The odor of freshly reduce grass is within the air. The tackling dummies are being rolled out onto the apply discipline by tools staffs across the NFL. Gamers have reported to NFL coaching camps across the league, and practices are underway.
Coaching camp has opened with some large offers, just like the Green Bay Packers re-signing offensive deal with Zach Tom to a four-year, $88 million extension, and a few maintain outs — just like the Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher duo of All-Professional Trey Hendrickson and first-round rookie Shemar Stewart, in addition to Washington Commanders Professional Bowl large receiver Terry McLaurin.
Sure, we’re solely handful of days into coaching camp, and the pads have not come on simply but, however there’s nonetheless sufficient motion occurring to take inventory of who’s displaying out early, who’s off to a tough begin, what is the fitness with a number of holdouts and who, if anybody, has suffered notable accidents. With out additional ado, let’s dive in.
Standouts
The Cowboys All-Professional prime goal held out of coaching camp final yr whereas in the course of contract negotiations, however he is again at camp in Oxnard, California, trying to embarrass Dallas’ total protection. Lamb was a second-team All-Professional in 2024 after a sluggish begin to the season after lacking camp, however he led the NFL in catches (135 in 2023) the final time he participated in camp. He actually seems to be able to doing that after weaving his approach via Dallas’ total protection on Tuesday.
Former prime 10 choose Isaiah Simmons, whom the Packers signed to a one-year contract this offseason, made a powerful first impression upon Inexperienced Bay Professional Bowl working again Josh Jacobs.
“First, he can run. He can run. He is type of a unicorn at that place,” Jacobs mentioned of Simmons, via USA Today, on Tuesday. “He can run. We will put him out on guys within the slot, and he can cowl guys. Actually man, I am unable to wait to see him in pads. I wish to see how bodily he’s. Clearly I’ve performed towards him a pair instances, so I do know what sort of participant he’s. Nevertheless it’s totally different whenever you see it on a day-to-day foundation.”
There is a emptiness on the Cowboys beginning edge rusher spot reverse Parsons following the free company departure of four-time Professional Bowl edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence to the Seattle Seahawks. Loads of consideration about who may fill that void has been given to 2025 second-round choose Donovan Ezeiruaku and free agent signee Dante Fowler Jr. Marshawn Kneeland, Dallas’ 2024 second-round choose, is flashing early in that place battle at coaching camp. He intercepted beginning quarterback Dak Prescott on a display move, and he registered a number of pressures/would-be sacks on him as effectively throughout the primary two days of camp.
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The Super Bowl LIX champion Eagles‘ 2025 first-round choose is off to a quick begin at coaching camp in Philadelphia. Here is what CBS Sports activities’ Jeff Kerr famous about Jihaad Campbell whereas out at apply Wednesday:
“Campbell wasn’t even imagined to be training on Day 1 of coaching camp. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio mentioned earlier in the summertime the first-round draft choose can be out till August whereas recovering from offseason shoulder surgical procedure. Think about the shock when Eagles normal supervisor Howie Roseman introduced linebacker Nakobe Dean would begin the season on the PUP listing and never Campbell.
Campbell was a restricted participant within the first apply, lining up with the second crew at off-ball linebacker. Paired with fellow rookie Smael Mondon Jr., it did not take lengthy for Campbell to make a standout play. Taking significant snaps within the 7-on-7 drills, Campbell broke up a move meant for large receiver Danny Gray because the rookie was trailing in protection. Tanner McKee was the quarterback, and the move was a bit bit behind Grey, however that is a completion in a recreation if not for the Campbell breakup. Campbell confirmed his athleticism on the move breakup, and what he can present for this protection as he grows into his function over the summer season.”
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The New England Patriots have notoriously struggled to draft the large receiver place all through the twenty first century, however CBS Sports activities’ Tyler Sullivan studies they’ve one thing in rookie third-round choose Kyle Williams:
“First, throughout one of many 11-on-11 intervals, quarterback Drake Maye hit Williams with a fast throw within the flat, and the rookie then confirmed his eye-popping velocity. He caught the ball across the hashes and out of the blue hit a brand new gear, simply scooting previous his nearest defender to choose up a bit of yards after the catch. Simply two performs later, Williams made arguably the play of the day, beating 2024 All-Professional nook Christian Gonzalez on the sideline for a completion.
“I feel he was bottom one-on-one with Gonzo,” Maye mentioned of his rookie wideout. “He made a big-time catch, robust arms. I instructed him to possibly promote it a bit extra, simply attempt to give him a go-route really feel. However I feel he is coming alongside. He is trying good. I instructed Gonzo earlier, I will come at Gonzo. I am not going to, , bottom. I am not going to go away him out right here bored at apply. So good for a rookie to make a play like that. And I feel he’s simply going to get higher and higher.”
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Off to a tough begin
ESPN reported that Anthony Richardson completed just 4 of his 11 passes in team drills throughout the first apply of coaching camp. It is value noting he’s shaking off some rust associated to a shoulder harm, and that it was reported that dropped passes have been additionally a think about that stat line.
Daniel Jones was extra environment friendly general than Richardson, finishing six of his eight passes, however defensive again Kenny Moore intercepted his move when he was late throwing to large receiver Josh Downs.
