Neil Reynolds' Training Camp Storylines to watch

Football is making a comeback as NFL training camps open nationwide, ushering in a period of anticipation that pervades the air from coast to coast in the United States.

I am gearing up to embark on a training camp tour with the Sky Sports NFL team. We have plans to visit several teams including the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, and San Francisco 49ers.

Numerous stories will emerge from those specific teams, but the news will flood in rapidly from across the league over the upcoming month. Keep an eye on these interesting narratives this summer.

QUARTERBACK BATTLES

In modern times, the NFL appears to witness fewer real quarterback training camp contests compared to older periods. However, 2024 will have a multitude of them. Let’s briefly discuss some of these battles, beginning with the one in the Big Apple.

Daniel Jones is receiving a $40 million annual salary from the New York Giants to be their quarterback. However, their lack of conviction in him raises questions. Impressive training camps from Drew Lock or fan-favorite Tommy DeVito could stir things up by the opening weekend. Ideally, this should be Jones’ role to secure, but there’s a possibility he might fail to do so.

An open contest is underway between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew in Las Vegas, with the victor needing to convince a dubious fan base since both choices are not particularly thrilling. Sam Darnold, the experienced player, is the likely choice for the Minnesota Vikings in Minnesota, but isn’t it likely that first-rounder J.J. McCarthy will be considered at some point? In Denver, rookie first-rounder Bo Nix is aiming to fend off Jarrett Stidham or ex-top-five pick Zach Wilson, who is seeking to revive his career in the Rockies.

There are some interesting scenarios that need to be maneuvered by experienced quarterbacks and their coaches. Kirk Cousins was recruited to Atlanta to spearhead a playoff rush, with a hefty paycheck of $180 million over four years. However, the Falcons also selected Michael Penix Jr. in the first round, possibly leading to a tense and dramatic atmosphere at the training camp. The situation in Pittsburgh also presents a dilemma, with the choice between Russell Wilson and former Chicago Bears’ first-round pick, Justin Fields. As of now, it seems Wilson is the preferred choice, but Fields is not keen on biding his time.

DRAMA IN DALLAS?

If the bright spotlight wasn’t on America’s Team, it wouldn’t be NFL training camp season. However, it’s fair to say that the Dallas Cowboys attract a significant amount of that attention themselves. Earlier this offseason, Jerry Jones, the owner, announced that his team would be fully committed to building their roster after their humiliating home playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers last year.

The situation has not unfolded as expected, causing a mounting pressure on both the management and head coach Mike McCarthy. The team’s three key players – quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and edge rusher Micah Parsons – are all seeking new contracts. This will inevitably put significant stress on the team’s finances and relationships.

The offseason did not bring about the substantial changes expected, leaving Dallas with receivers such as Jalen Tolbert, Brandin Cooks and KaVontae Turpin to accompany Lamb. In the running back position, Ezekiel Elliott, who was previously disregarded, returns to split duties with Rico Dowdle. This is hardly an exciting lineup, and the Cowboys must have a successful training camp leading into the new season to make up for a disappointing offseason.

WILL OTHER BIG STARS GET PAID?

Other high-profile athletes are also dealing with uncertain contract circumstances that could impact their respective training camps. Brandon Aiyuk, a consistent 1,000-yard receiver, has requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers. However, I believe the team has no intention of trading Brock Purdy’s preferred receiver. I suspect that the team and the player will come to an agreement during training camp. If it were up to me, I would prioritize retaining Aiyuk over Deebo Samuel for that position.

Consider the situation of Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins. Tua is up next for a significant pay rise among NFL quarterbacks. However, the Dolphins have let him enter the last year of his rookie agreement for a reason. They still harbor doubts, especially about the possibility of needing to pay Tua the current standard of over $55 million each season.

Over the past few years, Tua has churned out impressive stats during the regular season. However, he and his team have fallen short in crucial games and playoff matches. The Dolphins find themselves in a tricky situation – they likely want to retain Tua but are hesitant to make him the most highly paid player in NFL history simply because it’s his turn. Keep an eye on this situation.

RUNNING BACKS IN NEW PLACES

Evaluating the proficiency of running backs during training camp is nearly impossible due to the limited amount of tackling, particularly with high-profile players. However, I anticipate that there will be substantial interest in observing three well-known individuals in different locations.

