The NFL’s Hall of Fame Game is six days away. That means our long, arduous football desert — stretching from the USFL’s championship game July 1 to the real thing’s preseason opener August 3 — is nearly over.
It also means training camps across the league have begun, giving coaches, fans and journalists a look at their local teams after an offseason filled with roster building. While these practices may only be a preamble to the pages in the playbooks that define Super Bowl wins, they still set the tone for the upcoming season while giving a gridiron-starved nation something to grab onto in the sleepiest summer months.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at yesterday’s biggest training camp developments, starting with injury scares that could throw a wrench in AFC title plans for Cincinnati and Miami.
1
Joe Burrow tweaked his calf
On Thursday, the Bengals heard four of the scariest words any team can face in the preseason: starting quarterback non-contact injury. Burrow went down on the playing field after rolling to his right and eventually had to be carted back to the training room.
BREAKING: Joe Burrow was just carted to the locker room, after going down on a play during 11-on-11.
🎥 Video of the play, and Joe leaving the field:#Benagls @WCPO pic.twitter.com/FPl1PQ8O4c
— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) July 27, 2023
Fortunately for Cincinnati, the injury was diagnosed as a calf strain — something that may have been bothering the rising star even before Thursday’s practice, if his newly acquired lower leg sleeve is any indication. How much time he’ll miss is unclear, but it appears to be a relatively minor malady and Ja’Marr Chase isn’t concerned.
2
Jalen Ramsey suffered a serious knee injury
The Dolphins acquired Ramsey to be their Byron Jones replacement; a high-priced cornerback with a history of stellar play capable of locking down the sideline opposite Xavien Howard. And he can still be that guy — just not at the start of the season.
More info and clarity on #Dolphins star CB Jalen Ramsey: Sources say while no firm determination will be made until surgery, the likely outcome is a full meniscus repair, bringing Ramsey back in December if all goes well. The best and healthiest option. pic.twitter.com/rcQsbo3dtx
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 27, 2023
A torn meniscus has two potential outcomes. If the tear is removed, Ramsey could be back on the field by October, though he’ll be missing cartilage and at greater risk for injury — and microfractures — going forward. A repair would take longer to heal, but better safeguard his long term health. Miami plays in a pressure cooker of a division, so missing him for any stretch of time hurts. Still, having an All-Pro veteran back for a playoff push sounds pretty good.
3
Jaxon Smith-Njigba showcased his value
The Seahawks already had one of the league’s best 1-2 combinations at wide receiver between DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Despite this — and despite having holes to fill elsewhere — the team spent the latter of its two first round picks to draft Smith-Njigba, the game-breaking Ohio State wideout who missed the majority of the 2022 season due to injury.
Welp, looks like that’s gonna pay off nicely.
JSN WITH AN UNREAL ONE-HAND GRAB 🤯 pic.twitter.com/IhPjbRX89p
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) July 27, 2023
4
Colts owner Jim Irsay ticked off his best player
Jonathan Taylor will be a free agent after the 2023 season. That’ll provide him a raise over the $4.3 million base salary he’s slated to make this fall — but it most likely won’t bring him the cash he deserves. Taylor was one of the many tailbacks to chime in on the league’s current conundrum when it comes to how little some of its most visible stars are paid. But after those stars got together for a Zoom call to discuss potential fixes, the owner of the franchise for whom Taylor plays, Jim Irsay, hopped on Twitter to do a very Jim Irsay thing.
NFL Running Back situation- We have negotiated a CBA,that took years of effort and hard work and compromise in good faith by both sides..to say now that a specific Player category wants another negotiation after the fact,is inappropriate. Some Agents are selling ‘bad faith’..
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) July 26, 2023
Irsay would later say this missive wasn’t directed at his star tailback. Taylor’s agent, however, thinks the relationship between player and team has reached its breaking point.
I doubt it 🤷🏻♂️ https://t.co/LGGmD1hmmV
— malki kawa (@malkikawa) July 27, 2023
5
John Ross retired
It’s not exactly camp news — and it’s not going to affect any contenders in 2023 — but a former top 10 draft pick hung up his cleats Thursday. John Ross was selected ninth overall in 2017 after uncorking a record 4.22-second 40-yard dash time at the combine.
John Ross. Still the 40 king. 👑
On this day in 2017, @WatchJRoss set the record with a 4.22 time.
📺: #NFLCombine starting at 4pm ET on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/6Y8HVZ4IBQ
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2022
But while he was fast, he only had one season of upper-crust production in college, leaving questions to be answered in his first season with the Bengals. Injuries plagued him throughout his career and he only appeared in more than 10 games in a season once. A player Cincinnati hoped could be what Ja’Marr Chase became finished his NFL career with fewer than 1,000 total receiving yards.
He finishes his career with just under $19 million in official earnings and one hell of a “what if” conversation starter.
John Ross. 52-yard @Giants touchdown! #TogetherBlue
📺: #NYGvsNO on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/ACsk6GCSCp— NFL (@NFL) October 3, 2021
