. Eric Rogers is out for the year after suffering a torn ACL on August 4th. Maiocco notes: “This position group is wide open. The 49ers are looking for other receivers to go along with Torrey Smith, who is clearly the top receiver on the team... the 49ers need possession guys, too, perhaps among (Quinton) Patton, Smelter and Rogers. (Jerome) Simpson has impressed through the offseason and into training camp. If (Bruce) Ellington can stay healthy, he is a good fit for the slot.” Chip Kelly agreed, “It's really wide open. Besides Torrey, let's find out who the other playmakers are at that wide receiver position.” Kelly also praised Simpson: “It's amazing to see how he runs.

Obviously, he's extremely fast, but just the energy and the amount of juice he has through the entire practice... He's just a consummate professional in terms of his work ethic and his approach.”

TE: Maiocco asserts that Vance McDonald is having the best offseason of his career, and that he's been showing well in training camp. However, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat's Grant Cohn penciled in McDonald as the number three tight end on the team. Go figure. The competition between McDonald, Garrett Celek, Blake Bell and Bruce Miller is ongoing. So far no-one has seized the top job but McDonald and Celek have rotated with the first team during the first week of practices.

Defense: Defensive end DeForest Buckner has been working with the first team after running with the third-string during OTAs. 'We didn't give him anything,” defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil said of Buckner. “He had to earn it. So, he earned our respect. He earned the players' respect.” Cornerback Cleveland Wallace was claimed off waivers from the Houston Texans. He took his conditioning test but did not participate in practice on Friday. The 49ers added Wallace because the team is down three defensive backs. Jaquiski Tartt was on the non-football injury list with a slight quad strain until he passed his conditioning test on Friday. L.J. McCray and Will Redmond are taking part in limited practice as they return from their ACL surgeries. Linebacker Navorro Bowman and the 49ers agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2022 season that pays the four-time first-team All-Pro an average of $11 million annually. “For me asking for the deal, they understood why. I knew it wasn't a popular thing to do with three years left. But it's basically about being fair and how good of an organization they are and honorable to their players and the work I put in,” said Bowman.

Returners: With primary returner Bruce Ellington and top backup DeAndrew White both back in the fold, San Francisco’s returners should look very similar in 2016, though undrafted free agent Bryce Treggs will make a push to make the team as a returner, too.

49ers Depth ChartQB: Blaine Gabbert, Colin Kaepernick, Jeff Driskel, Thaddeus LewisRB: Carlos Hyde, Shaun Draughn, DuJuan Harris, Mike Davis, Kelvin Taylor, Kendall GaskinsFB: Bruce Miller (TE)WR: Torrey Smith, Bruce Ellington (KR/PR), Quinton Patton, DeAndre Smelter, Jerome Simpson, DeAndrew White (KR/PR), Aaron Burbridge, Dres Anderson, Devon Cajuste, Bryce Treggs, DiAndre Campbell, Eric Rogers

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(IR)TE: Vance McDonald, Garrett Celek, Blake Bell, Je′Ron Hamm, Busta AndersonLT: Joe Staley, John TheusLG: Zane Beadles, Ian SilbermanC: Daniel Kilgore, Marcus MartinRG: Josh Garnett, Brandon Thomas, Andrew TillerRT: Erik Pears, Trent Brown, Fahn CooperK: Phil Dawson, John LunsfordNT: Mike Purcell, Garrison Smith, Ian Williams (IR)DE: Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, Quinton Dial, Glenn Dorsey (inj), Tank Carradine, Ronald Blair, Tony Jerod-Eddie, Darren Lake, B.J. McBryde, Demetrius CherryILB: Navorro Bowman, Michael Wilhoite, Gerald Hodges, Shayne Skov, Nick Bellore, Wynton McManisOLB: Ahmad Brooks (S), Aaron Lynch (susp), Corey Lemonier, Eli Harold, Ray-Ray Armstrong, Marcus Rush, Jason Fanaika, Lenny JonesCB: Tramaine Brock, Jimmie Ward (FS), Chris Davis, Dontae Johnson, Kenneth Acker, Will Redmond, Rashard Robinson, Prince Charles Iworah, Keith Reaser, Marcus CromartieS: Antoine Bethea (SS), Eric Reid (FS), Jaquiski Tartt (SS), L.J. McCray, Jered Bell

