Depth Chart Watch: Training Camp Job Battles

The NFL preseason flew in like a calm breeze last week, and it's been delicately swirling in the background since. It still feels surreal -- although draft season is starting to enter full swing, it still feels like last season just ended and the new one can't possibly start so soon. Yet here we sit, less than a month from the start of regular-season action, and the depth charts are already starting to swing to and fro, so we can't help but pay attention.

Arizona RB -- Andre Ellington (hamstring), David Johnson (hamstring) and Stepfan Taylor (calf) have been hurting in camp, and word's out that coach Bruce Arians hasn't been happy with any of them or Kerwynn Williams, so he's looking for other options outside the organization. Former Jet and Titan Chris Johnson has had his name brought up, but I wouldn't bet on a CJ2K resurgence in the desert. It seems the Cardinals recognize that Ellington's lack of size and tendency to get hurt make him a poor choice as a featured back, especially after last season's awful 3.3 YPC. Johnson is built more like a workhorse back, but it seems his hamstring's in much worse shape than Ellington's; while the incumbent is projected to play Saturday, the rookie could miss all training camp.

Arizona WR -- Michael Floyd was already coming off a mediocre year, and how he's behind the eight ball in camp, as he suffered three -- count 'em, three -- dislocated fingers in practice Wednesday. His return date remains uncertain, but it sounds like a reasonable possibility that he could be limited or unavailable the first couple weeks of the season. Accordingly, John Brown's seen extra reps, and he was already a threat to carve out a bigger role at the expense of Floyd and Larry Fitzgerald, who was bothered by a foot injury in practice last week, but seems to be over it.

Arizona TE -- The Cardinals signed Jermaine Gresham last month for some pass-catching depth at tight end, but he has back issues and is likely to take a backseat to the monster-sized Darren Fells, who was anointed the starter this week and could turn into a red-zone weapon for Carson Palmer.

Atlanta RB -- While Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are supposed to compete for the starting role, both have had training camp interrupted by near-identical hamstring injuries that are expected to keep them out of action at least another week. In their absence, Antone Smith -- who's notable for all the big plays he busted last year despite only 36 touches -- is getting some time with the first-team offense, but it seems clear the Falcons would only turn to the undersized 29-year-old as a last resort. Freeman and Coleman will likely both get healthy before the season starts, but hamstring injuries are scary for running backs -- they can recur as the season goes on, and these ones (while only Grade 1) are lingering already.

Baltimore WR -- Spectacularly speedy (he has a 97 rating in Madden 15!) first-round rookie Breshad Perriman has a knee injury, leaving extra reps for the likes of Marlon Brown and Michael Campanaro. Once Perriman gets healthy, expect him to pass Kamar Aiken to become this team's No. 2 receiver opposite Steve Smith.

Buffalo QB -- The latest word on the competition for Terrible Starting Quarterback For A Rex Ryan-Coached Team is that Matt Cassel is beginning to pull away with the job, as he's gained an edge in first-team practice reps over EJ Manuel and Tyrod Taylor, and he's slated to start the preseason opener. Nothing's set in stone yet, though.

Carolina WR -- Kelvin Benjamin is set as the Panthers' No. 1 receiver, but rookie Devin Funchess is still battling to carve out the No. 2 spot for himself. Early indications are there will be a timeshare between Funchess, Philly Brown, Ted Ginn and Jerricho Cotchery, but the tight-end-sized Funchess has to be considered the favorite.

Chicago RB -Ka'Deem Carey and Jacquizz Rodgers showed well in the first preseason game, but were outshined by undrafted rusher Senorise Perry, who ripped off a 54-yard touchdown run en route to 89 yards on 10 touches. It's not at all likely that this game changes much on the depth chart, but it's worth monitoring as the Bears search among their backs for someone who can split off a little of Matt Forte's workload -- or inherit it if he gets hurt.

Chicago WR -- Alshon Jeffery has a minor hamstring strain, but I wouldn't be too concerned about that. More worrying: first-round rookie Kevin White will have shin surgery and miss the first six games, at least. He'll start the year on the PUP list, but could miss the whole season, general manager Ryan Pace said. That creates a big ol' opportunity for Marquess Wilson to strut his stuff; you've got to like Wilson's size and hands, and he started emerging late last season. Sound the sleeper alert.

Cleveland RB -- Duke Johnson's hamstring injury has slowed him down as he tries to catch up with the Terrance West-Isaiah Crowell duo, but he's expected to be back at practice next week. Fortunately for him, the two incumbents combined to rush for 16 yards on eight carries in the Browns' preseason opener. The door's open; it's just waiting for Johnson to walk through it. Of course, walking's a lot easier when your hamstring doesn't hurt.

