Latest news with #trainingCamp
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
When does NFL training camp start in 2025? Dates, schedule
The slowest part of the NFL offseason is here. As of Thursday, all 32 teams' spring workouts – consisting of OTAs and mandatory minicamps – have concluded, and there is still about a month before the start of preseason training camp. Advertisement When does NFL training camp start? The answer is different for each of the 32 teams, though the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers – the two teams playing in the preseason Hall of Fame game at the end of July – have the earliest report dates for all players. All Chargers players are required to report to the team's practice facility in El Segundo, California by July 16, and all Lions players need to be in Allen Park, Michigan by July 19. SHEDEUR SANDERS: Browns rookie cited for speeding over 100 mph Tuesday The remainder of teams all start their training camp over the following week, representing the first time players can participate in full-contact practices. Unlike in OTAs and minicamps, teams are no longer limited to non-contact drills like 7-on-7s, 9-on-7s and 11-on-11s. Advertisement The Hall of Fame game, taking place July 31, will be the first preseason contest between two teams. The remainder of preseason games will take place over the following three weeks before the regular season begins on Sept. 4. Here's what to know about the training camp schedule: When does NFL training camp start? The earliest day of any team's training camp is July 12. That's when the Chargers are having their rookies report to preseason camp. The latest start day is July 23, when the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers require all of their players to report for the first day of their respective camps. Advertisement Most camps begin in earnest on July 22, the date a vast majority of teams have chosen as the day to have their veterans report. MALIK NABERS: Giants' Brian Daboll not concerned about WR's injury NFL training camp dates Every team has the option to have rookies report to training camp before veterans, though not every team opts to do so. Here are the dates for all 32 teams, including separate rookie report dates when applicable: This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When does training camp start? NFL schedule, dates in 2025
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Bills post-spring 53-man roster projection: A possible bump at receiver and trim at linebacker
The Bills wrapped up their offseason practice schedule with the conclusion of their mandatory minicamp last week, which means the franchise is now into its cool-off period. The Bills will have a little over one month to collectively catch their breath before training camp begins in late July, and they'll have the nation's attention as the featured team of HBO's 'Hard Knocks.' Advertisement Before they get back to work at St. John Fisher University, there is a batch of new information to process from what we saw throughout the practices. After taking in five full practices from the offseason program, how are things trending on the bubble and in who will make the team? Who could general manager Brandon Beane be looking at as their final decisions? With the spring workouts done, here is a brand new Bills 53-man roster projection before camp begins in late July. Josh Allen, Mitchell Trubisky Unlike previous seasons, the quarterback group isn't as decided before training camp begins. The Bills insinuated after the spring that the backup job would need to be earned, and given Mike White's starting experience, that isn't just talk. Trubisky and White will likely go head-to-head this summer, but for now, Trubisky gets the leg up due to his partially guaranteed salary and the fact that he has more of a mobile element to his game than White. Having a rushing element mirrors Allen's game a bit more, and that could really help Trubisky win the job. However, make no mistake, this competition appears wide open. Cut: Mike White, Shane Buechele James Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis, Reggie Gilliam (FB) The Bills don't have much mystery regarding who will make the team at running back. They brought back the same group of players from last year's training camp, and the expectation is that the same four will emerge on the 53-man roster, barring an unbelievable preseason from one of Frank Gore Jr. or Darrynton Evans. The bigger question is how the Bills will spread their work around during the 2025 season between Cook, Johnson and Davis, as all three played well in their roles last season. Cut: Frank Gore Jr., Darrynton Evans Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Curtis Samuel, Elijah Moore, Laviska Shenault The Bills have generally kept five receivers on their 53-man roster, but in this version, I've got them keeping six — one of which for a clear special teams reason. Shakir, Coleman, Palmer and Samuel are all locks, Elijah Moore seems like he's close to a lock, but Shenault is a clear bubble player. There are two main reasons for Shenault's inclusion. First, the new kickoff rules for 2025 should bring on more returns, and his ability in the open field is quite conducive to that role. Second, the Bills will have two additional roster spots to play with for the first six games due to