AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
-no former players
Cincinnati Bengals
(1) Carl Lawson #58 (Rookie)
-Lawson has been a terror in training camp, and looks to continue on that course as the preseason begins. The question is whether he'll be able to do it against better competition in place of the 3rd stringers he's been going against to this point. Lawson has appeared to play better when lining up at DE, and is still learning when it comes to lining up at OLB. Coaches have praised his pass rushing ability, so if CL can stay healthy, it seems apparent he will see a decent amount of playing time as an edge rusher this season.
(2) Pat Sims #92 (10th season: 8.5 sacks, 1 Int, 270 tackles)
- Pat Sims is entering his 10th season listed as the starting Nose Tackle for the Bengals heading into the preseason opener. However, the Bengals have a lot of bodies on the defensive line and appear to only want to keep one veteran between Sims and Brandon Thompson. Andrew Billings is a rookie who is on Sims' heels to take over as the starter, and is considered a very high potential guy. If Billings shows out in preseason action and is eventually named the starter, Sims may be the odd man out.
(3) CJ Uzomah #87 (3rd season: 26 receptions / 238 yards and 1 TD)
- The tight end mismatch machine Gus Malzahn never took advantage of is heading into the preseason as the backup to Tyler Eifert. CJ has worked his way to 2nd string staying ahead of Tyler Kroft because of his blocking ability, and his play last season while both Eifert and Kroft were injured. CJ was carted off the field during practice on 8/8, but has since been diagnosed with an ankle sprain. Look for CJ to enter the season as the #2 guy, but as long as Eifert is healthy, don't look for him to see many targets in the passing game.
Cleveland Browns
(1) Shon Coleman #72 (3rd season: appeared in 7 games with no starts)
- Big Shon is one of the best stories to ever come out of Auburn, and it's almost impossible to find someone who is not rooting for Shon to succeed. So fans will be excited to hear that Shon appears to be leading the pack to win the starting Right Tackle job. There isn't much news coming out of the Brown's camp other than that right now. During scrimmages Shon has been running with the 1st team, and has split reps between Left and Right Tackle, so it appears the Browns are giving him every opportunity to win his position battle.
(2) Ricardo Louis #80 (2nd season: 18 reception / 205 yards)
- Louis is entering the preseason as the #3 guy behind Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman. Coaches have praised Louis for work ethic both on and off the field. His routes have improved and he's getting better at lining up and reading defenses. Louis appears to be headed for more playing time than last year when we he played 31% of the Brown's offensive plays.
(3) Cody Parkey #3 (4th season: 55/65 FGs, 81/82 XP)
- Parkey enters this season in a battle of epic proportions with Zane Gonzales who the Browns drafted in the 7th round at #224. Only one guy will survive cuts, and there's no indication whether the Browns are favoring the rookie or the vet.
Pittsburg Steelers
(1) Sammie Coates #14 (3rd season: 22 receptions / 446 yards and 2 TDs)
- Coates may be in trouble. The Steelers have a lot of options at WR, and he'll be digging himself out of a hole when he gets on the field.. (And no one knows when that will be yet) Coates is recovering from another knee scope he had before camp began. He also had this procedure done at the end of last season. Coates claims he'll only miss a few weeks, but every day he's not practicing he's falling further behind. It's going to be a tough road for Coates to make the 53 man roster, and if he's going to do that, he needs to come back full speed and prove he's more than a deep threat WR.
AFC South
Houston Texans
(1) Jay Prosch #45 (4th season: 10 rush / 42 yards, 2 receptions / 30 yards)
- Not many teams still employ a fullback, but the Texans are one and they have had a consistent staple at that position for three years. Prosch enters the season as the only FB on the roster. Look for it to stay that way.
(2) Chad Slade #60 (2nd season: no appearances)
- Not much is said about backup guard Chad Slade. He's spent much of his time in the NFL on the practice squad. Chad is currently fighting for that 2nd string guard spot, so if there was ever a time for Slade to prove he has real NFL talent, it needs to show this preseason.
