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Training Camp UpdateVolume 11, Issue 3 – 8/24/16

We say it all the time because it's true: Things change fast in the NFL. And they never change faster than they do in August. And nobody covers those changes and team situations more comprehensively than Footballguys.com. Our Training Camp Updates come out once a week in August and our staff covers everything you need to know about every NFL team. This is the deep stuff that gives you an edge. We're not going to rave that Cam Newton, Antonio Brown or even David Johnson is great. You already know that.

Read our weekly updates to get the inside scoop on how the Bears running backs are practicing and which player is the best bet for your draft. Or the Saints WR corps. Or which Browns receiver is shining in practice. It's the kind of information that will put you over the edge and on the way to dominating your draft.

Happy reading and let's have a great 2016 season,

Joe Bryant and David DoddsOwners, Footballguys.com

Follow our Footballguys Training Camp crew on Twitter: @FBGNews, @theaudible, @football_guys, @fbg_dodds, @sigmundbloom, @cecillammey, @JayBWood, @JeneBramel, @fbgchase, @MattWaldman, @bobhenry, @cianaf, @Andrew_Garda, @JeffHaseley, @Maurile, @AdamHarstad, @a_rudnicki, @kylewachtel, @mpwimer, @draftdaddy, @JamesBrimacombe, @Hindery, @RyanHester13, @Bischoff_Scott, @cm_feery, @PhilTWR, @xfantasyphoenix

Arizona Cardinals

QB: Carson Palmer was ineffective in limited snaps versus the Chargers. The veteran passer completed just 4-of-8 passes for 37 yards and an interception – good enough for a 23.4 passer rating. Backup Drew Stanton fared worse – if that’s possible – completing 2-of-7 passes for 32 yards and an interception (6.5

passer rating). Needless to say, head coach Bruce Arians was unhappy with his team’s performance. "A veteran team should show up," said Arians. "I didn't like the way we started the game and that set the tone the whole game. We'll go back to work. That's why you play the preseason. These don't count other than you find out a lot about yourself." Matt Barkley was more effective playing with the backups; he completed 10-of-15 passes for 85 yards (81.2 passer rating). Barkley was listed as the third-stringer ahead of Jake Coker in the latest depth chart, which shouldn’t be surprising. Coker will play in the next preseason game after not throwing a pass this week. The bigger threat to Barkley's job is GM Steve Keim acquiring or claiming a quarterback when rosters cuts begin.

RB: Every week is a superlative-filled one for David Johnson. Teammate Tyrann Mathieu compared him to Marshall Faulk, and GM Keim said that Johnson is “probably the best receiving back I've seen.” Johnson impresses in practice, but struggled (along with the entire first team offense) against the Chargers with four touches for eight yards. In spite of Johnson’s obvious talents, there continues to be debate among beat writers about Johnson’s role – will he be a workhorse? ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss expects Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington to be mixed into the backfield. Chris Johnson has consistently drawn plaudits, showing off as a blocker and receiver while remaining a quality runner. The Johnsons (David and Chris) and Ellington are unquestionably the top three runners on the depth chart, but the rest of the depth chart remains unsettled. Kerwynn Williams appears to have the edge over Stepfan Taylor and Elijhaa Penny – but it’s a fluid situation. Williams' explosiveness was evident when he ran for 18 yards on his first carry versus the Chargers.

WR: Cardinals fans can breathe a collective sigh of relief as John Brown (concussion) and Larry Fitzgerald (MCL) returned to practice on Sunday. Brown had missed most of the preseason under the league’s concussion protocol, but now looks okay to round into regular season shape with a few weeks left in the preseason. Michael Floyd was the only member of the “Big Three” to suit up versus the Chargers, but struggled (one 2-yard catch on three targets). Backup Jaron Brown has been consistently breaking off big plays in practice and did the same against the Chargers with two receptions for 40 yards. Arians praised Jaron, “He's the best wide receiver we have right now. Most consistent in practice and shows up in games.” Jaron should revert to fourth or fifth on the depth chart now that everyone is healthy, but Arians is the type of head coach who plays the best players; there's a small chance he can push for a greater role. J.J. Nelson is being used on special teams as a punt returner and he fumbled against the Chargers.

TE: Troy Niklas’ impressive play resulted in his promotion to the first-team early last week. He took over Jermaine Gresham's role, in part because of his own play and in part because Gresham is struggling with back tightness. As Niklas rises, Darren Fells falls. Fells played with the third team

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against the Chargers because he has repeatedly made errors in practice. Fells may be the team's best receiving option at the position but Arians’ offense doesn't emphasize the position generally.

Defense: Even though the coaches thought Robert Nkemdiche was close to a return last week, the rookie defensive lineman is still waiting to get back in pads. Frostee Rucker, Tyrann Mathieu and Justin Bethel came off the PUP list last week. The trio were eased back into activities but will see a gradual increase in their workloads over the final weeks of the preseason. Rookie cornerback Brandon Williams has been a focal point of with Bethel sidelined but he has been inconsistent so far. Williams struggled in practice during the week before flashing against the Chargers with two tackles, including one for a loss, and two passes defensed. While the secondary has concerns, the front seven is garnishing praise broadly. Calais Campbell and Chandler Jones are continuing to be a disruptive force upfront. Markus Golden continues to be a work horse but needs to do a better job setting the edge. Golden's progress will be paramount if Alex Okafor opts for surgery to repair his biceps tear.

Returners: In something of a shocking development, the Cardinals’ most recent depth chart included Andre Ellington— long in the mix at kickoff returner— at #1 on punt returns, too. Given that J.J. Nelson held that position as recently as a week ago, and given that Ellington has very little experience fielding punts, this should be taken with a grain of salt as the Cardinals see what they have on special teams.

OL: New right tackle D.J. Humphries had a better performance against the Chargers than he did against the Raiders. Humphries allowed a pressure on his first snap, but then settled down and was serviceable in pass protection for the rest of the game. Rookie guard Cole Toner got some work at left guard with the first team during weekend practices, as Mike Iupati sat out with knee soreness. Iupati’s injury was described as “nothing serious” by the coaches, but he has had knee problems in the past. Iupati is a key player for the Cardinals’ line, so this situation might be worth watching further.

Cardinals Depth ChartQB: Carson Palmer, Drew Stanton, Matt Barkley, Jake CokerRB: David Johnson, Chris Johnson, Andre Ellington, Kerwynn Williams (KR), Stepfan Taylor, Jared BakerWR: Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, John Brown (KR) (inj), Jaron Brown, J.J. Nelson (PR), Brittan Golden, Jaxon Shipley, Amir Carlisle, Damon Powell, Chris Hubert, Jeff BeathardTE: Troy Niklas, Darren Fells, Jermaine Gresham, Gerald Christian, Ifeanyi Momah, Hakeem VallesLT: Jared VeldheerLG: Mike Iupati, Taylor BoggsC: AQ Shipley, Earl Watford

RG: Evan MathisRT: DJ Humphries, Cole TonerK: Chandler CatanzaroNT: Rodney Gunter, Red Bryant, Xavier Williams, Corey Peters, Olsen PierreDE: Calais Campbell, Frostee Rucker, Robert Nkemdiche, Ed Stinson, Josh Mauro, Jason BabinILB: Deone Bucannon (SS), Kevin Minter, Donald Butler, Alani Fua, Zack Wagenmann, Kenny Demens, Daryl Washington (susp)OLB: Chandler Jones, Markus Golden, Kareem Martin, Alex Okafor (inj), Shaq Riddick, Lamar LouisCB: Patrick Peterson (PR), Justin Bethel, Brandon Williams, Harlan Miller, Mike Jenkins (inj), Alan Ball, Joel Wilkinson, Ronald Zamort, Trevon Hartfield, Eli BoukaS: Tyrann Mathieu (FS/CB), Tony Jefferson (SS), Tyvon Branch (FS), D.J. Swearinger (SS), Marqui Christian, Chris Clemons, Matthias Farley

Atlanta Falcons

QB: Matt Ryan performed much better in the second preseason game on Thursday night, completing 6-of-11 passes for 78 yards. “I feel like our operation is really smooth. I feel we were efficient. I got in and out of the huddle really well and really fast. I felt like the tempo was really good. I'm pleased with where we are at... 'It's a process. You have to continue to work and be focused on the process during the (exhibition) season. The main goal is to get ready for the regular season and everything in front of it,” said the veteran passer. Matt Schaub relieved Ryan and went 8-for-12 for 78 yards. Matt Simms threw the only touchdowns of the game on route to a solid 10-of-13 night with 136 yards passing. Sean Renfree didn't appear in the game. D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported believes Renfree is on the bubble to make the final 53-man roster.

RB: Devonta Freeman further cemented his role as the clear lead back in Atlanta with an encouraging effort against the Browns. He rushed four times for 42 yards, including a nice 19-yard touchdown. Tevin Coleman was less impressive with just 16 yards on five carries. Recently-signed Cyrus Gray wound up leading the team with 18 carries for 76 yards while fellow backup Brandon Wilds had 49 yards on eight carries complete with a touchdown. All told, the Falcons racked up an impressive 41 carries for 224 yards (5.5 per carry) and two rushing touchdowns.

WR: Julio Jones commented after the win over Cleveland, “The hard work and preparation is paying off. Like I said before, we are not game-planning, but we can go out here (and) execute, score touchdowns without game-planning for people and going after their weaknesses, it shows a lot.” Jones was quiet on the night, catching a 20-yard reception on his

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lone target while fellow starter Mohamed Sanu caught three of five targets for 45 yards, including a 32-yarder. Nick Williams had an up-and-down game, dropping three catchable balls, but managing 35 yards on three catches. Reserve wideout Devin Lewis Fuller made the most of his four targets, hauling in 49 yards and a score. Last week's special teams hero, J.D. McKissic, caught both of his targets and had a 22-yard kick return. Justin Hardy only had 9 yards receiving but remains secure in his role as the #3 receiver.

TE: It was another relatively quiet night for the tight ends versus the Browns. All three of the top tight ends managed just one grab in the second preseason game: Levine Toilolo hauled in a 13-yarder on two targets; Jacob Tamme had a 9-yard catch; and Austin Hooper managed a 7-yard grab on three targets. Neither D.J. Tialavea or Arthur Lynch pulled in a reception. Coach Quinn characterized the position battle as “fierce.” Tamme and Hooper remain apparent 'locks' for the roster so the battle for #3 on the depth chart is where the situation gets murky.

Defense: Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III burned Atlanta's defensive backs repeatedly, hitting Terrelle Pryor for a 50-yard TD (making starting cornerback Desmond Trufant look bad) and then finding Gary Barnidge for a 29-yard TD while Barnidge was going against rookie safety Keanu Neal. Vic Beasley’s conversion to strongside linebacker – after he played just two plays there in the opener and missed the second game with a shoulder injury – is still a question mark heading into the third preseason game. The other linebacker spots are also still in flux according to D. Orlando Ledbetter: “The middle and weakside linebacker positions are unresolved after two games because rookies Deion Jones and De’Vondre Campbell haven’t taken firm control of the spots. Incumbent Paul Worrilow appears to have the lead over Jones, while Campbell has an slight lead over [Sean] Weatherspoon.” Quinn expects to learn a lot more next week, “From an evaluation standpoint, we're going to force the issue and take a long look at a couple of guys. In general, we'll play some of the guys longer than we did (against Cleveland), but not much. It's really about the evaluation of a number of guys that we want to get in against Miami's first group.”

K: Undrafted rookie Nick Rose was getting extra work with starter Matt Bryant sidelined by “tightness” but the rookie’s repeated misses prompted the team to sign veteran kicker Shayne Graham and release Rose. Graham could get work if Bryant can’t play in the third preseason game. If Bryant’s leg tightness doesn’t clear up, Graham could kick his way into a roster spot after a strong start in practices.

Returners: When the Falcons cut Devin Hester, it seemed likely that they’d fall back on long-time veteran returner Eric Weems. But more and more it looks like Weems isn’t assured of a roster spot; Devin Fuller and J.D. McKissic could take over his return duties this year in a true changing of the guard.

OL: The new look Falcons’ line continued to make strides in preseason Week Two against the Browns. Overall the line had a great night, both starters and backups contributed to over 220 yards rushing on the night. Center Alex Mack had a dominant performance against former first round pick Danny Shelton. During the game, former Browns guard Jason Pinkston tweeted that Mack “did whatever he wanted to Shelton.” Starting left guard Andy Levitre delivered a crushing block on a trap play that sprung Devonta Freeman for a 19-yard touchdown. Overall, this is a line that should be greatly improved compared to last season.

Falcons Depth ChartQB: Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub, Sean Renfree, Matt SimmsRB: Devonta Freeman (3RB), Tevin Coleman (KR), Terron Ward, Brandon Wilds, Gus JohnsonFB: Patrick DiMarcoWR: Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Justin Hardy, Devin Fuller, Aldrick Robinson, Eric Weems (KR/PR), Nick Williams, Jordan Leslie, David GliddenTE: Jacob Tamme, Austin Hooper, Levine Toilolo, D.J. Tialavea, Arthur LynchLT: Jake MatthewsLG: Andy Levitre, Mike PersonC: Alex MackRG: James Stone, Chris ChesterRT: Ryan Schraeder, Tom ComptonK: Matt Bryant, Shayne GrahamDT: Tyson Jackson, Grady Jarrett (NT), Ra′Shede Hageman, Jonathan Babineaux, Joey Mbu (NT)DE: Derrick Shelby, Brooks Reed, Dwight Freeney, Adrian Clayborn, Malliciah Goodman, Brandon WilliamsMLB: Deion Jones, Paul WorrilowOLB: Vic Beasley (S), De′Vondre Campbell (W), Courtney Upshaw (S), Sean Weatherspoon (S), Philip Wheeler, Laroy Reynolds, Tyler StarrCB: Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford, Phillip Adams, Jalen Collins (susp), Brian Poole, CJ Goodwin, Demarcus Van DykeS: Ricardo Allen (FS), Keanu Neal (SS), Kemal Ishmael (SS),Robenson Therezie (FS), Damian Parms (SS), Sergio Brown, Akeem King

Baltimore Ravens

QB: Joe Flacco hasn’t missed a rep in training camp since returning to practice. He tore his ACL last season, but the recovery has gone smoothly. All signs point to Flacco making his in-game return next Saturday in the team’s third preseason game. Backup Ryan Mallett started Saturday’s second preseason game but struggled to get out of the gates quickly as the team only had nine yards of offense in the opening quarter. He settled down in the second quarter and ended 6-for-8 for 47

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yards (5.9 per attempt) including a 14-yard touchdown to Kamar Aiken on a drag route. Third-stringer Josh Johnson played very well (11-of-16 for 72 yards anda touchdown) in two different stints on Saturday night, leading to comments by John Harbaugh that the backup job was still an open competition. Baltimore has often kept just two quarterbacks, meaning this competition may not just be for the backup spot but for a roster spot.

RB: The team’s depth was on display all week and in Saturday’s game, with four players getting at least five carries each. Justin Forsett was among those players, returning for the game after sitting out the preseason opener. Forsett started and worked with the first-team offense (minus Joe Flacco, of course, who did not play) but struggled (5 carries for 11 yards). Javorius Allen split time with the first team and had more success (14 yards on four carries) on the ground while also being featured in the passing game (2 receptions). Terrance West has been a camp sensation, losing weight and re-committing to his career with his hometown team. West tried to replicate his change-of-direction touchdown from Week 1 to no avail. Although he couldn’t’ match last week’s success, he was still effective – he had 51 yards on 11 touches. Despite the apparent log-jam at the position, the depth chart order seems clear: 1A) Forsett, 1B) Allen, 2) West and 3) rookie Kenneth Dixon. Lorenzo Taliaferro is still on the PUP List, and may not make the team. The Baltimore Sun notes that what the Ravens have in depth, they lack in a “home run hitter” type. The big plays will have to come from the passing game.

WR: In surprising news, Steve Smith was activated off the PUP list late in the week and is expected to practice this coming week. Smith worked intensely on the field before the game Saturday. His return is a welcome sight for Baltimore – especially with Breshad Perriman’s return still uncertain. Perriman is running, but Coach John Harbaugh says there are no specifics as to his return. It’s possible (and increasing from “possible” to “likely” with each passing day) that Perriman begins the season on the Reserve/PUP List. Free agent acquisition Mike Wallace has made steady improvement in building rapport with Flacco. They have adjoining lockers, and their connection is showing on the field. Labeled a “one trick pony,” Wallace has shown versatility in camp. Even with Smith’s activation and pending return, Wallace could be the team’s leading receiver. With that said, Kamar Aiken continues to be the most consistent and productive receiver, so he won’t give up the mantle of #1 easily. Jeremy Butler started alongside Kamar Aiken, and led the team with four receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Chris Moore also had a strong evening (three receptions for 20 yards). The team has hard decisions to make when the 53-man roster cuts are decided.

TE: Baltimore has compelling depth at tight end, as well. Despite four legitimate options, it’s the one who is newest to the team that appears to be the leader of the group. Ben

Watson delivered a career year last season in New Orleans. He showcased his pass-catching ability and should be involved in a similar capacity with the Ravens. Crockett Gillmore was the team’s most-used tight end last season. He recently returned from injury and was targeted a handful of times against the Colts. He has to shake off the rust as he dropped an easy pass at one point. Second-year Maxx Williams, last season’s second-round draft pick, missed the game with an undisclosed injury. Dennis Pitta also missed it with a finger injury. Both appear to be falling behind Watson and Gillmore. It will be an uphill climb for snaps for those two.

Defense: Terrell Suggs’ recovery from an Achilles injury appears complete, at least if you gauge it from John Harbaugh’s reaction after a “vintage” Suggs play. In practice this week, he jumped up to defend a quick screen pass, snatched the ball out of the air, and then returned it for a touchdown. All of this prompted Harbaugh to say, “he’s back.” Fellow edge rusher Elvis Dumervil, however, remains on the PUP list. Last week, Harbaugh did say that Dumervil would be ready for Week 1. Baltimore’s secondary (especially its corners) are struggling. Jerraud Powers has had poor showings in both games. Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett were open frequently on Saturday night. Baltimore looks susceptible against the pass. They didn’t look much better against the run on Saturday night and it had Coach Harbaugh quite perturbed.

Returners: Former Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds was drafted as a potential weapon in the return game, but he has struggled and looks less likely to make the roster with each passing day. While he’s dealt with injuries recently, Michael Campanaro is the best bet to be the team’s top returner in Week 1.

OL: Ronnie Stanley is having an excellent preseason and certain news sources have graded him as the best rookie at any position league wide. At left guard, John Urschel continues to be the nominal starter, holding off rookie Alex Lewis and journeyman Vlad Ducasse. However Urschel suffered a contusion in practice and missed the most recent preseason contest against the Colts. Alex Lewis started at left guard in Urschel’s place and impressed onlookers with his strength. Could Lewis steal Urschel’s job before the season starts? Stay tuned. In other news, Ryan Jansen had a rough night with the second team offensive line and his roster spot could be in jeopardy.

Ravens Depth ChartQB: Joe Flacco, Ryan Mallett, Jerrod Johnson, Josh JohnsonRB: Justin Forsett, Javorius Allen, Terrance West, Kenneth Dixon, Lorenzo TaliaferroFB: Kyle JuszczykWR: Steve Smith, Kamar Aiken, Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman, Chris Moore, Michael Campanaro, Jeremy Butler, Keenan Reynolds (RB/KR), Chris

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Matthews, Kaelin Clay, Daniel BrownTE: Benjamin Watson, Maxx Williams, Crockett Gillmore, Dennis Pitta (inj), Darren Waller (susp), Nick Boyle (susp)LT: Ronnie Stanley, James HurstLG: John Urschel, Alex LewisC: Jeremy ZuttahRG: Marshal Yanda, Vlad DucasseRT: Rick Wagner, Ryan JensenK: Justin TuckerNT: Brandon Williams, Kapron Lewis-MooreDE: Timmy Jernigan, Lawrence Guy, Carl Davis, Bronson Kaufusi, Willie Henry, Brent Urban, Matt Judon, Mario Ojemudia, Nordly CapiILB: C.J. Mosley, Zachary Orr, Arthur Brown, Albert McClellan, Kavell ConnerOLB: Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil (S), Za′Darius Smith (DE), Kamalei Correa, Chris Carter, Brennen Beyer, Victor OchiCB: Jimmy Smith (inj), Shareece Wright, Kyle Arrington (inj), Jerraud Powers, Will Davis, Tavon Young, Maurice Canady, Julian Wilson, Sheldon Price, Jumal Rolle (inj)S: Eric Weddle (FS), Lardarius Webb (SS/PR), Kendrick Lewis (FS),Anthony Levine (SS), Terrence Brooks (FS), Matt Elam (SS), Nick Perry (SS), Jermaine Whitehead (FS), Will Hill (susp)

Buffalo Bills

QB: It has been a chaotic training camp for the Bills, but they put the offseason distractions aside and came together for a dominant win over the Giants in the 2nd preseason game. Tyrod Taylor played into the second quarter and appears ready for the season to begin. He completed 7-of-10 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. Early on, he evaded a blitzing CB and unloaded for a 60+ yard throw to Charles Clay. He missed out on a touchdown pass when the fullback fumbled at the goal line, but made up for it later on a nice TD throw to LeSean McCoy. EJ Manuel kept the momentum going on a nice deep TD throw to Greg Little in the second quarter, and it certainly looks like he should be able to hold onto the #2 job. Cardale Jones has flashed at times but struggled in cleanup duty versus the Giants; he was 6-of-12 for 83 yards and an interception.

RB: LeSean McCoy got a lot more work than expected as he played into the second quarter and got 9 touches from scrimmage. He couldn’t find much room to run, but was electric in the passing game and hauled in a beautiful 13-yard touchdown. The Bills shocked a lot of people when they released Karlos Williams over the weekend. Already facing a suspension for the first 4 games of the year, he reportedly had been gaining weight that led the team to believe he didn’t take his job seriously enough. As for who will replace him in the pecking order, it should be a bit of a committee approach.

Reggie Bush has been seeing a lot of work with the 2nd unit offense lately, and spelled McCoy at times early in the Giants game. However, Rex Ryan has said that they will use Bush sparingly to try and maximize his effectiveness. That likely means there is an opportunity for Mike Gillislee, who Rex referred to as the number two back “right now”, as well as rookie Jonathan Williams. Neither player stood out much in the Giants game, but Williams got a lot more work.

WR: Sammy Watkins sat out the 2nd preseason game as a precaution, but practiced fully on Monday and remains on track to open the season. Robert Woods had a quiet, catchless game against the Giants, and there has to be some concern about whether he can get enough looks in this offense to be a factor in fantasy leagues. Marquise Goodwin continued his strong camp and solidified his grip on the #3 role. Among the rest of the receivers, Walt Powell continues to push hard to make the team as he makes plays every day in practice. Greg Little is the dark horse as he saw time with the first string offense, was the most targeted player, and hauled in a touchdown pass from EJ Manuel while also having a second one taken away on a questionable call.

TE: Charles Clay was often underused last year with Taylor focusing heavily on the outside of the field, but he’s clearly capable of stretching the field as he showed with a 59-yard catch against the Giants. Watkins and McCoy figure to see the bulk of targets, but Clay should be next in line most weeks. The backups haven’t done a whole lot to distinguish themselves yet, so it will be interesting to see who can make the team as the #3 tight end with Jim Dray expected to serve as a blocking specialist and de facto #2.

Defense: The defense took another big hit with the announcement last week that Marcell Dareus would be suspended 4 games for apparently missing a drug test. Then he followed that up by checking himself into rehab for marijuana. Rex Ryan and company will have to figure out a way to stop opposing running backs without one of the best run defenders in the league, but they looked impressive against the Giants only giving up 37 total yards in the first half on the way to a complete game shutout. Meanwhile, the three Giants quarterbacks combined to go just 8 of 25 for 86 yards with 2 interceptions. The Bills boast a talented group of corners, but need to find a complementary pass rusher for Jerry Hughes who has been dominant thus far.

K: Dan Carpenter was pretty much out of the woods when rookie UDFA Marshall Morgan was released to make room for Reggie Bush, but kickoff specialist Jordan Gay remained as an obstacle, at least until this weekend. Gay missed an extra point and 37-yard field goal attempt in the second preseason game and removed any doubt as to who would kick for the Bills to open the season.

Returners: The Bills continue to rest Reggie Bush, but expect him to still open the season as the top punt returner. On

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kickoffs, Walt Powell is making a push for one of the last roster spots as a return specialist.

OL: For the first time since being diagnosed with Crohn's, Bills backup tackle Seantrel Henderson has been cleared to practice. The team is still without starting left tackle Cordy Glenn, so this is welcome news. Both Glenn (ankle) and Richie Incognito (ribs) are expected back before the season starts. Cyrus Kouandijo has been getting the reps at left tackle in Glenn’s absence, and despite being called for a 15-yard facemask penalty against the Giants, onlookers are impressed with his improvement. The same cannot be said for Ryan Groy, who is struggling with the first team in Incognito’s left guard spot.

