This article is an update on the status of each offensive line across the NFL since Training Camp began. For our comprehensive look at each of the 32 teams offensive lines this season, click here.

Let's get right to it

Arizona Cardinals
Grade: C-

The Cardinals need to stay healthy this season along the offensive line to improve upon the dreadful 2005 performance that was amongst the worst in the modern-day history of the NFL. Unfortunately the injury bug has already hit with 31-year old right tackle, Oliver Ross injuring his right knee during training camp. The good news for the Cardinals is that the time-frame for his recovery has gone from 8-10 weeks down to 3-5 weeks which may allow him to return before the start of the season. It appears that veteran Fred Wakefield will take his starting spot until Ross is healthy again although Jeremy Bridges is also pushing for playing time.

Atlanta Falcons
Grade: B

When it comes to offensive lines, no news is quite often good news. Since all has been quiet for the Falcons starting unit, this has been a great training camp for this experienced group of linemen who play within a great scheme.

Baltimore Ravens
Grade: B

Veteran backup offensive guard Brian Rimpf has suffered what appears to be a season-ending hamstring injury, most likely a tear. That leaves rookie Chris Chester from Oklahoma as perhaps the top guard coming off of the bench. The only other real news so far during camp is that Edwin Mulitalo has looked improved this year after a poor effort a year ago and the rumors in regards to Jonathon Ogden retiring after missing the start of training camp appear to be false. If Ogden does indeed retire, obvious, the Ravens offensive line grade will plummet.

Buffalo Bills
Grade: C-

The Buffalo Bills offense has really been struggling throughout training camp and some of those problems have occurred along the offensive line. Not much as really changed since I wrote the blurb on them a few weeks ago. The Bills offensive line will be amongst the worst in football this season. Amongst the players to watch is Duke Preston, a 4th round pick in 2005 who is pushing for playing time this year, rookie Terrence Pennington who is raw but has a ton of natural ability and huge mountain of a man Aaron Gibson who is attempting an NFL comeback after eating himself out of the league.

Carolina Panthers
Grade: C+

One of the keys to a solid year from the Panthers offensive front is at center where Justin Hartwig was brought in from the Tennessee Titans. He has finally hit the practice field after being sidelined with surgery for a hernia. He needs to round into playing shape and get comfortable within the Panthers scheme in order for this offense to click. Everything else along the starting five appears to be going well at this point of the preseason.

Chicago Bears
Grade: B+

Starting guard Terrence Metcalf underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on August 4th and it is still unclear how much (if any) playing time he'll miss. He should be ready by the start of the season if everything goes well. If Metcalf cannot go, solid veteran Roberto Garza is more than capable of filling in and the Bears won't miss a beat.

Cincinnati Bengals
Grade: A

Nothing to noteworthy is happening in Cincinnati right now along the offensive line. Bobbie Williams has a slight knee injury that will keep him out of the first preseason game. That is actually good news for the Bengals as huge, inexperienced lineman, Stacy Andrews will get some valuable playing time at the guard position. Andrews has typically practiced at tackle since entering the NFL but he has the ability to slot both inside and outside and at 340-pounds, he has the size to move defenders off the ball. During preseason action, both Andrews and rookie Andrew Whitworth have been very impressive against opposition 1st-team defense. Both players won't see much action there during the regular season barring injuries but they have proven they can step in if needed. The only other news is that left guard Eric Steinbach was charged with DUI but that shouldn't impact him on the field.

Cleveland Browns
Grade: C-

First new starting center LeCharles Bentley went down with a season-ending injury and then his replacement, Bob Hallen, who had been fighting a sore back decided to retire. The result is this unit is reeling and trying to find themselves. It appeared it would be 4th year player Alonzo Ephraim that would try to anchor this unit despite his inexperience at the NFL level. However he failed a drug test and will likely be suspended for the first four games. The Browns also traded with the Patriots for center Ross Tucker, a five-year veteran who has played with four teams. He is know being asked to step in and fill the starting center spot in the middle of the line. To add to this unit's woes, starting tackle Ryan Tucker has undergone surgery on his left knee but is hopeful to be back by the start of the season. 3rd-year lineman Kirk Chambers is starting in his place. The former 6th round pick has some talent but has yet to start a game in the NFL. Add it all up, and this may be a frustrating season for the Browns and their offensive playmakers.

