The Sports Xchange

Beyond the high profile names in national headlines, players in each NFL training camp are witnessing — or taking part in — brutal battles for a spot on the depth chart, or even the roster.

These clashes, while often not sexy enough for prime time exposure, are usually noted only by those who actually see the practices, such as correspondents covering each team for The Sports Xchange.

They were asked to point out the current Battle of the Week, or BOW, in camp. Their scouting reports produced this peek into the inner workings and a list of the key Battles of the Week (teams are listed alphabetically):

ARIZONA CARDINALS

–BOW: Punter — The punting job is open with Drew Butler and Dave Zastudil as the competitors. Zastudil is the better punter, but he is 36 and spent most of last season on injured reserve with a torn groin muscle. Butler took over and was inconsistent, but coaches like him and believe he has potential. If Zastudil stays healthy, he likely will win the job. He has decent leg strength and no one is better at placing punts inside the opponent’s 10-yard line.

ATLANTA FALCONS

–BOW: Tight end — Jacob Tamme and Tony Moeaki, who were signed in free agency, have moved ahead of Levine Toilolo, who was the starter last season. Tamme was listed as the No. 1 tight end on the team’s depth chart followed by Moeaki and Toilolo. The Falcons also have Mickey Shuler and D.J. Tialavea on the roster. Toilolo is having a strong camp and showing better hands after dropping several passes last season.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

–BOW: Wide Receiver — Despite the retirement of veteran Steve Smith Sr. Monday, the Ravens are have lots of talent here. Injuries to first-round pick Breshad Perriman and third-year player Marlon Brown have created an opportunity for some of these younger players to make an impact. Kamar Aiken is taking the most advantage by performing well enough to take over the second spot on the depth chart. Michael Campanaro, a second-year player out of Wake Forest who has battled injuries, has also played well and the Ravens have confidence in him, as long as he can stay on the field. Also in the mix: Darren Waller, a sixth-round pick out of Georgia Tech, a camp surprise; Jeremy Butler, who spent last season on injured reserve; Former Washington Redskins receiver Aldrick Robinson; and DeAndre Carter, who entered camp as an undrafted free agent, have also been solid. Also in the mix are Daniel Brown, Tom Nelson and Trent Steelman. Smith, Aiken, Perriman, Brown and Campanaro should make the final roster, leaving the rest fighting for two or three remaining spots.

BUFFALO BILLS

–BOW: Right tackle — Seantrel Henderson and Cyrus Kouandjio are going head-on in the fight to win the right tackle spot, and it appears Henderson has surged ahead. Last season, the seventh-round pick started all 16 games at the position, while Kouandjio, the Bills’ second-round pick, dressed for just one game. In the offseason program, Henderson struggled, and Kouandjio made a nice leap in the eyes of offensive line coach Aaron Kromer and when the Bills arrived at camp, he was No. 1 on the depth chart. That has clearly changed, and now it seems the job is Henderson’s to lose.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

–BOW: Free safety –Tre Boston vs Kurt Coleman. Boston, the incumbent, is listed as a starter on the Panthers’ first depth chart, but that’s not how they’ve lined up in practice. For about a week now, Coleman has taken most of the snaps with the first team. The Panthers like the veteran’s aggressiveness, and he has a good shot to take the job from Boston.

CHICAGO BEARS

–BOW: Strong safety –Ryan Mundy vs. Brock Vereen. Many assumed Mundy would be the starter alongside free safety Antrel Rolle, but defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has been using Mundy and Vereen both at the opposite spot.

When asked to assess the two, Fangio said, “Similar, fairly similar.”