suspensions to Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi. That would be just enough time for the team to figure out if Shenault will be their kickoff return specialist for the whole of 2025, and if they need to move on, they can very easily. Cut: Jalen Virgil, Tyrell Shavers, Kaden Prather, KJ Hamler, Kelly Akhariyi, Stephen Gosnell, Kristian Wilkerson Advertisement Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Jackson Hawes The tight end group is pretty well decided for the 53-man roster, with Kincaid and Knox as complete locks and Hawes looking like a 90 percent lock, given his draft status and blocking skill set. Davidson is a locker room favorite and has had his moments in previous preseasons, so there is a chance — albeit a slim one — that he can make the Bills think they can't afford to cut him. Zach Davidson would need to show a dramatic improvement on special teams to do so, which makes those reps just as important, if not more, than what he does on offense. If he doesn't, I think there's a legitimate chance that both Davidson and undrafted rookie Keleki Latu wind up on the practice squad. Latu is an intriguing prospect with good athleticism for the position. Cut: Zach Davidson, Keleki Latu Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O'Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Alec Anderson, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Tylan Grable, Chase Lundt The top eight of the offensive line list are all likely roster locks, but the rest of the conversation comes down to two questions. Do the Bills want to keep 10 offensive linemen? If not, and they go with their usual nine, who will make it between Ryan Van Demark and rookie sixth-round pick Chase Lundt? In this edition, considering the offensive line really doesn't bring many special teams benefits, I'll have them going with nine, and choosing the rookie over Van Demark. Despite being in their system for the last three years, the trouble with Van Demark is that he hasn't progressed enough as a right tackle, and being a one-position-only reserve offensive lineman, it is difficult to justify keeping that profile unless the team made a semi-significant draft investment in the player. In Van Demark's case, they did not draft him, and he's a restricted free agent after the year, whereas Lundt is on a four-year rookie deal and a clean slate. However, if Lundt doesn't take the necessary steps forward during camp and the preseason, this could easily swing back in Van Demark's favor. Cut: Ryan Van Demark, Kendrick Green, Richard Gouraige, Mike Edwards, Travis Clayton, Jacob Bayer, Rush Reimer Greg Rousseau, Joey Bosa, A.J. Epenesa, Landon Jackson, Javon Solomon There is some thought that Epenesa could be an expendable player via trade ahead of final cuts, but that would leave them fairly thin given that Hoecht is suspended for the first six games and Bosa has a lengthy injury history, and already has one minor injury to his name since joining the Bills. I would expect them to play it safe and keep Epenesa, given his starting experience. The Bills will see how far along Jackson is as a rookie by the end of the summer, and Solomon, at worst, will be a core-four special teams asset in 2025. Reserve/Suspended: Michael Hoecht Cut: Hayden Harris, Paris Shand Advertisement Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, T.J. Sanders, DeWayne Carter, Deone Walker Keeping six defensive tackles seems a bit rich, but it's something they've done before, and you don't need to look back further than last season for them rostering that many. But this year's roster has different challenges, including having six defensive ends and seven cornerbacks they'd like to keep. If there's one thing I'd keep an eye on, it would be a potential trade of Carter ahead of cutdown day, which would open up the pathway for Ogunjobi in Week 7 following his suspension. The Bills can always backfill the position with Zion Logue or a veteran they sign elsewhere to help in the first six weeks. However, two things stand in the way of a Carter deal. First, they would like to see that Walker, a fourth-round rookie, can show he's up to taking backup one-technique snaps to begin the regular season, but Walker may be a bit more of a project, so that's not a guarantee. Carter does serve as some Walker insurance, given that Carter can play one technique. Second, Beane would need to buck his recent trend of not trading his draft picks in their second year, something he has stayed away from since trading away Wyatt Teller in 2019. Even when the team traded Boogie Basham, a second-round pick, it was in Basham's third season. Carter was a third-round pick and has only one season with the Bills, which could lead to Beane wanting to hang on despite their roster crunch. Reserve/Suspended: Larry Ogunjobi Cut: Zion Logue, Marcus Harris, Casey Rogers Terrel Bernard, Matt Milano, Dorian Williams, Joe Andreessen, Baylon Spector This position might yield a slight surprise of only keeping five, but if there's one spot to cut from, linebacker is it. Bernard, Milano, Williams and Andreessen are all secure to varying degrees for the 53-man roster. Spector's spot is a bit more tenuous given his injury history, especially if Andreessen passes him for the backup middle linebacker job, but Spector remains a good special teams player. As for the released players, Edefuan