American Football
NFL training camp buzz: Three juicy storylines you won't want to miss
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Training camps begin next week, and you can sense the excitement start to build as all 32 teams are gearing up to hit the field.
These next few weeks are more than just a milestone in the NFL offseason calendar as we continue our march toward the new campaign; they're also an opportunity for players to show off their skills and make a positive, lasting impression on their team's coaching staff ahead of the 2025 campaign.
From wide-eyed rookies to battle-tested vets adjusting to new schemes, training camp always delivers plenty of buzz. Here are the three most intriguing storylines to follow.
Will Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson, and T.J. Watt attend?
Each of these players ranks among the top edge rushers in the NFL, yet none of them are under contract beyond 2025.
Parsons attended minicamp in June, and when discussing his contract extension, said, "Hopefully, something's done by next month."
Perhaps training camp provides an opportunity for the two sides to finally get a new deal done? Assuming he turns up, that is.
Back in April, Hendrickson sent a defiant message to the Bengals' organisation and duly skipped minicamp.
The two sides have since resumed contract negotiations, but no new deal has been forthcoming, and it remains to be seen whether he'll show up for training camp.
Watt opted not to attend minicamp while he awaits an extension, and was the subject of trade rumours following a blockbuster trade including then-teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick.
No trade involving the Steelers' star edge rusher has come to fruition since, but we cannot rule out the possibility that a disgruntled Watt could seek new pastures if he doesn't receive a new deal soon.
How will Jacksonville Jaguars' Travis Hunter split time between offense and defense?
Hunter was one of the most sought-after players in the 2025 NFL Draft. A two-way star who often proved to be the best wide receiver on offense and the best cornerback on defense at Colorado.
Mindful that NFL players cannot play full-time on both sides of the ball, many in the NFL community wondered which position he would focus on primarily once he made his NFL transition.
After trading up to select Hunter with the second overall pick, Jacksonville Jaguars' head coach Liam Coen initially suggested Hunter would begin his career "on offense while learning the defensive system and practicing on defense throughout this offseason."
But on The Rich Eisen Show recently, Tony Khan, the Jaguars' chief football strategy officer, left the door wide open for the youngster to play two-way football.
What will the new-look Chicago Bears offense look like?
The Bears' offense performed very poorly last year. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams struggled mightily, the offensive line allowed far too many sacks, and the ground game never really got going.
2025 will usher in a new chapter for the Monsters of the Midway. Ben Johnson has joined the team as the new head coach, and after masterminding potent offenses for the Detroit Lions in recent years, the hope is that some of his magic can rub off on the Bears and Williams.
Chicago has overhauled its offensive line, drafted two exciting pass-catchers in Luther Burden and Colston Loveland, and we can't wait to see how Johnson pieces it all together, starting in training camp.
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