Bills Depth ChartQB: Tyrod Taylor, EJ Manuel, Cardale JonesRB: LeSean McCoy, Reggie Bush, Jonathan Williams, Mike Gillislee (inj), James Wilder Jr., Dan Herron, Cierre Wood, Dri ArcherFB: Jerome Felton, Glenn GronkowskiWR: Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin, Greg Salas, Dezmin Lewis, Kolby Listenbee, Marcus Easley, Greg Little, Jarrett Boykin, Walter PowellTE: Charles Clay, Jim Dray, Nick O′Leary, Chris Gragg, Blake Annen, Jimmay Mundine, Jacob MaxwellLT: Cordy Glenn, Jordan MillsLG: Richie IncognitoC: Eric WoodRG: John Miller, Cyril RichardsonRT: Cyrus Kouandijo, Seantrel HendersonK: Dan CarpenterDT: Marcell Dareus (NT) (susp), Kyle Williams, Leger Douzable, Casey Walker (NT), Brandon Deaderick, Alameda Ta′amu, Justin ZimmerDE: Adolphus Washington, Corbin Bryant, Lavar Edwards, Jerel Worthy, Cedric ReedILB: Preston Brown (M), Zach Brown, Brandon Spikes, David Hawthorne, Jamari Lattimore, Kevin Reddick, Reggie Ragland (inj)OLB: Jerry Hughes, Shaq Lawson (inj), Manny Lawson (S), Kroy Biermann (S), Lorenzo Alexander (S), Eric Striker, Randell Johnson, Max Valles, IK Enemkpali (IR)CB: Stephon Gilmore, Ronald Darby, Nickell Robey, Mario Butler, Javier Arenas, Sterling MooreS: Aaron Williams (FS), Corey Graham (SS) , Robert Blanton (FS),Duke Williams (FS), Jonathan Meeks (SS), Johnathan Dowling

Carolina Panthers

QB: The first-team offense produced 10 points in 18 snaps while withstanding two three-and-outs on Saturday night. Cam

Newton was 8-for-12 for 162 yards passing and a 61-yard touchdown to Ted Ginn. “After I made the guy miss, I knew there was only one guy to beat. Once I got past him I knew it was history. I can’t get caught from behind,” said Ginn. Newton wasn’t the only quarterback to have success against the Titans. Derek Anderson completed 12-of-20 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown while 3rd stringer Joe Webb completed 5-for-5 for 60 yards and a touchdown. “I think we started pretty fast, and that's what you want to do,” Newton said after the game. “Start fast and finish fast. I think we've still got to work on that finishing part. And it was a couple throws that I wish I had back. That's just the nature of the game.”

RB: Both Jonathan Stewart (3/10/0 rushing with one target for 1/4/0 receiving) and backup Cameron Artis-Payne (3/10/0 rushing with three targets for 2/24/0 receiving) posted 10 yards rushing in the second preseason game, while Fozzy Whittaker handled two targets for 1/36/0 receiving. Reserve running back Brandon Wegher led the team against Tennessee with 8 rushes for 24 yards. The unit had just 53 yards on 21 carries (2.5 per attempt) so expect the coaches to emphasize the ground game in the 3rd preseason game and ensure it’s on track for the regular season.

WR: Kelvin Benjamin caught two passes for 29 yards versus the Titans, but as beat writer Jonathan Jones noted in the Charlotte Observer, “The Panthers want Benjamin, who missed last season with a knee injury, to get in the neighborhood of 35 snaps by Week 1, and he's still a long way from it.” Conditioning has been a constant issue for Benjamin during training camp, and this may limit him at the start of the regular season, leaving the door open for Devin Funchess to claim the top slot in the receivers' stable. Brenton Bersin (back/ribs injury) missed the game and Kevin Norwood absorbed a big hit to his ribs during the game. Damiere Byrd (six targets for 3/36/0 receiving) was projected to make the 53-man roster, primarily for his value on special teams.

TE: Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer projected the 53-man roster and said, “The fight for the fourth TE spot is shaping up to be one of the more competitive battles. Deaver, the undrafted rookie from Duke, gets the initial nod over Marcus Lucas and Beau Sandland, the seventh-round pick. All three will get plenty of reps at Tennessee on Saturday with [Greg] Olsen and [Ed] Dickson expected to be sidelined.” Deaver caught a 15-yard pass while Scott Simonson (presumed to be #3 on the depth chart) failed to catch any of his three targets. Greg Olsen is recovering from back spasms, but there is no indication he’ll be limited once the regular season gets underway.

Defense: Cornerback Daryl Worley was repeatedly victimized by Marcus Mariota on Saturday night: “Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota took a liking to Daryl Worley’s side of the field in the first half. No fewer than four passes were thrown in his direction as Mariota put together a solid outing despite one interception. Panthers coach Ron Rivera

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said he would have liked to see Worley use better technique on some of those plays.” Safeties Travell Dixon (chest injury) and Trenton Robinson (shoulder injury) were taken out of the game on special teams plays, forcing the beleaguered Worley to move to safety late in the game. Starting nickel back Bene Benwikere came up with a sack and an interception and was relieved to have made a few big plays. “I literally went to the sideline, sat down and said, ‘Finally, I just got one.’ Really just hoping to get more and hope that gives me some momentum.” The Panthers' 'Three Amigos' - rookie cornerbacks James Bradberry, Worley, and Zack Sanchez - had an up-and-down night: “James Bradberry, the second-round pick from Samford, wasn't really tested. Third-rounder Daryl Worley allowed wideout Tajae Sharpe to catch several passes in front of him, but didn't let Sharpe - or anyone else - get behind him. Nickel corner Zack Sanchez had [Harry] Douglas slide between him and strong safety Kurt Coleman for a 23-yard touchdown toss from Mariota.”

Returners: While Ted Ginn remains the betting favorite to handle most returns for the Panthers this season, Damiere Byrd continues to impress and his roster spot looks more assured every day. If he does make the team, expect him to handle a few return attempts of his own.

OL: After trying Daryl Williams out at left tackle last week (he allowed a strip sack on his first snap), the Panthers’ signed Willie Smith to compete for the backup position behind Michael Oher. Smith will have to beat out David Foucault to earn a roster spot, but that shouldn’t difficult. As for Williams, he is still competing with Mike Remmers at right tackle, but Remmers (last year’s starter) appears to have the job wrapped up. Trai Turner continues to play at an elite level at right guard, and could be one of the league’s better young players at the position.

Panthers Depth ChartQB: Cam Newton, Derek Anderson, Joe Webb (KR)RB: Jonathan Stewart, Cameron Artis-Payne, Fozzy Whittaker (KR),Brandon Wegher, Jalen Simmons, Devon Johnson (IR)FB: Mike Tolbert, Andrew BonnetWR: Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess, Ted Ginn (KR/PR), Corey Brown, Brenton Bersin, Stephen Hill, Keyarris Garrett, Kevin Norwood, Damiere Byrd, Miles ShulerTE: Greg Olsen, Ed Dickson, Beau Sandland, Scott Simonson, Jake McGee, Braxton Deaver, Marcus LucasLT: Michael OherLG: Andrew Norwell, Chris ScottC: Ryan Kalil, Gino GradkowskiRG: Trai TurnerRT: Mike Remmers, Daryl Williams K: Graham GanoDT: Star Lotulelei (NT), Kawann Short, Paul Soliai, Vernon Butler, Kyle Love, Robert Thomas (NT), Eric Crume

DE: Charles Johnson, Kony Ealy, Mario Addison, Ryan Delaire, Wes Horton, Arthur Miley, Larry Webster, Rakim CoxMLB: Luke Kuechly, Ben Jacobs, Jared NorrisOLB: Thomas Davis (S), Shaq Thompson (W), A.J. Klein (W/M), David Mayo, Jeremy Cash, Brian Blechen, Jared BarberCB: Bene Benwikere, James Bradberry, Robert McClain, Daryl Worley, Zack Sanchez, Teddy Williams, Leonard Johnson, Louis Young, Ras-I Dowling, Shaq RichardsonS: Kurt Coleman (SS), Tre Boston (FS), Colin Jones (SS/CB), Trent Robinson, Dean Marlowe (SS)

Chicago Bears

QB: The Bears are relying heavily on Jay Cutler to lead a young offense this year and he showed a glimpse of the potential on Thursday night against the Patriots. He completed his first six passes on his way to an 8-for-12 performance, and left the game with an 11-0 lead. The offensive line gave him a lot more time than last week’s outing, and he was decisive and accurate in his throws. Brian Hoyer was brought in to solidify the backup position, but he has not impressed in camp and has been terrible through two preseason games despite facing mostly backups. He was just 4-of-14 against New England with an interception (on his first snap), although Coach John Fox chalked it up to Hoyer learning a new offensive system. Surprisingly, Connor Shaw finished the game while presumptive 3rd stringer David Fales didn’t take a snap.

RB: Jeremy Langford showed off his fantasy potential against the Patriots as he ran hard between the tackles, broke off a big 34-yard gain on one run, and capped it off with a 5-yard touchdown. He posted 63 yards from scrimmage on 8 carries and 1 reception, solidifying his grasp on the feature back role when healthy. Unfortunately, he missed practice on Saturday while wearing a walking boot to recover from a foot injury that he suffered in the game. Jacquizz Rodgers worked with the second string offense, but found no room to run as he gained just 7 yards on 6 carries. Rookie Jordan Howard didn’t play until the second half but he got plenty of work and flashed his power potential with 46 yards on 11 carries. Ka’Deem Carey sat out the Patriots game while recovering from a concussion, but he was cleared to practice over the weekend.

WR: The Bears offense always works better with a healthy Alshon Jeffery in the lineup, and that was the case on Thursday night. He caught his only two targets of the game and picked up 41 yards in the process. Kevin White is still trying to get comfortable after missing his rookie season. He made a nice cut and comeback catch for a 1st down conversion, but also dropped what should have been an easy

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catch. Eddie Royal has yet to be cleared from his concussion, so it’s unclear how big of a role he will have or whether he will make the final roster. Marc Mariani opened as the team’s 3rd WR, but only caught 1 pass for 3 yards in the game. Josh Bellamy continues to be one of the most active receivers, and should have a reserve spot locked up. Deonte Thompson went catchless on 4 targets, and left the game with an ankle injury that could keep him out for a while.

TE: Zach Miller sat out the Patriots game while still recovering from his concussion, but he was able to return to practice on Saturday. That’s a promising sign for a player who is expected to play a big role in the offense following the offseason trade of Martellus Bennett. Backup Tony Moeaki started against the Patriots and provided a reliable checkdown option for Cutler with 4 catches for 28 yards on 5 targets. Unfortunately, the oft-injured player left the game early with a hamstring injury and that helped open up a chance for Rob Housler to pull in a 2-point conversion and later add a 52-yard catch.

Defense: The main concern here is at cornerback. Kyle Fuller is out indefinitely after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery to clean up a prior injury. Nickel cornerback Bryce Callahan also missed the game with a hamstring injury, which leaves the Bears woefully short on experience at the position and may force them to rely on rookie Deiondre Hall to start. ILB Danny Trevathan also sat out with a hamstring problem, while fellow starter Jerrell Freeman piled up some impressive tackle numbers as a result. OLB Pernell McPhee continues to sit out while recovering from offseason knee surgery and it’s unclear at this point if he’ll be ready in time for the regular season.

Returners: In addition to locking down the punt return job, receiver Mark Mariani is climbing the depth chart on offense. His offensive duties are unlikely to take away from his work on special teams.

OL: Led by right guard Kyle Long, the Bears’ offensive line was productive against the Patriots. After spending all last season at right tackle, Long seems more comfortable at guard. The zone scheme plays were really working, creating holes for Jeremy Langford, who scampered on several big runs and a touchdown. Left tackle Charles Leno held the edge on pass plays and left guard Cody Whitehair was productive in run blocking. At the center position, it was a better performance for Ted Larsen, who is starting after Hroniss Grasu went on IR. After last week’s disastrous performance, Larsen was much improved, except for a holding penalty.

Bears Depth ChartQB: Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer, David Fales, Connor ShawRB: Jeremy Langford, Jordan Howard, Ka′Deem Carey, Jacquizz Rodgers, Senorise PerryFB: Khari Lee (TE), Darrel Young, Paul LasikeWR: Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White, Marquess Wilson (inj), Eddie Royal, Daniel Braverman, Marc Mariani

(KR/PR), Joshua Bellamy, Deonte Thompson (KR), Cameron Meredith, Darrin Peterson, Derek Keaton, Kieren DuncanTE: Zach Miller, Rob Housler, Ben Braunecker, Tony Moeaki, Gannon SinclairLT: Charles Leno, Nick BectonLG: Cody Whitehair, Shelley SmithC: Ted Larsen, Khaled Holmes, Hroniss Grasu (IR)RG: Kyle Long, Amini Silatolu RT: Bobby Massie, Nate ChandlerK: Robbie GouldNT: Eddie Goldman, Terry WilliamsDE: Akiem Hicks, Jonathan Bullard, Will Sutton, Mitch Unrein, Keith Browner, Ego Ferguson (IR)ILB: Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman, Christian Jones, Nick Kwiatkoski, Jonathan Anderson, John TimuOLB: Pernell McPhee, Lamarr Houston, Willie Young, Leonard Floyd, Sam Acho, Roy Robertson-Harris, Lamin BarrowCB: Kyle Fuller, Tracy Porter, Bryce Callahan, Sherrick McManis, Deiondre′ Hall, Jacoby Glenn, Kevin Peterson, De′Vante Bausby, Taveze Calhoun, Joel Ross, Brandon Boykin (IR)S: Adrian Amos (FS), Deon Bush (SS), Chris Prosinski, Harold Jones-Quartey, Deandre Houston-Carson (FS), Demontre Hurst (SS)

Cincinnati Bengals

QB: A.J. Dalton and A.J. McCarron continue to play well. Dalton was efficient and accurate in three series. The Bengals let Dalton throw the ball downfield more often in the second preseason game and Dalton responded with well-thrown balls to Tyler Boyd and A.J. Green. Had the running game found a better rhythm, Dalton may have been able to sustain drives better. After leading the Bengals on an eight play, 74-yard touchdown drive, the first team offense went three and out on the next two series. McCarron continues to increase his value by dominating with the second team. He finished 10-of-15 for 95 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd over a defender down the seam.

RB: The running game struggled often against Detroit. Against the first and second string, the most impressive effort was Jeremy Hill’s 9-yard touchdown run. Showing patience footwork and well-timed acceleration on an inside zone run, Hill continued his strong preseason. Running backs coach Kyle Caskey feels Hill has put the disappointing 2015 season behind him, “He’s decisive. He’s confident. He’s running with power and aggression and doing it with acceleration we all knew he had.” Gio Bernard and Cedric Peerman both struggled to find running room on Detroit’s first and second string. Rex Burkhead was much more successful, totaling 73 total yards on seven touches. Peerman and Burkhead are

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stalwart special teams contributors who can help on offense if needed.

WR: A.J. Green continues to dominate in practice. The battles around and behind Green on the depth chart remain the most compelling part of training camp among the skill positions. Brandon LaFell returned to practice after missing two weeks with a torn ligament in his hand. Although there were reports he may need surgery, LaFell seems to have avoided any procedures for now. Observers note some rust in his routes and pre-snap alignments, but LaFell was running with the first team immediately on his return to practice. Tyler Boyd continues to impress. He saw more time with the first team against Detroit. A diving reception from Andy Dalton was eye-opening, but his second quarter touchdown reception from A.J. McCarron was notable for smooth, confident technique with his hands. He’s going to have a big role in the offense regardless of LaFell’s recovery. Cody Core and James Wright may have the upper hand at the 4th and 5th roster spots. Alex Erickson and Brandon Tate are fighting for the kick returner/wide receiver slot. Tate may have an edge with his veteran route running ability, but Erickson brings slot value and has done nothing but impress the coaches this summer. Mario Alford has fallen behind this week while recovering from an ankle injury.

TE: There were no updates on the condition of Tyler Eifert or Tyler Kroft last week. Both continue to rehab without any known adjustments to their rehab schedule. The Bengals have another two weeks to closely monitor Eifert’s status before being forced to decide whether he’ll remain on PUP or move to the active roster. C.J. Uzomah had another strong week of practice and drew praise for his run-blocking against Detroit. He was not targeted during the game.

Defense: The Cincinnati defense was again without Vontaze Burfict, who isn’t injured but is being held out of preseason game action by Marvin Lewis. The first team was otherwise at full strength against the Lions. In three series, the first team Lions’ offense managed only three points. Those came on the first drive, which started on the Detroit 15-yard line, included four first downs, three on long pass plays, and finally stalled inside the Cincinnati 10-yard line. The secondary remains a work in progress but the front four continue to put regular pressure on the quarterback. Second team safety Derron Smith picked off Dan Orlovsky after anticipating a check down route and returned the interception for a touchdown.

K: Zach Hocker finally returned to practice, and just in time to give Mike Nugent some pressure after a poor preseason continued. Nugent missed a 45-yard field goal and an extra point and admitted to a “pathetic” preseason, although he made a 50-yard kick and three other extra points. The competition remains open on paper, but the Bengals are still likely to stick with Nugent. Head coach Marvin Lewis said he’s not concerned.

Returners: Long a paragon of stability on special teams, the Bengals find themselves with a heated camp battle at return specialist. Rookie Alex Erickson has been making big plays in the return game, including an 80-yard touchdown, and he finds himself battling veteran return specialist Brandon Tate for what is likely the fifth and final receiver spot.

OL: In Week Two against the Detroit Lions, the offensive line had a good showing. The left side of Andrew Whitworth and Clint Boling opened up a huge hole for Jeremy Hill’s 9-yard touchdown run. A closer look shows Whitworth may have gotten away with holding, but the refs let them play. Jake Fisher got the start for Cedric Ogbuehi at right tackle, but he couldn’t finish the contest, as he picked up an ankle injury and was seen after the game wearing a boot. Veteran Eric Winston replaced Fisher, and he would be the starting right tackle should the younger players not be ready to return for the season opener. The line has rare tackle depth compared to other teams, and should be fine even if Fisher and Ogbuehi don’t recover by Week One of the regular season.

Bengals Depth ChartQB: Andy Dalton, A.J. McCarron, Keith Wenning, Joe LicataRB: Jeremy Hill (SD), Giovani Bernard (3RB), Rex Burkhead (WR),Cedric Peerman, Bronson HillFB: Ryan Hewitt (HB)WR: A.J. Green, Brandon LaFell, Tyler Boyd, Brandon Tate (KR),James Wright, Jake Kumerow, Mario Alford, Alex Erickson, Cody Core, Angelo Russell, Rashawn Simonise, Michael BennettTE: Tyler Eifert (inj), Tyler Kroft (inj), C.J. Uzomah, Matthew Lengel, John PetersLT: Andrew Whitworth, Jake FisherLG: Clint Boling, Christian WestermanC: Russell Bodine, T.J. JohnsonRG: Kevin ZeitlerRT: Cedric Ogbuehi , Eric WinstonK: Mike NugentDT: Geno Atkins, Domata Peko (NT), Brandon Thompson, Andrew Billings (inj), Pat Sims, Marcus Hardison, David DeanDE: Carlos Dunlap, Michael Johnson, Margus Hunt, Will Clarke, Jack GangwishMLB: Vontaze Burfict (W) (susp), Rey Maualuga (S), Nick Vigil, Jeff Luc, Trevor RoachOLB: Karlos Dansby (W/M) , Vincent Rey (S), Jayson DiManche (S),Paul Dawson (W), Marquis Flowers (S), Darien HarrisCB: Adam Jones (PR), Dre Kirkpatrick, Darqueze Dennard, William Jackson III (inj), Josh Shaw, Chris Lewis-Harris, Corey White, Corey TindalS: George Iloka (SS), Shawn Williams (FS), Derron Smith (FS),Jimmy Wilson, Clayton Fejedelem, Floyd Raven

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Cleveland Browns

QB: The biggest story of the Browns’ second preseason game was unquestionably what Robert Griffin III was able to do. Griffin had a phenomenal night, completing six of his eight passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns. He also scrambled for 36 yards on three carries, at least one of those clearly being a designed run. Unlike last week, Griffin looked comfortable in the pocket and had time to deliver his deep strikes down the field to his receivers and tight end. Head Coach Hue Jackson was pleased. “Robert did some good things with the first offense,” he said. “I don't think we're well-oiled yet, but I see potential of us being what I think we can be. I thought he played pretty well, thought he did a good job of taking care of the ball and distributing the ball to some of our playmakers.” Josh McCown had a quieter outing, completing four of his seven attempts for 48 yards. His longest pass of the evening was a 30-yard heave. Cody Kessler succeeded in avoiding the major mistakes that plagued him during the first preseason contest. He connected on two of his three passes for 10 yards.

RB: Like the rest of his offense, Isaiah Crowell seemed to be more in rhythm. He led the team in carries with his seven for 28 yards. The defense was forced to respect the run, setting up his quarterback for the deep shots down the field. Duke Johnson’s three carries for six yards were forgettable, but he made his stat line a little better by hauling in two passes for 10 yards. Terrell Watson bounced back from a poor showing in the first preseason game to record four carries for 28 yards and catching two passes for 12 yards. The backup standout from the last contest, Raheem Mostert, had a quieter night, posting two carries for four yards and catching one pass for seven yards. During Sunday’s practice, Duke Johnson suffered an undisclosed injury and left the field with a trainer. Jackson would only say that Johnson “got tagged one time.”

WR: Starter Corey Coleman once again sat out Thursday’s preseason game with a sore hamstring. Deep threat Taylor Gabriel was injured on a punt return in the game and did not return. For the second week in a row, Terrelle Pryor made a splash play. He beat Desmond Trufant down the right sideline on a go route, bringing in the 50-yard bomb for the first Browns touchdown of the evening. Pryor said of the catch, “I knew I had him when we called the play, I knew I was going to beat him.” Rashard Higgins caught his lone target from Robert Griffin III. Later in the game, he worked his way open deep, but Josh McCown missed him. Rookie Jordan Payton had an impressive deep reception from McCown, but was not able to establish possession before falling out of bounds. The Sunday following the game, the Browns signed former Patriot and Colt Josh Boyce, indicating they may not be as settled on Taylor Gabriel as was previously thought. Despite not playing in the game, Josh Gordon is now practicing and getting first team reps in an effort to find his role in the offense upon his Week Five return. Andrew Hawkins and Corey Coleman were also back at practice and are likely to see

action in the Week Three preseason game against the Buccaneers.

TE: Starter Gary Barnidge was a recipient of the other touchdown pass from Griffin. He made a fingertip snag of the 29-yard pass from Griffin, beating rookie safety Keanu Neal for the score. Randall Telfer managed to catch a 30-yard pass from Josh McCown. Neither Connor Hamlett nor E.J. Bibbs was able to record a catch despite multiple targets. Seth DeValve remained sidelined, continuing to rehab his hamstring injury, but was practicing again on Sunday. The competition for backup duties remains open with no player doing anything outstanding in practices or games last week.

Defense: Overall, the defense struggled to stop the Falcons, but there were some notable individual efforts. Defensive end Carl Nassib in particular continues to impress. Not only did he generate constant pressure on the Falcons’ offensive line, he managed a strip-sack and fumble recovery in the third quarter when no blockers picked him up on an edge rush.  The Browns’ fourth-round draft pick, Derrick Kindred of TCU, had a fantastic night. He had six solo stops and broke up several passes, including a well-placed end zone fade to Austin Hooper. Former Texans safety Rahim Moore laid hard hits just as often as he whiffed on them. He was evaluated for a concussion (and was later cleared) after drawing a questionable penalty for a helmet-to-helmet hit on J.D. McKissic. The Browns seem to be struggling to find a role for former first-round pick Barkevious Mingo. Mingo got both outside and inside linebacker looks in the latter half of the game. Other than one tackle for a loss, his play against third and fourth string opposition did not stand out. Cornerback Joe Haden continues his recovery from ankle surgery and is on track to play in preseason Week Three. Justin Gilbert has played so poorly in camp and preseason action that it appears Hue Jackson is considering awarding the second starting cornerback role to Jamar Taylor.

K: Incumbent kicker Travis Coons missed an extra point in the second preseason game, and Patrick Murray made his, and it was five yards longer because of a pre-snap penalty. Murray has been the better kicker and is ahead in the competition according to multiple reports. Coons only has one year under his belt and it ended poorly, so he won’t be given “veteran deference” by the new coaching staff.

Returners: Unhappy with Raheem Mostert’s fumbling problem on returns, the Browns signed another potential specialist in Ed Eagan. Typically players signed at this stage are long-shots, but this does suggest Cleveland’s patience is wearing thin.

OL: Dan France started at left tackle for Joe Thomas, who is resting his sore back. There’s no cause for concern as Thomas is expected to be a full go for the start of the regular season. Snaps continue to be a problem for Cameron Erving, who fired a high shotgun snap way over the head of his

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quarterback. Erving is a taller center, and his problems with snapping could be related to leverage. As a unit, the line played well against Atlanta, opening up holes in the running game. Left guard Joel Bitonio has finally recovered from an ankle injury and is set for the regular season.

Browns Depth ChartQB: Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown, Cody Kessler, Austin DavisRB: Isaiah Crowell (SD), Duke Johnson (3RB), Terrell Watson, Raheem Mostert, Glenn WinstonFB: Malcolm JohnsonWR: Josh Gordon (susp), Corey Coleman, Terrelle Pryor, Andrew Hawkins, Rashard Higgins, Taylor Gabriel, Jordan Payton, Ricardo Louis, Darius Jennings, Marlon Moore, Ed Eagan, Josh BoyceTE: Gary Barnidge, Connor Hamlett, E.J. Bibbs, Seth Devalve, Randall TelferLT: Joe Thomas, Shon ColemanLG: Joel Bitonio, Kaleb Johnson C: Cameron ErvingRG: John Greco, Alvin BaileyRT: Austin Pasztor, Spencer DrangoK: Travis Coons (inj), Patrick Murray, Jaden OberkromNT: Danny Shelton, Jamie Meder, Nile Lawrence-StampleDE: John Hughes, Xavier Cooper, Emmanuel Ogbah, Carl Nassib, Nick Hayden, Dylan Wynn, Desmond Bryant (IR)ILB: Christian Kirksey, Demario Davis, Tank Carder, Joe Schobert, Scooby Wright III, Justin TuggleOLB: Paul Kruger, Nate Orchard, Armonty Bryant, Barkevious Mingo, Cam Johnson, Jackson Jeffcoat, Dominique AlexanderCB: Joe Haden, Jamar Taylor, Tramon Williams, K′Waun Williams (inj), Justin Gilbert, Trey Caldwell, Eric Patterson, Kenya DennisS: Jordan Poyer (FS), Ibraheim Campbell (SS), Rahim Moore (FS),Pierre Desir (FS/CB), Don Jones (SS), Derrick Kindred, Sean Baker (FS), Tim Scott (FS)

Dallas Cowboys

QB: Tony Romo took the field for the first time since re-breaking his collarbone last year as the Cowboys played the Dolphins in preseason action. Romo played one series and executed a pitch perfect drive. He completed 4-of-5 passes for 49 yards (9.8 per attempt) and led the Cowboys to a touchdown. Jason Garrett was pleased with Romo’s limited return: “He looked composed,” Garrett said. “He looked confident, and he looked very comfortable out there. I thought he read things well and delivered the ball well throughout.” Romo’s day was over quickly, giving way to rookie Dak Prescott. It seemed unlikely Prescott could match last week’s heroic debut – yet he ended up far exceeding last week. Prescott completed 12-of-15 passes for 199 yards (13.3 per

attempt) and two touchdown passes for a perfect passer rating (158.3). He also ran for 28 yards and two touchdowns. It stands to reason Dallas is feeling far less pressure to find a veteran backup to replace Kellen Moore. Prescott has done enough to warrant a shot at the backup job. Jameill Showers struggled again (1-of-4 for 15 yards) and looks destined for the practice squad.

