As we continue to go from NFL camp to NFL camp, it’s time to check on another set of teams as we head into the second week of preseason games.
Latest NFL News and Rumors: The Chicago Bears Backfield Remains a Competition
For the Chicago Bears, third-year RB Khalil Herbert is currently locked into a competition for the starting job against veteran D’Onta Foreman. The third-year pro started the team’s first preseason game against the visiting Tennessee Titans last weekend.
Herbert, a sixth-round pick out of the 2021 NFL Draft, is known in scouting circles for his explosiveness, and his 5.0 yards-per-carry average through his first two seasons with the team would confirm that.
In that first preseason game, Herbert took a short dump-off pass from QB Justin Fields, who was under pressure, for 56 yards and a long touchdown during the first quarter of last week’s 23-17 victory.
Herbert, who put up at least 72 yards rushing in six games over his first two seasons when he received at least 53% of the offensive snaps, also had at least 18 carries in those games. But how much carry volume can he realistically handle as a starter over a full season?
“Oh, he probably can handle 15 carries or so (per game),” former Bears QBs coach John DeFilippo recently told Pro Football Network.
DeFilippo was on the Bears’ coaching staff during Herbert’s rookie season and recalls his skill set quite well.
“He’s explosive, has some juice, and has good enough size (5-9, 212).”
Foreman, who had a career season with the Carolina Panthers, rushed for 914 yards on 203 carries and played a full season for the first time in his five-year career.
A personnel source said one of the big reasons why the Bears signed Foreman is because he’s a perfect fit for their run-based offense based on last year’s “really strong” tape, and he possesses excellent size for the position (6’0”, 235).
Panthers’ Offense and Bryce Young Have Been Impressive in Practice
Those Panther fans who watched the team’s 27-0 loss to the visiting New York Jets might have been discouraged, but preseason football is rarely reflective of the reality of how good or bad a team is.
When it comes to the Panthers, this is probably the best roster they’ve had in several years (and team personnel didn’t disagree with the assessment when I pitched it to them) based on several upgrades made over the past few drafts and in free agency — especially this year.
And when it comes to their new starting signal-caller, Bryce Young is off to a good start.
From talking to those close to the team while at their camp last week, the No. 1 overall pick has impressed Carolina in a variety of areas — command, presence, and the moment of being the top player on the depth chart has not fazed him.
Young was named the team’s starting quarterback by head coach Frank Reich in early July, which was well before camp started.
As for their second-round pick WR Jonathan Mingo, he’s been very impressive as well.
While sources said they also had some interest in OLB Nolan Smith (selected 30th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles) with their second-round pick (39th overall), there’s no question that Mingo has been what the Panthers have been looking for in an outside receiver.
The word on Mingo is his ability to beat coverage has been on display in practice, and he uses his impressive size (6’1 3/4″, 220) and body frame to leverage defensive backs. It’s also similar to what Mingo’s college tape looked like, according to multiple college scouting sources.
Some NFL personnel sources feel he’ll be used as a prototypical “X” receiver or split end for the totality of his career. These players are typically, but not always, going to be the team’s best player at the position over a series of years based on size or ability to beat press coverage.
A coaching source who has worked with Reich in the past said he’s big on balance of personnel groupings (meaning 11 personnel vs. 12) and bases what he uses on what he has to work with.
And because of the team’s depth at the tight end position (Hayden Hurst, Ian Thomas, Tommy Tremble, Stephen Sullivan), Reich and OC Thomas Brown will be able to go from personnel groupings each week with confidence. Sullivan, a source said, is really pushing Tremble, a former third-round pick (2021), for the No. 3 job on the depth chart.
Sullivan, a seventh-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks (2020/LSU), played wide receiver and tight end during his four seasons at LSU.
Mingo, Thielen (slot), and Chark will be the team’s top three players at the position this season. Carolina is also excited about third-year WR Terrace Marshall’s development from the beginning of their offseason program through last week’s practices. The 2021 second-round pick had not put up much production over his first two seasons (45 receptions, 628 yards, one TD), but he’s starting to put everything together.
Chark signed a one-year, $5 million deal (fully guaranteed), and Thielen signed a three-year, $24.9 million contract ($14 million fully guaranteed).
Zach Wilson Is Showing Development During Jets Training Camp
Much has been made of third-year QB Zach Wilson’s struggles over the first two seasons of his career.
The second pick overall in the 2022 NFL Draft struggled mightily last season as the team’s starter in several areas, including the important facets of the position. Among those are both command and accuracy, which were big reasons why he was benched, and why the team ultimately traded for veteran QB Aaron Rogers.
However, Wilson has made solid strides in training camp so far in those areas and more. Additionally, his improvement was on display during last week’s win over the Panthers.
A league source who watched Wilson’s tape from last week’s game pointed out a calmness to his game that had been rarely seen during his first two seasons of play. The source added he took what was in front of him and did not take what wasn’t there.
In the previous two seasons, Wilson tended to play too fast and lacked touch on shorter passes. However, in the first preseason game, he performed at a very high level against Carolina’s defense, which had most of their starters (only OLB Brian Burns did not play) in the lineup for the first series, which lasted 13 plays.
In this game, the third-year pro executed the short passing game well and was able to take something off those types of passes. In the past, Wilson would often overthrow passes in the short area and lack proper touch. Against Carolina, however, he took what the defense gave him during his 40 snaps of play.
Could Mark Robinson Be a Surprise Starter at ILB for the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Those fans who really follow the team very closely probably are familiar with second-year ILB Mark Robinson.
Robinson, a seventh-round pick (Mississippi), was mostly a healthy inactive and only played in four games as a rookie. But don’t let that fool you. He definitely has a future with the team and possibly could start down the line (2024 and beyond).
Robinson started one game last season (Week 16 at Ravens), and a personnel source said his tape was “really intriguing and explosive.”
A non-NFL Combine invitee, teams had to go off of Robinson’s pro day workout and his one season of tape from Mississippi as a defender.
He actually played running back for three years previously at Presbyterian College. But his one season of tape as an inside linebacker was so intriguing that the Steelers clearly felt there was something to develop.
Another source said that Robinson’s overall speed and pursuit to the ball carrier has been very impressive since he’s been with the team.
The two projected starters at the position, Elandon Roberts and Cole Holcomb, are signed for more than one season, but the Steelers did their typical contract structure, which means they can get out of those deals after just one year without owing either player more money.
The structure is such that the guaranteed money is tied up in signing bonuses and not in future base salaries, which, with a few exceptions (T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick deals), is how they set up player contracts.