Fifteen enticing NFL position battles NOT involving quarterbacks

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Fifteen enticing NFL position battles NOT involving quarterbacks Published: Aug 24, 2017 at 06:28 AM Around The NFL Podcast Co-Host It's been a month since I previewed the heading into training camp. As the regular season nears, let's check out where some of the most intriguing battles stand. 1) running back: vs. vs. ... ? Carson, a seventh-round pick, wasn't even mentioned in . Since then, he's pa sed second-year pro on the depth chart and could be coming for third-down back , Rawls, Lacy and every man, woman and child in the greater Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area. Rawls remains in line to start, but is dealing with a ankle injury. Prosise hurt himself in pregame warmups last week. Lacy hasn't looked explosive. Meanwhile, Carson runs with a smooth fury that pops off the screen. Pete Carroll has proven he'll play anyone who deserves it, giving Carson a chance to make a real impact. 2) playmakers: Rookies vs. veterans is competing to steal snaps from and competing with other Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates. This preseason has only highlighted his speed and ability to run inside the tackles. With McCaffrey's rookie teammate just getting back on the field this week following a prolonged hamstring injury, there should be more snaps early in the season for third-year wideout . The big-bodied receiver has received typically positive practice Saban Lee Jersey reviews followed by typically quiet games. 3) wide receivers looks all the way back from the broken leg that ended his 2016 season in late December, but his receiver group might be undercooked heading into the season. No. 5 overall pick has barely practiced since being drafted because of ankle surgery followed by a hamstring injury. Tenne see is hopeful he can return to the field in time for the team's fourth preseason game, but that might be a stretch. His snaps could be limited in Week 1 -- if he's even ready by then. It's also fair to wonder about free-agent pickup , who has mi sed time with an ankle injury after a strong start to his tenure. Don't be shocked if impre sive rookie slot receiver , taken in the third round, is a bigger factor than Davis early in the season. 4) running back: vs. You can't lose what you never had. And Murray never had a hold on this starting job, especially after he mi sed the first two weeks of training camp following ankle surgery. Cook has looked too fluid and too versatile to keep off the field. The rookie second-round pick should start Week 1 and likely will play more than , who will be suiting up for the opposition. 5) running back: vs. Kelley, like the rest of the starters, has done next to nothing with his preseason chances. But it won't impact the starting job that he earned in practice. Perine has played exclusively with the backups during training camp and the preseason. He'll start the 2017 campaign as the No. 3 running back behind Kelley and third-down back Jerami Grant Jersey . Former third-round pick could be traded or cut. 6) No. 2 wide receiver: Four-way battle for snaps Former top-10 pick appears entrenched as the team's No. 2 receiver (opposite Cameron Meredith) by default. The have to be concerned he's only produced 2 yards in two games during the preseason. White's competition with expensive free-agent pickup hasn't emerged because Wheaton has mi sed nearly all of camp following an appendectomy and a broken finger. The can't cut him because of his guaranteed $6 million salary, but it's a strong bet they do release veteran . Despite , Cruz is lining up with the second- and third-team offense, while is set to win the starting slot receiver job. 7) running back: vs. three rookies Montgomery's fumble in the team's first preseason game and subsequent leg injury opened the door for a rookie to emerge, but it hasn't happened. Fourth-round pick is first in line off the bench, but none of Green Bay's three rookie backs have or produced in the preseason. Montgomery returns this week and remains locked in as the team's starter. 8) middle linebacker: vs. This one is a wrap: Brown is the team's starter. Ragland, a second-round pick a year ago, is running as the third-team middle linebacker. It's a shame for a promising prospect who probably doesn't fit in new coach Sean McDermott's 4-3 scheme and could be struggling to recover from a torn ACL. isn't out of the question. 9) middle linebacker That has been the nightly prayer for fans regarding the team's defense for years and there is more optimism it will be answered this season because of a revamped linebacker group. 's former backup, , is , while will likely start at middle linebacker, coming off the field on pa sing downs. Rookie has also impre sed. This group could go from embarra sing to profe sional in a hurry if Klein delivers. 10) running back: vs. vs. Going back to the pre-draft proce s, I've been a big believer in Mixon eventually emerging as a top-five NFL running back in his career. Nothing he's done in the preseason has changed my mind. With that qualifier out of the way, it's worth noting that Hill remains the team's starter and has run well in the preseason. The two players have mostly shared first-team reps and there's no reason to think that will change early in the season. Bernard has practiced throughout camp as he recovers from a torn ACL and should make his preseason debut this week as a pa sing-down specialist. 11) running back: vs. Father Time vs. vs. Any skeptics wondering about Lynch's readine s to return to football have been a suaged by a strong training camp. He got his feet wet in and is ready to start Week 1. Richard, so explosive for the team last season, has surprisingly fallen behind Washington. 12) running back: vs. vs. The gave Hunt the ball 11 times in 20 snaps with Kansas City's starters , after handing Ware a ceremonial "start" to the game. It feels like only a matter of time before Hunt, a third-round rookie, officially pa ses Ware on the depth chart. 13) running back: vs. vs. vs. ESPNBoston.com's Mike Rei s put it well when he wrote that there probably won't be a in New England, despite all the fantasy owners drafting Gillislee so early. (Gillislee mi sed valuable time in camp due to a hamstring injury, but is back on the field now.) Burkhead is the most versatile back of Glenn Robinson III Jersey the group and my pick to get the most touches because he can be used in any situation. Lewis should have secured his roster spot because of his return duties and a strong camp as a runner. 14) front seven The entered camp looking for some young, highly drafted prospects to step into starting roles. That's exactly what has happened. 2015 second-rounder is set to take over Zach Orr's vacated inside linebacker job. has earned a starting defensive end job. will start at outside linebacker and rookie has flashed as a pa s rusher. Despite all their injuries, the have one of the deepest and most intriguing defenses in football. You'll know their names soon enough. 15) backup running back: vs. De'Angelo Henderson vs. vs. has one chance. The sat out the first two preseason games and now on the roster. Henderson, a sixth-round pick, is going to make Charles' case tougher. The Coastal Carolina product flashed impre sive big-play, change-of-pace skills in , exactly what the team was looking for from Charles. Henderson will likely be claimed if the team tries to sneak him through waivers during final cuts. is the starter here and Denver is going to keep Booker on the active roster despite a wrist injury which has kept him out for all of training camp. Charles has beat the odds before, but he needs a big game . This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be mi sing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an i sue.
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