Seattle Seahawks

QB: Russell Wilson is clearly the Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback and Trevone Boykin is clearly his backup. Boykin has worked with the second team in training camp ahead of Jake Heaps. Heaps has had positive moments according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, but he isn't pushing Boykin for his spot. GM John Schneider admitted the team could still add a veteran quarterback despite the team's lack of interest in a reunion with Tarvaris Jackson.

RB: Pete Carroll confirmed that Thomas Rawls had surgery in the offseason. Rawls has been on the PUP list since training camp began but on Sunday he was given a clean bill of health. ESPN's Sheil Kapadia expects him to be the primary ball carrier when the regular season begins. Rawls' primary backup, C.J. Prosise, has yet to make an impact because of his own health issues. Prosise had durability questions coming out of college as a converted receiver but this hamstring issue appears to be minor and isn't an unusual ailment for rookies to suffer at this time of the year. With Rawls and Prosise sidelined, the “Christine Michael Show” has been up and running again. Michael has taken most of the carries ahead of Alex Collins and Zac Brooks. Alex Collins has stood out more than Brooks as a runner, but if Prosise misses more time than expected Brooks could make a run at the third-down role. Brandon Cotton had been working as the number one fullback before a torn Achilles ended his season.

WR: When the Seahawks re-signed Jermaine Kearse it was considered a curious move because of the expected emergence of Tyler Lockett. In the early stages of training camp it appears that Kearse will retain his starting spot without having to fend off a challenge from Lockett. Lockett should still be classified as a starter because he is clearly going to factor into the team’s offensive plans with regularity. While the top three spots were always likely to feature those three players, Paul Richardson was expected to face more of a fight for the fourth slot of the depth chart. In his defense, Richardson has impressed over the first week. He is fully healthy after the ACL tear he suffered two years ago. Richardson said that his hamstring problem was tougher to overcome because he struggled to hit top speed previously. His speed has helped him stand out from the pack so far this year. Rookie Kenny Lawler and relative veteran Kasen Williams are competing behind for a roster spot. The most interesting aspect of this group is Tanner McEvoy's switch from safety to wide receiver. McEvoy is a big body and a good athlete but switching from safety to wide receiver is a daunting task at the NFL level.

TE: The team continues to say that Jimmy Graham will be ready for the first week of the regular season. Others are less convinced; Graham hasn't made it onto the practice field having begun camp on the PUP list. While Graham's absence has been discussed a lot, one of the players in line to replace him has also been absent through a significant injury. Cooper Helfet broke his foot. He suffered the injury at the start of camp and was subsequently released because he requires surgery. Furthermore, Luke Willson has been limited with an ankle injury but isn’t expected to miss extended time. Veteran free agent Brandon Williams got some unexpected work with the first team offense.

Defense: For the second time in a matter of weeks, Richard Sherman praised the quality of teammate Tharold Simon. Sherman said that Simon would be better than him once both finished their careers. For all of Sherman's bluster, Simon is sharing reps in the first-team defense with DeShawn Shead and Jeremy Lane. Shead and Simon rotated in and out of the lineup for most of the week before Lane got his chances over the weekend. Lane has the slot role locked up but is unlikely to win the starting spot outside. Shead and Lane fit Pete Carroll’s preferred mold. The Seahawks depth at cornerback is a big reason to feel more confident about their defense this year. A bigger plus is the presence of Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas from the start of training camp. Chancellor has missed some time but only with a minor injury. On the defensive line, Chris Clemons shocked everyone by retiring just before the beginning of camp. Clemons' absence may have played a role in Frank Clark moving around the defensive line more, though that would also make sense as a natural progression in his development. Defensive lineman Michael Bennett made news this week with his brother Martellus in an interview that went viral. Bennett was later kicked out of practice by Pete Carroll on Thursday. Bennett

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was apparently being frustrated by rookie Germain Ifedi who has regularly gotten the best of him, but said afterwards that he and Carroll had no issues.