“I feel, like all Day 1, you are getting began. Some good, some unhealthy,” Jones mentioned Wednesday, via ESPN.
Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen instructed ESPN he will not put a date on when he’ll title a beginning quarterback, so each Jones and Richardson are nonetheless alive in one of many extra doubtful quarterback camp battles the NFL has seen in current reminiscence.
“The consistency of the operation,” Steichen mentioned, via ESPN. “Simply transferring the ball up and down the sector. No timetable on this factor. Let these guys compete, let the method play out and we’ll go from there.”
Giants first-round choose Jaxson Dart could not have had a worse begin to his work in crew drills at his first coaching camp. He threw a pick-six on his first move. He locked on to tight finish Greg Dulcich, who was working a curl route on the left half of the sector. Nickel nook Nic Jones noticed precisely the place Dart wished to go together with the soccer and simply took it again to the home. The Athletic reported that Dart completed just one of his five throws in 11-on-11 drills, however the lone completion was a landing to tight finish Theo Johnson.
“I simply felt like I may beat him with the throw,” Dart said, via The Athletic. “Clearly going again you wish to attempt to put it a bit on the skin shoulder. That is simply the closing velocity of the NFL. You do your finest to attempt to get used to it as a result of there are numerous actually, actually good athletes out right here. It is undoubtedly one thing to be taught from, however we’ll get higher from it and transfer ahead.”
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Holdouts
Commanders Professional Bowler Terry McLaurin’s holdout from coaching camp is effectively underway. McLaurin opted to take a yoga class away from the crew facility Wednesday as a substitute of taking part in apply whereas vying for a brand new contract. The 29-year-old, who turns 30 on Sept. 15, set a Commanders single-season file for receiving touchdowns with 13 in 2024. That determine ranked because the second-most within the NFL final season behind Ja’Marr Chase’s 17. McLaurin is about to enter the ultimate season of a three-year, $68.364 million extension, so he is in search of safety following Washington’s NFC championship runner-up end in 2024.
Coming into a contract yr after consecutive seasons with at the least 17 sacks, 30-year-old All-Professional Trey Hendrickson expects to receives a commission. Hendrickson is only one of 5 gamers since 1982, when sacks turned an formally tracked stat, to have back-to-back years with at the least 17 sacks. Throughout the previous 5 seasons, Hendrickson’s 70.5 sacks are the third-most within the NFL, and he trails solely T.J. Watt (73.5) and Myles Garrett (72.0) within the 2020s.
|
Trey Hendrickson (CIN) |
2023-2024 |
|
JJ Watt (HOU) |
2014-2015 |
|
Reggie White (PHI) |
1986-1988 |
|
Richard Dent (CHI) |
1984-1985 |
|
Mark Gastineau (NYJ) |
1983-1984 |
* 1982 is when sacks turned an formally individually tracked statistic
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Bengals rookie first-round edge rusher Shemar Stewart, the insurance coverage coverage for Hendrickson, can also be holding out. Cincinnati proprietor Mike Brown said earlier this week that the hang-up in Stewart’s rookie deal being signed is haggling over the crew doubtlessly being on the hook for his contract ensures ought to the sting rusher get into authorized hassle.
“His agent desires it to be in order that if he acted in a horrible trend — that is all hypothetical — one thing that rises to the extent of going to jail, that we might be on the road for the ensures for the long run years that have not been paid,” Brown mentioned. “And our place isn’t any, if that occurs, we’re not going to be. We’re not going to be paying somebody who’s sitting in jail. That is not what we’ll do.”
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Damage updates
Giants Professional Bowl large receiver Malik Nabers missed each organized crew actions (OTAs) and necessary minicamp with a toe harm. Though the Professional Bowler, who set a Giants single-season file with 109 catches in 2024, is cleared, he revealed he might have surgical procedure down the highway.
“The toe is nice, . This spring, we had an important rehab to try to get me again. So I am again, feeling good, feeling a bit bit higher, wholesome on the market working round. I really feel good,” Nabers mentioned Wednesday, via USA Today. “That is [surgery] up within the air, however selections will probably be made when the time is correct. However proper now I am simply specializing in locking in and preparing for the season. Being on the market with my guys, it felt good to be on the market and run round. There’s been discuss it, I simply by no means actually got here to an entire thought for me to do it. However I have been managing it effectively, I have been working round, feeling fairly good. All the things’s been going effectively with the rehab, so the toe is feeling higher, and I am simply completely happy to be on the market with my guys now.”
Cardinals defenders
The Cardinals ended up putting three defensive linemen on the bodily unable to carry out (PUP) listing on Wednesday to start coaching camp, including 2025 first-round defensive tackle Walter Nolen (calf). Nolen suffered a calf harm whereas coaching on the Cardinals’ facility, per NFL Media. Defensive deal with Bilal Nichols (neck) and 2023 second-round choose BJ Ojulari (knee) have been the others who joined Nolen on the PUP listing.
Dolphins offensive lineman Bayron Matos suffered a severe harm on the finish of the apply on Wednesday, and he was airlifted to the Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in a helicopter. The crew didn’t disclose what harm Matos suffered, nevertheless it did reveal he was secure.