Vereen rates more of a free safety in terms of size at 5-foot-11 and 202 pounds while Mundy is more the size of strong safeties at 6-foor-1, 209 pounds.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

–BOW: Wide receiver depth — After A. J. Green, Mohamed Sanu and Mario Alford, there are eight players vying for two or three spots — Brandon Tate, Greg Little, Denarius Moore, Marvin Jones, Onterio McCalebb, Tevin Reese, Jake Kumerow and Desmond Lawrence. Tate’s future might depend on how Alford handles punt returns. Little and Kumerow have had some big moments in camp.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

–BOW: Offensive line — Veteran right guard John Greco is trying to hold off a push from rookie Cameron Erving. Erving has worked with the second unit most of camp, but on Sunday Erving was with the first team at right guard and Greco was the second-team center. Greco is a crafty eight-year veteran. Erving is a better athlete. This one could go on throughout the preseason.

DALLAS COWBOYS

–BOW: Punt returner — Wide receiver Cole Beasley has the early lead on Lucky Whitehead to replace Dwayne Harris as the primary punt returner. Beasley has dropped nothing in practice and is earning a bigger role in the offense as the third receiver. Whitehead is a rookie free agent who probably will make the roster, but he needs to impress as a punt returner and unseat Beasley if he hopes to be active.

DENVER BRONCOS

–BOW: Kicker — Connor Barth vs. Brandon McManus. The Broncos don’t want to keep a kickoff specialist; they want one player to do both field goals and kickoffs. In the wake of waiving of Karl Schmitz, that leaves Barth and McManus. Barth replaced McManus on placekicks after his form grew erratic at midseason, but Barth’s kickoffs in a Week 12 game forced the Broncos to bring back McManus to the 53-man roster as a kickoff specialist. Both have worked on kickoffs during training camp and have alternated work on placekicks, with Barth a bit more accurate, but McManus generating more power.

DETROIT LIONS

–BOW: Nickel back — The Lions’ nickel spot is one of the most hotly-contested competitions in training camp. Veteran Josh Wilson remains the front-runner, but he’s actually listed behind Nevin Lawson on the first unofficial depth chart. Rookie Quandre Diggs has also had some bright spots during training camp.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

–BOW: Inside linebackers — The return of Clay Matthews to practice Monday after being out of action a full week because of knee soreness early in training camp was a welcome sight. Yet, with Matthews’ seemingly a good bet to not play the first preseason game Thursday, the coaches will get a long look at young candidates who are vying to contribute at inside linebacker. The transition of Matthews to inside linebacker going back to the second half of last season isn’t being considered on a full-time basis. Matthews still will be moved around and counted on to wreak havoc as a pass rusher from his natural spot on the outside. Hence, when the Packers resort to their heavily tabbed pass-defense packages, they will need to pair incumbent starter Sam Barrington with someone other than Matthews.

Nate Palmer, a third-year pro who has been moved from outside linebacker, is listed as the starter beside Barrington on the team’s first depth chart of the preseason. Next in line are Jake Ryan and Carl Bradford, taken in the fourth round of the 2015 and ’14 drafts, respectively. Given the upheaval at the position after veteran starters A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones were cut early in the offseason, head coach Mike McCarthy is expecting production sooner than later. “It’s a big opportunity for the inside linebackers, and they need to start making more plays, frankly,” an unhappy McCarthy said a few days into camp. “They need to settle in and start playing.”

HOUSTON TEXANS

–BOW: Strong safety — Andre Hal has held off the challenge of Eddie Pleasant so far. Hall is a converted cornerback who has good cover skills. Pleasant is a former undrafted free agent from Oregon.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

–BOW: Wide receiver — A pair of undrafted rookies, Quan Bray and Ezell Ruffin, have come up big in the past few days in a crowded wide receivers corps. Bray and Ruffin — along with veterans Griff Whalen and Vincent Brown — are all trying to find a spot on the regular-season roster. As it stands right now, Indianapolis’ top line receivers include T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson, Donte Moncrief, rookie Phillip Dorsett and rookie Duron Carter. The rest of the group is fighting to be the team’s sixth receiver.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

