Position battles entering second full preseason week

Aug 16, 2017 - 9:55 PM There are quite a variety of positions up for grabs as NFL teams get ready to compete in the second full week of preseason games.

There are 13 different positions discussed in the team-by-team list below with only center and safety not represented.

Leading the way are five teams with battles at wide receiver and running back, and several are for backup jobs. That is also true at quarterback and defensive tackle where four teams have those positions highlighted.

Following is each NFL team grouped by division.



NFC EAST



DALLAS COWBOYS

--Byron Bell, Chaz Green and Jonathan Cooper at left guard: Bell got the start against the Rams, but didn't make the most of his opportunity. He had two holding penalties and was knocked down a few times. Cooper was back running with the first team on Monday, but he has yet to distinguish himself. Green has missed the first two preseason games with a shoulder injury. He is back practicing and hoping to get back in the mix. The question for the Cowboys is whether they trust him to stay healthy after two injury-plagued seasons.



NEW YORK GIANTS

--Aldrick Rosas vs. Mike Nugent at kicker: The Giants' two kickers, Rosas and Nugent, got some great work in during the team's first preseason game, prompting head coach Ben McAdoo to say after the game, "I've never been so excited to kick a field goal." Both Rosas and Nugent attempted and made two field goals apiece. Rosas converted from 27 and 52 yards, while Nugent converted from 30 and 45 yards. In the kickoff department, all three of Nugent's kickoffs were returned with his coverage team helping him to an 18.3 average. Rosas attempted two kickoffs, nailing one touchback while having one returned for 29 yards. With the battle so close, this will likely play out until the final preseason game, and could come down to whether the Giants decide to go with experience (Nugent) or the younger, stronger leg (Rosas).



PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

--The fifth wide-receiver spot: The Eagles only kept five wide receivers last year and may only keep five again this year. The Friday trade of Jordan Matthews opens up the fifth spot behind Torrey Smith, Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor and rookie Mack Hollins. Bryce Treggs, rookie Shelton Gibson and Marcus Johnson all could end up as the fifth wideout. Treggs had seven catches for 91 yards in Thursday's preseason game against Green Bay.



WASHINGTON REDSKINS

--Phil Taylor vs. Matt Ioannidis at nose tackle: The Redskins have had a hole at nose tackle for years in their base 3-4 defense and there are multiple options in training camp, including journeyman A.J. Francis. But Taylor, a 2011 first-round pick by Cleveland, is the favorite early in camp. He started in Thursday's preseason opener against Baltimore and had a tackle while playing into the third quarter. Washington defensive line coach Jim Tomsula has no stars and a host of players he's trying to get playing time. Taylor has been practicing with the starters. Ioannidis has added strength since last summer when the 2016 fifth-round pick didn't even make the 53-man roster. He was added to the practice squad and eventually appeared in 10 games. Redskins head coach Jay Gruden singled out Ioannidis for a strong performance against the Ravens.





NFC NORTH



CHICAGO BEARS

--Running back: Ka'Deem Carey vs. Benny Cunningham and Jeremy Langford. It would seem likely one of the three backs will be launched with rookie Tarik Cohen possessing third-down value and Jordan Howard the obvious starter. Langford has been plagued by an ankle issue and hasn't practiced, although on Saturday he was running full speed with trainers as he continued rehabbing. Langford was the starter before his ankle injury, and Carey has special-teams value, so the onus seems to be on Cunningham to prove he can have value. In Saturday's game, Cunningham caught two passes for 25 yards and gained 41 yards rushing on seven carries. He also provided pass blocking for Mitchell Trubisky at a higher level than the younger backs. Cutting Langford would seem a risky venture considering how high up the depth chart he'd been before his injury problems. In the end, it seems Carey and Cunningham would be the battle. Like with anything else, special teams could decide the roster spot.



