NFL Notes: Colts, Lions, Panthers, & Rams

Colts

• Mike Wells of ESPN writes that the Colts are unlikely to keep five wide receivers given that they are loaded in terms of their top-five options: T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson, Donte Moncrief, Phillip Dorsett and Duron Carter.
• According to Wells, there’s a “gigantic gap” between the Colts’ fifth receiver and Griff Whalen and Vincent Brown.

Lions

• Michael Rothstein doesn’t have high hopes for former second-round pick DL Jerel Worthy, who was added off of waivers this past week.
• The Lions currently have Haloti Ngata, Tyrunn Walker, Caraun Reid and Gabe Wright as their top-four defensive tackles, so Rothstein mentions that Worthy would likely need a “superb camp” to beat out any of them.
• Rothstein expects Tyrunn Walker to start next to Haloti Ngata with Caraun Reid serving as the team’s No. 3 defensive tackle.
• According to Rothstein, rookie RB Zach Zenner has been “OK“, but hasn’t stood out much in camp up to this point. Rothstein adds that there’s a “decent chance” he ends up on the team’s practice squad.

Panthers

• David Newton expects the Panthers to keep an eye on the waiver wire for help at defensive tackle if Kawann Short (back spasms) and Star Lotulelei (foot) don’t respond to treatment.
• Regarding the Panthers’ receiving corps, Newton sees Carolina keeping Kelvin Benjamin, Ted Ginn Jr., Corey Brown, Devin Funchess, Jerricho Cotchery and Jarrett Boykin as their top-six receivers.
• While Newton previously mentioned that veteran WR Jerricho Cotchery could be the most notable player to not make the team, he adds that CB Melvin White is also a player worth keeping an eye on.

Rams

• Nick Wagoner of ESPN doesn’t expect many changes at receiver for the Rams in 2015. Although, he could see Stedman Bailey receiving more work than Tavon Austin in the slot.
• On the subject of the Rams possibly signing former 49ers OLB Aldon Smith, Wagoner writes that it’s “awfully hard to answer right now since we don’t know the extent of Aldon Smith’s latest run-in with the law and what the subsequent punishments will be in a court of law or from the NFL.”
• Based on what he’s seen from practice, Wagoner thinks C Demetrius Rhaney has the most upside of the Rams’ current center options, but he may not be ready to handle the position right now.
• With this in mind, Wagoner gives a slight edge to Barrett Jones.
• Wagoner would be “very surprised” to see first-round RB Todd Gurley play before midseason.