–BOW: Center — The ongoing clash at center between veteran Stefen Wisniewski and second-year player Luke Bowanko is causing a buzz. It’s now set up that one player starts with the No. 1 offense one day and the other player takes that spot the following day. Wisniewski has savvy and experience; Bowanko has athletic ability and size working in his favor. Unless one of the players gets hurt, this could go all the way to the regular-season opener. Wisniewski had a mental lapse in Saturday’s scrimmage when he forgot to go in when the Jaguars were about to attempt a field goal. He had to sprint all the way to the line of scrimmage in order for the team to not have to call a timeout.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

–BOW: Long snapper — with all the prime positions on offense, defense and special teams set, long snapper is the only real open competition. The battle goes on between first-year snapper James Winchester and undrafted rookie Andrew East. After nearly a dozen practices, special teams coach Dave Toub says that neither man has an edge at this time. Winchester/East is looking to replace Thomas Gafford, who was the snapper for seven years but was not re-signed after his contract expired.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

–BOW: Left guard — This features Dallas Thomas vs. the field. Miami remains unsettled at both guard positions but it appears left guard is the most urgent. Thomas, a 2013 third-round pick, has been below average at run blocking and pass protection. But veteran Jeff Linkenbach hasn’t been good enough to take the job, nor have Jamil Douglas, Sam Brenner, J.D. Walton or Jacques McClendon. Thursday’s game against Chicago might clear the picture a bit.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

–BOW: Punt returner — Incumbent Marcus Sherels has been on the roster bubble for years now. Even when he set the team record for punt return average in a season, his roster status has been tentative because he’s the safe, nonflashy option. Well, it’s August again and Sherels is in for his toughest battle yet. He opened the competition Sunday night with a nice 24-yard return in his only attempt. Later, rookie fifth-round draft pick Stefon Diggs, a much more electrifying player, broke a 62-yard return to the Pittsburgh 1.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

–BOW: Third down back — This features James White vs. Travaris Cadet. White is a second-year former fourth-round pick who did nothing as a rookie. Cadet caught 38 passes with the Saints a year ago, but the bulk of his work came lined up wide. The passing-back role is a key one in Tom Brady’s offense, with guys like Kevin Faulk, Danny Woodhead and Shane Vereen having been top contributors over the years. Cadet is the more explosive player, but his pass protection is a real concern. White is more prototypical, but still must prove himself. This battle could go well into the season, with health being a factor as Cadet has missed some practice time to an unknown injury.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

–BOW: Left cornerback — Stanley Jean-Baptiste vs. Brian Dixon and Kyle Wilson for backup left cornerback job. After spending 12 games on the inactive list last year, Jean-Baptiste, a second-round draft pick in 2014, has shown some improvement during training camp and might have a hold on the backup job behind Keenan Lewis. Jean-Baptiste moved ahead of Dixon and Wilson and then received some valuable first-team snaps when Lewis was sidelined by a recent injury.

NEW YORK GIANTS

BOW: Safeties — DB coach David Merritt advised people to tap the brakes when it came to anointing second-round draft pick Landon Collins as one of the two starting safeties just because he’s a high draft pick. Merritt said the preseason games should provide some clarity regarding who the starting safeties will be, and it would be surprising if Collins is not one of the two.

NEW YORK JETS

–BOW: Right guard — Willie Colon, a penalty- and injury-prone 32-year-old, appeared to be a long shot for the starting position when he began training camp on the physically unable to perform list. But he garnered the first-team reps at right guard during Saturday’s open practice at MetLife Stadium. Brian Winters, the third-year player who appeared to be the favorite heading into camp, played with the second team while fellow 2013 draftee Oday Aboushi (left guard) and 2015 fifth-round pick Jarvis Harrison (right guard) played on the third team. Head coach Todd Bowles said not to read too much into the arrangement, but it’s still notable.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

–BOW: Left cornerback — DJ Hayden, TJ Carrie and Keith McGill are battling for corner spots. Early on, second-year player Keith McGill has made the most plays in the passing game, with either Hayden, a first-round pick in 2013, or Carrie, a seventh-round pick in 2014, competing to start as well. All three are competitors to start, and all three are likely to be in the mix when the Raiders go to a nickel defense.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

–BOW: Right guard — Four players already have taken first-team reps at Todd Herremans’ old spot: Matt Tobin, Andrew Gardner, John Moffit and Julian Vandervelde. A starter likely won’t be determined for a while.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

–BOW: Tight end –Rookie Jesse James, a fifth-round pick from Penn State, was considered nearly a lock to make the team as No. 3 behind vets Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth. However, he had a dreadful first game, dropping what would have been an easy touchdown pass, letting another ball slip through his hands for an interception and getting a holding call. The Steelers claimed Ray Hamilton off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys and he could threaten James’ position.

