Tag: 9572

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The dreaded cart. The courtesy clap for the injured.

New York Giants offensive lineman Nick Gates wanted no part of it. He had never needed it before the Thursday night game against Washington in Week 2 of last season.

Not until he heard his left leg go “crack, crack, pop” and started flopping back and forth while he laid on the grass at FedEx Field. The fibula and tibia were broken. There would be seven surgeries to follow, and a rehab that is still in progress.

The injury was so gruesome that NFL Network, which was broadcasting the game, refused to show the replay of Gates’ leg getting caught underneath Washington defensive lineman Daron Payne. The Giants’ training staff and doctors stabilized the leg in an air cast and Gates was taken off the field smiling and waving to signify he was OK.

“I’ll be all right. I’m good,” then-teammate Billy Price remembers Gates telling the Giants. “Now go kick some ass!”

It was a strange reaction given the circumstances and severity of the injury — unless you know Gates.

“I’m good,” Gates recalled telling his mother and brother during a FaceTime call soon after he was taken off the field. “I broke my leg. It snapped in half. But I’ll be good.”

Gates was smiling on that call while his mom, Sonya, was hysterical and his older brother, Matt, was crying for the first time that Nick remembers. It was Gates — pre-pain medication — providing the reassurance for his family as he was being prepared for a trip to Virginia’s Inova Fairfax Hospital with his leg and career in jeopardy.

“That’s exactly what he was saying: ‘Mom, I’m fine. I’m fine. Stop crying,'” Sonya told ESPN. “He was telling his brother, ‘Matt, I’m good. I’m good.'”

When he was in the ambulance, he could feel — and hear — the bones in his injured leg rubbing together.

“‘Hey, you trying to hit every pothole or what?'” he asked the driver with a chuckle.

This is how it was for most of the early weeks of his recovery. Gates, who started three games in 2019 and all 16 in 2020, was taking it all in stride as if dealing with a sprained ankle. He spent most of that time with his leg elevated — either in a hospital room or at his New Jersey home — and his mom at his side.

There was a moment he feared losing his leg. There was a surgery this spring when doctors removed the rod and had to clean out the bone. Doctors have assured Gates he will return to the field, but it’s unclear when that will happen or how effective he will be when he does.

“This guy has been rehabbing unbelievable,” coach Brian Daboll said. “He’s made a lot of strides. Where he’s at and when he’s ready, I couldn’t answer that right now.”

Gates was put on the physically unable to perform list this week as the Giants open training camp, but his mindset remains positive.

“What does being negative about this do for me? … What, am I going to feel sorry? It’s broken,” said Gates, who in a 45-minute interview with ESPN nonchalantly talked about all the ugly details. “I’m not going to be down in the dumps. No use for that.”

‘He never complained once’

From the moment he was carted off the field to now, Gates’ approach has been inspiring and perfectly on brand according to those who know him best.

“The guy saw his leg facing a different direction. … He had multiple surgeries, he never complained once,” said his agent, Jon Perzley of Sportstars. “That’s just Nick.”

Gates, 26, says his leg broke in the best way possible. Right in the middle.

“Toughest dude on planet Earth” is how Perzley described Gates the week after the injury.

Said Sonya: “Nicholas is very tough. There are only three times in his life he’s ever told me something’s hurt. I know when he says that word [‘hurt’] I better pay attention.”

The first was when he broke his hand at age 6. That required surgery and involved screws being placed in his hand. And there was the appendicitis when he had COVID-19. The third time happened early in this recovery when Gates’ leg swelled too much and required a procedure called a fasciotomy. Doctors told him that losing his leg was among the possibilities if it swelled for too long.

While waiting for his doctor to come out of surgery, Gates cried.

“[Losing my leg] was in play,” he said. “But then I asked a question: ‘Should I be worried about it?'”

“‘No. You’re good,'” the doctor said.

“I calmed down after that,” Gates said.

Always an underdog

His initial surgery was Sept. 17, and the next day doctors wanted Gates to take a few steps. That was like giving a drag racer the green light. A few steps? He walked laps, and released a video of himself on social media hobbling around the hospital floor.

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Two days after snapping his leg and one day after surgery, Giants OL Nick Gates was back up and walking. Beast! 💪💪

🎥 nick_gates68 on IG pic.twitter.com/g5UPeSLbUO

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) September 19, 2021

It was a gritty response by Gates, who at 6-foot-6 and 318 pounds is a tough guy in a sport full of them. He once started a scrum with Los Angeles Rams star defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and he always seems to be involved in pushing after a play or the first to defend his quarterback when necessary.

