Unless you're really into Major League Baseball's dog days, there's not a whole lot in the sporting world to discuss other than what's happening in NFL training camps. And there's an never-ending desire for news, quotes and highlight clips to consume to an unhealthy level. That's just regarding Jerry Jones talking about Micah Parsons.
What are the news items to truly worry about? Let's check the panic meter for the biggest situations on the eve of the preseason truly kicking off:
Will Micah Parsons play Week 1?
The Dallas Cowboys don't seem interested in trading Parsons, and that seems unlikely to change. Jerry Jones knows he can use the franchise tag, maybe even twice, and drag this thing out a long time.
But that doesn't mean Parsons will play in Week 1. The more Jones talks the more he seems very dug in, and in some ways reveling in this tough negotiation. His answer to whether he was confident Parsons would play in Week 1 was a bit startling.
"No, absolutely not," Jones said, via the team's site. "A big part of that is his decision. How would I know that? No, but I'm urgent …
"We will work through it or we won't work through it."
Jones is a businessman and this is all a negotiation. But Jones told Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein he hasn't spoken to Parsons since camp started a couple weeks ago. The longer the cold war continues, the more it becomes a real possibility that Parsons won't be on the field for Week 1, like Chris Jones' holdout from the Chiefs a couple years ago.
Panic meter: Getting higher
Is Matthew Stafford's back OK?
There hasn't been too much concern about Stafford not practicing at Los Angeles Rams camp, because he's a veteran and doesn't necessarily need the practice reps. But seeing an NFL Network report that Stafford has an aggravated disc and has received an epidural for it isn't comforting. He's week to week and the NFL Network report said the team plans for him to be ready by Week 1. That might be true, but this is all a reminder that Stafford is 37 years old and has taken a lot of punishment. There is a difference between Stafford being on he field for Week 1, and him being up for playing at a very high level all season.
Panic meter: No alarms yet, but keep it in mind
Do Justin Fields' camp stats matter?
Training camp stats aren't necessarily the most accurate measure of any player. It's a controlled environment, and teams are working on different things. Still, Fields' poor stats from New York Jets camp aren't inspiring confidence.
It's not ideal but it also probably doesn't matter. Everyone, including the Jets, knows Fields has limitations as a passer. He has other strengths and last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers he did show improvement throwing the ball. Maybe this is the first sign of a 2024 Anthony Richardson-esque season passing the ball for Fields, but that seems doubtful. He'll be fine and settle into his normal level.
Panic meter: It's not nothing, but pretty low
Is Shedeur Sanders being set up to fail?
There is no shortage of opinions on Sanders, the Cleveland Browns' rookie quarterback, and ESPN's Louis Riddick had an interesting one. He opined that Sanders would have a hard time succeeding in the preseason without many practice reps, and that he was "ice skating uphill" as the franchise doesn't set him up for success. Sanders will be starting the Browns' first preseason game on Friday, mostly due to injuries around him, and he was given the start before he ever took a practice rep with the starters.
Sanders being thrust into this spot without enough preparation is a justifiable concern. It's hard for any fifth-round rookie to move up the depth chart, and the most likely outcome for any late-round rookie is struggling in his first NFL action. Sanders will get this start with all eyes on him, and the reality that he might not have this type of opportunity again before the season starts. The opportunity itself is great — he could not have been expected to start a preseason game this year — but the situation has plenty of challenges. The idea that the Browns are consciously setting him up to fail is dubious, but this is a very difficult situation for a rookie quarterback.
Panic meter: It's a concern
Will Terry McLaurin be with the Commanders?
It seemed a couple weeks ago like the McLaurin saga wouldn't be that hard to figure out. He has earned a raise from the Washington Commanders, and the Commanders don't want to disrupt the momentum from last season's breakthrough. But the two sides haven't come to an agreement yet.
There's still plenty of time and it's not like the Commanders are deep enough at receiver to trade off one of their best players, so it seems likely some middle ground will be met. But the longer the standoff continues, the less time McLaurin will have to be truly ready for Week 1. The odds of McLaurin not being with the Commanders for the opener seem very low, but the longer this drags on the more Commanders fans will worry about that possibility.
Panic meter: Nothing yet
Can the Bills make James Cook happy?
Cook is now holding in, with what seems like little movement on a long-term contract agreement with the Buffalo Bills. Cook apparently wants about $15 million per season, and the only running backs at that mark are Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry. Cook isn't in that tier, but perhaps he can match the Rams' three-year, $33 million extension with Kyren Williams. That's still $4 million less than he wants. Would it be enough? Do the Bills want to pay that in this era of devalued running backs? The Bills are chasing a Super Bowl, Cook still hasn't made too much money on his rookie deal and wants some financial security, so it seems like both sides can find a fair solution.
Panic meter: It should end up fine
Is Khalil Shakir's high ankle sprain an issue?
The reason voters talked themselves into Josh Allen winning MVP last season was the idea that the Bills didn't have the best supporting cast. That's why Shakir's injury might be a bigger deal than is being talked about. Shakir has a high ankle sprain and will miss multiple weeks, which could affect an already thin receiving corps. Shakir's status for Week 1 is uncertain, and the opener is a massive showdown for Buffalo against the Baltimore Ravens. That's the type of game that could be enormous when seeds for the AFC playoffs are determined. Also, high ankle sprains can linger for a long time. Shakir led the Bills with 821 receiving yards last season. Nobody else had more than 556. Combine Shakir's high ankle sprain and Cook's hold-in, and it's not an ideal situation with the Ravens coming up to start the season.
Panic meter: Higher than is being discussed
Who will play RB for the Texans?
A few weeks ago, the Joe Mixon/Nick Chubb combination at running back for the Houston Texans had some promise on paper. Then came news that Mixon was dealing with a foot injury that will keep him out for an extended period. And the reports on Chubb, who has dealt with some massive injuries through his career, is that he doesn't look as explosive as usual. Maybe Mixon gets healthy or Chubb looks better as camp goes on, but if not, the running back room would be rookie Woody Marks and Dameon Pierce, who has yet to establish himself as a reliable back. For a team that already has concerns about the offensive line, this could be an issue. Especially with Mixon, who has a ton of NFL miles at age 29.
Panic meter: Could be a problem
Will Ben Johnson start to be pleased with the Bears offense?
The theme from Bears camp is that Johnson, their new coach, is yelling a lot. That's OK, he's a perfectionist, but he's not yelling for no reason. There have been mistakes, particularly before the snap, which indicate the team isn't yet grasping Johnson's complex scheme. Caleb Williams' play in camp has been dissected and he has seemingly been up and down. But it's fair to note he's a second-year player rbeing asked to master an advanced offense. It's probably unrealistic to expect the Bears or Williams to be fully formed by Week 1.
Panic meter: High for Week 1, but be patient
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