August 27, 2026 • 45 mins
Gregg Rosenthal and Nick Shook take you around the NFL and give you updates on the most interesting position battles across the league including Michael Penix vs. Tua Tagovailoa, Cam Skattebo vs. Najee Harris, Fernando Mendoza vs.Kirk Cousins and more! Plus, a look around the league at the rookies who have helped their case and the rookies who find themselves in a worse spot compared to the start of camp and what injuries do Gregg and Nick feel better and worse about.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to NFL Daily, where we hope no one ever
calls us inoperable. I'm Greg Rosenthal here in the Chris
Wesleyan podcast studio with my friend Nick Shook. Inoperable, Shooky,
was the word to describe the commander's joint practice against
the Ravens, specifically the offense and the offensive line. Never
(00:29):
great when you inspire, and this is from their beat writer, Nicky,
a Bala of the Washington post or the athletic rather.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
This is the worst I've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
The commander's offense in years, inoperable offensive line. Oh, that's
just like, I don't want to hear that two weeks
before the season starts.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I mean, what's the most important part in football. It
starts in the trenches. You can't protect your quarterback.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
You got problems. Can't get the ball out on time.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
And yeah, it sounds like it was pretty much a
nightmare against the Ravens in a joint practice. Not ideal,
not ideal as a, we're a couple of weeks away
from the start of the regular season.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
For some context, no Sam Cosme, who is probably their
best offensive lineman for this particular practice. But it supports
something we saw in their brief appearance in the preseason
where you're like, oh, two pressures and two dropbacks.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
He got sacked. Let's not panic. And then this happens.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
And I bring all that up to kind of give
context to what today's show is going to be all about.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Me and you. A little over a month ago. I
think it was June 20th.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Or July 20th or so, we went over the top
position battles in all of training camp that we would
be watching. This is about a week before training camp
even started. And I thought it would be interesting to
go back and revisit, not the entire list, not, you know,
we've talked about a lot of the battles and some
(01:54):
just aren't that interesting, but the 12 most interesting position
battle updates. And that got me thinking of just what
have we learned in general in this entire preseason training
camp process? Maybe you're not even listening to every single
NFL daily, although we're not going to be repeating ourselves.
So what we're going to do on this show is
kind of get everyone up to date, update the position battles.
(02:15):
We're going to talk about some rookie risers and rookie fallers,
the guys who really stood out. And then Get everyone
up to date about injury situations, like what we feel
good about, what we don't, what we're really not sure
after this five weeks of data. Because at this point,
the local access, watching practice, it's over. The preseason, we
(02:37):
got a few games left to go. They're not going
to be that meaningful. We'll have cut down day on Sunday,
but it's the last time we're going to have Shook
on for a minute. He's going to be doing some
important life stuff that we're excited about him. We'll update
the listeners at some point in the future. But let's
go to these position battle updates. Let's start with the
Atlanta Falcons. Michael Penix and Tuatunga-Vailoa was right near the
(03:01):
top of the list of the ones I wanted to
watch coming into camp.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
And it has taken a turn this week, Nick.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Let's actually listen to our friend Ian Rapoport update the
situation on the Insiders on NFL Network.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
On Tuesday night, the.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
Goal of the entire organization was to have to be
the starting quarterback right away to start the season. Let
Michael Penix come along. So remember, it's still a nine
months or so from the ACL tear. Really, you'd like
him to be inactive for the first several games and
really just take his time and make sure he's fully
healthy to his play. Made that impossible, not just in
the preseason game, which we've seen. It sounds like practice
(03:39):
as well. All of which is to say, this is
Michael Penick's job for the taking. If he comes out
and plays as well as he can, it actually could
create the best case scenario.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
For the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Oh boy. When you have Rappaport, usually reporting with kid gloves,
he's got a lot of sources. He's not trying to
necessarily offend that. Tuatunga-Vailoa has given the Falcons no choice
but to change their initial plan. Those are really strong words.
(04:13):
Let's listen to how Kevin Stefanski positioned this week's practices.
So they're splitting first team reps immediately. Michael Penix making
his first practices with the team in 11-on-11s. And then
they have a preseason game later this week.
Speaker 6 (04:28):
This was an important week for Mike. First time out
there with people around you. The offensive line, the defensive line.
And I think... going through a drill where you got
to move up in the pocket or get chased out
of the pocket, whatever it is. So I thought a
really good first step for Mike in that regard. But
outside of this week, I don't think it's fair to
go farther than that.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
So they're going to play Tua in the preseason game
with other starters. Maybe they'll rest a few guys. They're
going to rest Penix in the preseason game, but they're
splitting reps at practice. Throw all that together with Ian's report.
And where do you think this one is going?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (05:04):
The Falcons have realized that, oh my God, we better
hope that Michael Penix is ready to play in week
one because we know we don't have a great chance
of Tua Tungabailoa.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
And for those who.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
You know, I'm not here to pile on Tua, but
he hasn't looked good. There was, of course, that clip
with the joint practice with the Colts where he looked
like he was completely frazzled in the pocket, had no
idea where to go, and like he hadn't played pro
football before.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
And that doesn't look good either. But I think it's
just a sign that he hasn't made the progress.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
You know, he started camp injured like Penix, but it
was kind of a surprise back issue that limited his
ability to get going.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
And he hasn't really gotten any better.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
And it sounds to me like they're ready to shift
toward Penix because they're desperate to. Now, Stefanski continued to
talk on this today and said that he wasn't willing
to name a starter as of now and that he
wasn't trying to intentionally play coy or anything. He just
needed to give the time, the process as much time
as possible, a.k.a. we need to give Michael Penix as
much time as possible to prove to us that he
(05:58):
can play in week one. Penix said that he would
be ready mentally and physically for week one if he
was named the starter. As of now, he does not
feel like it's quite the right time for him to
take the field, which is why he won't be playing
in this preseason game. And, you know, there's a bit
of a clash of logic here because you think, all right,
week three, do you really want to play your starters?
Speaker 5 (06:18):
Right.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Most teams might not want to. The Falcons are going
to want to because they still are that far away
from finding rhythm offensively.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
And it all starts at quarterback. So the idea that.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Penix isn't playing a signal that he's going to be
the week one starter, not quite the same because he's
just now getting back to 11 on 11. But the
fact that Tua is playing, It means that they need
to see something from him, at least as a backup plan.
So the situation is not really ideal right now for
the Falcons.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
No, I tried to focus in on this show at
stuff that we can be sure about our real top
line stories. And Ian indicating that he's left them no
choice because of the practices supports the vibes I've been
getting out of there at practice as well. They open
at Pittsburgh. I've said all along, I think the Falcons,
(07:03):
there's a chance here. They're one of the worst couple
teams in the NFL. I do not like this roster. Uh,
then they host the Panthers. They're at the Packers. Like
it might be a good time to get them early
in the season. We got the Falcons in primetime schedule
makers back to back weeks, weeks three and four.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Weird. Early. Not sure who we're going to see there.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Get them off the runway.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Yeah, but you don't have to put them on the
runway at all. Treat them like the Browns.
Speaker 6 (07:28):
Sorry.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
I know they got Bajon and Drake London, but man,
the second position battle wanted to hit was scam. Cam
Scataboo versus the, everyone that was in that Giants backfield.
And I wanted to bring this up first because it's
clear that Cam Scadaboo has distanced himself from Tyrone Tracy
and Devin Singletary. He's listed as first. on the depth
(07:50):
chart now for the Giants. But when they list it
on the second team, it's Tracy or Singletary or Najee Harris.
And Najee Harris was taking first team reps already at
practice on Monday and Tuesday. That is fascinating to me
and makes me think, man, Najee Harris is going to
(08:13):
be a factor that we never saw coming in this
Giants backfield.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
And it all goes back to the background of the
Harbaugh's and where they've been last year. Najee was with
Jim Harbaugh with the Chargers until he missed the rest
of the season. Prior to that, Najee was a Steeler
playing the same division as John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens. So
they're very familiar with him. He was a late arrival
to practice during this camp. and has seemingly worked his
(08:37):
way up to speed quickly enough for them to think,
all right, you're an ideal number two. I also think
it speaks to the fact that Tyrone Tracy has had
a terrible preseason, which is really unfortunate because I kind
of liked him last year. And Devin Singletary, just who
is who he is at this point. They're looking for
another guy behind Scadaboo who can make a difference. So
they turned back to a guy who came to the
NFL with a lot of tread borne off those tires
(08:58):
from his time at Alabama, but still a hard runner
that really matches the persona that they really want to,
you know, adopt as an offense. Scataboo being a hard runner,
Najee being a hard runner, that becomes your identity in
the backfield.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
So it makes a lot of sense, even if it
is a bit of a surprise.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Scataboo is not built to have 400 touches. I just
don't think the way that he runs, they trust that.
I think it's going to be way closer to a 1A,
1B situation. I'm not sure about Najee Harris coming off
such a serious injury, but if he's good enough, he
could be the 1A potentially, or that'll be very even.
(09:33):
At wide receiver, I had called it a morass coming
into the season, the Giants wide receiver situation. We have
takeaways here about who won, who lost, who got injured.
Malachi Fields, the rookie, I think is wide receiver too here.
I mean, other guys are going to play. They were
taking calls, according to the local beat reporters, on Darius
(09:53):
Slayton and Darnell Mooney last week. I don't know if
they're going to continue to after Calvin Austin. tore his ACL.
That's happened since we last taped that we had that confirmed.
He was going to be the slot. I think Malachi
Fields was going to be the two. And then Malik Neighbors,
which is a big part of this, is slowly ramping up.
(10:14):
The expectation is he's going to be ready for week one,
and yet we haven't really seen him in full team drills,
so there's questions there. I still think they could get
rid of either Slayton or Mooney. I think the Austin
injury means they'll definitely keep one of them, but I
think we have a pretty clear order, and this is
what camp is all about.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Fields is two.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
You assume neighbors is healthy enough to be one. And
then one of the two I just mentioned is three.
And maybe Odell Beckham makes the team now. You know,
they want to keep them on the team. You know,
they want to keep them on the team.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Yeah, they've been rightfully high on fields. And I think
that this has always been kind of the aspirational plan
for him. And he's fulfilled the expectations that they set
for him to become, you know, wide receiver to the
idea that neighbors, you got to get neighbors, you know,
at full strength, which is closer to that than he
was even a couple.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Of weeks ago. But yeah, you're right.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
The rest of it is just like, how do we
figure this out because of the Calvin Austin's injury? And
I think between Slayton and Mooney, I think Slayton's the
one to go. Slayton has essentially been getting preseason auditions
by playing much deeper into games than you would expect
for somebody who's, you know, got that.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Mooney did too.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
They had him out there in the second half last week.
And then I was like, oh, okay.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
I have a feeling that it's going to be Slayton
who ends up on the move. It would be hilarious.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Not, I guess.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Kind of hilarious that Odell would make the team given
that he, you know, had that drop in the back
of the end zone, very frustrated by it, but you're right.