DETROIT LIONS

--Jamal Agnew vs. Jace Billingsley vs. Keshawn Martin at punt returner: None of the Lions' top options for the punt-return job did anything to distinguish themselves against the Colts, and the job remains up in the air with less than a month to go before the start of the regular season. Agnew is a good bet for a roster spot as a fifth-round pick, though he's down the depth chart at nickel cornerback and no lock for playing time outside of special teams. Billingsley and Martin might need to win the return job to make the 53-man roster. Martin is the more experienced option of the two, having played for the Houston Texans, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers. But Billingsley followed Agnew in the return rotation last week.



GREEN BAY PACKERS

--Derek Hart vs. Brett Goode at long snapper: Hart, an undrafted free agent in 2016 who's never played in an NFL game, had been the only long snapper in Green Bay's camp. Hart struggled mightily in the Packers' Family Night practice on Aug. 5 when his snapping played a role in kicker Mason Crosby making just 5-of-11 field-goal attempts (45.5 percent).

"It's just one of those things where it's like, shoot, OK, not sure maybe what happened on that one," said Hart, who played collegiately at James Madison. "But, all right, we've got to go again. You've got to just wipe it out and just do the next play. There's not much to it other than that."

Hart was much better in Green Bay's 24-9 preseason win over Philadelphia Thursday. Hart's snaps were clean for punter Justin Vogel, and Crosby, who made his only field-goal attempt and all three extra points.

"The pregame this time just felt so much smoother," Hart said. "Can't really say it was one thing or another this week. I don't know man, it just worked for us."

Despite the improvement, the Packers signed Goode Saturday. The 32 year old has been Green Bay's long snapper from 2008-16, but the Packers were trying to get younger at the position with the 24-year-old Hart.



MINNESOTA VIKINGS

--Case Keenum vs. Taylor Heinicke at No. 2 quarterback: Keenum, the veteran with starting experience, used the preseason opener at Buffalo to take a big step toward securing the backup job behind Sam Bradford. He looked quick, decisive and mobile. He completed 11 of 16 passes for 121 yards. He also ducked under a couple defenders who came free and took off for a 7-yard run and a first down on third down. Heinicke, who hadn't played since his rookie preseason in 2015, was his usual scrappy self. He showed the ability to run on a 14-yard escape. But he also looked rusty and inexperienced. He missed seeing some open receivers and threw an ill-advised ball while on the run toward the sideline. The ball was intercepted in Vikings territory. Keenum was the first quarterback off the bench at Buffalo. Look for Heinicke to be the first quarterback to play after Bradford when the Vikings play their second preseason game on Friday night at Seattle.





NFC SOUTH



ATLANTA FALCONS

--Backup running back: Fifth-round pick Brian Hill, who declared that the Falcons picked the best running back in the draft, made an uninspiring pro debut with 10 yards on nine carries. Terron Ward, who had a 26-yard run and 3-yard touchdown run, isn't just going to give up his roster spot. He led the Falcons in rushing with 48 yards on 11 carries.



CAROLINA PANTHERS

--There's a need for depth to be built among wide receivers and that might have become more interesting after the first preseason game. WRs Damiere Byrd, Brenton Bersin and Austin Duke are among those aiming for roles. Byrd caught a pair of touchdown passes and certainly looked to be in line for a closer look for one of the backup spots. "We were excited about this opportunity to see his quickness," head coach Ron Rivera said of Byrd. Meanwhile, Bersin, who has often been a fringe player (on and off the active list in recent seasons) suffered an injury in the first preseason game.



NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

--DTs Daniel Onyemata and Tyeler Davison have taken turns on the No. 1 defensive line since the departure of Nick Fairley, who will miss the season and whose career likely is over because of a heart ailment. Davison moved over from the tackle spot being manned by 2016 No. 1 draft choice Sheldon Rankins to battle Onyemata. Davison could move back behind Rankins if the Saints are satisfied that Onyemata is ready to start. With joint practices and a preseason game against the Chargers looming this week, both tackles have an opportunity to make a big impression.



TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

--Josh Huff vs. Bernard Reedy at wide receiver: Both players are trying to make the team as a fifth receiver and kick returner. Huff had a 37-yard kickoff return against the Bengals while Reedy returned a punt 22 yards. This one is too close to call, but they both made splash plays on special teams.