Ulofoshio improved as the season went on last year, but he didn't prove to be such an overwhelming special teams player that would make the Bills feel like they couldn't subject him to waivers. In this case, the Bills would likely try to get both Ulofoshio and veteran Shaq Thompson back on the practice squad. Cut: Edefuan Ulofoshio, Shaq Thompson, Keonta Jenkins Taron Johnson, Cam Lewis A fairly straightforward cut, with Johnson as the starter and Lewis as the primary backup and trusted special teams piece. Te'Cory Couch has shown some good things over the last year, and he could be one of the team's future practice squad success stories in the coming years, but it seems a year too early right now. Brandon Codrington would need to win the return job because he's not enough of an asset on defense to justify his roster inclusion otherwise. Cut: Te'Cory Couch, Brandon Codrington Advertisement Christian Benford, Maxwell Hairston, Tre'Davious White, Dane Jackson, Dorian Strong As of right now, cornerback comes down to Jackson versus Ja'Marcus Ingram. While Ingram stuck around on the 53-man roster in 2024, the Bills didn't boast nearly as much depth as they do now with the additions of Hairston, White, Jackson and Strong. As of right now, I give the edge to Jackson, who has started a lot of games for the Bills in his first stint with the team and can be a good special teams player for them. If Hairston doesn't acclimate quickly enough and White struggles, they'll like to have that experience with Jackson on their roster. Cut: Ja'Marcus Ingram, Daequan Hardy, Daryl Porter Jr. Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Damar Hamlin, Jordan Hancock Rapp, Bishop and Hamlin are all safe for the 53-man roster, so the conversation is rookie fifth-round pick Jordan Hancock against veteran free-agent pickup Darrick Forrest. Given what we saw of his skill set throughout the spring workouts, he looked much more comfortable when he could keep everything in front of him instead of one-on-one coverage. If the Bills believe Hancock is a safety, that could be bad news for Forrest, as they are far more likely to keep a draft pick than a free agent with low guaranteed money. For those wondering about Hamlin, his one-year, $2 million deal is fully guaranteed. Cut: Darrick Forrest, Wande Owens Tyler Bass (K), Brad Robbins (P), Reid Ferguson (LS) This summer's #Puntapalooza is a wide-open competition between Robbins and Jake Camarda. In the five practices during spring workouts, Robbins was the better of the two, but it wasn't so much better to think he is the clear favorite to win the job. This job will likely come down to consistency in practices, the three preseason games and how well each player meshes with Bass as a holder on field goal attempts. Cut: Jake Camarda (P)
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Seven Panthers minicamp takeaways: Bryce Young's growth, tough WR decisions, secondary help
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After Carolina Panthers second-year coach Dave Canales turned players loose at the end of last week's mandatory minicamp, offensive linemen Ikem Ekwonu, Robert Hunt and Ja'Tyre Carter sprinted off the field, hopped into a golf cart and were on their way to a 5 1/2-week break. Canales hopes players will do more things like sprinting and less lounging between now and reporting day for training camp in the third week of July. Advertisement 'The biggest thing they have to realize is your vacation was after the season. You had three months off,' Canales said following the final minicamp practice. 'We're in a ramp now to training camp. So with these five weeks, you have a week of kind of reloading, then you've got to just kick back up into your training and build off of the strength and the fitness that we have.' That lean at the end 🤣 — Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) June 12, 2025 After a five-win season in Canales' first year and a productive spring, he doesn't want to start from scratch in training camp, which will feature joint practices with the Cleveland Browns in Charlotte and the Texans in Houston. 'So that was my biggest message — readiness for camp. You can't count on camp to get you in shape,' Canales added. 'The nature of it, the mandatory days off, we have to be able to take advantage of every single practice.' As players scattered to their summer homes, vacation destinations and the gym (Canales hopes), The Athletic looks at seven takeaways from Panthers' OTAs and minicamp. Not to make too much of nine practices in May and June in shorts and helmets, but the spring sessions seemed to have a little more juice than during Canales' first year in Carolina. No one was supposed to be hitting, but a couple of players ended up on the ground. There were a couple of mini-skirmishes and lots of trash talking, much of it coming from Jaycee Horn and Chuba Hubbard. The intensity extended to the coaching staff: Canales showed up to last Wednesday's media session with a raspy voice. 'It feels like camp. A lot of meetings, a lot of practice, kind of yelling and chasing guys,' he said. 