RB: Ezekiel Elliott and Darren McFadden missed their second consecutive preseason games, and Alfred Morris took full advantage of the opportunity. Morris ran for 85 yards on 13 carries (6.5 per rush) with a 15-yard rushing touchdown in the opening drive. Morris also caught a 15-yard pace. It’s clear that Morris can be a dominant contributor running behind the best offensive line in football, and is worth a late round fantasy pick. Darius Jackson had 14 carries for 43 yards and a 15-yard reception playing with the backups. Darren McFadden needs to get back on the field soon or he could be looking for a new city once 53-man roster cuts are finalized. Lance Dunbar was removed from the PUP list on Sunday after rehabbing a torn ACL and torn patellar tendon suffered in the first month of the 2015 season. Dunbar faces daunting odds in his comeback given the incredible depth at running back. “I still have a long way,” Dunbar said. “I still have to go through a practice and make sure everything is feeling like it should. It’s still early in the process. I’m just glad to get back. I feel good and I’m going to give it a shot, see how it feels over the course of time.”

WR: Dez Bryant is back. If you were waiting for confirmation during the preseason that Bryant is healthy and capable of dominating again, there should be no more doubts after the Dolphins game. For the second consecutive week, Bryant caught a touchdown pass and looked explosive with two receptions for 46 yards. Terrance Williams didn’t play for long but had a 12-yard reception and appears in synch with Tony Romo in practice – more than he had in prior camps. Brice Butler needed a good game to re-establish his role offensively; he rose to the occasion with a 3-catch, 74-yard night including a 1-yard touchdown from Prescott in the 3rd quarter. Cole Beasley had two receptions for 21 yards and is locked in as the slot receiver.

TE: Geoff Swaim led the tight end group with 29 yards on two catches, and is making a convincing case for a 53-man roster spot; perhaps ending John Hanna’s tenure in Dallas. Gavin Escobar was active and had an 8-yard catch. Long-time starter and future Hall of Famer Jason Witten was in mid-season form with two receptions for 24 yards. Importantly, the Romo-to-Witten connection looked like it never missed a beat. “Jason is the best at what he does,” Romo said. “You just find him sometimes, and things look pretty easy. We just have to keep improving and getting better. We are still on camp mode.”

Defense: The starting unit had ups and downs against the Dolphins starting offense. Ryan Tannehill completed 12-of-20

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passes for 162 yards (8.1 per attempt) and two touchdowns, taking advantage of poor cornerback coverage in both instances. The Cowboys were able to pressure the Dolphins with three sacks, but allowed 120 yards rushing (4.1 per rush) and 194 yards passing (7.2 per attempt). Anthony Hitchens led the team with six tackles. Linebacker Kyle Wilber and defensive end Shaneil Jenkins each had two tackles and a sack. Sean Lee returned to the field for 12 snaps, and believes he’s close to being in “season form.” "I'm going to plan on playing more next week and continue to improve," Lee said. "You need to play. I think playing only helps you, so I'm going to push for more next week."

Returners: Lucky Whitehead wasn’t able to repeat his 101-yard kickoff return from Week One of the preseason, but he doesn’t have to. He’s still shown the best of any return candidate on the team this offseason.

OL: Penalties were an issue against the Dolphins. Zach Martin was called for holding on the first play from scrimmage. Later in the first quarter, Chaz Green (starting for Tyron Smith) was penalized for an illegal formation that wiped out a touchdown. Mistake aside, Green has improved, according to beat writers. Starting left tackle Tyron Smith continues to miss action with a shoulder stinger. Coaches are not counting on Smith for any preseason games, but he did return to individual drills over the weekend. The team is fully confident that he will be ready for the start of the regular season. In other news, Bryan Witzmann continues to see extended action as the coaches rest Doug Free. Witzmann could be making a case for a spot on the 53-man roster.

Cowboys Depth ChartQB: Tony Romo, Kellen Moore (inj), Dak Prescott, Jameill ShowersRB: Ezekiel Elliott, Darren McFadden (inj), Alfred Morris, Lance Dunbar, Darius Jackson, Rod Smith, Ben MalenaWR: Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Brice Butler, Devin Street, Vince Mayle, Lucky Whitehead (KR/PR), Rodney Smith, Chris Brown, Richard MullaneyTE: Jason Witten, James Hanna (inj), Gavin Escobar, Geoff Swaim, Rico GathersLT: Tyron Smith, Darrion WeemsLG: Lael Collins, Ronald LearyC: Travis FrederickRG: Zack MartinRT: Doug Free, Chaz GreenK: Dan BaileyDT: Tyrone Crawford, Cedric Thornton, Terrell McClain, Jack Crawford, Maliek CollinsDE: Benson Mayowa, David Irving, Ryan Russell, Charles Tapper, Demarcus Lawrence (susp), Randy Gregory (susp)MLB: Anthony Hitchens, Andrew Gachkar, Mark Nzeocha (W),Jaylon Smith (inj), Rolando McClain (susp)OLB: Sean Lee (W), Kyle Wilber (S), Justin Durant

(W), Damien Wilson (W), Deon King (S), Keith Smith (W), James Morris, Ka′Lial Glaud, Jerrell Harris, Derek AkunneCB: Brandon Carr, Orlando Scandrick, Morris Claiborne (inj),Anthony Brown, Josh Thomas, Isaiah Frey, Dax SwansonS: Barry Church (SS), Byron Jones (FS), J.J. Wilcox (SS), Jeff Heath (FS), Ayodeji Olatoye (FS), Kavon Frazier (SS)

Denver Broncos

QB: The second week of the preseason is in the books, and we still have no clarity on which quarterback will take the reins for Week 1. In fact, the situation may be even more cloudy than it was last week. Trevor Siemian was given the nod to start against the San Francisco 49ers. He looked good on the opening drive that was capped off by a C.J. Anderson touchdown run, but overall delivered an underwhelming performance. Mark Sanchez would follow, and he proceeded to lose two fumbles. Paxton Lynch handled mop-up duty, and the rookie was arguably the most impressive of the three signal callers for the evening. He completed 15-of-26 for 113 yards, two scores and a pick. Head coach Gary Kubiak acknowledges that Lynch is in the mix for a situation that remains far from settled. “I just told you guys that he’s behind the other two from a knowledge standpoint, but we’ve been out there competing every day. Everybody is in competition to play,” he said. We’ll have to continue waiting to see how this situation plays out, but the QB situation for the defending Super Bowl champion looks like a clear avoid for fantasy purposes.

RB: C.J. Anderson continues to impress in camp and delivered a strong performance in Saturday’s preseason clash with the 49ers. He toted the rock six times for 30 yards, and capped off the team’s opening drive with a 19-yard touchdown run. Anderson could be in line for a healthy workload this season, as the Broncos unsettled QB situation does not point to a pass-happy attack. Devontae Booker has supplanted Ronnie Hillman as the second back on the depth chart, and he delivered 43 yards on ten total touches. If he retains his hold on the RB2 spot throughout the preseason, Booker could find himself with a decent-sized role in 2016. Hillman is locked into a battle with Kapri Bibbs for the RB3 spot, and the loser could find themselves on the outside looking in when final cuts are announced. Both players received three opportunities to carry the ball on Saturday, with Bibbs slightly outproducing Hillman. Juwan Thompson also remains in the mix for a spot on the 53-man roster, but he’ll have to make his mark on special teams and at fullback to stick.

WR: There are concerns that Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders will see a drop in productivity with such

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an unsettled situation at quarterback. Gary Kubiak is not buying that assessment, and promises: “We’re going to get the ball into the hands of our playmakers and those guys are playmakers.” That being said, even the receivers themselves recognize that there’s no clarity on who will be slinging the rock in Week 1. “As far as the quarterback, I think it's still wide open,” Sanders said. Behind Thomas and Sanders, Cody Latimer has the inside track on the WR3 job while Bennie Fowler is on the sidelines battling an elbow injury. Fowler should be healed up in time for the start of the regular season, and both players appear fully secure in their roster spots. Behind the top four, things get a little tricky. The Broncos have good depth at the position as a whole, it just comes down to how many receivers they ultimately decide to carry. Jordan Taylor and Jordan Norwood were the most targeted receivers against the 49ers, with six targets each.

TE: Those that have been patiently waiting for a Virgil Green breakout campaign may finally get their wish in 2016. He’s been stellar in camp and was the team’s leading pass-catcher in the game against the 49ers. He hauled in all four of his targets for 57 yards, and he’s earned some high praise from Gary Kubiak. “Virgil’s been a warrior. He’s stayed in there. He’s been battling. This is an opportunity in Virgil’s career to become a starter and he’s obviously taking advantage of it,” Kubiak said. If Green’s strong preseason continues, he could carve out a role in the Broncos offense. The question marks at QB will be looking for a safety blanket, and the starting tight end could be in line for a healthy amount of targets. It appears that Green is clearly ahead of Jeff Heuerman, who missed Saturday’s game with a hamstring injury.

Defense: After a dominating effort in the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, the Broncos defense came back to Earth against the 49ers. The quarterback pressure that was evident against the Bears was nonexistent on Saturday, but it’s hard to expect the second-teamers to continue playing at such a high-level throughout the preseason. One bright spot was the play of Zaire Anderson, who forced two fumbles in the game. “He's becoming a good player, got a good grasp of what we're doing. I've got to go back and look at the game, but obviously he got some extensive time tonight against a tough scheme to work against. I'll go back and look, but he's been doing some good stuff,” Kubiak said. Demarcus Ware is scheduled to return to practice next week, and Aqib Talib is also expected to ramp up activity. Von Miller returned to the field in Saturday’s tilt, and we should see more of him in the third preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Returners: Jordan Norwood has yet to handle a return for the Broncos this season as the coaching staff takes every opportunity to evaluate undrafted rookies Kalif Raymond and Bralon Addison. Despite this, beat reporter Cameron Wolfe projects the rookies won’t make the final 53-man roster, which would give Norwood the job by default.

OL: The left guard competition appears to be clearing up, and fifth round rookie Connor McGovern could be the last man standing. First, it came out that presumptive starter Ty Sambrailo will likely the start of the season with a hyper extended elbow. Darrion Weems was next in line for the spot, but he suffered a concussion against the 49ers. McGovern took the reins and had a big performance, clearing the way for the running backs to average about five yards a carry. This battle is far from over, as the team has other options. Michael Schofield can kick inside, but most believe he is better at tackle. The team could even turn to backup center James Ferentz.

Broncos Depth ChartQB: Mark Sanchez, Paxton Lynch, Trevor SiemianRB: C.J. Anderson, Devontae Booker, Ronnie Hillman, Juwan Thompson, Kapri BibbsFB: Andy JanovichWR: Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders (PR), Bennie Fowler (inj), Cody Latimer, Jordan Norwood, Kalif Raymond, Jordan Taylor, DeVier Posey, Durron Neal, Mose Frazier, Bralon AddisonTE: Virgil Green, Jeff Heuerman, Garrett Graham, Richard Gordon, John Phillips, Nick Kasa, Henry Krieger-Coble, Manasseh Garner, Anthony NorrisLT: Russell Okung, Darrion WeemsLG: Connor McGovern, Ty Sambrailo (inj), Aaron NearyC: Matt Paradis, James FerentzRG: Max GarciaRT: Donald Stephenson, Michael SchofieldK: Brandon McManusNT: Sylvester Williams, Darius Kilgo, Calvin Heurtelou, Kyle PekoDE: Derek Wolfe, Jared Crick, Adam Gotsis, Billy Winn, Kenny Anunike, Henry Melton, George Uko, Vontarrius Dora, Shaniel Jenkins, David Moala, Eddie Yarbrough, Vance Walker (IR)ILB: Brandon Marshall, Todd Davis, Corey Nelson, Zaire AndersonOLB: Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Shaquil Barrett, Shane Ray, Dekoda Watson, Frank Shannon, Sadat Sulleyan, Dwayne NormanCB: Aqib Talib (susp), Chris Harris Jr., Bradley Roby, Kayvon Webster, Lorenzo Doss, John TidwellS: T.J. Ward (SS), Darian Stewart (FS), Justin Simmons (FS), Shiloh Keo, Will Parks, B.J. Lowery, Ryan Murphy, Antonio Glover

Detroit Lions

QB: Starting quarterback Matthew Stafford had the first team offense for two drives on Thursday evening when the Lions took the field at home versus Cincinnati. Stafford looked sharp in his limited time, attempting 11 throws and connecting on

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eight of them, with a drop or two sprinkled in. Veteran backup Dan Orlovksy played almost two full quarters but did not play well in the game as he looked spotty with his accuracy and he threw another brutal interception that the Bengals returned for a touchdown. Orlovsky was 8-of-14 for 83 yards and his interception, but he simply wasn’t accurate. Rookie Jake Rudock played the fourth quarter and he also threw an interception. Rudock lacks arm strength and he forced a late throw over the middle of the field that sailed high. Rudock finished 8-of-11 for 90 yards and the interception. The competition for the No. 2 quarterback job is tighter than most thought it would be. Kyle Meinke of www.mlive.com reports that the Lions have a decision on their hands as Rudock seems to be playing better as camp moves on while Orlovsky is currently struggling.

RB: The Lions are missing running back Ameer Abdullah as they’ve been very ineffective running the ball. Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press reported that Abdullah is out of the no-contact red jersey and has been cleared for a return to normal football activities. It’s clear at this point that the Lions will be reliant on Abdullah to carry the bigger workload as a runner than any other back on the team. In these preseason games, the Lions continue to get a look at pass catcher Theo Riddick as a traditional runner, but it isn’t working and it isn’t the best use for his skillset. He had seven carries for a total of 17 yards in the game. Riddick is a tremendous asset as a receiving back and he’ll continue in that role.

The battle for the power back position remains tight as the offensive line is having difficulty moving the defense off the ball and it’s giving the backs no running room. Second-year pro Zach Zenner carried the ball four times for four yards and veteran Stevan Ridley went for 13 yards on four carries. The player standing out is rookie Dwayne Washington, and he continues to flash great athleticism to go with his big frame. Washington scored the Lions only touchdown of the game versus Cincinnati on a 5-yard run, and he finished with 22 yards on six carries. Washington continues to surprise as he put together a strong performance this week, backing up a solid performance in the first preseason game. Carlos Monarrez of The Detroit Press reports that Washington was used in all phases of the game Thursday. It’s impressive that he’s seeing time in all phases of special teams, as a runner and that he is seeing targets out of the backfield.

WR: The first-team offense was clicking early in the game as Stafford was in rhythm, finding receivers Marvin Jones and Golden Tate all over the field. Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press reported that Stafford seems at home in the Jim Bob Cooter offense, and there are no words to explain how critical that is to a player like Stafford. Seriously, if the Lions are tailoring an offense around what makes Stafford comfortable, he is dramatically undervalued in the fantasy world right now. The Lions took the opening kick and Stafford, Jones, Tate and veteran Anquan Boldin gashed the Bengals defense, driving right down the field. Stafford was 5-

for-6 on the drive, but should have been 6-for-6 as he hit Tate in both hands in the back on the end zone on third down. The Lions settled for a field goal, but it was a very positive showing as the offense got chunks of yardage in the passing game. Stafford hit Tate for 12 yards and Jones for 32 and 19 yards respectively in the first drive. The Lions first team offense looks in sync and ready to roll. Stafford has great chemistry with Tate and is clearly developing it with Jones. The offense will get timely playmaking from Anquan Boldin who will be a valuable player moving the chains. Jones finished with four catches for 65 yards and Tate went for 41 yards on three grabs. Paula Pasche of The Oakland Press thinks the final roster spots remain contested. Jim Caldwell said, “It’s still bunched in there pretty good, we’ve got a couple more games left so we’ll see what happens.” A few weeks ago it sounded like T.J. Jones had solidified a spot, but nothing is set in stone at this point. Jones had two catches for 26 yards Thursday. Corey Fuller had foot surgery in June and could start the season on the PUP list. That leaves rookies Quinshad Davis and Jay Lee fighting it out with veterans Andre Roberts, Jeremy Kerley and Jace Billingsley. These battles are generally determined by what each player can offer on special teams and this contest will be no different.

TE: The Lions are still waiting on Eric Ebron’s return from an injured ankle suffered several weeks ago, but Kyle Meinke of www.mlive.com reported that Ebron looked to be nearing a return. This is good news as Ebron will be heavily counted on if the Lions offense is to be at its best. The Lions are dangerously thin at the tight end position with undrafted free agent Cole Wick and veteran Orson Charles getting the majority of the reps in Ebron’s absence. Wick caught two passes for 26 yards working with the first and second teams and Charles had four catches and totaled 40 yards with the backups on Thursday night. Wick took a bit of heat for a bad repetition in pass protection against Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap which led to a sack and fumble that the Lions recovered. Wick is simply not ready to take on an NFL level pass rusher on his own, and it’s a play the Lions might want to shelve if they want to keep Stafford upright.

Defense: The Lions front four looks fairly strong as a group but won’t hold up well if injuries hit the position. The defensive interior looks stout with tackles Haloti Ngata and Tyrunn Walker as starters. They also have an impressive rotation with Caraun Reid, Gabe Wright, Stefan Charles and rookie A’Shawn Robinson. The linebacker position was questioned early in camp but looked solid Thursday. The Lions are still missing star linebacker DeAndre Levy but Tahir Whitehead looked good playing middle linebacker. Kyle Van Noy was a star at BYU coming forward and attacking the ball, and the Lions finally allowed him to do that Thursday. It’s no surprise that he looked good blitzing the A gaps and getting reps as an edge rusher. The secondary remains a work in progress, particularly with the strong safety position. Rafael Bush looked solid early in camp but appeared tentative

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Thursday. Tavon Wilson and Bush appear to be locked in a duel for this position.

Returners: Ameer Abdullah returned to practice on August 20th, and almost immediately Coach Jim Caldwell reaffirmed that he sees the running back reprising his dual-purpose role on both offense and special teams.

OL: Rookie left tackle Taylor Decker had a mixed performance against the Bengals, which was a big step up from his disastrous debut a week ago. Coaches told reporters that Decker is raw technically and he can’t rely on his athleticism to bail him out, as it did on the college level. Decker did not give up much pressure in the passing game but he struggled sustaining his blocks in the running attack. Laken Tomlinson’s play is cause for concern; he appears to be regressing in his second season. Right guard Joe Dahl has looked good with the second unit but that doesn’t change the fact the offensive line has a ton of work to do before they can even be considered league average.

Lions Depth ChartQB: Matthew Stafford, Dan Orlovsky, Jake RudockRB: Ameer Abdullah (KR), Theo Riddick (3RB), Zach Zenner, Dwayne Washington, Stevan Ridley, George WinnFB: Michael BurtonWR: Golden Tate (PR), Marvin Jones, Anquan Boldin, TJ Jones (KR/PR), Jeremy Kerley, Andre Roberts, Corey Fuller (inj), Jay Lee, Quinshad Davis, Jace Billingsley, Andre Caldwell (IR), Ryan Spadola (IR)TE: Eric Ebron (inj), Brandon Pettigrew (inj), Cole Wick, Matthew Mulligan, Andrew Quarless (susp), Adam Fuehne, Ben McCord, Tim Wright (IR)LT: Taylor Decker, Corey RobinsonLG: Laken Tomlinson, Joe Dahl, Gabe IkardC: Travis Swanson, Graham GlascowRG: Larry Warford, Geoff SchwartzRT: Riley Reiff, Michael Ola, Cornelius LucasK: Matt PraterDT: Haloti Ngata, A′Shawn Robinson, Tyrunn Walker (inj), Caraun Reid, Khyri Thornton, Gabe Wright, Stefan Charles, Kerry HyderDE: Ezekiel Ansah, Devin Taylor, Wallace Gilberry, Anthony Zettel, Quanterus Smith, Deonte Gibson, Louis PalmerMLB: Tahir Whitehead (S), Antwione Williams, Dominique Tovell (S)OLB: DeAndre Levy (W), Kyle Van Noy (S), Josh Bynes (S), Khaseem Greene, Brandon Copeland, Zaviar Gooden, Dominique Tovell, Jonathan Bostic (inj)CB: Darius Slay, Nevin Lawson, Quandre Diggs, Alex Carter, Darrin Walls, Crezdon Butler, Adairius Barnes, Charles Washington, Rashaad ReynoldsS: Glover Quin (FS), Rafael Bush (FS), Tavon Wilson (SS), Miles Killebrew (SS), Don Carey, Johnson Bademosi (FS), Isaiah Johnson (SS)

Green Bay Packers

QB: Brett Hundley gave it a go against the Raiders – he completed 5-of-7 for 67 yards – but wound up re-aggravating his injured ankle during the second preseason game. According to beat writers Eric Baranczyk and Pete Dougherty, “Brett Hundley played only 20 snaps in his 2016 preseason debut before re-injuring his left ankle, but in that short stint the second-year quarterback looked capable of backing up Aaron Rodgers this season.” He is not expected to practice this week or play in the third preseason game. Joe Callahan completed 9-of-17 passes for 65 yards, and was sacked twice for -11 yards, but did enough to help the Packers win 20-12 over the Raiders. Meanwhile the team continues to keep the elite Aaron Rodgers out of the meaningless exhibition contests, although Rodgers is expected to do extensive work in practice this week with Jordy Nelson (activated off of PUP last Wednesday) as they seek to re-establish their rapport and timing. Fourth-stringer Marquise Williams didn't attempt a pass vs. Oakland, instead taking one sack for a 9-yard loss.

RB: Eddie Lacy continues to run well in training camp and preseason games; he gained 45 yards and a touchdown on nine carries versus the Raiders. Third-stringer John Crockett had 26 yards rushing and four receptions for 27 yards, while backup James Starks posted 6/26/0 rushing. Aaron Ripkowski, the new starting fullback, was worked into the offense with two carries for 4 yards and a 13-yard reception. Entering the third preseason game, it looks like Lacy has worked his way out of head coach Mike McCarthy's doghouse, and he has a firm grip on the feature back role, with Starks and Crockett as his main backups. Brandon Burks (4/14/0 rushing with one target) is pushing Crockett for the third spot in the stable, but Crockett is seen as in the lead for that spot after the second preseason game.

WR: Though Jordy Nelson did dress and participate in warm ups before the second preseason game, he didn't play. The early word is that this week he'll do a lot of one-on-one work with Aaron Rodgers but not be involved in the team portions of practice. Head coach Mike McCarthy is mindful of the process: “I think it’s important to stay focused on the fact that Jordy’s going to practice Monday for the first time. It will be in the individual drills (with) the emphasis there, the normal protocol that you want to bring guys back. Obviously, his veteran experience will factor into that. Aaron and Jordy will work as much as they possibly can on one-on-one routes and things like that. We've got a plan. We'll start that plan and based on how it works out (in terms of) play time, I can't really answer that question.” McCarthy is pleased with Davante Adams: “Davante’s having a very good camp. That's what you see; he's healthy and he's taken a step. I think, really, he's kind of in line with our whole team. I thought our team

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took a step in the right direction today. Yes, Davante's healthy. As with all of our guys, they obviously play better when they're healthy.” Adams has beaten back a field of challengers for the #3 spot behind Nelson and Randall Cobb.

TE: Some of Jared Cook’s former teammates and coaches are pulling for him to emerge as a playmaker this season – Matt Hasselbeck and Ray Sherman, in particular. “If Sam Bradford would’ve been able to stay healthy in St. Louis and been around,” former Rams receivers coach Sherman said, “you would’ve probably been able to see (Cook) have success.” Cook managed caught both of his targets against the Raiders (for 16 yards) while Richard Rodgers was not targeted.

Defense: According to Eric Baranczyk and Pete Dougherty, USA Today Network - Wisconsin, the Packers' secondary is rounding into top form: “Clinton-Dix, Randall and Rollins are three of the ascending talents on the team.” Clinton-Dix in particular is cited for his run defense in the nickel formation and the writers believe he could be the Packers' next defensive star. Another young player on the rise is inside linebacker Carl Bradford. “It felt good [in the first and second preseason games]. I felt myself for once. I really haven't been feeling that these past couple years. From this point last year I really didn't understand the defense, really didn't understand certain things. I wasn't comfortable for myself. Now it's time to go get it, and I feel way better. I feel confident in my game more and just ready to attack.”

Returners: With primary kickoff returner Jeff Janis out 4-6 weeks after surgery to repair a fractured hand, Jared Abbrederis will get an extended audition to try to take Janis’ job away.

OL: The line looked good against the Raiders. The first team unit sustained a long drive was capped off by Eddie Lacy’s 1-yard touchdown plunge. Right guard Josh Sitton and center J.C. Tretter combined to move the pile. Look for more of that this season, as left guard T.J. Lang is also a powerful run blocker. Lang was mainly responsible for the huge hole that led to Lacy’s 20-yard gain earlier in the drive. The best player on the line is still Sitton, who reported to camp in excellent shape and is extremely motivated in his contract year. The backup linemen had their own highlight play, springing James Starks for a 24-yard gain in the second quarter.