NFC WEST



ARIZONA CARDINALS

--The Cardinals aren't expected to keep more than four inside linebackers on their 53-man active roster and three of the spots are set with Karlos Dansby, rookie first-round pick Haason Reddick and Deone Bucannon, who presently is on the PUP list recovering from offseason ankle surgery. At the moment, the fourth spot is boiling down to a dual between veteran free-agent pickup Josh Bynes and second-year pro Scooby Wright. Wright's main value is on special teams, something Bynes doesn't play, which could give Wright the edge, Bynes, however, had a fantastic effort Saturday night against the Raiders with a team-high seven tackles, half a sack, a forced fumble and one pass defensed.



LOS ANGELES RAMS

--Malcolm Brown vs. Justin Davis at running back: Davis, an undrafted rookie from USC, has opened eyes in camp with his natural running instincts and speed. All of which were on display with the 70 yards he ran for on nine carries Saturday against the Cowboys. There is no doubt he opened eyes, and with Lance Dunbar still out with an injury, there is an opportunity for Davis to nudge Brown out of the way to earn a prominent spot on the roster.



SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

--Rashard Robinson and Keith Reiser vs. the field for starting cornerback spots: Both 49ers starters alarmingly got burned for deep completions in the early going of Friday's preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs appeared to be picking on Robinson, considered to be the 49ers' top cover corner, before he brushed aside an embarrassing start with an interception. Dontae Johnson, who sat out the opener with a concussion, and rookie third-round pick Ahkello Witherspoon, the most impressive 49ers corner in the opener, remain very much in the mix for starting spots.



SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

--With the expected absence of Malik McDowell into the regular season after an ATV accident in July, the battle for the final spots along the defensive line has become quite competitive. Defensive end David Bass and defensive tackles Rodney Coe, Tylor Harris, Jeremy Liggins and Garrison Smith all made positive impressions in Seattle's preseason opener against the Chargers. Harris had an interception off a tipped pass, Coe, Liggins and Smith were effective in creating push and willing in pursuit, and Bass had a half sack and a quarterback hit. There may only be one spot potentially at stake for the group to seize hold of, which will make for a fierce battle during the remaining three weeks of camp.





AFC EAST



BUFFALO BILLS

--Defensive end: The starting spots are locked up with Shaq Lawson and Jerry Hughes, but the backup jobs are wide open and the player making the most noise is unheralded Eddie Yarbrough. Undrafted in 2016, he was out of football after failing to hook on with the Broncos and the CFL's Calgary Stampeders. The Bills signed him in April, and he has been impressive throughout camp. He made three tackles, a sack, and broke up a pass as he started in place of the injured Lawson against Minnesota Thursday. There's a long way to go, but Yarbrough is in a good spot to earn a roster spot over the likes of Jake Metz, Ryan Davis, Max Valles and Marquavius Lewis.



MIAMI DOLPHINS

--Mike Hull vs. Lawrence Timmons at middle linebacker: With rookie Raekwon McMillan (knee) sidelined, the Dolphins will look at options. Hull (6-foot, 232) will get the first shot, but he's a bit undersized. He's quick, but might not have the bulk or tackling skills to anchor a defense that was 30th against the run last year. Timmons was a sturdy 3-4 inside linebacker for Pittsburgh for years and has five consecutive 100-tackle seasons. He could shift from the strong side. Weak-side linebacker Kiko Alonso, last year's middle linebacker, is also an option.



NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

--Matt Lengel vs. James O'Shaughnessy vs. Jacob Hollister for No. 3 tight-end role: When camp opened, it seemed the battle to be the third tight end behind Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen - though keeping a No. 3 is never a guarantee - would be between the returning Lengel and trade addition O'Shaughnessy. The latter was a spring trade addition from Kansas City who's been primarily a special teamer to this point, but offers athletic upside. But with both veterans sitting out the preseason opener, Hollister, the undrafted rookie out of Wyoming, injected his name into the conversation with a game-high seven catches for 116 yards against Jacksonville. The youngster, whose twin brother Jacob is an undrafted wide receiver in camp with New England, has heated up of late showing nice route-running ability and solid hands. It's not a sexy position, but the Patriots may have an interesting decision to make at the cuts to 53 in regards to depth at the tight-end spot.



