FBG Notes - Week 2 Training Camp Summary

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One of the best and most comprehensive features we do every year is our Footballguys Training Camp Updates. Every week in August, our Bob Henry and Jason Wood and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. Each edition is 30 plus pages long. It's incredible and, frankly, probably worth the Footballguys Season Long Pro subscription price just by itself.

While I encourage you to read every word of every week, I also understand Life Happens. And one of the more valuable services Footballguys can add is saving you time. For this article, I had the idea of taking the comprehensive Training Camp Update and asking our team writers to distill it down into 80 proof shots of the Need-to-Know material. Some teams will have more news than others because that's how it works in real life. Much of it will be from the Camp Updates, some of it will be my takes, but all of it will hopefully be useful to you. And make sure to jump on our Season Long Pro subscription to continue seeing this type of stuff all year long. And if this feature is helpful to you, shoot me an email at bryant@footballguys.com and let me know.

Plus, a new addition for this year. I've included a link to our Depth Charts and the Full Camp Report for each team. If you like these bullets and want more detail, check out the Full Camp Report for each team.

Let's get to it.

Arizona Cardinals | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Kyler Murray sat out the preseason game letting Colt McCoy and Chris Streveler get in some reps.
• Running backs Chase Edmonds and James Conner continue to be viewed as RB1 and RB1A.
• Running back Eno Benjamin had a solid showing and is in line to make the roster as the team's RB3.
• Wide receiver Rondale Moore impressed in his NFL debut as the Cardinals looked to manufacture touches to him.
• Wide receiver Christian Kirk is back at camp healthy and looks locked into the slot wide receiver role.
• Tight end Demetrius Harris was signed this week to compete with Maxx Williams and Darrell Daniels.

Atlanta Falcons | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Matt Ryan quickly adapted to the new scheme due to crossover with experience, and a new emphasis on his speed could add a rushing point or two onto his weekly total.
• Mike Davis is the clear lead running back, with Qadree Ollison as his current handcuff.
• Look for Cordarrelle Patterson to potentially emerge in a hybrid dual running back - wide receiver role as he has consistently made plays throughout camp.
• WR Calvin Ridley is healthy and ready to take on the alpha mantle in the offense.
• The team is moving TE Kyle Pitts around the formation to scheme ways to create mismatches and giving particular focus to prime him for a significant role immediately.

Baltimore Ravens | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Lamar Jackson returned from COVID-19 looking like he had never missed any time.
• RB J.K. Dobbins is the clear top running back, and the team should still be run-heavy with Dobbins, Jackson, and Gus Edwards all expected to contribute.
• WR Rashod Bateman is likely to miss at least one game in the regular season after a groin injury that required surgery.
• WR Marquise Brown has a hamstring injury and has been out of practice for over a week.
• WR Sammy Watkins is flashing speed and looking like a player much younger and more dynamic than his age would suggest.
• TE Mark Andrews should remain Jackson’s most-targeted player, especially with the injuries to the receivers.

Buffalo Bills | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Josh Allen and most starters got the night off as the Bills beat the Lions on Friday night on a late field goal.
• RB Zack Moss sat out the Lions game with a hamstring injury while Devin Singletary took advantage with a strong performance, further ensuring a role in the backfield.
• WR Emmanuel Sanders has missed practice time with a foot injury, and WR Jake Kumerow appears to be staking a claim for a depth spot.
• On defense, rookie DE Greg Rousseau looks ready to contribute right away as he recorded a sack and several pressures against the Lions starters.

Carolina Panthers | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Ian Thomas and Dan Arnold are listed as co-starters at tight end in the first official Panthers depth chart.
• Quarterback Sam Darnold is showing excellent decision-making and has been protecting the football.
• The offense has started to look better in practice but to the detriment of the defense.
• Most of Carolina’s starters did not play in their first preseason game.
• The defense is emphasizing getting after the quarterback and recording more sacks.

Chicago Bears | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• The Bears offensive line has been decimated with injuries, missing their top four tackles, allowing the defense to look great in live practices.
• Beat reporters noted that this has been the “most competent passing attack of any Nagy camp so far.”
• Once again, QB Justin Fields’ arm talent and legs were all the buzz in practice, and he looked impressive in his preseason debut.
• Although he didn’t get much work in the preseason game, all indications are that RB David Montgomery will get a heavy workload in-season.

Cincinnati Bengals | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Joe Burrow and the Bengals pass offense bounced back with a strong week, and he looks to be past the early struggles.
• Running back Chris Evans has excelled and is making a push for third-down work with a game reminiscent of Giovani Bernard.
• Rookie wide receiver JaMarr Chase has started to knock the rust off and is making more plays.
• Rookie defensive end Joseph Ossai was the best player in the preseason opener but hurt his wrist on his final snap.

Cleveland Browns | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• A rash of minor injuries has hit the defense, and their chemistry could be affected early on.
• Quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Odell Beckham have been putting in time together before and after practice.
• Tight end Harrison Bryant is firmly a part of the tight end rotation and put on weight to improve as a blocker.
• Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones has come back down to earth after a stellar first week of camp.
• It has been a quiet camp for running back Kareem Hunt so far.

Dallas Cowboys | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Dak Prescott's MRI results were encouraging; he should be back to practice soon.
• RB Ezekiel Elliott had a quiet week, but he and Tony Pollard looked great all summer and are unquestioned as the No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
• WR Amari Cooper was activated off the PUP list and is on track for a Week 1 return.
• WR Michael Gallup has accepted his new role as the primary slot receiver and is thriving.
• Neither TE Blake Jarwin nor Dalton Schultz seems likely to play enough snaps to have a significant fantasy impact.

Denver Broncos | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• The quarterback race remains wide open, though most believe Drew Lock holds a slight lead over Teddy Bridgewater.
• In the backfield, Melvin Gordon’s RB1 status is tenuous at best, with rookie Javonte Williams excelling.
• Top receiver Courtland Sutton says he’s fully on track in his recovery from ACL surgery, and he plans to appear in the preseason.
• Speedy wideout K.J. Hamler is healthy and showed well against the Vikings, drawing praise from his head coach.
• The duo of Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam looks poised to serve as a dynamic downfield threat in two-tight end sets.

Detroit Lions | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Jared Goff has struggled to unlock the vertical passing game early on in training camp, which has been a combination of Detroit’s lack of skill players capable of exploiting the vertical offense and Goff’s preferences to rely on the short and intermediate passing game.
• Tight end T.J. Hockenson has been the best player in training camp and could lead the offense in receiving in 2021.
• RB D’Andre Swift has been recovering from a groin injury but should be ready to play in week one.

Green Bay Packers | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Jordan Love showed well in the preseason opener but will undergo an MRI after leaving with a shoulder injury.
• Running back A.J. Dillon continues to refine his all-around game as he looks to soak up the departed Jamaal Williams’ No. 2 role.
• Many are noticing the more polished Marquez Valdes-Scantling in his bid to serve as the clear-cut No. 2 wideout.
• The tight end room is crowded, but 2020 breakout Robert Tonyan Jr continues to cement himself atop the depth chart with splash plays.

Houston Texans | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Tyrod Taylor has performed well and looks locked in as the starter. Given his rushing upside, he deserves more fantasy attention and is a solid sleeper in deeper leagues.
• Running back Phillip Lindsay was listed as co-starter (with Mark Ingram) and was on the field for 8-of-10 snaps with the first-team offense. He looks like the back to target in drafts.
• Wide receiver Chris Conley is currently ahead in his competition with Nico Collins for a starting role, though Collins has more upside.
• Wide receiver Anthony Miller suffered a shoulder injury, which increases the odds Keke Coutee will open as the starter in the slot.

Indianapolis Colts | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• There is optimism quarterback Carson Wentz will be ready for Week 1, but the team won’t know for sure until he begins rehabbing his foot next week.
• Running back Jonathan Taylor continues to star in practices.
• Wide receiver Parris Campbell might be behind Zach Pascal on the depth chart, as Campbell played (and starred) with the first-team offense during the preseason opener. At the same time, Pascal rested along with starters Michael Pittman and T.Y. Hilton.
• 6-foot-5, 225-pound rookie wide receiver Michael Strachan is a name to file away in deep leagues and dynasty formats due to his eye-popping training camp performance.
• Tight end Kylen Granson has created a buzz in training camp, but his usage in the first preseason game suggests he’s currently no better than fourth on the depth chart.
• The Colts defense is banged up with injuries to defensive end Kwity Paye, linebacker E.J. Speed, cornerback T.J. Carrie, and stud defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.

Jacksonville Jaguars | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Trevor Lawrence saw NFL action for the first time and rebounded with a solid performance after taking a sack on his first snap.
• Running back James Robinson could be more of the runner and Travis Etienne more of the third-down passing threat back. Both are splitting reps.
• Wide receiver D.J. Chark had finger surgery but should be ready for Week 1.
• Wide receiver Collin Johnson is continuing to get more reps in and is looking to lock in the WR4 role on the team.
• Tight end Chris Manhertz is getting more looks in the offense and is looking like the top TE on the depth chart. Tim Tebow was waived.
• Cornerback C.J. Henderson battled with COVID but is now on the field and making plays.

Kansas City Chiefs | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Since Patrick Mahomes II won’t play much in the preseason, the team is taking the time to decide whether to keep a third quarterback.
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darrel Williams continue to lead Andy Reid’s running back group solidly.
• In the battle for Sammy Watkins’ vacated snaps, wideouts Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson, and Byron Pringle are all effectively stating a case.
• Always a speed demon, Hardman keeps drawing praise for his focus on the fundamentals of the position.
• Rookie tight end Noah Gray continues to stake his claim for immediate two-tight reps next to Travis Kelce.

Las Vegas Raiders | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Derek Carr has taken care of the ball well, throwing just one interception through the first two weeks.
• Running backs Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake (along with most other starters) were held out of the preseason opener and are taking limited reps in practice to make sure they are healthy for Week 1.
• Running back Jalen Richard is injured and may have a tough time making the team given the injury, his salary, and the strong play of rookies Trey Ragas and B.J. Emmons.
• Wide receivers Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards have generated positive buzz and are locked into starting roles.
• Darren Waller has missed over two weeks due to an ankle injury and is taking it slow with the regular season still almost a month away. He returned to practice Tuesday.

Los Angeles Chargers | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Justin Herbert and WR Keenan Allen continue to show their strong rapport from 2020 thus far in training camp.
• Running back Austin Ekeler has been the lead running back and is operating out of a number of positions in the offense as they incorporate his playmaking and receiving game skills.
• QB Justin Herbert has called on WR Mike Williams to be more incorporated in the offense, but Williams has been inconsistent thus far in camp.

Los Angeles Rams | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Darrell Henderson continues to project as the lead running back with the Rams, with Xavier Jones and Jake Funk competing for the backup role.
• At present, the Rams have shown no signs of adding veteran depth at the running back position, a good sign for Henderson, Jones, and Funk.
• The first-team offense will not play in the preseason, creating plenty of opportunities for players down the depth chart.

Miami Dolphins | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa continues to make progress and should see improvement in year two.
• Running back Malcolm Brown was the primary ball carrier when the starters were on the field, raising questions about just how entrenched Myles Gaskin is at the top of the depth chart.
• Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was not targeted in the preseason opener but had a strong week of practice.
• Tight end Mike Gesicki returned from a COVID-related absence and was Tagovailoa’s favorite target in joint practices against the Bears.

Minnesota Vikings | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Backup Quarterbacks Kellen Mond and Jake Browning look dreadful behind Kirk Cousins.
• Running backs Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison are locked in as the top two backs on the depth chart, with Mattison one of the most dangerous handcuffs in the league.
• Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is still recovering from an AC joint injury, and we won’t likely see him on the field the rest of training camp. He reportedly could've played in a regular-season game last week.
• Wide receiver K.J. Osborn is making plays and is looking to make a run at the WR3 role on the team and is gaining praise from Zimmer and seeing special teams return duties.
• Tight end Irv Smith remains hyped up this offseason and is seeing more work in the red zone.

New England Patriots | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• The quarterback battle rages on, with rookie Mac Jones making up legitimate ground on Cam Newton.
• Damien Harris continues to pace the running back room, though rookie Rhamondre Stevenson shone brightest in the preseason opener.
• Wideout N’Keal Harry’s raved-about camp didn’t copy over against Washington, where he was all but ignored despite heavy snaps.
• Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor remain locked into the top two wide receiver spots.
• Tight end Hunter Henry’s shoulder injury entrenches Jonnu Smith deeply into the offense, at least in the short term.

New Orleans Saints | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• The quarterback race remains unsettled, with Jameis Winston looking more like a quarterback but Taysom Hill like a Swiss Army knife.
• The backfield is also shaking out behind Alvin Kamara, with Tony Jones excelling in the preseason opener.
• Star wideout Michael Thomas’ relations with the team may have improved – or he may be barreling toward a trade, depending on the messenger.
• In Thomas’ place, Marquez Callaway continues to draw lots of adjectives in his daily battles with Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
• The team is looking to establish a rotation at tight end, with Adam Trautman and blocker Nick Vannett as co-starters.

New York Giants | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Daniel Jones hasn’t given Giants fans much to be excited about yet, and it’s unclear whether he’ll play enough in the preseason to change the trajectory.
• The offensive line hasn’t looked great all camp, and those struggles continued versus the Jets.
• Saquon Barkley has been activated, and the team’s optimism for an early-season return is palpable.
• Offseason additions Kenny Golladay, Kyle Rudolph, and Kadarius Toney have all barely participated in camp, making an early-season offensive resurgence unlikely.
• Sterling Shepard has been the only bright spot offensively; he could finally have a big year facing No. 2 cornerbacks if Golladay stays healthy.

New York Jets | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Zach Wilson has seen the normal rookie growing pains. He looked solid but not spectacular in the preseason opener against the Giants. He was poised and looked like he belonged.
• The backfield remains unsettled, but Ty Johnson is factoring into the mix more than many expected. In the first depth chart, he was listed as the co-starter, along with Michael Carter, and out-snapped Carter with the first-team offense against the Giants.
• Rookie Elijah Moore left practice Thursday with a quad injury but avoided a serious injury. He missed Saturday’s game but is “day-to-day.” It would not be surprising if the Jets were cautious with him and slow-played his return.
• The defensive line looks to be the strength of the team. They put on a clinic against the Giants.

Philadelphia Eagles | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Jalen Hurts had an “eye of the beholder” preseason debut that looked a lot like the up-and-down series of practices he’s delivered all summer.
• RB Miles Sanders was kept out of the Steelers game explicitly because the coaches say he has “nothing to prove”; rumors of his demise were greatly exaggerated.
• Looking to handcuff Sanders is tricky because the backup situation remains in flux; Jordan Howard went from a projected roster cut to the No. 2 in a week.
• Wide receiver Quez Watkins has been a standout all summer and could end up a regular-season starter if he sustains his momentum.
• TE Zach Ertz is being featured as a centerpiece of the offense, not someone on the trading block.

Pittsburgh Steelers | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Ben Roethlisberger is off to a slow start in camp but will play in the team’s third preseason game, a rare occurrence for him in recent years.
• RB Najee Harris continues to impress and separate from his backups, earning high praise from head coach Mike Tomlin.
• WR Diontae Johnson is the favorite to lead the team in targets and caught multiple touchdowns in goal-line drills this week.
• WR Chase Claypool is being utilized on deep passes and in the red zone in practices, areas that should be his specialties during the season. He saw a scare in practice Tuesday with an ankle injury, but the initial hope is it's not significant.
• WR JuJu Smith-Schuster has lobbied to play outside, but the team would be better keeping him in the slot and using three-receiver sets often.
• TE Pat Freiermuth has taken first-team reps in a few practices while veteran Eric Ebron has played with backups.

San Francisco 49ers | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Trey Lance has consistently drawn praise in training camp but has been used sparingly with the first-team offense to date.
• QB Jimmy Garapollo has struggled so far in camp while being outplayed by Trey Lance.
• Raheem Mostert and Trey Sermon project to be the two leading running backs in the offense, with Mostert operating as the 1A running back.

Seattle Seahawks | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• While the team has talked up the run game, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron called 12 straight pass plays to open the game and didn’t run until the second quarter.
• While unlikely to break the top three in the backfield, DeeJay Dallas could be a factor in the passing game, given how often he has been targeted in camp.
• The offensive line has always been the Seattle offense’s Achilles heel, which makes the awful outing on Saturday a massive concern. If they can’t block, it’s going to be tough for that offense to have the tempo it wants or put up the yards it wants to.
• Cornerback is a massive question mark for the defense. Until that gets settled, even mediocre passing offenses will be able to produce excellent numbers against it.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• QB Tom Brady’s knee surgery has aided his velocity as a thrower, leading to him being more aggressive and precise in the red zone, tight zone windows, and perimeter targets.
• The team is thrilled with RB Giovani Bernard, especially in the receiving game, and at the very least, we should be listening to the idea of Bernard as Brady’s new James White.
• WR Antonio Brown is having a dominant training camp, and Bruce Arians revealed much of it has to do with Brown having had knee surgery, a procedure Brown put off for three years.
• TE O.J. Howard has had a difficult journey trying to return to form. Despite brief moments of production, his timing and consistency as a blocker and pass catcher are not where they need to be at this time.
• It isn’t part of the plan for WR Jaelon Darden to have a fantasy-friendly role this year, but he’s performing well enough that fantasy managers better know his name if there’s an injury to a starter.

Tennessee Titans | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• WR Julio Jones has been held out of practice after suffering an injury falling earlier in camp. There is no immediate concern the injury will cost him regular-season time.
• Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been more mistake-prone than normal, which is a trend to watch with a change in offensive coordinators.
• WR A.J. Brown has been the best offensive player in camp despite two off-season knee surgeries.

Washington Football Team | Depth Chart | Footballguys Full Camp Report

• Taylor Heinicke has done everything necessary to open the season as Ryan Fitzpatrick’s backup, but Kyle Allen returned to practice a few days ago after missing several weeks.
• Antonio Gibson is the clear-cut No. 1 tailback, but he’s going to cede third-down snaps to J.D. McKissic again; McKissic is too talented as a pass-catcher to relegate to the sidelines.
• Rookie RB Jaret Patterson is pushing for a 53-man roster spot and possibly the No. 3 role behind Gibson and McKissic.
• WR Curtis Samuel was activated from the PUP list after missing the entirety of training camp.
• The coaches are planning on utilizing TE Logan Thomas all over the field, and he could be the second-most important piece of the passing attack behind Terry McLaurin.

And that's that for this week. Let me know if you found this type of thing useful by shooting an email to bryant@footballguys.com. And keep up with me on Twitter by clicking the follow button below.

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