Training Camps 2015: Updates, Rumors and Analysis for August 20

The second week of the 2015 NFL preseason kicks off Thursday night. 

The schedule features two games, with Washington hosting the Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Bills traveling to Cleveland to take on the Browns. 

Two more games will be played Friday, plus eight Saturday, three Sunday and one Monday. Football is back, and there will be plenty of pigskin for all over the next few days. 

But while games are close, camps are still in full swing. In fact, these are some of the most important prep days for the upcoming season. 

In the following slides, we highlight all the news and notes from NFL camp action on August 20. 

Panthers to Hold Out WR Devin Funchess

Chuck Burton/Associated Press

The rookie season of second-round pick Devin Funchess just became considerably more important. 

As Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Wednesday, Panthers top receiver Kelvin Benjamin—who led the team in targets and receiving yards a season ago—will miss all of 2015 after tearing his ACL during the team's joint practice with the Miami Dolphins. 

Carolina now needs to be extra cautious with Funchess, who tweaked his hamstring during the same practice. 

According to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer, Funchess will be held out of the Panthers' preseason game against the Dolphins on Saturday night. While the injury doesn't sound serious, hamstring injuries are known to linger—and the Panthers can't afford for Funchess to miss any significant time once the real games start. 

The rookie now leads a receiver depth chart that includes Jerricho Cotchery, Ted Ginn, Jarrett Boykin and Corey Brown, among others. It's absolutely imperative that Funchess remain healthy. 

No Worries About First-Round Pick Trae Waynes

Jim Mone/Associated Press

There is always a rush to judgment on rookies, especially ones picked in the first-round. 

Patience is the name of the game for Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes, whom Minnesota picked No. 11 overall. 

"We think he's right on course,” defensive coordinator George Edwards said, via Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Everybody is looking for an immediate impact out of him, but…there are a lot of different things that go mentally with the corner position other than just lining up and playing man coverage on a guy."

Wayne was called for three penalties during his pro debut at the Hall of Fame Game. Last Saturday, he played a part in allowing a big play to Buccaneers receiver Vincent Jackson. 

The ups and downs are simply part of learning the position at a young age. Trusting the process is important. 

"As long as he keeps learning and keeps competing to get better, we think he's right where we need him to be," Edwards said.

Cobb's Chance

David Goldman/Associated Press

The Tennessee Titans have an open race at running back, and it looks like rookie David Cobb is about to get his chance to show what he can do. 

According to Terry McCormick of Titans Insider, head coach Ken Whisenhunt plans to give Cobb an "extended look" on Sunday night during Tennessee's preseason game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The opportunity could be his way to leapfrog Bishop Sankey on the depth chart.

Cobb certainly looked like the better back during Week 1 of the preseason, rushing for 53 yards on 11 carries. Sankey managed just 15 yards on eight attempts. 

General manager Ruston Webster showered his rookie back with praise Wednesday. 

"David Cobb has kind of shown what we saw from him at the Senior Bowl and in college, his ability to run the football, his vision and his feet," Webster said, via Jim Wyatt of the team's official site. "If he continues along that path he can help us."

Eagles Lose OLB Marcus Smith to Injury

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Just when it appeared the light switch was finally coming on for first-round pick Marcus Smith, injury has struck. 

According to Reuben Frank of CSN Philly, Smith was carted off with a lower-body issue during the Eagles' joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday. He left the field with "his head down," but just how serious the injury is hasn't yet been determined. 

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the problem is a "tweaked hamstring." 

Losing Smith would be a big blow for Philadelphia. 

Last year's No. 26 overall pick, Smith disappointed during his rookie season but had started to show some flashes of life during camp this month. The Eagles are counting on him to be the primary backup at edge-rusher. The depth chart gets awfully thin behind Smith. 

A "tweak" sounds as if he'll be back sooner rather than later, but this is still a situation worth monitoring. 

Cardinals Lose Corey Peters for 2015 Season

Matt York/Associated Press

The Arizona Cardinals will be without a key member of their defensive line for the rest of the 2015 season. 

According to Darren Urban of the team's official site, defensive lineman Corey Peters, who signed with Arizona this offseason, tore his Achilles tendon and will miss the rest of the year. 

The 27-year-old joined the Cardinals this March after five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He was expected to start along the defensive line, helping to fill the void left by Dan Williams and Darnell Dockett up front. Now, the Cardinals must scramble. 

Alameda Ta'amu, a former fourth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, could take over at nose tackle. He's 6'3" and over 340 pounds but played in only seven games last season.

Losing Peters will certainly hurt Arizona up front in 2015. 

Ravens Rookie Has Sprained PCL

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

The Ravens have been without receiver Breshad Perriman since the first practice of training camp. 

At least we now have an official diagnosis on the injury to Baltimore's first-round pick. 

According to Jamison Henley of ESPN.com, Perriman has a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He was seen wearing a brace while on the sidelines Thursday. 

The injury has unfortunately lingered on for Perriman, who is expected to take on the role vacated by Torrey Smith this offseason. Missing most of camp won't help his cause.

It's possible he could return to practice in the near future, but it seems equally likely that he'll miss most—if not all—of the preseason. Stay tuned.

Tyrod the Starter?

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

The three-way quarterback competition in Buffalo might be closer to a conclusion. In fact, the winner has a chance to emerge from Thursday night's preseason contest with the Cleveland Browns. 

NFL Network's Albert Breer came away from Bills camp believing Tyrod Taylor could win the job outright with a strong performance in the team's second preseason game.

The former Baltimore Ravens backup is currently battling Matt Cassel and EJ Manuel to start. Both of Taylor's combatants have been underwhelming since arriving in Buffalo. 

Meanwhile, Taylor lit up his preseason debut against the Carolina Panthers, completing five of eight passes for 49 yards and rushing for 47 more while running with the second-team offense. He'll get his opportunity with the starters against the Browns. 

Taylor is far and away the most intriguing of the quarterbacks for the Bills. Cassel has starting experience but little else, while Manuel is starting to inch closer and closer to "bust" status. 

Maybe Taylor can be the spark needed at quarterback for new offensive coordinator Greg Roman. He'll have a shot to prove he's the one tonight against the Browns. 

Single-Game Suspension for Jets Lineman

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

A one-game suspension is no way to win a job for a player on the roster bubble. 

According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, the NFL has suspended Jets backup offensive lineman Oday Aboushi one game for violating the league's substance abuse policy. 

A fifth-round pick of the Jets back in 2013, Aboushi has made 10 starts and played in 15 games over his first two seasons. He's been serving as mostly a backup guard during Jets camp this summer. 

If he makes the club, Aboushi will miss New York's Week 1 opener against the Cleveland Browns. The Jets should be fine with James Carpenter and Willie Colon—plus backups Dakota Dozier and Brian Winters—at guard.