Returners: All Pro kick returner Tyler Lockett returns in Seattle ready to reprise his do-everything returner role. Lockett looks to also expand his role on offense, but head coach Pete Carroll has never had a problem with playing his best players on special teams.

Seahawks Depth ChartQB: Russell Wilson, Trevone Boykin, Jake HeapRB: Thomas Rawls, Christine Michael, C.J. Prosise (3RB) (inj), Alex Collins, Zac Brooks, Troymaine PopeFB: Tani Tupou, Jonathan AmosaWR: Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett (KR/PR), Jermaine Kearse, Paul Richardson, Kevin Smith, Kenny Lawler, Kasen Williams, Antwan Goodley, Douglas McNeil, Jeff Fuller, Deshon Foxx, Tanner McEvoy, Uzoma NwachukwuTE: Jimmy Graham (inj), Luke Willson, Nick Vannett, Brandon Williams, Clayton Echard, Joe SummersLT: Garry Gilliam, Bradley SowellLG: Mark Glowinski, Rees OdhiamboC: Justin Britt, Patrick Lewis, Joey HuntRG: Germain Ifedi, Kristjan SokoliRT: JMarcus WebbK: Steven HauschkaDT: Ahtyba Rubin, Jarran Reed, Jordan Hill, Sealver Siliga, Demarcus Dobbs, Quinton Jefferson, Justin HamiltonDE: Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Frank Clark (S), Cassius Marsh, Tavaris Barnes, Will PericakMLB: Bobby Wagner, Eric Pinkins (S/M), Steve LongaOLB: K.J. Wright (W), Mike Morgan (S), Kevin Pierre-Louis (S), Brock Coyle (W), Josh Shirley, Montese Overton, Khairi Fortt, Kache PalacioCB: Richard Sherman, Marcus Burley, Brandon Browner, Jeremy Lane, DeShawn Shead, Tharold Simon, Mohammed Seisay, Tye Smith, DeAndre ElliottS: Kam Chancellor (SS), Earl Thomas (FS), Kelcie McCray (FS), Steven Terrell (FS), Robert Smith (SS), Tyvis Powell

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

QB: Safety Chris Conte had two interceptions of Jameis Winston in Saturday's practice. Conte jumped in front of a deep ball intended for Mike Evans, then later caught a

deflected pass at the back of the end zone. The team installed its two-minute offense and high-red zone offense Thursday. “You can see it was the first time we were doing two-minute (drills),” starting right guard Ali Marpet said. “We were a little... we were very sloppy.” It was also raining on Thursday, which was a good thing according to Head Coach Dirk Koetter: “We had only really worked in bad weather one time in practice with wet ball conditions before we played that Carolina game (last season), and it definitely came back to haunt us in that game. So that was some good work (Thursday). We cut a few periods out, we had to cut a couple short, but we did get some good work in. That's the key.” Mike Glennon is the second-string quarterback, while Ryan Griffin is listed in the third position.

RB: As of the first unofficial depth chart of training camp (released August 6), Doug Martin is the lead running back, followed by Charles Sims and Mike James. Others listed as reserve running backs were Peyton Barber, Storm Johnson and Russell Hansbrough. According to Koetter, wide receiver Kenny Bell, Sims and safety Ryan Smith will compete to become the kickoff returner. “We haven't got to kickoff return, we've been focusing on punt (returns) right now, but those three off the top of my head,” he said.

