Almost there.
One more NFL preseason game to go before the actual season opener, which means the “educational” part of training camp is largely over. It is certainly over (if it ever started) for veterans who have been excluded from participating in the preseason games; they may still be running drills in practices and working formations, but the bulk of their criteria for suiting up Week 1 has long been satisfied. The rest of camp will be a reduction process, where faults and vulnerabilities will serve to bounce a lot of rookies and has-beens off the eventual 53-man roster.
The lines are being drawn.
Baltimore Ravens
Most of the offseason chatter around the Ravens has focused on the state of the offensive line, where the Ravens lost three of 2023’s starters. The line, per the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, looks to be settling on LT Ronnie Stanley, LG Andrew Vorhees, C Tyler Linderbaum, RG Daniel Faaele, and rookie RT Roger Rosengarten eventually, with swingman Patrick Mekari a possibility to start at RT Week 1 while Rosengarten observes. Who wants to face DT Chris Jones in their first professional start, anyway?
Cincinnati Bengals
Old prospects die horrible deaths, and the next fulfillment of this statement appears to be 2021 second-round OT Jackson Carman, who hasn’t looked at all comfortable in limited preseason playing time and is currently slotted at third on the depth chart. Barring huge changes this week, Carman figures to be an eventual castoff, as he’s never really found his footing as a professional.
Eyes are on WR Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals as they negotiate a contract extension or an unlikely trade. The fact that Chase has two years remaining on his rookie deal is not lost on the notoriously slow-moving organization.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns are reportedly considering trade offers for backup QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, affectionately known as “DTR” in Cleveland, for draft picks or possible offensive line depth, which is certainly needed. The Browns signed former Ravens backup QB Tyler Huntley during the offseason, rendering DTR expendable. As far as the offensive line, considering both starting tackles (Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin) are currently on the PUP list , we should expect to see the Browns do…something, if only to survive the final preseason game without getting presumed starting QB Deshaun Watson killed, should he actually play.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The two new Pittsburgh quarterbacks, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, faced 13 pressures and were sacked a combined four times (three of Wilson) in their latest preseason game, according to Pro Football Focus. A good deal of the focus has been placed on the offensive line and 2023 first-round OT Broderick Jones, whose skill set and previous play appeared to have him earmarked to play LT for the foreseeable future, but somehow wound up at RT last season. He has not improved at RT if this last game was any indication, and most publications are clamoring for the team’s decision makers to move him to LT permanently, if only to see how well he holds up.
No news to report regarding a potential trade for 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk. Speculation continues.
Next up: Final cuts and rosters. Always a fun day for fans and a horrible one for older veterans.
See you next week.
Fluffy
Pkls