With the regular season set to begin Sept. 5, players are beginning to separate themselves from the competition in training camp.
In Pittsburgh Steelers camp, a rookie offensive lineman is pressing a veteran for a starting gig. Meanwhile, in New York Jets camp, a rookie quarterback is making his case to make the team.
With a Week 2 slate of preseason games looming, Yardbarker NFL writers dish on a riser for each team in AFC camps.
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | RB Ray Davis | Davis had been competing with Ty Johnson for the No. 2 running back position before the latter suffered an injury in practice last month. But Davis may have already secured the job. While he only rushed for two yards in the Bills’ preseason blowout loss to Chicago, he was the team’s second running back to appear in the game and showed upside as a receiver, catching three passes.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | RB Jaylen Wright | The fourth-round rookie was listed as the sixth-string running back on Miami’s first unofficial depth chart, but his impressive first preseason outing may have cemented his position as the team’s No. 3 tailback. Against Atlanta, Wright showcased his game-changing speed, rushing for 55 yards and one touchdown in what NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger believes was the best performance by a running back in the preseason so far.
NEW YORK JETS | QB Adrian Martinez | The former UFL MVP only signed with the Jets two weeks ago, but he has quickly emerged as a leading candidate for the team’s third-string QB job following a sharp preseason debut. In New York’s 20-17 win over the Washington Commanders, Martinez completed 6-of-10 passes for 104 yards and rushed for 24 yards. He led the Jets on two scoring drives.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. | A former JUCO and USFL standout, Pharms starred in New England’s preseason opener against Carolina, racking up four tackles (one for loss) one sack and generating five pressures, per Pro Football Focus. The Patriots would be extremely fortunate if Pharms’ performance is a sign of things to come because star DT Christian Barmore is out indefinitely with blood clots. — Colum Dell
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | Quarterback Bo Nix | On Sunday, Nix completed 15-of-21 passes for 125 yards and one TD and posted an above-average 102.3 passer rating in a 34-30 win against the Indianapolis Colts. More importantly for the Broncos, the rookie said he felt “relaxed” in his preseason debut and had little trouble adjusting to the game’s speed.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Wide receiver Nikko Remigio | Former undrafted free agent Remigio led the Chiefs in receiving (three receptions for 35 yards) in a 26-13 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday. His development may become more critical because Chiefs WR Marquise Brown suffered a dislocated sternoclavicular joint in his left shoulder during the preseason opener. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Brown’s status for Week 1 of the regular season remains unclear.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Wide receiver Tre Tucker | Despite questions about his size (5-foot-9 and 185 pounds), Tucker showcased his dynamic playmaking ability on Saturday. The second-year wideout tallied two receptions for 73 yards in a 24-23 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Right tackle Joe Alt | Alt stood out in a 16-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, allowing one pressure on 13 pass-blocking snaps, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper. In a postgame news conference, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said “Joe belongs” in the NFL. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | Cornerback Nate Wiggins | In a preseason loss to the Eagles on Friday, Wiggins proved exactly why the Ravens are “very, very excited” that he fell to them at pick No. 30 in this year’s draft, registering three tackles (one for a loss) and three passes defensed in his debut. He exited the game after suffering a minor shoulder sprain but is considered day-to-day and should be back for the start of the regular season.
CINCINNATI BENGALS | Wide receiver Jermaine Burton | Burton had the talent to be a first-round pick this year, but he fell to the third round due to character concerns. After losing Tyler Boyd (Titans) in free agency, the Bengals needed a wideout. On Saturday in a preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Burton rewarded them with a team-leading three catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | Wide receiver Jamari Thrash | Thrash, a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is unheralded, but that may not be the case much longer after he led the team with three catches for 43 yards Saturday in a loss to the Green Bay Packers. If he stacks good performances, he can establish himself as the No. 3 wide receiver behind veterans Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Center Zach Frazier | Frazier is still behind veteran Nate Herbig on the depth chart, but he made his first case for why he should be a Week 1 starting center during a loss to the Houston Texans on Friday night. The No. 51 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft allowed zero pressures (per PFF) on 19 pass-blocking snaps and was a people-mover in his impressive debut. — Aaron Becker
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | Safety Calen Bullock | The 2024 third-rounder, who’s having a standout camp, played well in a 20-12 win over the Steelers on Saturday. Playing with the first unit, he finished tied for third on the team in tackles (four). Head coach DeMeco Ryans recently praised Bullock for his versatility at safety and ability to play centerfield in the Texans’ scheme, telling Kay Adams of “Up And Adams” that the rookie is doing “an excellent job.”
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell | Mitchell initially was expected to battle with Alec Pierce for one of the outside spots at wideout. However, an injury to Josh Downs may accelerate things for the 2024 second-round pick. Receivers coach Reggie Wayne believes Mitchell’s playmaking abilities can fill the void. The former Colts star called the former Texas standout an “alpha” during camp, per The Athletic’s James Boyd.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Cornerback Christian Braswell | The former Rutgers star, a sixth-round pick, hasn’t nailed down a roster spot, but he may force the Jaguars’ hand thanks to a solid performance during camp and the preseason. In Jacksonville’s preseason 26-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Braswell finished second on the team in tackles (four) and had an incredible returned forced fumble for a touchdown wiped out by officials. “But it’s still a highlight in my book,” he told reporters afterward.
TENNESSEE TITANS | Cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. | A fifth-round pick in this year’s draft, Brownlee has shined during camp and earned kudos from third-year veteran cornerback Roger McCreary, who said the former Louisville standout has adjusted to the NFL quickly and shows off his “aggressive” tendencies daily in practice. In a preseason win over the San Francisco 49ers, he finished with three solo tackles and a pass defensed. — Mike Santa Barbara