Dallas Cowboys
Grade: C+

News out of Cowboys camp is positive to this point. Starting tackle Flozell Adams appears to be healthy and has been practicing with the club. Rob Petitti who started all sixteen games as a rookie last year and struggled terribly throughout the season has a new confidence about him this year and has improved his attitude and strength. He is pushing veterans Jason Fabini and Marc Colombo for playing time. New starting guard Kyle Kosier is doing his best to fit in but some around the Cowboys camp are worried that he isn't nearly in the same class as departed star lineman Larry Allen.

Denver Broncos
Grade: A

The Broncos signed veteran lineman Adam Meadows who has been out of the NFL since the 2003 season. The former starting tackle for the Indianapolis Colts is 32-years old and has 96 career starts under his belt. If Meadows can prove he still has the skills he showcased for seven seasons with the Colts, he may push George Foster for the starting job.

Detroit Lions
Grade: C

Ross Verba who was signed on May 31st, has been elevated to the starting left guard position, something I mentioned as a legitimate possibility in the Lions write-up in the offensive line article. Verba has the most talent of the possible guards and he appears to be fit, focused and ready to do a good job for the team. Right guard Damien Woody re-injured his wrist August 6th and will miss at least a couple of preseason games. Veteran lineman Barry Stokes will be filling in during his absence. Rex Tucker is hurt and listed as week-to-week right now which should result in Kelly Butler starting at tackle.

Green Bay Packers
Grade: F

Veteran lineman Adrian Klemm will officially miss all of the 2006 season due to his injured Achilles. With veteran Kevin Barry also out for the year, the depth is almost nonexistent along the Packers offensive line this year. Backup lineman Will Whitticker who may have been forced into starting some games due to injuries has injured his hamstring and it appears to be quite serious. Losing Whitticker as well will be a crushing blow to this unit as starters Chad Clifton and rookie Jason Spitz are also nursing minor injuries. The offensive line has been terrible during preseason and the coaching staff is shuffling the unit trying to find something that works. For now, rookie guard Daryn Colledge has been demoted with Tony Moll shuffling over from the tackle position to give the guard position a try. This group has the makings of an undeniable train wreck this season and Brett Favre's iron man image will be put to the test in 2006.

Houston Texans
Grade: C (closing in on a C+ grade)

For once, it has been quite quiet during the Texans training camp when it comes to the offensive line. Center Mike Flanagan has had a stabilizing impact and Seth Wand appears ready to erase his past poor play with a strong start to this season. There is a real chance the Texans offensive line elevates to the upper half of the NFL in 2006.

Indianapolis Colts
Grade: C+

The only real news so far during camp is the battle for the starting left guard spot. It appears right now that 2005 fourth-round pick Dylan Gandy is leading the way at this point of the preseason. Drafted as a center and with only two starts as a rookie last year, Gandy is ahead of 3rd-year lineman Ryan Lilja who really struggled at times a year ago. If Gandy continues to do well throughout the preseason, he will get the nod as the starting left guard.

Jacksonville Jaguars
Grade: B

Guard Dan Connolly was making a real push for playing time this season but he fractured his finger and could be placed on injured reserve as a result. Mike Williams continues to battle nagging back injuries that could impact his future with the Jaguars. He has the potential to at least slot in as the backup guard if he can get healthy but that is up in the air right now. The Jaguars released tackle Carlos Joseph and signed free agent guard Shannon Snell.

Kansas City Chiefs
Grade: B (slipping towards a C+ rating)

Former Rams and Saints offensive tackle Kyle Turley has been thrust into the limelight with the retirement of Willie Roaf. By all accounts he had a good training camp after missing two full seasons and attempting a comeback as a tight end earlier this year but quite frankly he has looked terrible during games. He is small and resembles a large tight end more than a staring left tackle and he has been getting thrown around by the opposing defenses. The tackle position is in shambles and the Chiefs will notice the difference on offense. Kevin Sampson appears ready to slide over to the right tackle position but he has started just one game at the NFL level. This unit is definitely sliding down the rankings in a hurry right now.