'Just trying to add to the energy of it.' Canales planned to drink some honey-infused lemon water to soothe his throat. And while Thursday's final practice was a bit calmer, it still resulted in a scrap between reserve offensive lineman Brandon Walton and backup edge rusher Thomas Incoom. Advertisement Quarterback Bryce Young also got into the jawing, showing off a side the public hasn't seen from the third-year quarterback. It was just a year ago that Jadeveon Clowney called Young a 'quiet guy' who could stand to play with more energy. Veteran wideout Adam Thielen viewed the trash talking and spirited practices — from Young and everyone else — as progress. 'I think it just talks about our team. We're a bunch of guys that want it. I think guys are finally sick of being the same old, same old Carolina Panthers,' Thielen said. 'I think we want to get back to what they did here in the past in 2015 and some of those other years when they had deep playoff runs and had the crowd involved and the city hyped up. We haven't had that.' Young talked this spring about the benefits of entering a second season in the same offense following a tumultuous rookie year that included what felt like a new play caller every few weeks. Young's confidence and comfort zone in Canales' system were evident during an 11-on-11, red-zone drill Wednesday, when he carved up the first-team defense. Young twice found Xavier Legette in the end zone, then ended the day by finding David Moore in a crowd of defenders for a 2-point conversion. Canales even threw in a trick play as he continues to shape his offense around Young's strengths. 'I think the pace of our offensive development, evolution is growing at the pace of Bryce,' Canales said. 'And he's showing such great mastery of what we're doing that he's allowing us to really push the envelope and do more things.' Young wasn't perfect. The 2023 No. 1 pick tossed a couple of interceptions last week, including a leaping pick by Mike Jackson on Thursday in what was a better day for the defense. But Young picked up where he left off at the end of 2024, which should bode well for '25. Canales said it's too soon to name a leader in the kicking competition. But Fitzgerald, an undrafted free agent from Florida State, appears to have the edge on veteran Matthew Wright, based on how each looked during the practices open to the media. After a tough first week in rainy and windy conditions, Fitzgerald was 9-for-10 on field goals on the skinny goal posts over the next two practices with reporters present. Advertisement Meanwhile, Wright went 3-for-5 last Wednesday, missing on both of his longer attempts. Wright's last try — from about 52 yards — was both wide right and a bit short. 'Too early to tell,' Canales said of the kicking battle. 'Let's get a real rush out there. Let's have them kicking in games, and we'll be able to make the decision.' There's no reason not to let this play out through the first couple of preseason games. But the early returns favor Fitzgerald. There were signs during the rookie minicamp that this could be a different draft class. Just ask the employees at the uptown Charlotte hotel who poked their heads into a meeting room where first-year edge rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen were reviewing their defensive responsibilities while using chairs as offensive linemen. Canales said in April he had run through hundreds of simulations in mock drafts and never landed on one in which the Panthers took wideout Tetairoa McMillan, Scourton and Umanmielen with the first three picks. McMillan missed the final two minicamp practices with a leg issue, but Scourton and Umanmielen received a lot of work at a position where a couple of veterans were sidelined, and Clowney is no longer on the team. Among the other rookies, former Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans saw his learning curve accelerated after Tommy Tremble's back surgery last month. Jimmy Horn was limited with a hamstring injury, but the ex-Colorado wideout, with his speed and return ability, will be someone to watch at training camp. 'I think that this is one of the best rookie groups I've been around in terms of their attention to detail, their study habits, their body prep,' Canales said. 'They're doing things that six-, seven-, eight-year veterans do before and after practice. They're curious. It's a curious bunch.' Advertisement The Panthers went into Week 1 last year with only five receivers on the active roster, then brought Jalen Coker up from the practice squad a few weeks later after Thielen was injured at Las Vegas. Canales hasn't said how many wideouts he expects to keep this year, but thinks the competition for the last couple of spots will be 'very difficult.' Thielen agrees. 'For the first time since I've been here, you look around the room and I don't know who's gonna make the team. And that's a great thing,' he said. Thielen, McMillan and Legette are locks. Horn likely is, too, given that the sixth-round pick could well be the punt returner. That leaves veterans Hunter Renfrow, Dan Chisena and Moore competing with younger players like Coker and undrafted free agent Jacolby George fighting for the final spot or two. 'Special teams is going to be such a huge piece of that puzzle. How can these guys help us in the coverage units? Can they help us as a returner?' Canales said. 'That's the part where we get to challenge our guys to find a role, take this thing seriously. 