That attitude has served him well on a difficult path from undrafted rookie out of Nebraska (2018) to NFL starter to team captain for the Giants. Gates regrets not being there for his teammates most of last season and vows to be there for them this fall.

His first question to every doctor: “Am I going to make it back onto that field?” Sonya said. “And they all assured him he would.”

Gates started running in the spring and is finally starting to regain strength in his legs. There are still plenty of hurdles to clear. The leg is stable, but there is a difference between being able to jog and anchoring to stop a 350-pound nose tackle.

There might be doubters who believe he’s just putting on a happy face, but Gates views his situation as just another career obstacle.

“I’ve always been kind of the underdog,” he said. “Nobody expected me to win the job in college. I won the job in college. Nobody expected me to be anything as an undrafted free agent. I became something. I was a captain. I think that is cool. I was undrafted and was a captain in the NFL for the New York Giants! There isn’t much better than that.”

And if he doesn’t make it all the way back?

“I don’t know if it would hurt me, but it would be weird,” he said. “I’ve never had a job, technically.”

The Giants are going to give Gates time. They signed Jon Feliciano from the Buffalo Bills this offseason knowing the challenge Gates faces.

“When I got here, I was just worried about his quality of life,” first-year GM Joe Schoen said of Gates. “The fact that he is where he is and may be able to play in the preseason is amazing. Credit to the kid. He’s been working his butt off.”

Whenever Gates returns, that moment will be special given the severity of the injury and the speed bumps he has hit.

“I have no doubt [he’ll be back],” Sonya said. “I don’t think there is any doubt in his mind either. It’s going to be an amazing day when he steps on the field to play.”

Then the smile he had on his face while being carted off will make more sense to the rest of us.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — A year ago, New York Jets tackle Mekhi Becton was so high on his new right-hand man, guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, that he retweeted a photo of them on the practice field, predicting, “JORDAN AND PIPPEN!!! Mark my words!!!”

Becton’s right-hand man is now his left-hand man. The Jets flipped their offensive line, moving Becton and Vera-Tucker — drafted 11th (2020) and 14th (2021), respectively — to the right side.

This isn’t how general manager Joe Douglas drew it up when he vowed in 2020 to build a dominant offensive line, but the Jets remain bullish on the unit after the big changes.

“Personally, I’m excited about the right side,” coach Robert Saleh said. “You have a couple of potential All-Pros, in my opinion. They are two fantastic young players. Then you’ve got two veterans on the other side (George Fant and Laken Tomlinson). It’s a cool combination and a cool group.”

Saleh likes Fant so much at left tackle, where he took over in Week 2 following Becton’s season-ending knee injury, that he was willing to uproot the 6-foot-7, 363-pound (or thereabouts) Becton. The Jets drafted him to be their long-term left tackle (after signing Fant, by the way), just like they drafted Vera-Tucker to be a fixture at left guard (they moved him to accommodate Tomlinson).

On paper, the offensive line has a lot of potential, but so much hinges on Vera-Tucker and Becton settling into their new spots. Before the first practice on Wednesday, when the Becton move was announced, he leaned over to Vera-Tucker and said, “Same stuff, different side.”

Well, it’s a little more complicated than that. Former Jets left tackle Kelvin Beachum, entering his third season as the Arizona Cardinals‘ starting right tackle, knows the position change as well as anyone.

“I think the biggest transition is your stance, eyes and hand placement,” he told ESPN. “I’m going into Year 3 of the switch, but when you have played a position for eight, nine years, there are some motor patterns that have to be reworked. If you’re a pro, you will figure it out.”

Becton and Vera-Tucker, both 23, aren’t old enough to be stuck in their ways, which factored into the team’s decision to move them and leave Fant and Tomlinson in their spots.

Becton said he embraces the change, also acknowledging he must “change my technique up” and that it’s “a work in progress.” He needs to adapt quickly because the Jets face a formidable slate of pass-rushers that typically rush on Becton’s side. The list includes T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh Steelers), Trey Hendrickson (Cincinnati Bengals), Von Miller (Buffalo Bills) and Matthew Judon (New England Patriots).

The Jets face superstar Myles Garrett (Cleveland Browns) in Week 2, but he usually rushes from the left-tackle side. Until recently, teams always put their best pass-rusher at right defensive end, but the trend has changed. Saleh said gifted pass-rushers are coming from every direction.

“So having two bookends like we do, we’re very fortunate,” he said.

The team expects Vera-Tucker and Becton, both with good movement skills, to thrive as run-blockers. You need nimble linemen in a zone scheme so they can cut off angles and get to the second level, taking on linebackers.

