Training Camp 2025: Top storylines as camps open across the NFL

Optimism rules the day as training camps open across the NFL Wednesday in preparation for the 2025 season

So let's dive into the big storylines as players and coaches get ready for kickoff just 43 days away

We'll start in the NFC where the Philadelphia Eagles lost four defensive stalwarts from their top ranked unit

but otherwise are ready to run it back. Just don't call them defending champs

Quarterback Jalen Hurts doesn't see it that way. It's a new journey. It's a Blake Kavis, and we are who we are

We have what we have. And regardless, whether you win a championship or lose a championship the next year

you have to be able to reset. The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys would like to reset as well

Both had disappointing seasons in 2024. Head coach Brian Dable of the Giants named Russell Wilson the starting quarterback Wednesday

The Cowboys are still dealing with disgruntled linebacker Micah Parsons who showed up to camp without the new contract he is seeking That was not the case for star receiver Terry McLaurin in Washington He a camp holdout while negotiations with the commanders continue In the NFC North the Minnesota Vikings finished the regular season 14

but were bounced in the first round of the playoffs. Their former quarterback Sam Darnold is now in Seattle

And second-year player J.J. McCarthy from Michigan will take his first starting reps under center

Also in the North, the Chicago Bears feel like they're on the rise with Caleb Williams under the tutelage of new head coach Ben Johnson, the former offensive coordinator in Detroit

Can Johnson get the most out of the young star? He's got one big goal for Williams in what he calls a new era of Bears football

I would love for him on the season to complete 70% of his balls. So you would like to think over the course of practice that we're completing 70% or more

that's hard to just magically arise in a game so um that's it's a lofty goal but it's one that

we're going to strive for in the afc we'll start by talking about a couple of errands new head

coach aaron glenn in new york just signed his top two stars sauce gardner and garrett wilson to massive contract extensions now they have to produce on the field to turn the franchise around The other Aaron was dumped by the Jets and is now in Pittsburgh

Future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers begins his 21st season in the league

with a new superstar target in former Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf. Oh, and defensive end T.J. Watt just got paid big time

Watch out, opposing quarterbacks. In Cincinnati, four-time Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson has not been paid

and he did not show up for the first day of practice. His holdout will overshadow Bengals' camp as long as he's absent

He led the NFL last year with 17.5 sacks. There's a new sheriff in Las Vegas

The oldest coach in the league, soon-to-be 74-year-old Pete Carroll, is excited about his Raiders team

with his old Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith leading the way. And he's not shy about setting expectations

We got to win a ton. We're going to win a bunch of games. I can't even imagine anything

I've been winning 10 games a year for 20 years or something. What are my expectations

We're going to win a bunch. And I don care who hears that The Titans may not win a ton but they have the top pick in April draft Cam Ward will likely be the starter when Tennessee opens this season Coach Brian Callahan plans to use some of the concepts that helped Ward excel in college

to create an environment where he feels comfortable. And speaking of rookies, it'll be interesting to watch how Jacksonville uses two-way star

Travis Hunter in training camp. The Jags' new coaching staff had him spend most of his time on offense in the spring

because that's harder to learn, but he'll be a regular on defense as well

Head coach Liam Cohen is adamant he can play both full-time and has every minute of practice mapped out

You want to give him a couple days offense, couple days defense, and then give him an opportunity to go flip-flop within the same practice

and then that will kind of become the norm. Or the new norm

So those are just a few of the stories making headlines as camps open

Many more to come in the weeks leading up to Game 1, September 4th

We'll also preview each division in the weeks ahead. So check the Straight Arrow News app for the latest

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis