NFL Training Camps 2015: Updates, Rumors and Analysis for August 12

Tuesday brought with it a titanic development across the NFL, one that shook the league to its very foundations.

OK, so that might be a slight exaggeration.

Most of the NFL's teams released their first depth charts of 2015. It's an exercise that players watch closely, coaches despise and fans and the media get all sorts of frothy over.

As Shakespeare would say, it's full of sound and fury—signifying nothing.

Of course, that doesn't mean there's nothing to be gleaned from depth chart moving and shaking, and it's a San Diego shuffle that kicks off Wednesday's look at the latest from camps around the NFL.

Chargers Moving D.J. Fluker to Guard

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Back in 2013, a Chargers team desperate for help up front made what many considered a reach when they selected Alabama's D.J. Fluker with the 11th overall pick.

Since then, Fluker has played right tackle for the Bolts. Fluker has struggled there, ranking 55th among tackles last year per Pro Football Focus.

It appears that the Chargers have seen enough to consider a change of plans.

As Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports, the past several days of practice have seen Fluker kick inside to guard, with Joseph Barksdale manning Fluker's old spot.

The 24-year-old told Gehlken he's willing to do whatever it takes to help the team:

"

Right now, it's just kind of fun. If I get the hang of it a little more, then it's going to be a lot more fun. I won't have a problem with thinking. ... I feel like I'm a rookie still at guard. I'm still trying to figure things out. ... I have my times where I get a little bit frustrated. Coaches jump on me, but they've got high expectations for me. I think I may not see it the way they see it — I have a little visual — but I'm trying to buy into what they're trying to get me to do.

"

Thursday night's preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys should offer our first real glimpse into whether this is training camp tinkering or a harbinger of things to come.

All Hail King Cassel

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Well, some of the NFL's quarterback battles appear to be sorting themselves out. In New York, it was because Geno Smith's jaw got busted in a locker room dust-up.

In Buffalo, it's because Matt Cassel is just that good.

Or something.

Buffalo News beat writers Vic Carucci and Tyler Dunne reported Wednesday that not only is Cassel set to start the Bills preseason opener, but the veteran is the "clear front-runner" to be the Week 1 starter, a job that is "Cassel's to lose."

Lose. There's a word we'll be hearing quite a bit in relation to a Cassel-led Bills team.

I get it. EJ Manuel has managed to impress so much that he's fallen behind Tyrod Taylor, at least if the pecking order for this week's game is any indication.

But the 33-year-old Cassel had a passer rating of 65.8 last year with the Minnesota Vikings. Not completion percentage, mind you...

Passer rating.

Cassel hasn't been an effective NFL starter since 2010, when he was in Kansas City.

The best of a bad bunch is not a good thing.

Marqise Lee on Track or Something

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL career of Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marqise Lee hasn't gotten off to the start that either player or team wanted. An injury-marred disappointment of a rookie year has been followed by more injuries that have kept the former USC standout off the practice field.

However, there's good news on that front—sort of.

According to a tweet from Ryan O'Halloran of the Florida Times-Union, Lee is targeting the team's third "dress rehearsal" preseason game for his return to action.

Head coach Gus Bradley admitted to John Oehser of the team's website that this latest setback is a tough break for Lee.

“It’s tough,” Bradley said. “He felt like he did everything right. He’s just trying to figure out how something like that takes place.”

Doubly so when you consider that by that late in the game, Allen Hurns will have had every opportunity to tighten his grip on the No. 2 receiver job opposite Allen Robinson.

Joe Thomas Is a BAD Man

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The hearts of every Cleveland Browns fan stopped in unison earlier this week when Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas (easily the team's best player) had his knee rolled up in practice.

The Browns dodged a bullet, but Thomas told Mary Kay Cabot of the Northeast Ohio Media Group that even if they hadn't, it wouldn't have been a big deal.

Thomas eats bullets:

"

By the time I got up, I've been hurt enough to know when you're really hurt and when you're ok, and I knew pretty quick I was ok. When you have 700 pounds falling on your leg, you're pretty concerned. But once I got up I knew it wasn't too bad. It's just kind of a minor little ding more than anything. But I should be back in a couple days.

It always really comes down to the player if they want it, and I've had three MCL tears in my career so I know the severity of what it feels like and how it happens. I've had two high-ankle sprains. You kind of know your body after a while and when they look at it and they see there's not swelling and there's minimal pain and you can do certain exercises, that's kind of how they determine (if a player needs an MRI).