But it's the, it's the romantic element of it. You know,
if you've got space for him on the roster.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Why not?
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Austin's injury, I think locks in Braxton barriers for people
that are interested in that sort of thing, but that's
more because of his return ability and he'll play some
slot as well. And yes, we lost Juju Smith-Schuster to
this battle along the way. A couple other quick battles
I'll hit at wide receiver for the Dolphins. That was
another morass. We found out it's going to be the
(11:59):
rookie Caleb Douglas, a third round pick. It's going to
be Malik Washington. I think those are your top two guys.
Jalen Tolbert seems to be number three there. I thought
Caleb Lomu versus Will Campbell was going to be a thing.
Very much not a thing. Will Campbell, great camp. Lomu,
their first round pick at left tackle. Not a good camp.
I thought the Cowboys left tackle position was going to
(12:19):
be up for grabs. No, it's Tyler Guyton's job for sure.
I was looking at the Ravens number three receiver situation,
Elijah Surratt, Jacoby Lane, Tez Walker.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
It's Jacoby Lane. One of the stories of camp. Love that.
You got, you are, you are literally.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Lifting your arms. I was going to say flexing, but
that's just naturally how they look.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
This is, this is my natural state of rejoicing because
my guy is, Jacoby Lane went to camp and seize
the opportunity, baby.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Let's go.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Yeah, he's been great.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
And it does make me feel better about that offense
because they need some depth. They don't really have it
at tight end or receiver. They're hoping for a lot
out of Rashad Bateman. Let's finish with Cousins and Mendoza,
at least like the preseason talk about them. Although we
might see Mendoza in the preseason finale.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
We'll find out. I found this battle fascinating. Fascinating.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Cousins is getting the first team reps in practice this week.
I'd be shocked at this point if he's not the
week one starter. Is that too strong of a word?
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Shocked? Like what percentage do you put it at now?
Speaker 4 (13:22):
No, I'd be shocked too. I was surprised.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
I shouldn't have been, but I was surprised that you
were being the straw that stirs the drink for most
of the preseason trying to push the whole Mendoza agenda
knowing that Clint Kubiak wants a veteran quarterback to start
the season with them.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
I think Clint Kubiak's backed me up by not committing
to Cousins and then.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
The preseason numbers have not looked good.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
I swear, and it was great to see Stephen Ruiz,
one of the writers I respect the most who cover quarterbacks.
He's moved to Fox Sports now. You know, he was
so high on Mendoza's preseason in terms of the processing, decision-making,
that he just looks like an adult back there. And
that's the most important thing.
Speaker 5 (14:01):
And.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I do still wonder if Kubiak's like, man, if he
just keeps showing this progress, they're still, you know, not
committing that, like, maybe we should just do it sooner
than later. So to me, I think it's like 80-20
Cousins is the week one starter and that it's... It's
40-60 that Cousins is the week four starter.
Speaker 4 (14:23):
I'm just throwing things out.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Yeah, I'll ride with that because for a rookie head coach,
this is very unusual, but he's in the bit of
a catbird seat with the quarterback situation because Mendoza has
looked so good in the preseason despite what the numbers say.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Steven Ruiz is absolutely right.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Mendoza looks like a guy who is extremely prepared, which
is exactly what Kubiak said about him. And you're in
a luxurious situation in which you can choose between two
guys that you actually have some confidence in that can
handle the operation of the offense. So, It makes a
lot of sense for the long-term planning of this franchise
to start the season with Kirk cousins.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
And if he's just average, it's fine.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
And eventually you try to work in Mendoza because you
know that he's going to be prepared for it. And
you got to see what you can get. The dangerous
part of that though, Greg is what if Kirk is
all right. He's he's kind of what he was in
Atlanta last year. You're competitive. Maybe you aren't winning a
lot of games, but you're competitive. Mendoza comes in and
then struggles more than you expect. And you take a
step back because then you've already kind of taken the
(15:18):
genie out of the bottle. You can't go back at
that point.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
To quote the great Mike Tomlin. We do not live
in our fears.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Not live in our fears.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
You gotta just go. Does make me wonder a little too,
like has Kirk been a little underwhelming?
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Who knows?
Speaker 1 (15:32):
There's no way to know. You'd have to be at
the practice, be inside of Clint Kubiak's mind. A couple
other position battles I had written down. a month ago
that have declarative winners in the Patriots receiver medley. And
I'm not including Romeo Dobbs and AJ Brown in that.
Keishon Moody got traded and DeMario Douglas won in terms
(15:53):
of the guy who is going to be on the
field most snaps. Matt Collins seems kind of locked in.
as that number four guy. And then my guy, Kyle Williams,
will stay on the roster for sure after they traded
Keishon Booty. We also learned just in terms of usage
that it's going to be a cornerback year for Travis Hunter.
That was one of the questions I had. And I
think it's going to be an even more extreme cornerback,
(16:15):
not wide receiver year than I expected going into camp.
Let's flip to another section we're going to do. called
some rookie risers and fallers. And these guys could also
be counted as position battle winners. A month and a
half ago, I was... naive enough to include Ricky Pearsall
in a wide receiver mix. The wide receiver competition for
(16:39):
San Francisco was Dijon Stribling versus Christian Kirk versus Demarcus
Robinson versus Ricky Pearsall's health. And we can say that
Dijon Stribling is the winner. One of the biggest rookie
risers in the entire NFL.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
He's been strong, but it's also, you can't hold this
against yourself. You couldn't predict that, that Ricky Pearsall's knee
that he should have had an operation on then swelled
up and got to the point that he needed the operation.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
Like you're not in the, in the team doctor's heads there.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
So that's not on you, but look, these are the
developments that you hope for when you draft the guy
and you throw them in there and they end up
exceeding expectations.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
It's a good situation for the 49ers.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
To have not a perfect situation though, because they just
can't stay healthy. Hopefully Stribling ends up, you know, kind
of matching what he's produced so far in camp in
the preseason and ends up being a key part of
this team because I think they're going to need him.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Oh, I think he is. I think he's going to
have a lot of volume. I get it.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
I just don't think there's other people that are going
to be catching enough passes on this team. Kittle will
obviously be a volume target once he is out there,
but his situation is a little bit of a question.
Mike Evans is expected to return to practice next week,
but his injuries have been a little more serious than
they've let on because he just hasn't been out there.
(17:53):
I also list your two rookies in Cleveland as Casey
Concepcion and Denzel Boston among the biggest rookie winners. Just
an awesome month for the two of them. And people
might say, well, okay, they got to do it in
the game. This doesn't mean everything. I'm reading all the
reports in all the camps. It's not like this for everyone.
(18:15):
Zach Jackson, who's covered this team forever, is like, these
are the best two receivers they've had in the building
for so long. They're just the best two receivers.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
On the team.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
And that includes a guy in Jerry Judy who's making
a lot of money. And they're just clearly better than
him already, which is great news for the future of
your Browns, if not the present.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Yeah, the big question will be who's throwing them the football.
We already know that drama and everything else. But this
is about the long term. This is about building your
core and answering a need that you've had for forever.
And if you could get them to be You don't
have to produce at the level that Josh Gordon did,
but just fill a role that Josh Gordon once occupied
in this receiving quarter. There'll be fan favorites, there'll be productive,
and there'll be an ideal situation for whatever quarterback comes
(18:53):
to town next year because one will be coming to
walk into.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
Caleb Downs, I wrote down just as another rookie who's
gotten a lot of positive press, Jadarian Price. I am
absolutely swayed by some of those hard knocks clips and
the fact that the Seahawks coaches, the way they've talked
about them, they're like, we don't need to see him
in the preseason. I think they're a little wowed by
Jadarian Price's talent and no one else has really emerged there.
(19:23):
And so he's just got to stay healthy. But to me,
he's a riser despite missing some of camp with injuries.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Is that is that the problem you got for me?
Speaker 4 (19:31):
No, it's not a problem. I'm just I'm.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
It feels kind of like a bit of a kid
gloves thing too, where they're like, look, we've already gotten
bitten hard by the injury bug at this position. We
lost Kenneth Walker in the off season. Let's keep this
guy who's very talented on ice until the regular season.
It's also like pretty fascinating to me to consider the
idea that this was a guy who most people did.
not see as a first round pick maybe early second
round ends up going in the first round and can
(19:55):
come into a camp and then flash at that level
that and look so much better than his peers when
he was just in college like that that will forever
fascinate me when guys just show up like that and
are that much better right away if.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
You've got the juice, like Casey Concepcion is a great
example and Denzel Boston in the way that he is
a ball winner, but that's different. Like Jadarian Price and Concepcion,
like they just move different. And like you either have
that or you don't, I think at some level. And
it probably takes the NFL coaches to see like, oh yeah,
(20:28):
him compared to the other guys on the field, he
just moves different. So I'm very excited about him. He
could be a better pro in terms of production, certainly.
this year than he was at Notre Dame last year.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
He was stuck behind Jeremiah Love.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
It's really crazy. A couple other rookies that I see
as risers. Akeem Mesidor has had a great camp for
the Chargers. I would package two running backs. Kalen Black
for the 49ers. Once he got back from his injuries,
looked great. Mike Washington, we've talked about on the show
a lot for the Raiders, has looked great. Caleb Elarms,
or for the Bills, not a household name, has a
(21:04):
real chance. I think he's going to start for this
team at linebacker. Fourth round pick. I didn't have many
day three guys here in the rookie risers. I would
also throw in Douglas, Caleb Douglas, who I mentioned with
the Dolphins before. And then Jayshon Barham, another guy who's
had some injuries, but has really wowed everyone today. that
watched him out of that group. And if you have
(21:25):
any others, feel free to throw them out of that group, though.
Is there anyone that stands out to you as exciting?
Speaker 3 (21:30):
Oh, this reminds me of how much I enjoy when
guys leave college and go to the NFL and they
change uniforms and I can actually enjoy watching them play football.
Jay Sean Barham being one as an Ohio state fan,
I can't enjoy watching Michigan in any capacity to see
him go to the NFL and then immediately flash. I'm like, yes,
he's one of my favorite players of the preseason. I
cannot wait to see how he fits into this Cowboys
defense at the second level, how much playing time they
(21:51):
give him as part of a remade defense that I
think is going to be a lot better than people
expect with Christian Parker, the new DC overseeing things.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
So I'm excited to watch him play as well.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
And I'm really curious to see exactly how Mesador fits
into this front with the chargers, given that Khalil Mack
is there and everything else, but he was one half
of a great edge rushing tandem at Miami with Ruben Bain.
And to see both of them come in and find
success would just be fulfilling to somebody like me who
really enjoys watching the top players in college football, take
that immediate next step and make a difference.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Bryce Lance was another day three pick. I wish I
mentioned he has come on strong. According to the saints
reporters in the last week and a half at the
joint practices, And he's going to have a role. Unfortunately,
it's because of injuries there, including to Jordan Tyson. But
I think Bryce Lance and then Barry and Brown as
(22:39):
a late round pick as a return guy and kind
of a number four receiver. Those guys are going to
play for the Saints. So I would include them in
the rookie risers. It was easier for me to fall
or to find the rookie fallers. Jordan Tyson has to
be at the top of the list. And it comes
with an asterisk.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
If any rookie was impressing more on the field than
Jordan Tyson until the moment that he hurt his hamstring
like he did for so much of college and was
out for two months. But you just worry that this
could haunt his entire rookie season. I hope they're just
so careful with him that by the time he gets back,
(23:19):
he can then have a productive second half of the season,
whatever it's going to turn out to be.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
It's especially disappointing for a team that, you know, you
have Chris Olave on a new deal in there, but
you needed a running mate in this passing offense, especially
with Tyler Shuck coming into year two with a lot
of optimism based on how he finished last season.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
But that's always been the rub with Tyson. And the idea,
you know, if it was, it would be one thing
if it was even.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
An ankle, you It's the idea that it's a hamstring
for the type of player he is and the injury
history that he has is that this is going to
take a while. And you're absolutely right. I worry that
it might haunt his rookie season. I hope that it doesn't.
I hope that he can come back fully healthy and
then make a contribution down basically what's going to be
the back half of the regular season. But it's a
real bummer and just a hit to the optimism surrounding
the Saints right now.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
But that doesn't change my pick. I'm still with him
to win the division, baby.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
I cannot agree. I think this division could be a mess.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
You got to be different somewhere.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
I think this division could be a mess.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
I'm even starting to get a little worried about my Bucs,
at least offensively. Some of the reporting of how the
offensive practices are going, but I'm staying strong with them
as the winner of the NFC South. Caleb Banks was
a surprising first round pick. First pick of the post-Quessy era.
(24:31):
He was the GM of the Vikings till... Kevin O'Connell
might've won a power struggle and Caleb Banks is not
a player that is expected to make much contribution if
any early in the season. So I would consider him
a faller right now. It looks like a project. The
Jets rookies in general loved it on paper. It's not
going great so far. No reason to panic this. These
(24:52):
are four or five year contracts, but Kenyon Sadiq has
been hurt. He's the tight end that they took in
the middle of the first round that they expected to
be a big part of the, offense. Omar Cooper, late
first round, hasn't necessarily made a big impact battling for snaps.
D'Angelo Pons, undersized cornerback who I really like, kind of
(25:13):
the next Aaron Glenn, but he hasn't been healthy at all.
So that's three guys that you took near the top
of your draft that don't look like they've had a
productive training camp.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
The good thing is you do have David Bailey. Who's
had an awesome one.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
So I didn't want to be all negative about the jets.
And David Bailey was the number two overall pick. And
I think has calmed any fears that he would just
be like a one trick pony. When that one trick
is getting off the ball faster than everyone else, it
can work at any level.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Apparently.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Yeah. Not all is lost because your top pick is
looking awesome. And that's a good thing, but yeah, I'm, I'm,
it always sucks when a rookie with high expectations gets
hurt or is dealing with injuries in their first camp.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
It's common.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Like it's, it's not something that, you know, comes as
a surprise sometimes, but this was a group that I
think this may have been my favorite class of this
entire draft. I like the Browns a lot too, but
I thought the jets was just very strong, a bunch
of names and guys that I were my favorites in
college football. And so the Sadiq thing hurts because he
still has some things to prove. as a hyper athletic
tight end with relatively inconsistent hands. I wanted to see
(26:13):
how he fit into this offense and how he works
with Gino Smith, the veteran quarterback who knows how to
use his tight ends.
Speaker 5 (26:17):
Right.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
But I think what bothers me the most or what
bums me out the most is D'Angelo Pons because he
was just, he's one of those guys that it's really
hard not to root for in a secondary that certainly
needs some difference makers. Do you hope that with the
passage of time, they get back healthy, they can make
a difference. But as we enter the season, it does
dim the light of optimism just a little bit. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
The rest of my rookies are impacted by injuries. Jeremiah Love,
for the Cardinals, has a high ankle sprain, might not
be ready for the start of the season. The second
round pick for the Cardinals was a guard, Chase Besantis,
who's going to miss the entire season. CJ Allen, a
linebacker for the Colts in the second round, expected to
start right away, has missed much of camp, now not
(26:56):
looking like a starter. Max Ihanachor, the potential starting right tackle,
first round pick for the Steelers, hasn't been healthy. Might
get back on the field in time for the preseason
this week, and that would give him a late start
chance to earn a job or at least a high
level backup role. And then a guy who has been
mostly healthy until just this last week is tight end
(27:17):
Eli Stowers for the Eagles, but he is now out
with an injury. Makai Lemon has missed a lot of
camp too. And Stowers reportedly just didn't look ready for primetime.
It happens, especially at tight end. And I just don't
think he's going to have a role early in the season.
Hopefully Makai Lemon is healthy enough to for week one.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
We'll find out.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Let's take a break. That was our rookie risers and fallers.
When we come back, I'm going to get you up
to date. The injury situations now after five weeks of
camp and preseason, we feel better about that. We feel
worse about the ones we don't know.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Back on NFL Daily. Busy time in the Shook's life.
How you doing, Shook?
Speaker 4 (28:10):
Fantastic. Everything's fine. Everything's going great.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
I'm playing a fake trombone right now because I think
that's the instrument being played on this music.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
It's going crazy. Let's do it. Shook's got what you
call good problems. He's a wanted man. He's got lots
of roles, lots of jobs, a lot of things to do.
And he's going to be on NFL Daily a lot
this season. Hopefully, we're not just talking about injuries all
the time, but that is how we're kind of wrapping
this show here, just in terms of situations that we
(28:38):
feel worse about after this last month. I have to
start with Nick Bosa. They say he could return next
week to practice, potentially.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
I don't know what level of practice.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
The reality is we're hearing things in late July that
he looks better than he did before. And the guy
just hasn't practiced. He's so important for that team. Mike Evans,
I mentioned earlier, should return to practice. I'm less worried
about him, but Bosa is part of a 49ers team
that had 23 players out of practice recently this week.
(29:15):
Just devastated across positions, especially wide receiver. And yet Bosa is,
And then quietly, Michael Williams is still on the PUP list.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
I went to check on that.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
I was like, whatever happened with him, their first round
pick from a year ago, he's still on the PUP
list too.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
That edge spot has me worried because of Bosa.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
It's, it's, it's just continues to happen with this team.
I mean, Bosa kind of makes sense. He's got a
history of knee injuries and it's, the one that was repaired.
That tends to happen, and you kind of have to
be cautious with it and ramp them up slower than usual.
I guess the good news here is, hey, Fred Warner
is healthy. And you got to the divisional round of
the playoffs last year without Bosa and Fred Warner. So
(29:54):
they'll find a way to still be competitive. I would
just like it that they had their best players to
really maximize their potential offensively.
Speaker 4 (30:00):
Luckily, it's late August.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
We got a little bit of time. Okay, fair enough.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
I just think Bosa is right there with Trent Williams
and Brock Purdy as the most important guys. Fred Warner, too.
But they just need to have him be a difference maker.
I don't think they're going to be able to ultimately
compete to win that division and then Suddenly you're in
third and the best you can hope for is like, hey,
we got to try to do what we did last year,
(30:26):
which would have been win in Philadelphia, win in Seattle,
and then win in LA, like back to back to back.
Good luck with that. You'll probably get close to shut
out in Seattle, which is what happened last year. Other
injury situations we feel worse about than we did since
the training camp period started. Trey Benson, the Cardinals running back,
(30:47):
has gotten waved injured since we've last taped. So he's
no longer even on the team. Never really got over
a knee surgery that he underwent. That's unfortunate to see.
Remember when they said there was too many Cardinals running backs, Shook?
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Huh? Do I remember?
Speaker 3 (31:02):
I remember vividly right before the draft, we had a
clip from this show shared on social that just lambasted
me for suggesting that the Cardinals might want to draft
Jeremiah Love with the third overall pick because they already.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
Have too many running backs. How you feel now? You
can never have too many.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
I'm patting myself on the back just for having Shook
on our show and having so much foresight. Trey Benson,
not even on the team anymore. James Conner hasn't practiced.
Sounds to me like an injury where you don't know
if he'll ever be the same guy again. And I
guess I will fully believe he's going to play in
(31:40):
the NFL again when I see it, but definitely doesn't
sound like he's going to be ready for week one.
And oh, by the way, Jeremiah Love has a high
ankle sprain too. So it's Tyler Algier out there by
himself right now.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
And, and Bam Knight.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (31:53):
Don't forget about Bam Knight.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
I did. I did forget about him. Shout out to Zonovan.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Quote bam night that's that's his first name see but
you didn't know that maybe you.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
Did i did i don't know if the listeners did.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
The bear secondary the bear secondary is an injury situation
that i just feel worse about they have gotten progressively
injured they lost kobe bryant at safety we hit this
on our nfc north preview so go check that out
but it's just a position group where you don't want
to see all the injuries at the same position, especially
(32:28):
when that position had questions to begin with. And that's
exactly what happened. And they don't have a pass rush
to make up for it. The Saints injuries have kind
of slipped under the radar outside New Orleans. They had
20 players out of practice this week. Shook.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
You can make a depth chart.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
Kat Terrell of ESPN did it where you just like
start listing the positions. Like there's four running backs out.
There's three edge players out. There's four offensive linemen out
and these aren't just end of the roster players necessarily.
Brian Bracey was going to be important for them. He's
out for the season. Camara, Alvin Camara, their backup running
back out for four to six weeks. We talked about
Jordan Tyson. Cam Jordan is nowhere to be found. A
(33:08):
potential starter at defensive end. Quincy Riley, an important player.
Christian Miller, their second round pick. And they've been a
team that has not looked good in the preseason necessarily.
Not sure about the joint practices, but a lot of injuries.
A little more antsy in terms of the Saints and
(33:29):
your pick to win the division than I was a
month ago.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
Yeah, and I admit that I also feel some trepidation
about my selection at this point.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
I haven't put that in writing yet, but it received.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
You have to now.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
NFL Daily is writing, bro.
Speaker 4 (33:43):
You're right.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
I got to stop using bro like my kids do.
I'm not. I'm not.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
11, but I'll tell you what, when Percy went down,
we had concerns.
Speaker 4 (33:53):
We were like, wait, so they're kind of thin there.
And then the rest of this happened.
Speaker 3 (33:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (33:57):
That's a, that's not great. Also, it's very strange.
Speaker 3 (33:59):
As I was listening to you list that whole group
backup running back, Alvin Camara.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
It's just weird. That sounds wrong.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
I thought he was going to have a nice role
as a, as a third down back. And hopefully he will,
the chargers offensive line. I feel worse about they lost
their starting center. And Rashawn Slater has been in and
out of practice at left tackle. And then I started
this show talking about the commander's offensive line and their struggles.
They have me legitimately worried. They don't have a center.
(34:30):
I think there's a strong chance their starting center week
one is not yet on the roster, which is not
where you want to be. And you have a left
tackle situation where it's Brandon Coleman replacing Laramie Tunsell and
all pro. There's been some reporting that maybe at right tackle, Connerly,
Josh Connerly, hasn't looked great in this camp. And suddenly
(34:52):
you got questions kind of popping up everywhere. You have
a first-time offensive coordinator. You don't have an offensive head coach.
You have a quarterback coming off of an injury.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
I hope I'm overreacting, but I feel worse about their offense.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
This could be one where week one against Philadelphia, Jalen Carter,
Jalix Hunt, Jordan Davis... That you're just like, oh yeah,
I should have seen this coming. This does not look
good for the commanders.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
And the worst part about it is the fact that
when we started training camp, when we talked about them,
our biggest question mark was with the receivers and who
was going to play opposite Terry McLaurin. Obviously they signed
Stefan Diggs. Traylon Burke seems like he's carved out somewhat
of a role. It was that, and it was their defense,
which has been completely remade with a bunch of veterans
(35:39):
as Dan Quinn tries to get control of that group
that was so terrible last year.
Speaker 4 (35:43):
We didn't see this coming. Like this is, you're right,
you're right in your concern.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
And the scenario that you just detailed there puts me
in a nightmare, which is Jaden Daniels under constant assault
from the Eagles. Like this is, that's bad. That's exactly
what you kind of dealt with last year, except worse.
So you better hope they figure it out quickly. Also,
do you think realistically, do you think, and you're no
(36:08):
doctor and I'm no doctor and we're no medical professionals.
Speaker 4 (36:10):
Do you think Laramie Tunsil plays this year?
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (36:14):
Right.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
Because like a torn tricep, I mean, that's, that's, given
when it happened during the regular season, it makes sense.
But that's, that was what ended Joe Thomas's career. I mean,
he was going to retire after that season anyway, but
like it's, it's not an easy injury necessarily to come
back from. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (36:28):
I'm curious how many games he plays, if he plays.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
Fair.
Speaker 6 (36:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
The standard recovery anywhere from, from four to seven months.
And Dan Quinn said, we have to prepare that he's
going to miss the regular season.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
I think the hope is that he'd be back late
in the season or for a playoff run. If it's
worth it. I'm glad you put that out there. Yeah,
because he's not returning if they look anything like the
2025 commanders. A section I'm calling injury situations we don't
know what to think about. Alec Pierce is expected to
return to practice in some form or fashion this week.
(37:02):
He underwent serious ankle surgery. We haven't seen him. There
was a shot of him and Josh Downs, who both
aren't healthy right now. Josh Downs has a calf injury.
It's believed to be minor's. Alec Pierce walking a little funny.
I guess I don't know what to think about it
when it was like a little bit of a limp there, shook,
and he hasn't actually practiced football. So a lot of
(37:24):
these guys are the guys that they're telling me it's
going to happen. but I kind of want to see
it happen. Malik neighbors. I would throw into that bucket.
Maybe even Tucker craft would be thrown into that bucket.
At least Tucker crafts doing 11 on 11 and close
to fully practicing. Namdi Matabuike. I'd throw into that bucket. I'll,
(37:45):
I'll just put them all out there as guys that, okay.
Like they're making progress, but this is contact football and
it's starting in two weeks.
Speaker 3 (37:52):
And I think the most concerning out of all of
them is Pierce because we've got the least amount of
information and the least examples of progress with him.
Speaker 4 (38:00):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Was that shot that you saw pretty recent?
Speaker 4 (38:03):
Like, was it within the last.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
Week or two?
Speaker 1 (38:05):
It was Tuesday and I'm totally overreacting. He was walking normal-ish,
but it just didn't look quite.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Right to me.
Speaker 4 (38:13):
And then you couple that.
Speaker 3 (38:14):
I know the downs thing is minor, but when you
couple that with the idea that maybe downs has a
calf thing that could become nagging, Suddenly the situation that
was like, no, we'll figure it out.
Speaker 4 (38:25):
We'll be fine.
Speaker 3 (38:26):
Gets more concerning. Also, given the fact that they felt
they needed to go sign Keenan Allen to add to
this receiving core, it kind of signals to you that
they also realized that, oh, our receiver situation might be
worse than we thought it would be.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
There's a world where you have Keenan Allen as wide
receiver one in week one. Seems unlikely, very unlikely when
it comes to downs, but downs has had these. these
injuries over the years. Maybe they could call the Jets
and try to get A.D.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
Mitchell back. I think A.D. Mitchell would look pretty good
on this Colts team.
Speaker 4 (38:54):
I think that ship has sailed.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Neighbors, Malik Neighbors is just so important to the Giants.
We're just going to have to track it. We won't
know until we know. Miles Garrett and Pukanakua. I don't
know what to think about this. I don't think it's
great to miss all of August. The fact they wear
a Rams uniform and Matthew Stafford did this a month,
you know, last year, maybe makes me a little less excited.
And then I mentioned Nnamdi Matabuike. He hasn't really been
(39:21):
practicing for the Ravens. He's a defensive tackle that's trying
to come back from a serious neck injury. And that's
why I warn with this entire group of players. that
it's great to hear that first report. They're back at practice,
but there are many steps to go after that. That's
going to go for Nick Bosa, too, to actually be
ready to play on Sundays. And this group of players,
(39:43):
I don't think we really know if they're going to
be ready. And yet, the defensive line was good enough
to to dominate the commanders this week at joint practice.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
They're not a bad looking defensive line.
Speaker 1 (39:53):
I guess, shook either way, whether they have him out
of week eight or not, but he's a big difference maker.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
I think the most important follow-up question when somebody says
they're back at practice is in what capacity, right? Because
that will tell you how long until they're back to themselves.
And if they can ever get back to themselves within
the confines of the season schedule, you know, the, the
matter VK thing with the Ravens, they at least had
time to prepare for this. They've known about this for
almost a year at this point. So they're not completely caught,
(40:18):
you know, blindsided. I'm not worried about Myles Garrett and Pukunukua.
I know that you think like, well, you know, Myles
Garrett swelling in the knee, that's concerning. And sure, it
is to a degree, but also does Myles Garrett need
to practice?
Speaker 5 (40:30):
No.
Speaker 4 (40:30):
Does Pukunukua really need to practice? No, not really.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
I mean, you need a little bit of a ramp
up period, but that's what week one practice is for
at this point for guys like that.
Speaker 4 (40:38):
So I'm not too concerned with their situations.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
I like being the voice of reason. That's what we
need for J.J. McCarthy fans out there. It's tough living.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
He had a little bit of an injury situation. I
do wonder if.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
He will be an ex-Minnesota Viking when we tape on
Sunday evening. He is going to split reps right now
with Carson Wentz for the QB2 job, but that's actually
a change. They're now giving Wentz more reps. We have
injury situations we feel better about. Daniel Jones, we hit
that hard early in camp, but it has been all
(41:12):
systems go. That's one where You had to see it
throughout the course of camp and it's absolutely come to fruition.
He's been great in the joint practices. He's looked great.
George Kittle, I do feel better about Because it's a
torn Achilles, he has steps to go. But I wouldn't
have thought he was so in the mix to start
week one and the reporting would be so positive.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
And then Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
Oh, yeah. By the way, one of the greatest quarterbacks
of all time is coming off a devastating torn ACL,
the first big injury of his career. And all systems
sound like go right now, even though... Andy Reid hasn't
declared him the week one starter. Patrick Mahomes declared himself
the week one starter. Let's listen to Andy Reid talking
about his usage in the preseason.
Speaker 7 (41:57):
Listen, he's looked good during the practices and doing the
stuff this week. He was a scout team quarterback and
pretty good scout team quarterback. But he's looked good. He's
looked strong. Obviously, his attitude's.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
Right, so.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
Andy Reed kind of freaked me out because he wouldn't
commit to Patrick Mahomes as week one starter. I was like, wait,
is there a story here? And then Mahomes made it
pretty clear that no, I'm fine. I think, and yeah,
he's just making absolute sure that he's going to be fine.
Speaker 3 (42:30):
So we've had, I think three examples of how quarterbacks
coming back from injury can vary in the way that
they approach starting a new season. We've had Daniel Jones, uh,
Full bore from the jump. I'm going to be ready
week one, and there are no concerns. We've had Michael
Penix slash the Tua thing, where nobody knows what is
(42:52):
going on for most of training camp and preseason. And
then right in the sweet spot in the middle is
Patrick Mahomes with Andy Reid just saying, hey, you know what?
Speaker 4 (43:00):
This has been a long process. I've been working hard.
I aim for week one.
Speaker 3 (43:03):
We're not committing to anything, but it sounds like it's
all gone according to plan. And all those Chiefs haters...
You can't avoid it when an organization does some things
well like that.
Speaker 1 (43:12):
Just laying in the cut. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas
City Chiefs in 20.
Speaker 4 (43:16):
In the pocket.
Speaker 5 (43:16):
26.
Speaker 1 (43:17):
Eric's loving this. That the Chiefs are finally not getting
talked about. I think they need to be talked about more.
We'll be doing that on our over-unders next week before
we get there. I had a mini category to wrap
of just, remember me? Tyreek Hill. Remember Tyreek Hill? Not
(43:37):
going to be in the NFL, it appears, anytime soon.
Brandon Ayuk, remember when that was like a daily story?
What happened there that just sort of went away? He
bought on paper like a $ 10 million house or something
in Washington, D.C. I don't know if that was a
real thing, but he said so.
Speaker 3 (43:56):
I mean, I wouldn't advise to buy a $ 10 million
house if you're not moving there.
Speaker 2 (44:01):
He doesn't seem like he's moving there. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (44:03):
He's still a member of the San Francisco 49ers. That's weird.
And then one, which is sadder just for the nature
of how his career went. But Joe Mixon, just not
in the NFL anymore. I don't think that that's going
to happen. So he's just stayed unsigned. And look, I
think we've done it, Shook. I think we've recapped all
(44:25):
of what's happened in training camp in the preseason. And
that category was remember me. We will never forget you, Shook,
even when you're on just a little bit of a
break here from the show. You have stuff to do.
I think it's maybe, you know, like a week and
a half, something like that. I just don't want the
Shook ones out there, your big fan base, to be
(44:46):
worried because you're going to be a huge part of
this season. We're just, you know, giving you some time
here to settle some things.
Speaker 4 (44:55):
Yeah, don't worry.
Speaker 3 (44:55):
You're going to see so much of me across different
platforms and everything else, you might get tired of me.
Speaker 4 (45:00):
So enjoy this break while.
Speaker 2 (45:01):
You have it.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
That's why we were like, we got to have a
Shook show before we say so long. I would miss
him too much. That's not it for this week, though.
We do have a fantasy football... Preview part two with
Trevor Sykema and the guys from the Fantasy Footballers. That
show goes up on Friday morning. Enjoy preseason week three.
(45:24):
Enjoy your life because football is coming at you soon.
Welcome to NFL Daily, where we hope no one ever
calls us inoperable. I'm Greg Rosenthal here in the Chris
Wesleyan podcast studio with my friend Nick Shook. Inoperable, Shooky,
was the word to describe the commander's joint practice against
the Ravens, specifically the offense and the offensive line. Never
(00:29):
great when you inspire, and this is from their beat writer, Nicky,
a Bala of the Washington post or the athletic rather.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
This is the worst I've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
The commander's offense in years, inoperable offensive line. Oh, that's
just like, I don't want to hear that two weeks
before the season starts.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I mean, what's the most important part in football. It
starts in the trenches. You can't protect your quarterback.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
You got problems. Can't get the ball out on time.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
And yeah, it sounds like it was pretty much a
nightmare against the Ravens in a joint practice. Not ideal,
not ideal as a, we're a couple of weeks away
from the start of the regular season.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
For some context, no Sam Cosme, who is probably their
best offensive lineman for this particular practice. But it supports
something we saw in their brief appearance in the preseason
where you're like, oh, two pressures and two dropbacks.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
He got sacked. Let's not panic. And then this happens.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
And I bring all that up to kind of give
context to what today's show is going to be all about.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Me and you. A little over a month ago. I
think it was June 20th.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Or July 20th or so, we went over the top
position battles in all of training camp that we would
be watching. This is about a week before training camp
even started. And I thought it would be interesting to
go back and revisit, not the entire list, not, you know,
we've talked about a lot of the battles and some
(01:54):
just aren't that interesting, but the 12 most interesting position
battle updates. And that got me thinking of just what
have we learned in general in this entire preseason training
camp process? Maybe you're not even listening to every single
NFL daily, although we're not going to be repeating ourselves.
So what we're going to do on this show is
kind of get everyone up to date, update the position battles.
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We're going to talk about some rookie risers and rookie fallers,
the guys who really stood out. And then Get everyone
up to date about injury situations, like what we feel
good about, what we don't, what we're really not sure
after this five weeks of data. Because at this point,
the local access, watching practice, it's over. The preseason, we
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got a few games left to go. They're not going
to be that meaningful. We'll have cut down day on Sunday,
but it's the last time we're going to have Shook
on for a minute. He's going to be doing some
important life stuff that we're excited about him. We'll update
the listeners at some point in the future. But let's
go to these position battle updates. Let's start with the
Atlanta Falcons. Michael Penix and Tuatunga-Vailoa was right near the
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top of the list of the ones I wanted to
watch coming into camp.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
And it has taken a turn this week, Nick.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Let's actually listen to our friend Ian Rapoport update the
situation on the Insiders on NFL Network.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
On Tuesday night, the.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
Goal of the entire organization was to have to be
the starting quarterback right away to start the season. Let
Michael Penix come along. So remember, it's still a nine
months or so from the ACL tear. Really, you'd like
him to be inactive for the first several games and
really just take his time and make sure he's fully
healthy to his play. Made that impossible, not just in
the preseason game, which we've seen. It sounds like practice
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as well. All of which is to say, this is
Michael Penick's job for the taking. If he comes out
and plays as well as he can, it actually could
create the best case scenario.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
For the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Oh boy. When you have Rappaport, usually reporting with kid gloves,
he's got a lot of sources. He's not trying to
necessarily offend that. Tuatunga-Vailoa has given the Falcons no choice
but to change their initial plan. Those are really strong words.
(04:13):
Let's listen to how Kevin Stefanski positioned this week's practices.
So they're splitting first team reps immediately. Michael Penix making
his first practices with the team in 11-on-11s. And then
they have a preseason game later this week.
Speaker 6 (04:28):
This was an important week for Mike. First time out
there with people around you. The offensive line, the defensive line.
And I think... going through a drill where you got
to move up in the pocket or get chased out
of the pocket, whatever it is. So I thought a
really good first step for Mike in that regard. But
outside of this week, I don't think it's fair to
go farther than that.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
So they're going to play Tua in the preseason game
with other starters. Maybe they'll rest a few guys. They're
going to rest Penix in the preseason game, but they're
splitting reps at practice. Throw all that together with Ian's report.
And where do you think this one is going?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (05:04):
The Falcons have realized that, oh my God, we better
hope that Michael Penix is ready to play in week
one because we know we don't have a great chance
of Tua Tungabailoa.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
And for those who.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
You know, I'm not here to pile on Tua, but
he hasn't looked good. There was, of course, that clip
with the joint practice with the Colts where he looked
like he was completely frazzled in the pocket, had no
idea where to go, and like he hadn't played pro
football before.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
And that doesn't look good either. But I think it's
just a sign that he hasn't made the progress.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
You know, he started camp injured like Penix, but it
was kind of a surprise back issue that limited his
ability to get going.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
And he hasn't really gotten any better.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
And it sounds to me like they're ready to shift
toward Penix because they're desperate to. Now, Stefanski continued to
talk on this today and said that he wasn't willing
to name a starter as of now and that he
wasn't trying to intentionally play coy or anything. He just
needed to give the time, the process as much time
as possible, a.k.a. we need to give Michael Penix as
much time as possible to prove to us that he
(05:58):
can play in week one. Penix said that he would
be ready mentally and physically for week one if he
was named the starter. As of now, he does not
feel like it's quite the right time for him to
take the field, which is why he won't be playing
in this preseason game. And, you know, there's a bit
of a clash of logic here because you think, all right,
week three, do you really want to play your starters?
Speaker 5 (06:18):
Right.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Most teams might not want to. The Falcons are going
to want to because they still are that far away
from finding rhythm offensively.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
And it all starts at quarterback. So the idea that.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Penix isn't playing a signal that he's going to be
the week one starter, not quite the same because he's
just now getting back to 11 on 11. But the
fact that Tua is playing, It means that they need
to see something from him, at least as a backup plan.
So the situation is not really ideal right now for
the Falcons.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
No, I tried to focus in on this show at
stuff that we can be sure about our real top
line stories. And Ian indicating that he's left them no
choice because of the practices supports the vibes I've been
getting out of there at practice as well. They open
at Pittsburgh. I've said all along, I think the Falcons,
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there's a chance here. They're one of the worst couple
teams in the NFL. I do not like this roster. Uh,
then they host the Panthers. They're at the Packers. Like
it might be a good time to get them early
in the season. We got the Falcons in primetime schedule
makers back to back weeks, weeks three and four.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Weird. Early. Not sure who we're going to see there.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Get them off the runway.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Yeah, but you don't have to put them on the
runway at all. Treat them like the Browns.
Speaker 6 (07:28):
Sorry.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
I know they got Bajon and Drake London, but man,
the second position battle wanted to hit was scam. Cam
Scataboo versus the, everyone that was in that Giants backfield.
And I wanted to bring this up first because it's
clear that Cam Scadaboo has distanced himself from Tyrone Tracy
and Devin Singletary. He's listed as first. on the depth
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chart now for the Giants. But when they list it
on the second team, it's Tracy or Singletary or Najee Harris.
And Najee Harris was taking first team reps already at
practice on Monday and Tuesday. That is fascinating to me
and makes me think, man, Najee Harris is going to
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be a factor that we never saw coming in this
Giants backfield.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
And it all goes back to the background of the
Harbaugh's and where they've been last year. Najee was with
Jim Harbaugh with the Chargers until he missed the rest
of the season. Prior to that, Najee was a Steeler
playing the same division as John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens. So
they're very familiar with him. He was a late arrival
to practice during this camp. and has seemingly worked his
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way up to speed quickly enough for them to think,
all right, you're an ideal number two. I also think
it speaks to the fact that Tyrone Tracy has had
a terrible preseason, which is really unfortunate because I kind
of liked him last year. And Devin Singletary, just who
is who he is at this point. They're looking for
another guy behind Scadaboo who can make a difference. So
they turned back to a guy who came to the
NFL with a lot of tread borne off those tires
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from his time at Alabama, but still a hard runner
that really matches the persona that they really want to,
you know, adopt as an offense. Scataboo being a hard runner,
Najee being a hard runner, that becomes your identity in
the backfield.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
So it makes a lot of sense, even if it
is a bit of a surprise.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Scataboo is not built to have 400 touches. I just
don't think the way that he runs, they trust that.
I think it's going to be way closer to a 1A,
1B situation. I'm not sure about Najee Harris coming off
such a serious injury, but if he's good enough, he
could be the 1A potentially, or that'll be very even.
(09:33):
At wide receiver, I had called it a morass coming
into the season, the Giants wide receiver situation. We have
takeaways here about who won, who lost, who got injured.
Malachi Fields, the rookie, I think is wide receiver too here.
I mean, other guys are going to play. They were
taking calls, according to the local beat reporters, on Darius
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Slayton and Darnell Mooney last week. I don't know if
they're going to continue to after Calvin Austin. tore his ACL.
That's happened since we last taped that we had that confirmed.
He was going to be the slot. I think Malachi
Fields was going to be the two. And then Malik Neighbors,
which is a big part of this, is slowly ramping up.
(10:14):
The expectation is he's going to be ready for week one,
and yet we haven't really seen him in full team drills,
so there's questions there. I still think they could get
rid of either Slayton or Mooney. I think the Austin
injury means they'll definitely keep one of them, but I
think we have a pretty clear order, and this is
what camp is all about.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Fields is two.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
You assume neighbors is healthy enough to be one. And
then one of the two I just mentioned is three.
And maybe Odell Beckham makes the team now. You know,
they want to keep them on the team. You know,
they want to keep them on the team.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Yeah, they've been rightfully high on fields. And I think
that this has always been kind of the aspirational plan
for him. And he's fulfilled the expectations that they set
for him to become, you know, wide receiver to the
idea that neighbors, you got to get neighbors, you know,
at full strength, which is closer to that than he
was even a couple.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Of weeks ago. But yeah, you're right.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
The rest of it is just like, how do we
figure this out because of the Calvin Austin's injury? And
I think between Slayton and Mooney, I think Slayton's the
one to go. Slayton has essentially been getting preseason auditions
by playing much deeper into games than you would expect
for somebody who's, you know, got that.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Mooney did too.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
They had him out there in the second half last week.
And then I was like, oh, okay.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
I have a feeling that it's going to be Slayton
who ends up on the move. It would be hilarious.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Not, I guess.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Kind of hilarious that Odell would make the team given
that he, you know, had that drop in the back
of the end zone, very frustrated by it, but you're right.
But it's the, it's the romantic element of it. You know,
if you've got space for him on the roster.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Why not?
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Austin's injury, I think locks in Braxton barriers for people
that are interested in that sort of thing, but that's
more because of his return ability and he'll play some
slot as well. And yes, we lost Juju Smith-Schuster to
this battle along the way. A couple other quick battles
I'll hit at wide receiver for the Dolphins. That was
another morass. We found out it's going to be the
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rookie Caleb Douglas, a third round pick. It's going to
be Malik Washington. I think those are your top two guys.
Jalen Tolbert seems to be number three there. I thought
Caleb Lomu versus Will Campbell was going to be a thing.
Very much not a thing. Will Campbell, great camp. Lomu,
their first round pick at left tackle. Not a good camp.
I thought the Cowboys left tackle position was going to
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be up for grabs. No, it's Tyler Guyton's job for sure.
I was looking at the Ravens number three receiver situation,
Elijah Surratt, Jacoby Lane, Tez Walker.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
It's Jacoby Lane. One of the stories of camp. Love that.
You got, you are, you are literally.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Lifting your arms. I was going to say flexing, but
that's just naturally how they look.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
This is, this is my natural state of rejoicing because
my guy is, Jacoby Lane went to camp and seize
the opportunity, baby.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Let's go.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Yeah, he's been great.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
And it does make me feel better about that offense
because they need some depth. They don't really have it
at tight end or receiver. They're hoping for a lot
out of Rashad Bateman. Let's finish with Cousins and Mendoza,
at least like the preseason talk about them. Although we
might see Mendoza in the preseason finale.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
We'll find out. I found this battle fascinating. Fascinating.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Cousins is getting the first team reps in practice this week.
I'd be shocked at this point if he's not the
week one starter. Is that too strong of a word?
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Shocked? Like what percentage do you put it at now?
Speaker 4 (13:22):
No, I'd be shocked too. I was surprised.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
I shouldn't have been, but I was surprised that you
were being the straw that stirs the drink for most
of the preseason trying to push the whole Mendoza agenda
knowing that Clint Kubiak wants a veteran quarterback to start
the season with them.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
I think Clint Kubiak's backed me up by not committing
to Cousins and then.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
The preseason numbers have not looked good.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
I swear, and it was great to see Stephen Ruiz,
one of the writers I respect the most who cover quarterbacks.
He's moved to Fox Sports now. You know, he was
so high on Mendoza's preseason in terms of the processing, decision-making,
that he just looks like an adult back there. And
that's the most important thing.
Speaker 5 (14:01):
And.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I do still wonder if Kubiak's like, man, if he
just keeps showing this progress, they're still, you know, not
committing that, like, maybe we should just do it sooner
than later. So to me, I think it's like 80-20
Cousins is the week one starter and that it's... It's
40-60 that Cousins is the week four starter.
Speaker 4 (14:23):
I'm just throwing things out.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Yeah, I'll ride with that because for a rookie head coach,
this is very unusual, but he's in the bit of
a catbird seat with the quarterback situation because Mendoza has
looked so good in the preseason despite what the numbers say.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Steven Ruiz is absolutely right.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Mendoza looks like a guy who is extremely prepared, which
is exactly what Kubiak said about him. And you're in
a luxurious situation in which you can choose between two
guys that you actually have some confidence in that can
handle the operation of the offense. So, It makes a
lot of sense for the long-term planning of this franchise
to start the season with Kirk cousins.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
And if he's just average, it's fine.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
And eventually you try to work in Mendoza because you
know that he's going to be prepared for it. And
you got to see what you can get. The dangerous
part of that though, Greg is what if Kirk is
all right. He's he's kind of what he was in
Atlanta last year. You're competitive. Maybe you aren't winning a
lot of games, but you're competitive. Mendoza comes in and
then struggles more than you expect. And you take a
step back because then you've already kind of taken the
(15:18):
genie out of the bottle. You can't go back at
that point.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
To quote the great Mike Tomlin. We do not live
in our fears.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Not live in our fears.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
You gotta just go. Does make me wonder a little too,
like has Kirk been a little underwhelming?
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Who knows?
Speaker 1 (15:32):
There's no way to know. You'd have to be at
the practice, be inside of Clint Kubiak's mind. A couple
other position battles I had written down. a month ago
that have declarative winners in the Patriots receiver medley. And
I'm not including Romeo Dobbs and AJ Brown in that.
Keishon Moody got traded and DeMario Douglas won in terms
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of the guy who is going to be on the
field most snaps. Matt Collins seems kind of locked in.
as that number four guy. And then my guy, Kyle Williams,
will stay on the roster for sure after they traded
Keishon Booty. We also learned just in terms of usage
that it's going to be a cornerback year for Travis Hunter.
That was one of the questions I had. And I
think it's going to be an even more extreme cornerback,
(16:15):
not wide receiver year than I expected going into camp.
Let's flip to another section we're going to do. called
some rookie risers and fallers. And these guys could also
be counted as position battle winners. A month and a
half ago, I was... naive enough to include Ricky Pearsall
in a wide receiver mix. The wide receiver competition for
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San Francisco was Dijon Stribling versus Christian Kirk versus Demarcus
Robinson versus Ricky Pearsall's health. And we can say that
Dijon Stribling is the winner. One of the biggest rookie
risers in the entire NFL.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
He's been strong, but it's also, you can't hold this
against yourself. You couldn't predict that, that Ricky Pearsall's knee
that he should have had an operation on then swelled
up and got to the point that he needed the operation.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
Like you're not in the, in the team doctor's heads there.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
So that's not on you, but look, these are the
developments that you hope for when you draft the guy
and you throw them in there and they end up
exceeding expectations.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
It's a good situation for the 49ers.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
To have not a perfect situation though, because they just
can't stay healthy. Hopefully Stribling ends up, you know, kind
of matching what he's produced so far in camp in
the preseason and ends up being a key part of
this team because I think they're going to need him.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Oh, I think he is. I think he's going to
have a lot of volume. I get it.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
I just don't think there's other people that are going
to be catching enough passes on this team. Kittle will
obviously be a volume target once he is out there,
but his situation is a little bit of a question.
Mike Evans is expected to return to practice next week,
but his injuries have been a little more serious than
they've let on because he just hasn't been out there.
(17:53):
I also list your two rookies in Cleveland as Casey
Concepcion and Denzel Boston among the biggest rookie winners. Just
an awesome month for the two of them. And people
might say, well, okay, they got to do it in
the game. This doesn't mean everything. I'm reading all the
reports in all the camps. It's not like this for everyone.
(18:15):
Zach Jackson, who's covered this team forever, is like, these
are the best two receivers they've had in the building
for so long. They're just the best two receivers.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
On the team.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
And that includes a guy in Jerry Judy who's making
a lot of money. And they're just clearly better than
him already, which is great news for the future of
your Browns, if not the present.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Yeah, the big question will be who's throwing them the football.
We already know that drama and everything else. But this
is about the long term. This is about building your
core and answering a need that you've had for forever.
And if you could get them to be You don't
have to produce at the level that Josh Gordon did,
but just fill a role that Josh Gordon once occupied
in this receiving quarter. There'll be fan favorites, there'll be productive,
and there'll be an ideal situation for whatever quarterback comes
(18:53):
to town next year because one will be coming to
walk into.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
Caleb Downs, I wrote down just as another rookie who's
gotten a lot of positive press, Jadarian Price. I am
absolutely swayed by some of those hard knocks clips and
the fact that the Seahawks coaches, the way they've talked
about them, they're like, we don't need to see him
in the preseason. I think they're a little wowed by
Jadarian Price's talent and no one else has really emerged there.
(19:23):
And so he's just got to stay healthy. But to me,
he's a riser despite missing some of camp with injuries.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Is that is that the problem you got for me?
Speaker 4 (19:31):
No, it's not a problem. I'm just I'm.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
It feels kind of like a bit of a kid
gloves thing too, where they're like, look, we've already gotten
bitten hard by the injury bug at this position. We
lost Kenneth Walker in the off season. Let's keep this
guy who's very talented on ice until the regular season.
It's also like pretty fascinating to me to consider the
idea that this was a guy who most people did.
not see as a first round pick maybe early second
round ends up going in the first round and can
(19:55):
come into a camp and then flash at that level
that and look so much better than his peers when
he was just in college like that that will forever
fascinate me when guys just show up like that and
are that much better right away if.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
You've got the juice, like Casey Concepcion is a great
example and Denzel Boston in the way that he is
a ball winner, but that's different. Like Jadarian Price and Concepcion,
like they just move different. And like you either have
that or you don't, I think at some level. And
it probably takes the NFL coaches to see like, oh yeah,
(20:28):
him compared to the other guys on the field, he
just moves different. So I'm very excited about him. He
could be a better pro in terms of production, certainly.
this year than he was at Notre Dame last year.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
He was stuck behind Jeremiah Love.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
It's really crazy. A couple other rookies that I see
as risers. Akeem Mesidor has had a great camp for
the Chargers. I would package two running backs. Kalen Black
for the 49ers. Once he got back from his injuries,
looked great. Mike Washington, we've talked about on the show
a lot for the Raiders, has looked great. Caleb Elarms,
or for the Bills, not a household name, has a
(21:04):
real chance. I think he's going to start for this
team at linebacker. Fourth round pick. I didn't have many
day three guys here in the rookie risers. I would
also throw in Douglas, Caleb Douglas, who I mentioned with
the Dolphins before. And then Jayshon Barham, another guy who's
had some injuries, but has really wowed everyone today. that
watched him out of that group. And if you have
(21:25):
any others, feel free to throw them out of that group, though.
Is there anyone that stands out to you as exciting?
Speaker 3 (21:30):
Oh, this reminds me of how much I enjoy when
guys leave college and go to the NFL and they
change uniforms and I can actually enjoy watching them play football.
Jay Sean Barham being one as an Ohio state fan,
I can't enjoy watching Michigan in any capacity to see
him go to the NFL and then immediately flash. I'm like, yes,
he's one of my favorite players of the preseason. I
cannot wait to see how he fits into this Cowboys
defense at the second level, how much playing time they
(21:51):
give him as part of a remade defense that I
think is going to be a lot better than people
expect with Christian Parker, the new DC overseeing things.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
So I'm excited to watch him play as well.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
And I'm really curious to see exactly how Mesador fits
into this front with the chargers, given that Khalil Mack
is there and everything else, but he was one half
of a great edge rushing tandem at Miami with Ruben Bain.