WR: Observers of camp have reported that Mike Evans and Winston are improving their chemistry during the first week of training camp. Koetter named Adam Humphries as the third wide receiver early in camp. “Adam Humphries is going to be our No. 3 wide receiver,” Koetter said. “You talk about the definition of consistent players, there’s Adam Humphries’ picture right there. Consistently strong player. Adam is going to be our slot receiver. And the battle for four, five, six and beyond, there’s some really good competition. Kenny (Bell) is one of the guys in that mix.” The move was backed by Winston: “Adam is a great player for us, he's a third-down machine for us. He's had a great camp, and last year he was one of my best targets... That's just how it is in this game. You've got to get back up and try again and I trust that guy with all my heart and I know coach Koetter trusts him and this team trusts him. That's a big thing for him I'm sure when he hears that, he's going to work even harder.” The move leaves Bell fighting for the fourth slot against Louis Murphy, Russell Shepard, Donteea Dye, Evan Spencer, and Freddie Martino. Tampa Bay Times' Greg Auman believes Bell is in the lead.

TE: Cameron Brate is the lead tight end in Tampa. He's been praised for his red-zone abilities and improved run blocking. Koetter shared his views, “Right now Cam is playing better than Austin (Sefarian-Jenkins). End of story, as far as I'm concerned.” According to the Tampa Bay Time's Auman, Seferian-Jenkins had a nice touchdown catch from backup quarterback Mike Glennon in two-minute work on Saturday and he and Brate both had a good day during 11-on-11 work. In spite of what beat writers may be saying, Koetter put Seferian-Jenkins on notice: “Austin's trying to get better every day. Austin's working at it and that's all he can do right now.

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He's just got to work. That's all anybody that's fighting for a job can do. The guys that are playing the best are going to play. Catching up for some guys is knowing what they're doing. Catching up for other guys is you've got to play better, and he falls into that category.”

Defense: On Saturday, the Buccaneers' defense threw multiple fronts at the offense during 11-on-11 drills. “We don't want them to get comfortable. We're competing, and we don't want them to be comfortable,” said DC Mike Smith. Koetter said second-year cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah is ahead of Johnthan Banks for the fourth cornerback job. Defensive end George Johnson went on injured reserve with a fractured hip, ending his season. “Kourtnei Brown and Howard Jones are guys that are going to be put into the limelight,” Koetter said after losing Johnson. “They were already there in the competition, but it's going to increase their role a little bit.” The coaches are giving rookie cornerback Vernon Hargreaves reps with the first team defense.

Returners: After missing the 2015 season to injury, Kenny Bell is taking the first step towards securing a roster spot in 2016 by earning top kickoff returner billing on Tampa’s first depth chart of the year. On punt returns, Adam Humphries leads the pack.

Buccaneers Depth ChartQB: Jameis Winston, Mike Glennon, Ryan Griffin, Dan LeFevourRB: Doug Martin, Charles Sims (3RB), Mike James, Peyton Barber, Storm Johnson, Russell HansbroughFB: Dan VitaleWR: Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson, Adam Humphries (PR) , Kenny Bell (KR), Louis Murphy, Russell Shepard, Donteea Dye, Evan Spencer, Freddie Martino, Bernard Reedy, Andre DavisTE: Cameron Brate, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Luke Stocker, Brandon Myers, Tevin Westbrook, Kivon Cartwright, Alan CrossLT: Donovan Smith, Kevin PamphileLG: J.R. Sweezy, Garrett Gilkey C: Evan Smith, Joe HawleyRG: Ali Marpet, Caleb BenenochRT: Gosder Cherilus, Demar DotsonK: Roberto AguayoDT: Gerald McCoy, Clinton McDonald, Henry Melton (DE), Akeem Spence, A.J. FrancisDE: Robert Ayers, William Gholston, Jacquies Smith, Noah Spence, Howard Jones, George Johnson (IR)MLB: Kwon Alexander, Jeremiah George, Cassanova McKinzyOLB: Lavonte David (W), Daryl Smith (S), Adarius Glanton, Devante Bond, Josh Keyes, Micah Awe, Luke RhodesCB: Brent Grimes, Vernon Hargreaves III, Alterraun Verner, Jude Adjei-Barimah, Johnthan Banks, Josh Robinson

S: Bradley McDougald (SS), Christopher Conte (FS), Keith Tandy (SS), Ryan Smith, Elijah Shumate, Major Wright, John Lowdermilk

Tennessee Titans

QB: ESPN's Paul Kuharsky has said that there is no quarterback competition behind Marcus Mariota. Matt Cassel was signed to be the backup and he will assume that role ahead of Alex Tanney. Mariota has been very impressive over the first week of training camp, though that's to be expected at this point.

