Training camp isn’t just an opportunity for rookies and fringe roster players to make their case for roster spots. It’s also about veterans stepping into new roles or new surroundings with a chance to impress, setting off a hype cycle that feeds itself throughout August and into Week 1.
Monday’s practices were filled with moments like these. In Wisconsin, the next man up in a string of Hall of Fame quarterbacks looked capable of rising to the moment. In Jacksonville, a tarnished star looked like his old self for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. And in Buffalo, a very large man rumbled for a touchdown because football is artwork sometimes.
This all comes with a grain of salt, obviously. Showing out in training camp doesn’t mean any of these skills will translate when sparring becomes an actual fight come September. Still, there’s a chance Monday’s big performances were a preview of star power yet to come. So who stood out the most?
1
Jordan Love continued to lowkey shine
Love has massive shoes to fill; the two starting quarterbacks who preceded him in Green Bay have seven MVP awards between them. But expectations are tempered for a player who only has 157 regular season snaps to his name after three seasons in the NFL. Packers fans would likely settle for competence in hopes of staying afloat in a turbulent and unpredictable NFC North.
So far, Love looks much more than competent.
Jordan Love throws Christian Watson a perfect ball 🤩 pic.twitter.com/oHd1sdTlQS
— Caden Sunila- PackOnlyPodcast (@CadenSunila) July 31, 2023
While it’s still early in training camp, Love has earned rave reviews for his composure, decision making and ball placement. On Saturday he was an efficient 16 of 22 with his passes, keeping his offense on time and in rhythm while working with Green Bay’s host of young pass catchers. That could change once opposing defenses get the green light to actually, you know, hit him, but it’s a promising start for a team staring down a new era without Aaron Rodgers in the huddle.
2
Tim Patrick's injury curse persists
Patrick was on the verge of a breakout before the 2022 season. He’d racked up nearly 1,500 receiving yards the previous two seasons and his 9.0 yards per target ranked 11th out of 50 wide receivers to have at least 150 passes thrown their way over that stretch.
The Denver Broncos realized this and rewarded the former undrafted free agent with a three-year, $34 million contract extension in 2022. Unfortunately for both sides, a torn ACL kept him off the field that season. Now it appears he’ll miss all of 2023 as well thanks to an Achilles injury suffered Monday.
#Broncos fear WR Tim Patrick suffered an Achilles injury, per HC Sean Payton. Brutal. https://t.co/2zPOCO9Mee
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 31, 2023
The Broncos have solid, but unproven depth at wideout to overcome Patrick’s absence. A top-two of Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy will be bolstered by KJ Hamler, Marquez Callaway and rookie Marvin Mims. One of that trio will have to step up and provide a proper WR3 presence if Russell Wilson is going to fix himself after a putrid Denver debut.
3
Bill Belichick continues to do Bill Belichick things
Belichick prefers a certain blend of old school football. And what’s more old school than a two-way player moonlighting on both sides of the ball.
Per the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed, training camp has given Belichick an opportunity to move players around his depth chart. That gives linebacker Jahlani Tavai the chance to tread in Elandon Roberts’ footsteps and clock snaps at fullback as well.
"We're going to sting your ass now."
Patriots defenders enjoyed seeing Jahlani Tavai across the line of scrimmage on the offensive side of the ball.https://t.co/zp5ubghoSX
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) July 31, 2023
Tavai went from role player in his first season as a Patriot in 2021 to starter in 2022, upping his snap share from seven percent to 50. None of those snaps came on offense, but the former second round pick has been learning the position dating back to this spring’s minicamps. He’d fill a position that’s been vacant since Jakob Johnson signed with former New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022.
4
Calvin Ridley looks like a difference maker for Trevor Lawrence's passing game
Ridley has a ton to prove in 2023. After missing the bulk of 2021 due to injury and personal issues, he was suspended for the entire 2022 season. An offseason trade to Jacksonville saved him from the Atlanta Falcons’ rebuild, and now he joins a rising roster led by 2021 No. 1 overall draft pick Trevor Lawrence.
He’s slowly been working his way into the offense, and on Monday we got to see him match up against sneaky-good CB1 Tyson Campbell for a pair of reps. While Campbell was able to match him step for step on a fly route downfield, a deep out showcased the devastating change-of-direction and burst that helped push Ridley to nearly 1,400 yards in 2020.
The Calvin Ridley vs Tyson Campbell Showdown you’ve been waiting for 😈#Jaguars | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/lhKTU1D0DO
— 1010 XL / 92.5 FM (@1010XL) July 31, 2023
Christian Kirk outperformed expectations in the first season of a four-year, $72 million contract. If he can keep that pace and Ridley can live up to his 2020 standard, Lawrence could have one of the league’s top 1-2 punches available at wideout. With limited competition from the AFC South, Jacksonville could be a sneaky play to win the conference’s top seed come playoff time.
5
Poona Ford auditioned for the Piesman Trophy
I am a simple man. I see a 310-pound man shaped like Bullet Bill from the Super Mario Bros. games, I giggle and clap like a toddler.
I knew they wouldn’t let me down #BillsMafia!!! @PoonaF_95 you magnificent bastard!
🎥: @BuffaloBills https://t.co/b6iOg7u9O7 pic.twitter.com/ip07GCDLh7
— Greg Cover 1 🏈 (@GregTompsett) July 30, 2023
Ford is locked in a battle with Daquan Jones to occupy the second starting spot in the middle of the Bills’ defensive line opposite Ed Oliver. Even if he settles for a bench role he’ll be a capable rotation player whose size and low center of gravity make him an immovable object against the run. And, as we saw Monday, a surprisingly speedy goliath with the ball in his hands.