Miami Dolphins
Grade: B (overall rank may slip a few notches unless Anderson can prove 2005 was an aberration)

The free agent signing of veteran Bennie Anderson is looking very smart at this point after starting right guard Seth McKinney broke a bone in his neck and will miss at least three months. Expect Bennie Anderson to slide into the starting guard role and while he struggled with the Bills last season, he is talented enough to get the job done and has started 70 games in the NFL and was once considered a very good player while with the Ravens. Wade Smith has been a tackle since entering the NFL but has been working out with the 2nd team unit at the center position. The Dolphins really like rookie Joe Toledo, a former tight end from the Washington Huskies who has incredible athleticism for a big man. Both he and the club got a scare when he went down with a knee injury but it wasn't as bad as originally thought and he'll be out for only awhile.

Minnesota Vikings
Grade: B

Bryant McKinnie suffered what was thought was a bruise on his hand but it is actually a broken bone and he is practicing with a heavy cast-like wrap on the hand. He should be fine by the start of the season. The offensive line has looked very good during training camp and should open big holes for the running game this season.

New England Patriots
Grade: B

Tackle Matt Light missed most of the 2005 season due to injury but looks 100% recovered and ready to go this year. He has looked strong, athletic and ready to stabilize the starting unit once again. The Patriots averaged over 5 yards per carry in their first preseason game and there were big holes for the running backs to run through.

New Orleans Saints
Grade: C (at this time, the grade is at best a C- with all the injury concerns)

Jon Stinchcomb was expected to start at right tackle this season but he continues to sit out with a sore right knee that still isn't 100% after he tore it up last year. It appears that Jamar Nesbit who has played both guard and center for the Saints will step into the right tackle position, a spot he is quite unfamiliar with. The Saints have signed lineman Darnell Alford who has been in the league for years but never started a game and talked to veteran Todd Wade about coming to New Orleans. To add to the offensive line woes, both starting guards, Montrae Holland and Jermane Mayberry are fighting injury and are not 100%. Even the top player of this unit, 2nd year player Jammal Brown is struggling with his transition to the left side of the line. He has been burned a number of times during the preseason. This offensive line is sliding even further down the OL rankings.

New York Giants
Grade: B+

Starting guard Chris Snee has a cyst on his knee that has caused him to miss the last week of practice but he was able to suit up for the game this week and appears to be OK. Of more concern is the injury to starting center Shaun O'Hara who hurt his knee against the Chiefs. It doesn't appear too bad at this point but there is talk he may miss the start of the season. In addition to the O'Hara situation, veteran tackle Luke Petitgout is fighting back spasms which caused him to exit the Giants-Chiefs preseason game early. Healthy this unit is one of the best in the NFL but injury woes are beginning to cause some worry for the Giants.

New York Jets
Grade: C (sliding upwards towards a C+)

The two rookies along the starting unit (D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold) have been getting valuable playing time throughout training camp and into the first preseason game. Ferguson is already a tremendous asset when it comes to pass blocking as he is almost impossible to get around with his long wingspan. Both held their own in the first preseason game and as they gain experience, this unit will get better and better.

Oakland Raiders
Grade: C+

The Raiders offensive line really struggled in the first two preseason games but with Art Shell at the helm, that is likely to improve over the next few weeks. Rookie Paul McQuistan got his first taste of the NFL in that game and has a lot of work to do in his game. However the coaching staff is still very high on this young lineman. Langston Walker has looked like a huge liability on the right side of the line with quicker defensive linemen having their way with him. He may be replaced if he doesn't start controlling the line of scrimmage better. With Art Shell and OL Coach Jackie Slater watching over this group, you can expect some growth throughout the rest of preseason but at this point they appear to be amongst the worst in the NFL.

Philadelphia Eagles
Grade: B

Not much in the way of major news coming out of Philadelphia, Jamaal Jackson is still leading the competition to start at center this year over veteran Hank Fraley who has been also backing up the guards during training camp and got some game action there. There have even been rumblings that Fraley will be traded to the Cleveland Browns but nothing has come to pass as of yet. The offensive line looked very good in the first quarter against the Raiders, opening up big holes and the starting five appears to be locked in. A number of the depth linemen suffered injuries over the past week which resulted in a few minor signings but none of that should really impact the Eagles this year.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Grade: A

No real news to pass on when it comes to the starting unit in Pittsburgh and that should be considered good news considering how strong the starting five is for the Steelers. Backup center Chukky Okobi has a herniated disk in his neck and will miss at least 4-8 weeks. That opens the door for rookie Marvin Philip to move up to the backup spot. The Steelers have been giving starting guard Kendall Simmons some work at center in case of emergency. Backup lineman Barrett Brooks was arrested after he fled from the police. He apologized for his actions and said it was due to a miscommunication.

