Scooped: Training Camp Hot Takes

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Training camp roars along in the summer heat.

Around the League
Kam Chancellor signed a three year 36 million dollar extension with Seattle. Kam gets 12 million per season which puts him behind only Eric Berry in average per season.
Ryan Clady retired from football as did Brandon Albert. Orlando Franklin was cut by the Saints. Tony Hills retired in Detroit after being a career back-up.

Rookie 4th round pick guard Nico Siragusa tore his ACL, MCL and LCL and will miss the season for Baltimore. Baltimore has lost two tight ends (Pitt and Gilmore), their nickel back (Tavon Young), their starting center (John Urschel retirement) and possible starting left guard for the season. Plus their QB has a back problem.

Andrew Luck is still on PUP for the Colts and Cam Newton has been limited in camp with shoulder problems. As mentioned, Joe Flacco has a back injury. We’ll see if these QBs are ready for the start of the season.

Camps

Lions
Lions have been dealing with injuries but have been sharper in camp. They put on the pads for the first time on Tuesday. Greg Robinson and Cyrus Kouandijo split first team reps moving Storm Norton back to 3rd string. TJ Lang has missed practice the last two days (hip). Laken Tomlinson is the backup behind Lang but Leo Koalomatangi has looked real good as backup center. Tomlinson could lose his roster spot with Joe Dahl and Koalomtangi winning the jobs. Time will tell.

Ziggy Ansah is still on PUP, Sam Martin on NFI and Eric Ebron (hamstring), Tavon Wilson (shoulder) and Cornelius Washington (ankle) all got hurt early in camp. Decker is still on PUP and will be all of camp. Detroit just needs to get healthy.
Matt Stafford has looked sharp as always. There was a report of their being a gap in money in the negotiations but his agent Tom Condon is none to wait until right before the season to get his QBs signed (Alex Smith, Eli Manning and Drew Brees).

Rookie Jamal Agnew is winning the punt return job so far. He has blazing 4.3 speed and has looked solid in his nickel duties as well. Slay and Lawson are firmly the top two corners as Teez Tabor adjusts to the NFL. Tabor was a little too grabby on Tuesday and got flagged.

Packers
The Packers only have rookie injuries. Vince Biegel (PUP), Montravious Adams (foot) and Kevin King (shoulder) are all hurt. Rollins and Randall are battling in the slot but King has been the number 2 outside CB over Gunter. Rollins is beating Randall currently in the slot and Rollins moves to outside CB over Gunter too with King out. Adams will be out several weeks after having foot surgery. Hopefully the big man recovers in time for the regular season. Green Bay still has Dean Lowry and Ricky Jean Francois at that DE spot opposite Mike Daniels. Letroy Guion will miss the first four games with a suspension.

Josh Jones and Morgan Burnett have looked good at ILB and safety. Kentrell Brice has improved at safety as well. The Packers could have four good safeties on the team. Three safeties will play a lot of snaps if they move one to coverage ILB.

Vikings
Cook has looked great with both Latavius Murray and Jerrick McKinnon still hurt. Sam Bradford has been sharp and the Vikings defensive ends have been dominating. Rookie 3rd round pick Pat Efflein is getting more reps and could battle for the starting center job over Nick Easton.

Laquan Treadwell and Michael Floyd have both looked good. If they improve, the Vikings weapons will be vastly improved. Floyd will miss the first four games of the season though (Kambucha incident)

Trae Waynes may finally win the CB2 job over Terrence Newman. Waynes has improved as the first round pick from 2014. Mackensie Alexander has been inconsistent in the slot but should win the job.

Riley Reiff still hasn’t practice since the first day of camp. Reiff missed Week 17 and the playoff game with Detroit after being very durable for almost his entire Lions career. The Vikings hope their starting left tackle can get healthy soon.

Bears
Chicago is trying to boost the confidence of Kevin White. Victor Cruz and Kendall Wright is a legit slot WR battle. Leonard Floyd has looked great but McPhee is still on PUP for the Bears pass rush.

Mike Glennon has a neck up on the starting QB job still over Mitch Trubisky.
Tarik Cohen is a name to watch. He is a shifty RB and can be the Bears 3rd down and change of pace back. He is the most explosive player on the Bears team.