Week 8. The midway point of the season. Can't you just feel the juicy storylines bubbling? After two months, we have a lot of interesting happenings going on in the NFL right now.
So what are the three most interesting NFL storylines to watch for this week?
1. Trade Deadline
Percy Harvin has been shipped off in shocking fashion. The Indianapolis Colts may be actively looking for upgrades. Howie Roseman, the Philadelphia Eagles general manager said "In today's NFL, it seems you have more teams willing to find trades that are mutually beneficial to both teams....There's more guys coming into the league who think along those lines and are willing to consummate deals."
The NFL's trade deadline is 4 p.m. this Tuesday. Could we see a flurry of activity normally reserved for the MLB and NBA? We know the Buffalo Bills could use a running back and have at least one unhappy receiver on their team. Ndamukong Suh rumors, however unlikely, have been circulating.
Trades rarely happen in the NFL due to scheme and personnel fit but that mindset could be changing, according to Roseman. We'll see just how much it's changing over the next few days.
2. Jadeveon Clowney's Return
The No. 1 overall pick and uber prospect tore his meniscus during the first half of the Houston Texans' season opener against Washington. It was obviously disappointing for Clowney but it also took away some of the excitement from the NFL as a whole. Houston coaches and fans across the league have eagerly been waiting to watch Clowney in pro-action ever since he detonated an atom bomb in Michigan's backfield. Unfortunately, Clowney's injury put that storyline on hold.
But now Clowney is set to return this Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. While he may not be 100% healthy, his appearance adds a little extra something to the game.
"I'm the best I'm going to be this season, I feel like," Clowney said. "Take it and go ahead and play football."
3. Rookie Quarterbacks
The Tennessee Titans announced that they will hand the reins over to rookie Zach Mettenberger this weekend. The sixth-round draft choice will join Minnesota's Teddy Bridgewater, Jacksonville's Blake Bortles and Oakland's Derek Carr as the only rookie quarterback to start a game this season. If the other three passer's performances are any indication, Mettenberger is in for a difficult time.
The combined overall record for the three rookie QBs this season is just 2-11. Last time I checked, that wasn't very good. Between the trio, they've thrown a combined 14 touchdowns against 20 interceptions.
Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt, while positive, seems to understand that the move to a young quarterback will not be without its growing pains.
"(Mettenberger) has worked hard and he's prepared," Whisenhunt said. "We understand that he's a young player and that there are going to be mistakes, just like there have been with our (other) younger players that are playing. You have to put them in there and see what they can do. Hopefully he'll play well enough to help us to win."