NEW YORK JETS

--Kicker: Whomever wins the gig between veteran Chandler Catanzaro and second-year undrafted free agent Ross Martin is likely to get plenty of opportunities in an offense likely to stall out in field-goal range. Catanzaro entered camp as the obvious favorite, but Martin has been the more impressive performer in practice and Catanzaro further hurt his cause Saturday, when he was wide left on a 55-yard attempt against the Titans, and Monday, when he missed a 25-yarder and a 40-yarder in practice. Martin, who was 6-for-6 with a 55-yard boot on Monday, should get a chance to take the lead in Saturday's game against the Lions.





AFC NORTH



BALTIMORE RAVENS

--Right tackle: It appeared to be a foregone conclusion that Austin Howard would take over the starting job at right tackle after signing a three-year, $16 million deal on Aug. 4. However, James Hurst has been playing well at that spot since taking over for Rick Wagner, who left as a free agent to the Detroit Lions. Howard, who had shoulder surgery this offseason, wasn't cleared to practice until Saturday. As a result, the 6-foot-5, 317-pound Hurst got the start in the preseason opener against the Washington Redskins and performed well again. Hurst said earlier in camp that he has every intention of fighting for the starting spot. With Howard back at practice this week, an intense battle with Hurst will officially begin. Hurst has the experience. He has appeared in 48 games, including 16 starts at both left and right tackle since he was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2014.



CINCINNATI BENGALS

--The Bengals' kicking competition heated up during Friday's preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Randy Bullock kicked field goals of 49 and 54 yards. Fifth-round draft choice Jake Elliott kicked a 45-yarder late in the first half. "It was a good opportunity to get a deep look at the kickers," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. "It's been fairly tight. It was exposure with them out here in the real deal."



CLEVELAND BROWNS

--The Browns are likely to keep three running backs plus fullback Dan Vitale. Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson are locks to make the team, but the battle for the third spot between seventh-round draft pick Matthew Dayes and Terrance Magee is shaping up to be a good one. Magee, originally signed by the Ravens as an undrafted rookie in 2015, spent most of the last two years on various practice squads. Both players scored on one-yard touchdown runs against the Saints in the preseason opener. Both players have shown power on inside runs in practice.



PITTSBURGH STEELERS

--Swing tackle: The Steelers don't have any battles for starting positions along the offensive line, but there is a competition brewing between Chris Hubbard and Jerald Hawkins for the top backup tackle. With Alejanrdo Villanueva missing the first preseason game against the Giants, it was Hubbard who got the start. A former undrafted free agent entering his fourth NFL season, Hubbard received the assignment over Hawkins, a fourth-round pick in 2016. The Steelers believe Hawkins has a higher ceiling than Hubbard, but Hubbard isn't letting Hawkins move ahead of him without a fight.





AFC SOUTH



HOUSTON TEXANS

--Quarterback: Tom Savage has been installed as the Texans' starter and rookie Deshaun Watson is his backup ahead of Brandon Weeden. Both Savage and Watson had some strong moments in the Texans' preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers. Savage has done nothing to lose the job and Watson has shown flashes of talent. Savage is expected to enter the season as the starter, but the unofficial countdown to Watson being elevated is ongoing.



INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

--Quarterback: Specifically, who is going to be Indianapolis' No. 2 quarterback behind Scott Tolzien and possibly the team's No. 3 quarterback when Andrew Luck is finally cleared to play. Undrafted rookie Phillip Walker supplanted the more experienced Stephen Morris during practices last week. Walker got the majority of the work behind Tolzien, which was something of a surprise since Morris had impressed the Colts' coaching staff as a backup during his stint with the team last season.

