Veterans report to NFL training camps as early as Saturday, and by the week’s end every team will be back to the business of football.
XN Sports will be previewing each division prior to the start of training camp to give the major storylines for each of the 32 NFL teams as they begin their camps.
Training Camp Primer: AFC East
Training Camp Primer: NFC East
Training Camp Primer: AFC North
Training Camp Primer: NFC North
Here’s the XN Sports Training Camp Primer for the AFC South:
Houston Texans
How will this Andre Johnson dispute end? Will the Texans cave and trade the veteran? Or is Johnson going to report to camp and go on like nothing happened?
Is Ryan Fitzpatrick locked in as the starting quarterback? First-year head coach Bill O’Brien brought the journeyman in to be the Texans’ starter, but Tom Savage’s strong arm has reportedly been the talk of practice. Can the rookie or Case Keenum push Fitzpatrick to be the Week 1 starter?
Is Arian Foster healthy? One of the league’s top running backs, Foster missed most of the 2013 season due to a back injury. If healthy, he’ll be counted on to shoulder the running game in O’Brien’s offense.
What should we expect from Jadeveon Clowney? The top pick in the 2014 draft may not be 100 percent for training camp because of sports hernia surgery. But we all want to see what kind of talent he can bring to the defense.
How is Brian Cushing? The linebacker has battled injuries the past two years, the most recent season with knee and leg issues. In Houston they’re still counting on Cushing to lead their newly revamped defense, but if he’s not healthy, who takes his spot?
Indianapolis Colts
Is Reggie Wayne back to his old self? He’s the veteran leader of a young Colts wide receiver corps, but if healthy he’s more than just a figurehead. Wayne was Andrew Luck‘s go-to guy before getting hurt, but it’ll be difficult for 35-year-olds to bounce back from torn ACLs.
Is the starting running back job Trent Richardson‘s to lose? Ahmad Bradshaw and Vick Ballard should both be healthy, but the team sent a first-round pick to Cleveland for Richardson. He’s had a year to learn the playbook. What can he do?
Who steps in for Robert Mathis? Mathis is suspended the first four games after violating the league’s PED policy. Bjoern Werner, last year’s first-rounder is his backup. This could be a major opportunity for Werner.
How will Hakeem Nicks fit in? T.Y. Hilton should get time in the slot, and the team just drafted Donte Moncrief. But Nicks was the big free-agent signing, as he looks for a bounce-back year.
Speaking of new additions, how will D’Qwell Jackson fit in? Jackson was released by the Browns and now manning the middle of the Colts D. Some are very high on Jackson. Others are very low. Let’s see what Jackson does in a new uniform.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Which one of the rookie wide receivers has an impact first? The Jags nabbed Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee in the second round of the draft, and both will have an opportunity to play alongside Cecil Shorts III. Let’s see who impresses at camp.
What does Blake Bortles have to offer? The team has already come out and said Chad Henne is the guy for 2014, but the No. 3 overall pick should get significant reps at camp and in preseason games. It’ll be a glimpse into the future for Jacksonville.
Can Toby Gerhart be the bell-cow? After years of backing up Adrian Peterson, Gerhart now finds himself in a starting job in the post-Maurice Jones-Drew era. Is Gerhart capable of being the guy?
Is Luke Joeckel finally finding his form? Last year’s first-round pick was a bit of disappointment as a rookie, but reports indicate the tackle is taking a leap forward this offseason.
Can Red Bryant be the Jags’ top pass-rusher? Gus Bradley is following the Seahawks mold with his defense, but it wasn’t very close in terms of production. The team signed Bryant away from Seattle, so what can he add to the unit?
Tennessee Titans
How’s Jake Locker? It’s the money question in Nashville — how does the quarterback look entering his fourth season? Locker is coming off Lisfranc surgery and entering a contract year. What can quarterback wiz Ken Whisenhunt do with Locker?
Which one of the young receivers is stepping up? Kendall Wright was dynamic in his sophomore season, but can he build on that in Year 3? Justin Hunter has garnered a lot of hype this offseason, so will he find himself in a bigger role?
Is Bishop Sankey the new Chris Johnson? Johnson is now in New York, leaving the rookie as the probable starter ahead of incumbent Shonn Greene. Will the workload fall into Sankey’s plate? Or is this going to be a backfield by committee?
Who is Blidi Wreh-Wilson? Well, he’s the guy tasked with replacing Alterraun Verner, who left for Tampa Bay in free agency. Verner was tied for third in the NFL in interceptions, and now Wreh-Wilson has to make Tennessee fans forget about him.
What can Ray Horton do with this defense? Horton has had success almost everywhere he’s been, and now he’s got his hands full with a middle-of-the-pack unit.