Packers Depth ChartQB: Aaron Rodgers, Brett Hundley, Joe Callahan, Marquise WilliamsRB: Eddie Lacy, James Starks, John Crockett, Brandon Burks, Brandon Ross, Don JohnsonFB: Aaron Ripkowski, Alstevis SquirewellWR: Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Jared Abbrederis, Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery, Jeff Janis (KR) (inj), Trevor Davis (KR/PR),Geronimo Allison, Jamel Johnson, Ed Williams, Herb Waters, Harvey Binford

TE: Richard Rodgers, Jared Cook, Justin Perillo, Kennard Backman, Casey Pierce, Mitchell HenryLT: David Bakhtiari, Jason SpriggsLG: Josh Sitton, Lane Taylor, William CampbellC: Corey Linsley, J.C. TretterRG: T.J. Lang, Josh WalkerRT: Bryan Bulaga, Kyle MurphyK: Mason CrosbyNT: Letroy Guion, Kenny Clark, Christian Ringo, Brian PriceDE: Mike Daniels, Datone Jones, Mike Pennel, Dean Lowry, Tyler Kuder, Demetris Anderson, Reggie GilbertILB: Sam Barrington (M), Jake Ryan, Blake Martinez, Carl Bradford (M), Joe ThomasOLB: Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, Nick Perry, Jayrone Elliott, Kyler Fackrell, Lerentee McCray, Beniquez Brown, Manoa PikulaCB: Sam Shields, Quinten Rollins, Damarious Randall, Demetri Goodson (susp), LaDarius Gunter, Robertson Daniel, Josh Hawkins, Makinton DorleantS: Morgan Burnett (SS), Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (FS), Micah Hyde (FS/PR), Chris Banjo (SS), Kentrell Brice, Marwin Evans

Houston Texans

QB: Brock Osweiler played a quarter and a half against the Saints, throwing for 124 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Osweiler was generally sharp and showed poise in the pocket playing behind a makeshift offensive line. The Texans passing game is going to be heavily reliant upon rookies and Osweiler has made big strides in building a rapport with his young pass catchers. On the first scoring drive of the game, the three key completions were to rookies Stephen Anderson, Braxton Miller and Will Fuller. The Texans 25-and-under skill position talent is impressive. This passing offense should continue to improve and grow together over the years, which could make Osweiler an underrated dynasty commodity.

RB: The offensive line was missing four starters against the Saints, which led to multiple defenders in the backfield on nearly every running play. Lamar Miller was consistently able to make the first man miss. He showed impressive vision and wiggle to turn potential negative plays into short gains. If the Texans can get their line healthy, Miller is poised to have a big season. If multiple starting offensive linemen remain out through the early part of the regular season, the offensive line could struggle. Kenny Hilliard has dropped ten pounds and has been the primary backup with Alfred Blue nursing an injury. Blue injured his shoulder during joint practices prior to the first preseason game and is expected to return in the next week to battle his former college teammate for the second-string job.

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WR: Will Fuller has made a big move in the past two weeks to seize the number two job across from DeAndre Hopkins. He had an impressive touchdown against the Saints in joint practices and also scored an early touchdown in the preseason game on a perfect fade route in the corner of the end zone. Fuller played nearly all of the snaps with first-team offense for the second straight week. “He takes a ton of notes, he’s always studying his playbook,” said Osweiler of Fuller. “Whenever we get a break, a lot of guys go in the locker room and we’re socializing or we go grab a coffee over here in the cafeteria but Will’s in his playbook, he’s studying. He wants to be great and he’s always, always striving to be great.” Braxton Miller ran with the first-team offense as the starting slot receiver. Through two games, he has seven catches for 68 yards and has earned praise from Coach O’Brien for his success in absorbing the playbook. Miller should make an instant impact in Houston.

TE: Undrafted rookie tight end Stephen Anderson has been the biggest surprise of training camp and preseason for the Texans. He has become a fan favorite, regularly making big catches in practice. He received snaps with the first-team offense (primarily on third downs) and came up with a key third-down catch to keep the chains moving on the second drive of the game. The rookie brings a new element to the offense with his athleticism and should make an immediate impact.

Defense: Jadeveon Clowney made his first appearance of the preseason and proved to be a dominant force off the edge. He ran right over tackle Zach Strief on his first pass rush. He whipped Andrus Peat for his sack. Later, he “ragdolled” Tony Hills for a tackle for a loss. Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel said of Clowney: “If he can keep running them over and getting sacks, maybe one move will be good enough. He's going to run into some guys where he'll have to use some alternative stuff and he has that in his repertoire.” J.J. Watt recently had his stitches from surgery removed and is now working out on a specialized treadmill. "J.J. Watt obviously will not be back this week, but he's making a lot of progress in his rehab," O'Brien said. "I just don't think anybody can predict when J.J. will be back. I would say knowing J.J. the way I do that he'll be back sooner rather than later. It's progressing really well. He's been able to do some things on the Ultra-G treadmill, which is a really good sign.” Brian Cushing shined in his preseason debut, looking healthier than he has in years. He had six tackles and a pass breakup in about a quarter of action.

K: Nick Novak was ahead of rookie Kai’mi Fairbairn in the kicker competition, but he suffered a concussion last week. Meanwhile, Fairbairn is nursing a quad injury. The team has characterized his condition as day-to-day, although it is possible that they may need to bring in a kicker to get through the preseason.

Returners: The Texans have historically preferred to use a single return specialist, and despite a sometimes-shaky week, 4th-round rookie Tyler Ervin is the front-runner for the job this year.

OL: Starting center Nick Martin is dealing with an ankle injury that will likely require surgery. Martin, brother of Cowboys’ guard Zack, was drafted in the second round and has been a fixture in the starting lineup since mini camps. Greg Mancz has been given an opportunity over veteran Tony Bergstrom to replace Martin. The coaches seem to really like Mancz, an undrafted first year player out of Akron who missed most of last season with injury. While Mancz has talent, Texans fans should expect a dropoff from Martin, as evidenced by Saints’ DT Nick Fairley’s beating Mancz for a sack of Brock Osweiler in preseason action.

Texans Depth ChartQB: Brock Osweiler, Tom Savage, Brandon WeedenRB: Lamar Miller, Alfred Blue, Tyler Ervin (KR), Jonathan Grimes, Akeem Hunt, Kenny HilliardFB: Jay ProschWR: DeAndre Hopkins, Jaelen Strong, Will Fuller, Cecil Shorts, Braxton Miller, Keith Mumphery (PR), Wendall Williams (KR/PR), Josh LenzTE: Ryan Griffin, C.J. Fiedorowicz, Anthony Denham, Stephen Anderson, Eric TomlinsonLT: Duane Brown, Chris ClarkLG: Xavier Sua-Filo, Jeff AdamsC: Greg Mancz, Nick Martin (inj), Tony BergstromRG: Jeff Allen, Oday Aboushi, Kendall LammRT: Derek NewtonK: Nick Novak, Kai’mi FairbairnNT: Vince Wilfork, D.J. ReaderDE: J.J. Watt (inj), Christian Covington, Devon Still, Brandon Dunn, Jeoffrey Pagan, Joel Heath, Alex Carrington, Dan PettinatoILB: Brian Cushing, Benardrick McKinney, Akeem Dent, Max Bullough, Brian PetersOLB: Whitney Mercilus (S), Jadeveon Clowney (J), John Simon (S/J), Reshard Cliett, Tony Washington, Carlos ThompsonCB: Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson, Kevin Johnson, A.J. Bouye, Charles James, Richard Leonard (inj)S: Andre Hal (FS), Eddie Pleasant (SS), Quintin Demps (FS), Antonio Allen (SS), KJ Dillon (SS), Kurtis Drummond (FS), Lonnie Ballentine (SS), Corey Moore

Indianapolis Colts

QB: Andrew Luck was sharp in his first game action since last November. He played two series in the Colts 19-18 loss to the Ravens, completing all eight of his passes for 71 yards, and adding two scrambles for 12 yards. “With him, nothing really

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surprises any of us,” head coach Chuck Pagano said after the game. “I wasn’t shocked because of the time he has put in. Since he came back, through the OTAs and what he did on the break and then from the start of training camp, he has just been outstanding. He has been a different guy. Different from a leadership standpoint. Different from how he carries himself day in and day out throughout the building. In practice, he is very demanding of himself and he is making everybody around him better. It was obviously great to see it and I am not surprised by anything that he does.” Luck was relieved to get back on the field. “I needed to get out there,” he said afterward. “It’s like breathing. You just need more of it. It’s like oxygen.” Backup Scott Tolzien came in for Luck and rebounded from last week’s uneven performance. Tolzien completed 13-of-18 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown, flashing improved accuracy and presence. Still, Pagano said the backup quarterback job was very much an open competition between Tolzien and third-stringer Stephen Morris. Morris played the fourth quarter Saturday night, completing 7-of-11 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. He also led the Colts in rushing yards for the second consecutive game.

RB: Frank Gore’s preseason debut consisted of one carry for five yards on the second play of the game. The 33-year old veteran wanted more carries, but said the Colts are just being smart with him. After running with the starters last week, undrafted free agent Josh Ferguson played behind Robert Turbin Saturday night. Ferguson ran for just six yards on five carries and now has nine rushing yards on 13 carries through two preseason games. He also had a bad miss on a blitz pickup that got Tolzien blown up. Turbin -- who was mixed in at fullback last week -- didn’t do much to distinguish himself, rushing for 18 yards on seven carries. He also drew criticism from Pagano with a false start penalty from the four-yard-line. “It’s a lack of focus. A false start? You know the snap count. You can’t do it,” Pagano said. Jordan Todman was the Colts most effective runner, with 22 yards on five carries. Trey Williams caught a late seven-yard touchdown from Morris, but is behind Gore, Ferguson, Turbin, and Todman on the depth chart. Overall, run blocking looks like a concern for the Colts, as their backs have combined to average 2.53 yards per carry through two preseason games.

WR: T.Y. Hilton was held out Saturday night as a precaution after suffering a minor hamstring injury in the preseason opener. Phillip Dorsett led the Colts with three catches for 37 yards in Hilton’s absence. Donte Moncrief chipped in two catches for 25 yards. Earlier in the week, ESPN Colts beat writer Mike Wells speculated Moncrief could lead the team in receptions this season since he’s the receiver Luck will turn to when plays break down. In the battle for the fourth and fifth wide receiver roster spots, rookies Chester Rogers and Tevaun Smith continued to stake their claims. Rogers, who caught a long touchdown last week, was up-and-down against the Ravens, but he still led the team with five receptions. Smith was on the receiving end of a

fourth down pass from Tolzien that went for a one-yard touchdown, but Smith remains behind dynamic return man Quan Bray, who was the third receiver to enter the game for the Colts.

TE: The Ravens game was forgettable for Dwayne Allen, who finished with two catches for 10 yards, and cost the Colts points by losing a fumble inside the red zone. Erik Swoope may have moved ahead of Chase Coffman in the battle for the third tight end roster spot, after catching three passes for 36 yards. Pagano noticed Swoope’s improved play since last week’s game against Buffalo.

Defense: Top corner Vontae Davis rolled his ankle in Thursday's practice and sat out the second preseason game. The Colts were also without Robert Mathis, which was somewhat of a surprise considering Pagano said on Thursday Mathis would play “barring anything crazy”. It’s likely Indy is just being cautious with the 35-year-old outside linebacker. The Colts defense suffered injuries in the game as well, most notably a groin pull of unknown severity for starting cornerback Patrick Robinson. Defensive lineman Henry Anderson is close to a return, but his recovery from ACL surgery and a knee injury to Kendall Langford has created an opportunity for second-year lineman T.Y. McGill. McGill was outstanding Saturday night, racking up three tackles, a sack, and two quarterback hits. Pagano was effusive in his praise for McGill when asked about the young defensive lineman last week. “I think he’s picked up right where he left off,” Pagano said. “He finished the [last] season obviously on a high note. He’s a twitchy, explosive, quick-type player. He’s tough to block when he is on the move, he gets penetration, he’s slippery and he is a little bit sneaky when it comes to pass rush.” Look for McGill to get plenty of run for at least the first four games of the regular season while Art Jones serves a suspension.

Returners: With no challengers emerging, Quan Bray is a near-lock to handle the large majority of Indianapolis’ returns this season.

OL: Denzelle Good returned to the lineup at right guard and got the against the Ravens. Good and first round rookie center Ryan Kelly were solid in pass protection, keeping quarterback Andrew Luck clean. Fifth round rookie Joe Haeg is being used as the “do anything” backup; the coaches see him as flexible enough to play any position. Haeg’s responsibilities mirror those of current right tackle Joe Reitz, who was asked to be the fill-in sub in years’ prior, before he won a starting job. Haeg only played seven snaps before being removed with an ankle injury.

Colts Depth ChartQB: Andrew Luck, Scott Tolzien, Stephen MorrisRB: Frank Gore, Robert Turbin, Jordan Todman, Josh Ferguson, Trey WilliamsFB: Abou Toure

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WR: T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, Phillip Dorsett, Quan Bray (KR/PR),Chester Rogers (PR), MeKale McKay, Tevaun Smith, Marcus Leak, Joshua Stangby, Daniel Anthrop, Andrew OpokuTE: Dwayne Allen, Jack Doyle, Erik Swoope, Chase Coffman, Emil Igwenagu, Darion Griswold, Nick Truesdell, Mike McFarland (IR)LT: Anthony Castonzo, LeRaven ClarkLG: Jack MewhortC: Ryan Kelly, Jonotthan Harrison, Austin BlytheRG: Denzelle Good, Hugh ThorntonRT: Joe Reitz, Joe HaegK: Adam VinatieriNT: David Parry, Zach Kerr, Ricky LumpkinDE: Kendall Langford (inj), Henry Anderson, Arthur Jones (susp),Earl Okine, Hassan Ridgeway, Delvon Simmons, Kelcy QuarlesILB: D′Qwell Jackson, Nate Irving, Antonio Morrison, Trevor Bates, Josh McNary, Sio Moore (inj)OLB: Trent Cole, Erik Walden, Robert Mathis, Junior Sylvestre, Curt Maggitt, Sterling BaileyCB: Vontae Davis (inj), Patrick Robinson, Antonio Cromartie, Darius Butler, D′Joun Smith, Jalil Brown, Tevin Mitchel, Patrick Robinson, Tay Glover-Wright, Darius White, Winston Rose, Christopher MiltonS: Mike Adams (FS), Clayton Geathers (SS) (inj), Winston Guy (FS),T.J. Green (SS), Dezmen Southward, Andrew Williamson, Stefan McClure

Jacksonville Jaguars

QB: Coach Gus Bradley continued to praise Blake Bortles’ play after the signal caller completed 8-of-11 passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns against the Buccaneers on Saturday. “I’m really pleased with his consistency and decision-making,” Bradley said. “Those are two facets that we pointed to in the offseason and into training camp. He’s put two games together where he’s made good decisions for us. I’m pleased on that.” Bortles looks confident and it’s been impressive seeing him spread the ball around to his many sure handed targets. 

RB: Chris Ivory ran the ball 6 times for 25 yards and T.J. Yeldon ran twice for 15 yards but also had a solo reception for 14 yards and a touchdown. One of the big talking points this entire offseason for the Jaguars has been the addition of Chris Ivory and how the offense will look with both him and Yeldon sharing touches. So far so good as the duo looks to build off of each other’s strengths. As long as the coaches are putting them in the right situations the duo should hopefully not feel the wear and tear that one would if they were seeing 20+ touches a game. The Jaguars are showing that they are no longer a “pass-heavy, run when you can” team anymore.

WR: Allen Robinson is showing no signs of slowing down from his torrid pace last season. He’s continuing to build chemistry with Bortles and it’s evident as you watch the two play together. Bortles targeted Robinson 5 times on Saturday for 4 receptions and 34 yards. Allen Hurns in an underrated component to the team’s overall passing prowess as he helps keep defenses honest; Hurns also has big-play ability of his own. Hurns was targeted 3 times for 2 catches, 29 yards and a touchdown on Saturday. None of the backups really stood out versus the Buccaneers. Marqise Lee, Rashad Greene, Bryan Walters, and Arrelious Benn all a single pass each for 10 or fewer yards.

TE: Tight End was a wasteland this week. Only Nic Jacobs had a reception (16 yards). This comes a week after Julius Thomas dropped a would-be touchdown from Bortles. The tight ends need to show improvement in the new few weeks if they’re to engender Bortles’ trust in key situations.

Defense: The starting defense came to play against the Buccaneers, with the first team holding the Bucs 1st teamers to just 64 yards in the first quarter. Rookie cornerback Jalen Ramsey played with the first-team unit versus Tampa Bay and played well with 3 tackles, including stopping Charles Sims for a loss. While all eyes were on Ramsey’s preseason debut, it’s important to remember the Jaguars have impressive depth at cornerback as starters Davon House and Prince Amukamara have looked sharp and backups Dwayne Gratz and Aaron Colvin could start for a few NFL teams. Dante Fowler Jr. is having a strong preseason after missing his entire rookie year. Fowler had a good pursuit on an early run play and added a hit on quarterback Jameis Winston.

Returners: Corey Grant remains the front-runner for kickoff return duties in 2016, but he still has not done enough to assure himself a roster spot. Now that he’s past some minor injuries that have slowed him in recent weeks, he’ll attempt to make his case more forcefully.

OL: The Jaguars first team offensive line kept Blake Bortles clean against Tampa Bay. Luke Joeckel continues to improve and solidify his hold on the left tackle position. It will be interesting to see how the coaches rotate in Kelvin Beachum, who is expected to make his debut next week against the Bengals. It appears that whoever loses the left tackle battle between Joeckel and Beachum will be kicked inside to left guard. Swing tackle Jeff Linkenbach was removed from the game and is still going through the league’s concussion protocol. Center Luke Bowanko continues to be on the PUP list with a hip injury, and Brandon Linder appears to be the starting center going forward.

Jaguars Depth ChartQB: Blake Bortles, Chad Henne, Brandon AllenRB: T.J. Yeldon (3RB), Chris Ivory (SD), Denard Robinson (WR/KR), Corey Grant, Joe Banyard, Jonas Gray (IR)

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WR: Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Rashad Greene (PR), Marqise Lee, Bryan Walters, Arrelious Benn, Shane Wynn, Tony Washington, Rashad Lawrence, Shaq Evans, Jamal Robinson, Rasheed Bailey, Justin Blackmon (susp)TE: Julius Thomas, Marcedes Lewis, Nic Jacobs, Ben Koyack, Neal Sterling, Braedon BowmanLT: Luke Joeckel, Kelvin BeachumLG: Mackenzy Bernadeau, Tyler ShatleyC: Brandon Linder, Luke BowankoRG: AJ CannRT: Jermey ParnellK: Jason MyersDT: Malik Jackson (DE), Senderrick Marks, Roy Miller, Tyson Alualu, Michael Bennett, Sheldon Day, Abry JonesDE: Dante Fowler Jr., Jared Odrick, Yannick Ngakoue, Chris Smith, Ryan Davis, Jonathan Woodard (inj)MLB: Paul Posluszny, Thurston ArmbristerOLB: Telvin Smith (W), Myles Jack (S/M), Dan Skuta (S), Jordan Tripp (S), Tyrone Holmes, Hayes Pullard III (W), Joplo Bartu (W), Bjoern Werner, Sean Porter (S)CB: Davon House, Prince Amukamara, Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Colvin (susp), Nick Marshall (KR), Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Dwayne Gratz, Demetrius McCrayS: Tashaun Gipson (FS), John Cyprien (SS), James Sample (SS), Josh Evans (SS), Jarrod Wilson (FS), Craig Loston (SS), Peyton Thompson (SS), Earl Wolff

Kansas City Chiefs

QB: Alex Smith has looked sharp throughout camp and that’s carried over into preseason action. He manned the reins for four series in Saturday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams, and led the team to two touchdowns and a field goal. Smith is feeling pretty good with the regular season right around the corner. "I feel like we got a lot of guys that can make plays no matter who's in there. That's what you want," he said. The second depth chart of camp provided a little more clarity on things. As expected, Nick Foles is manning the backup spot behind Smith, and he also looked sharp against the Rams. He completed 18-of-22 passes for 133 yards (6.0 per attempt). In the three-way battle for the third spot, Aaron Murray was the only to see action on Saturday; he seems to have the edge over Tyler Bray and Kevin Hogan. Bray suffered a chip fracture in his spine in the first preseason game, and it’s unclear when he’ll be healthy enough to return. Hogan has had an uneventful camp, and appears headed for a practice squad designation if he hangs on.

RB: Jamaal Charles was activated from the PUP list this week and resumed team activities. His workload ramped faster than originally anticipated, and all signs point to him being 100%

for the start of the regular season. A fully healthy Charles can easily outperform his current ADP, but draftees are being understandably cautious given his injury history. As we learned last year, the Chiefs are not lacking for options in the event of another Charles injury. Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West are more than capable of stepping in and forming a powerful committee, and that fact is not lost on the Chiefs coaching staff. “I wish I could put them all out on the field. We come out with a personnel group and call it ‘Cadillac’ or ‘Jet’ personnel and get them all out there. Let’s just go line up and play ball,” shared position coach Eric Bieniemy. Ware had a very strong game against the Rams; he ran for 37 yards, caught four passes for 24 yards and added a touchdown. Ware may have the inside track on the backup role. West sat out with a mild elbow sprain. Darrin Reaves took advantage of his opportunity, and gained 46 combined yards on nine touches.

WR: Jeremy Maclin has been locked in throughout camp, and his impressive chemistry with Alex Smith was on full display against the Rams. The duo hooked up for an impressive 20-yard score in the second quarter, but Maclin’s night would come to an end shortly thereafter. He ended up getting into a tussle with Rams defensive back Lamarcus Joyner, and both players were ejected. Chris Conley has been talked up as the player most likely to start opposite Maclin, and he‘s lived up to that role. Conley hauled in all three of his targets for 66 yards. Albert Wilson is currently penciled in for #2 duties, but that may not be the case for much longer. Behind those three, the Chiefs have a lot of players battling for a few spots. Rod Streater and Tyreek Hill have been standouts at camp, and the competition for the remaining spots appears to be a long way from settled. “So, basically, it pushes those guys, and competition just makes you better. Basically, when it gets down to the end, it always sorts itself out,” shared receivers coach David Culley.

TE: Tight end is a position of strength. The Chiefs used multiple tight ends sets throughout the Rams game. They tried out varying combinations of Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris and Ross Travis. Kelce continues to be one of the first tight ends off the board in fantasy drafts. The latest depth chart lists Harris and Travis ahead of James O’Shaughnessy, a player who saw a meaningful snaps in 2015. It’ll be interesting to see if the Chiefs ultimately keep four tight ends, but either way they are in good shape.

Defense: The absence of Eric Berry is one of the few clouds hanging over Chiefs’ training camp, and no resolution appears imminent. Tamba Hali and Justin Houston have also been absent recovering from injuries, but the Chiefs are compensating for the absence of their stars by leveraging impressive overall depth. Dee Ford has been one of the standouts at camp, and he’s filled in admirably for Houston. “He’s had a good camp. He’s a better player now than he was at the end of last year. He’s more physical and has a better grasp of the defense,” shared linebackers coach Gary Gibbs.

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Marcus Peters has shown no signs of slowing down from last year’s All Pro pace. “We’ve told him and he knows what they’re going to try to do to him. He’ll step up to the occasion. We’re not worried about him. He’s our guy back there that can get the ball, turn the ball over and he’s our best cover guy on this team. He’ll be ready,” said secondary coach Emmitt Thomas.

Returners: With Jamaal Charles, Spencer Ware, and Charcandrick West entrenched ahead of him, Knile Davis’ only chance of making the final roster is as a kickoff return specialist. To this point, he has managed to retain control of the job.

OL: The offensive line had an uneven performance against the Rams. The line got good push in the run game, with center Mitch Morse and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz the standouts. But the unit suffered setbacks in the passing game. Left guard Parker Ehinger surrendered a sack up the middle to Aaron Donald, and left tackle Eric Fisher was beaten on an outside swim move by Matt Longacre. Both plays resulted in big hits on starting quarterback Alex Smith. In related news, right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, a.k.a. the Canadian Doctor, was called for a costly holding penalty. This line has talent but lacks cohesion in pass blocking.

Chiefs Depth ChartQB: Alex Smith, Nick Foles, Tyler Bray, Aaron Murray, Kevin HoganRB: Jamaal Charles (inj), Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West, Knile Davis (KR), Darrin ReavesFB: Anthony Sherman, Trey MillardWR: Jeremy Maclin (inj), Chris Conley, Albert Wilson, Rod Streater, De′Anthony Thomas, Tyreek Hill, Demarcus Robinson, Frankie Hammond, Seantavius Jones, Da′Ron Brown, Mitch Mathews, Kashif Moore, Mike WilliamsTE: Travis Kelce, James O′Shaughnessy, Demetrius Harris, Brian Parker, Ross TravisLT: Eric Fisher, Jah ReidLG: Parker Ehinger, Zach Fulton, Jarrod PughsleyC: Mitch Morse, Jordan DeveyRG: Laurent Duvernay-TardifRT: Mitchell Schwartz, Reid FragelK: Cairo SantosNT: Dontari Poe, Chris Jones, Alamedu Ta′amuDE: Jaye Howard, Allen Bailey, Nick Williams, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, David King, Jimmy Staten, Efe ObadaILB: Derrick Johnson, Josh Mauga, D.J. Alexander, Ramik Wilson, Terrance Smith, Justin March, Tyrell AdamsOLB: Justin Houston (inj), Tamba Hali, Dee Ford, Frank Zombo, Dezman Moses, Dadi Lhomme Nicolas, Jonathan Massaquoi, Andy MalumbaCB: Marcus Peters, Phillip Gaines, Steven Nelson, Keivarae Russell, Marcus Cooper, Eric Murray, D.J. White, Deveron Carr, Shannon

Edwards, Shakiel Rudolph, Vernon HarrisS: Eric Berry (SS), Ron Parker (FS), Steve Brown, Daniel Sorenson (SS), Jamell Fleming (FS), Brock Vereen (FS), Akeem Davis

Los Angeles Rams

QB: Jared Goff's disappointing performances through practices and in games continued during the second week of the preseason. Goff is a better physical talent than Case Keenum and he's more accurate overall, but he looks lost on the field too often. He doesn't react well to pressure and hasn't shown off an ability to move in the pocket in games. At this point, Case Keenum looks set to open Week 1 as the team's starting quarterback which should be a major red flag against a quarterback who not only went first overall but one who the franchise mortgaged its short-term future on.

