NFL training camps continue to bring clarity for teams molding rosters.
But not all the news from camps is good, especially for the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Days ahead of the start of the first major slate of preseason games, Yardbarker NFL writers dish on the biggest disappointment in the camp of each AFC team.
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling | Valdes-Scantling, who has battled drop issues throughout his career, has struggled to catch passes, including during drills without a defender covering him. Despite his concerning performance, it’s possible the guaranteed money in Valdes-Scantling’s contract could result in him still making the team as Buffalo’s No. 4 or 5 wide receiver.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | Center Aaron Brewer | Per the Sun Sentinel’s David Furones, “there have been a series of timing issues and inaccurate snaps between” former Titan Brewer and QB Tua Tagovailoa. There’s time to clean things up and build a better connection, but it’s not an ideal first impression for the team’s new starting center, who signed a three-year, $21 million deal in the offseason.
NEW YORK JETS | Edge-rusher Will McDonald IV | Edge-rusher Haason Reddick’s holdout has opened the door for McDonald — a 2023 first-round pick who had an underwhelming three sacks as a rookie — to earn a more prominent role. However, McDonald “hasn’t flashed much in camp,” according to SNY’s Connor Hughes, and finds himself behind 2022 fourth-rounder Micheal Clemons on New York’s first unofficial depth chart.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | WR JuJu Smith-Schuster | The Super Bowl LVII champion has had a disappointing training camp and is getting reps with the third-team offense, according to Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston. Although New England would incur $9.6 million in dead money by releasing Smith Schuster, it’s hard to imagine that his disastrous tenure with the team will last much longer. — Colum Dell
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | QB Zach Wilson | Apparently, the flop with the New York Jets is trailing Jarrett Stidham and rookie Bo Nix in the starting QB competition and probably won’t catch up. The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider reported Wilson — who has had one session with the first-team offense— has struggled with accuracy problems on his deep ball.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | WR Kadarius Toney | At the start of camp, Toney — who finished third on the team in drops (five in 15 games) last season, per Pro Football Reference — took snaps at running back to become a potential gadget guy. However, he has missed multiple practices with an ankle injury that may hurt his chances of making the roster.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | QB play | Per The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, QBs Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O’Connell have floundered. On Monday, head coach Antonio Pierce signaled he wants one of the passers to pull away in Saturday’s preseason opener vs. the Vikings.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | QB Justin Herbert’s injury | On Thursday, the Chargers announced Herbert is expected to miss two weeks after suffering a plantar fascia injury in his right foot. He’s wearing a walking boot. It’s not a season-ending injury, but Herbert missing reps isn’t ideal, especially in his first season under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | QB Lamar Jackson | The reigning NFL MVP has missed practices with an illness and struggled when he participated. Jackson has had a couple of “interception-filled” days, which could be a credit to the defense, a rocky start for him or a combination of the two.
CINCINNATI BENGALS | WR Ja’Marr Chase’s holdout | Chase hasn’t practiced since camp opened because he is due just $1.055M in base salary in 2024 and wants to be paid after registering 268 catches for 3,717 yards and 29 TD catches over the past three years. However, owner Mike Brown hinted that next offseason “is a better time for [a new contract],” leaving Chase’s status for the start of the season in question.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | RB D’Onta Foreman’s injury scare | On Thursday, Foreman was immobilized and airlifted to a hospital in Virginia after suffering a neck injury in practice. It is a reminder that injuries can even happen this time of year. Foreman was released from the hospital after X-rays and CT scans came back negative.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Wide receiver depth | Since camp opened, the Steelers have released wide receiver Marquez Callaway and lost rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson, who is week-to-week with an ankle injury. Pittsburgh already had a need at wide receiver, but now the team is even more desperate for someone to establish himself as the No. 2 option opposite George Pickens. — Aaron Becker
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | Safety Jalen Pitre | The 2022 second-round pick struggled last season, allowing an above-average 111.1 passer rating, and things don’t appear to be going much better at the start of training camp. In addition to being victimized in one-on-ones by wideout Tank Dell, he has lined up at nickel corner, where he might stay.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Safety Nick Cross | The third-year safety entered camp as the favorite to win the free safety job over Rodney Thomas and Ronnie Harrison Jr., but his play in camp hasn’t stood out. Meanwhile, the Colts haven’t shown much trust in Cross, giving reps to strong safety Julian Blackmon instead.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Right tackle Javon Foster | Selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Foster was expected to compete for a backup and rotational role along the offensive line. However, even with starter Anton Harrison in concussion protocol, Cole Van Lanen has been taking first-team snaps ahead of Foster.
TENNESSEE TITANS | Safety Jamal Adams | A free-agent acquisition during the offseason, the three-time Pro Bowler looks more like a complementary piece than a starting safety. Perhaps the recent addition of Quandre Diggs, his former Seattle Seahawks teammate, will light a fire, but for now, he’s behind Amani Hooker and Elijah Molden on the depth chart. — Mike Santa Barbara