The Jets weren’t a consistent rushing team last season, but they actually ran well to the inside right and outside right. They averaged 4.7 yards per carry in those directions (eighth in the NFL), according to Next Gen Stats. The linemen on that side (tackle Morgan Moses and guards Greg Van Roten and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif) weren’t retained.

The bigger problem was the left side (Fant and Vera-Tucker), as they averaged only 4.3 per rush (22nd) on plays to that side. That’s a big reason why they signed Tomlinson to a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency. He’s regarded as one of the best guards in the league.

The man in the middle, overshadowed by the high draft picks and expensive free agents, is center Connor McGovern. His job is to galvanize the group. He likes having Tomlinson and Vera-Tucker at his side.

“They are truly the definition of dominating, physical guys,” McGovern said. “If you went into a lab and wanted to build guards, that’s what you’re building on both sides. I’m definitely one of the luckiest centers in the league to have two guards like that.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — When the New England Patriots were considering hosting Division II receiver Andrew Jamiel for a tryout this week, they reached out to five-time All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman for a reference.

Sherman told the Patriots the same thing he’s been relaying to Jamiel: “What took you so long! He deserves a shot in the NFL.”

How Sherman became Jamiel’s top advocate highlights the lengths Jamiel has taken to keep his NFL dream alive. When Jamiel graduated from Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts, in 2020 — having set many of the school’s all-time records — it was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was supposed to work out at Holy Cross’ pro day, but it was canceled. He then looked to the Canadian Football League, but its season was canceled, too. So was the XFL’s.

“I was out of options, and knew I needed help; I needed a pro day evaluation coming from a Division II school, so NFL teams would take a look at me,” Jamiel said.

Then one day, as he searched social media, he came across the Fan Controlled Football League, which was advertising open tryouts at a high school field in Atlanta. Sherman is an investor/owner in the league. Quarterback Johnny Manziel and receiver Josh Gordon are among the one-time NFL players to suit up for 7-on-7 indoor games that are played on a 50-yard field, with a one-hour running clock and fans calling plays.

Jamiel’s team, the Glacier Boyz, lost in the championship game in the 2021 season. But Jamiel’s quickness, and knack for getting in and out of his breaks with precision, quickly earned him respect from Sherman, Terrell Owens and others. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Jamiel was declared a franchise player after he led the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

“A lot of the owners are famous athletes, actors, social media personalities. So I knew there would be a lot of hype and a lot of eyes around the league. It was a great opportunity for me, because at that point I had only played against Division II competition,” he said.

“Going to that league, I was not only able to prove to others, but I was able to prove to myself that I belong.

“I could have easily competed at the Division I level, and I deserve a shot at a level higher than the FCS. It was awesome to be able to chase my dream of playing pro football, and people taking notice all across the internet that I can play football.”

Jamiel, 25, went on to play in the Spring League (more traditional 11-on-11 football played outdoors), which ultimately led to his call from the Patriots, the team he cheered for growing up on Cape Cod. Former Patriots receiver Julian Edelman is the player he cites as having a major impact on him.

Jamiel arose at 4:30 a.m. on Monday, and his older brother Joseph drove him to Gillette Stadium for a 6 a.m. arrival.

“An amazing experience,” he said. “It was my first official workout with an NFL team, so that whole thing, just walking the halls that these players and coaches go through every day, was great. It made it even more special, because it is the team that is an hour from my house and I grew up watching them and rooting for them.

“But at the same time, I had to get over that, because I know I belong at the NFL level.”

Jamiel spent 4-5 hours at the stadium, going through physical examinations, a workout in the fieldhouse, and then film work with coaches.

He didn’t receive a contract, but said he’s determined to stay ready and possibly add 5-10 pounds of muscle. If the NFL doesn’t call again, he’s prepared to be part of the XFL draft after going through tryouts last week.

Jamiel has also worked with some Patriots players, training with them at local high schools. The group has included defensive backs Kyle Dugger, Joejuan Williams, Justin Bethel and former New England cornerback J.C. Jackson.

“He had a lot of speed, good hands,” Bethel said. “Another thing I liked was if he got beat on a route, and we covered him well, he took direction on how to correct himself to make things better. You could tell he wanted to work hard.

“It’s amazing to hear the things he’s doing to try to get his chance in the league … I hope something happens for him.”

Jamiel is also flattered by the support from Sherman, who has reminded him players can make it from anywhere. Owens has echoed a similar message.

“It’s awesome, because I know those guys wouldn’t say it if they didn’t mean it. Them giving props means a lot to me, because I was always watching them growing up,” he said.

