Training camp notes at the end of Week 2
More on training camp
Training Camp Notes, 8/7
Jets: WR Denzel Mims has found himself “buried on the depth chart” as maybe the 6th or 7th option, but reports that he could be traded seem exaggerated. CB Brandin Echols has a chance to start. RB Austin Walter could make the team. LB Jarrad Davis might finally show some of the first round talent that he didn’t show with the Lions. And DE Bryce Huff topped that list of “pleasant surprises” in Jets camp.
Jets: 5 players who have impressed: Elijah Moore, DE Carl Lawson, RT Morgan Moses, CB Isaiah Dunn, and Huff.
Broncos: The Broncos are giddy over WR Jerry Jeudy and DT McTelvin Agim.
“[Agim] is having a great camp. A lot of people think rookie linemen, defensive linemen, [are] supposed to come in and make an impact. It’s not that easy,” DeShawn Williams said of his less-experienced teammate. “You’re going against grown men. The speed changes, the strength changes, and he’s got that year under his belt and now you see everybody’s been bringing his name up. Man, he’s out there having a great camp, and I can’t wait to see him when we go against Minnesota to put it all together. He bust his tail this offseason, and it’s showing.”
Broncos: TE Albert Okwuegbunam is looking to rebound from a torn ACL. Rookie fifth round S Caden Sterns has been praised by Vic Fangio. WR KJ Hamler seems improved from an impressive rookie season. The attention has been on Patrick Surtain, but CB Ronald Darby has had a strong camp too.
Saints: The number one receiver for the Saints in Week 1 could be Marquez Callaway given the training camp performance he’s had so far. But who will be New Orleans’ number one quarterback? Right now it looks like someone will “not lose it” rather than win it. Defensive backs coach Kris Richard is also reportedly having a good camp, his first with the Saints. Sean Payton is impressed by first round rookie DE Payton Turner.
Giants: Sixth round CB Rodarius Williams, older brother of Greedy Williams, earned some reps with the starters and had a good Friday. But CB Darnay Holmes might be having an even better camp. WR David Sills drew mention again on Saturday.
Chiefs: WR DeMarcus Robinson could be KC’s number two receiver even if “he’s not the most exciting guy out on the field.” I haven’t mentioned Chiefs linebackers Willie Gay or Nick Bolton much yet but they’ve had many opportunities with starters in camp because of injuries, and played well. The rookie Bolton could see significant action out the gate. UDFA rookie S Devon Key is making a case to make the final roster.
Jaguars: QB Gardner Minshew has the personality type that I believe could keep him involved with the NFL — player, coach, broadcaster, podcaster, male model — for many more decades to come:
"I can't worry about who they draft, who's starting at the end of the day," Minshew said. "I can control how I practice, how I work, how I prepare. As long as I focus on those things, I know I'm doing everything I can."
"It's like when Cortez landed in Veracruz with 600 dudes trying to take the Aztec Empire, you know what he said? He said, 'Burn the boats so we go back in their boats.' That has stuck with me pretty much since I heard that story."
Browns: WR Donovan Peoples-Jones has been “the talk of camp” and KhaDarel Hodge has also had a good start to training camp. Things are starting to look unreal for Baker Mayfield: Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Peoples-Jones, David Njoku, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Jedrick Wills, Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin, Austin Hooper, plus rookie WR Anthony Schwartz, Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant, Hodge, Rashard Higgins, and rookie RB/WR Demetric Felton. Unreal. Maybe the best offensive line in the NFL, a conversation as the best WR tandem, best RB duo, best TE depth. And the defense should be pretty good too.
Bills: In addition to WR Jake Kumerow constantly getting praise, DE AJ Epenesa, G Ike Boettger, DE Gregory Rosseau, and RB Matt Breida were acknowledged.
Bears: Doesn’t seem like they’re going to see much of their rookies early in the season, if at all. WR Darnell Mooney is a breakout candidate.
Packers: LaFleur has high hopes for rookie WR Amari Rodgers.
Eagles: 2020 fifth round RB Jason Huntley is lighting it up in camp. People have also been impressed with RB Kerryon Johnson and WR Travis Fulgham.
Ravens: DE Odafe Oweh (again), DL Aaron Adeoye, DL Chris Smith, DT Justin Madubuike, CB Chris Westry with shoutouts. I get a feeling that Madubuike is going to be a Pro Bowl DT this year.
Cowboys: First round LB Micah Parsons could be a Week 1 star in his NFL career. And he didn’t even play in 2020. The same is being said about Ja’Marr Chase, another 2020 opt out. CB Maurice Canady, arguably the biggest star of Dallas training camp in 2021, picked Matthew Stafford on Saturday.
Lions: OLB Julian Okwara was the best player in practice the other day. Slot CB AJ Parker, a rookie UDFA, is getting some attention too. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and DT Alim McNeill continue to be the rookie stars of camp in Detroit. CB Mike Ford is “always near the ball.”
Falcons: Look for Olamide Zaccheaus to be WR3. Fifth round rookie DE Adetokunbo Ogundeji is a “diamond in the rough” getting some starter reps. The OL is “concerning.”
Bengals: There’s been positive things seen from the secondary so far. But Joe Burrow has been struggling, per some reports. He hasn’t played a lot of football in the last 10 months though and there’s lots of time before Week 1.
49ers: CB Ambry Thomas is starring. Rookie S Talanoa Hufanga looks good early. Jalen Hurd caught his first pass of camp this week and is expected to have a big role this year. DT Javon Kinlaw seems improved in year two, possibly dominating. RB JaMycal Hasty could be the best weapon SF has as a pass catcher out of the backfield. TE Ross Dwelley has been mentioned a lot. Could he end up as the “Delanie Walker” to George Kittle’s “Vernon Davis”? S Tavon Wilson was signed in the offseason, but lately he’s looked like a starter and that was not expected at all.
Titans: DT Teair Tart has been a “problem” for the OL in camp.
Patriots: I’ve been cautious before naming N’Keal Harry a potential breakout player in 2021, but the receiver has finally won over some people with a strong training camp. He’s only been in the NFL for two years, so the former first rounder has time left to prove himself. WR Kristian Wilkerson was also mentioned again on Sunday, as was DT Christian Barmore. Nobody appears to be the frontrunner for the QB job yet. People are also liking DT Carl Davis.
Panthers: I don’t think Carolina’s looked particularly strong these last two weeks, but rookie WR Terrace Marshall might get the most mentions.
Colts: Former Seahawks G Mark Glowinski has been “dominant” in drills.
Jaguars: There’s something I especially like about this stand out, maybe because Jacksonville was criticized for giving $4 million to a returner, but WR Jamal Agnew has been “worth every penny so far.” That’s not many pennies when you’re talking about two weeks of practice, but sure, why not? Rookie CB Tyson Campbell has also had a nice first camp, but the Jags are expected to start Shaquill Griffin and Sidney Jones out of the gate. And 2020 first round pick C.J. Henderson has been absent for most of camp, partly for injury reasons, and partly for “personal” reasons. Henderson was one of the strongest rookies in camp last year but things have taken an odd turn. The other 2020 first rounder, DE K’Lavon Chaisson, is having a good camp.
Vikings: I love this quote by Vikings CB Kris Boyd because it is such a basic quip, the type that could only come out of an NFL player or coach. “I’m going to laugh and joke with everybody, I don’t care if it’s the president,’’ Boyd said. “So the first time I met (Peterson) I was like, ‘What it is this, like your 30th year?’ ’’
(Patrick Peterson “laughed in response” because he is also an NFL player.)