RB: Despite some praise from Mike Mularkey early in the week, the beginning of training camp continued to highlight how the Titans won't be relying on Bishop Sankey this year. Sankey will be lucky to make the roster after six backs featured ahead of him in a nine-on-seven rushing period late in the week. DeMarco Murray is the Titans' lead back at this point. He opened his week with a fumble but bounced back from it, earning praise from Mularkey and team writer Jim Wyatt. Wyatt reported that Murray was regularly breaking off big gains while his leadership has also been emphasized at different points during the week. Derrick Henry has opened camp with some struggles but none as worrisome as his infamous footwork drills during OTAs. Henry fumbled at least one handoff from Marcus Mariota and has been beaten too many times in pass protection drills. He was singled out by his position coach because of his poor technique on cut blocks. None of this should be surprising or overly concerning. It's what rookie backs typically struggle with during their first training camps. Early reports on Henry running the ball have mostly been positive. With Sankey an afterthought and Dexter McCluster locked into the receiving role, the only real training camp battle falls between David Cobb and Antonio Andrews. Andrews missed time with a hamstring injury during the first week of camp but Cobb couldn't distinguish himself.

WR: This was supposed to be Dorial Green-Beckham's week. Instead, the second year receiver has shown few signs of development to this point in camp while rookie, Tajae Sharpe, and Andre Johnson, a late veteran addition, have outperformed him with Sharpe shockingly ascending to a starting role. The tall receiver has played well enough to maintain his grasp on the first-team spot through the first week. Sharpe's place in the starting lineup has been overshadowed by the arrival of Johnson though. He was camp's early star with both Mariota and Mularkey singling him out for praise. Green-Beckham's mental errors and drops need to disappear quickly if he's going to make any impact this year. The emergence of Sharpe and the signing of Rishard Matthews likely reduced Kendall Wright to a role in the slot. The first-team offense has lined up with Matthews and Sharpe outside with Wright inside. Wright suffered a hamstring issue that kept him out for much of the

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first week. His absence pushed veteran Harry Douglas into the starting lineup. Wright appears to be the team's designated slot receiver with Douglas the designated backup at that spot. This could very easily change over the coming weeks as Johnson picks up more of the offense. With Justin Hunter, Green-Beckham and Tre McBride trying to make a positive impression, the Titans receiving corps is suddenly very deep and competitive even if not stocked with stars.

TE: Delanie Walker signed a contract extension before training camp and spent his time during the first week of camp showing off for the crowds in attendance. Walker's only goal before the beginning of the season should be to stay healthy. The Titans have a lot of depth at tight end but it's proven depth with an established pecking order. It will take an unforeseen event or breakout displays from Philip Supernaw or Jerome Cunningham to make the position interesting.

Defense: Brice McCain and Perrish Cox were supposed to take part in the Titans' biggest position battle during training camp and the preseason. McCain has been sidelined by an ankle injury so far, meaning the competition is yet to really begin. The Titans will watch McCain's health closely while also keeping an eye on Jason McCourty's health. McCourty missed most of last season and was playing hurt when he was available. He is a key piece of the Titans defense so the coaching staff should be delighted that he has made it unscathed through the first week of camp. McCain's absence led the Titans to claim Tyler Patmon from the Miami Dolphins during the week. Pattmon shouldn't be expected to be anything more than a camp body. LeShaun Sims is more likely to be the surprise performer in the secondary. Mularkey singled him out for his play later in the week. Injuries are a big story for the Titans at this point. Second-round rookie Kevin Dodd opened training camp on the PUP list because of a foot injury. The injury isn't expected to last until the regular season but this disruption to his preparation could slow down any potential impact he would have made. Fellow second-round pick Austin Johnson has impressed with his work rate but more notably has spent time at both nose tackle and defensive end. Fellow rookies Kevin Byard and Kalan Reed have had inconsistent camps so far. Both have made big plays, with Reed intercepting Marcus Mariota in a one-on-one drill and Byard flattening Dorial Green-Beckham in a blocking drill. Byard has been mentioned as a key special teamer but the team's starting safeties appear to be Da'Norris Searcy and Rashad Johnson. Marqueston Huff rotated in and out at safety while also playing in nickel packages. It was also revealed that Huff would be suspended for the first game of the regular season.

