LOS ANGELES RAMS
SOURCE: Sarah Barshop
IRVINE, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Rams opened 2022 NFL training camp on Sunday at University of California-Irvine.
Here's a closer look at a few storylines:
The biggest question: When will quarterback Matthew Stafford throw? Stafford didn't throw during the offseason after he received an injection in his right elbow for an injury he dealt with last season, but said he will "definitely" be ready during training camp. But when will that be? On the last day of minicamp, Stafford said he still had "a lot of work to do physically just to get ready to go" and feels like he's entering training camp "in peak position to go out there and play at a high level." The Rams' coaching staff isn't worried about Stafford's mastery of the offense and there's been dialogue about making sure Stafford is ready to go during camp.
Training camp is a success if ... Stafford is 100% healthy for Week 1:
Stafford proved himself in Sean McVay's offense last season and the head coach said during the spring workout that Stafford "now has such ownership" of it going into his second year in L.A. While the Rams added wide receiver Allen Robinson II in free agency, so much of the offense already has familiarity with Stafford. Although Stafford didn't throw during minicamp, McVay praised the way the quarterback was able to work during the "above-the-neck emphasis drills," and said Stafford was "coaching guys up" when he was watching drills from the sidelines.
Matthew Stafford did not throw this offseason after receiving an injection to help heal an injury in his right elbow.
Obviously most NFL teams rely on the health of their starting quarterback, but given Stafford's elbow injury, the most important thing for the Rams is to finish training camp with Stafford at 100%.
The player with the most to prove: Wide receiver Van Jefferson. As Odell Beckham Jr. recovers from a torn ACL, there's been a thought that the wide receiver could re-sign with the Rams during the season if all goes well with his rehab. But while the Rams have the necessary cap space (around $7.5 million, according to Over the Cap), a strong start to the season from Jefferson could diminish the need to bring back Beckham.
Jefferson took a big step forward in his second season, finishing with 50 catches for 802 yards and six touchdowns, and that was as Los Angeles' third receiving option for much of the season. Beckham was crucial to the Rams' Super Bowl run and victory -- despite the injury -- but Jefferson will likely have the chance to prove he can be a strong No. 2 or 3 receiver in 2022.
2022 NFL training camp previews
Most impactful offseason addition:
Linebacker Bobby Wagner. The Rams lost Von Miller in free agency, and although Wagner is not a direct replacement, he brings a great deal of veteran leadership to the Rams' defense. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris said "you can't help" but learn from the veteran linebacker when you're around him, and saw during the spring how beneficial that was to other players at the position, especially 2021 third-round pick Ernest Jones. Morris said Wagner "slows the game down for everybody around him" and said Wagner is still a guy who can "go out there all three downs and play every single snap of the season."
Camp prediction: Tutu Atwell ends camp as No. 3 receiver. Both Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp pointed out Atwell's improvement during the spring. Atwell, the Rams' second-round pick in 2021, played 10 offensive snaps last season but had a role on special teams before injuring his shoulder and being placed on injured reserve in November. The Rams have a strong trio of Kupp, Robinson and Jefferson, but a solid camp from Atwell will give him a bigger opportunity entering the regular season.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
SOURCE: Nick Wagoner
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers open 2022 NFL training camp Wednesday at the SAP Training Center.
Here's a closer look at a few storylines:
The player with the most to prove: Quarterback Trey Lance. The No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL draft is expected to step into the starting role for Jimmy Garoppolo after spending his rookie season mostly watching and learning. There will almost certainly be some growing pains, but Lance is taking the reins of a team that is coming off an appearance in the NFC Championship Game and is ready to push for a Super Bowl. He will be under plenty of scrutiny, but a full camp working as the starter should go a long way in helping Lance settle in before the season starts.
Samuel requested a trade in April but the 49ers want to keep him around which means to watch for a new contract this August.
The biggest question: Can the 49ers and wide receiver Deebo Samuel find common ground and strike a deal? The Niners were caught a little off guard when Samuel requested a trade in April but maintained they had no intention of trading him and wanted to work toward signing him to a lucrative long-term contract. They held firm to that, declining offers for Samuel on draft weekend. Things seemed to be trending in a positive direction when Samuel showed up for the mandatory minicamp in June. And though Samuel didn't practice, he was engaged during those workouts. San Francisco has a recent history of getting deals done with stars (tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner) just before training camp. Perhaps Samuel is the most complicated situation because of his role as a runner and a pass-catcher, but his contract is an issue they don't want to linger during camp and into the season.
