It’s hard to earn a starting job in the NFL. It can be even more difficult to keep that starting job.
Players that routinely practice with the “two”s and “three”s are battling for a promotion to the “one”s.
Starting jobs are won and lost in the heat of August, and also in the regular season. Five NFL players should be looking over their shoulders, because they have some work to do to remain on the first-string unit.
Cortez Allen, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Cortez Allen was a disappointment in 2014 after signing a five-year, $25 million contract before the season. He was burned for two touchdown passes in Week 8 against the Colts, and didn’t play defense again. A broken thumb ended his season after Week 13.
The Steelers traded to get Brandon Boykin from the Eagles during training camp. Boykin, who at 25 is two years younger than Allen, had six interceptions in 2013 before losing playing time last season.
Allen has a chance to wipe the slate clean and win back his starting job this season. The Steelers showed he’s still ahead of Boykin in the pecking order when they played Boykin in the NFL Hall of Fame Game while Allen sat out with most of the starters.
Boykin batted a pass at the line of scrimmage in the game, and he looks like starting material. If Allen doesn’t prove worthy of the Steelers’ financial investment in him, he could find himself limited to nickel duty behind Boykin.
Joique Bell, RB, Detroit Lions
Joique Bell saw the bulk of the snaps last season at running back for the Lions. He ran for seven touchdowns, but he started training camp this year on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
He’s losing ground in the position battle to second-round pick Ameer Abdullah. The 5’9″, 195-pound Abdullah ran for 67 yards on seven carries in Thursday night’s 23-3 preseason win over the Jets. That included a 45-yard run against the Jets’ first-team defense.
Abdullah ran for more than 1,600 yards at Nebraska in both 2013 and 2014. He rushed for 19 touchdowns and caught three TD passes last season.
According to Rotoworld, Bell should start practicing any day now.
The sooner, the better. The longer Bell sits out, the more likely it is that he’ll be Abdullah’s backup.
Greg Jennings, WR, Miami Dolphins
It’s unclear how many wide receivers will be “starting” for the Dolphins. But like many teams, they’re likely to have three receivers on the field at a time, and even though he’s a two-time Pro Bowler, Jennings could find himself the odd man out in that situation.
The Dolphins signed Jennings this spring after he was released by the Minnesota Vikings. However, they also traded for Kenny Stills, who at 23 is nine years younger than Jennings and coming off a 63-catch season for the Saints.
Jarvis Landry caught 84 passes in 2014 and is poised to become the Dolphins’ leading receiver in his second season with Mike Wallace gone. The Dolphins also drafted rookie DeVante Parker 14th overall. Even though Parker hasn’t practiced yet, Dolphins receivers coach Ken O’Keefe told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that he still could play in Week 1.
Surrounded by such up-and-coming receivers, Jennings could see a declining role with his new team.
Owen Daniels, TE, Denver Broncos
The former Raven goes from the rugged AFC North to Denver, where he’ll live off the fat of the land in Peyton Manning’s offense and enjoy a big statistical boost.
Well, maybe not.
Perhaps in an effort to preserve Manning’s 39-year-old arm, the Broncos want to run the ball more, according to the Denver Post. That requires blocking, and according to Pro Football Focus Virgil Green was the NFL’s fourth-best run-blocking tight end in 2014. Daniels was 47th.
That doesn’t mean Green will catch a ton of passes with Daniels riding the pine. Green caught only six passes last season. But Daniels could lose snaps to Green if he can’t match his run-blocking.
Daniels, who turns 33 this season, could technically still be the starter. But it’s not like he’ll come in and be the next Julius Thomas.
Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers
Antonio Gates remains productive. He caught 69 passes last season and his 12 touchdowns were the second-most in his career.
Gates is suspended for the first four games under the NFL’s PED policy, however. Any 35-year-old with a capable backup who misses that much time is going to sweat it out on the sidelines.
Ladarius Green’s receptions have risen from four in his rookie season to 17 in 2013 to 19 last season. Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich told Michael Gehlken of The San Diego Union Tribune in June that Green was capable of having a breakout year, and this was even before Gates’ suspension was handed down.