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NFL NationESPN
As kickoff for the 2022 NFL season nears, the NFL preseason schedule will heat up this week. This will include heated battles between the 32 teams for position.
Some competitions could have enormous implications. fantasy football Fans, especially those who aren’t yet certain about their favorite quarterback.
The Carolina Panthers Have an open competition for quarterbacks between Baker Mayfield And Sam Darnold. The Pittsburgh Steelers You can expect Mitch Trubisky To open the season, he will be QB1, but could be pushed to. Mason Rudolph Selection in the first round Kenny Pickett.
The New England Patriots, New York Jets, Detroit Lions And Arizona Cardinals Interesting cornerback competitions are brewing. Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins And Kansas City Chiefs They are trying to figure out the order in which they should be running back.
For the Buffalo Bills And Philadelphia EaglesThe battles for their top two receivers’ positions are heating up.
NFL Nation reporters break down the biggest training camp competitions for all 32 teams.
Jump to
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
AFC EAST
Slot receiver
After wide receiver Cole Beasley This offseason, it was released. Isaiah McKenzie is the most likely candidate to fill his slot receiver position. Add a free agent Jamison Crowder A lower-extremity issue left him out of the fight, and he missed a lot of camp. To keep up with McKenzie, he will need to perform well in camp and preseason. — Alaina Getzenberg
Running back
This is not a battle because the Dolphins will split carries in their crowded backfield. The “battle” between the Dolphins and Dolphins is for the lion’s portion of reps. Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert And Sony Michel — with Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed And ZaQuandre White All are fighting for a spot on the roster. It seems that the order is currently in this order. However, preseason games will give a clearer picture of the pecking order. — Marcel Louis Jacques
Cornerback
With J.C. Jackson There is a significant hole opposite the Charger now that it’s a Charger Jalen Mills. Veteran Terrance Mitchell a top choice in training camp. Malcolm Butler working behind him. Rookie Jack Jones The fourth round, Arizona State, has the greatest upside, but is yet to emerge. — Mike Reiss
Cornerback
The battle is technically still on. Bryce Hall, the incumbent, & rookie Sauce Gardner These days have been a rotation day with the starting team. It would be a surprise if Gardner, who was drafted fourth overall in the draft, didn’t start opposite. D.J. Reed Week 1. Gardner is enjoying a very quiet camp. This is good for a corner. He will be able to prove that he can withstand the run once he has proved his physical fitness. — Rich Cimini
AFC NORTH
Guard left
Ben PowersWho is more consistent than Tyre PhillipsPhillips has led this battle from the beginning. Phillips is faster and has more potential, so Powers must be outplayed in the preseason. Ben ClevelandA third-round pick from last year is now considered a long shot, having missed the first week of camp due to failing the conditioning test. — Jamison Hensley
Guard left
The Bengals plan to strengthen their offensive line, which will include four new starters. The coaching staff is yet to name a second-year player Jackson Carman In a battle that included rookies, the winner is Cordell Volson. Carman however has won the first-team reps, and it appears that he is the one with the inside track. — Ben Baby
Defensive tackle
The Browns’ entire defense tackle rotation is almost entirely made up of unproven players. This creates a fierce battle. Veterans Taven Bryan And Sheldon Day Young players will be fighting Jordan Elliott, Tommy Togiai The rookie Perrion Winfrey For time. Depending on how battle goes, the Browns might add another veteran to the camp to solidify their position. Jake Trotter
1:07
Mike Clay and Daniel Dopp discuss their views on the struggles of Steelers QBs in camp.
Quarterback
Mitch Trubisky The Steelers have listed him as the starter on their first depth chart. He has been able to take almost all of the first team reps in the first two weeks and has shown significant improvement in recent days. Even so, Mason Rudolph has appeared sharp, which suggests that the distance between them may not be too great. After a difficult start, the first round pick was made. Kenny Pickett He is also playing better, but he still seems to be third behind veterans. — Brooke Pryor
AFC SOUTH
Running back
The running back room is better than last season’s group which was last in rushing yards per games (83.6). Former Colt Marlon Mack He has shown glimpses of his former self, running for 1,091 yards in 2019, before injuring his right Achilles in 2020. This injury ended his 2021 season. Fourth-rounder Dameon Pierce As a result of his speed through the holes, he has made more explosive plays. Rex Burkhead The most consistent overall, showing the ability run, catch, and block. — D.J. Bien-Aime
Left tackle
The Colts went beyond veteran. Eric FisherLeave Matt Pryor And Bernhard Raimann To compete for this position. Pryor and Raimann are both not ideal candidates. Raimann has just started his career as a left tackle, and Pryor hasn’t been there for a while. But Pryor is getting more reps than Raimann and is doing well. Although Pryor may not be as agile as Raimann (6’7 and 332 lbs), he is certainly more powerful than Raimann. — Stephen Holder
Right tackle
Incumbent Jawaan TaylorThe final year of his rookie contract is over, and he is trying to keep it going. Walker LittleSecond-year player. Little, who was a second-round draft pick in 2021 was a left tackle at college. This spring, he was promoted to right tackle. The Jaguars hope that Phil Rauscher, the new OL coach, can get more from Taylor. Taylor has allowed 40 sacks over 49 games. Taylor was injured in the hamstring early in camp and has not been able to play. Little is expected to replace Taylor soon. Mike DiRocco
Right tackle
In the three years since their last draft, the Titans have used three high-drafted picks to address right tackle. They believed it was secured when they used the first-round pick. Isaiah WilsonHe is, however, not on the NFL roster after two seasons. The 2021 second round pick Dillon Radunz The 2022 third-round selection Nicholas Petit-Frere Both are competing for the job. Mike Vrabel is trying to assess both players against equal competition. So they took turns working with the starters. Turron Davidnport
AFC WEST
Guard
Training camp is entering its third week with both guard spots open on the revamped offensive line. Dalton Risner He took most snaps with the starters left guard and seems to have edged his path to the top of depth chart. Quinn Meinerz And Netane Muti Have split the majority snaps at right-guard. Graham GlasgowAfter suffering from injuries and COVID-19 last summer, he was forced to take a pay cut. However, he is the most skilled player in the group. He can also play center and guard. He has spent most of his time on the second-team offense. — Jeff Legwold
Running back
Clyde Edwards-Helaire Chiefs RB1 is him, but he has been out of action with injuries for a significant portion of the past two seasons. Therefore, identifying the top reserves in the team is an important task. Ronald Jones a No. The No. 2 back for most of camp, but Chiefs are also giving long glances to Jerick McKinnon, Derrick Gore The rookie Isiah Pacheco. You shouldn’t be surprised that the Chiefs have four running backs, as this is their deepest group in years. — Adam Teicher
Right tackle
Brandon ParkerAfter running at right tackle with the first-team offensive throughout camp, he switched to left tackle and began resting. Kolton Miller In the Hall of Fame Game Thursday night. And Alex LeatherwoodLast year’s first round pick, who was moved inside to right-guard after only four games, received the start at right tackle. Leatherwood didn’t embarrass, but Parker struggled to keep his hands off of the ball, and he gave up a pair sacks. Coach Josh McDaniels refused to answer a question about whether Parker’s inability to play a certain position was a problem. Las Vegas might be looking to hire a more experienced right tackle with more cap space than $25 million. Stay tuned. — Paul Gutierrez
Right tackle
It’s an open contest at right tackle. Trey Pipkins And Storm Norton alternate reps with the starters. After nine practices, Joe Lombardi (offensive coordinator) said “I’m really happy with both of them right now.” He also mentioned that there were three pads. We’ll watch how it goes.” The Chargers have spent a first-round selection the past two seasons on offensive linemen — Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater (2021) and rookie right-hand guard Zion Johnson (2022) — Right tackle is the last position left to be questioned going into the season. Corey Linsley The center of the returns Matt Feiler At left guard. Last season, Norton played 15 games at right tackle while Pipkins only started one. — Lindsey Thiry
NFC EAST
Guard left
Rookie Tyler Smith And Connor McGovern Although they have shared reps since the opening practice began, Smith, the first round pick, seems to be taking over full-time. When they selected him at No. 24, the Cowboys called Smith a “left-sided” player. He is currently ranked at 24 overall and has the potential to be the left tackle in the future. He has played only left guard in camp. His strength is evident and he has been penalty-free so far, which was an issue in Tulsa. McGovern has done well and is strong too, but McGovern is fighting an opponent who is a first-rounder. When all things are equal, the first-rounder wins. — Todd Archer
Tight end
Because there isn’t much competition, Ricky Seals-Jones he was sidelined for most of camp with an undisclosed injury. This puts him out of action for the remainder of camp. Daniel Bellinger In position to be the Giants’ primary tight-end this season. While the rookie fourth round pick hasn’t lit it up yet this summer, he’s not in direct competition. This is something you should keep an eye on as training camp winds down. Are the Giants adding a veteran to their mix? — Jordan Raanan
Wide receiver
A.J. Brown And DeVonta Smith Rest securely at the top. It gets more interesting from there. The intrigue is centered around Jalen ReagorNick Sirianni, coach, said that he is currently “fighting for a spot” with the former first-round pick 2020. Reagor has received some training with the first team, and has enjoyed a few moments of camp with Smith who has a groin strain. Brown and Smith Quez Watkins And Zach Pascal Reagor, who is expected to be a member of the team’s roster, is vying for position with Greg Ward The rookie Britain Covey. Tim McManus
Nickelback
Washington used Landon Collins last season in its three safety package, but he was not signed. The Commanders must fill the role of starters alongside Collins. Kamren Curl And Bobby McCain. Safety for the second year Darrick Forrest After missing the majority of last summer due to a hamstring injury, he has performed well at camp. He is physical and quick to get the ball. Rookie Percy Butler Veteran Jeremy Reaves They are also getting good looks. Washington could also choose a traditional nickelback. Benjamin St-Juste He is currently playing in the slot. He too has been a good sport this summer. — John Keim
NFC NORTH
Offensive tackle
Assuming Lucas Patrick After sustaining a hand injury, the Bears can be back for Week 1. The Bears will likely have their center (Patrick), and left guard (Patrick).Cody Whitehair) and right guard (Michael SchofieldThere are a total of ) spots. Also, the tackle spots look closer to being settled. Rookie fifth-rounder Braxton Jones He has almost all the left tackle reps during the second camp week. Riley Reiff And Larry Borom Split reps at right tackle this week, but Reiff’s veteran experience may win out (and he might still see reps in left tackle, according coordinator Luke Getsy). It feels like it is Teven Jenkins Although he has been absent from seven practices consecutively with an undisclosed injuries, he still has a lot of work to do in order to be eligible for first-team reps. Courtney Cronin
Cornerback
Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator, declared a competition between the two during training camp Jeff Okudah And Will Harris One spot as an outside cornerback. This is an interesting matchup because Okudah (the third overall pick in 2020) is coming off a season ending Achilles injury. He has only 10 games played into his third season, while Harris is transitioning to safety. Both are driven to succeed. “Before we began practice, I called both those guys simultaneously and just said, ‘Are they going to compete?’ Glenn said that the guys look forward to it, and were open to hearing about what the competition was all about. May the best man prevail. Eric Woodyard
Offensive Line
The receiver depth chart is the focus of much of the attention. Davante Adams The O-line situation may be even more critical if the former is gone. This is less about the battle than it is about who might be available. The Packers would be without their best linemen if they were to lose the game. David Bakhtiari (knee). Elgton Jenkins (knee) — It is still not clear who replaces them. The Packers have tried many combinations of Jake Hanson, Royce NewmanThe third round pick Sean Rhyan Fourth-rounder Zach Tom At the two positions to the right. While Yosh Nijman Although he has primarily played at Bakhtiari’s left tackle spot, he can move to right tackle if Bakhtiari or Jenkins are not. Rob Demovsky
Safety
Lewis Cine The No. The 32th overall pick was the draft’s 32nd. This is a spot that can produce immediate starters and has been since veteran Xavier Woods Free agency allowed him to leave. The Vikings did not push Cine ahead of second-player during the first two weeks. Camryn Bynum. Cine has done well and his hitting abilities have been displayed since full pads were added, but Bynum has taken the majority of the first-team reps. Harrison Smith. — Kevin Seifert
NFC SOUTH
Center
This is likely to be the only true 50-50 roster battle between starters at Falcons training camp. Drew Dalman And Matt Hennessy They have been doing split reps with the first team every day, and Arthur Smith is willing to continue the competition for as long as it takes. Hennessy, who was the starting center in 2021, was a fourth-round selection last year. — Michael Rothstein
Quarterback
Most teams are familiar with their starting quarterbacks before they start camp. But not the Panthers. They are in an “open” competition with each other. Baker Mayfield And Sam DarnoldThe Nos. 1, and 3, respectively, were taken from the 2018 draft. Coach Matt Rhule expects to make a decision after the Aug. 19 preseason match against New England. Mayfield is the favorite fan choice, judging from the cheers during practice. However, the outcome of preseason games will determine the winner. Mayfield has some edge because he has been successful, leading Cleveland to an 11-5 record with a playoff win in 2020. Darnold has not yet led a team to the playoffs. — David Newton
Left tackle
Coach Dennis Allen said veteran James Hurst Is the current starter at left tackle after the departure Terron Armstead The Saints will not keep the first-round pick in free agency. Trevor Penning Long time on the sidelines. Hurst and Penning are currently rotating at the left tackle spot. However, it is likely that Penning will be given every opportunity for Week 1 starter. Katherine Terrell
Interior offensive line
Starting center Ryan Jensen Out for a substantial period of time (possibly for the whole season). Alex Cappa With Ali Marpet gone and the Bucs’ interior offensive lines getting a complete overhaul in 2022. Shaq Mason The right guard position will be taken, but the center and left guard positions have not yet been filled. Rookie Luke Goedeke, Aaron Stinnie And Nick Leverett Leverett is the preferred left guard, but they are difficult to fill. Robert HainseyJensen’s replacement is expected to be a third round pick in 2021. — Jenna Laine
NFC WEST
Cornerback
These are some of the facts about Arizona’s corners. Byron Murphy Jr. He is the preferred slot corner. Kliff Kingsbury prefers him to play inside, although he can also play outside as needed. This leaves two corner positions open to grabs. Kingsbury wants Marco Wilson To be an all-down starter, but he said that it is not clear despite receiving significant reps last season. This leaves one spot open for rookies. Christian Matthew, Antonio Hamilton, Josh Jackson And Breon Borders With Jace Whittaker Pushing. Arizona could win the competition if it brings in a veteran. But for now, Arizona will determine who the two outside corners are. — Josh Weinfuss
Guard your right
The Rams’ 2022 draft pick, No. 104 overall). Logan BrussHowever, Sean McVay, the coach, said that the team was going to “really open it up” and see how it looks to find the fifth player on the offensive line. He stated this early in training camp. Coleman Shelton He was getting reps at the right guard and center, because he believes that the fourth-year player can play at a high level at all three interior spots. McVay acknowledged that he was “encouraged by Bruss’ progress” but that there are still many steps to be taken before the Rams will have to make such important decisions. — Sarah Barshop
Center
There is a lot of competition in the interior of the offensive lines, but this is where Kyle Shanahan truly values. It was a battle between Alex Mack and the rest of the offensive line after Alex Mack retired during offseason. Jake BrendelThree NFL starts are his record. Daniel BrunskillHe was a right guard in last season’s game and will start eight games at the center in 2020. The battle between Brunskill & Brendel is just beginning. whoever wins will have a significant task. Trey Lance In his first year as the starting quarterback. — Nick Wagoner
Right tackle
The ninth overall pick Charles Cross Barring injury, he is guaranteed to start at left tackle. It’s a three-man race for his bookend. Jake Curhan After starting the final five games last season, has been getting the most first-team reps. Abraham LucasHis status as a third round pick suggests that he will be given serious consideration. Stone Forsythe. If Lucas wins the job this summer and Cross stays healthy, Seattle would be only the third team since 1970 to start a pair of rookie tackles in Week 1, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. — Brady Henderson