Full Breakdown
Key Position Battles Shaping NFL Teams Ahead of 2026 Training Camps
6/21/2026, 11:22:59 PM
Training Camp Schedule
NFL teams have finished OTAs and minicamps. Training camps open in late July, and the Hall of Fame Game (Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals) is set for Thursday, Aug. 6 on NBC. Preseason weeks 1-3 run Aug. 13-15, Aug. 20-23 and Aug. 27-29.
Denver Broncos – Running Back
J.K. Dobbins and rookie R.J. Harvey compete for Denver’s starting back. Dobbins, 27, has missed significant time but posted a career-high 905 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024. Harvey recorded 540 rushing yards, seven touchdowns and 356 receiving yards. Coaches may favor a 1A-1B split.
Cincinnati Bengals – Slot Cornerback
Jalen Davis and Ja'Sir Taylor vie for Cincinnati’s slot cornerback. Davis, 30, recorded 20 tackles, a sack, an interception and allowed a 72.2 % completion rate on 13 catches. Taylor, 27, earned 7-on-7 reps and yielded a 62.5 % rate on five catches, three for TDs.
Cleveland Browns – Quarterback
Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders compete for Cleveland’s starter. Watson, sidelined since Oct. 20, 2024 by two Achilles tears, holds a guaranteed $230 million deal. Sanders, 24, posted a 3-4 record, 1,400 passing yards, seven TDs and ten INTs.
Chicago Bears – Left Tackle
Braxton Jones, Jedrick Wills Jr., Theo Benedet and Kiran Amegadjie battle for Chicago’s left tackle after Ozzy Trapilo’s ruptured patellar tendon. Jones has 44 starts. Benedet logged 524 snaps and allowed two sacks. Wills returns from a 2025 knee-ligament rehab.
Buffalo Bills – Receiver
Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer and Skyler Bell vie for Buffalo’s receiver. Coleman struggled. Palmer, 26, logged 22 catches for 303 yards. Bell’s 101 catches for 1,278 yards and 13 TDs prompted Dean Marlowe to compare him to a Bills star.
Baltimore Ravens – Center
After Tyler Linderbaum’s move to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Ravens evaluate Danny Pinter, Jovaughn Gwyn, Corey Bullock and Nick Dawkins at center. Pinter, 30, has six Indianapolis seasons, 617 snaps and four sacks. Bullock, 24, appeared in 16 games and brings a 6-foot-4, 331-pound frame.
Official Statements & Responses
"As was told to me, Deshaun Watson went into the spring as the clear favorite, and then Shedeur Sanders has bridged the gap at least somewhat. I still believe Watson’s in a good position. I’m told he was moving like a major athlete again coming off those Achilles tears." — Jeremy Fowler, ESPN
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts doubt the $230 million guaranteed contract for a quarterback who missed all action since Oct. 2024 and is returning from two Achilles tears. Dobbins’ injury history also fuels debate over his role, leading some to favor a shared-backfield approach for Denver.
What’s Next
The Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens will report to camp on July 29. The Denver Broncos have not set a date. Preseason begins with the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6, followed by three weeks of regular contests that will shape depth charts.
