NFL Training Camp Updates, 8/19
NFL Training Camp Notes
Steelers: Pittsburgh finally had their first team offensive line healthy and together for the first time. It seems like given the circumstances, RB Najee Harris could be an immediate top-5 running back in terms of opportunities and production. He was drafted into a good situation and that’s what you most want as a rookie.
Charger: LB Kyzir White is “flying all over the field” and the fourth-year former safety is looking to make a jump.
Seahawks: Pete Carroll is confident that rookie WR Dee Eskridge will be ready for Week 1, but won’t press him into preseason action just to get his feet wet. It will only be if Eskridge is healthy. It’s possible Seattle could benefit from Eskridge missing all this time; if Carroll has something in mind for him in Week 1, who the hell will be able to guess what that looks like? WR Darece Roberson stood out in practice no Wednesday and is trying to make the roster via special teams. UDFA S Aashari Crosswell continues to look like a potentially valuable signing.
Giants: There’s a ton of confidence about Daniel Jones, or at least, that’s what the coaches are saying right now. He seemed to be “on point” on Tuesday. WR David Sills is all the rage at Giants training camp. With rookie WR Kadarius Toney missing so much time, Sills could turn into the number three receiver immediately. Sills was considered one of the greatest QB prospects ever when he was a high school freshman in 2010 and he was offered a scholarship to USC that year. He decommitted from USC after Sam Darnold committed there and it seems a hand injury may have also played a part in his fall from grace as a QB. Sills went to West Virginia and after losing a QB competition, converted to wide receiver. He actually converted back to QB, then transferred when he lost the job, only to return to West Virginia permanently to play receiver. He was highly productive, catching 33 touchdowns in 24 games over two seasons. Sills went undrafted and signed with the Bills, but he’s got all the size you want at the position: 6’3, 211 lbs, 4.57 40-yard dash. He was cut by Buffalo, then made the Giants’ practice squad. He then broke his foot in 2020 training camp. Sills has never had a chance to prove himself in the NFL — no preseason games in 2020 — and now he’s finally showing out. Is he the next Adam Thielen, an out of nowhere former undrafted free agent?
Bucs: Former U of Washington DE Joe Tryon was the last pick of the first round, but he is playing like a top-10 prospect in camp.
Bears: Chicago is just hoping that rookie OT Teven Jenkins will be able to return this season after announcing that he will have surgery on his troublesome back. But Bears fifth round OT Larry Borom could be a Week 1 starter at left tackle.
Eagles: Ugh. Standout TE Tyree Jackson will miss 8-10 weeks following a back injury. The former college QB looked to be a great transition story. This kind of news tends to feel like, “Wait until next year” because Jackson may find it difficult to get back into the rotation when he does return sometime in October or November. Rookie LB Patrick Johnson is impressing.
Chargers: Sixth round rookie RB Larry Rountree III may have elevated himself to being the RB2, which means a lot of carries for Missouri’s all-time leading rusher.
Browns: S Grant Delpit claims he’s “not behind at all” after missing all of his 2020 rookie season and most of training camp. He re-injured his hamstring on Wednesday. Also, WR Davion Davis “has ascended from obscurity to training camp star in less than a week.” Davis went undrafted out of Sam Houston State in 2019. He spent some time with the Vikings, but was a free agent for a whole year before signing with the Browns at the beginning of camp.
Packers: TE Robert Tonyan, S Adrian Amos could be in line for big seasons.
Jets: Carl Lawson is out for the season with a torn Achilles. OLB Bryce Huff, a 2020 UDFA, could be elevated to starter. Rookie Hamilcar Rashed could also be in line for more snaps now.
Lions: OLB Austin Bryant is a stand out.
Chiefs: DT Khalen Saunders has had a great camp, per his position coach.
Texans: OT Charlie Heck has been the most improved player at camp and will probably start at right tackle in Week 1.
WFT: These are the names currently being discussed as Washington’s new name: Armada, Presidents, Brigade, RedHogs, Commanders, RedWolves, Defenders, and the current stand-in “Washington Football Team.”
It blows my mind that in the near future any NFL team will have one of those names. I’m not saying I have the right answer, but none of those sound like they could be NFL teams. How did Football Team become the best choice?