"

Do you know how many games all those injuries have cost Thomas, who has been named a Pro Bowler in each of his eight NFL seasons?

That would be zero.

Maybe Kryptonite would slow Thomas down, but that appears to be about it.

No Rush for Clowney

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Entering the 2014 NFL draft, any number of superlatives were being thrown around concerning South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

Plays like this will do that.

To say that Clowney's rookie season was a letdown would be a major understatement. And now, after microfracture surgery on Clowney's knee, some have wondered whether the No. 1 overall pick in that year's draft will ever be the generational pass-rushing talent he was billed as.

Still, despite hype turned to grumbling turned to whispers of "what if," head coach Bill O'Brien told John McClain of the Houston Chronicle that the Texans refuse to rush things with Clowney.

"

Yeah, look, August 17 is the day that I think our medical team has talked to him about, but, again, with JD, it’s if he feels ready to go on that day. (If) his knee feels good, then he’ll go. We’re not going to rush him back. We feel like that’s a good date for him, so, yeah, we’re on target for that. Hopefully, he’ll get out here and be able to do something that day.

"

It's not what fans want to hear. They want to see Clowney working out. But practice isn't important. Or the preseason. Or even September.

What's important is 2016. And 2017. And getting Clowney as close to 100 percent as they possibly can.

It's not a tactic you see taken often in NFL, where it's win now or find another job, but O'Brien should be commended.

It's the right tactic to take.

Bengals Offense Irking OC Hue Jackson

John Minchillo/Associated Press

A big part of training camp and the preseason is working the kinks out—getting teams ready for the meat grinder that is the regular season.

In the Queen City, which was once known for its slaughterhouses, offensive coordinator Hue Jackson is apparently growing tired of asking his players for a T-Bone and instead getting hot dogs.

That's the latest from Paul Dehner of Cincinnati.com, who wrote that Jackson has been none too pleased with the execution of his offense in practices of late:

"

When we tell guys people are going to go after the ball, they are going to go after the ball. When we tell guys you have to take care of the ball, you can't drop the ball. The elementary thing of getting the snap from center, are you kidding me? We can't have those things happen. We can't play if we can't do those things. Those things have reared their ugly head again, and we have to get it fixed. I'm about tired of that.

"

It's still plenty early, but this sloppiness brings to mind the Bengals' inability to execute on offense in the playoffs last year.

And the year before that.

And the year before that.

And the year before that.

The Latest on Todd Gurley

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Almost from the moment he was drafted 10th overall, the $64 question in the Gateway City has been when running back Todd Gurley (ACL) might be ready to take the reins for the St. Louis Rams.

So far, the reports have been positive—if not glowing—leading some to speculate the former Georgia star might just be ready when the Rams open the 2015 campaign at home against the defending NFC champs.

Well, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, that might be a tad optimistic:

"

While the team practiced on one field, a pad-less rookie ran routes against air and caught passes. He looked completely normal, which is the curse of Todd Gurley, their first-round pick. He's so athletic that even when he's rated at 90 percent on a surgically repaired knee, he looks 100 percent. But make no mistake, Gurley isn't ready yet. He won't play in the preseason. I'm told the Rams don't even expect him to be ready for the season. They believe he'll miss the first couple games, not wanting to risk injury until he's ready. The ligament is strong, but the area around it isn't there yet. With so much invested in a player compared to a young Adrian Peterson, St. Louis will be cautious. But the future is so bright for Gurley, team personnel can barely contain themselves.

"

Still, it appears that Tre Mason's days as the Rams' lead back are numbered.

And that number isn't very big.

Eric Berry to Play Saturday

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

We'll put a bow on a relatively light news day Wednesday with the best NFL news to come down the pipe in some time, in large part because it's news that goes way beyond football.

According to Adam Teicher of ESPN, "Andy Reid said the plan is to play Eric Berry Saturday night against (the) Cardinals."

Normally the news that Berry, who missed most of last season, is playing would be good news for the Kansas City Chiefs, but not much more than that.

After all, players return from injuries all the time.

However, Berry wasn't just hurt. He was in the fight of his life—against lymphoma.

Reid told Teicher that Berry has looked like his old self on the practice field:

"

I told him I saw too much of him today because he had a couple of interceptions out here. Listen, I'm as happy as I can be for him. He's like a little kid out here playing. He's having fun. He's appreciative of everything and everybody that has been with him through this whole ordeal. He's loving life right now, and that's important. It shows on the field here, too.

"

And if that doesn't put a smile on your face, nothing will.