“They weren’t saying anything too crazy like, ‘He could be a great NFL player.’ They were just saying, ‘He deserves a shot.’ I feel the same way.”

RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks report to 2022 training camp on Tuesday at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Here’s a closer look at a few storylines:

Biggest question: Can the Seahawks be competitive without quarterback Russell Wilson? Despite how it might have looked to casual observers when the Seahawks parted with Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner, this is a team in transition as opposed to a full-on rebuild. Shelling out big money to keep 29-year-old safety Quandre Diggs and other veteran players like running back Rashaad Penny and tight end Will Dissly says as much. Those re-signings, plus other marquee returning players (receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, safety Jamal Adams) plus two sure-fire starters they got back in the Wilson trade (tight end Noah Fant and defensive end Shelby Harris) plus a big free-agent addition (edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu) and a promising draft class that featured their first top-10 pick since 2010 (offensive tackle Charles Cross) leave the Seahawks with a solid roster … outside of quarterback.

Their defense and backfield look strong enough to keep them in games if quarterbacks Drew Lock and/or Geno Smith can be capable game managers. But can they avoid enough mistakes to play that way? And can they deliver in crunch time like Wilson so often did? If Lock doesn’t show that he’s worthy of a longer look, Seattle has the extra 2023 first-rounder from the Wilson trade to target his long-term replacement in next year’s draft.

The most compelling position battle: Will Lock’s upside or Smith’s familiarity win out? Lock and Smith are duking it out in the Seahawks’ first quarterback competition since 2012. That was the year that Wilson (an electric rookie) beat out free-agent pickup Matt Flynn (the presumed starter for much of the offseason) and incumbent Tarvaris Jackson (whom the locker room loved). The intrigue in this competition won’t come from name value but from how close it might be.

Some in the organization have anticipated that Lock’s talent (which hasn’t been his issue in three up-and-down seasons) will win out. But there’s a thought that he may have to win convincingly or else Seattle’s coaching staff will opt for the more known commodity in Smith and award anything close to a tie to the 10th-year veteran who’s backed up Wilson the last three seasons. Pete Carroll made it clear that Smith was still ahead when the offseason program ended.

The player with the most to prove: Can Adams return to his 2020 form? In his debut season in Seattle, Adams recorded a defensive-back record 9.5 sacks en route to his third straight Pro Bowl. He looked worthy of the big price the Seahawks paid to get him (a package that included two first-round picks) and to keep him (an extension that made him the NFL’s highest-paid safety). Then 2021 happened.

Adams was held without a sack and had as many forgettable plays in coverage as productive ones. He also played through injuries for the second straight year until his season ended after 12 games because of a re-torn left shoulder labrum that required another surgery. Adams’ dropoff in pass-rushing production last season was largely the result of all the attention opponents started paying to him after his record sack binge, which led Seattle to blitz him less often. He may benefit more than anyone from the scheme changes they’re implementing because he should be harder for offenses to pinpoint pre-snap. But he has to stay on the field for any of that to matter.

Fiercest fantasy relevant position battle: Can Penny last as RB1? Chris Carson‘s chances of returning from neck surgery continue to look iffy, with word still yet to emerge on whether he’s been medically cleared. There’s no question as to who would be the No. 1 option in his absence. Penny is the guy after his stellar finish to last season, when he led the NFL in rushing by a wide margin over the final five games. But you know the deal with Penny: his long injury history makes it unlikely that he’ll be there for all 17 games.

Even when he is healthy, the Seahawks will almost certainly try to manage his workload with an eye towards keeping him fresh. Second-round pick Ken Walker III figures to factor heavily into the backfield rotation one way or another. He’s a must-have handcuff for any fantasy player with Penny on their roster.

As NFL training camps swing into action, NFL Nation looks at the top storylines and offers a prediction for each team.
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• 53-man projections »
• Full 2022 schedule | Depth charts »
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What’s the deal with Metcalf’s contract situation? The Seahawks typically don’t finalize big-money extensions until the start of training camp, so they aren’t necessarily behind schedule with Metcalf. And they’ve sounded optimistic that they’ll get a deal done, but it doesn’t seem like a slam dunk given everything that’s happened since March. The receiver market exploded, leading general manager John Schneider to express sticker shock at some of the megadeals. Then Metcalf skipped mandatory minicamp with an unexcused absence, which was surprising given that he had taken part in some voluntary work.

The steep fines are a huge disincentive for training-camp holdouts, but the recent trend with Seahawks and other players in Metcalf’s position has been to “hold in,” meaning they show up to camp but don’t participate in any on-field work, thereby avoiding fines and the risk of injury. Will Metcalf do the same?

