Written by: Tyler Deakin
Well folks, the NFL season is right around the corner with the conclusion of the first week of training camp. This week brought us plenty of developing storylines, with some seeming more important than others. Aaron Rodgers & Deshaun Watson are back with their respective teams. Meanwhile, there are a few disgruntled players who have reported to camp but are seeking trades. Finally, the Colts are already dealing with some bad injury luck to a couple players. We’ll dive into all of these developments & more in this week’s Training Camp Update.
The King returns
2020 MVP Aaron Rodgers has made his long-awaited return to the Green Bay Packers. This is good news for everyone involved including the player, team, & fans. Rodgers got his restructured contract, the team gets one more shot at a ring, & fans get to watch Rodgers play. Do yourself a favor & if you haven’t already seen the Rodgers interview with the Green Bay media, you can do so by clicking here. The interview provided fascinating insight into Rodgers extended holdout. Could we see the Packers make their magical Super Bowl run this season?
Deshaun Watson is back (for now)
Deshaun Watson returned to the Texans after a similarly lengthy holdout from the team. I’ve got to imagine that his teammates must’ve felt conflicted over his return. On a positive note, he’s one of the best QBs in the NFL & a clear leader of the team. Conversely, he’s got 24 active civil lawsuits against him for sexual misconduct & he clearly doesn’t want to play for the team anymore. Will he be traded this year ? That’s tough to say until his legal processes are resolved.
Trade candidates
Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard made some noise earlier this week when he requested a trade from the team. He’s clearly the best cornerback on the market, and the Dolphins could choose to sell high on an elite player at a premium position. Meanwhile, Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks is also requesting a trade after the team told him that he wouldn’t be allowed to compete for a starting position. It’s also possible that QB Nick Foles could be dealt to a QB needy team, such as the Colts. Finally, CB Stephon Gilmore & WR N’Keal Harry are a couple of disgruntled Patriots players who want to play elsewhere this year.
Drama in Indy
The Colts are in a difficult position to be in for NFL teams. Their roster is fantastic except for at the most important position- quarterback. This is especially true after losing Carson Wentz for 5-12 weeks as he recovers from a foot injury. Adding further insult to injury, the Colts then lost All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson to the exact same injury the next day. It would be ironic (but perhaps necessary) to see the Colts trade for Bears QB Nick Foles, who replaced an injured Wentz & led the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2017. Other options for the team include trading for Gardner Minshew, signing Blake Bortles, or rolling with backup Jacob Eason. None of these are inspiring options for a team that would’ve otherwise been in playoff contention this year.
Injury Report
Believe it or not, the Colts aren’t the only team with injury problems early in training camp. Rams RB Cam Akers tore his Achilles & is out the entire season. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott injured his throwing shoulder & will not play in the Hall of Fame game. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson tested positive for Covid & is expected to rejoin the team soon. Several players, including Giants RB Saquan Barkley, Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr, & Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey, are still recovering from injury as well. Will these guys return to form in 2021?
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