RB: Todd Gurley came in, scored a touchdown, then left. Gurley's preseason debut lasted just one series as the Rams prioritize protecting him over everything else. That doesn't mean he's doing nothing. As you would expect, Gurley has consistently been one of the standout performers through the first two weeks of training camp. Benny Cunningham has been one of the other standouts. Cunningham took over after Gurley against the Chiefs and once again showed off vision, explosiveness and balance. Cunningham is locked in as the Rams' number two runner and as the third-down back. The Rams appear to have a lot of depth at running back this year with a clearly defined depth chart. Malcolm Brown hasn't stood out as much as Gurley and Cunningham but he has solidified his status as the third option by showing off a well-rounded skill set; he caught Jared Goff's first touchdown pass against the Chiefs. If the Rams are going to keep a fourth back, someone will need to emerge in the final preseason game. As of right now, the Rams look like an ideal candidate to pick up a fourth back on waivers when teams cut down to 53.

WR: When the team drafted Pharoh Cooper and Mike Thomas, general manager Les Snead said each had clear roles. Cooper was supposed to be a slot option so he wouldn't see the field with Tavon Austin. However, the Rams' three receiver sets in Week 2 featured Austin, Cooper and Kenny Britt. That came a day after Jeff Fisher failed to mention Brian Quick's name when discussing the wide receiver competition with the media. Quick appears to be fading out of contention as he followed up Fisher's comments with a bad outing against the Chiefs. Quick will likely compete with Mike Thomas, a rookie who has struggled with drops in games and practices so far this year. Thomas did have one huge play in practice last week but didn't make an impression against the Chiefs. Nelson Spruce may have a tougher time making the roster with Pharoh Cooper ascending to the starting lineup, Spruce and

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Cooper are very similar receivers. More importantly, Spruce wasn't on the field this week with a knee sprain.

TE: Rookie Tyler Higbee, the star of the first week of camp and the preseason, missed a practice late in the week but Fisher never explained why. He was then held out of the Chiefs game, allowing Lance Kendricks a temporary reprieve in their inevitable competition. In truth, Higbee's absence was bigger for Temarrick Hemingway than Kendricks because the Rams know what Kendricks is. Hemingway caught the eye of multiple beat writers during practices leading up to the Chiefs game. Hemingway offers more upside as a receiver than Kendricks but still needs to earn his roster spot over the next couple of weeks. The sixth-round pick has to beat out an established veteran, Corey Harkey, for his spot.

Defense: Both Mark Barron and Mo Alexander missed practices during the week. Fisher said that neither had a significant issue but then they didn't play against the Chiefs. Fisher isn't giving up anything he doesn't have to give up when it comes to injuries so it's tough to gauge where a lot of his players are. Alexander did do individual drills so his return ahead of the third preseason game looks likely. He could be an important piece for the Rams as they continue to look for a starting free safety to emerge. While safety remains ambiguous, the cornerback position received a boost with the return of EJ Gaines. Gaines pulled up lame in a drill late on Thursday but was active for the game on Saturday against the Chiefs. Gaines should take his starting spot over from Lamarcus Joyner by the time the regular season comes. Joyner didn't help himself by getting kicked out of the Chiefs game for fighting. On the defensive line, the story remained largely the same. Robert Quinn is healthy but not being risked in games while Dominique Easley continues earn his keep with quality practices and play-making.

Returners: The Rams have used rookie Pharoh Cooper on punt returns in the preseason, where he is almost certainly just getting a bit of practice before Tavon Austin resumes his usual duties in the regular season. Cooper does have good straight-line speed and could get some opportunities on kickoff returns, though.

OL: The line looked much better against the Chiefs in Week Two, but a lot of the credit goes to running back Todd Gurley’s return. The young line looks better going forward (run blocking) than backward (pass blocking). Gurley took advantage of several large holes, especially those created by left guard Cody Wichmann and left tackle Greg Robinson. Right tackle Rob Havenstein is still not ready to practice and Rodger Saffold continues to start in his absence.

Rams Depth ChartQB: Jared Goff, Case Keenum, Sean Mannion, Dylan ThompsonRB: Todd Gurley, Benny Cunningham (3RB/KR), Malcolm Brown, Chase Reynolds, Trey

Watts, Aaron Green, Terrence Magee, Tre Mason (res)FB: Corey Harkey (TE)WR: Kenny Britt, Tavon Austin (PR), Pharoh Cooper, Michael Thomas, Brian Quick, Marquez North, Paul McRoberts, Bradley Marquez, Nelson Spruce, Isiah Ferguson, Kain ColterTE: Lance Kendricks, Tyler Higbee, Temarrick Hemingway, Justice Cunningham, Jake StoneburnerLT: Greg Robinson, Isaiah BattleLG: Rodger Saffold, Garrett Reynolds, Cody WichmannC: Tim Barnes, Demetrius Rhaney, Eric KushRG: Jamon Brown, Andrew DonnalRT: Rob Havenstein, Darrell WilliamsK: Greg Zuerlein, Taylor BertoletDT: Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Doug Worthington, Dominique Easley, Louis Trinca-Pasat, Cam ThomasDE: Robert Quinn, William Hayes, Eugene Sims, Quinton Coples, Ethan WestbrooksMLB: Alec Ogletree, Bryce Hager, Zack Hodges, Josh ForrestOLB: Akeem Ayers (S), Mark Barron (W), Marshall McFadden (RFA), Cameron LynchCB: Trumaine Johnson (UFA-F), E.J. Gaines, Lamarcus Joyner (FS/CB), Coty Sensabaugh, Marcus RobersonS: T.J. McDonald (SS), Cody Davis (FS), Maurice Alexander (SS),Christian Bryant (FS), Jordan Lomax

Miami Dolphins

QB: Ryan Tannehill competed 12 of 20 passes for 162 yards and two scores against Dallas. He was sacked just once. “It was pretty good — everything as advertised as far as how tough he is and just battling,” Adam Gase said at halftime. “I liked the mentality that he had going into that first half. I liked the fact that the ones wanted to stay in and do another series. That’s what I wanted to see.” Tannehill made an incredible highlight throw on a 55-yard completion to Kenny Stills. He rolled right and threw the ball on the move deep downfield, dropping it into the bucket to Stills along the right sideline. The physical skills (size, athleticism, and arm strength) that Tannehill brings to the table are elite, but the sum of the whole leaves you wanting more. Gase will try to bring out the best in Tannehill with his play calling and there have been recent signs of progress, with Tannehill showing better on plays rolling outside the pocket. The Dolphins have been experimenting with the pistol, roll-out plays, bootlegs and quarterback read options. Gase dialed up some read option for Tannehill against Dallas and he ran for 16 yards on two carries. Matt Moore took a cheap shot to the head while sliding and had to leave the game early with a concussion. Brandon Doughty entered the game and promptly fumbled after holding onto the ball far too long. Doughty has shown some flashes in camp, but is likely headed to the practice squad.

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RB: Arian Foster made his Dolphins debut with two carries for minus-five yards. The Dolphins will continue to bring Foster along slowly and limit his touches in both practice and preseason games. "With his history as far as playing a lot of football, really, how much do any of us need to see?" Gase said of Foster. "We know what he can do." Jay Ajayi carried six times for 19 yards. Most intriguing from a fantasy perspective was how often the Dolphins went with an empty backfield and motioned the backs out as receivers. Gase looks like he will be creative in getting the ball to Foster and Ajayi as receivers. Whichever runner emerges as the lead back has real upside in PPR leagues. Isaiah Pead received snaps with the first-team offense and caught an 18-yard pass from Tannehill. “Every time he gets in the game, he seems to pop one,” Gase said. “I’ve been very impressed with him. … When he gets in the game, I’m thinking, ‘Let’s call plays for him and try to give him a chance to show his skill set.’” Pead has shown well, but remains on the outside looking in at a spot on the final roster. Beat-writer Armando Salguero predicts that Ajayi, Foster, Damien Williams and Kenyan Drake will make the team ahead of Pead. Pead’s strong preseason could make him a hot commodity for other running back needy teams.

WR: Jarvis Landry had an end zone drop against the Cowboys, but otherwise played well. He is locked in as the top target in the Dolphins offense. DeVante Parker is fully recovered from the hamstring injury that caused him to miss a week of camp. He had a mediocre performance against Dallas. After excelling in OTAs, Kenny Stills has been inconsistent in training camp but he probably locked up the Week One starting job with a fantastic performance against Dallas. “We’re dangerous, pretty much at all times,” Stills said. “As long as we can protect Ryan [Tannehill], it’s going to be fun.” After a disappointing 2015 season, the biggest change for Stills has come off the field. He has gone from a player that seemed disconnected from the rest of the team to a player who arrives to work early and leaves late and talks incessantly about team and leadership.

TE: Gase called Dion Sims the “most consistent” tight end on the roster. Sims has been splitting time with Jordan Cameron on the first-team offense. Sims is improving as a pass-catcher, but blocking remains his strength. Cameron struggled in the offseason and the struggles have carried over into camp and preseason action. Against Dallas, he had an almost certain touchdown catch from Tannehill on a short slant in the red zone. But he juggled and dropped it. Cameron’s confidence looks shaken and he needs to start playing better or he will lose his starting job to Sims.

Defense: The starting defense surrendered 188 yards and two touchdowns in three possessions Friday. The Cowboys offensive line pushed around the first-team defense and Cowboys tackle Doug Free got the best of Mario Williams in their individual matchup. Kiko Alonso generated some positive buzz early in camp, but has not played well during the

preseason. The CB position is a major area of concern. Byron Maxwell was abused by Dez Bryant and needs to step up his play. Second-round pick Xavien Howard has returned to practice, but will not make his preseason debut until Week 4. The Dolphins expect him to make an instant impact and are hoping he can be a Week 1 starter.

K: Andrew Franks probably locked up the kicking job well before the end of camp, but his 55-yard make in practice ended the session and camp. Franks has been accurate and powerful all summer. He thought that 65-yards would have been a more fitting challenge, although Franks missed a 50-yard kick right before winding up camp with the 55-yarder.

Returners: When asked if rookie Jakeem Grant had a green light to take kickoffs out of the end zone, head coach Adam Gase said, “In the preseason? Absolutely. You want to see what he can do, for one.” When asked in a follow-up whether that would change in the regular season, he added, “I'm sure it will. We'll talk about that when we get there. But who knows? Maybe it won't. Maybe we'll say, 'Let's give this kid a chance to house-call one.' He's a weapon, and he can change field position.”

OL: Tough news for Miami, as center Mike Pouncey has a hip injury and the team is not sure that he will be ready for the start of regular season. The team has shut Pouncey down for the remainder of the preseason. The next man up is Anthony Steen, a first year player with zero NFL starts. Jamil Douglas is also in the mix for center snaps. This is a situation that bears further observation; if Pouncey misses extended time, the line could be in trouble. Rookie Laremy Tunsil got the start at left guard while veteran Jermon Bushrod got the nod at right guard against Dallas. Despite the team’s official depth chart, this duo is a strong bet to unseat Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner, respectively.

Dolphins Depth ChartQB: Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore, Brandon DoughtyRB: Arian Foster, Jay Ajayi, Kenyan Drake (KR) (inj), Damien Williams, Isaiah Pead, Daniel ThomasWR: Jarvis Landry (KR), DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Leonte Carroo, Jakeem Grant (PR), Griff Whalen, Rashawn Scott, Matt Hazel, A.J. Cruz, Tyler MurphyTE: Jordan Cameron, Dion Sims, Thomas Duarte, Dominique Jones, MarQuies Gray (inj)LT: Branden Albert, Vinston Painter, Sam YoungLG: Dallas Thomas, Laremy TunsilC: Mike Pouncey, Jamil DouglasRG: Billy Turner, Jermon Bushrod, Kraig UrbikRT: JaWuan James, Ulrick JohnK: Andrew Franks, Marshall KoehnDT: Ndamukong Suh, Earl Mitchell, Jordan Phillips, Chris Jones, Deandre ColemanDE: Mario Williams, Cameron Wake (inj), Jason Jones, Andre Branch, Terrence Fede, Dion Jordan, Chris

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McCainMLB: Kiko Alonso, Zach Vigil, Mike HullOLB: Jelani Jenkins (W), Koa Misi (S), Spencer Paysinger (S),James-Michael Johnson, Neville Hewitt, Danny LansanahCB: Byron Maxwell, Xavien Howard, Tony Lippett, Bobby McCain, Chimdi Chekwa, Brandon Harris, Chris CulliverS: Reshad Jones (SS), Isa Abdul-Quddus (SS), Walt Aikens (FS), Michael Thomas (SS), Jordan Lucas (FS), Shamiel Gary, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (IR)

Minnesota Vikings

QB:Teddy Bridgewater sat out against the Seahawks on Thursday night and Shaun Hill and Joel Stave received extra snaps to see how they can manage the offense as the 2nd and 3rd string quarterbacks, respectively. Hill completed 10-of-17 passes for 129 yards and no touchdowns. Stave went 6-for-14 with 67 yards passing and showed an impressive drive to end the first half as he led the Vikings on a 69-yard drive in 69 seconds that ended with a 27-yard field goal by Blair Walsh. Stave is getting used to the NFL game: “More than anything , I can keep playing quicker. That’s the thing that I noticed,” Stave said. “Everyone out here is fast, everyone out here is a good player, so the thing I’ve noticed is I can keep playing quicker and get used to the speed of the game.”

RB: The running game has been lackluster so far this preseason despite the team being 2-0. Adrian Peterson has yet to play but there hasn’t been a whole lot of room for the other running backs to run. On Thursday night Jhurell Pressley was the leading rusher with 28 yards on 6 carries, followed by C.J. Ham’s 25 yards on 8 carries, Jerrick McKinnon with 15 yards on 9 carries and Matt Asiata with 2 yards on 3 carries. McKinnon did find the end zone so not all was lost. The Vikings like to pass to their running backs and it showed with Asiata catching two passes for 20 yards, C.J. Ham with 2-for-18, and McKinnon with one for 5 yards.

WR: Adam Thielen continues to make plays and is making a case for the 53-man roster. Thielen was targeted 6 times against the Seahawks, catching 4 passes for 61 yards. He has worked with the first team in a three-receiver sets along with Charles Johnson and Stefon Diggs. Coach Zimmer is impressed by Thielen so far and credits the success to the hard work he has put in. “He’s made some good plays and made a really nice catch on the one ball over the middle that was a little bit behind him,” Zimmer said. “You know, kind of like he did in Cincinnati, too, same kind of scenario. The more you make plays, the more you get to play.”  Rookie Laquon Treadwell followed up his solid opening game with one that was not so great as he failed to catch a single ball on 4 targets. Treadwell primarily played with rookie quarterback Joel

Stave  so reading much into no catches is a bit unfair until we see him on the field with Teddy Bridgewater.

TE: Kyle Rudolph came back to life for the Vikings as he caught 2 of 3 targets for 54 yards, with one of them being a connection with Shaun Hill down the middle of the field for a 32-yard gain on the team’s first scoring drive of the night.

Defense: The defense played Russell Wilson tough on Thursday night as they had some special packages set aside for Wilson in particular. The Vikings 1st team defense got to the star quarterback often, sacking him 4 times. “Just trying to play better than we did the previous week,” nickel back Captain Munnerlyn said. “Guys said we were going to get after the quarterback, we were going to cover him up in the back end, try to eliminate the big plays. I thought we did a pretty good job of doing that, especially in the first half. I think we had like four sacks on Russell Wilson - the D-line did a great job getting after him, and in the back end we did a great job covering.” Marcus Sherels went from a pass interference penalty to a pick six in the span of two plays, helping the Vikings knock of the Seahawks 18-11 on Thursday night. Sherels stepped in front of a Trevone Boykin pass and returned the ball 53 yards for a touchdown with 1:23 left in the game.

Returners: The last time someone other than Marcus Sherels returned a punt for the Minnesota Vikings was 2010. While Minnesota has spoken— as they always do— about wanting to find someone else, Sherels looks like a better bet every day to run that remarkable streak to a sixth season.

OL: After the second preseason game against Seattle, the Vikings’ coaches praised the offensive line’s pass protection. This was a welcome improvement after a rocky Week One performance. The coaches continue to stress the need for an improved run blocking push. Joe Berger may displace John Sullivan at center; Berger was getting first team reps during weekend practices. He previously filled in for Brandon Fusco at guard, but Fusco has recently returned to practice. T.J. Clemmings was having trouble beating out free agent Andre Smith in the battle at right tackle, but Clemmings is now getting reps at left tackle after Matt Kalil was forced from practice with a leg injury. The Vikings need to settle on a lineup, but injuries are making that difficult.

Vikings Depth ChartQB: Teddy Bridgewater, Shaun Hill, Joel Stave, Brad SorensenRB: Adrian Peterson, Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata, C.J. Ham, Jhurell PressleyFB: Zach Line, Blake RenaudWR: Stefon Diggs (PR), Charles Johnson, Laquon Treadwell, Adam Thielen, Jarius Wright, Cordarrelle Patterson (KR), Mortiz Boehringer, Isaac Freuchte, Terrell SinkfieldTE: Kyle Rudolph, MyCole Pruitt, David Morgan, Rhett

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Ellison, Brian Leonhardt, Kyle CarterLT: Matt Kalil, Austin ShepherdLG: Alex Boone, Willie Beavers, Zac KerinC: John Sullivan, Joe Berger, Nick EastonRG: Brandon Fusco, Mike Harris, Jeremiah SirlesRT: Andre Smith, T.J. ClemmingsK: Blair WalshDT: Linval Joseph (NT), Sharrif Floyd, Tom Johnson, Kenrick Ellis, Shamar StephenDE: Everson Griffen, Brian Robison, Danielle Hunter, Justin Trattou, Scott Crichton, Zach Moore, Thieren CockranMLB: Eric Kendricks, Kentrell Brothers, Terrance Plummer, Audie ColeOLB: Anthony Barr (S), Chad Greenway (W) , Edmond Robinson (S), Stephen Weatherly, Brandon Watts (W), Emmanuel Lamur (W),Alex Singleton (W), Jake GanusCB: Xavier Rhodes, Captain Munnerlyn, Terence Newman, Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, Marcus Sherels (PR)S: Harrison Smith (FS), Andrew Sendejo (SS), Michael Griffin (SS),Antone Exum (FS), Jayron Kearse, Anthony Harris (SS), Melvin White (FS), John Lowdermilk (SS)

New England Patriots

QB: Tom Brady was expected to play in the Patriots' second preseason game but a last minute accident with a scissors is now going to sideline him for a while. Brady cut his hand while preparing for the game, meaning that Jimmy Garoppolo was surprised with a starting spot. Garoppolo completed 16-of-21 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown to tight end A.J. Derby when he split the coverage down the seam with good timing and accuracy. Jacoby Brissett played in the second half and showed improvement from the previous week but he remains a distant third option on the depth chart.

RB: LeGarrette Blount once again started for the Patriots and he appears to be the foundation of their offense. Talk of Blount being cut during the offseason appears to be a distant memory at this point. Blount is healthy and carrying the ball on early downs. The veteran back carried the ball 11 times for 69 yards and a touchdown, showing off his patented physicality and vision between the tackles. Blount features heavily and James White on screen plays is a staple. White had a big play in Week 1 and followed it up with a 14-yard reception in Week 2. White has performed well with the touches he has received, which is great news because he’ll be forced into a major role following the news that Dion Lewis underwent a second procedure on his knee. Lewis’ timetable for return is unclear but he’ll miss considerable time and possibly be placed on Injured Reserve. Brandon Bolden is generally regarded as a reliable, versatile player and he should

be on the Patriots roster when the season begins. However, Bolden had a fumble against the Bears that will have frustrated his head coach, someone who offers little patience in response to fumbling running backs. Donald Brown didn't play against the Bears but Tyler Gaffney failed to make enough of an impression to tighten his grip on a roster spot.

WR: Julian Edelman earned rave reviews after returning as a full participant in practice. He didn't play against the Bears as a precaution though. Edelman should be able to play in the third preseason game. Chris Hogan didn't play in the first preseason game but was a constant on the field in the first half against the Chicago Bears. Hogan converted a two-point play and showed off assured hands further afield with four receptions for 53 yards. After his big block in Week 1, Aaron Dobson was feisty throughout Bears practices last week. Dobson played as much as Hogan in the first half against the Bears, but only caught one pass for 10 yards. If he wants to stay involved when the injured receivers return, he will need to make more of an impact on the stat sheet. Danny Amendola should be back in full practice by the end of next week. Amendola didn't wear pads but worked out with the team during the week. Despite dislocating his elbow in the first preseason game, rookie Malcolm Mitchell practiced with the Patriots during the week while wearing a massive arm brace. How much Mitchell can do right now is unclear, but his commitment and toughness is obvious and will earn him plaudits from his head coach.

TE: Rob Gronkowski left Monday's practice on his own accord, pulling up and walking off with a trainer. Gronkowski wasn't at practice the following day but all reports have suggested it was a minor issue. Gronkowski was a scratch for the Bears game but that was to be expected regardless of any health issues. Martellus Bennett played a lot in his place and once again played well. The more notable performance from the game against the Bears was from A.J. Derby. Derby has impressed throughout the first two weeks of training camp. He is a good athlete who runs precise routes and can adjust at the catch point. His touchdown reception against the Bears showed off his willingness to work against tight coverage also.

Defense: Jabaal Sheard made a big impression in Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints but also picked up an injury. Sheard missed practice during the week and didn't play against the Bears. Neither did teammate Rob Ninkovich who continues to miss time with a triceps injury. Ninkovich could play as early as Week 3 as his status continues to be viewed through a prism of optimism. Without Sheard or Ninkovich in the lineup, Trey Flowers got more opportunities. Flowers moved around the line a bit, notching a sack of Jay Cutler after lining up across from left guard Cody Whitehair. Flowers beat Whitehair with his hands, out-leveraging the lineman to penetrate past his outside shoulder. ESPN's Mike Reiss highlighted defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, a second-year player, as someone who stood out rushing the passer from the interior. The first team defense struggled overall though,

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failing to consistently rush the passer or play good coverage. Starting cornerback Logan Ryan missed the game also, but that allowed rookie cornerback Cyrus Jones to pick off Brian Hoyer when he completely misread the coverage and Jones jumped ahead of his receiver who ran a curl route.

Returners: Based on practice repetitions, the Patriots would like their 2nd round rookie cornerback Cyrus Jones to take over the starting punt returner duties from wide receivers Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman. Based on Jones’ troubles fielding the ball, though, such a transition is far from certain.

OL: Starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer underwent shoulder surgery and may be placed on Injured Reserve. Marcus Cannon will get the first shot at the right tackle job. Cannon has great size but not been technically consistent. Former Lions starting right tackle LaAdrian Waddle will also get reps. Bryan Stork could be a third option depending on whether the Patriots prefer David Andrews at center. Stork has been battling Andrews for the center position but Stork is tall for a center and has game experience at right tackle. Right guard Shaq Mason has broken his hand and Josh Kline is starting in his place.

Patriots Depth ChartQB: Tom Brady (susp), Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby BrissettRB: LeGarrette Blount (SD), James White (3RB), Tyler Gaffney, Brandon Bolden, D.J. Foster (3RB/WR), Joey Iosefa, Dion Lewis (3RB) (inj)FB: James DevelinWR: Julian Edelman (PR), Danny Amendola (inj), Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, Aaron Dobson, Nate Washington, Keshawn Martin (KR/PR), Matt Slater, Devin Lucien, DeAndre CarterTE: Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett, Clay Harbor, A.J. Derby, Bear Pascoe, Michael Williams (IR)LT: Nate Solder, Cameron FlemingLG: Joe ThuneyC: Bryan Stork, David AndrewsRG: Josh Kline, Shaq Mason (inj), Tre Jackson, Jonathan CooperRT: Marcus Cannon, LaAdrian Waddle, Sebastian Vollmer (IR)K: Stephen GostkowskiNT: Malcom Brown, Alan Branch, Vincent Valentine, Markus KuhnDE: Rob Ninkovich (S/DE) (inj), Jabaal Sheard, Chris Long, Geneo Grissom, Trey Flowers, Rufus JohnsonMLB: Shea McClellin, Elandon RobertsOLB: Jamie Collins (S), Dont′a Hightower (W), Jonathan Freeny (S), Ramon Humber (W), C.J. Johnson, Kevin SnyderCB: Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan, Justin Coleman, Cyrus Jones (PR), Darryl Roberts, Cre′von LeBlanc, Jonathan Jones, V′Angelo BentleyS: Devin McCourty (FS/CB), Patrick Chung (SS), Duron

Harmon (SS/FS), Jordan Richards (SS), Brandon King (FS), Nate Ebner (SS), Vinnie Sunseri, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Cedric Thompson

New Orleans Saints

QB: According to NOLA.com's Josh Katzenstein, “In a shocking turn of events, the New Orleans Saints' offense has looked like the more problematic unit through two preseason games. The Saints lost their second straight exhibition game, falling to the Texans 16-9 Saturday night at NRG Stadium, as the offensive line struggled from start to finish.” Drew Brees was sacked once for a 14-yard loss, and completed just 5-of-8 passes for 29 yards along with an interception. Luke McCown was also sacked once for a 5-yard loss. He completed 14-of-19 passes for 118 yards. Garrett Grayson was miserable, completing just 4-of-15 passes for 50 yards and an interception. As Jeff Duncan noted after the game, “The Saints' seven turnovers in their first two preseason games have led to 32 points for their opponents. And it actually could be worse. The Saints have fumbled three other times and managed to recover the loose balls or have officials reverse the calls on the field.” Ball security has been lax through two preseason games, in spite of it being a point of emphasis for head coach Sean Payton.

