There are exactly 16 days until the first kickoff of the NFL regular season. The long wait will soon be over. To bridge the last few days, sport.de delivers the most important events of the preseason every week in NFL Training Camp Inside. Substitutions, future starting line-ups and updates on injuries are also included in the current issue.
A lot can happen during pre-season. A number of forecasts that were still considered certain in June are now obsolete again. But now it’s not long until the start of the season and the NFL teams are gearing up for their first outing. That’s how a new starter in Indianapolis was surprisingly named. In addition to the good news, there is unfortunately also an injury to German wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson becomes QB1
The Indianapolis Colts make Anthony Richardson the starter. It didn’t take long for the rookie to rise in favor from his head coach Shane Steichen, who named Richardson his team’s QB1 after the first preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.
“I’ve worked hard to get to this level,” the new starting quarterback said of his appointment, “but it’s not really just about rank. I’m just trying to make sure I’m ready for the team. Although as QB1 There are still other people who have helped me reach that standard. I am forever grateful to them. I appreciate them and am glad that I have the approval and trust of everyone around me.”
His appointment not only shocked the quarterback himself, as he stated in the interview. Few had expected that the extremely talented but very inexperienced Playmaker could get the starting place after a short time. Whether this was also due to Gardner Minshew’s rather mixed performance will soon become apparent in the first games of the season. Then it will become clear to what extent Richardson is really ready for this responsibility.
Washington Commanders: Sam Howell now officially starting quarterback
Sam Howell was also named starting quarterback a few days ago. However, his official promotion to the Washington Commanders was anything but a sensation. The coaching staff around Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy wanted to give last year’s fifth-round pick a fair chance in the fight for the starter job in the team after his performances at the end of the 2022 season.
Howell was considered a solid quarterback in the draft who, like Baker Mayfield, can definitely play in the NFL under the right circumstances. In the meantime, he was even traded as a possible first-round pick.
After all, he has outdone newcomer Jacoby Brissett and is secretly, quietly following in the footsteps of Kirk Cousins. Washington only got that ten years earlier in the draft on the third day and before he switched to the Minnesota Vikings he made a total of 57 career starts in the red and gold jersey. It’s a long way off for Howell, but it shows the underdogs are given a chance in the capital.
Detroit Lions: Amon-Ra St. Brown avoids serious injury
A week ago, Amon-Ra St. Brown injured his ankle during a joint training session with the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, his failure was not the only one in the Detroit Lions’ receiving corps that day. Just a few minutes later, Jameson Williams also had to leave the field.
While coach Dan Campbell can already give the all-clear at St. Brown, “I don’t think it’s going to be anything serious,” the coach sounds more cautious about Williams’ strain.
However, with St. Brown’s teammate absent for the first six games of the season due to illegal betting anyway, Williams should be fit for his first possible game of the season just as Amon-Ra did in his opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Seattle Seahawks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba draws attention
In a positive way, another wide receiver can draw attention to the Seattle Seahawks camp. First-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba makes the Seahawks look really good for their decision to pick the young pass receiver as the first receiver in the NFL draft.
Hardly a play goes by in practice or the preseason games that Smith-Njigba doesn’t manage to break free for his quarterbacks. He moves confidently into the interfaces of defense and knows where the ball can reach him best.
He does the whole thing at high speed, which makes him a passer’s best friend. Six catches for 83 yards are on his account after two short missions. The rookie was only unable to convert a pass in his direction. With performances like this, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they carry over to the regular season.
New York Jets unveiled Dalvin Cook as new running back
Breece Hall is still struggling with his serious knee injury from last year and is just slowly getting back into training. That’s why Dalvin Cook has now been signed and it can be expected that the former Vikings running back will get most of the work in the backfield, especially in the first few weeks.
Although Cook is still recovering from a shoulder injury himself, nothing stands in the way of his start in week one. The New York Jets don’t want to take any chances this year, either putting the block work into the skills of 20-year-old rookie Israel Abanikanda or hoping Hall will be fit enough to start the season. Cook is reliable and will do anything his quarterback Aaron Rodgers wants.
Dallas Cowboys: Deuce Vaughn with conspicuous preseason
Deuce Vaughn is outplaying opposing linebackers this preseason, and that could ultimately put him second running back behind Tony Pollard. At just 5’6″ and weighing 180 pounds, the small and agile Dallas Cowboys sixth-round pick is even lighter than former NFL pros Tarik Cohen and Darren Sproles at his position.
Vaughn ran 13 times for 64 yards in his first two games, had two touchdowns and also caught four short passes from the backfield, but they were good for little space gain. But it proves how versatile he can be used by the cowboys in the future.
New England Patriots: Ezekiel Elliott signs contract
In Dallas they are looking for a replacement anyway, because despite some statements from owner Jerry Jones, in the end efforts were not made with full commitment to get Ezekiel “Zeke” Elliott to return. Instead, the 28-year-old running back has now signed a contract with the New England Patriots.
After the departure of Damien Harris, they in turn felt obliged to add a stronger running back to their roster and found what they were looking for in the veteran. Zeke fits the Patriots profile very well. There he wants to prove that he still has one or two good years left in the tank.
Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson is what he is
In the first preseason game, the new Atlanta Falcons running back was rested. He was finally allowed to play in the first drive against the Cincinnati Bengals and made a debut that many had hoped for from the former college star. First, he skated through the Bengals’ defense, dodging three tackle attempts on a 12-yard streak. A short time later, he caught a short one-handed pass and carried it wide for six yards.
After that, Robinson’s working day was already over. But he’s increasingly hinting that a lot can be expected of him this year.
Philip Forstner