San Diego Chargers
Grade: C

With Roman Oben still not ready to play with a troublesome foot injury and Leander Jordan having a slight groin injury, rookie Marcus McNeill found himself working with the starting unit and hasn't looked out of place. McNeill is a very talented player who is plagued with a degenerative back problem that could limit his effectiveness as a pro. Still he has a shot to see some playing time this season if Oben cannot play. Scott Mruczkowski is expected to be the backup center but he was hurt and carted off the practice field. Haven't heard too much about his injury yet but perhaps telling is the Chargers going out and signing veteran Cory Withrow to a 1-year deal.

Seattle Seahawks
Grade: B

Pork Chop Womack is the expected starter at left guard but is struggling with a sore hamstring that has caused him to miss a few practices. He won't be as effective if fighting an injury. Also veteran starting center Robbie Tobeck had surgery on his elbow and is out 7-10 days. That means center of the future, Chris Spencer is back at center after filling in for Womack over the past week. Tom Ashworth who was picked up as a free agent this year has been struggling to get a sniff of the starting lineup and appears to be nothing more than a backup for the club.

San Francisco 49ers
Grade: C+

Veteran center Jeremy Newberry's knee problems are not getting better and he is strongly considering retirement at this point of his career (now in his 8th season with San Francisco). He underwent knee surgery and is out for the year. As mentioned in the OL article, Eric Heitmann is expected to start for the club but look for David Baas to push him hard for playing time as he has been getting some reps at the center position. Adam Snyder continued his roll with a very good training camp and he is pushing incumbent starter Kwame Harris for the right tackle position. Another good battle is between Justin Smiley and David Baas at the guard spot. At this point Smiley has a slight lead but it is still a competition for playing time.

St. Louis Rams
Grade: C+

Starting right tackle Alex Barron came into training camp in optimum shape, weighing in at just over 300 pounds after playing at 320 pounds last season. His chest is noticeably bigger while his waist has shrunk. He started 11 games as a rookie and he should be much improved this season. Richie Incognito has a lot to learn but he has shown good tenacity on the field and still appears destined for a starting guard spot. He has had some huge blocks during the preseason while Claude Terrell is frustrating his coaches with a slow return from a wrist injury. Stud tackle Orlando Pace scared the Rams entire organization to death when he was carted off the practice field. However it is only a slight injury and he'll be ready to go by the start of the season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Grade: B

In the Buccaneers' first preseason game, two rookies found their way to the starting lineup... Big tackle Jeremy Trueblood got to start at right tackle due to an injury to incumbent starter Kenyatta Walker while talented Davin Joseph got the nod at right guard after Jeb Terry got most of the work with the 1st string unit leading up to the game. Both rookies played pretty well in their first action which will make choosing the starting lineup even more difficult this season. The right tackle spot will likely be manned by veteran Kenyatta Walker if he gets healthy but one slip and Trueblood may find his way onto the field and into a spot he has the talent to hold for a decade. Joseph is the most talented lineman the Buccaneers have and it shouldn't be a surprise if he emerges as an opening day starter ahead of Terry and Sean Mahan.

Tennessee Titans
Grade: C-

What appeared to be the strength of this unit was the interior trio of veteran linemen but all three are fighting injuries right now. Both center Kevin Mawae and guard Benji Olson are fighting back spasms while Zach Piller is batting a rib injury. With two young, inexperienced players at the tackle spots, the Titans must have the three veterans in the middle healthy and productive or this will be a very long season in Tennessee.

Washington Redskins
Grade: B+

Starting guard Randy Thomas is all the way back from injury and has been very impressive during training camp. He is in great shape and his return catapults the Redskins starting unit into the top-tier of offensive lines. However behind the starting five, the depth is almost nonexistent Jim Molinaro hurt his knee and is out for at least the next few weeks. Rookie lineman Kili Lefotu was found unconscious in his room after failing to report to a meeting. He had his memory intact and was able to return to the practice field this past week. It is imperative that this starting five avoids the injury bug in 2006.