Indianapolis Colts
(1) Quan Bray #11 (3rd season: 3 receptions / 36 yards)
- Quan has made a name for himself in the league as a dangerous punt return man. Now he's looking to prove that after a season of injuries, he can still be that electric guy on kickoffs, and it appears the Colts have faith he can do that. He enters the preseason as the #1 guy on the depth chart at both punt and kick returns.
Jacksonville Jaguars
(1) Corey Grant #30 (3rd season: 38 rush / 166 yards and 1 TD, 6 receptions / 48 yards and 1 TD)
- Corey Grant is still fast. He proved that last night when he busted his first run of the night for a 78 yard TD and made every guy on the field for the Patriots look like a 300 pound offensive lineman. Corey is fighting for the 3rd RB spot on the Jags against none other than T.J Yeldon. Yeldon has been mediocre at best for the Jags, and he has fallen to battling for a roster spot in just two years. Corey may have the upper hand in this battle because of his electric speed, and his experience playing special teams. Yeldon has never played a down on special teams, and this may actually be the deciding factor if Grant can continue to play like he did in the first preseason game, and limit his fumbles which have been a problem in the past. (T.J Yeldon had 2 rushes for 0 yards in the first preseason game)
Tennessee Titans
(1) Daren Bates #53 (5th season: 37 tackles)
- Daren Bates has stayed in the league as a special teams stud. Right now he seems like a sure bet to make the roster. He may even by vying for some playing time at LB. He was taking reps with the second team defense throughout camp and had two sacks in a scrimmage.
(2) Angelo Blackson #95 (3rd season: 24 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 FF)
- Blackson will be fighting for one of two remaining D line spots when the preseason begins. The Titans kept 7 lineman last season, and they have 5 guys locked down. Angelo needs to have solid outings to remain in contention to make the 53 man.
Baltimore Ravens
-no former players
Cincinnati Bengals
(1) Carl Lawson #58 (Rookie)
-Lawson has been a terror in training camp, and looks to continue on that course as the preseason begins. The question is whether he'll be able to do it against better competition in place of the 3rd stringers he's been going against to this point. Lawson has appeared to play better when lining up at DE, and is still learning when it comes to lining up at OLB. Coaches have praised his pass rushing ability, so if CL can stay healthy, it seems apparent he will see a decent amount of playing time as an edge rusher this season.
(2) Pat Sims #92 (10th season: 8.5 sacks, 1 Int, 270 tackles)
- Pat Sims is entering his 10th season listed as the starting Nose Tackle for the Bengals heading into the preseason opener. However, the Bengals have a lot of bodies on the defensive line and appear to only want to keep one veteran between Sims and Brandon Thompson. Andrew Billings is a rookie who is on Sims' heels to take over as the starter, and is considered a very high potential guy. If Billings shows out in preseason action and is eventually named the starter, Sims may be the odd man out.
(3) CJ Uzomah #87 (3rd season: 26 receptions / 238 yards and 1 TD)
- The tight end mismatch machine Gus Malzahn never took advantage of is heading into the preseason as the backup to Tyler Eifert. CJ has worked his way to 2nd string staying ahead of Tyler Kroft because of his blocking ability, and his play last season while both Eifert and Kroft were injured. CJ was carted off the field during practice on 8/8, but has since been diagnosed with an ankle sprain. Look for CJ to enter the season as the #2 guy, but as long as Eifert is healthy, don't look for him to see many targets in the passing game.
Cleveland Browns
(1) Shon Coleman #72 (3rd season: appeared in 7 games with no starts)
- Big Shon is one of the best stories to ever come out of Auburn, and it's almost impossible to find someone who is not rooting for Shon to succeed. So fans will be excited to hear that Shon appears to be leading the pack to win the starting Right Tackle job. There isn't much news coming out of the Brown's camp other than that right now. During scrimmages Shon has been running with the 1st team, and has split reps between Left and Right Tackle, so it appears the Browns are giving him every opportunity to win his position battle.