'You're not here just to catch passes. We only get so many helmets on game day, so we need all of you guys to contribute in different ways.'' There's a good chance general manager Dan Morgan adds to the defensive backfield. But the Panthers aren't inclined to pursue free-agent cornerbacks Jaire Alexander or Jalen Ramsey, who could be headed to a reunion with the Los Angeles Rams. Still, improving the corner depth would be advisable. The two safeties the Panthers had in for visits in March — Julian Blackmon and Marcus Williams — both remain unsigned but figure to be in camps at some point in August. If it's between those two, Blackmon is the better choice after ranking 23rd among 171 safeties in Pro Football Focus' coverage grades last year, when Williams ranked 162nd. Another potential option could be free-agent safety Justin Simmons, who led the league with six interceptions with Denver in 2022 when Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero held the same title with the Broncos. Simmons, who had two picks in 16 starts last year in Atlanta, also has been linked to the reigning Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles. Advertisement Meanwhile, a couple of the Panthers' second-year defensive backs had solid showings. Cornerback Shemar Bartholomew, claimed off waivers from the New York Jets last August, had a pair of interceptions while Chau Smith-Wade received reps at corner, nickel and safety. Horn was impressed with the jump Smith-Wade made in the spring. 'I think he's been the most impressive player from OTAs just 'cause how fast he got the defense in one year,' Horn said. 'He's out there making the calls for the safeties. … He's lining up everywhere. He's just making a lot of plays. And the communication's the biggest thing for me — a second-year player communicating like that.' The Panthers weren't taking any chances with some key players, erring on the side of caution when McMillan got kicked in the leg while going down for a ball in Tuesday's first practice. McMillan had swelling in his leg, but Canales said the first-round pick was 'fine.' Outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum was held out of team drills with a back issue. Derrick Brown, the Pro Bowl defensive end, was limited to walk-throughs and light side work coming off September knee surgery. Brown plans to stay in Charlotte this summer to continue his rehab with the hopes of being ready for the start of camp. Tremble could start camp on the physically unable to perform list, while edge rusher Amare Barno's status is also in question after a clean-out procedure on his knee. But the Panthers appeared to avoid any serious injuries before the summer break. (Top photo of Bryce Young: Jim Dedmon / Imagn Images)
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Surprise contender emerges to be New Orleans Saints' starting QB in 2025
The Saints' quarterback situation is reportedly less straightforward than previously believed. Following the sudden retirement of Derek Carr, many assumed that Tyler Shough was the presumptive starter given that he was selected in the second round of this year's NFL Draft. And while the former Louisville passer may in fact win the starting job, ESPN's Dan Graziano believes there will be a 'true competition' in training camp between Shough and Spencer Rattler. '...There are people in the Saints' building who like Spencer Rattler and want to give him a chance to compete with Shough for the starting job,' Graziano wrote. 'And so far this offseason, Rattler has shown improvement over his poor 2024 rookie performance. 'As of now, expect the Saints to set up training camp as a true competition between Shough and Rattler. Could Shough have the edge as the player the new coaching staff drafted with the 40th pick? Absolutely. But it doesn't sound like anything is already a done deal.' Shough, 25, spent a whopping seven years in the college ranks, playing for the likes of Oregon and Texas Tech before finishing out his collegiate career with Louisville last year. Derek Carr announced his retirement from the NFL in sudden fashion back in May And the passer had by far his best season there, notching a career-high 3,195 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. Rattler, whom the Saints selected in the fifth round of the 2024 Draft, is actually a year younger than Shough. Due to injuries to Carr, Rattler got the chance to make six starts last season, in which he averaged 197 yards per game and totaled three passing touchdowns to five interceptions. New Orleans lost all six of his starts. Carr, who also suffered an oblique injury in October, saw his season prematurely end on December 8 due to a concussion and a left-hand injury. He began throwing again in March after his 2024 season ended, but soon began experiencing discomfort in his throwing shoulder. Subsequent medical scans revealed 'significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff,' according to the Saints. And although surgery was an option, it would have put his entire 2025 season in jeopardy - and still wouldn't ensure a return to full strength. Ultimately, the 34-year-old decided in May to call it quits. 'Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with Heather, I've decided to retire from the National Football League,' Carr said in his statement. 'For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. 'It's difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.' The Saints will open up their 2025 season on September 7 against the Cardinals.