RB: Duncan of NOLA.com also commented on the New Orleans' backs: “For the second consecutive week, the running game has been missing in action. The Saints gained just 23 yards on their first 13 carries. Their longest carry in the first half covered 6 yards... So far, no good. In 56 preseason carries, the Saints have exactly one run of more than 10 yards by a running back.” The one run of greater than 10 yards was an 11-yard run by Daniel Lasco on Saturday night. Mark Ingram managed just 11 yards on 7 rushing attempts and had one reception for no gain. C.J. Spiller ran twice for 3 yards but contributed as a receiver (16 yards on two receptions). Marcus Murphy incurred coach Payton's wrath by fumbling a punt early in the game: “We get a three-and-out to start the game, and the first punt's on the ground. It just can't happen. We'll find another returner.” Murphy did not have a touch on offense after the muffed punt, but he did get another crack at returns later in the game.

WR: Top wide receivers Brandin Cooks (undisclosed minor injury) and Willie Snead (undisclosed minor injury) didn't play in the second preseason game, leaving hyped rookie Mike Thomas to fend for himself. Thomas had a rough outing versus the aggressive Texans; he only caught one pass for 5 yards. Brandon Coleman dropped two catchable passes (and narrowly avoided having one drop called a fumble), even though he led the Saints in receiving on Saturday (10 targets for 6/47/0 receiving). “I thought he was just OK,” said Payton. “And honestly, it's been kind of pedestrian throughout the

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camp. But there's certain things you see and you see and you see and then all of a sudden they reveal themselves in a game and you're not surprised.” Brees was more supportive of Coleman, “I think as we go through OTAs and preseason and everything else there's a lot of growing still to do - for all of us. And yeah he's one of those guys. Of course any young player each year, especially in those years 1, 2, 3, 4, you wanna see those strides and those increases. And listen, I think there's some things that he's done well, and I certainly think that he would say there's some things that he could do better. I would say that about myself.” TommyLee Lewis continues to make a case for the 53-man roster (he had 2/25/0 receiving on three targets, second on the team Saturday) and was inserted into the return game in place of Murphy after the muffed punt.

TE: RaShaun Allen had a rough outing while playing with third-string quarterback Garrett Grayson. Allen dropped a potential touchdown pass and also mishandled another potential long-gainer, winding up with three targets for zero receptions on the night. Coby Fleener reeled in both of his targets for 12 yards, and Josh Hill had a 7-yard reception on his lone chance. Despite the depth chart mix up from earlier this week (when Fleener was briefly listed as fourth-string before the team corrected the depth chart), Fleener is the clear #1 tight end this year followed by Hill. The other spots at this position are still up for grabs.

Defense: Nick Fairley played well against the Texans, with a sack of Brock Osweiler and a pair of stuffed runs. He wound up with four tackles, one for a loss and a sack in limited snaps. This is good news after the team lost rookie defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins due to a broken leg during Monday's practice (he's out at least six weeks of the regular season). In some other good news, projected starting cornerbacks Delvin Breaux and P.J. Williams both started and played well despite being carted off the practice field last Thursday. Williams gave up a touchdown in coverage but also had an interception Saturday night. According to NOLA.com's Duncan, safety Kenny Vaccaro “is going to make a living at the line of scrimmage this season. He's basically a fourth linebacker in running situations. Vaccaro has a good chance to lead the team in tackles this season. He finished with four tackles in less than one half of work [on Saturday].” Cornerback De'Vante Harris is making a strong run at the final 53-man roster (he had three tackles, two solo, on Saturday).

K: Both kickers did their job in the second preseason game, with Kai Forbath converting from 27 and 37 yards, and Connor Barth hitting from 33. Barth took the opening kickoff in the very tight battle, but this one will likely be decided in the remaining preseason games.

Returners: Despite looking like the Saints’ best returner for long stretches, Marcus Murphy finds himself in a precarious position after fumbling a return attempt in a second consecutive preseason game. Afterwards, Sean Payton minced no words, “We get a three-and-out to start the game, and the

first punt's on the ground. It just can't happen. We'll find another returner.”

OL: After a lackluster performance against the Houston Texans in Week Two, the Saints’ offensive line is cause of great concern. Texans defensive end Jadaveon Clowney had a big night, beating both Zach Strief and Andrus Peat for sacks of quarterback Drew Brees. Peat started the game at right guard, and looked far more solid there, than he did at left tackle later in the contest. Peat may simply be better suited to play guard at the NFL level. The other starting guard, Tim Lelito, had an especially rough performance, and if the team had a better option than Senio Kelemete, his job would be in serious danger.

Saints Depth ChartQB: Drew Brees, Luke McCown, Garrett GraysonRB: Mark Ingram, Tim Hightower, C.J. Spiller, Travaris Cadet (KR/PR), Daniel Lasco, Marcus Murphy (KR/PR)FB: Austin Johnson, Sione HoumaWR: Brandin Cooks, Michael Thomas, Willie Snead, Brandon Coleman, Tommylee Lewis, Reggie Bell, R.J. Harris, Kyle Prater, Jared Dangerfield, Jordan Williams, Jake Lampman, Vince Brown (IR)TE: Coby Fleener, Josh Hill, Michael Hoomanawanui, RaShaun Allen, Chris Manhertz, Garrett GriffinLT: Terron ArmsteadLG: Andrus PeatC: Max UngerRG: Tim Lelito, Senio KelemeteRT: Zach StriefK: Kai Forbath, Connor BarthDT: Tyeler Davison (NT), Sheldon Rankins (inj), Nick Fairley, John Jenkins (NT), Lawrence Virgil, Ashaad Mabry (NT)DE: Cameron Jordan, Kasim Edebali (S), Bobby Richardson, Obum Gwachum, Darryl Tapp, David Onyemata, D.J. Pettway, C.J. Wilson, Matt ShaughnessyMLB: James Laurinaitis, Michael Mauti (S), Nathan StuparOLB: Dannell Ellerbe (W), Stephone Anthony (S), Craig Robertson (W), Davis Tull (W), Tony Steward, Erik Harris, Dillon Lee, Hau′oli Kikaha (IR)CB: Delvin Breaux, PJ Williams, Damian Swann, De′Vante Harris, Ken Crawley, Brandon Dixon, Brian Dixon, Jimmy Pruitt, Kyle Wilson (IR)S: Kenny Vaccaro (SS), Jairus Byrd (FS), Vonn Bell (FS), Alden Darby (SS), Roman Harper (SS), Trae Elston (SS), Jamarca Sanford (IR)

New York Giants

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QB: The Giants had a forgettable preseason game versus the Bills, losing 21-0. Eli Manning was 4-of-9 for 44 yards and failed to find the end zone. Ryan Nassib had a second consecutive nightmare performance, this time completing just 2-of-12 passes for 25 yards while being sacked twice. Logan Thomas was no better with 17 yards on 2-of-4 passing and two interceptions. As a team, the Giants completed 8-of-25 passes for 64 yards and two interceptions. Needless to say, head coach Ben McAdoo is displeased with the state of his offense: "I just finished talking to the team. I told them we worked too hard to put a performance like that on film. They were more physical than we were, that was obvious. We need to take a long look in the mirror and bounce back."

RB: The running game had more success versus the Bills – the team ran 19 times for 102 yards (5.4 per carry) but it wasn’t all good. Andre Williams (15 yards on six carries) lost a critical fumble which all but eradicated the goodwill he built in last week’s strong performance. Bobby Rainey – probably a long shot to make the 53-man roster – had 70 yards on two carries thanks to a 67-yard breakaway. Starter Rashad Jennings found little room to run and gained 10 yards on four carries. Rookie Paul Perkins was no better (three carries for five yards). The Giants offense needs to find a semblance of consistency when it comes to run blocking, or the explosive attack we witnessed in 2015 will be a distant memory.

WR: It seems like a distant memory when we were praising the Giants receiver depth. Two weeks into preseason games and it looks like the team has a bunch of non-performers. Odell Beckham is fine, but even he struggled against the Bills catching only one of his three targets. Rookie Sterling Shepard has been a revelation in practices but failed to catch a pass this week versus Buffalo. The third preseason “dress rehearsal” needs to look much different than what we’ve seen over the last two weeks.

TE: Larry Donnell and Will Tye both want the starting job badly, and it could well turn into a committee situation; much to the chagrin of fantasy owners. Against the Bills it was Tye who made his mark – albeit a small one; he caught two passes for 14 yards.

Defense: The Giants had their moments against the Bills but ultimately it wasn’t good enough. The team had three sacks, nine tackles for loss and five passes defensed, but most of that damage was done against the Bills backups. Tyrod Taylor completed 7-of-10 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. The Bills couldn’t run the ball – which is something. Landon Collins was all over the field with seven tackles and Olivier Vernon was a force (for the second consecutive week) as he brought pressure and sacked the quarterback. Free agency cornerback Janoris Jenkins also notched a sack on a blitz.

K: Starting kicker Josh Brown was suspended for one game due to a domestic violence charge. The team had been carrying Tom Obarski, who had a great chance to get at least a

one-game regular season audition as a starting kicker, but he missed a 27-yard field goal. On Monday, the team signed Randy Bullock, a veteran kicker who most recently replaced Nick Folk last season with the Jets. Bullock will have the chance to push Brown for the job.

Returners: Top returner Dwayne Harris suffered a scare in New York’s second preseason game, leaving the first half with an apparent knee injury. Fortunately, x-rays were negative and Harris should be back at full strength soon.

OL: The Giants’ offensive line was without starting left guard Justin Pugh in the preseason game versus the Bills. Push has missed time with a bruised shoulder. Bobby Hart started in Pugh’s place. The line had a very rough night against the Bills as left tackle Ereck Flowers, right guard John Jerry and right tackle Marshall Newhouse all missed blocks and were called for penalties. The line didn’t produce until third stringers were in the game, forging a hole on Bobby Rainey’s 69-yard run. Some beat writers are concerned, calling the line the Achilles’ heel of the team. Early returns support that observation.

Giants Depth ChartQB: Eli Manning, Ryan Nassib, Josh Woodrum, Logan ThomasRB: Rashad Jennings, Shane Vereen (3RB), Andre Williams, Paul Perkins, Orleans Darkwa, Bobby Rainey, Marshaun CoprichFB: Will Johnson, Nikita WhitlockWR: Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, Dwayne Harris (KR/PR), Victor Cruz (inj), Geremy Davis, Roger Lewis, Myles White, Darius Powe, Tavarres King, Anthony Dable, KJ MayeTE: Will Tye, Larry Donnell (inj), Matt LaCosse, Jerell Adams, Ryan MalleckLT: Ereck Flowers, Byron StingilyLG: Justin PughC: Weston RichburgRG: John Jerry, Adam GettisRT: Marshall Newhouse, Bobby HartK: Josh Brown (susp), Randy BullockDT: Damon Harrison (NT), Johnathan Hankins, Jay Bromley, Montori Hughes, Louis NixDE: Olivier Vernon, Jason Pierre-Paul, Kerry Wynn, Owa Odighizuwa, Stansly Maponga, Mike RoseMLB: Jasper Brinkley, Keenan Robinson, Kelvin Sheppard, B.J. Goodson (M), Uani Unga (IR)OLB: Devon Kennard (S), Jonathan Casillas (W), Mark Herzlich (S),J.T. Thomas (W), Nico JohnsonCB: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Janoris Jenkins, Leon Hall, Trevin Wade, Eli Apple, Bennett Jackson, Leon McFadden (RFA)S: Landon Collins (FS), Darian Thompson (SS), Nat Berhe (SS), Cooper Taylor (SS) (inj), Mykkele Thompson (FS), Justin Currie (SS), Andrew Adams

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New York Jets

QB: The Jets quarterback position is clear at the top—Ryan Fitzpatrick is in charge even though he has been uneven in preseason action so far and looked shaky against Washington. The main battle is between Geno Smith and Bryce Petty, and so far, all indications are that Petty has outplayed Smith. Since being demoted by Fitzpatrick’s return, Smith has struggled and Zach Braziller of the New York Post reported Smith slammed his helmet into the ground after nearly being intercepted multiple times, fumbling the ball and struggling with accuracy. Head coach Todd Bowles has been cagey about whether Petty is pushing Smith for the No. 2 job, but the second year quarterback has been getting a few more snaps in practice and got a ton of time in the game against Washington. Petty played the entire second half, and went 16-for-26 for 242 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Smith, meanwhile, played a little over a quarter, was picked off once and completed 6-of-13 passes for 47 yards. Smith’s interception was brutal, as he had plenty of time and threw into double coverage. On top of that he appeared to stare down receiver Charone Peake, which put Blackmon and corner Dashaun Phillips in perfect position to pick the pass off. There’s plenty of rumor that Smith is on the trading block, or will be soon, though his value is fairly low given his play of late. It certainly appears that Petty has made the case to stick on the roster, which makes moving on from Smith—who was not a pick from this front office and coaching staff—seem likely. Christian Hackenberg has yet to take a snap in preseason games, which is a sure sign that he’s not ready for prime time quite yet. The Jets knew he was a project and it appears he very much continues to be. That said, it still seems too risky to try and sneak him on to the practice squad without someone grabbing him. It isn’t unprecedented for a team to keep four quarterbacks, but it is uncommon and given the need for depth elsewhere on the team, it seems unlikely. The Jets have a hard decision to make, and given that we expect most of the next game to feature Fitzpatrick, they may not be able to make it before the end of preseason.

RB: The Jets were very careful with their running backs against Washington, allowing Bilal Powell to take three carries and leaving the other six carries to fullbacks Tommy Bohanon and Julian Howsare as well as quarterback Bryce Petty. The offense was shaky to start the game, but Powell provided a little juice with his 23 yards. Matt Forte might get a couple of reps in Game 3 against the cross-town Giants, which is a great sign for a guy who has been hampered all camp with a hamstring issue. Forte was back in team drills this week and looked good, so the Jets can breathe a little easier at a position that has been hammered by injuries. He should be ready for Week 1 and he and Powell will split carries, though Forte is still expected to take most of the carries. Finally off the PUP list, Khiry Robinson is waiting for full clearance so he can have contact as he comes back from a fractured tibia. The Jets put Bernard Pierce on Injured Reserve, and signed

former Falcons back Antone Smith. He’s seen little action since a solid 2014 with the Falcons, and has injury issues. But he’s a home run hitter if he can stay healthy.

WR: The biggest news at the position is that Quincy Enunwa—who is assumed to have the No. 3 spot locked up—left the game against Washington with a concussion. Enunwa was injured while covering a punt return. The severity of the concussion and how long he might be out have not been released. While rookie Charone Peake has been a big story, he has competition from undrafted free agent Robby Anderson, who had six catches for 131 yards and a touchdown. Anderson made two big plays—a 50-yard reception and the 46-yard touchdown both from quarterback Bryce Petty. The Jets can only hold onto so many receivers and if Anderson continues to build on this game, the team will have hard decisions to make. Rookie Jalin Marshall had a great game against Jacksonville but struggled with drops against Washington; he’s a roster long shot with two weeks to go.

TE: Once again, Jace Amaro has reverted to form after a promising start to camp. He caught two of four targets but had bad drops on the other two looks. All the work with the JUGS machines seems to have been for naught, as the issue of dropped passes has again become a consistent thing. Amaro got significant time when receiver Quincy Enunwa left the game with a concussion but didn’t do anything with the opportunity.

Defense: The Jets secondary continues to struggle as both Buster Skrine and Marcus Williams got abused by a Washington team without DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon in the lineup. Rookie tackle Deon Simon has been playing well in camp and he had solid moments against Washington as well, including a fourth down stop. First round pick Darron Lee spent all his time with the ones, and he showed well in all aspects of the game, especially in pursuit.

K: Rookie UDFA Ross Martin extinguished whatever pulse he had in the kicker battle when he missed an extra point in the second preseason game against Washington. Nick Folk is a shoo-in to remain the team’s kicker.

Returners: Undrafted free agent Jalin Marshall signed with the Jets because he felt like he would have a chance to make the roster as a return specialist. So far it’s looked like an excellent decision, as Marshall has continued to excel and looks like a better bet for the final 53-man roster every day.

OL: The first team offense had a rough night against Washington. Center Nick Mangold’s absence was a big part of the problem; he was given the night off for precautionary reasons. Wes Johnson got the start at center and was later spelled by Dakota Dozier. Right guard Brian Winters had a holding penalty and several missed blocks. Unfortunately, there are no credible threats to his job at present. Right tackle Breno Giacomini remains on the PUP list and coaches say he

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is at least a week away from practicing. Brent Qvale got the start in Giacomini’s place after Ben Ijalana got the start in the preseason opener. The duo are splitting reps evenly midway through the preseason.

Jets Depth ChartQB: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith, Christian Hackenberg, Bryce PettyRB: Matt Forte, Bilal Powell, Khiry Robinson, Dominique Williams, Romar Morris, Antone Smith , Lache SeastrunkFB: Tommy Bohanon, Julian Howsare (LB)WR: Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Quincy Enunwa, Devin Smith, Charone Peake, Kenbrell Thompkins, Jalin Marshall (KR), Jeremy Ross, Robby Anderson, Chandler Worthy, Titus Davis, Joseph Anderson, Kyle WilliamsTE: Jace Amaro, Kellen Davis, Zach Sudfeld, Brandon Bostick, Wes Saxton, Jason Vander LaanLT: Ryan Clady, Brandon ShellLG: James Carpenter, Dakota DozierC: Nick Mangold, Wesley JohnsonRG: Brian Winters, Jarvis HarrisonRT: Ben Ijalana, Brent Qvale, Breno Giacomini (PUP)K: Nick Folk, Ross MartinDT: Steve McLendon, Deon SimonDE: Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson (susp), Leonard Williams, Jarvis Jenkins, Mike Catapano, Lawrence ThomasILB: David Harris (M), Erin Henderson, Darron Lee, Taiwan Jones, Julian StanfordOLB: Lorenzo Mauldin, Jordan Jenkins, Trevor Reilly, Josh Martin, Deion Barnes, Freddie BishopCB: Darrelle Revis, Buster Skrine, Marcus Williams, Dee Milliner, Juston Burris, Darryl Morris, Dexter McDougleS: Marcus Gilchrist (FS), Calvin Pryor (SS), Dion Bailey (FS), Rontez Miles (SS), Ronald Martin (SS)

Oakland Raiders

QB: Derek Carr looks poised to take another positive step forward in his third season. We know he has a big, accurate arm, but he has also shown improved timing with his top receivers and he is extremely comfortable in the leadership role that comes with being a franchise quarterback. Carr went just 9-of-13 for 38 yards and one interception against Green Bay. He was unconcerned with the poor stat line and came away excited about his growing rapport with Amari Cooper. "The one that we hit down the Green Bay sideline, that was such growth, because I alerted him in the huddle that, hey, if they play a certain coverage, to be ready for that on that particular play. They played it and he knew what to do. He ran the route perfectly and knew where the ball was going to be. That stuff where we can be on the same page, we can grow like that and do things like that. Last year I don't know if we

would have done that. That is definite growth and that was good to see." Connor Cook played 17 snaps, finishing the game 6-of-9 for 101 yards, and one interception.

“I think Coach Musgrave called some good plays to get me in a rhythm early,” said Cook. “Guys were getting open. Guys were making plays. Guys were catching the ball. It was just unfortunate that I made a stupid decision like that, but right now its preseason, just learn from it, and don’t make the same mistake twice.” “I’ve been pleased with the way (Cook’s) come out in the first two opportunities,” said Jack Del Rio. “He’s come out and showed poise and he’d been pretty accurate throwing the ball and running the offense and making good decisions.”

RB: Latavius Murray looks locked in as the Raiders workhorse back. Through two preseason games, he has been on the field for all but one of the snaps with the full first-team offense. Murray played most of the first quarter before heading to the bench. "We just weren't able to get anything going,” Murray said. “We just didn't play like we know we are capable of playing." The second quarter featured Taiwan Jones and Jamize Olawale running behind the first-team offensive line. Neither stood out and neither is a serious threat to Murray. But both should make the team and Olawale should see a handful of touches each game. Somewhat surprisingly, DeAndre Washington did not get any snaps in the first half with Derek Carr and the first-team offensive line. He had a bad drop but otherwise showed well with the backups, playing most of the third quarter. Washington has impressed Latavius Murray. "He has been doing some great things in training camp,” Murray said. “So I think we are going to complement each other well and do some good things in the running game." Washington’s main role early in the season is likely to come in the passing game. “Third-down situations, I think that’s why they brought me in, to create mismatches against opposing defenses,” Washington said. Jalen Richard remains out of practice with a knee injury and is hoping to return in time to see the field in the fourth preseason game.

WR: Amari Cooper caught two of his three targets for 21 yards against the Packers. He ran a beautiful route on a 20-yard completion down the sideline. Later, he mistimed his jump on a deep ball thrown over his head that was picked off by the Packers. Michael Crabtree continues to have a strong camp and is ready to pick up where he left off last season. Seth Roberts played almost every snap with the first team offense and has created some separation between himself and Andre Holmes in the competition for the third receiver job. Should either Cooper or Crabtree miss any time with injury, Roberts would be a major part of the offense. With the top four set, the only drama is who will step up and grab the fifth receiver spot. Undrafted rookie Johnny Holton has made splash plays numerous times throughout training camp and the preseason. His ability as a return man and on special teams makes him the favorite to win the fifth receiver job.

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TE: Lee Smith is listed as the starter at tight end, but he is used almost exclusively as a blocker. Clive Walford continues to have a strong camp and will be the primary pass catcher at the position. He was not targeted at all in Week 2 of the preseason.

Defense: Ben Heeney, starting at inside linebacker, will be a key for the Raiders defense this season. He is speedy and instinctive, but he has a tendency to overrun plays and struggles at times to get off blocks. Heeney had a rough game against Green Bay and his play was one of the main reasons Eddie Lacy and the Packers gashed the Raiders on the ground. Sixth-round rookie Cory James has proved a quick learner and could push Heeney for playing time at linebacker. James is “an active guy,” Del Rio said. “He’s picking up our scheme very well. He’s a guy that’s going to be productive. He flies around. He gets around the football. We’ve been happy with him this entire spring.” Mario Edwards Jr. suffered a hip injury last week and will miss 4-6 weeks. With the injury occurring on August 13th, the best-case scenario would have Edwards ready to play in the September 11th opener. DJ Hayden remains ahead of TJ Carrie in the competition for the slot cornerback job. The Raiders depth and talent in the secondary took a major leap forward this offseason with the additions of Reggie Nelson, Sean Smith and Karl Joseph. The unit showed well in training camp practices.

K: The kicker competition in Oakland is losing intrigue, as mainstay Sebastian Janikowski made his 46-yard attempt, and challenger Giorgio Tavecchio missed an extra point. Janikowski job was thought to be in jeopardy heading into camp because of his $3.6 million price tag, but he’s done enough to maintain his roster spot heading into the third week of the preseason.

Returners: Taiwan Jones has been a long-time kickoff returner for the Raiders, but the team would not be opposed to upgrading the spot in 2016. GM Reggie McKenzie attended the preseason game between Los Angeles and Kansas City this past weekend, fueling speculation that he was scouting potential return specialists who might find themselves among the first round of cuts.

OL: The offensive line continues to play at a high level, and should be one of the best units in the league this season. The guards are looking extremely strong but center Rodney Hudson made a bad mistake against the Packers; his holding penalty wiped out a 16-yard run by quarterback Derek Carr. Menelik Watson continues to hold off Austin Howard at right tackle, and Howard could find himself as the swing tackle if Watson can stay healthy for another few weeks.

Raiders Depth ChartQB: Derek Carr, Matt McGloin, Connor Cook, Garrett GilbertRB: Latavius Murray, Deandre Washington, Taiwan Jones (KR), Jalen Richard, George Atkinson III

FB: Jamize Olawale, Marcel Reece (susp)WR: Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Seth Roberts, Andre Holmes, Johnny Holton, K.J. Brent, Nathan Palmer, Max McCaffrey, Jaydon Mickens, Marvin Hall, Joe HansleyTE: Clive Walford, Lee Smith, Mychal Rivera, Ryan O′Malley, Gabe Holmes, Colton UnderwoodLT: Donald Penn, Matt McCantsLG: Kelechi Osemele, Jon FelicianoC: Rodney HudsonRG: Gabe Jackson, Vadal AlexanderRT: Menalik Watson, Austin HowardK: Sebastian JanikowskiDT: Justin Ellis (NT), Jihad Ward, Dan Williams (NT), Stacy McGee, Darius Latham (NT), Leon OrrDE: Kahlil Mack (S), Mario Edwards Jr. (inj), Denico Autry, Shilique Calhoun, Damontre Moore, James Crowser, Branden JacksonMLB: Ben Heeney, Cory James, John Lotulelei, Kyrie Wilson, Chase WilliamsOLB: Malcolm Smith (W), Bruce Irvin (S/DE), Aldon Smith (susp), Neiron Ball, Korey Toomer, Daren Bates, Neiron Ball, Perez FordCB: Sean Smith, David Amerson, D.J. Hayden, TJ Carrie (FS/PR), Neiko Thorpe, Dexter McDonald, Antonio Hamilton, Kenneth DurdenS: Reggie Nelson (FS), Karl Joseph (SS), Nate Allen (FS) (inj), Dewey McDonald (SS), Keith McGill (SS), Brynden Trawick (FS),Chris Hackett (FS), Chris Edwards, Jimmy Hall

Philadelphia Eagles

QB: Carson Wentz participated in throwing sessions on the side of practice over the weekend, and was unsurprisingly sore from the process. "I don’t know what’s normal. I’ve never dealt with this before," he said. "It’s killing me. I want to be out there, but it’s just one of those things that takes time." The team isn’t going to rush Wentz back from his hairline rib fracture, but the rookie quarterback hopes to be cleared to play in the 4th (and final) preseason game. With Wentz sitting out, McLeod Bethel-Thompson has gotten valuable reps in practice and versus the Steelers in Week Two of the preseason. All three quarterbacks (Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel and Bethel-Thompson) were limited to dink-and-dunk passing against the Steelers. Starter Sam Bradford completed 14-of-19 passes for 115 yards (6.1 per attempt) but couldn’t find the end zone. Chase Daniel had a similar evening with 82 yards on 16 attempts (5.1 per throw). Bethel-Thompson rounded out the night completing 2-of-4 passes for 22 yards (5.5 per attempt). While the Eagles offense wasn’t explosive against the Steelers, it’s clear Doug Pederson is going to run the offense differently than Chip Kelly. For example, he plans on giving Sam Bradford plenty of opportunity to audible. "It's not every play, but there are certain plays that we give him the

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opportunity to change or to change a route or to change a protection, whatever he feels necessary at the time," Pederson said. "[Preseason] games we try not to show a bunch of things on film that way to our opponents. But we give all the quarterbacks the freedom to make adjustments where necessary and it's stuff that we coach up here in practice and stuff that we've done in the past, give them tools to give us the best chance on any play."