(2) Ricardo Louis #80 (2nd season: 18 reception / 205 yards)
- Louis is entering the preseason as the #3 guy behind Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman. Coaches have praised Louis for work ethic both on and off the field. His routes have improved and he's getting better at lining up and reading defenses. Louis appears to be headed for more playing time than last year when we he played 31% of the Brown's offensive plays.
(3) Cody Parkey #3 (4th season: 55/65 FGs, 81/82 XP)
- Parkey enters this season in a battle of epic proportions with Zane Gonzales who the Browns drafted in the 7th round at #224. Only one guy will survive cuts, and there's no indication whether the Browns are favoring the rookie or the vet.
Pittsburg Steelers
(1) Sammie Coates #14 (3rd season: 22 receptions / 446 yards and 2 TDs)
- Coates may be in trouble. The Steelers have a lot of options at WR, and he'll be digging himself out of a hole when he gets on the field.. (And no one knows when that will be yet) Coates is recovering from another knee scope he had before camp began. He also had this procedure done at the end of last season. Coates claims he'll only miss a few weeks, but every day he's not practicing he's falling further behind. It's going to be a tough road for Coates to make the 53 man roster, and if he's going to do that, he needs to come back full speed and prove he's more than a deep threat WR.
AFC South
Houston Texans
(1) Jay Prosch #45 (4th season: 10 rush / 42 yards, 2 receptions / 30 yards)
- Not many teams still employ a fullback, but the Texans are one and they have had a consistent staple at that position for three years. Prosch enters the season as the only FB on the roster. Look for it to stay that way.
(2) Chad Slade #60 (2nd season: no appearances)
- Not much is said about backup guard Chad Slade. He's spent much of his time in the NFL on the practice squad. Chad is currently fighting for that 2nd string guard spot, so if there was ever a time for Slade to prove he has real NFL talent, it needs to show this preseason.
Indianapolis Colts
(1) Quan Bray #11 (3rd season: 3 receptions / 36 yards)
- Quan has made a name for himself in the league as a dangerous punt return man. Now he's looking to prove that after a season of injuries, he can still be that electric guy on kickoffs, and it appears the Colts have faith he can do that. He enters the preseason as the #1 guy on the depth chart at both punt and kick returns.
Jacksonville Jaguars
(1) Corey Grant #30 (3rd season: 38 rush / 166 yards and 1 TD, 6 receptions / 48 yards and 1 TD)
- Corey Grant is still fast. He proved that last night when he busted his first run of the night for a 78 yard TD and made every guy on the field for the Patriots look like a 300 pound offensive lineman. Corey is fighting for the 3rd RB spot on the Jags against none other than T.J Yeldon. Yeldon has been mediocre at best for the Jags, and he has fallen to battling for a roster spot in just two years. Corey may have the upper hand in this battle because of his electric speed, and his experience playing special teams. Yeldon has never played a down on special teams, and this may actually be the deciding factor if Grant can continue to play like he did in the first preseason game, and limit his fumbles which have been a problem in the past. (T.J Yeldon had 2 rushes for 0 yards in the first preseason game)
Tennessee Titans
(1) Daren Bates #53 (5th season: 37 tackles)
- Daren Bates has stayed in the league as a special teams stud. Right now he seems like a sure bet to make the roster. He may even by vying for some playing time at LB. He was taking reps with the second team defense throughout camp and had two sacks in a scrimmage.
(2) Angelo Blackson #95 (3rd season: 24 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 FF)
- Blackson will be fighting for one of two remaining D line spots when the preseason begins. The Titans kept 7 lineman last season, and they have 5 guys locked down. Angelo needs to have solid outings to remain in contention to make the 53 man.
