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AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth
NFL training camps are in full swing. Unfortunately,
injuries are an inevitable part of these preparations, and many of them could have
a significant impact on a team’s 2022 outlook.
Although over a month of practices remain before the regular season kicks off, several serious
training camp injuries have already occurred. At least there’s plenty of time left for clubs to make the necessary adjustments while preparing former backups for an
elevated role.
With that in mind, here are five talents who could thrive in
2022 after their duties were expanded following an injury to a player ahead of
them on the depth chart.
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Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive line has been in a state
of flux this offseason. The unit must undergo yet another change with Pro Bowl
center Ryan Jensen potentially out for the year.
Jensen suffered a left knee injury during practice last
week, an ailment that head coach Todd Bowles confirmed would cost the veteran “some
significant time.”
The loss of Jensen, combined with the abrupt retirement of guard
Ali Marpet and free-agency departure of Alex Cappa, means the Bucs will have
three new starters on the interior of their offensive line. Robert Hainsey is
the most likely candidate to fill in during Jensen’s absence.
The third-round pick out of Notre Dame last year spent
almost his entire rookie season on the bench. He logged a meager 31 offensive
snaps across four games.
The 23-year-old still needs to earn the job, but according
to NFL.com’s Nick
Shook, quarterback Tom Brady claimed Hainsey already earned the team’s
trust as a rookie.
The 6’4”, 306-pound offensive lineman worked as a scout team
center last year, displaying good athleticism and quickness for the position. He
may not play up to the level of Jensen—who earned his first Pro Bowl nod in
2021—but there may not be that much of a fall-off either.
Jensen scored a solid, if unspectacular, 69.9 Pro Football Focus grade last year, while Hainsey earned a 65.7 score on his 31 snaps. If he can keep that up in 2022, the Bucs will be fine
with the second-year center taking over as their starter.
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Cooper Neill/Getty Images
The Denver Broncos appeared to have one of the deepest receiving
corps in the league going into training camp. That depth took a major hit
Tuesday when it was reported that Tim Patrick will miss the 2022 season
with a torn ACL.
Although safety Kareem Jackson said they “can’t replace a
guy like Tim,” the Broncos should be able to forge ahead with KJ
Hamler taking on a good chunk of Patrick’s workload.
Denver’s passing offense still has plenty of upside for the
first time since Peyton Manning retired over a half-decade ago. The blockbuster
acquisition of Russell Wilson will lift an aerial attack that has slumped behind Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater under center in recent years.
Not only do the Broncos have a standout wideout in Courtland
Sutton and a breakout candidate in 2020 first-rounder Jerry Jeudy, but Hamler could
also finally reach the potential he flashed when the team made him its
second-round pick two years ago.
The 23-year-old participated in 13 games as a rookie
in 2020 and caught 30 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns despite dealing with nagging
hamstring injuries. Unfortunately, Hamler only lasted three games into the 2021
campaign before going down with a torn ACL.
While he is still working his way back from the injury—he
recently
said he may not be ready to play in any of the team’s preseason contests—he’s
expected to be back in action for Week 1.
The wideout is not the biggest target at 5’9”, 178
pounds, but he possesses elite athleticism and explosiveness. He could pile up
scores and big gains in this new-look Denver passing game.
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Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Buffalo Bills secondary was arguably the league’s best last
year, but the unit is off to a rough start ahead of the 2022 campaign. After Pro Bowler Micah Hyde missed practice time with a hip injury last week, Jordan
Poyer suffered a hyperextended elbow that could keep the All-Pro out until the season-opener.
While Poyer is out or limited, backup safety Damar Hamlin
will be able to pick up the slack.
Hamlin was a sixth-round pick in 2021 who only
logged 50 defensive
snaps as a rookie but gained invaluable experience while working with two of the
game’s top safeties.
Mark
Gaughan of the Buffalo News found that the 24-year-old has been diligently
learning behind Poyer and Hyde, as Hamlin said the pair took
him under their wing.
ESPN’s
Alaina
Getzenberg reported that Hamlin and fellow backup safety Jaquan Johnson had
already been receiving extra practice reps because both starters skipped voluntary
offseason work.
Hamlin
may still be raw, but he possesses solid speed and quickness—he kept pace with Houston Texans burner Brandin Cooks, breaking up a deep pass aimed
at the wideout in a Week 4 matchup last year—in a sturdy 6’0”, 200-pound
package.
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Harry How/Getty Images
The Los Angeles Rams deployed one of the league’s most
explosive passing attacks to help win the Super Bowl last season. That passing
game could look quite a bit different during training camp because of personnel
changes and injuries.
With Odell Beckham Jr. still on the open market and Van Jefferson banged up—he’s reportedly
set to undergo a minor surgery on his knee that will keep him out for a few
weeks—the team will need to rely on some less familiar talents.
One of those is a proven veteran in free-agency addition Allen Robinson II—who
should slot in as the No. 2 receiver behind reigning Triple Crown winner Cooper Kupp—but
it’s still unclear who will replace Jefferson as L.A.’s No. 3.
Ben Skowronek is one of the top candidates. According to Jourdan
Rodrigue of The Athletic, the 25-year-old is competing for the
job as part of a committee that includes Tutu Atwell, Jacob Harris and
Brandon Powell.
Skowronek has experience on his side after he spent last
season with the club. He was active for 14 games, securing 11 of his 20 targets
for 133 yards on 178 offensive
snaps.
The 2021 seventh-rounder must improve his hands—he had
three drops last year—and won’t burn many defensive backs, but he’s a willing
blocker with good size at 6’3”, 224 pounds. He’s been a reliable special teamer
as well, participating in 53 percent of those snaps in games he was active for.
While Jefferson should quickly regain his job upon his
return, Skowronek will get a chance to show improvement and could earn more
regular-season reps if he shines in an expanded preseason role.
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Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
James Washington suffered a fractured foot Monday, the latest setback in what
has become a string of losses for the Dallas Cowboys receiving corps.
The wideout will miss up to 10 weeks while recovering from
the injury. He’s joining fellow receiver Michael Gallup—who suffered an ACL
tear late last season—on IR.
Those injuries, combined with the trade of Amari Cooper and
free-agency departure of Cedrick Wilson Jr., leaves Dallas’ receiving cupboard bare.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doesn’t believe it will be
necessary to dip into the free-agent pool to bring in a veteran replacement, though.
According
to ESPN’s Todd
Archer, Jones believes there is enough in-house talent to get
the job done: “Let’s give these young guys the incentive, our young
receivers. We thought highly of them when we came out. We’ll get [Washington]
rehabbed … But it doesn’t create an urgency for us to add a veteran receiver.
We like these young guys.”
Jalen Tolbert is the prime candidate to assume
the team’s No. 2 wide receiver job.
The third-round pick out of South Alabama has all the
tools to be an elite NFL wideout but still needs to prove he can perform
against top-flight competition. He had limited exposure against high-end
defenders during his time with the Jaguars but did toast the Tennessee
Volunteers for 143 yards and a score on seven catches in November.
The 6’1”, 195-pound receiver could be regarded as one of the steals
of the 2022 draft if he’s able to deliver on his promise early in his career.
He’ll have ample opportunity to earn quarterback Dak Prescott’s trust as one of
the few notable pass-catchers still available in training camp.
While CeeDee Lamb will be the unquestioned No. 1, Tolbert will get every shot to establish himself as a strong second option who will
still retain a major role upon the return of both Gallup and Washington.
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