All 32 NFL teams are kicking off training camp by holding practices this weekend with club-led fan events, and NFL Network, NFL+ and NFL.com will provide complete coverage through Back Together Weekend. NFL.com provides highlights and buzz below from Sunday's camp offerings.
Buccaneers adjusting to life without All-Pro OL
2025 brings a new season and a familiar situation for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
They'll start the campaign without All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs, whose knee troubles landed him on the physically unable to perform list to start camp. Last season, the Bucs were without starting right tackle Luke Goedeke from Weeks 2-5. Wirfs is also expected to miss the early portion of the regular season, but on the bright side, the Buccaneers have time to adjust during camp.
"Anytime you lose an All-Pro it's not good, but on the bright side knowing that we're in the situation that we're in, Charlie (Heck) gets a lot of reps with this O-line right now," quarterback Baker Mayfield said Sunday during an interview with NFL Network's Sara Walsh and Gerald McCoy. "He's going against our front with all the pressures and looks that we do every day, which is a lot from coach Bowles. So, kind of thrown into the fire a little bit, but he also has so much time to prep.
"The offensive line, the more reps they get together the better it's going to be. We understand that losing Tristan is not great, but trusting Charlie to do his job and all that. We've been in this situation before when we lost Luke Goedeke for a little bit last year and had to throw Justin Skule in there. So there's some game planning stuff, but right now it's just building chemistry with those five guys up front and for me to communicate clearly what we're doing protection wise."
As Mayfield said, it's never good when a team loses an All-Pro protector. Given it's late July, though, there's reason to remain optimistic.
-- Nick Shook
First-round rookie impressing in Tampa
Baker Mayfield hopes the same positive thinking will work for receiver Chris Godwin, who is returning from a season-ending ankle injury that sent him to the physically unable to perform list to start camp. In the meantime, Mayfield has other goals to accomplish, including establishing a rapport with rookie first-rounder Emeka Egbuka.
Egbuka brings a prolific collegiate resume to the Buccaneers after logging 205 catches, 2,868 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns over four seasons with Ohio State.
His arrival, plus the return of Bucs legend Mike Evans and ascending second-year receiver Jalen McMillan, has Mayfield feeling confident the Bucs will be just fine.
"I think Mike is finally starting to get some recognition that he deserves. He's a first-ballot Hall of Famer," he said. "Chris Godwin is consistently an All-Pro. He just does everything the right way, just smart, smart guy. J-Mac came along last year and made some really explosive plays for us and grew up a lot. Building that consistency with you.
"Emeka Egbuka is an absolute stud. He's like a young Chris Godwin. You can play him at any receiver spot. He's going to know what to do. He's going to do the dirty work for you. He also has the capability as a true franchise receiver. That's a lot weapons, and we have all the guys that were thrown into the fire last year because of injuries. There's a lot of experience, a lot of competition in that room."
As coaches love to state, competition breeds success. Thanks to their depth, Tampa Bay's explosive passing attack shouldn't miss a beat in 2025, even if Godwin's return takes longer than previously anticipated.
-- Nick Shook
Kelce sheds summer locks
Chiefs training camp is just a few days old, but star tight end Travis Kelce's hair is back in regular-season form -- literally.
-- Around The NFL staff
Wilson-Slayton connection on display
New Giants quarterback Russell Wilson's patented deep ball was on display Sunday with a pretty pass to Darius Slayton.
"Slayton -- you saw that one-handed catch -- he's dominant in a lot of ways," Wilson said on NFL Network.
-- Around The NFL staff
Hunter shares busy training camp schedule
Travis Hunter's foray into a two-way life in the NFL has already been monitored closely and discussed plenty.
On Sunday, Hunter gave NFL Network viewers a peek into what life as an aspiring Swiss army knife is like in Jaguars camp.
"I came out here on defense, so my first meeting was on offense, and then after that meeting, I went straight to defense," Hunter explained on Back Together Weekend. "Got ready for practice, came right out here on defense, special teams, go on offense, and then I'm back on defense for the rest of the day through all the team periods, the 7-on-7, and then offense again for the last special teams and then I'm back on defense for the remainder of practice. After we get done with this break, I go in there with defensive meeting and then I go to offensive meeting for the rest of the day."
If Hunter's ping-ponging itinerary sounds overwhelming, one can imagine how difficult it might be for the former Colorado star to juggle as he finds his footing in the NFL. Coach Liam Coen recently admitted managing Hunter's workload is equally as challenging for those building the daily schedule, but he believes Hunter will find a way to make it work.
He did so expertly at Colorado, where he posted absurd snap counts on a weekly basis and starred on both sides of the ball. The challenge is greater over the course of an NFL season, of course, but Jacksonville knew this was part of the equation when they traded up to the second pick of the 2025 draft to select Hunter.
-- Nick Shook
Chiefs' first-rounder drawing praise ahead of schedule
Kansas City's shotgun approach to addressing the offensive line provided it with options.
One of those options — 2025 No. 32 overall pick Josh Simmons — appears to be separating himself from the pack quickly. Simmons is garnering rave reviews from those at Chiefs camp so far and appears to have an early lead on the battle for the starting left tackle job, taking reps with the first team Sunday.
"He's a hell of an athlete," Chiefs defensive lineman Mike Danna told reporters Sunday, via ESPN’s Nate Taylor. "He's got a bright future."
Perhaps most surprising about Simmons impressing is the timeline. The first-rounder is ahead of schedule in recovering from surgery for a torn patellar tendon during his final year at Ohio State.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes knows his team's attempt to improve the offensive line will come with periods of adjustment and acclimation. Most importantly to Mahomes, the reps will offer the candidates the chance to improve while battling for jobs.
"Competition breeds excellence," Mahomes told NFL Network’s Kimmi Chex and Steve Smith on Sunday. "Today, first day of pads, you get a real feel. But we have a good defensive line. We had a lot of blitzes from Spags (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo), so these guys are gonna get tested. Coach Reid is going to throw them into the fire. And we'll see who comes out the best man."
-- Nick Shook
