NFL training camp is underway and the first week of practices are in the books. It’s still very early in the summer, with many players getting back into form and the pads don’t come on until this week. Still, there are always a few standouts and slow starts every summer.
Let’s dive into our list of the five NFL players who are off to a slow start in training camp. We’re excluding linemen, who aren’t really tested until the pads are put on. It’s also worth noting not to overreact too much to early struggles, since practices just got underway.
Joe Flacco, QB, Cleveland Browns
Joe Flacco came into NFL training camp as the favorite to be the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback in Week 1. Cleveland even limited his reps early so the other signal-callers could have a chance to familiarize themselves more with head coach Kevin Stefanski’s system. With Kenny Pickett (hamstring) now injured, Flacco should see more practice reps, and the veteran must show greater consistency.
Zac Jackson of The Athletic wrote that while Flacco has the best arm among the Browns’ quarterbacks, he’s not showing it very often. The 40-year-old quarterback had an up-and-down first week of practice but “rarely strung completions together” when on the field. Fortunately for Flacco, there haven’t been any standouts behind him, so his odds of winning the job haven’t been impacted for now.
Related: Latest on Cleveland Browns QB battle, depth chart at quarterback
Kelee Ringo, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
Following the departure of Darius Slay, a spot in the Philadelphia Eagles opened up for cornerback Kelee Ringo. A fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the 6-foot-2 corner entered camp as the favorite to start opposite Quinyon Mitchell this season. In the first week of the Eagles’ training camp, Ringo experienced growing pains.
Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia listed Ringo as one of the few players whose stock is down after the first week of camp. Ringo isn’t just getting beaten by A.J. Brown in one-on-one matchups; he’s also struggled at times against Terrace Marshall. Philadelphia has given veteran Adoree Jackson a few opportunities with the first-team defense, making this a battle for the starting job. Ringo remains the leader in the clubhouse and has many fans in the organization, but he will need to make adjustments and improve to win the competition.
Read More: NFL defense rankings 2025, see where the Eagles land
Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones signed with the Indianapolis Colts because they were one of the few teams willing to give him a legitimate chance to win the starting job. He initially held an early edge this offseason with Anthony Richardson recovering from a shoulder injury. Now, Richardson is healthy, and Jones is not responding well to the added pressure of the competition.
James Boyd of The Athletic wrote that Jones’ stock is dropping after the first week of training camp. Not only is Jones failing to prove why he should be the Colts’ starting quarterback in Week 1, but he might even be losing ground to Richardson. The former New York Giants quarterback completed just 23 of 41 passes in 11-on-11 drills, per Boyd. It’s also not like Richardson is showing real signs of improvement; he just hasn’t been as poor as Jones.
Related: Bold NFL Training Camp Predictions for Each AFC Team
Javon Baker, WR, New England Patriots
The reports on Javon Baker coming out of his rookie season were concerning. A fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Baker watched this offseason as the New England Patriots added Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams to the receiving corps. If the second-year wideout wanted to make the roster, he needed to show real signs of maturity and improvement early in NFL training camp.
Instead, per Chad Graff of The Athletic, Baker had a bad drop during Thursday’s practice and has largely been held in check working with the second-team unit. He’s already behind Diggs and DeMario Douglas right now, and it also might not be long before others pass him. At this point, Baker is fighting to stay on the roster.
Jack Bech, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Rookies face the most difficult challenge in NFL training camp, having to learn a new system while adjusting to the speed of playing at the highest level. It’s common for first-year players to struggle to make a strong impression in their first week of camp, and that’s the case with Jack Bech. Tashan Reed of The Athletic wrote in his observations from the first week of Las Vegas Raiders training camp that Bech hasn’t shown “notable speed” thus far and still hasn’t found his fit in the Raiders’ offense. Fortunately for Bech, Raiders receivers outside of Jakobi Meyers also haven’t made a strong impression yet.