RB: Ryan Mathews ran five times for 18 yards (3.6 per attempt) in an otherwise quiet game versus the Steelers. More important than the box score is Mathews’ continued good healthy, ability to practice hard, and clearly defined role as the team’s starter. In spite of reports that Darren Sproles would play a major role in place of Mathews, it’s hard not to conclude that Kenjon Barner is the true backup tailback. He’s looked good throughout the preseason, and was the best player on the field against the Steelers; Barner ran six times for 41 yards (6.8 per rush) and scored the team’s lone offensive touchdown. Sproles didn’t have a carry but did catch three passes for 8 yards. Byron Marshall and Cedric O’Neal face long odds to make the 53-man roster but each worked a few series versus the Steelers.

WR: Jordan Matthews continues to rehab his bone bruise and his timetable for return remains uncertain. The receivers played better than feared against the Steelers, although the position remains of paramount concern entering next week's critical "dress rehearsal." With Jordan Matthews still nursing a bone bruise, all eyes were on Nelson Agholor and he managed to impress with two receptions for 30 yards in limited action. Unfortunately that’s about where the platitudes end and the questions begin. Recently acquired Dorial Green-Beckham was targeted twice but failed to make a catch. Rueben Randle -- who is considered to be on the roster bubble -- had two catches but only for 10 yards; he's expected to be a vertical threat yet was quite the opposite. Josh Huff matched Randle with a paltry 5-yard average. The lone bright spot, outside of Agholor, was Paul Turner. Turner remains a long shot to make the 53-man roster but shone against Pittsburgh with three catches for 44 yards. 

TE: As we’ve noted in prior weeks, Doug Pederson values the tight end position and wants to keep four on the active roster. The most likely quarter – Zach Ertz, Brent Celek, Trey Burton and Chris Pantale – all made plays against the Steelers in the second preseason game. Ertz converted three of four targets for 24 yards and continues to be the team’s most consistent playmaker in practice and against preseason opponents.

Defense: As was rumored last week, the Eagles signed veteran linebacker Stephen Tulloch to a 1-year, $3 million deal. Tulloch has a long history with new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and should not only provide a veteran leader who understands the scheme, but a sure tackler in the middle of an attacking defense. The defense, on the whole, deserves kudos for its play versus the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night.

The Eagles won 17-0 and intercepted quarterback Landry Jones four times. Nolan Carroll took his interception into the end-zone for a pick six; and credited the play to extensive film study leading up to the game. While the offense has plenty of questions, the defense appears to be poised to finally capitalize on the talent that was underutilized by the prior coaching regime. Philly.com’s Sam Donnellon compares Jim Schwartz to Jim Johnson – arguing that Schwartz may be the key to Doug Pederson having a successful first season as an NFL head coach.

K: Caleb Sturgis has been leading the kicker competition throughout the summer, but he got hit in the head by an errant punt and suffered a concussion before the second preseason game, opening the door for Cody Parkey. Parkey hit a 40-yard field goal attempt and both extra points. Sturgis has the lead, but his concussion makes this an open battle with a few weeks left of the preseason.

Returners: Punt returner and ageless wonder Darren Sproles finds his roster spot secure heading into the season. The same cannot be said for top kickoff returner Josh Huff. Eagles coach Doug Pederson hinted that Huff would get an extended audition in Week 3 of the preseason, “We've got to start getting those (veteran) players, Josh Huff being in that group, more touches, more reps; offensively and on special teams. I would expect his workload to potentially increase this week.”

OL: In light of the Lane Johnson 10-game suspension, the offensive line was shuffled around for Week Two versus the Steelers. Left guard Allen Barbre was moved to right tackle. Third round rookie Isaac Seumalo will get the first crack at Barbre’s left guard spot. Seumalo had a mixed evening against the Steelers, at one point getting called for holding which wiped out a big gain. Rookie Dillon Gordon has been compared to Jason Peters – which is as heady praise as anyone can give to a young Eagles lineman.

Eagles Depth ChartQB: Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel, Carson Wentz, McLeod Bethel-ThompsonRB: Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles (3RB/PR), Kenjon Barner, Wendell Smallwood, Byron MarshallWR: Jordan Matthews (inj), Dorial Green-Beckham, Nelson Agholor, Rueben Randle, Josh Huff (KR), Chris Givens, Paul Turner, Cayleb Jones, Marcus JohnsonTE: Zach Ertz, Brent Celek, Trey Burton, Chris Pantale, M.J. McFarlandLT: Jason Peters, Andrew Gardner, Halapoulivaati VaitaiLG: Isaac Seumalo, Josh AndrewsC: Jason Kelce, Stefen Wisniewski, Barrett JonesRG: Brandon Brooks, Matt TobinRT: Allen Barbre, Lane Johnson (susp)K: Caleb Sturgis, Cody ParkeyDT: Fletcher Cox, Bennie Logan, Beau Allen, Mike Martin, Travis Raciti

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DE: Vinny Curry, Connor Barwin, Brandon Graham, Taylor Hart, Marcus Smith, Alex Mccalister, Ryan MuellerMLB: Jordan Hicks, Stephen Tulloch, Joe WalkerOLB: Nigel Bradham (S), Mychal Kendricks (W), Najee Goode (W), Bryan Braman (S), Travis Long, Deontae SkinnerCB: Leodis McKelvin, Nolan Carroll II, Ron Brooks, Jalen Mills (FS), Eric Rowe, Blake Countess, Jaylen Watkins (RFA), Denzel RiceS: Malcolm Jenkins (FS), Rodney McLeod (SS), Jerome Couplin (SS), JaCorey Shepherd (FS), Chris Maragos (SS), Ed Reynolds (FS)

Pittsburgh Steelers

QB: It was another uneventful week for Ben Roethlisberger, as he once again sat out the team’s preseason game. Pittsburgh should probably cover him in bubble wrap considering what’s happening on the depth chart behind him. Bruce Gradkowski, who was competing with Landry Jones for the backup job, was injured in the first preseason game. The injury was confirmed to be a hamstring tear, and Gradkowski could be out for the season. Landry Jones started Thursday night’s game against Philadelphia and threw four interceptions in a half of work. Not all were his fault, and the team is likely to stick with Jones as the primary backup due to his performance in camp and a shallow veteran quarterback market. Behind Jones, second-year player Dustin Vaughan figured to have a chance to make the team as the third quarterback, but he also got hurt in Thursday’s game, leading the team to acquire Bryn Renner. Pittsburgh has historically kept three quarterbacks, so the injuries to Gradkowski and Vaughan could be impactful to the final 53-man roster as Vaughan and Renner will compete for the third string job.

RB: The biggest story in Pittsburgh this week was the reduction of LeVeon Bell’s suspension from four games to three. Also significant for Bell is that he stays in the same stage of the NFL’s substance abuse program, meaning that his next infraction would be a four-game suspension instead of 10. Veteran backup DeAngelo Williams, who is expected to shoulder the load when Bell is out, was given another night off for the team’s second preseason (as was Bell). It’s just not worth risking injury to the team’s most important offensive pieces. Behind the top two, the battle for third-string duties wages on between Fitzgerald Toussaint and Daryl Richardson. Mike Tomlin spoke about the competition at length this week. Tomlin called Toussaint “steady Eddie” but said he needs more splash. Meanwhile, he said that Richardson makes big plays but wants to see “more detail in his (Richardson’s) work.”

WR: Antonio Brown and Markus Wheaton were given the night off on Thursday. Wheaton is nursing a minor soft tissue injury, but it’s not expected to hamper him much longer. In their absence, Sammie Coates and Eli Rogers got another extended look. Coates struggled again. Last week, it was fumbles that plagued him, but this week, he and Landry Jones struggled to be on the same page. Coates was targeted on two of Jones’ interceptions, and he took blame for the first. Rogers, meanwhile, continued to see his arrow point upward. He caught four passes and returned a punt 17 yards, looking very shifty at all times. Darrius Heyward-Bey had another dropped pass, further failing to capitalize on Coates’ poor in-game performances and earn more snaps.

TE: The Ladarius Green Saga continues, as the team continues to insist that Green is on the PUP List due to his ankle – not due to headaches and concussion-related problems. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote that Green is still a mystery – and an expensive one at that. Green himself finally came out and discussed his situation, but that media session served only to further muddy the waters as Green maintained multiple times that he is on the PUP list for his ankle and not headaches. Behind Green, Jesse James is struggling with blocking; he whiffed on a pass rusher that led to Landry Jones’ fourth interception. Xavier Grimble also had a dropped pass on Thursday night. Green’s presence would be a huge boost to this offense because neither James nor Grimble appear to be starter-ready. But it’s more likely than not at this point that Green won’t be playing by Week 1, if at all.

Defense: The biggest defensive story out of Pittsburgh this week is an off-the-field item. James Harrison is scheduled to meet with Roger Goodell about the Al-Jazeera report that alleged his use of performance enhancing drugs. On the field, the defense played well, especially considering it was without three of the team’s last four first-round picks in Jarvis Jones, Bud Dupree, and Artie Burns. Burns returned to practice earlier this week, though, which allows the team to move Doran Grant to safety and contribute in a dangerously thin position group. Burns still has a chance to become a starter, but he’s too far behind right now to overtake William Gay or Ross Cockrell in Week One. Burns profiles more as a boundary corner, which means that when he does get on the field, he could perhaps push Gay inside, where he has past experience at slot corner.

Rookie Sean Davis has been given the chance to take the reins as the team’s top slot corner after the team lost second-year Senquez Golson to injury last week, but Davis’ performance has been up and down. He has impressed Mike Tomlin with his conditioning though. Former Steeler Keenan Lewis was released by New Orleans this week. Rumors have surfaced that the team might want to bring Lewis back due to a thin position group, but Lewis’ age (30) and injury situation (lingering hip issue, multiple injuries that led to only six games played last season) may lead the team to look elsewhere for help.

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Returners: Preseason star Eli Rogers has been the best punt returner this preseason, though they’ve been holding Antonio Brown out rather than risk injury. If the Steelers are serious about lightening Brown’s special teams workload, (and they’re able to resist the temptation of a proven all-pro standing on the sidelines), Rogers is ready for the task.

OL: Despite losing 17-0 to in-state rival Philadelphia, there were positive signs for the Steelers’ offensive line. Center Maurkice Pouncey returned to the lineup for the first time since breaking his leg last preseason. Alejandro Villanueva started at left tackle for the second straight game and reportedly “played angry” which is good news for his battle against Ryan Harris. Actually, both players were in the lineup against the Eagles, as Harris filled in for Marcus Gilbert, who missed the contest with an injured shoulder. Gilbert should be ready for the start of the season, but it’s good to have options.

Steelers Depth ChartQB: Ben Roethlisberger, Landry Jones, Dustin Vaughn (inj), Bryn Renner, Bruce Gradkowski (inj)RB: Le′Veon Bell (susp), DeAngelo Williams, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Daryl Richardson, Rajion NealFB: Roosevelt NixWR: Antonio Brown (PR), Sammie Coates, Markus Wheaton (KR),Darrius Heyward-Bey, Eli Rogers, Demarcus Ayers, Issac Blakeney, Levi Norwood, Shakim Philips, Tobias Palmer, Canan Severin, Martavis Bryant (susp)TE: Ladarius Green (inj), Jesse James, Xavier Grimble, David Johnson (FB), David Reeves, Jay RomeLT: Alejandro Villanueva, Ryan Harris, Jerald HawkinsLG: Ramon FosterC: Maurkice Pouncey, Cody WallaceRG: David DecastroRT: Marcus GilbertK: Chris BoswellNT: Daniel McCullers, Javon Hargrave, Lavon Hooks, Roy PhilonDE: Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, L.T. Walton, Caushaud LyonsILB: Lawrence Timmons (R), Ryan Shazier (L), Vince Williams, Jordan Zumwalt, Tyler Matakevich, Steven JohnsonOLB: James Harrison, Bud Dupree, Arthur Moats, Jarvis Jones, Travis Feeney, Anthony ChickalloCB: William Gay, Ross Cockrell, Sean Davis (SS/CB), Artie Burns, Doran Grant, Donald Washington, Senquez Golson (inj)S: Michael Mitchell (FS), Robert Golden (SS), Shamarko Thomas (SS), Ross Ventrone (FS), Jordan Dangerfield (FS), Jacob Hagen, Ray Vinopal

San Diego Chargers

QB: Philip Rivers was given the night off against the Arizona Cardinals, but he benefitted from a solid week of joint practices. "So it allows you to see four or five plays right in a row, and let it come up against a defense that hasn't been practicing against it all of the time, and see how it look and how it feels," he noted. Kellen Clemens was behind center for the first half of the preseason tilt before giving way to Mike Bercovici after halftime, and he appears to be locked in to the backup role. Clemens completed 11-of-20 passes for 134 yards (6.7 per attempt); a serviceable showing but it would’ve been more encouraging to see Clemens get into the end zone. Bercovici looked solid in limited duty – he completed 9-of-13 passes for 108 yards (8.3 per attempt) – and continues to build off a strong training camp. “We gave Mike an opportunity to go in there for a half. We said we wanted to give him a good half to see what he could do. He went out there and made some good plays,” said head coach Mike McCoy. The odd man out in this week’s preseason action was Zach Mettenberger, who appears to be losing the battle for the No.3 job to Bercovici. Next week’s preseason matchup against the Minnesota Vikings will be telling for the Chargers quarterback depth chart, and for the future of Mettenberger in general.

RB: A week after an impressive performance in the preseason opener, Melvin Gordon was mostly held in check against the Cardinals. He’s looked good in camp and there has been plenty of buzz about expected improvement for the second-year pro after a challenging rookie campaign. For Gordon’s part, he’s noted that his confidence is at a whole new level. “This time I was comfortable and stuck to my reads. I told myself -- I was obviously nervous the whole trip there, but I told myself 'you go against a lot of great players in practice and you had a whole season so just be calm and read the reads and follow your lineman,” he said. Brandon Oliver continues to impress, and that’s translated to live action as well. He produced 36 total yards off of five carries and one reception against the Cardinals, as he continues to put his stamp on the number three spot on the depth chart. Danny Woodhead has been relatively quiet through camp and the preseason, but he remains locked into a large role once the games begin to matter.

WR: Reports from the joint practices held with the Cardinals indicate that Keenan Allen looked particularly impressive, and that was while being matched up with Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson. Allen may be ready to take the proverbial leap forward in 2016, and should continue to receive all the volume he can handle in the Chargers pass-friendly attack. Travis Benjamin was also solid in the joint practice sessions, and he continues to build rapport with Philip Rivers. He earned some praise from Rivers for a difficult catch he made during the session. "Those are the trust-building plays I talk a lot about that you need to make with a guy that you haven't thrown a ton of those to," Rivers said. Tyrell Williams continues to be one of the more impressive players in camp. He hauled in four of his six targets for 47 yards, and he could carve out a significant role in the passing attack if he closes

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out the preseason in strong fashion. Undrafted free agent Dom Williams helped his case with a strong showing against the Cardinals, as he led the team in receiving with four catches for 55 yards. Projected WR3 Dontrelle Inman was leveled with a big hit in the first quarter of the game and did not return, but it’s believed the team was just being cautious.

TE: Antonio Gates was another Chargers veteran that was given the night off against the Cardinals, but the 36-year-old continues to look fine in camp. As a preferred target of Philip Rivers in a pass-happy attack, Gates remains in the Top 10 tight end conversation. Hunter Henry has been another bright spot of camp, and the rookie has reportedly impressed coaches enough to carve out a role for himself this year. Whether that results in additional two tight end sets for the Chargers remains to be seen, but Henry appears to be developing quicker than anticipated. He hauled in his lone target against the Cardinals for a seven-yard gain. Veteran Jeff Cumberland signed in the offseason to add depth, but his season came to an abrupt end when he suffered a torn ACL in Friday’s game. Sean McGrath and Asante Cleveland round out the depth chart, but neither player is relevant for fantasy purposes.

Defense: The Chargers and first round draft pick Joey Bosa remain at an impasse, but the two sides reopened talks this past week. After a poor effort against the Tennessee Titans in the first week of the preseason, the defensive side of the ball stepped up in the 19-3 victory over the Cardinals. The run defense and secondary looked much improved, and Manti Te’o points to an improved team effort as the biggest takeaway for this week. “Everyone trusted each other, and everybody made their play. And they didn’t make it for themselves, they did it because they wanted to make it for their brother. When we stick together as a defense and we play like that, we’re going to do well,” he said. Brandon Flowers concurs. “I think last week we tried to make too many plays on our own and we paid for it. This time we trusted each other on the field and made it happen,” Flowers said.

Returners: After sitting out San Diego’s first preseason game, Travis Benjamin returned to action and to his pre-ordained place as the top punt returner this week.

OL: Orlando Franklin is healthy again, and he made his preseason debut against the Cardinals. New addition Matt Slauson has fit in nicely and is already proving to be an upgrade at center over Trevor Robinson. Seventh round rookie Donavan Clark tore his ACL against Arizona and will miss the season. Clark was having a decent camp and was slated to be a swing tackle behind King Dunlap and Joe Barksdale. Undrafted rookies Vi Teofilo and Spencer Pulley will get chances to claim that spot in Clark’s absence.

Chargers Depth ChartQB: Philip Rivers, Kellen Clemens, Zach Mettenberger, Bryn Renner, Mike BercoviciRB: Melvin Gordon, Danny Woodhead (3RB), Branden Oliver, Dreamius Smith, Kenneth FarrowFB: Derek Watt, Chris SwainWR: Keenan Allen, Travis Benjamin (PR), Dontrelle Inman, Tyrell Williams, James Jones, Javontee Herndon, Isaiah Burse, Torrence Allen, Jamaal Jones, Dom Williams, Stevie Johnson (IR)TE: Antonio Gates, Hunter Henry, Jeff Cumberland, Sean McGrath, Asante Cleveland, Tim SemischLT: King Dunlap, Chris HairstonLG: Orlando Franklin, Kenny WigginsC: Matt Slauson, Max Tuerk, Trevor RobinsonRG: D.J. Fluker, Chris Watt, Donavon Clark (IR)RT: Joe Barksdale, Tyreek BurwellK: Josh LamboNT: Brandon Mebane, Ryan Carrethers, Sean Lissemore (IR)DE: Corey Liuget, Joey Bosa, Damion Square, Darius Philon, Tenny Palepoi, Ben GardnerILB: Denzel Perryman, Manti Te′o, Joshua Perry, Nick Dzubnar, Dexter McCoilOLB: Melvin Ingram, Jeremiah Attaochu, Kyle Emanuel, Tourek Williams, Jatavis BrownCB: Jason Verrett, Brandon Flowers, Casey Hayward, Trevor Williams, Craig Mager, Greg Ducre, Trevor WilliamsS: Jahleel Addae (SS), Dwight Lowery (FS), Darrell Stuckey (FS), Matt Daniels (SS), Adrian Phillips (FS)

San Francisco 49ers

QB: During pregame warmups, Colin Kaepernick displayed a renewed passing arm according to NFL.com's Tyler Dragon: “Kaepernick's arm appears to be getting its strength back. The quarterback was spotted throwing a 55-yard pass and had some other throws with improved velocity.” The team hopes he can play in the third preseason game. Meanwhile, Blaine Gabbert completed 6-for-9 passes for 69 yards during the victory at Denver. Christian Ponder, freshly added to the roster as Thad Lewis was sent to IR, looked good in his first preseason action. He completed 7-of-8 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown pass. Ponder also scored the winning TD on a 22-yard run. As Eric Branch of SFGate.com puts it: “The performance, he [Ponder] thinks, was partly fueled because he had an epiphany during his time away from the game: He was going to have fun — a word he used four times in a three-minute interview Saturday — if he ever played football again.” Ponder added, “I think it was the mind-set of like, 'I don’t have anything to lose.'. I was already sitting on a couch doing nothing. I think the biggest thing that hindered me before [early in his career at Minnesota] was second-guessing

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myself and being hesitant in certain decisions.” Jeff Driskel completed 6-of-7 passes for 66 yards in cleanup duty.

RB: Starter Carlos Hyde found the end zone on Saturday, with six carries for 28 yards. On the flip side, Hyde didn't catch either of his two pass targets. Kelvin Taylor (10/47/0 rushing, with one target for 1/2/0 receiving) and DuJuan Harris (6/46/0 rushing with one target for 1/1/0 receiving) were the most productive runners on the night, while Mike Davis racked up 5/26/0 rushing with two targets for 2/1/0 receiving. As you can see, none of the backs contributed much as receivers out of the backfield. The team totaled 36 carries for 184 yards and two touchdowns at Denver; an impressive feat considering the defensive prowess of the Broncos. Shaun Draughn (ribs) missed the game due to a rib injury.

WR: Bruce Ellington (ankle sprain) didn't practice much last week and missed the Broncos game. Bryce Treggs (knee) left the game after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury. He will undergo a MRI exam to determine the full extent of the injury. Treggs is part of a bevy of young wide receivers (including DiAndre Campbell, and Aaron Burbridge) that aren't developing quickly. “What we do need to see is consistency,” coach Chip Kelly said last week. “We haven’t really seen a ton of that right now. We've seen them flash, which is awesome because you know what they can do, but it's being consistent not only on a daily basis but really, on a play-to-play basis, that you can count on them.” General manager Trent Baalke added: “We’ve certainly got to get better. And I mean that we've got a lot of young guys. And we've got to mature at that group. There's a lot to learn at that position.” DeAndre Smelter hasn't practiced in a week due to a hamstring strain that also slowed him in the spring, blunting his drive to crack the starting lineup. With little upward momentum from the youngsters in camp, the 49ers' receiving corps looks set with Torrey Smith, Quinton Patton and Ellington at the top of the depth chart. Jerome Simpson remains in the mix for a backup spot, along with Smelter.

TE: Vance McDonald has caught five passes for 92 yards from Gabbert through two preseason games, and looks like he is building off the rapport he established with Gabbert at the end of last season. McDonald saw four targets for 3/38/0 receiving on Saturday night, compared to two targets for 2/14/0 that went to Garrett Celek, and one target for zero receptions going to Blake Bell. McDonald was described as Gabbert's go-to receiver in multiple reports this past week. He looks like a bargain fantasy option entering the third week of preseason games, though if Kaepernick somehow upsets Gabbert for the starting job, McDonald could slide as he and Kaepernick haven't clicked in the past.

Defense: Chip Kelly was impressed with some 'bubble' defensive players: “I thought [defensive lineman] Garrison [Smith] played an outstanding game,” coach Kelly said Sunday. “I think between him and [linebacker] Marcus [Rush]... those two really, from a production standpoint, kind

of jumped out when (we were) flying home (Saturday) night watching the tape. Two of those guys were around the football a lot, causing a lot of disruption in Denver's offense.” Smith and Rush were undrafted rookies in 2015 who spent season on the practice squad, but they got in the game and made an impact on Saturday. Barrows also highlighted the ongoing three-way battle to start at inside linebacker: “Ray-Ray Armstrong had another solid game as he tries to emerge in a three-way battle for the 49ers' starting inside linebacker spot... As they did in the preseason opener, Armstrong, Gerald Hodges and Michael Wilhoite rotated throughout the game.”

Returners: With Bruce Ellington sidelined with a short-term injury, cornerback Chris Davis has gotten a chance to step up as San Francisco’s primary returner. His promotion likely remains a short one until Ellington returns.

OL: The line looked decent against the Broncos’ defense, opening up holes in the running game and only allowing one sack. The battle at right tackle continues, as Trent Brown remains the nominal starter over Anthony Davis. Davis has been more effective than Brown in preseason action, and even has a new team-first attitude. Davis has volunteered to play guard, to keep Brown in the lineup, and he did see guard reps in practice (not in the game, where he worked exclusively at tackle). Despite saying all the right things, it should be only a matter of time before Davis wins his job back.

