This summer, Yahoo Sports Senior NFL Reporters Charles Robinson and Jori Epstein are touring training camps across the country. At each stop, they’ll be taking notes on the quarterback; a rookie to watch; what they’ve got their eye on; a fantasy thought; what they saw that caught their eye; and a wild card, just in case.
Here are their observations in order of attendance, updated as the weeks go by. Click on the team name for the full notebook.
Buy the CJ Stroud MVP heat. There’s a wealth of riches on offense, and the Stefon Diggs honeymoon is in full bloom. There’s also reason to believe the defense has improved, especially with a second-round addition who’s already making an impression. — Charles Robinson
More from the Texans camp: Next AFC heavyweight to challenge the Chiefs’ crown? It’s the Texans
What to expect now that Jordan Love has been signed: More aggressive play-calling from Matt LaFleur, who admitted to me he was too conservative last year. The deep wide receiver room and a legitimate 1-2 punch in the backfield with Josh Jacobs and AJ Dillon should help. —Jori Epstein
More from Packers camp
Inside Jordan Love’s hold-in, and why Packers were so willing to pay him
How a film session sparked Josh Jacobs’ early interest in Green Bay
With a much-improved offensive line (if healthy) and depth in the backfield, Matthew Stafford could have the best running game of his Rams tenure. That should make the offense more balanced and tougher to defend. While that may not mean Stafford has a career year in numbers, it could be the change that keeps him in the NFL for a few more seasons. —Charles Robinson
More from the Rams camp: Contractual situation resolved, Rams and Matthew Stafford regain equilibrium
I raised an eyebrow when Dak Prescott took a long pause and then said, “I’m gonna say it. I want to be here, but if you’re watching [it] up, all the other quarterbacks I saw play for other teams [than their first]. … It’s nothing to be afraid of.” Also: Team owner Jerry Jones opened his press conference by answering a question about a paternity suit and it was … wild. Cowboys, baby. —Charles Robinson
More from Cowboys Camp: Potential rift between Dak Prescott and Cowboys will continue until deal is finalized
The Bears named Caleb Williams their starter months ago. That has put him in charge of the offense right away. Williams’ creative arm angles and scrambles seem fluid — but he doesn’t escape the pocket too quickly. CB Jaylon Johnson told me this isn’t a case of happy feet. Williams is more patient in the pocket than his reputation suggests. —Jori Epstein
More from the Bears camp: How a practice TD pass shows why the Bears selected Caleb Williams No. 1 overall in the draft
Much will depend on defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who has the trust of Jim Harbaugh to shape his scheme and personnel. His role-specific system is similar to Brandon Staley’s in that it involves a lot of post-snap disguise. Minter will have to simplify roles while maintaining the complexity of the scheme. He is well-regarded by the staff at the Baltimore Ravens, where he worked before joining Michigan. Time will tell if he can rise to the ranks of an NFL coordinator. —Charles Robinson
More from the Chargers camp: Jim Harbaugh has no shortage of analogies to describe his reconstruction plan
Anthony Richardson has not only been cleared from shoulder surgery to throw. He has also been cleared by the team owner to run. “We know his feet can be dangerous and can get you big yards at key times,” Jim Irsay said during practice Sunday. “One of the reasons we drafted him is because of his size and strength.” —Jori Epstein
More from the Colts camp: Indy wants to protect Anthony Richardson from himself, but only somewhat
This rookie class is going to be a big contributor. We might look back a few years and see 5-6 starters. The staff is more popular than the obvious names: tight end Tip Reiman. He’s a better receiver than what Illinois had. And he’s already a capable in-line blocker. —Charles Robinson
More from the Cardinals camp: Inside the Evolution of Kyler Murray
Explosive plays are also on the Bengals defense’s wish list after allowing the second-most plays of 20+ yards last season. They signed veteran safeties Geno Stone and Vonn Bell this offseason to improve the defensive communication they’ll need to stop a tough group of AFC quarterbacks. —Jori Epstein
More from the Bengals camp: Ja’Marr Chase’s contract situation must be resolved for Cincinnati to achieve its goals
Brock Purdy started out hot on Tuesday, hitting beautiful throws that got him humming. Then he finished the day with four interceptions. It could have been five if Fred Warner hadn’t dropped. Sometimes that’s a concern, I think Purdy was deliberately pushing the limits of practice, seeing what he could do with his arm. —Charles Robinson
More from 49ers camp: Brock Purdy’s intentions to be more than a ‘system quarterback’ aren’t subtle
While the Steelers are limiting Russell Wilson’s return from a calf injury, Justin Fields’ chances to make his case as QB1 remain slim. Fields showed accuracy and athleticism in the workouts I watched, eluding defenders on both keepers and downfield passes. Add in Fields’ attention to mechanics — he looked better than he felt, he said — and he’s doing everything he can to challenge Wilson. —Jori Epstein
More from the Steelers camp: What Steelers Value in the Russell Wilson-Justin Fields QB Competition
The Broncos QB competition has been narrowed down to rookie Bo Nix vs. Jarrett Stidham. For now, the staff wants Nix to continue to feel the competitive element. But he’s doing what he needs to do to be the Opening Day starter, and he’s steadily improving as he goes along. As long as that remains the case, Nix will be one of three rookie QB starters in Week 1, joining the Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams and the Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels. —Charles Robinson
More from the Broncos camp: Sean Payton got his way, now he needs a big bet on Bo Nix to pay off
Surprised the Lions doubled down on corners with their first two draft picks? Don’t let first-rounder Terrion Arnold overshadow 61st overall pick Ennis Rakestraw Jr. out of Missouri. Rakestraw sprung a route to intercept Nate Sudfeld during practice Thursday and swept Hendon Hooker in red-zone work Friday. How long before he’s giving opposing quarterbacks the same headache? —Jori Epstein
More from the Lions Camp: Why Jahmyr Gibbs’ three-headed skills have the Lions excited for Year 2
Rookie JJ McCarthy is on a traditional rookie rollercoaster, with positive days and setbacks. But it’s clear that serious consideration is being given to his development. Sam Darnold had a strong training camp on Friday, and the better he plays, the more patient Minnesota can be with McCarthy. Embrace that as a good thing. —Charles Robinson
More from the Viking camp: How Justin Jefferson, ‘scared’ of another injury, is working to avoid one
In terms of touches, I don’t feel like there’s a true No. 1 running back between Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. They both do similar things, so it could be a hot hand or situational opportunities that separate them. It’s clear that they both get a lot of attention. It just doesn’t seem like one has a dominant edge over the other at this point. —Charles Robinson
Deshaun Watson has been cleared from shoulder surgery in 2023 and is participating in all drills when he doesn’t have a rest day. Head coach Kevin Stefanski told me that Watson’s “multitude of throws” and arm strength are assets, while his accuracy “looks exactly the same as it did before.” That will serve the Browns’ offensive rebuild well, as they install a system they believe will better accentuate his RPO and drop-back passing abilities. —Jori Epstein
More from the Browns camp: Here’s How the Browns Are Shaping Their New Offense — Brandon Aiyuk or Not
Health permitting, this will be the season Bijan Robinson makes a dent in the huge expectations that followed him in the NFL. His touches are expected to be much more consistent from game to game as the Falcons strive for balance. Having Kirk Cousins at the controls will also increase his value as both a runner and a receiver. —Charles Robinson