Camp prediction: Coby Bryant will be a Week 1 starter at cornerback. Seattle’s rookie corner has more than a famous name. He also has a ton of college experience (53 career games) and some serious ball skills (the best of any defender in this year’s draft, if you ask him). Those traits could make him more NFL-ready than most rookie corners drafted in the fourth round.

It also helps that the position is wide open. Sidney Jones IV looks like a favorite to start at one of the spots, but no one is entrenched. Tre Flowers won a starting job at corner as a rookie in 2018 — even as a converted safety. So Carroll isn’t afraid to trust young players at that position. For that matter, fifth-round rookie Tariq Woolen could factor into the competition along with Tre Brown and Artie Burns.

COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers open 2022 NFL training camp on Wednesday at Jack Hammett Sports Complex. Here’s a closer look at a few storylines.

The player with the most to prove is … quarterback Justin Herbert: That’s somewhat difficult to declare given Herbert’s talent and production through two seasons has placed him among the NFL’s elite. As a second-year pro in 2021, Herbert’s 65.6 total QBR ranked third in the league behind only Aaron Rodgers (69.1) and Tom Brady (68.1). He passed for an eye-popping 5,014 yards (ranked second behind Brady) and 38 touchdown passes (third behind Brady’s 43 and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Matthew Stafford‘s 41).

But this season, with a stacked roster on both sides of the football, the No. 6 overall pick in 2020 must prove that his superior statistics can translate to wins and the franchise’s first playoff appearance since the 2018 season.

Most impactful offseason addition … is impossible to sum up with one name, so let’s pick two: Outside linebacker Khalil Mack and cornerback J.C. Jackson. The Chargers commanded headlines in March when they acquired Mack from the Chicago Bears, then signed free-agent cornerback Jackson to a five-year, $82.5 million deal with $40 million guaranteed a few days later.

A three-time All-Pro with 76.5 sacks in eight seasons who was acquired in exchange for a second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick, Mack will line up opposite of Pro Bowl edge rusher Joey Bosa, who has 58 sacks in six seasons, to create one of most-feared pass-rushing duos in the league. And Jackson provides serious ball-hawking skills, as his 25 interceptions since the New England Patriots signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2018 are the most in the NFL. With Jackson’s presence, the Bolts will be expected to improve from their 21 takeaways (ranked 17th) in 2021 and get the ball back in Herbert’s hands more often.

Training camp will be a success if… the Chargers sign All-Pro safety Derwin James Jr. to a contract extension: The Chargers have several of the NFL’s top defensive playmakers firmly under contract, including Bosa, Mack and Jackson. Next up, James.

The 17th overall pick in 2018, James is entering the fifth and final season of his rookie deal and is scheduled to earn $9 million in 2022. A key presence in coach Brandon Staley’s defense given his versatility, playmaking skills and leadership, the Chargers must secure the future of the All-Pro safety before the season gets underway.

Despite playing only five games in 2019 because of a foot injury and sitting out the entirety of the 2020 season because of a knee injury, James has established himself among the league’s best safeties with five career interceptions, 19 pass deflections, three forced fumbles and 5.5 sacks. His continued effort will be crucial to the improvement of a Chargers defense that gave up 27.0 points per game in 2021, which ranked 29th in the league.

As NFL training camps swing into action, NFL Nation looks at the top storylines and offers a prediction for each team.
• Storylines, predictions »
• 53-man projections »
• Full 2022 schedule | Depth charts »
• Transactions | Injuries | More NFL »

Fiercest fantasy-relevant battle … Who will back up Austin Ekeler? Ekeler is the Bolts’ go-to running back after scoring 20 touchdowns and gaining 1,558 all-purpose yards in 2021. But who will be next in line for carries behind him?

The Chargers utilized a fourth-round pick to select Texas A&M’s Isaiah Spiller, who Staley described as a complete back with an ability not only as a runner but as a pass-catcher. Spiller’s addition sets up a competition with third-year pro Joshua Kelley, a former fourth-round pick who has yet to establish himself as a solid No. 2 option after rushing for 102 yards on 33 carries last season. Second-year pro Larry Rountree III, who rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries in 2021, also will compete for touches.

Camp prediction: Spiller will prove himself as potential weapon on offense, earning more than just backup carries behind Ekeler. Rookie running backs can often be slow to ingratiate themselves in an offense at the pro level because of pass protection. However, that might not be the case for Spiller. “He’s an excellent pass protector,” Staley said, referencing his time at Texas A&M. “Mentally, he was responsible for a lot there. He was a three-down back.” Pass protection, along with Spiller’s instincts as a runner and hands as a pass-catcher, will enable him to earn playing time early.

