49ers
Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area believes that, while he is the front-runner for the No.3 receiver role, Stevie Johnson will have to “clearly” win the job considering his $3.925 million salary this season.
San Francisco has a slew of cheaper alternatives that could fill the No. 3 spot. Those options include veterans Brandon Lloyd, Quinton Patton and Jon Baldwin, as well as rookie Bruce Ellington.
Considering Johnson’s price, if he does not outperform this crop of wideouts, he could find himself in danger of being left off the 53 man roster entirely.
Bills
Head Coach Doug Marrone has made it clear that quarterbacks Thad Lewis and Jeff Tuel are in a battle for the No. 2 position behind starter E.J. Manuel.
“We have a battle for the second-team quarterback,” Marrone told reporters during camp, via WGR 550. “We’re trying to find out who it is, Jeff did a nice job in OTAs and he’s earned himself some more reps.”
Lewis was considered the favorite entering camp, but Tuel has opened eyes while sharing second-team duties with Lewis.
If last season is any indication, the winner of this battle could find himself logging substantial playing time.
Buccaneers
Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune reports that G Carl Nicks has been cleared to play. Nicks seemed destined to start the year on the PUP list, but Tampa Bay appears comfortable with his recovery.
Nicks has only played nine games for the Buccaneers since signing in 2012. Last season he struggled with a toe injury and an MRSA infection.
A healthy Nicks would go a long way toward revitalizing Tampa Bay’s running game. Unfortunately, it is difficult to count on Nicks considering how little football he has played in the last few years. The Bucs have Jamon Meredith, Oniel Cousins, and rookie Kadeem Edwards as options should Nicks’s return stall.
Chiefs
Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star suggests that Tyler Bray and Chase Daniel are likely competing for one roster spot.
- Paylor notes that there was some speculation that rookie Aaron Murray would be placed on the preseason PUP list, allowing the Chiefs to keep four quarterbacks on their roster.
With Murray practicing however, that option is no longer available, and it’s very likely that Murray is a lock for the final roster considering his recent draft status. That leaves Chase Daniel and Tyler Bray fighting to be the third quarterback on the roster.
The Chiefs made a substantial investment in Daniel, signing him last offseason to a three-year, $10 million deal, but the returns have not been there. Bray, in addition to only making a base salary of $495,000 in 2014, is very tall with a lively arm. This competition could go down to the wire.
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