Returners: Specialist Dexter McCluster is the odds-on favorite to win the job returning punts for the Titans this year. He’s also probably the front-runner to handle kickoffs, but that competition is much more open.

Titans Depth ChartQB: Marcus Mariota, Matt Cassel, Alex Tanney

RB: DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry, Dexter McCluster (3RB/KR/PR), Antonio Andrews, David Cobb, Bishop Sankey, David FluellenFB: Jalston Fowler, Sam BergenWR: Rishard Matthews, Tajae Sharpe, Kendall Wright (inj), Dorial Green-Beckham, Andre Johnson, Harry Douglas, Justin Hunter, Tre McBride, Damaris Johnson, Andrew Turzilli (susp), Nick Harwell, Ben RobertsTE: Delanie Walker, Anthony Fasano, Craig Stevens, Phillip Supernaw, Jerome CunninghamLT: Taylor LewanLG: Quinton Spain, Jeremiah Poutasi, Sebastian Tretola, Josue Matias, Bryon Bell (IR)C: Ben Jones, Brian Schwenke, Andy GallikRG: Chance WarmackRT: Jack ConklinK: Ryan SuccopNT: Al Woods, Austin Johnson, Angelo Blackson, Antwuan WoodsDE: Jurell Casey (DT), DaQuan Jones, Ropati Pitoitua, Karl Klug, Mehdi Abdesmad, Mike SmithILB: Avery Williamson, Wesley Woodyard, Sean Spence, Nate Palmer, Curtis Grant, Justin Staples, J.R. TavaiOLB: Brian Orakpo, Derrick Morgan, Kevin Dodd (DE), Aaron Wallace, David Bass, Deiontrez Mount, Yannik Cudjoe-VirgilCB: Jason McCourty, Perrish Cox, Brice McCain, Antwon Blake, Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Leshaun Sims, Kalan Reed, Cody Riggs, Bennett OkotchaS: Da′Norris Searcy (SS), Rashad Johnson (FS), Daimion Stafford (FS), Kevin Byard, Marqueston Huff (FS), Josh Aubrey, Lamarcus Brutus

Washington Redskins

QB: The decision to let Kirk Cousins play under a one-year franchise tender makes sense considering Cousins’ limited experience as a starter and terrible playoff finish. Cousins understands that 2016 will make or break his perception as a high level starter. Cousins hasn’t been consistently sharp in the early part of camp, but he did string a number of strong practices together to end the week. “When he can scan the field and get to his first, second, third and sometimes fourth option, he’s pretty darn good,” Gruden said. “Fortunately our line gave him some time to scan the field and get the throws in there. But he is more comfortable.” Colt McCoy provides Washington with a quality, veteran backup. He’s looked sharp in practice thus far. Nate Sudfeld will have ample time during the preseason to make a case for a roster spot as the third string/emergency quarterback.

RB: Whether you think Matt Jones is a talented player or not, the coaches clearly are banking on him as the feature back.

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Jones has been the unquestioned number one. Aside from sitting out for two days (once with “tired legs” and the other with mild knee soreness), Jones has gotten most of the reps with the starters and looked adequate. Coaches are praising Jones’ maturation – for example, denoting his positive attitude in the classroom and film study – areas that Jones admits were not his favorite as a rookie. The team desperately needs Jones to stay healthy and improve markedly because depth is a question mark. Chris Thompson is a 3rd down receiving back and ill-suited for heavy carries. Rookie Keith Marshall has flashed at times, but hasn’t seen many reps with the starters.

