NFL training camps rolled on without incident Tuesday, ringing in August and marking the start of our last month without meaningful pro football. That meant another day in full pads and something approaching full speed. Teams unveiled new pages in their playbooks and ran 300 pound men through conditioning drills with an eye on Super Bowl 58.
While Tuesday’s practices were short on headlines, they carried several low-simmering narratives upward toward a regular season boil. We saw a little more of what young quarterbacks will have to work with this fall and got a better idea of what Derek Carr’s mid-career revival could look like in New Orleans. So what stood out on a crowded day of camp?
1
George Pickens might drag Kenny Pickett to a strong sophomore season
In his rookie season as a pro, Pittsburgh Steelers wideout George Pickens became known for two things: steamroller blocks downfield and circus catches. On Tuesday, he put the latter on full display.
BRO! OMG!!! Pickens vs JPJ!!! #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/SzIIbGgmBr
— B-Wall (@BWall) August 1, 2023
That was good coverage, too! Kenny Pickett was a low impact passer as a rookie, and it’s safe to imagine his level of difficulty will be dialed up as head coach Mike Tomlin opens up new pages in his playbook. Fortunately, he’s got a safety valve beyond the short routes of Diontae Johnson and Pat Freiermuth. He can just chuck it up there and hope Pickens goes up and gets it.
There are worse strategies.
2
Trey Lance and Brock Purdy can keep the 49ers on schedule (as usual)
Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco teams don’t need dynamic, explosive quarterback play to win. They’ve got dynamic, explosive skill players and defenders that flatten the learning curve behind center, allowing guys like Purdy and Jimmy Garoppolo to make lengthy playoff runs.
Now Purdy and 2021 third overall pick Trey Lance are battling for Shanahan’s starting job. And, thus far, each seems up to the task.
Alright day for the offense.
Brock Purdy was the best quarterback on the team today. A very accurate day and a variety of solid throws on the day.
Trey Lance had a solid day. Third consecutive day of solid practice, but mixed in some good throws with some bad throws.#49wz
— Rohan Chakravarthi (@RohanChakrav) August 1, 2023
Lance has entered the point of his career where he’s either an asset or a loss. But he had a big day on Monday and got his first reps with Christian McCaffrey on Tuesday. After a strong enough performance, the young quarterback stuck around to endear himself to local fans.
Trey Lance puts in extra work on his deep ball after 49ers practice pic.twitter.com/tuOIMmlkOF
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 1, 2023
Purdy is safer. Lance brings the higher upside. And both have a massive safety net installed beneath them should either fall. San Francisco has the highest interest/lowest stakes quarterback battle in the NFL.
3
The Saints picked the lamest possible clip to hype up their Derek Carr-Michael Thomas connection
Before shutting him down in the 2020 NFL Playoffs, Carlton Davis gave former NFL Offensive Player of the Year Michael Thomas a derisive nickname: Slant Boy. It was brutal and snappy and not entirely a reflection of Thomas’s abilities — especially when he was playing in the low octane, short pass-happy offense of late-stage Drew Brees.
All I’m saying is, releasing a slow-motion preseason semi-hype video like this isn’t helping things.
Carr ➡️ MT pic.twitter.com/MFaJAbwOTJ
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) July 31, 2023
The good news is Thomas is beginning to look like his old self. After missing 40 games the last three seasons he’s not quite ready to say he’s at 100 percent, but he’s happy to admit he’s getting close. Per ESPN’s Kat Terrell:
“I’m always chasing perfection and trying to win every rep. I’m a competitor; I don’t prepare to lose, I prepare to execute and make the play. It’s a process, it’s a learning process. But the good thing about the Saints: We have a lot of great competition on the other side of the ball,” Thomas said Tuesday. “I feel like it won’t take long, but you’ve got to get in the groove; you’ve got to get some things down with the coaching and the players I’m surrounded by. I’m not really worried, I’m just taking it one day at a time.”
4
Anthony Richardson returned to practice and looked like a high variance rookie QB
First, the good news. Richardson returned to the field after missing two days following a medical procedure to correct his septum and help him breathe more naturally. And he showed solid instincts and made good decisions through third down situations.
Anthony Richardson goes 3-for-4 with three conversions during third down team drills. Hit second reads, moved well in the pocket, accurate on 3-of-4 throws#ColtsCamp
— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) August 1, 2023
The bad news: he still completed fewer than 40 percent of his throws in 11-on-11 opportunities. Richardson identified open windows, but too often missed them — a stretch that included his first interception of training camp. This may be the story of his 2023 rookie campaign. Richardson has stunning talent and the ability to make huge leaps both forward and backward with his play.
That’s that mean for 2023? That it will likely be another rebuilding year for the Colts, but one filled with highlights that lay a foundation of hope for the future. After suffering through the Jeff Saturday era, that’s a step forward for Indianapolis fans.
Anthony Richardson with the deep completion to Michael Pittman. pic.twitter.com/82Ou7X05BT
— Got the Franchise QB? (@chatting_colts) August 1, 2023
5
Zay Jones might be a fantasy force, even in a stacked WR lineup
Zay Jones was prolific at East Carolina, but his NFL career failed to drop into gear until he landed in Jacksonville. But after an 82-catch 2022, his place in the pecking order was threatened by Calvin Ridley’s arrival this winter. But while Ridley has looked great in teal, Jones has staked his claim as one of Trevor Lawrence’s top targets — and potentially the guy with the best hands on the roster.
Had ourselves a Zay.@Dream_Finders | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/Itw11OBVci
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 1, 2023
