Depth Chart Watch: Training Camp Job Battles

As we drift gradually into the second week of preseason, I'm left wondering what NFL coaches are thinking. This isn't unusual; hardly a day goes by in the NFL season when a coach doesn't make a decision that's simply bizarre on the surface. Then, when you look deeper, it's extremely bizarre. This goes on even on the biggest stage -- why, Pete Carroll? Why didn't you hand the ball to Marshawn? But it also happens on the smallest. Why are regulars -- and quarterbacks in particular -- ever left in preseason games long enough to get hurt? This goes double for the first two weeks of the preseason, which should be all about the fifth-stringers no one's ever heard of. Well, at least it gives us something to talk about.

Arizona RB - Andre Ellington and rookie David Johnson are recovered from hamstring injuries, and they'll see some work in this weekend's game. A lack of Johnsons in the lineup apparently motivated the Cardinals to indeed pick up the artist formerly known as CJ2K, aka Chris Johnson. This is a horribly muddled situation now, and that should make fantasy owners wary of investing a high pick in the already risky Ellington.

Arizona WR - Michael Floyd's fingers are on the mend -- no more stitches! -- but he continues to be highly uncertain for Week 1. Look for John Brown to try to establish himself as a prime target for Carson Palmer in his absence.

Atlanta RB -Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are both back from their hamstring injuries, but neither was active Friday against the Jets. Antone Smith was also out with a hamstring injury. All three are expected to play in next week's preseason game, which could go a long way to detemine the RB pecking order. Consider Freeman and Coleman 1 and 1A.

Buffalo QB - Matt Cassel didn't even get to play in the second preseason game, letting Rex Ryan get a long look at Tyrod Taylor and EJ Manuel, with Manuel (who got the easier job, playing the second half) making more impact, going 9-for-14 for 111 yards and a score. But Taylor was no slouch -- he again showed off his legs, leading the Bills in rushing with 41 yards on just four carries, and he completed seven of his 10 passes for 65 yards. This remains a highly uncertain situation, with everyone in this trio making a legitimate claim to the job.

Buffalo RB - Hamstring injuries just so hot, LeSean McCoy's part of the fad. He left practice this week with the ailment, and though the word is that he's expected to be ready for Week 1, coach Rex Ryan wasn't able to summon up anything more than cautious optimism about that. If he were to miss the opener, the Bills would probably mix and match with Fred Jackson, Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown.

Buffalo WR - Sammy Watkins sat out the second preseason game with tightness in his glute, and there's been speculation that the issue is related to his offseason hip surgery. If so, there's a chance it could linger into the regular season, with Percy Harvin presumably the beneficiary -- if he can stay healthy himself -- should Watkins miss any regular-season action.

Carolina WR - Disaster alert: Kelvin Benjamin suffered a season-ending ACL tear Wednesday, hurling the Panthers' receiving corps into utter chaos. It now appears that your two starters are Philly Brown and Devin Funchess, with Ted Ginn and Jerricho Cotchery also factoring in, creating a situation that may be muddled from week to week. Funchess has a mild hamstring injury, but should be ready to go for the season. The lack of Benjamin will be murder on Cam Newton's fantasy value -- unless he decides to tuck the ball under and run more to account for the dearth of reliable targets.

Chicago WR - Our fears have been realized with Kevin White, who'll miss at least the season's first six weeks following surgery on his shin and could in fact sit out the entire campaign. That will indeed give Marquess Wilson an extra share of value as the presumed No. 2 target for Jay Cutler. May the football gods preserve Alshon Jeffery -- if he were to go down, the Bears would be no better off at receiver than the Panthers.

Cleveland QB - Johnny Manziel got some run in Thursday's preseason game, going 10-for-18 for 118 yards and a score while scampering thrice for 19 more. That's a lot better than Josh McCown's showing, as the veteran tossed a pair of interceptions to go with his 57 yards through the air. You have to think this game has tightened up the competition between the two, with McCown looking a bit less certain to hold the Week 1 starting role.

Dallas RB - Darren McFadden's recovered from his hamstring injury and has actually generated positive reports in camp this week. Meanwhile, incumbent Joseph Randle has been encumbered with an oblique strain, which he suffered early this month and aggravated in practice Thursday. Expect the Cowboys to treat Randle delicately -- maybe even holding him out of practice the rest of preseason -- to preserve his health, and look for updates on the injury as he tries to hold onto the No. 1 role.

Detroit RB - Ameer Abdullah didn't get a lot of opportunities in Thursday's game to build on his impressive play in the preseason opener, but he probably doesn't need it at this stage of things. Joique Bell remains slated to start at running back, but he's still not playing in preseason as he recovers from knee and Achilles' tendon injuries. I still don't believe that Bell holds onto the top role all year over the electric Abdullah.

Houston QB - Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett both showed some promise in the first preseason game -- Hoyer threw a 38-yard touchdown in limited action, while Mallett went 10-for-11 -- and now their roles will be flip-flopped entering preseason Week 2, as Mallett will start against the Broncos before giving way to Hoyer in Saturday's game. There's still no clear favorite, but it's starting to look like things are going in Mallett's direction.

Houston RB - Alfred Blue made Texans fans feel at least a tiny little bit better about the Arian Foster groin injury with a shining performance in last week's preseason game, rushing nine times for 59 yards. Jonathan Grimes took a few carries in the first half but was ineffective, while Chris Polk made some noise in the second half. It wouldn't be crazy to see Polk ultimately surpass Grimes on the chart.

Jacksonville TE - Julius Thomas fractured a finger in last week's preseason game and will miss the rest of exhibition play, a scenario that largely favors long-time Jag Marcedes Lewis, who'd been in line for a reduced role, but now will be the primary pass-catching tight end in the short term. Week 1 is in question for Thomas, as no official timeline has been released, nor has the team expressed particular optimism that he'll be ready to start the year.

Miami WR - DeVante Parker came off the PUP list Wednesday and is returning to practice on a limited basis, with an eye on being ready for the opener. Even so, it's an open question how the looks will work out with Parker competing for targets with Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings.

New Orleans RB - C.J. Spiller had to have a knee procedure at the end of last week, putting his Week 1 availability in question. He's out for the remainder of preseason, and though he's expected back in Week 1, there's always risk with a back as injury-prone as Spiller. Khiry Robinson seems like the clearest beneficiary of any regular-season absence.

Washington QB - Now we get to the subject of my complaint from the intro: Robert Griffin, who suffered a concussion and a minor shoulder injury after being left in to take an absolute beating in the first half of Thursday's preseason game. Griffin's injuries aren't expected to linger, and thus he should still be in line to start Week 1, but it's bad news that he's already banged up. Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy wait in the wings, and it's unclear which is the No. 2 option.