IRVINE, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams opened 2022 NFL training camp on Sunday at University of California-Irvine. Here’s a closer look at a few storylines:

The biggest question: When will quarterback Matthew Stafford throw? Stafford didn’t throw during the offseason after he received an injection in his right elbow for an injury he dealt with last season, but said he will “definitely” be ready during training camp. But when will that be? On the last day of minicamp, Stafford said he still had “a lot of work to do physically just to get ready to go” and feels like he’s entering training camp “in peak position to go out there and play at a high level.” The Rams’ coaching staff isn’t worried about Stafford’s mastery of the offense and there’s been dialogue about making sure Stafford is ready to go during camp.

Training camp is a success if … Stafford is 100% healthy for Week 1: Stafford proved himself in Sean McVay’s offense last season and the head coach said during the spring workout that Stafford “now has such ownership” of it going into his second year in L.A. While the Rams added wide receiver Allen Robinson II in free agency, so much of the offense already has familiarity with Stafford. Although Stafford didn’t throw during minicamp, McVay praised the way the quarterback was able to work during the “above-the-neck emphasis drills,” and said Stafford was “coaching guys up” when he was watching drills from the sidelines.

Obviously most NFL teams rely on the health of their starting quarterback, but given Stafford’s elbow injury, the most important thing for the Rams is to finish training camp with Stafford at 100%.

The player with the most to prove: Wide receiver Van Jefferson. As Odell Beckham Jr. recovers from a torn ACL, there’s been a thought that the wide receiver could re-sign with the Rams during the season if all goes well with his rehab. But while the Rams have the necessary cap space (around $7.5 million, according to Over the Cap), a strong start to the season from Jefferson could diminish the need to bring back Beckham.

Jefferson took a big step forward in his second season, finishing with 50 catches for 802 yards and six touchdowns, and that was as Los Angeles’ third receiving option for much of the season. Beckham was crucial to the Rams’ Super Bowl run and victory — despite the injury — but Jefferson will likely have the chance to prove he can be a strong No. 2 or 3 receiver in 2022.

As NFL training camps swing into action, NFL Nation looks at the top storylines and offers a prediction for each team.
• Storylines, predictions »
• 53-man projections »
• Full 2022 schedule | Depth charts »
• Transactions | Injuries | More NFL »

Most impactful offseason addition: Linebacker Bobby Wagner. The Rams lost Von Miller in free agency, and although Wagner is not a direct replacement, he brings a great deal of veteran leadership to the Rams’ defense. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris said “you can’t help” but learn from the veteran linebacker when you’re around him, and saw during the spring how beneficial that was to other players at the position, especially 2021 third-round pick Ernest Jones. Morris said Wagner “slows the game down for everybody around him” and said Wagner is still a guy who can “go out there all three downs and play every single snap of the season.”

Camp prediction: Tutu Atwell ends camp as No. 3 receiver. Both Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp pointed out Atwell’s improvement during the spring. Atwell, the Rams’ second-round pick in 2021, played 10 offensive snaps last season but had a role on special teams before injuring his shoulder and being placed on injured reserve in November. The Rams have a strong trio of Kupp, Robinson and Jefferson, but a solid camp from Atwell will give him a bigger opportunity entering the regular season.

This offseason has brought the Seattle Seahawks‘ biggest defensive shift of the Pete Carroll era.

New coordinator. Somewhat new scheme. Several new players at key positions.

With training camp opening July 27, let’s take stock of the latter. After examining the offense last week, here’s a position-by-position look at the Seahawks’ defense with a verdict on whether each is better, worse or the same as 2021.

Edge

Additions: Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Tyreke Smith, Joshua Onujiogu

Losses: Carlos Dunlap II, Rasheem Green, Kerry Hyder Jr., Benson Mayowa

Returners: Darrell Taylor, Alton Robinson

Better, worse of the same: Better

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So much else has happened with the Seahawks that perhaps their most significant offseason acquisition has flown under the radar. But consider this: the two-year, $19.055 million deal Seattle signed Nwosu to in March carries the highest annual average of any contract they’ve given to another team’s free agent under Carroll and general manager John Schneider.

That reflects two things: they’re not big spenders in free agency, and they view the 25-year-old Nwosu as an ascending player who will boost their pass rush. He’s much younger than Dunlap and a much better fit for a new front that will favor smaller, quicker bodies on the edge. Dunlap was excellent after his midseason arrival in 2020 and again during a strong finish to last season but was a non-factor during the first 11 games of 2021.

