Preseason should sort out position battles

Keep an eye on more than the quarterbacks this preseason.

While there are a handful of interesting competitions for starting passer jobs throughout the NFL in August, several of the league’s most interesting battles can be found elsewhere. These 10 non-quarterback position races could go a long way toward shaping the season, and they likely won’t be decided after this weekend’s set of preseason games.

Broncos’ running back

Denver’s lead ballcarrier job remains wide open after nearly two weeks of training camp, and five players have received work with the firstteam offense: veterans Devontae

Booker and De’Angelo Henderson and rookies Royce Freeman, David Williams and Philip Lindsay. Freeman, a thirdrounder from Oregon, has been gaining momentum, but a starter might not be named until September. Lindsay, a Denver native, is an intriguing option as a third-down back if he ends up on the roster for his kick-returning skills.

Dolphins’ running back

Dolphins coach Adam Gase said this week that he listed 35year-old veteran Frank Gore and incumbent starter Kenyan Drake as co-starters on the first depth chart just to “be an (expletive),” but the move also shows the starting job remains at least somewhat open. It would be unwise to dismiss Gore simply because of his age. His extreme work ethic, veteran savvy and extra motivation to play well in his hometown might give Gore the push he needs to take over some of Drake’s workload, though the third-year back is the more dynamic option.

Cowboys’ No. 1 wide receiver

With the team’s release of Dez Bryant in March, the Cowboys still don’t have a lead target for Dak Prescott. In a very un-Cowboy-like maneuver, Dallas appears likely to wait on establishing a clear No. 1 receiver, at least initially. Cole Beasley is secured in the slot, though Dallas could opt to move him all over the field. Deonte Thompson, who played last year with the Bears and Bills, and rookie Michael Gallup are likely depth options, though Gallup has impressed in training camp. The biggest opportunities might be given to Terrance Williams, who has been Dallas’ No. 2 target and is coming off of foot surgery that forced him to miss the entire offseason program, and Allen Hurns, formerly of the Jaguars. Hurns is the only one with a 1,000-yard receiving season, though he has been limited by a groin injury.

Packers’ No. 3 wide receiver

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Tuesday ripped into Green Bay’s younger receivers, saying “the effort level was very low” in a practice session, though he praised Geronimo Allison, DeAngelo Yancey and Jake Kumerow. “Everybody else,” Rodgers said, “was kind of piss poor.” The Packers are set with Davante Adams and slot receiver Randall Cobb as their top targets, but Green Bay needs a third. Allison appears to be separating himself from the bunch. Kumerow, formerly on the Bengals practice squad but who hasn’t appeared in a game, has consistently made plays in training camp. The three rookie draft picks — J’Mon Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown — have all been inconsistent. When Nate Solder left in free agency (signing a big-money deal with the Giants), it opened up a major vacancy on Tom Brady’s blindside, though it was a hole the Patriots moved to fill this offseason by trading for veteran Trent Brown from the 49ers and using a firstround pick on Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn. Though Brown is switching sides of the line, he has impressed in training camp and appears to have the inside track to winning the starting job. He’s massive (listed 6-8, 380 pounds) and still only 25, so the Pats would be thrilled if he winds up a long-term solution. That arrangement puts less immediate pressure on Wynn, who could start his professional career as a backup swing tackle and grow into a starting role.

Steelers’ inside linebacker

The Steelers have a major hole to fill in their heart of their defense as they look to replace Ryan Shazier, who suffered a spinal cord injury last season. Replicating both his playmaking ability and leadership will be difficult, and Pittsburgh is letting Tyler Matakevich, a seventh-rounder in 2016, and free agent addition Jon Bostic, who played for four teams from 2013 to 2017, battle it out in camp. While Matakevich, a backup and special teams player in his first two seasons, appeared to get the first shot with Vince Williams and the rest of the starters, Bostic will have a chance to get his career back on track.

Rams’ outside linebacker

The defense is stacked on the front and in the secondary, but outside linebacker remains a weakness after the Rams traded Robert Quinn to the Dolphins and let Connor Barwin walk in free agency. Last year’s fourth-round pick Samson Ebukam appears set to start on one side of the defense, but the weakside is wide open. Matt Longacre picked up 51⁄ sacks

2 last season as a backup and might be the team’s best bet, though he is battling a biceps injury. That might be enough to open the door for rookies John Franklin-Myers, Trevon Young and Justin Lawler.

Panthers’ No. 2 cornerback

When Carolina traded Daryl Worley to the Eagles for receiver Torrey Smith, it left a starting job open opposite James Bradberry, the team’s No. 1 corner. A season-ending broken leg to Ross Cockrell created more uncertainty in the secondary. Now the role comes down to third-year vet Kevon Seymour and second-round rookie Donte Jackson. Jackson has flashed in camp and, with a strong preseason, might ascend to the role by Week 1, though the Panthers listed Seymour as the starter on their first unofficial depth chart Sunday.

Seahawks’ safety

Earl Thomas, who is holding out, has made his position clear: “Offer me an extension,” he wrote in a blog post published to The Players’ Tribune, “or trade me to a team that wants me to be part of their future.” That means Seattle needs to plan on moving forward without him. The tricky part is the team needs to replace strong safety Kam Chancellor, who indicated he is retiring due to a neck injury. Bradley McDougald appears to be in line to take Chancellor’s spot, though coordinator Ken Norton Jr. could get creative and toggle him between the two positions. But Tedric Thompson, a 2017 fourth-round pick, has stood out in camp at free safety. He’s competing against Delano Hill, a 2017 third-rounder. But look for Maurice Alexander, am exstarter with the Rams, to get serious consideration to step into one of the starting roles.

Chargers’ kicker

If the Chargers had a consistent kicker in 2017, the team’s first year in Los Angeles could have ended in the postseason instead of out of it. That makes the open competition between Caleb Sturgis, the ex-Eagle, and Roberto Aguayo, a 2016 second-round pick by the Buccaneers who was cut last summer, compelling. Sturgis, who converted 85% of his kicks in 2016, missed nearly all of last year in Philadelphia after suffering a torn left hip flexor and has been limited in the offseason. Aguayo has received extra reps, but can the former high draft pick shake whatever yips plagued him in Tampa Bay?