Biggest stories from training camp so far

The NFL preseason kicks off Thursday after six months of buzz for the new campaign was capped off by a wild first few weeks of training camp.

Here are the most noteworthy stories from training camp so far.

Melvin Gordon holdout

News has emerged of numerous holdouts across the league, but Gordon's aggressiveness could have a lasting impact on other players in his position group regardless of the result. The Los Angeles Chargers running back issued his demands last month and laid out potential consequences if a deal is not reached. It was reported the two sides are $2-to-3 million apart in expected average salary, and with the Chargers apparently firm on their offer, the two-time Pro Bowler has requested a trade.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers added some fuel to the fire when he said the team was fine without Gordon, as running back is a "deep position" for it. Gordon reacted as one would expect:

After Le'Veon Bell signed a deal with the New York Jets that was cheaper than many expected - especially when he held out all of last season - Gordon's situation can either provide some hope for other running backs with expiring contracts or send a gloomy message to the rest of the position group. Either way, he's not alone in his quest to secure a long-term deal.

Cowboy contracts

Ezekiel Elliott went from a possible suspension to holding out for a long-term extension. Now, it's being reported the running back will continue to remain away from the team when the regular season begins if a new deal is not yet reached. Owner Jerry Jones essentially echoed the belief held by the Chargers when he said teams don't need a "rushing champion to win a Super Bowl." The Cowboys have also invested in some added insurance, as they signed veteran Alfred Morris.

Zeke, however, is only one of a handful of Cowboys players who are looking for some long-term security. Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, Byron Jones, Jaylon Smith, and La'el Collins are all up for new contracts. Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said the team wouldn't be market-setters, though Elliott is reportedly seeking more money than Todd Gurley received. And while it's unlikely Dallas is able to extend that entire group, the elder Jones said he's confident the team will reach agreements with the offensive trio, with each player reportedly being offered deals that would make them one of the five highest-paid players at their respective positions.

Fitz vs. Rosen

The Miami Dolphins are one of the few teams truly holding a quarterback battle. They were lauded for the acquisition of Josh Rosen from the Arizona Cardinals for a second-round pick, only one year after the signal-caller was selected 10th overall. Before that trade, though, many believed the Dolphins, who are undergoing a rebuild, would wait until the 2020 draft to acquire their franchise starter. But Rosen's price tag was obviously too cheap to ignore.

Dolphins head coach Brian Flores said the 22-year-old has made some real improvements since joining the team.

"Better footwork, mechanics in the pocket, decision-making," he said. "A lot of times, people, all they see is the touchdown pass; they don't see the checkdown that's a positive play for the team. I think he's improved in those areas and I think those are the little things that go a long way at that position."

While Rosen's growth continues to move the dial, the Dolphins are planning for veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick to start their Thursday preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, though Flores said that can still change. Rosen should be the eventual start for Miami, even if Fitzpatrick gets the nod in Week 1.

Giants' receiving corps

The New York Giants lost three receivers to injury in October 2017, which forced them to dig deep into their roster to replace the starters. Roger Lewis and Tavarres King were the only two receivers to have receptions in Week 6 against the Denver Broncos. It appears the Giants are experiencing some deja vu during this year's training camp, as the receiving corps has once again caught the injury bug.

Sterling Shepard was the first domino to fall when he fractured his thumb. Darius Slayton is dealing with an ailing hamstring and Corey Coleman is out for the year with a torn ACL. All of this came before Golden Tate was handed a four-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance policy.

The Giants are now down to Cody Latimer, Russell Shepard, Bennie Fowler, Alonzo Russell, and rookie Reggie White, and to add insult to injury, former Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is one giant human highlight reel at Cleveland Browns training camp. But perhaps the offense was already doomed by the Giants' refusal to move on from Eli Manning.

Thomas, Jones, Cooper

Michael Thomas became the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history with his five-year, $100-million deal. Now, all eyes turn to the Cowboys' Cooper and Falcons' Julio Jones. Cooper has failed to reach the statistical heights of Thomas and Jones but - as previously mentioned - is still expected to be paid like a top-five receiver.

Jones' extension could come any day and will likely push Thomas' yearly salary to second place. However, the Falcons have already worked out deals with Grady Jarrett and Deion Jones. It's rather puzzling why Julio wouldn't have been the No. 1 priority for Atlanta, as you'd expect the team would want to secure its best player, especially after Falcons owner Arthur Blank gave his word to the wideout that an agreement would be reached.

While the running back market seems to have dried up, we could see numerous deals for wide receivers top the previous record-setter during the next few weeks.