Most impactful offseason addition: Cornerback Charvarius Ward. The 49ers' one big bite from the free agent apple came in the form of Ward, who is expected to immediately become the team's top corner. The Niners view Ward, who allowed the second-lowest completion percentage (45%) among defensive backs with a minimum of 50 targets in 2021, as an ascending player who can stabilize a position that was one of their weakest a year ago. They placed a three-year, up to $42 million bet on that happening. If they're right and Ward is the player they believe he can be, the 49ers' defense has a chance to be one of the best units in the league.
2022 Roster projections
The most compelling position battle:
Center. Really, the entire interior offensive line is something of a mystery but nowhere more so than in the middle. Veteran Alex Mack retired, and the Niners have thus far opted not to bring in a veteran replacement. That leaves Jake Brendel, a journeyman who has started three games since entering the league in 2016, as the presumptive favorite to take over. Right guard Daniel Brunskill could also be in the mix, and rookies Nick Zakelj, Dohnovan West and Jason Poe offer further options, but nobody on the roster provides notable starting experience.
Camp prediction: Rookie defensive end Drake Jackson wins the starting defensive end role opposite Nick Bosa. Jackson, a second-round pick this spring, impressed teammates and coaches alike during offseason practices. Samson Ebukam finished strong in 2021, but Jackson has the size and physical ability to play a bigger than expected role right away. One way or another, Jackson will carve out a significant role with a strong debut camp.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
SOURCE: Brady Henderson
RENTON, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks report to 2022 training camp on Tuesday at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Here's a closer look at a few storylines:
Biggest question:
Can the Seahawks be competitive without quarterback Russell Wilson?
Despite how it might have looked to casual observers when the Seahawks parted with Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner, this is a team in transition as opposed to a full-on rebuild. Shelling out big money to keep 29-year-old safety Quandre Diggs and other veteran players like running back Rashaad Penny and tight end Will Dissly says as much. Those re-signings, plus other marquee returning players (receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, safety Jamal Adams) plus two sure-fire starters they got back in the Wilson trade (tight end Noah Fant and defensive end Shelby Harris) plus a big free-agent addition (edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu) and a promising draft class that featured their first top-10 pick since 2010 (offensive tackle Charles Cross) leave the Seahawks with a solid roster ... outside of quarterback.
Their defense and backfield look strong enough to keep them in games if quarterbacks Drew Lock and/or Geno Smith can be capable game managers. But can they avoid enough mistakes to play that way? And can they deliver in crunch time like Wilson so often did? If Lock doesn't show that he's worthy of a longer look, Seattle has the extra 2023 first-rounder from the Wilson trade to target his long-term replacement in next year's draft.
The most compelling position battle:
Will Lock's upside or Smith's familiarity win out?
Lock and Smith are duking it out in the Seahawks' first quarterback competition since 2012. That was the year that Wilson (an electric rookie) beat out free-agent pickup Matt Flynn (the presumed starter for much of the offseason) and incumbent Tarvaris Jackson (whom the locker room loved). The intrigue in this competition won't come from name value but from how close it might be.
Do the Seahawks pick familiarity in Geno Smith or go with young potential in Drew Lock?
Some in the organization have anticipated that Lock's talent (which hasn't been his issue in three up-and-down seasons) will win out. But there's a thought that he may have to win convincingly or else Seattle's coaching staff will opt for the more known commodity in Smith and award anything close to a tie to the 10th-year veteran who's backed up Wilson the last three seasons. Pete Carroll made it clear that Smith was still ahead when the offseason program ended.
The player with the most to prove: Can Adams return to his 2020 form?
In his debut season in Seattle, Adams recorded a defensive-back record 9.5 sacks en route to his third straight Pro Bowl. He looked worthy of the big price the Seahawks paid to get him (a package that included two first-round picks) and to keep him (an extension that made him the NFL's highest-paid safety). Then 2021 happened.
Adams was held without a sack and had as many forgettable plays in coverage as productive ones. He also played through injuries for the second straight year until his season ended after 12 games because of a re-torn left shoulder labrum that required another surgery. Adams' dropoff in pass-rushing production last season was largely the result of all the attention opponents started paying to him after his record sack binge, which led Seattle to blitz him less often. He may benefit more than anyone from the scheme changes they're implementing because he should be harder for offenses to pinpoint pre-snap. But he has to stay on the field for any of that to matter.
Fiercest fantasy relevant position battle: Can Penny last as RB1?
Wit h Chris Carson's retirement . Penny is the guy after his stellar finish to last season, when he led the NFL in rushing by a wide margin over the final five games. But you know the deal with Penny: his long injury history makes it unlikely that he'll be there for all 17 games.