Dallas RB -- Shocker: Darren McFadden (hamstring) is already struggling with injury, but he and Lance Dunbar (ankle) are expected back at practice this weekend as they try to steal starter's reps from Joseph Randle. My prediction: They won't.

Detroit RB -- Ameer Abdullah looked extremely impressive in the preseason opener against the Jets, scampering for 67 yards on just seven carries, including a 45-yarder. Joique Bell is on the preseason PUP list due to the aftermath of knee and Achilles' tendon procedures, but he could be activated within a week. However, with his poor rushing efficiency the last two seasons combined with Abdullah's emergence, it wouldn't be terribly surprising if we were to witness a changing of the guard.

Houston QB -- Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett are supposedly dead even in this competition as we approach the Texans' preseason opener Saturday.

Houston RB -- You've most likely heard about the Arian Foster disaster by now, as the star rusher had to get groin surgery, leaving Alfred Blue standing alone as this team's top back for at least the first quarter -- and potentially half -- of the season. The Texans have no plans to bring in new backs, so Blue's it right now, with Jonathan Grimes and Chris Polk on hand as changes of pace. So what do we make of Blue? Well, he wasn't good as a rookie last year, averaging a horrendous 3.1 YPC on a healthy 169-carry workload and pretty much looking totally lost outside of his two relatively big games. Blue may not have much in the way of either pedigree or speed, but he's a powerful, straight-ahead rusher, and if he can do a better job of shedding contact this year, he should generate some value.

Miami RB -- Rookie Jay Ajayi's quest to take reps away from Lamar Miller hasn't gone so well, as he's dealing with a hamstring injury and has reportedly not done well in pass protection during camp. As a result, the Dolphins' initial depth chart listed Ajayi fourth, behind Damien Williams and LaMichael James. That ought to have Miller's owners feeling more secure, but Ajayi could very well emerge as a contender for touches later in the preseason or in the regular season.

Miami WR -- Rookie DeVante Parker is reportedly improving as he works his way back from foot surgery, and it looks like he'll be ready in time for the regular season. Meanwhile, Kenny Stills has a calf injury that's kept him out of action. The main beneficiaries if their injuries linger would be Greg Jennings and Rishard Matthews; it's unclear how either would fit into the offense while Parker and Stills are healthy.

New England RB -- Jonas Gray busted out a seven-carry, 74-yard day (thanks mostly to a 55-yard touchdown run) in the Pats' preseason opener, putting himself in strong position to serve as the No. 1 back in Week 1 while LeGarrette Blount is suspended.

N.Y. Jets QB -- As a Jets fan, I'm almost at a loss as to how I can describe what happened here. The facts are clear: Geno Smith got punched in the face by a teammate during an argument over 600 bucks -- seriously -- and now he's out with a broken jaw that he just got surgically repaired Thursday. So Ryan Fitzpatrick will start (for now), which apparently makes a lot of other Jets fans happy, though I still think Geno can grow into an average NFL quarterback in the long run.

N.Y. Jets WR -- The Jets' revamped passing offense took a bit of a blow when electric rookie Devin Smith suffered broken ribs in camp a couple weeks ago, and it looks likely that Smith will not play in at least the first couple games of the season. That's good news for No. 3 receiver Jeremy Kerley, as Smith should mount a strong challenge for the job when healthy. The Jets have also been enamored with 2014 sixth-rounder Quincy Enunwa in camp, and he's in competition for the No. 3 role too.

Philadelphia TE -- Zach Ertz has been ruled out for the preseason following surgery to correct a groin tear, and although Chip Kelly has expressed confidence that he'll be ready to start the season, it's still uncertain. It's possible Ertz ends up ceding pass-catching duties at tight end to Brent Celek for the first game or two.

Pittsburgh WR -- The Steelers will reportedly start Markus Wheaton rather than Martavis Bryant (elbow) in two-wide sets, but Bryant should be ready to go for the start of the regular season and shouldn't be discounted much in drafts, considering the potential fluidity of the situation and the fact that he should see a number of looks around the goal line.

San Diego RB -- Melvin Gordon's first preseason game wasn't terribly impressive -- just six rushes for 11 yards -- but he's still overwhelmingly likely to take over the departed Ryan Mathews' role. Just don't look to Gordon as a three-down back, as both Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver looked strong in the preseason opener, and they'll conspire to replace Gordon on passing downs.

St. Louis RB -- Things are starting to trend in Todd Gurley's direction here -- he reportedly won't start the season on the PUP list, while Tre Mason has been dealing with a hamstring ailment for the last week or so. Mason's still your likely Week 1 starter, but it wouldn't be hugely surprising to see Gurley -- a potential superstar -- take over by Week 4.

Washington TE -- Niles Paul suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Thursday's preseason opener, which closes the book on picking up playing time in the event of an absence by Jordan Reed, who's already limited by a hamstring injury.