If you're like us, you're counting down the days (2!) until the opening of the Preseason on Sunday in Canton. Every team is now in camp, and NFL.com and NFL Network are your sources for the inside scoop. Every day we'll feature highlights from the television coverage and insights from our reporters in the field. Here's Friday's batch:
» The * NFL Network * crew is in Nashville with the Titans on Friday, which means wall-to-wall Marcus Mariota talk. Our resident QB Kurt Warner liked what he saw from Mariota: "I think you saw all the things people were raving about. His comfort level with the guy, his command with the huddle, you saw him under center and in the shotgun and then with his decision making ... No interceptions up to this point in camp. What we saw today was when he didn't look comfortable throwing something or something wasn't there, you saw him throw it away." NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport spoke with Titans sources about the new QB: "He's actually years ahead of where they thought he would be."
» Here's our set in Nashville:
» Injury news: Rapoport told Rhett Lewis that Texans RB Arian Foster had successful groin surgery this morning in Philadelphia and said that the Texans will place their star running back on short-season injured reserve, meaning he will be eligible to return in Week 8.
» In Foxborough, LeGarrette Blount left practice and was having his right knee examined before leaving practice and the facility. TE Scott Chandler also missed practice today. It was not a sharp day for the Pats, James Palmer reported: During team sessions, Rob Gronkowski had two drops and Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo each threw an interception.
» Our Kimberly Jones, with the Bills in Pittsford, reported that Sammy Watkins took the day off today but insisted that he's fine after contact to his hip yesterday. Watkins is set to participate in a scrimmage tomorrow night. Percy Harvin will also play in that scrimmage. RB Fred Jackson, out "a couple of weeks" with a hamstring injury, will not.
» Jeff Darlington joins the Redskins and Texans today in Richmond, Virginia. Darlington reported that DeSean Jackson's sprained right shoulder will likely sideline him for 1-2 weeks. He said jokes abound about Jackson's injury, but that the receiver is said to have sustained it after contact with the ground, not with a blocking sled. Still, per Darlington, Washington players he spoke with "are not concerned about whether (Jackson) needs training camp to get ready for the season."
» Albert Breer is with the Browns in Columbus, Ohio, where the team will practice under the lights at Ohio Stadium in front of an estimated 70,000 fans. Johnny Manziel will practice, but Terrelle Pryor will not. Pryor is converting from QB to WR and keeping an eye on his hamstring in the process. RB Duke Johnson is also out tonight.
» As we point out almost every day on whispers, the aforementioned Bills have a QB competition defined by mediocrity. Lewis spoke with Brian Billick about the Buffalo signal-caller race and what OC Greg Roman's offense will look like. "It's hard to imagine Rex not going with Matt Cassel," Billick said. "They're going to say look, all you've got to do is not turn the ball over ... We'll take our shots down the field, but Greg Roman will craft this small ball offense to go in concert with what is going to be a really scary defense." Here's the team's update on the QB race:
WHAT ARE THOOOSE?! pic.twitter.com/4xcJveaa4h — Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) August 7, 2015
For your enjoyment: @Revis24 vs. @BMarshall #JetsCamp pic.twitter.com/tKBjcyit0V — New York Jets (@nyjets) August 7, 2015
</center>
» Our resident GM Charley Casserly continues his camp tour with a visit to Jacksonville. Casserly is looking for QB Blake Bortles to improve his accuracy, decision-making, and pocket presence, but in practice today Bortles still struggled with ball placement. "I thought his accuracy was inconsistent in practice today but he did flash some big time plays which reminds you of what his potential is," Casserly reported.
» The offensive line was a massive problem for the Jags last year, but Casserly is predicting a resurgence. The group has new talent in RT Jermey Parnell,OC/OG Stefan Wisniewski and OG AJ Cann, and Luke Joeckel is entering his third year. Casserly also loves the addition of line coach Doug Marrone: "He is an excellent OL coach as well as a proven winner at Head Coach. He has a track record of developing players and will take this OL to a new level."
» Charley is also high on rookie RB T.J. Yeldon, who he predicts will start, and former Bronco TE Julius Thomas. On Thomas: "He has the speed to get deep and give them big plays. Gus Bradley raved about his impact off the field, too."
» Lewis, a receiver himself in college, highlighted an interesting addition to Tennessee's pass-catching corps: "Hakeem Nicks as a potential starter in Tennessee, that's kind of an eye-opener after falling off the map ... that could be a huge get, an under-the-radar signing there for the Titans." Nicks won a Super Bowl with the Giants in 2011 but caught only 38 balls last year in Indianapolis and saw his yards-per-catch plummet from 16 to 10.7.
» J.J. Watt and one-handed catches. Enough said. We'll see you tomorrow on 'whispers.'
<center>
A video posted by Jeff Darlington (@jeffdarlington) on Aug 7, 2015 at 8:39am PDT
</center>
The latest Around The NFL Podcast features Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo sharing his thoughts on the upcoming season.
