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Crime scene investigators usually have inside knowledge on persons of interest who aren't necessarily prime suspects, but may know what's up or even had a hand in the deed being scrutinized. It is the same in the NFL, where each team and each game has players who could hold an important key to the outcome, or maybe just their own future. These are not necessarily the known stars of the hour, but perhaps they once were or will be some day or just this one day.
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Investigators for The Sports Xchange, embedded with each NFL team, reported clues of just such persons of interest in each of this Sunday's games.
They are listed here with supporting evidence:
Arizona Cardinals (1-1) at Buffalo Bills (0-2)
THE SCENE: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at New Era Field. TV: FOX, Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
--Cardinals LB Sean Weatherspoon. In the starting lineup for the injured De'Vondre Campbell (ankle), Weatherspoon made his first NFL start since the 2013 season last week. This former first-round pick started seven games in 2013, including the one against Washington on Dec. 15, 2013. He suffered an Achilles injury and missed the 2014 season and signed with Arizona in 2015, but was a reserve after being slowed by a hamstring pull. He re-signed with the Falcons and made the team as a reserve weak-side linebacker and special teamer. Weatherspoon finished with nine tackles against the Raiders in the 35-28 victory.
--Bills WR Greg Salas. If the Bills' passing game is going to have any success in this game, or any other game, it has to get more production from the wideouts behind Sammy Watkins. Not that Watkins is blowing anyone's socks off right now, but he draws double teams almost every snap, so someone else has to take advantage. Salas got free for a 71-yard touchdown reception against the Jets, and he needs to play a bigger role in the offense. He's also a player who can go over the middle, which has been a noted weakness in the Bills' offense.
Oakland Raiders (1-1) at Tennessee Titans (1-1)
THE SCENE: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, at Nissan Stadium. TV: CBS, Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
--Raiders LG Kelechi Osemele. He is worth every penny of the guaranteed $25.4 million the Raiders paid him in the offseason as an unrestricted free agent. His aggressive run-blocking has been contagious so a previously poor rushing offense has been transformed into a good one.
--Titans G Josh Kline. How quickly Kline can acclimate to the Titans offense will be tested this week. After two weeks of being inactive, Kline is likely to be pressed into the starting lineup because of Chance Warmack's season-ending injury.
Washington Redskins (0-2) at New York Giants (2-0)
THE SCENE: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium. TV: FOX, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
--Redskins WR Jamison Crowder. Crowder might be the least well-known of Washington's receiving weapons (Jordan Reed, Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson). But he had 59 receptions as a rookie and has been targeted by quarterback Kirk Cousins 18 times in two games. Crowder has caught 12 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.
--Giants WR Sterling Shepard. While all eyes are going to be on Odell Beckham Jr., Sunday is a golden opportunity for the red-hot Shepard to continue his play-making ways. Shepard has caught 11 of 12 pass targets so far this season, and has emerged as a nice third-down threat for the Giants. Last week, six of Shepard's eight receptions helped move the chains; five of those came on third down.
Cleveland Browns (0-2) at Miami Dolphins (0-2)
THE SCENE: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium. TV: CBS, Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
--Browns RG Alvin Bailey. He is being forced into the starting lineup because normal right guard John Greco is shifting to center due to regular center Cameron Erving being out with a bruised lung. Bailey will be tasked with blocking Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Pressure will be on Bailey because pass protection has been an issue for the Browns the first two weeks.
--Dolphins RB Kenyan Drake. If Arian Foster (groin) doesn't play or is limited, the rookie third-round pick from Alabama could get the majority of the work in the backfield. Drake showed promise last week with two carries for 12 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown run, along with two receptions for six yards and one kickoff return for 15 yards. Drake, who only played one preseason game because of a hamstring injury, showed good burst on the touchdown run but lost his footing on the kickoff return. Still, he might have more potential than fellow backups Damien Williams, Isaiah Pead and Jay Ajayi.
Baltimore Ravens (2-0) at Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2)
THE SCENE: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at EverBank Field. TV: CBS, Tom McCarthy, Adam Archuleta, Chris Fischer.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
--Ravens TE Dennis Pitta. He is fully recovered from a pair of hip injuries that almost ended his career. Over the first two games, Pitta has caught 12 passes for 141 yards and is a favorite target of quarterback Joe Flacco. He will look to keep the momentum going against a stout Jaguars team that has the eighth-ranked pass defense in the NFL.
--Jaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue. The third-round draft pick from Maryland earned his first NFL start last week at the LEO spot on the defensive line. He responded with three tackles including his first sack/forced fumble when he knocked the ball away from San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers in the second quarter and the Jaguars recovered. Ngakoue continues to make great strides as a rookie and will likely be in the starting lineup again this week.