New York Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Patriots stock report: Efton Chism and other risers and fallers after spring practices
Before the New England Patriots adjourned for the quietest six-week stretch on the NFL calendar, with no practices or meetings until training camp begins on July 23, new coach Mike Vrabel stressed the importance of the time away. 'I don't think it's a downtime,' Vrabel said. 'It's time away from the facility. I think it's important. It's probably the five most important weeks of the offseason as far as I'm concerned. … It's critical that they come back in shape, that they're ready to go for training camp, that we're prepared as coaches with the schedule, the installation and what we're doing. The players have to hold up their end of the bargain to prepare for training camp.' Advertisement Still, the end of spring practices comes with some surprises. Roster cutdown day isn't going to be shaped much by organized team activities and minicamp, but those sessions do have an impact on where players stand heading into training camp. Today, let's look at the players who climbed the depth chart and fell the most this spring. We have to start here. No player's stock rose more than Chism's. He didn't just stand out to reporters at the sessions we watched. He drew praise from arguably the two most important people: Vrabel and Drake Maye. Maye said it felt like Chism 'had about 50 catches' during OTAs. Vrabel's remarks stood out, too. Perhaps it's just that people in these parts aren't used to the head coach praising any player, let alone an undrafted rookie who hasn't played a game, but Vrabel's comments turned a few heads. 'I think he's a talented player,' Vrabel said. 'I think he has a certain skill set. He's dedicated. He's studied extremely hard. He has a good feel for what we're asking him to do. I think the biggest thing for receivers is that there's trust from the guy that throws the football. … It doesn't take you long to figure out who the quarterback trusts. It's the ones they target (with passes). That's a good indicator.' Mike Vrabel on undrafted WR Efton Chism, a spring standout so far: 'I think he's a talented player. … He has a good feel for what we're asking.' — Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) June 10, 2025 Yes, they were only spring practices, and there is a long, long way to go. But at this point, it seems more likely than not that Chism makes the team. It may seem strange to include one of the league's best cornerbacks as a 'riser' based on spring practices, but Gonzalez looked like a true shutdown corner this spring, taking a step forward from his high level of play a year ago. Advertisement One day after Maye said he was going to challenge Gonzalez in practice, Maye had a receiver one-on-one downfield against Gonzalez, so he threw it up. But Gonzalez adjusted his body and came down with a great interception despite no safety help. In five practices open to reporters, Gonzalez had three picks. He looks primed for an incredible year that could solidify him as a top-five corner in the NFL. Part of practice is taking advantage of your opportunities. And while Rhamondre Stevenson was away from the team for a bit, dealing with a personal matter following the loss of his father, Henderson brought a juice to the team's backfield that it hasn't had in a few years. There were certainly fair reasons to be skeptical about a rebuilding team using its second-round pick on a running back. But Henderson's speed is obvious, and he'll be one of the most fun players for fans to watch in camp. The guess here is he ends up as the team's No. 1 back by the end of the season. It wasn't always clear whether Elliss would return to the Pats after he signed an offer sheet from the Las Vegas Raiders, but now he's got a chance to be a starting middle linebacker in New England. Jahlani Tavai suffered a leg injury in OTAs, and Elliss took advantage of the increased snaps. With a good camp, he'll be starting next to Robert Spillane. Amid the Patriots' overhaul on defense, the addition of Chaisson has gone slightly under the radar. But the 2020 first-round pick had some impressive moments this spring and could be looking at a meaningful role if he plays well in training camp. Chaisson is still just 25 despite already playing five NFL seasons and looks ready to build on the five sacks he had a year ago for the Raiders. Perhaps it's not fair to put injured players in this category. But as coaches often say, the best ability is availability, and Polk needs to stand out to this new coaching staff to earn a spot in a crowded wide receiver room. After a shoulder procedure in the offseason, Polk was limited to side-field activities this spring and couldn't do much with the team. The wide receiver competition will be fascinating to follow in training camp. Advertisement A year after recovering from an ACL tear, the Patriots would have liked to see more from Bourne than they did this spring. He was … fine. But they're likely only going to keep six receivers, and with Chism playing like he deserves a spot, the numbers get complicated quickly for Bourne. He needs a strong camp, or he could be a cut candidate. It hasn't been the start to his NFL career that Mapu hoped for after being a third-round pick in 2023. To simplify things for him, Vrabel has Mapu working at linebacker instead of both there and safety, where Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo used him. There's less depth at linebacker, which helps Mapu's chances of making the team. But I've got some concerns about a guy with durability issues suddenly playing a more physical position. Vrabel thinks Mapu can be a good blitzer, so he'll need to shine there in camp.