And to see both of them come in and find
success would just be fulfilling to somebody like me who
really enjoys watching the top players in college football, take
that immediate next step and make a difference.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Bryce Lance was another day three pick. I wish I
mentioned he has come on strong. According to the saints
reporters in the last week and a half at the
joint practices, And he's going to have a role. Unfortunately,
it's because of injuries there, including to Jordan Tyson. But
I think Bryce Lance and then Barry and Brown as
(22:39):
a late round pick as a return guy and kind
of a number four receiver. Those guys are going to
play for the Saints. So I would include them in
the rookie risers. It was easier for me to fall
or to find the rookie fallers. Jordan Tyson has to
be at the top of the list. And it comes
with an asterisk.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
If any rookie was impressing more on the field than
Jordan Tyson until the moment that he hurt his hamstring
like he did for so much of college and was
out for two months. But you just worry that this
could haunt his entire rookie season. I hope they're just
so careful with him that by the time he gets back,
(23:19):
he can then have a productive second half of the season,
whatever it's going to turn out to be.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
It's especially disappointing for a team that, you know, you
have Chris Olave on a new deal in there, but
you needed a running mate in this passing offense, especially
with Tyler Shuck coming into year two with a lot
of optimism based on how he finished last season.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
But that's always been the rub with Tyson. And the idea,
you know, if it was, it would be one thing
if it was even.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
An ankle, you It's the idea that it's a hamstring
for the type of player he is and the injury
history that he has is that this is going to
take a while. And you're absolutely right. I worry that
it might haunt his rookie season. I hope that it doesn't.
I hope that he can come back fully healthy and
then make a contribution down basically what's going to be
the back half of the regular season. But it's a
real bummer and just a hit to the optimism surrounding
the Saints right now.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
But that doesn't change my pick. I'm still with him
to win the division, baby.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
I cannot agree. I think this division could be a mess.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
You got to be different somewhere.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
I think this division could be a mess.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
I'm even starting to get a little worried about my Bucs,
at least offensively. Some of the reporting of how the
offensive practices are going, but I'm staying strong with them
as the winner of the NFC South. Caleb Banks was
a surprising first round pick. First pick of the post-Quessy era.
(24:31):
He was the GM of the Vikings till... Kevin O'Connell
might've won a power struggle and Caleb Banks is not
a player that is expected to make much contribution if
any early in the season. So I would consider him
a faller right now. It looks like a project. The
Jets rookies in general loved it on paper. It's not
going great so far. No reason to panic this. These
(24:52):
are four or five year contracts, but Kenyon Sadiq has
been hurt. He's the tight end that they took in
the middle of the first round that they expected to
be a big part of the, offense. Omar Cooper, late
first round, hasn't necessarily made a big impact battling for snaps.
D'Angelo Pons, undersized cornerback who I really like, kind of
(25:13):
the next Aaron Glenn, but he hasn't been healthy at all.
So that's three guys that you took near the top
of your draft that don't look like they've had a
productive training camp.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
The good thing is you do have David Bailey. Who's
had an awesome one.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
So I didn't want to be all negative about the jets.
And David Bailey was the number two overall pick. And
I think has calmed any fears that he would just
be like a one trick pony. When that one trick
is getting off the ball faster than everyone else, it
can work at any level.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Apparently.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Yeah. Not all is lost because your top pick is
looking awesome. And that's a good thing, but yeah, I'm, I'm,
it always sucks when a rookie with high expectations gets
hurt or is dealing with injuries in their first camp.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
It's common.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Like it's, it's not something that, you know, comes as
a surprise sometimes, but this was a group that I
think this may have been my favorite class of this
entire draft. I like the Browns a lot too, but
I thought the jets was just very strong, a bunch
of names and guys that I were my favorites in
college football. And so the Sadiq thing hurts because he
still has some things to prove. as a hyper athletic
tight end with relatively inconsistent hands. I wanted to see
(26:13):
how he fit into this offense and how he works
with Gino Smith, the veteran quarterback who knows how to
use his tight ends.
Speaker 5 (26:17):
Right.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
But I think what bothers me the most or what
bums me out the most is D'Angelo Pons because he
was just, he's one of those guys that it's really
hard not to root for in a secondary that certainly
needs some difference makers. Do you hope that with the
passage of time, they get back healthy, they can make
a difference. But as we enter the season, it does
dim the light of optimism just a little bit. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
The rest of my rookies are impacted by injuries. Jeremiah Love,
for the Cardinals, has a high ankle sprain, might not
be ready for the start of the season. The second
round pick for the Cardinals was a guard, Chase Besantis,
who's going to miss the entire season. CJ Allen, a
linebacker for the Colts in the second round, expected to
start right away, has missed much of camp, now not
(26:56):
looking like a starter. Max Ihanachor, the potential starting right tackle,
first round pick for the Steelers, hasn't been healthy. Might
get back on the field in time for the preseason
this week, and that would give him a late start
chance to earn a job or at least a high
level backup role. And then a guy who has been
mostly healthy until just this last week is tight end
(27:17):
Eli Stowers for the Eagles, but he is now out
with an injury. Makai Lemon has missed a lot of
camp too. And Stowers reportedly just didn't look ready for primetime.
It happens, especially at tight end. And I just don't
think he's going to have a role early in the season.
Hopefully Makai Lemon is healthy enough to for week one.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
We'll find out.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Let's take a break. That was our rookie risers and fallers.
When we come back, I'm going to get you up
to date. The injury situations now after five weeks of
camp and preseason, we feel better about that. We feel
worse about the ones we don't know.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Back on NFL Daily. Busy time in the Shook's life.
How you doing, Shook?
Speaker 4 (28:10):
Fantastic. Everything's fine. Everything's going great.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
I'm playing a fake trombone right now because I think
that's the instrument being played on this music.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
It's going crazy. Let's do it. Shook's got what you
call good problems. He's a wanted man. He's got lots
of roles, lots of jobs, a lot of things to do.
And he's going to be on NFL Daily a lot
this season. Hopefully, we're not just talking about injuries all
the time, but that is how we're kind of wrapping
this show here, just in terms of situations that we
(28:38):
feel worse about after this last month. I have to
start with Nick Bosa. They say he could return next
week to practice, potentially.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
I don't know what level of practice.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
The reality is we're hearing things in late July that
he looks better than he did before. And the guy
just hasn't practiced. He's so important for that team. Mike Evans,
I mentioned earlier, should return to practice. I'm less worried
about him, but Bosa is part of a 49ers team
that had 23 players out of practice recently this week.
(29:15):
Just devastated across positions, especially wide receiver. And yet Bosa is,
And then quietly, Michael Williams is still on the PUP list.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
I went to check on that.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
I was like, whatever happened with him, their first round
pick from a year ago, he's still on the PUP
list too.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
That edge spot has me worried because of Bosa.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
It's, it's, it's just continues to happen with this team.
I mean, Bosa kind of makes sense. He's got a
history of knee injuries and it's, the one that was repaired.
That tends to happen, and you kind of have to
be cautious with it and ramp them up slower than usual.
I guess the good news here is, hey, Fred Warner
is healthy. And you got to the divisional round of
the playoffs last year without Bosa and Fred Warner. So
(29:54):
they'll find a way to still be competitive. I would
just like it that they had their best players to
really maximize their potential offensively.
Speaker 4 (30:00):
Luckily, it's late August.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
We got a little bit of time. Okay, fair enough.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
I just think Bosa is right there with Trent Williams
and Brock Purdy as the most important guys. Fred Warner, too.
But they just need to have him be a difference maker.
I don't think they're going to be able to ultimately
compete to win that division and then Suddenly you're in
third and the best you can hope for is like, hey,
we got to try to do what we did last year,
(30:26):
which would have been win in Philadelphia, win in Seattle,
and then win in LA, like back to back to back.
Good luck with that. You'll probably get close to shut
out in Seattle, which is what happened last year. Other
injury situations we feel worse about than we did since
the training camp period started. Trey Benson, the Cardinals running back,
(30:47):
has gotten waved injured since we've last taped. So he's
no longer even on the team. Never really got over
a knee surgery that he underwent. That's unfortunate to see.
Remember when they said there was too many Cardinals running backs, Shook?
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Huh? Do I remember?
Speaker 3 (31:02):
I remember vividly right before the draft, we had a
clip from this show shared on social that just lambasted
me for suggesting that the Cardinals might want to draft
Jeremiah Love with the third overall pick because they already.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
Have too many running backs. How you feel now? You
can never have too many.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
I'm patting myself on the back just for having Shook
on our show and having so much foresight. Trey Benson,
not even on the team anymore. James Conner hasn't practiced.
Sounds to me like an injury where you don't know
if he'll ever be the same guy again. And I
guess I will fully believe he's going to play in
(31:40):
the NFL again when I see it, but definitely doesn't
sound like he's going to be ready for week one.
And oh, by the way, Jeremiah Love has a high
ankle sprain too. So it's Tyler Algier out there by
himself right now.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
And, and Bam Knight.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (31:53):
Don't forget about Bam Knight.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
I did. I did forget about him. Shout out to Zonovan.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Quote bam night that's that's his first name see but
you didn't know that maybe you.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
Did i did i don't know if the listeners did.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
The bear secondary the bear secondary is an injury situation
that i just feel worse about they have gotten progressively
injured they lost kobe bryant at safety we hit this
on our nfc north preview so go check that out
but it's just a position group where you don't want
to see all the injuries at the same position, especially
(32:28):
when that position had questions to begin with. And that's
exactly what happened. And they don't have a pass rush
to make up for it. The Saints injuries have kind
of slipped under the radar outside New Orleans. They had
20 players out of practice this week. Shook.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
You can make a depth chart.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
Kat Terrell of ESPN did it where you just like
start listing the positions. Like there's four running backs out.
There's three edge players out. There's four offensive linemen out
and these aren't just end of the roster players necessarily.
Brian Bracey was going to be important for them. He's
out for the season. Camara, Alvin Camara, their backup running
back out for four to six weeks. We talked about
Jordan Tyson. Cam Jordan is nowhere to be found. A
(33:08):
potential starter at defensive end. Quincy Riley, an important player.
Christian Miller, their second round pick. And they've been a
team that has not looked good in the preseason necessarily.
Not sure about the joint practices, but a lot of injuries.
A little more antsy in terms of the Saints and
(33:29):
your pick to win the division than I was a
month ago.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
Yeah, and I admit that I also feel some trepidation
about my selection at this point.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
I haven't put that in writing yet, but it received.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
You have to now.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
NFL Daily is writing, bro.
Speaker 4 (33:43):
You're right.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
I got to stop using bro like my kids do.
I'm not. I'm not.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
11, but I'll tell you what, when Percy went down,
we had concerns.
Speaker 4 (33:53):
We were like, wait, so they're kind of thin there.
And then the rest of this happened.
Speaker 3 (33:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (33:57):
That's a, that's not great. Also, it's very strange.
Speaker 3 (33:59):
As I was listening to you list that whole group
backup running back, Alvin Camara.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
It's just weird. That sounds wrong.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
I thought he was going to have a nice role
as a, as a third down back. And hopefully he will,
the chargers offensive line. I feel worse about they lost
their starting center. And Rashawn Slater has been in and
out of practice at left tackle. And then I started
this show talking about the commander's offensive line and their struggles.
They have me legitimately worried. They don't have a center.
(34:30):
I think there's a strong chance their starting center week
one is not yet on the roster, which is not
where you want to be. And you have a left
tackle situation where it's Brandon Coleman replacing Laramie Tunsell and
all pro. There's been some reporting that maybe at right tackle, Connerly,
Josh Connerly, hasn't looked great in this camp. And suddenly
(34:52):
you got questions kind of popping up everywhere. You have
a first-time offensive coordinator. You don't have an offensive head coach.
You have a quarterback coming off of an injury.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
I hope I'm overreacting, but I feel worse about their offense.
Speaker 1 (35:07):
This could be one where week one against Philadelphia, Jalen Carter,
Jalix Hunt, Jordan Davis... That you're just like, oh yeah,
I should have seen this coming. This does not look
good for the commanders.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
And the worst part about it is the fact that
when we started training camp, when we talked about them,
our biggest question mark was with the receivers and who
was going to play opposite Terry McLaurin. Obviously they signed
Stefan Diggs. Traylon Burke seems like he's carved out somewhat
of a role. It was that, and it was their defense,
which has been completely remade with a bunch of veterans
(35:39):
as Dan Quinn tries to get control of that group
that was so terrible last year.
Speaker 4 (35:43):
We didn't see this coming. Like this is, you're right,
you're right in your concern.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
And the scenario that you just detailed there puts me
in a nightmare, which is Jaden Daniels under constant assault
from the Eagles. Like this is, that's bad. That's exactly
what you kind of dealt with last year, except worse.
So you better hope they figure it out quickly. Also,
do you think realistically, do you think, and you're no
(36:08):
doctor and I'm no doctor and we're no medical professionals.
Speaker 4 (36:10):
Do you think Laramie Tunsil plays this year?
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (36:14):
Right.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
Because like a torn tricep, I mean, that's, that's, given
when it happened during the regular season, it makes sense.
But that's, that was what ended Joe Thomas's career. I mean,
he was going to retire after that season anyway, but
like it's, it's not an easy injury necessarily to come
back from. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (36:28):
I'm curious how many games he plays, if he plays.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
Fair.
Speaker 6 (36:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
The standard recovery anywhere from, from four to seven months.
And Dan Quinn said, we have to prepare that he's
going to miss the regular season.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
I think the hope is that he'd be back late
in the season or for a playoff run. If it's
worth it. I'm glad you put that out there. Yeah,
because he's not returning if they look anything like the
2025 commanders. A section I'm calling injury situations we don't
know what to think about. Alec Pierce is expected to
return to practice in some form or fashion this week.
(37:02):
He underwent serious ankle surgery. We haven't seen him. There
was a shot of him and Josh Downs, who both
aren't healthy right now. Josh Downs has a calf injury.
It's believed to be minor's. Alec Pierce walking a little funny.
I guess I don't know what to think about it
when it was like a little bit of a limp there, shook,
and he hasn't actually practiced football. So a lot of
(37:24):
these guys are the guys that they're telling me it's
going to happen. but I kind of want to see
it happen. Malik neighbors. I would throw into that bucket.
Maybe even Tucker craft would be thrown into that bucket.
At least Tucker crafts doing 11 on 11 and close
to fully practicing. Namdi Matabuike. I'd throw into that bucket. I'll,
(37:45):
I'll just put them all out there as guys that, okay.
Like they're making progress, but this is contact football and
it's starting in two weeks.
Speaker 3 (37:52):
And I think the most concerning out of all of
them is Pierce because we've got the least amount of
information and the least examples of progress with him.
Speaker 4 (38:00):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Was that shot that you saw pretty recent?
Speaker 4 (38:03):
Like, was it within the last.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
Week or two?
Speaker 1 (38:05):
It was Tuesday and I'm totally overreacting. He was walking normal-ish,
but it just didn't look quite.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Right to me.
Speaker 4 (38:13):
And then you couple that.
Speaker 3 (38:14):
I know the downs thing is minor, but when you
couple that with the idea that maybe downs has a
calf thing that could become nagging, Suddenly the situation that
was like, no, we'll figure it out.
Speaker 4 (38:25):
We'll be fine.
Speaker 3 (38:26):
Gets more concerning. Also, given the fact that they felt
they needed to go sign Keenan Allen to add to
this receiving core, it kind of signals to you that
they also realized that, oh, our receiver situation might be
worse than we thought it would be.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
There's a world where you have Keenan Allen as wide
receiver one in week one. Seems unlikely, very unlikely when
it comes to downs, but downs has had these. these
injuries over the years. Maybe they could call the Jets
and try to get A.D.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
Mitchell back. I think A.D. Mitchell would look pretty good
on this Colts team.
Speaker 4 (38:54):
I think that ship has sailed.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Neighbors, Malik Neighbors is just so important to the Giants.
We're just going to have to track it. We won't
know until we know. Miles Garrett and Pukanakua. I don't
know what to think about this. I don't think it's
great to miss all of August. The fact they wear
a Rams uniform and Matthew Stafford did this a month,
you know, last year, maybe makes me a little less excited.
And then I mentioned Nnamdi Matabuike. He hasn't really been
(39:21):
practicing for the Ravens. He's a defensive tackle that's trying
to come back from a serious neck injury. And that's
why I warn with this entire group of players. that
it's great to hear that first report. They're back at practice,
but there are many steps to go after that. That's
going to go for Nick Bosa, too, to actually be
ready to play on Sundays. And this group of players,
(39:43):
I don't think we really know if they're going to
be ready. And yet, the defensive line was good enough
to to dominate the commanders this week at joint practice.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
They're not a bad looking defensive line.
Speaker 1 (39:53):
I guess, shook either way, whether they have him out
of week eight or not, but he's a big difference maker.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
I think the most important follow-up question when somebody says
they're back at practice is in what capacity, right? Because
that will tell you how long until they're back to themselves.
And if they can ever get back to themselves within
the confines of the season schedule, you know, the, the
matter VK thing with the Ravens, they at least had
time to prepare for this. They've known about this for
almost a year at this point. So they're not completely caught,
(40:18):
you know, blindsided. I'm not worried about Myles Garrett and Pukunukua.
I know that you think like, well, you know, Myles
Garrett swelling in the knee, that's concerning. And sure, it
is to a degree, but also does Myles Garrett need
to practice?
Speaker 5 (40:30):
No.
Speaker 4 (40:30):
Does Pukunukua really need to practice? No, not really.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
I mean, you need a little bit of a ramp
up period, but that's what week one practice is for
at this point for guys like that.
Speaker 4 (40:38):
So I'm not too concerned with their situations.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
I like being the voice of reason. That's what we
need for J.J. McCarthy fans out there. It's tough living.
Speaker 2 (40:48):
He had a little bit of an injury situation. I
do wonder if.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
He will be an ex-Minnesota Viking when we tape on
Sunday evening. He is going to split reps right now
with Carson Wentz for the QB2 job, but that's actually
a change. They're now giving Wentz more reps. We have
injury situations we feel better about. Daniel Jones, we hit
that hard early in camp, but it has been all
(41:12):
systems go. That's one where You had to see it
throughout the course of camp and it's absolutely come to fruition.
He's been great in the joint practices. He's looked great.
George Kittle, I do feel better about Because it's a
torn Achilles, he has steps to go. But I wouldn't
have thought he was so in the mix to start
week one and the reporting would be so positive.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
And then Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
Oh, yeah. By the way, one of the greatest quarterbacks
of all time is coming off a devastating torn ACL,
the first big injury of his career. And all systems
sound like go right now, even though... Andy Reid hasn't
declared him the week one starter. Patrick Mahomes declared himself
the week one starter. Let's listen to Andy Reid talking
about his usage in the preseason.
Speaker 7 (41:57):
Listen, he's looked good during the practices and doing the
stuff this week. He was a scout team quarterback and
pretty good scout team quarterback. But he's looked good. He's
looked strong. Obviously, his attitude's.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
Right, so.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
Andy Reed kind of freaked me out because he wouldn't
commit to Patrick Mahomes as week one starter. I was like, wait,
is there a story here? And then Mahomes made it
pretty clear that no, I'm fine. I think, and yeah,
he's just making absolute sure that he's going to be fine.
Speaker 3 (42:30):
So we've had, I think three examples of how quarterbacks
coming back from injury can vary in the way that
they approach starting a new season. We've had Daniel Jones, uh,
Full bore from the jump. I'm going to be ready
week one, and there are no concerns. We've had Michael
Penix slash the Tua thing, where nobody knows what is
(42:52):
going on for most of training camp and preseason. And
then right in the sweet spot in the middle is
Patrick Mahomes with Andy Reid just saying, hey, you know what?
Speaker 4 (43:00):
This has been a long process. I've been working hard.
I aim for week one.
Speaker 3 (43:03):
We're not committing to anything, but it sounds like it's
all gone according to plan. And all those Chiefs haters...
You can't avoid it when an organization does some things
well like that.
Speaker 1 (43:12):
Just laying in the cut. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas
City Chiefs in 20.
Speaker 4 (43:16):
In the pocket.
Speaker 5 (43:16):
26.
Speaker 1 (43:17):
Eric's loving this. That the Chiefs are finally not getting
talked about. I think they need to be talked about more.
We'll be doing that on our over-unders next week before
we get there. I had a mini category to wrap
of just, remember me? Tyreek Hill. Remember Tyreek Hill? Not
(43:37):
going to be in the NFL, it appears, anytime soon.
Brandon Ayuk, remember when that was like a daily story?
What happened there that just sort of went away? He
bought on paper like a $ 10 million house or something
in Washington, D.C. I don't know if that was a
real thing, but he said so.
Speaker 3 (43:56):
I mean, I wouldn't advise to buy a $ 10 million
house if you're not moving there.
Speaker 2 (44:01):
He doesn't seem like he's moving there. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (44:03):
He's still a member of the San Francisco 49ers. That's weird.
And then one, which is sadder just for the nature
of how his career went. But Joe Mixon, just not
in the NFL anymore. I don't think that that's going
to happen. So he's just stayed unsigned. And look, I
think we've done it, Shook. I think we've recapped all
(44:25):
of what's happened in training camp in the preseason. And
that category was remember me. We will never forget you, Shook,
even when you're on just a little bit of a
break here from the show. You have stuff to do.
I think it's maybe, you know, like a week and
a half, something like that. I just don't want the
Shook ones out there, your big fan base, to be
(44:46):
worried because you're going to be a huge part of
this season. We're just, you know, giving you some time
here to settle some things.
Speaker 4 (44:55):
Yeah, don't worry.
Speaker 3 (44:55):
You're going to see so much of me across different
platforms and everything else, you might get tired of me.
Speaker 4 (45:00):
So enjoy this break while.
Speaker 2 (45:01):
You have it.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
That's why we were like, we got to have a
Shook show before we say so long. I would miss
him too much. That's not it for this week, though.
We do have a fantasy football... Preview part two with
Trevor Sykema and the guys from the Fantasy Footballers. That
show goes up on Friday morning. Enjoy preseason week three.
(45:24):
Enjoy your life because football is coming at you soon.
Host
Gregg Rosenthal
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Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.