NFL training camp roundup: Highlights and storylines from Aug. 8

2K2YB5W Cleveland, Ohio, USA. 22nd Sep, 2022. September 22nd, 2022 Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (27) during Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns in Cleveland, OH at FirstEnergy Stadium. Jake Mysliwczyk/BMR (Credit Image: © Jake Mysliwczyk/BMR via ZUMA Press Wire)

Kareem Hunt meets with Saints, Colts up next

Running back Kareem Hunt met with the New Orleans Saints Tuesday but left without a contract. He is scheduled to meet with the Indianapolis Colts next, per multiple reports.

New Orleans has lost running backs Alvin Kamara to a three-game suspension and Eno Benjamin for the season to a torn Achilles. The Colts have concerns at the position, as well, with Jonathan Taylor still on the physically unable to perform list and Zack Moss out for the next five weeks with a broken hand.

Hunt has been one of the more productive running backs on a per-touch basis since entering the league in 2017. His 67.0 overall grade in 2022 was a career low, but he finished no lower than 74.4 from 2017 to 2021.


Teddy Bridgewater signs with Lions

The Detroit Lions agreed to terms with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater Monday night, reuniting Bridgewater with head coach Dan Campbell. Campbell was with the Saints as the tight ends coach/assistant head coach in 2018-2019 when Bridgewater was in New Orleans.

The Lions have been public with their interest in bringing Bridgewater on board since March. There was a “strong contract offer” made in April, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, but the two sides could not come to an agreement, as Bridgewater was likely waiting to see if a starting position opened up elsewhere. Instead, he will back up Jared Goff in Detroit for 2023.

Detroit will be Bridgewater’s fifth team in the past five seasons. He was most recently with the Dolphins last year, but a finger injury kept him out for the final two weeks of the season, including a 34-31 defeat to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round. For his career, Bridgewater has made 68 big-time throws (PFF’s highest-graded passes) and 76 turnover-worthy passes.


Tytus Howard undergoes hand surgery

Houston Texans’ right tackle Tytus Howard will be sidelined for the remainder of training camp and potentially into the regular season following surgery to repair his broken hand, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The injury occurred just days after the team locked up the fourth-year tackle for the immediate future (three-year, $56 million extension on July 28). Houston also extended pro-bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil this past offseason, showing a commitment to building up the trenches for rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Howard earned a career-high 67.9 overall grade in 2022, 41st out of 81 qualifying tackles, while playing in all 17 games for the Texans.


Rams, safety John Johnson III reunite in 2023

The Los Angeles Rams signed safety John Johnson III, giving the team some much-needed experience in the secondary.

Johnson, who played for the Cleveland Browns the past two seasons, spent the first four years of his career with the Rams. Johnson was among the top safeties in the league as a member of the Rams, ranking inside the top 12 at his respective position three times in four seasons, including a career-high 85.3 overall grade in 2020 (third out of 94 qualifying safeties that season).

Johnson did not experience the same success with the Browns. His 62.8 overall grade in 2022 ranked 57th out of 88 qualifying safeties. Schematically, Johnson was utilized in different ways in Cleveland, which may be the reason for his drop-off in production.

He lined up at free safety on 41.7% of his defensive snaps with the Rams from 2017 to 2020, and that number then jumped all the way to 68.4% of defensive snaps at free safety with the Browns from 2021 to 2022. Still only 28 years old, Johnson could bounce back in a big way as a member of the Rams once again in 2023.

Safety worth way more than 2 points. Help protect your family with fast, free will.
Sponsor
NFL Featured Tools
Subscriptions

Unlock the 2024 Fantasy Draft Kit, with Live Draft Assistant, Fantasy Mock Draft Sim, Rankings & PFF Grades

$24.99/mo
OR
$119.99/yr