Mafe will factor heavily into the edge-rushing rotation. He generated first-round buzz among some draft analysts before Seattle chose him early in the second round.

Interior defensive line

Additions: Shelby Harris, Quinton Jefferson, Matthew Gotel

Losses: Robert Nkemdiche

Returners: Poona Ford, Al Woods, L.J. Collier, Bryan Mone, Myles Adams, Jarrod Hewitt

Better, worse of the same: Better

“Better” is an easy call with a pair of notable additions and no significant losses. Harris, acquired from the Denver Broncos in the Russell Wilson trade, has a combined 14.5 sacks over the last three seasons and a knack for knocking down passes at the line of scrimmage. Jefferson returns after two seasons away with the Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders, respectively.

Nkemdiche played sparingly in the second half of last season as the Seahawks gave Collier more snaps. Collier had a strong offseason, according to new coordinator Clint Hurtt, but the 2019 first-round pick has a lot of competition for playing time in what will be a make-or-break fourth season.

Inside linebacker

Additions: Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Levi Jones

Losses: Bobby Wagner

Returners: Jordyn Brooks, Cody Barton, Nick Bellore, Jon Rhattigan, Ben Burr-Kirven, Aaron Donkor, Tanner Muse, Lakiem Williams

Better, worse of the same: Worse

Barton would have been a full-time starter earlier in his career had the 2019 third-round pick not been stuck behind a future Hall of Famer in Wagner and another excellent linebacker in K.J. Wright. With Seattle releasing Wagner in March — parting with the last holdover from their dominant defenses of the Legion of Boom era — Barton is getting his long-awaited chance.

“I think people are going to be surprised at how well he plays,” said one Seahawks talent evaluator of Barton.

The Seahawks might have their fastest linebacker corps in years with Barton joining Brooks in the starting lineup, but they figure to miss Wagner’s experience.

Safety

Additions: Bubba Bolden, Deontai Williams, Joey Blount, Scott Nelson

Losses: Gavin Heslop

Returners: Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs, Ryan Neal, Ugo Amadi, Marquise Blair, Josh Jones

Better, worse of the same: The same

This is pretty much the same group as last season, with all their key players back and undrafted rookies making up the only additions.

Health and scheme could be big difference-makers for Adams. The Seahawks believe the changes to the way they’re using their safeties will make him harder for opponents to pinpoint. That was a factor in his disappointing 2021 season, as were more injuries. He had offseason surgery on his twice-torn left shoulder labrum as well as repeat surgeries on two fingers on his left hand.

Cornerback

Additions: Coby Bryant, Tariq Woolen, Artie Burns, Justin Coleman, Josh Valentine-Turner, Elijah Jones

Losses: D.J. Reed, Bless Austin, Nigel Warrior

Returners: Sidney Jones IV, Tre Brown, John Reid, Michael Jackson Sr.

Better, worse of the same: Worse

The Seahawks made an understandable decision to not top the three-year, $33 million deal Reed got from the New York Jets. But when they let their best cornerback walk in free agency, didn’t sign a sure-fire starter to replace him then waited until Day 3 to draft one, they set themselves up to take a step back.

That would have been a different story if either Derek Stingley Jr. or Sauce Gardner fell to them at No. 9. With both gone, they took Bryant in the fourth round before doubling up with Woolen in the fifth. Woolen is a developmental prospect, whereas Bryant has the ball skills and savvy to beat out Burns and others for a starting job right way. Brown, who’s coming back from a knee injury that ended a strong start to his rookie season, could factor into that battle eventually.

RENTON, Wash. — In addition to whomever replaces quarterback Russell Wilson, the Seattle Seahawks‘ offense will have a new primary target at tight end, a new No. 2 running back who figures to get plenty of work and, in all likelihood, three new starters on its offensive line.

Indeed, the changes the Seahawks made on that side of the ball this offseason go well beyond quarterback.

But we’ll start there as we take a position-by-position look at Seattle’s offense with a verdict on whether each is better, worse or the same compared to 2021.

Quarterback

Additions: Drew Lock

Losses: Russell Wilson

Returners: Geno Smith, Jacob Eason

Better, worse or the same: Worse

When you go from a likely Hall of Famer to a pair of replacement options who haven’t been able to hold down starting jobs, it isn’t a question of whether you’re going to be worse at quarterback but of how significant the drop-off will be.

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After all, Wilson’s career-low 54.7 Total QBR in 2021 is better than what Lock has managed in any of his three NFL seasons. Smith has posted a higher QBR only once in nine seasons (2015).