Even when he is healthy, the Seahawks will almost certainly try to manage his workload with an eye towards keeping him fresh. Second-round pick Ken Walker III figures to factor heavily into the backfield rotation one way or another. He's a must-have handcuff for any fantasy player with Penny on their roster.
2022 NFL training camp previews
What's the deal with Metcalf's contract situation?
The Seahawks typically don't finalize big-money extensions until the start of training camp, so they aren't necessarily behind schedule with Metcalf. And they've sounded optimistic that they'll get a deal done, but it doesn't seem like a slam dunk given everything that's happened since March. The receiver market exploded, leading general manager John Schneider to express sticker shock at some of the megadeals. Then Metcalf skipped mandatory minicamp with an unexcused absence, which was surprising given that he had taken part in some voluntary work.
The steep fines are a huge disincentive for training-camp holdouts, but the recent trend with Seahawks and other players in Metcalf's position has been to "hold in," meaning they show up to camp but don't participate in any on-field work, thereby avoiding fines and the risk of injury. Will Metcalf do the same?
Camp prediction: Coby Bryant will be a Week 1 starter at cornerback.
Seattle's rookie corner has more than a famous name. He also has a ton of college experience (53 career games) and some serious ball skills (the best of any defender in this year's draft, if you ask him). Those traits could make him more NFL-ready than most rookie corners drafted in the fourth round.
It also helps that the position is wide open. Sidney Jones IV looks like a favorite to start at one of the spots, but no one is entrenched. Tre Flowers won a starting job at corner as a rookie in 2018 -- even as a converted safety. So Carroll isn't afraid to trust young players at that position. For that matter, fifth-round rookie Tariq Woolen could factor into the competition along with Tre Brown and Artie Burns.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
SOURCE: Josh Weinfuss
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals open 2022 NFL training camp Wednesday at State Farm Stadium.
Here's a closer look at a few storylines:
The biggest question:
How will the Cardinals handle DeAndre Hopkins during training camp?
Coach Kliff Kingsbury has said Hopkins will be on a limited schedule during training camp as he works back from a MCL injury that ended his 2021 season prematurely in Week 14. Hopkins is also suspended the first six weeks of the season after violating the NFL's performance enhancing drug policy. So how much will the Cardinals actually work Hopkins into the rotation during training camp and the preseason? The Cardinals' offense is significantly different without Hopkins. For example, without him on the field last season, 56% of Arizona's passing yards were after the catch compared to 44% with him, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Can Arizona afford to give him precious reps during camp when the Cardinals need to prepare an offense to play without him? Can they afford not to give him reps if he can't practice with the team until Week 7?
Deandre Hopkins is coming off a knee injury and will be suspended the first six games of the season.
The player with the most to prove:
That's undoubtedly wide receiver Andy Isabella.
The second-round pick from the 2019 draft played just 52 snaps in eight games last season, hardly making an impact for the Cardinals with just one catch for 13 yards and one return for 31 yards. He has the fewest snaps among receivers who were drafted in 2019 who've played at least 30 games. With the addition of Brown this offseason and the emergence of Rondale Moore as a speed threat, the need for Isabella is waning. He'll need to blow the socks off Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim this camp to find a place in the Cardinals' offense. Kingsbury loves speed, which will help Isabella, but he'll need to be close to perfect during training camp to make the team.
Training camp is a success if:
The Cardinals, come January, can say they actually got rid of their second-half mistakes. After starting the season 7-0 last season, the Cardinals limped into the playoffs at 11-6 and were dismantled by the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round. This is the time for all of those mistakes, issues and problems to get fixed. If Arizona can't overcome its second-half issues this season, Kingsbury -- despite signing an extension this offseason -- could be in trouble.
2022 Roster projections
Most impactful offseason addition:
There's no doubt it's receiver Marquise Brown. He doesn't just give the Cardinals the help they'll need while Hopkins is suspended, he gives them one of the best young receivers in football. If the Cardinals don't bottom out in the second half of the season like they have the past two years, then the offense has a chance to be something special because of all the talent. But those are just words on paper. The last two years proved that it may not matter who's on the field for Arizona come the final weeks of the season.
Camp prediction: Kyler Murray shows up to camp with a new leadership mentality and puts the Cardinals on his shoulders. Some of Kingsbury's final words before the summer break were about his concern that Murray may not be at camp Day 1 because of a contract squabble. If Murray does get the new deal, he'll show up as a quarterback possessed to prove he's worth the money. He still isn't used to losing and he finally has the teammate he's wanted since 2018 in Brown. Murray will feel empowered with his new deal and will start to show his leadership on the field and throughout the organization.
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