The former Temple quarterback replaced Tolzien in the Detroit game and played into the fourth quarter before finally giving way to Morris. Walker completed 9-of-20 passes for 86 yards. While his stats weren't overly impressive, the rookie did show a few of the things - such as his mobility in the pocket - that led to his addition to the roster. Morris, though, led Indianapolis to its only touchdown despite playing the final nine minutes of the game. He connected on 13-of-20 passes for 94 yards. He remains very much in the hunt to eventually be Indianapolis' third quarterback.



JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

--Keelan Cole vs. Rashad Greene at wide receiver: This isn't a battle for a starting job, but rather it's likely a battle for a roster spot. The Jaguars seem set at the receiver spot with starters Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee. Add in backups Dede Westbrook and Arrelious Benn (big contributor on special teams) and that will probably only leave one other spot as the Jaguars will probably carry just six receivers. The battle between Cole and Greene could come down to who can contribute more on special teams. Greene may have the edge there as he could be in line to be the team's top punt returner. Dropping an easy pass across the middle that cost the Jaguars a first down in the New England game didn't help Greene's cause. Cole enhanced his chances when he broke free from a Patriots defender and caught a Chad Henne pass in stride and then raced to the end zone to complete a 97-yard scoring play.



TENNESSEE TITANS

--Alex Tanney vs. Matt Cassel. Much has been made of whether Tanney can either play well enough to unseat Cassel as the backup quarterback or at least play well enough to make the Titans keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Tanney got an extended look Saturday night and was disappointing, completing just 11 of 27 throws for 132 yards. He was sacked seven times and had a fumble and interception. Tanney, out of practice-squad eligibility with the Titans, will get more chances in camp, but Cassel probably strengthened his hold on the No. 2 job and he didn't even play.





AFC WEST



DENVER BRONCOS

--At left guard, the dynamic changed Saturday. After taking two weeks to get up to speed and learn the offense, Allen Barbre began splitting first-team repetitions with third-year veteran Max Garcia, who started there last year. Barbre was acquired in a pre-camp trade with the Eagles and spent Saturday's practice alternating first-team repetitions with Garcia, with each working a period before giving way to the other. Garcia was moved from right guard back to the left side during OTAs after struggling; he had been moved to right guard in the spring after the Broncos signed Ron Leary in free agency.



KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

--Running back Spencer Ware's grip on the starting job appears firm, but rookie Kareem Hunt continues making a charge. Hunt seemed to secure the No. 2 role in Sunday's practice, taking snaps with the first-team offense behind Ware and running with the second team before giving way to Charcandrick West. Veteran C.J. Spiller also remains in the battle. The Chiefs ran the ball just 14 times in the preseason opener against San Francisco, giving the running backs very little opportunity to separate themselves. Hunt's elusiveness, pass-catching skills and kick-return ability all put him in the mix for significant playing time as a rookie. Spiller can also return kicks, giving him a slight special teams edge over West. The Chiefs also have fullback Anthony Sherman, and continue testing tight end Orson Charles as a reserve fullback. The club will likely keep just three halfbacks, putting West and Spiller in a race for the final spot.



LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

--Tyrell Williams vs Travis Benjamin at wide receiver: What's certain is Keenan Allen is looking good as he comes back from his knee injury and will start at wide receiver. But opposite him is an interesting competition as Benjamin looks to re-establish himself at the expense of Williams. It was Williams, and not Benjamin, that produced a 1,000-yard season last year when Allen went down. Benjamin had four touchdown catches in 2016, but his 47 receptions were 21 fewer than his previous year in Cleveland. Benjamin displayed his speed when catching a 74-yard touchdown pass from Kellen Clemens against the Seahawks on Sunday. Williams is still listed as the starter, but Benjamin is coming fast.



OAKLAND RAIDERS

--Eddie Vanderdoes vs. Treyvon Hester at defensive tackle. Vanderdoes, a third-round pick out of UCLA, has held the starting spot at the three technique and will likely hold it through training camp He had one assisted tackle against Arizona in 31 snaps. Hester, a seventh-round pick out of Toledo, had a pair of sacks in 33 snaps against Arizona's backup linemen to at least put himself in the running for being in the rotation.