49ers Depth ChartQB: Blaine Gabbert, Colin Kaepernick, Jeff Driskel, Christian Ponder, Thaddeus Lewis (IR)RB: Carlos Hyde, Shaun Draughn, Mike Davis, DuJuan Harris, Kelvin Taylor, Kendall GaskinsFB: Bruce Miller (TE)WR: Torrey Smith, Bruce Ellington (KR/PR), Quinton Patton, Jerome Simpson, DeAndre Smelter (inj), DeAndrew White (KR/PR), Aaron Burbridge, Dres Anderson, Devon Cajuste, Bryce Treggs, DiAndre Campbell, Eric Rogers (IR)TE: Vance McDonald, Garrett Celek, Blake Bell, Je′Ron Hamm, Busta AndersonLT: Joe Staley, John TheusLG: Zane Beadles, Ian SilbermanC: Daniel Kilgore, Marcus MartinRG: Andrew Tiller, Josh Garnett, Brandon ThomasRT: Anthony Davis, Erik Pears, Trent Brown, Fahn CooperK: Phil Dawson, John LunsfordNT: Mike Purcell, Garrison Smith, Ian Williams (IR)DE: Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, Quinton Dial, Glenn Dorsey (inj), Ronald Blair, Tony Jerod-Eddie, Darren Lake, B.J. McBryde, Demetrius CherryILB: Navorro Bowman, Michael Wilhoite, Gerald Hodges, Shayne Skov, Nick Bellore, Wynton McManisOLB: Ahmad Brooks (S), Aaron Lynch (susp), Corey Lemonier, Tank Carradine, Eli Harold, Ray-Ray Armstrong, Marcus Rush, Jason Fanaika, Lenny JonesCB: Tramaine Brock, Jimmie Ward (FS), Chris

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Davis, Dontae Johnson, Kenneth Acker, Will Redmond, Rashard Robinson, Prince Charles Iworah, Keith Reaser, Marcus CromartieS: Antoine Bethea (SS), Eric Reid (FS), Jaquiski Tartt (SS), L.J. McCray, Jered Bell

Seattle Seahawks

QB: Russell Wilson hasn't been at his best throughout this preseason. Through two games he’s completed just 8-of-17 passes for 111 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception while getting sacked four times. His interception to Marcus Peters in the first game was a result of hesitation in the pocket. That hesitation persisted against the Vikings which resulted in two sacks. There are no real reasons to worry about Wilson at this point because expecting him to sustain his second-half performances from last year for 16 games is being unrealistic. Trevone Boykin is solidified as the Seahawks' backup by default more than because of his quality of play. Boykin has been inconsistent but has amassed 315 yards on 26-of-46 passing.

RB: Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise came off the PUP list this week. Rawls practiced fully but didn't appear in the team's second preseason game. Pete Carroll expects Rawls to get some snaps in the preseason though they may come during the fourth outing rather than the third. General Manager John Schneider said that Rawls will play in the fourth preseason game while former Seahawks fullback, Michael Robinson, proclaimed him the team's “lead dog.” Prosise returned to practice but was seen icing his hamstring after practice. Carroll said he expects Prosise to play next week. Despite not being on the field, Prosise should still feel good about his chances contributing this year. Christine Michael has thrived in the starting role but primarily as a runner. Prosise is a better fit as the 3rd down specialist. Alex Collins is more of a runner than a receiver also, but Collins is now fighting for a roster spot because of his extremely unimpressive outing in Week 2 – he rushed for just 13 yards on six carries (2.2 per attempt). The Seahawks re-signed Will Tukuafu after waiving fullback Jonathan Amosa.

WR: Tyler Lockett had the highlight play of the second week of the preseason. He ran downfield against tight coverage and Russell Wilson placed the ball perfectly between two defenders. Lockett caught it into his chest and held it through contact to complete the play. Lockett's speed has been on display consistently throughout the preseason and he is improving as an all-around receiver. ESPN’s Sheil Kapadia expects Doug Baldwin to out produce his 75-catch, 990-yard and seven touchdown ESPN projection, but only slightly. Baldwin is an established veteran so he has quietly gone about his business to this point in training camp. Jermaine Kearse has had a similarly quiet last two weeks as he remains a starter

ahead of Lockett. Paul Richardson went from being in the spotlight in Week 1 to not catching a pass in Week 2. While Richardson was absent, Kenny Lawler made his first big impression. He looked comfortable and explosive as he caught three passes for 47 yards. His most impressive play came when he converted a 3rd-and-15. Lawler appears to have an inside track on the final roster spot.

TE: Jimmy Graham (patellar tendon) is back at practice but he didn’t play in the second preseason game. Pete Carroll backed off his expectation that Graham would play in Week 1 of the regular season but didn't shut the door on the possibility either. Luke Willson will be the team's starter so long as Graham isn't available. Rookie Nick Vannett has performed well during camp but the team prefers 3-WR sets which makes a second tight end somewhat superfluous. Vannett is working through a high ankle sprain suffered in Thursday’s night game and his timetable for returning is open ended.

Defense: Kam Chancellor's groin injury continues to linger. Chancellor didn't play in the second preseason game and concern around his status grows with each passing day. Chancellor struggled when he returned from his holdout last offseason so this injury could have a similar impact on his play in 2016. Cornerback Jeremy Lane started outside in the first preseason game, but DeShawn Shead started in the second. Shead was replaced by Tharold Simon for the second drive while Lane played in the slot throughout. The Seahawks cornerback competition is being given time to play out. On the defensive front, a familiar face was re-signed. Tony McDaniel, a 31-year old defensive tackle, had previously been with the Seahawks in 2013 and 2014. He was a free agent until last week when a vacation visit to Seattle led to a workout before he was signed. McDaniel immediately fit back into his old role and impressed against the Vikings. He should get a roster spot considering his experience and familiarity upfront.

Returners: Reigning 1st-team AP All Pro returner Tyler Lockett continues to exhibit a death grip on the punt and kickoff return duties for 2016.

OL: The Vikings’ pass rush had a big day against the Seahawks’ offensive line. Russell Wilson was sacked four times in the first half, as tackles Garry Gilliam and Bradley Sowell struggled. Gilliam, manning the right side after all offseason preparing to play left tackle, seemed especially unsettled. In related news, J’Marcus Webb returned to practice over the weekend, and could still contend for the right tackle spot. The interior lineup appears to be set with Mark Glowinski at left guard, Justin Britt at center and Germain Ifedi at right guard. If nothing changes, this could leave high priced veteran Jahri Evans on the roster bubble.

Seahawks Depth ChartQB: Russell Wilson, Trevone Boykin, Jake HeapRB: Thomas Rawls, Christine Michael, C.J. Prosise (3RB), Alex Collins, Zac Brooks, Troymaine Pope

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FB: Will Tukuafu, Tani TupouWR: Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett (KR/PR), Jermaine Kearse, Paul Richardson, Kevin Smith, Kenny Lawler, Kasen Williams, Antwan Goodley, Douglas McNeil, Jeff Fuller, Deshon Foxx, Tanner McEvoy, Uzoma NwachukwuTE: Jimmy Graham, Luke Willson, Nick Vannett (inj), Brandon Williams, Clayton Echard, Joe SummersLT: Garry Gilliam, Bradley SowellLG: Jahri Evans, Mark GlowinskiC: Justin Britt, Patrick Lewis, Joey HuntRG: Germain Ifedi, Kristjan SokoliRT: JMarcus Webb, Rees OdhiamboK: Steven HauschkaDT: Ahtyba Rubin, Jarran Reed, Jordan Hill, Sealver Siliga, Tony McDaniel, Demarcus Dobbs, Quinton Jefferson, Justin HamiltonDE: Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Frank Clark (S), Cassius Marsh, Tavaris Barnes, Will PericakMLB: Bobby Wagner, Eric Pinkins (S/M), Steve LongaOLB: K.J. Wright (W), Mike Morgan (S), Kevin Pierre-Louis (S), Brock Coyle (W), Josh Shirley, Montese Overton, Khairi Fortt, Kache PalacioCB: Richard Sherman, Marcus Burley, Brandon Browner, Jeremy Lane, DeShawn Shead, Tharold Simon, Mohammed Seisay, Tye Smith, DeAndre ElliottS: Kam Chancellor (SS), Earl Thomas (FS), Kelcie McCray (FS), Steven Terrell (FS), Robert Smith (SS), Tyvis Powell

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

QB: Tampa Bay Time's Rick Stroud was not impressed with the first team offense on Saturday night. “There is slow, like the line at the DMV. There is slower, like beach erosion. Then there is slowest, like the way the Buccaneers start football games... Saturday night against the Jaguars, quarterback Jameis Winston missed his first six passes and had an interception.” Head coach Dirk Koetter was calmer: “I wouldn't make any judgments based on two preseason games. Would we like to start better? Absolutely. It's going to beat the start we had last week, but let's not confuse that with tonight.” All told, Winston managed a meager 3-for-10 for 28 yards, one TD and one interception. On Friday, coach Koetter commented on Winston's development: “Jameis every day he asserts himself more and more as a leader. I mean, he still has things he needs to work on as a quarterback. I love what he's doing leadership-wise.” Mike Glennon played well on Saturday; he completed 11-for-19 passes for 120 yards and a TD, while Ryan Griffin completed 5-of-10 passes for 78 yards with an interception.

RB: Doug Martin missed the second preseason game, even though he practiced all week despite a minor rib injury. Mike

James had a touchdown catch (two targets for 2/11/1) and rushed 17 yards during the first half. Rookie Peyton Barber led Tampa with 40 yards on 11 carries on a night when the Buccaneers had 44 carries for 158 yards and a touchdown as a team. Storm Johnson (7/27/1 rushing) punched in the rushing TD, while Charles Sims posted 5/20/0 as the starter.

WR: Mike Evans (five targets for 2/18/1 receiving Saturday) conceded after the game that the Buccaneers need to start faster. “That helps any offense if you start fast and put points on the board. That gives us confidence. We've got to work on that these next two preseason games.” Vincent Jackson failed to catch his lone target but was happy his team came away with the victory: “It just feels good to win, man. Way to compete every day. Let's just keep stacking, man, working for precision and perfection.” Kenny Bell (two targets for zero receptions), Russell Shepard (one target for zero receptions), and Donteea Dye (three targets for 1/20/0) did little to stand out from the field of receivers vying for the #4 wide receiver position behind Evans, Jackson and Adam Humphries.

TE: Cameron Brate (three targets for zero receptions in the game) took a hit to the back of his head in the end zone on Saturday, drawing a personal foul penalty. Brate is being assessed for a possible concussion. Austin Seferian-Jenkins also caught all three targets for 36 yards. ESPN's Jenna Laine reported that Brate has the trust of and rapport with Winston. “...he has been the most consistent of the Bucs' tight ends in training camp, catching virtually everything that's been thrown his way, including in the red zone. He might not be catching passes with two linebackers draped on his body and still moving, but it's pretty clear that he's one of Jameis Winston's favorite targets.” Also notable – prior to the preseason game, the Buccaneers indicated that they would start with a two-tight-end formation – and they listed Brate and Luke Stocker as the starters, leaving Seferian-Jenkins out in the cold.

Defense: Rookie cornerback Vernon Hargreaves played well with the second team on Saturday. He intercepted Chad Henne twice during the game. DT Gerald McCoy (ankle injury last Thursday) and LB Daryl Smith (undisclosed minor injury) missed the game. The starting unit allowed two TD passes to Blake Bortles and company, leaving Tampa in a 14-7 hole when the second teamers took over.

K: The Buccaneers are married to Roberto Aguayo after trading up into the second round of the draft for him, but they probably wish they could have an annulment. Aguayo missed two field goals this week after missing an extra point last week. He also made two field goals, but the rookie’s confidence appears to be shaken.

Returners: Thanks to injuries at the position, Donteea Dye handled kickoff returns in Week 2 of the preseason, though he

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didn’t have much of a chance to make an impact. Meanwhile, second-year receiver Adam Humphries maintains a strong grip on the punt return job.

OL: The offensive line is still without high priced free agent guard J.R. Sweezy, who is on the PUP list and is expected to miss several weeks of the regular season. Kevin Pamphile continues to fill in. While Pamphile is considered a short-term solution, he did have an excellent performance during Week Five last season. Don’t rule out Pamphile keeping the job permanently. The line is also without rookie Caleb Benenoch, who has not practiced since the first week of camp due to a foot/ankle injury. As a result the team added undrafted rookie Kyler Kerbyson, who has bounced around three teams this summer before getting this most recent chance.

Buccaneers Depth ChartQB: Jameis Winston, Mike Glennon, Ryan Griffin, Dan LeFevourRB: Doug Martin, Charles Sims (3RB), Mike James, Peyton Barber, Storm Johnson, Russell HansbroughFB: Dan VitaleWR: Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson, Adam Humphries (PR), Kenny Bell (KR), Louis Murphy, Russell Shepard, Donteea Dye, Evan Spencer, Jonathan Krause, Freddie Martino, Bernard Reedy, Andre DavisTE: Cameron Brate, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Luke Stocker, Brandon Myers, Alan Cross, Tevin Westbrook, Kivon CartwrightLT: Donovan SmithLG: Kevin Pamphile, J.R. Sweezy (PUP)C: Joe Hawley, Evan SmithRG: Ali Marpet, Garrett Gilkey , Caleb BenenochRT: Gosder Cherilus, Demar DotsonK: Roberto AguayoDT: Gerald McCoy, Clinton McDonald, Akeem Spence, A.J. Francis, Ishmaa′ily KitchenDE: Robert Ayers, William Gholston, Jacquies Smith, Noah Spence, Howard Jones, George Johnson (IR)MLB: Kwon Alexander, Jeremiah George, Cassanova McKinzyOLB: Lavonte David (W), Daryl Smith (S), Adarius Glanton, Devante Bond, Josh Keyes, Micah Awe, Luke RhodesCB: Brent Grimes, Vernon Hargreaves III, Alterraun Verner, Jude Adjei-Barimah, Johnthan Banks, Josh RobinsonS: Bradley McDougald (SS), Christopher Conte (FS), Keith Tandy (SS), Ryan Smith, Major Wright, John Lowdermilk, Elijah Shumate (IR)

Tennessee Titans

QB: Marcus Mariota started strong against the Carolina Panthers. He drove the team down the field including two completions (for 30 yards) to rookie sensation Tajae Sharpe. Unfortunately, he was then picked off by Bene Benwikere when he rushed his decision in the pocket, forcing the ball to Harry Douglas, who was never open. The young quarterback rebounded in the second quarter, leading an impressive touchdown drive by repeatedly connecting with Sharpe before hitting Douglas in the endzone after play action. Matt Cassel played poorly versus the Panthers (38 yards and an interception) but is locked in as the #2 quarterback. Alex Tanney had a strong night (12-of-17 passing for 103 yards and a touchdown) but it’s probably not enough to make the 53-man roster.

RB: DeMarco Murray started against the Panthers and had a good-but-not-great night (five rushes for 20 yards). Murray struggled at times which is understandable given the Panthers defensive prowess. His most notable play came in pass protection when he was primarily at fault for a sack that ended the Titans' second drive of the game. Derrick Henry had another productive outing as the Titans left their first-team offensive line in to clear paths for him. Henry led the team with 31 yards on five carries. David Cobb played ahead of both Bishop Sankey and Antonio Andrews, and made the most of the opportunity. As a runner, Cobb looked good. He is physically gifted and can be decisive working behind the line of scrimmage. He even caught a pass to show off some of his versatility. However, Cobb’s fumble offsets much of his positive momentum. He hasn't played enough in the NFL or performed well enough through training camp to solidify his roster spot on the back of this performance. Bishop Sankey received praise for his play in the first preseason game and was rewarded with at least one snap in the first-team offense during the following week. Antonio Andrews didn't have a carry against the Panthers but he did play on special teams. Andrews' value on special teams could be the key to earning a roster spot ahead of Cobb or Sankey.

WR: Dorial Green-Beckham was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, turning his irrelevance into a permanent absence. Tajae Sharpe's concussion concerns were short-lived after the San Diego Chargers game. He returned to practice almost immediately and started against the Panthers. Sharpe caught Mariota's first pass and was then used on an end-around. The end-around was stopped for a loss but it was a sign of just how big of a piece of the offense Sharpe is set to become. Harry Douglas found space in the endzone after play action drew the attention of the safety to his side of the field and capitalized with a touchdown. Douglas was in the lineup because Kendall Wright remained out with his hamstring injury. Wright is expected to return for the third preseason game. Rishard Matthews is assured of a starting spot but he has yet to flash over the first two games; he had just one reception for six yards against the Panthers. Justin Hunter’s chances of making the final roster improved with the Green-Beckham trade, but it’s by no means a done deal.

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TE: Mike Mularkey's offense is going to be adventurous in its design. In the first week of the preseason he used a statue of liberty design to one of his running backs. In the second week he used Delanie Walker on the same play. Walker gained positive yardage. Anthony Fasano remains the principal backup but is primarily a blocker. Third stringer Craig Stevens he won an OSPY, which is Mularkey's award for offseason work, so his roster spot should be assured. Philip Supernaw's positive performances may not be enough to make the 53-man roster.

Defense: Antwon Blake quickly became a victim against the Panthers. Cam Newton made a point of targeting Blake, throwing to Kelvin Benjamin twice for first downs on the opening drive before hitting Ted Ginn for a 61-yard touchdown. On that touchdown Blake proved why he shouldn't be in the starting lineup, he missed what should have been an easy tackle when Ginn had his back to him. Blake was only in the starting lineup because Perrish Cox and Jason McCourty were injured. Cox isn't expected to be back until the fourth preseason game but McCourty, along with Kevin Dodd, is expected to be back next week. Dick LeBeau’s defense gave up a huge gain to Fozzy Whitaker on a blown coverage, the second blown coverage in as many weeks. The Titans can't afford mental errors. Safety Kevin Byard's strong play in the preseason opener and practice wasn’t enough to push him into the starting lineup. Byard didn't feature in nickel packages either; he played exclusively with the second team defense.

Returners: Tre McBride and Dexter McCluster are the favorites to handle returns in 2016, but one interesting development is the Titans recent deployment of rookie Derrick Henry on the kickoff return unit, in front of the usual returners and ready to field any kicks the opposing kicker tries to drop short of the end zone.

OL: The Titans averaged four yards per carry against a tough Carolina Panthers’ defense; the line continues to open huge holes for the team’s tailbacks. With rookie right tackle Jack Conklin playing well, this could be a very productive running attack in 2016. The Titans acquired Dennis Kelly from Philadelphia by trading wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. Kelly is being given reps with the first team as a tackle. Expectations should be tempered since the Eagles viewed Kelly expendable even though their starting right tackle is facing a 10-game suspension.

Titans Depth ChartQB: Marcus Mariota, Matt Cassel, Alex TanneyRB: DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry, Dexter McCluster (3RB/KR/PR), Antonio Andrews, David Cobb, Bishop Sankey, David FluellenFB: Jalston Fowler, Sam BergenWR: Rishard Matthews, Tajae Sharpe, Kendall Wright (inj), Andre Johnson, Harry Douglas, Justin Hunter, Tre McBride, Damaris Johnson, Andrew Turzilli (susp), Nick Harwell, Ben Roberts

TE: Delanie Walker, Anthony Fasano, Phillip Supernaw, Jerome CunninghamLT: Taylor LewanLG: Quinton Spain, Jeremiah Poutasi, Brian Schwenke, Josue Matias (IR), Bryon Bell (IR)C: Ben Jones, Andy GallikRG: Chance Warmack, Sebastian TretolaRT: Jack Conklin, Dennis KellyK: Ryan SuccopNT: Al Woods, Austin Johnson, Angelo Blackson, Antwuan WoodsDE: Jurell Casey (DT), DaQuan Jones, Ropati Pitoitua, Karl Klug, Mehdi Abdesmad, Mike SmithILB: Avery Williamson, Wesley Woodyard, Sean Spence, Nate Palmer, Curtis Grant, Justin Staples, J.R. TavaiOLB: Brian Orakpo, Derrick Morgan, Kevin Dodd (DE), Aaron Wallace, David Bass, Deiontrez Mount, Yannik Cudjoe-VirgilCB: Jason McCourty, Perrish Cox, Brice McCain, Antwon Blake, Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Leshaun Sims, Kalan Reed, Cody Riggs, Bennett OkotchaS: Da′Norris Searcy (SS), Rashad Johnson (FS), Daimion Stafford (FS), Kevin Byard, Marqueston Huff (FS), Josh Aubrey, Lamarcus Brutus

Washington Redskins

QB: Kirk Cousins sat versus the Jets and Colt McCoy got the start in his place. Cousins was one of nine starters that Jay Gruden opted to rest so he could see how younger players performed in bigger roles. "It was my decision this morning,” Gruden said. “We have a lot of good players in this locker room and I wanted to make sure our backups were ready to play at all times. We had a lot of our backups step up into starting roles last year and I thought it was important for Colt [McCoy] to get some quality work and quality defense, along with some of the other guys that played, in first-team roles.”

McCoy proved yet again that he is one of the more capable backups in the NFC; he completed 13-of-16 passes for 159 yards (9.9 per attempt) and 2 touchdowns with one interception. Nate Sudfeld did his best to convince the coaches to only keep two quarterbacks on the active roster with his 10-for-20 for 77 yards (3.8 per attempt) second half.

RB: Matt Jones has a lot to prove, and was off to a good start versus the Jets with 31 yards on seven carries (4.4 per carry). Unfortunately, Jones’ night was cut short by an apparent shoulder injury. Rookie Keith Marshall led the team with 10 carries but only mustered 26 yards. Chris Thompson – often labeled a pure receiving back – had the most success with 18 yards on four carries (4.5 per attempt). Simply put, the Washington ground game remains a risk factor as the team

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managed just 101 yards on 31 carries (3.3 per attempt). On Monday, Jones was diagnosed with a Grade 2 should sprain and will be sidelined for the remainder of the preseason. Jones doesn’t sound concerned about his readiness for Week One: "I'm feeling great right now," Jones said. "On a scale of 1 to 10, it's probably like a two right now. It healed up fast, I got great treatment in so it wasn't bad for what I did. We're looking great right now and hoping for a speedy recovery."

WR: Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson were given the night off versus the Jets, but continue to shine in practice and look set to bounce back from forgettable 2015 seasons. Rashad Ross – as he seemingly does every preseason game – led the team with four receptions for 58 yards. Ryan Grant also had four receptions for 43 yards. Jamison Crowder – the team’s starting slot receiver – looked good in his return with three catches for 38 yards in limited snaps. Vaunted rookie Josh Doctson remains sidelined and there is (unfounded) chatter from beat writers that he could start the season on the PUP list. Coach Gruden is preaching patience: “I don’t have any expectations for him whatsoever,” Gruden said. “I’m just trying to listen to what the trainers are telling me and how he’s feeling. I don’t know. We’ll just have to wait and see. He’s going to progress slowly, and we’ll take our time with him. When he feels right and the time is right, we’ll push him hard and let him practice.”

TE: Jordan Reed was given the night off versus the Jets, and his backups did very little to distinguish themselves. Logan Paulsen and Niles Paul each had one reception (for a combined four yards). Vernon Davis didn’t figure into the box score, but he was a key blocker for Matt Jones’ early running success. Reed wants to play in next week’s dress rehearsal after missing the first two games. “Practice is never going to be the same as the game,” Reed said. “I definitely need to get out there on that field and go against somebody else other than our own team, work on dodging tackles and getting out of the way.”

Defense: Gruden’s plan to sit key starters extended to the defense, with Ryan Kerrigan, Will Compton, Bashaud Breeland and Josh Norman sitting. "I wanted to see [Martell] Spaight play with the ones and against a good offense in the New York Jets,” Gruden said. “I wanted to see [Kendall] Fuller. I wanted to see [Quinton] Dunbar play against Brandon Marshall and some of these guys from the Jets. These guys really showed up in practice. I wanted to see how they did against a heck of a unit like the New York Jets. They showed up and played extremely well." Washington pressured the Jets with three sacks and 8 quarterback hits, and Will Blackmon intercepted Geno Smith. Spaight continues to stand out (we’ve mentioned him every week in these columns) with four tackles; it’s going to be very hard to keep him out of the starting lineup at this pace.

Returners: While Jamison Crowder and Rashad Ross remain the heavy favorites to handle punt return and kickoff return

duties, respectively, Crowder’s roster spot is secure and Ross still finds himself on the roster bubble. Ross has two more weeks to make an impression.

OL: The left guard competition is heating up, as Shawn Lauvao started over Spencer Long versus the Jets. Lauvao was an underdog to get his job back, but he has looked like his old self of late. Kory Lichtensteiger has struggled as a run blocker, and the team might be forced to consider Long at center if they want to get their best five offensive linemen on the field. The team was without Trent Williams, who was given the night off with knee soreness. Williams was rested along with quarterback Kirk Cousins and seven other starters. Swing tackle Ty Nsekhe got the start, and while it’s always good to give the swing tackle valuable reps, there is a significant drop-off from the perennial Pro Bowler Williams.

Redskins Depth ChartQB: Kirk Cousins, Colt McCoy, Nate SudfeldRB: Matt Jones (inj), Chris Thompson (3RB), Rob Kelley, Keith Marshall, Silas Redd, Mack BrownFB: Joe KerridgeWR: DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Jamison Crowder (PR), Josh Doctson (inj), Ryan Grant, Rashad Ross (KR)TE: Jordan Reed, Niles Paul, Vernon Davis, Logan Paulsen, Derek Carrier (inj), Marcel JensenLT: Trent Williams, Ty NsekheLG: Spencer Long, Shawn Lauvao, Arie KouandijoC: Kory Lichtensteiger, Austin Reiter, Josh LeRibeusRG: Brandon Scherff, Takoby CofieldRT: Morgan MosesK: Dustin HopkinsNT: Jerrell Powe, Kedric Golston, Matt Ioannidis, Chris Bilukidi, Anthony JohnsonDE: Chris Baker, Ricky Jean-Francois, Ziggy Hood, Corey Crawford, Stephen Paea, Kendall ReyesILB: Will Compton, Mason Foster, Su′a Cravens (SS), Perry Riley, Carlos Fields Jr., Steven Daniels, Martrell Spaight, Derrick MathewsOLB: Ryan Kerrigan, Preston Smith, Terence Garvin, Houston Bates, Trent Murphy, Junior Galette (inj)CB: Josh Norman, Bashaud Breeland, Kendall Fuller, Deshaun Phillips, Quinton Dunbar, Will Blackmon, Greg Toler, Deshazor Everett, Lloyd Carrington, Jeremy Harris, Cary Williams, Al Louis-JeanS: DeAngelo Hall (FS), David Bruton (SS), Duke Ihenacho (SS), Tevin Carter (SS/LB)