Best of Tuesday at NFL training camps: Joint practices, preseason starters
Ryan Clark contends that Bucs coach Bruce Arians doesn’t trust Jameis Winston to make the right decisions to win a football game. (1:11)
Just when we think NFL teams enjoy working against other teams, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers goes on record to say he’s not a fan of joint practices following Tuesday’s camp workouts against the Houston Texans. Plus, coaches around the league are noting whether some of their star players will see action in Week 1 of preseason games.
Here’s what you need to know from camps across the league:
Jump to the best of Tuesday: Photos | Videos | Quotes
Aaron Rodgers, Matt LaFleur differ on joint practice merits
LaFleur, the first-year head coach, exalted the benefits of practicing with another team, something the Green Bay Packers had not done since 2005. Rodgers, however, was not on board.
“I wouldn’t mind if they didn’t do it for another 14 years,” Rodgers said Tuesday after the second of two practices leading into Thursday’s preseason opener against the Texans — a game Rodgers isn’t expected to play in.
Ezekiel Elliott won’t play for Dallas without a deal
Representatives for the running back have told the Dallas Cowboys that he will not play during the 2019 season without a new contract, a source close to the situation told ESPN’s Josina Anderson on Tuesday.
The source added that at this time, it is not likely that Elliott’s holdout continues into the regular season, based on the belief that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants to get a new deal done with the running back before Week 1.
More:
Panthers’ Luke Kuechly, Cam Newton won’t play against Bears
49ers running back Jerick McKinnon activated from PUP list
Bills’ McCoy: Skepticism ‘weird’ heading into ’19 | E.J. Gaines out
Jaguars lose another linebacker: James Onwualu out for season
1️⃣2️⃣ & 8️⃣7️⃣ 👍👍 pic.twitter.com/v3Ut2EX0Ka
Saquon can do it all 🎯
(via @Giants)pic.twitter.com/r0sCSKJOuO
Baker Mayfield was called off the field by the team when autographs were supposed to be over. He refused and signed and took selfies with every soldier remaining on the field. #Browns pic.twitter.com/gY8zm525yK
Buddy and his buddy.
Yesterday, Keegan learned @GregoryCG8 loves Gushers. Today, Keegan got here at 4 a.m. to make sure Buddy got a box of his favorite candy.#TexansCamp | #DreamDrive pic.twitter.com/CluWNLqwxK
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) August 6, 2019
Today’s rookie hype escalated quickly 😂 pic.twitter.com/XPaNpXUkLv
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 6, 2019
Falcons WR Julio Jones talks about rookie CB Jordan Miller pulling him aside and saying he wanted to challenge him. Miller has a great training camp.
Deuces ✌️ pic.twitter.com/yOwWTtqFPC
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 6, 2019
That moment when you win a signed @ChrisHarrisJr @OtterBox cooler at #BroncosCamp‼️
RT for your chance to win one signed by @SuttonCourtland! pic.twitter.com/zV8fUkV2xU
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 6, 2019
Buddy and his buddy.
Yesterday, Keegan learned @GregoryCG8 loves Gushers. Today, Keegan got here at 4 a.m. to make sure Buddy got a box of his favorite candy.#TexansCamp | #DreamDrive pic.twitter.com/CluWNLqwxK
Today’s rookie hype escalated quickly 😂 pic.twitter.com/XPaNpXUkLv
Falcons WR Julio Jones talks about rookie CB Jordan Miller pulling him aside and saying he wanted to challenge him. Miller has a great training camp.
Deuces ✌️ pic.twitter.com/yOwWTtqFPC
That moment when you win a signed @ChrisHarrisJr @OtterBox cooler at #BroncosCamp‼️
RT for your chance to win one signed by @SuttonCourtland! pic.twitter.com/zV8fUkV2xU
“It’s a great bobblehead, isn’t it?” – Jon Gruden
Wesley Woodyard gives his son Greyson a chance to be his ‘mini-me’ after Titans practice today.
U.S. Women’s Soccer coach Jill Ellis watched practice today and gave a postpractice speech to the team that ended with some cheers. More championship pedigree out here. Ellis explained, while holding a jersey gift, that she’s a Dolphins fan and enjoys watching the NFL. She talked to Dolphins players about the rewards of preparation saying it led her team to a World Cup.
Patriots rookie DE Chase Winovich (Michigan) has good family support on hand for today’s joint practice in Allen Park, Michigan.
Bill O’Brien has a chance to participate in the Packers’ tradition with a fan, Raymond, in a wheelchair attached to a bike. O’Brien told Raymond that he reminded him of his son Jack, who will be 17 later this month. Jack has lissencephaly, a rare neurological condition that can cause problems with cognitive development and seizures. “He had a great bike with a wheelchair set up on the front of it,” O’Brien said. “I was worried I was going to crash the bike, but his mom said I’d be fine. It was just as cool for me as it was for him.” Photo: Twitter.com/HoustonTexans
Niners RB Jerick McKinnon (knee) will be eased back in slowly after coming off PUP today but he is participating in individual drills. It’s his first practice work since Sept. 1 of last year when he tore the ACL in his right knee. He enters a crowded backfield where he will compete with Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert for snaps and touches.
The Giants want to see Daniel Jones play a lot in the preseason. He “will play” on Thursday vs. the Jets. Pat Shurmur wouldn’t say how much though. He also added that some healthy veterans might not play at all.
Jets G Kelechi Osemele, who spent the last three seasons on the Raiders, was asked if he will watch his old team on “Hard Knocks.” He said, “No, I don’t have a TV.” He was serious. Osemele said he hasn’t owned a TV for a couple of years. Quite simply, he said he doesn’t have the time. If he really wants to watch something, he will use a friend’s Netflix password and watch on his iPad.
Matt LaFleur is not happy with how the offense fared today against the Texans, especially in the 2-minute period. “Anytime you don’t pick up a first down is disappointing,” LaFleur said. He was especially disappointed with the effort and urgency.
Anthony Lynn said he’s 99.9 percent sure Philip Rivers will not play on Thursday in the Chargers’ preseason opener against the Cardinals. Translation? Rivers will be a spectator in Arizona. “He will be a guy that might be wearing a ball cap (on the sidelines),” Lynn said.
RAIDERS CAMP PRACTICE 9 (Random report) Nah, don’t expect defensive back Lamarcus Joyner to get all misty over scrimmaging against his former Los Angeles Rams teammates Wednesday and Thursday and then facing them in an exhibition game Saturday. Joyner has moved on. “I mean, coach (Jon) Gruden has started something new around here,” Joyner said. “We’re trying to bring back the Silver and Black dread and starting tomorrow, we want to see who’s willing to play and who’s worthy of wearing that Silver and Black jersey.”…best jersey rocked by a fan on Tuesday goes to the handful who were wearing the white road Bo Jackson No. 34. Honorable mention to the black home Howie Long No. 75.