NFL Trade Rumors
We’re almost through the second week of training camps around the league, and for most teams, padded practices began this week. It’s often said training camp doesn’t truly begin until the pads come on, and over the last few days, we’ve seen the first real action for these new-look squads.
Here’s a wide-ranging look at some of the players and situations that are standing out through the first two weeks of action:
At the start of camp, four quarterbacks took the field with the hopes of winning the starting job in Cleveland. Now just over a week in, it seems that number has been cut to three and maybe even just two.
Kenny Pickett looked like he might be the Browns’ best quarterback through the first few practices, but he injured his hamstring earlier this week and has been out since. While HC Kevin Stefanski said it’s not serious and Pickett remains in the quarterback battle, it’s a setback for sure. Hamstring injuries can be finicky and if Pickett is forced to miss extended time, he’ll have a difficult task ahead of him to work his way back into the competition.
Meanwhile, fifth-round QB Shedeur Sanders is the clear fourth-string option in Cleveland. He reportedly has a lot of development to do and is the only passer who hasn’t taken snaps with the first-team offense. Veteran Joe Flacco is getting the majority of the first-team reps with Pickett out, with third-rounder Dillon Gabriel also mixing in. Until Pickett returns to the practice field, it appears to be a two-man battle between Flacco and Gabriel for the Browns’ starting quarterback job.
The reports coming into Colts camp indicated that, due to Anthony Richardson missing time earlier this summer, Daniel Jones had a lead on the starting quarterback job. That lead evaporated quickly, however. Both quarterbacks struggled initially, but Richardson bounced back. He’s put together arguably his best stretch of practice over the last several days, showcasing improved footwork, down-to-down consistency and touch. Also of note, Richardson received several endorsements from Colts’ ownership and GM Chris Ballard in recent days, with the organization standing behind him as he continues to develop.
For his part, Jones also rebounded from a slow start and is putting together the best stretch of the short time he’s been in a Colts uniform. Unfortunately, he doesn’t possess the same upside as Richardson, in whom Indianapolis invested a lot more. There’s a lot of training camp left and much can change, but Jones likely needs to be the clear-cut better option to win the starting job, in my opinion.
It’s been an up-and-down camp for Ward, who’s shown flashes of brilliance paired with plenty of rookie mistakes. Early in camp, he made batches of big plays, showcasing his arm talent and ability to attack downfield. Once the pads came on, however, Ward struggled, throwing three interceptions in his first padded practice.
This was a down...