Which begs two questions: Why didn’t the Seahawks make a stronger run at Baker Mayfield, who was acquired for next to nothing? And could they still go after Jimmy Garoppolo?

The former 49ers starter hasn’t been medically cleared following shoulder surgery and with the start of training camp only two weeks away, he’d have to learn a new offense and build chemistry with a new group of pass-catchers quickly. Also, the Seahawks — even with mediocre defenses in recent seasons — have had his number since his trade to San Francisco. So how big of an upgrade would they consider him to be over their current options?

The Seahawks believe Lock has much more upside than the shaky start to his career suggests and think a different coaching style can help coax better play out of him. But he’ll have to beat out Smith first, and Lock was behind in that race when the offseason program ended.

Running back

Additions: Ken Walker III, Darwin Thompson

Losses: Alex Collins, Adrian Peterson

Returners: Rashaad Penny, *Chris Carson, DeeJay Dallas, Travis Homer, Josh Johnson

Better, worse or the same: Better

Carson’s place among the returners comes with an asterisk because while he’s still under contract, he hasn’t been medically cleared following neck surgery. And the fact that it hasn’t happened yet suggests his chances of returning are more doubtful than questionable.

But remember, Carson played in only the first four games last season, so he would hardly count as a loss from 2021. If he returns, he would effectively be an addition.

If not, Penny would be the No. 1 option after his stellar finish to last season. His health is the other big variable in Seattle’s backfield equation, as Penny has missed 30 of a possible 69 career games (including playoffs) due to injury. Whether it’s because Penny misses more time and/or because the Seahawks manage his touches to prevent overwork, Walker should factor heavily into the rotation. ESPN’s Todd McShay rated Walker, a second-round pick, as the best running back in this year’s draft.

Wide receiver

Additions: Marquise Goodwin, Bo Melton, Dareke Young, Deontez Alexander, Kevin Kassis

Losses: None

Returners: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Freddie Swain, Dee Eskridge, Penny Hart, Cody Thompson, Cade Johnson, Aaron Fuller

Better, worse or the same: The same

Barring a Metcalf holdout or trade in the absence of an extension, Seattle will return its top three of Metcalf, Lockett and Swain.

Eskridge is the X factor. Last year’s second-round pick could overtake Swain as the No. 3 and give Seattle’s receiver corps a speedy and versatile option if he’s healthy, but that has been a challenge. A toe injury and a concussion led to a nondescript rookie season. Then he was sidelined for part of this year’s offseason program because of his hamstring, prompting coach Pete Carroll to openly lament about the time Eskridge has missed.

Goodwin, added on a minimum-salary deal, isn’t assured of making the team. Ditto for rookie seventh-rounders Melton and Young.

As for Metcalf’s contract, the Seahawks still sounded optimistic about getting a deal done after the receiver skipped mandatory minicamp. But given where the market has gone, it doesn’t seem like a slam dunk.

Tight end

Additions: Noah Fant, Cade Brewer

Losses: Gerald Everett

Returners: Will Dissly, Colby Parkinson, Tyler Mabry

Better, worse or the same: Better

Fant, part of Seattle’s return package in the Wilson trade, is a clear upgrade over Everett. He and Dissly give the Seahawks their best tight-end duo in years.

There’s a widely-held belief within the organization that tight ends will benefit from the Wilson trade because whichever quarterback starts for Seattle will throw the ball to the short-middle area of the field more than their predecessor did.

Offensive line

Additions: Charles Cross, Abraham Lucas, Austin Blythe, Shamarious Gilmore, Liam Ryan

Losses: Duane Brown, Brandon Shell, Ethan Pocic

Returners: Gabe Jackson, Damien Lewis, Dakoda Shepley, Kyle Fuller, Jake Curhan, Stone Forsythe, Phil Haynes, Greg Eiland

Better, worse or the same: Better

Tough call between “better” and “the same.”

Because while the Seahawks might have solidified the future bookends of their offensive line by drafting Cross with the ninth pick and Lucas at No. 72 overall, there will likely be growing pains as those two transition to the NFL from pass-heavy college schemes in which they didn’t play from a three-point stance.

Then again, the aging Brown and the banged-up Shell were 26th and 27th, respectively, in pass block win rate among tackles last season. So it’s realistic for Seattle to be better in that department.

The Seahawks would be in barely charted territory if Lucas beats out Curhan and Forsythe on the right side to join Cross in the starting lineup. According to ESPN Stats & Information, only two teams since 1970 have started rookie tackles in Week 1.

Blythe, the projected starter at center, has a background with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and O-line coach Andy Dickerson. But it remains to be seen how much of an upgrade, if any, he is over Pocic.