ST. LOUIS RAMS

–BOW: Strong side linebacker — Jo-Lonn Dunbar vs. Akeem Ayers. Dunbar is still listed as the starter on the team-issued depth chart, but Ayers has gotten a lot of snaps with the first-team defense. Dunbar has experience in coordinator Gregg Williams; defense, while Ayers came to the team this offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

–BOW: Strong safety — Jahleel Addae vs. Jimmy Wilson. Addae slowly worked his way into more playing time last year, with Marcus Gilchrist often moving inside to cover the slot receiver on third downs. But Gilchrist left for the New York Jets, leaving Addae as the odds-on favorite to win the spot. But if the Chargers were certain Addae was the guy — and that he can stay on the field by avoiding injuries his hard-hitting approach brings — they wouldn’t have signed free agent Jimmy Wilson of the Saints. In Wilson, the Chargers get someone who may not hit as hard as Addae, but has more experience as a fifth-year pro. Right now, the nod goes to Addae.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

–BOW: Third tight end — Asante Cleveland vs. Garrett Celek. Both veterans played to their strengths so far, with Cleveland demonstrating a legitimate option in the passing game, while Celek excelled as a blocking force in the run game. Both could make the roster, but each has competition in his area of expertise as well from a rookie. Fourth-rounder Blake Bell (6-foot-6, 252 pounds) is bigger and more powerful than Celek. And seventh-rounder Busta Anderson already has shown his impressive pass-catching numbers in college were no fluke.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

–BOW: Center — The competition to replace Max Unger as the team’s starting center grew more intriguing in the last few days as Drew Nowak, a practice squad player a year ago, began working more extensively with the first team. Head coach Pete Carroll said Nowak had a slight lead in the race with veteran Lemuel Jeanpierre but also said it was too early to really call it and that performance in preseason games will be vital. Jeanpierre has played guard and center for the Seahawks since 2010 and started 11 games. Nowak played in two games with Jacksonville in 2013 but otherwise has no experience. Coaches say Jeanpierre has the lead in knowing what to do but Nowak has been better physically.

TAMPA BAY BUCANNEERS

–BOW: Left tackle — Rookie Donovan Smith, a second-round pick from Penn State, will be the starter by the regular season. But he is getting strong competition from second-year pro Kevin Pamphile, who is capable of playing both tackle positions. Although Smith is penciled in, the Bucs won’t hesitate to change if the health of rookie quarterback Jameis Winston in endangered on his blind side.

TENNESSEE TITANS

–BOW: Right tackle — Byron Bell vs. Jeremiah Poutasi. Bell has been getting the majority of the first-team reps and could well win the job in the short-term. But Poutasi is likely the heir apparent there sooner or later. He has been getting a few first-team reps and with Taylor Lewan out of practice to rest a sore shoulder on Monday, Bell moved to the left side with Poutasi on the right.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

–BOW: Left defensive end — Stephen Paea felt unwanted by Chicago after having a career-high six sacks in 2014 as he headed toward free agency. Ricky Jean Francois was cut by Indianapolis in February despite having started 13 games for the AFC South champions. Now they’re competing to start at the left defensive end spot in Washington that became open when Jarvis Jenkins wasn’t re-signed. Defensive line coach Robb Akey praised Paea’s quickness while head coach Jay Gruden called him “probably our strongest player” with a superior work ethic. Paea is considered a pass-rush guy.

–Frank Cooney, founder and publisher of The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com, is in his sixth decade of covering football and is a selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.