Saquon Barkley has transitioned from the New York Giants to the Philadelphia Eagles, while ex-NFL rushing champion Josh Jacobs has shifted from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Green Bay Packers. In addition, Derrick Henry, who previously tormented the Baltimore Ravens as part of the Tennessee Titans, is now a member of their team.

All three are set to make an impact, however, I’m intrigued to see the level of dominance Henry will display in Baltimore. It seems like a perfect match that could potentially drive the Ravens to the Super Bowl. Barkley’s performance in Philly should also be notably exceptional… but we’ll have to hold off until the regular season kicks off to fully witness it.

JIM HARBAUGH RETURNS

A decade has passed since the unique, resilient, and skilled Jim Harbaugh took on the role of an NFL coach. Now, as he returns with the Los Angeles Chargers, his presence will illuminate a team that fell short of expectations in 2023.

What type of team can we expect from Harbaugh? How much progress can Justin Herbert make under the guidance of a head coach who was once an NFL quarterback himself? After Keenan Allen and Mike Williams left during the offseason, who will be Herbert’s new targets for his passes?

We hope that all these questions and more will be addressed throughout the summer as the Chargers turn into one of the league’s most intriguing teams to follow.

RODGERS RUNS NEW YORK… TAKE TWO!

Last summer, I was in New York, where the thrill in the atmosphere at the Jets camp was intensely tangible. This fervor was instigated by the advent of Aaron Rodgers. However, his presence was short-lived as he endured an Achilles snap merely four plays into the season opener, ruling him out for the rest of the season.

The injury dealt a significant blow to Rodgers, the Jets, and essentially the entire NFL world. It placed immense pressure on the Jets, who admirably managed to remain cohesive and secure seven victories. Now, Rodgers is in the Big Apple for the second act. Surrounded by one of the most formidable rosters in the league, the soon-to-be Hall of Famer will face mounting pressure to perform. Failure to do so could jeopardize several jobs, beginning with head coach Robert Saleh.

The Jets are uncertain about the performance of their quarterback, who missed some offseason practice and is recovering from a serious injury at 40. However, considering Rodgers’ reputation as one of the greatest in the game, if he can perform at or near his peak, the Jets could be on their way to the playoffs, and potentially even further.

Thus, the stakes are elevated, and the imminent weeks will witness every snap, dropback, throw, and press conference of Aaron Rodgers subject to intense scrutiny under New York’s harsh media spotlight. This is shaping up to be a quintessential NFL summer drama, and I’m all set to enjoy every bit of it!

BRING ON THE SAVIOURS

Every season, the NFL welcomes new rookie quarterbacks, with first-round picks often finding themselves under intense media scrutiny, both on and off the field. However, the 2024 season is set to be even more intense. Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye are not simply entering the league as first-year players, but are doing so with the weight of expectations to be the saviours of their respective teams.

Williams’ potential to work dynamically with receivers like D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, and Keenan Allen has energized Chicago Bears fans. If the 2024 NFL Draft’s top pick meets expectations, it could propel the Bears to playoff contention in 2024. However, this would place significant pressure on their young passer.

Since 2000, the Washington Commanders have rotated through 27 different quarterbacks, none of whom have been able to secure a championship. This is a striking level of turnover, especially considering that the team, established in 1932, has only started 70 quarterbacks in its entire history. It is hoped that Daniels will bring some much-needed stability to the position in the foreseeable future.

Maye will also be expected to step up for the New England Patriots, but Jacoby Brissett might start the season initially as the rookie gradually gets up to speed. With a new era beginning in Foxboro, Maye is in a favorable position of not being the immediate successor to the previous leader. That role fell to Mac Jones, who has since moved on and is now supporting Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville.

SPECIAL TEAMS TRIALS

In 2024, the NFL is set to introduce its innovative kick-off rules, with teams utilizing their training camp time to iron out any issues and ascertain what is and isn’t effective. I devoted considerable time earlier this summer with Heath Farwell, the special teams coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s evident that despite the immense amount of work already invested, there’s still uncertainty across the entire league about how these changes will unfold.

Teams are unlikely to reveal too much during actual preseason games, as footage from these can be accessed by others. Most experimentation is likely to occur during practice sessions where filming is not permitted and tactical details are kept confidential. This also applies to combined team workouts, which will be the primary venue for adjustments to the kick-off rule.

If a team discovers a significant advantage, they will certainly keep it secret until the regular season begins. The alteration in the rules and teams’ reaction to it could potentially be one of the most notable highlights of the forthcoming season, although it might not be as prominent during the training camp.