WR: Whether it’s finally being healthy or feeling the pressure of youthful competition, veterans DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon are having a good start to camp. Jackson, in particular, has looked like the best player on offense – which is saying something considering the presence of Jordan Reed. Offensive coordinator Sean McVay attributes Jackson’s resurgence to good health and the push from competing against Josh Norman in practice every day: “One thing is, he’s been able to practice,” McVay said. “When you bring in guys like Josh, an elite corner, competition raises the level of play and that’s what he’s done. You’re seeing why DeSean is a special player.” First round rookie Josh Doctson remains unable to practice as he recovers from an Achilles injury in May. The coaches are downplaying the severity but Doctson was seen wearing a walking boot last week. Jamison Crowder will have a meaningful role regardless of who lines up outside; he’s going to see a ton of targets as the slot receiver. The coaches have been working on Crowder’s ability to gain separation – something he was unable to do consistently as a rookie in spite of setting a Washington rookie reception record.

TE: Washington is likely to keep four tight ends on the 53-man roster. With Derek Carrier on the PUP list, that quartet appears to be Jordan Reed, Niles Paul, Logan Paulsen and Vernon Davis. Carrier could push for one of those spots with a strong return in mid-August. Ultimately, the position is really about keeping Jordan Reed healthy for the regular season so that he can build of last year’s emergence. Reed has been – along with DeSean Jackson—the most explosive player on offense through the first week+ of camp.

Defense: All eyes are on Josh Norman after Washington signed him away from the Carolina Panthers, but it’s been the play of Bashaud Breeland that has everyone excited. Secondary coach Perry Fewell has seen steady progress in Breeland: "He made improvement from a year ago," Fewell said. "He would play with his back to the quarterback. It’s been a long, arduous process, but now he’s playing with vision on the ball. Because he’s playing with vision on the ball, I can say, 'Yeah, Breeland!' because I know he sees the ball coming out." After missing his rookie season with concussion symptoms, linebacker Martrell Spaight has re-emerged as a factor. Spaight could earn a starting role if he continues to play as well as he’s practice in the first week of camp.

Returners: In an unsurprising development, Washington’s first depth chart has Rashad Ross returning kickoffs and Jamison Crowder handling punts. Slightly more surprising was the fact that Will Blackmon, who hasn’t returned a punt since 2013, was listed second on the depth chart.

Redskins Depth ChartQB: Kirk Cousins, Colt McCoy, Nate SudfeldRB: Matt Jones, Chris Thompson, Keith Marshall, Silas Redd, Mack BrownFB: Joe KerridgeWR: DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Jamison Crowder (PR), Josh Doctson (inj), Ryan Grant, Rashad Ross (KR)TE: Jordan Reed, Niles Paul, Vernon Davis, Logan Paulsen, Derek Carrier (inj), Marcel JensenLT: Trent Williams, Ty NsekheLG: Spencer Long, Shawn Lauvao, Arie KouandijoC: Kory Lichtensteiger, Austin Reiter, Josh LeRibeusRG: Brandon Scherff, Takoby CofieldRT: Morgan MosesK: Dustin HopkinsNT: Jerrell Powe, Kedric Golston, Matt Ioannidis, Chris Bilukidi, Anthony JohnsonDE: Chris Baker, Ricky Jean-Francois, Ziggy Hood, Corey Crawford, Stephen Paea, Kendall ReyesILB: Perry Riley (inj), Will Compton, Mason Foster, Su′a Cravens (SS), Carlos Fields Jr., Steven Daniels, Martrell Spaight, Derrick MathewsOLB: Ryan Kerrigan, Preston Smith, Terence Garvin, Houston Bates, Trent Murphy, Junior Galette (inj)CB: Josh Norman, Bashaud Breeland, Kendall Fuller, Quinton Dunbar, Will Blackmon, Greg Toler, Deshazor Everett, Lloyd Carrington, Jeremy Harris, Cary Williams, Deshaun Phillips, Al Louis-JeanS: DeAngelo Hall (FS), David Bruton (SS), Duke Ihenacho (SS), Tevin Carter (SS/LB)