Here are my brief notes for the July 25th training camp. Moving forward, I’ll keep refining my coverage to ensure I provide the best insights. Additionally, I’ll be delivering weekly recaps for every team, covering strengths, weaknesses, position battles, and more.
INJURY NOTES:
Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick, who was projected to be a starter and was a sixth-round pick in 2022, sustained a torn ACL during practice.
Kirk Cousins has been medically cleared to practice, eight months after tearing his ACL in his final game with the Vikings. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris noted that while Cousins will be limited in some drills, the restrictions won’t be noticeable. Overall, this is a positive development for Cousins.
Russell Wilson woke up with calf soreness and did not participate in practice. According to team sources, the injury is considered minor, and he is listed as day-to-day.
HOLD OUT NOTES:
Jets’ Haason Reddick and 49ers’ Trent Williams have been placed on the “Did Not Show” list and will face $50,000 fines for each missed day of attendance. It’s a straightforward situation: no show, no pay.
Ja’Marr Chase was sidelined during practice, with HC Zac Taylor stating it was not injury-related. Chase has been vocal about wanting an extension, and recent reports suggest this could be delayed until next season. This has led to speculation that Chase might be holding out, similar to Jordan Love. However, there are also rumors that his absence is due to muscle soreness. Despite Taylor’s statement, it is worth considering all possibilities outside of a contract holdout.
Jordan Love’s contract negotiations are nearing completion. A Green Bay source within the negotiation circle confirmed that Love’s deal is almost finalized. Shortly afterward, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk echoed this, noting that the deal is “pretty close” to being done. While it’s not finalized yet, both sides are eager to reach an agreement and get Love back on the practice field. Despite the ongoing negotiations, Love remains engaged by attending meetings and participating as much as possible without risking injury. The most common expectation for the contract terms is similar to Jared Goff’s deal: a 4-year contract worth $212 million, with $170 million fully guaranteed.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Colts QB Anthony Richardson excelled during drills, completing nearly 100% of his passes in red-zone drills and throwing for three touchdowns. Initially reported as perfect, the Colts added one more attempt after our update, resulting in an incompletion. Despite some errant passes in other drills, Richardson quickly found his rhythm. Recovering from a season-ending shoulder injury, he showed no lingering effects from a recent scare, which turned out to be minor soreness. With sky-high potential, staying healthy will be crucial for Richardson’s success in his sophomore season.
I’ll admit I may have been too critical of Daniel Jones’ performance at the start of training camp. After his initial sluggish showing, where he completed under 60% of his passes and struggled with yardage, I felt a quarterback competition might benefit the Giants. This was especially true given the Hard Knocks episodes highlighting the Giants’ eagerness to trade up for a quarterback. However, today Jones showcased the version that led the Giants to the playoffs. While he might not be fully recovered yet during camp, the potential remains evident. With the addition of Malik Nabers, this could be the bounce-back year Jones needs.
Justin Fields took first-team snaps for the Steelers today, stepping in for Wilson, who is out with leg soreness. Fields mentioned he only learned about his role shift at 6 am. Despite Wilson being day-to-day, Fields has been delivering impressive deep throws, suggesting a potential quarterback battle is brewing. Reporters are already overreacting with speculations that Fields might secure the starting position by fall.
Watching Aaron Rodgers practice is a spectacle. He went 13 of 16 with a TD throughout practice (one drop), 9 of 12 with a TD in 11-on-11s, and 3 of 4 with a TD in the drive-the-field drill. Despite talk about his age, Rodgers remains an elite player as long as he stays healthy.
LOWLIGHTS:
Gardner Minshew took the initial first-team reps at quarterback for the Raiders but struggled immensely. The quarterback issues in practice suggest that the Raiders could be in for a challenging season if these problems persist. With Derek Carr now in New Orleans, the pressure is on Minshew and O’Connell to fill the void. So far, no quarterback has stepped up, raising concerns about the Raiders’ upcoming season. This scenario also brings into question the future of star wide receiver Davante Adams amidst trade rumors. If the team finds itself with a losing record as the trade deadline approaches, it wouldn’t be surprising to see those rumors surface once more. However, there’s still hope. AOC has shown potential in the past, and while he may not be a franchise QB, he could provide the stability the team needs. The current trend might be to hate on the Raiders, but there’s definitely still a high chance for a turnaround.
Although this isn’t necessarily practice-related, the Cowboys are in the lowlight section for the handling of the contracts for CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott, and Micah Parsons. Regardless of our opinions, all three players are expected to command top dollar, with a real chance of setting records once the deals are finalized. The Cowboys need to accept this reality. It’s likely that this will be Micah Parsons’ last season with the team, as I predict Dak and Lamb will secure their contracts. The “we’re all in” approach since the Super Bowl has yielded no results, and fans have a right to be fed up with the mediocrity.
QNA:
Q: Is Chase Claypool injured?
A: Bills receiver Chase Claypool sustained a right foot injury during Wednesday’s practice, forcing him to sit out the remainder of the session. The general consensus is that Claypool is fine, and this injury shouldn’t hinder his progress.
Q: Early impressions on Seattle?
A: The Seahawks’ defense might be underrated this season. Julian Love, who just signed a 3-year extension with Seattle on Wednesday, showcased his skills by baiting Geno Smith into throwing an interception while covering JSN. While I don’t see them as contenders, teams will quickly realize they are not to be underestimated.
Q: Titans recap.
A: The Titans’ offensive line faced difficulties from start to beginning, which will wreak havoc on Will Levis and the rest of the offense if they don’t address these issues swiftly. On a positive note, the defense performed exceptionally well, with Titans reporters highlighting rookie edge rusher Jaylen Harrell, a 7th-round pick, who made a strong impression in 1st-team action with a forced fumble and multiple quarterback pressures.
Q: 49ers updates? How’s Purdy doing?
A: Quarterback Josh Dobbs has struggled in the first two practices while competing for the backup quarterback role. On the other hand, Brock Purdy and Deebo Samuel are picking up right where they left off last season, showing strong chemistry while WR Brandon Aiyuk is holding out for a contract extension. Defensively, Nick Bosa has been impressive, recording a couple of sacks in each practice.