Detroit Lions (1-1) at Green Bay Packers (1-1)
THE SCENE: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at Lambeau Field. TV: FOX, Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Peter Schrager.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
--Lions RB Dwayne Washington. Ameer Abdullah's foot injury means a changing of the guard at running back for the Lions. Theo Riddick will start this week and get the bulk of the snaps, but Washington is in line for an expanded role as the No. 2. Riddick had a career-high 11 carries last week, but he's still best suited to play a receiving role out of the backfield. Washington has shown flashes of potential in his limited playing time so far. He is already in most of the Lions' goal-line sets, and if he gets hot, there is no reason the Lions won't get him more involved in the running game.
--Packers DT Kenny Clark. The Packers, who have their early bye week after playing the Lions, will get one more game out of their first-round draft pick this year before he turns 21 on Oct. 4. Head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers felt Clark grew up in a hurry last Sunday night, when he was pressed into extended service after veteran nose tackle Letroy Guion sustained a knee injury early in the 17-14 loss at the Minnesota Vikings. After playing only nine snaps on defense in the season-opening road win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the rookie was in for 38 plays and helped limit Adrian Peterson to 19 yards in 12 carries before the Vikings' star left with a knee injury. Clark had three tackles and also knocked down a pass from Sam Bradford.
Denver Broncos (2-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)
THE SCENE: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET at Paul Brown Stadium. TV: CBS, Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
--Broncos DE Derek Wolfe. He isn't a Pro Bowler -- yet. But Wolfe is emerging as one of the best interior pass rushers in the game, and he maintained his presence despite the loss of Malik Jackson, with whom he tag-teamed for most of his big plays in the previous two seasons. Wolfe has 9.5 sacks in his last 12 games, including 1.5 in last week's win over Indianapolis.
--Bengals WR Tyler Boyd. Boyd played well in his return home to Pittsburgh last week with six catches for 78 yards, including a 29-yard reception. But it was a controversial fumble by the University of Pittsburgh product that ended a late comeback bid for the Bengals in a 24-16 loss. Replays indicated that Boyd's knee was down when the ball came loose, but the officials did not overturn the ruling. Boyd is helping take some of the pressure off A.J. Green after Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu left via free agency in the offseason. Through the first two games of his career, Boyd has eight catches for 102 yards, but is still looking for his first touchdown.
Minnesota Vikings (2-0) at Carolina Panthers (1-1)
THE SCENE: Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium. TV: FOX, Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, Jennifer Hale.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
--Vikings RG Brandon Fusco. The Vikings have 65 yards rushing and a 2.3-yard average per carry in two games. So far, the hype surrounding the allegedly revamped offensive line has been just that: hype. Fusco isn't the only problem. But he was supposed to be a rock of consistency when he was moved back to right guard after a failed move to the left side a year ago. Fusco signed a big contract extension a couple years ago and has pretty much struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness ever since. He has been overpowered in the running game and in pass protection the first two games. Fusco tends to get out of shape as the season progresses, so he's going to have to step it up if the Vikings are to improve up front. But he's not the only one.
--Panthers CB James Bradberry. Nominated for rookie of the week after a solid performance against the 49ers, Bradberry could see significant snaps against Stefon Diggs, who was named the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week.
Los Angeles Rams (1-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1)
THE SCENE: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium. TV: FOX, Dick Stockton, Chris Spielman, Kristina Pink.
--Rams CB Troy Hill. A second-year undrafted free agent, Hill replaced Coty Sensabaugh early in the win over Seattle. While the Seahawks went right after the unproven cornerback, completing a 53-yard pass to Tyler Lockett in the closing minute, he held his own while playing 44 of 67 defensive snaps. Hill should see plenty of time against Tampa Bay and will be under the gun just as much as he was last week.
--Bucs P Bryan Anger. He is a huge upgrade for the Buccaneers this season. The free agent has been effective whether flipping field position or pinning teams inside their 20-yard line. Anger is averaging 48.1 yards per punt with five punts inside the 20 and only one touchback.
San Francisco 49ers (1-1) at Seattle Seahawks (1-1)
THE SCENE: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET at CenturyLink Field. TV: FOX, Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, Pam Oliver.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
--49ers LB Michael Wilhoite. With Ray-Ray Armstrong placed on injured reserve, head coach Chip Kelly indicated Wilhoite will be the reserve asked to step up and fill the coverage role of Armstrong, who was a converted safety. Armstrong won a battle for that role over Wilhoite during the preseason.
--Seahawks RB Christine Michael. He has been the lone runner capable of finding yards for Seattle through the first two weeks. However, his costly fumble in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams ended the Seahawks' comeback chance. With Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise battling injuries, Michael will need to take control of the position for the near future.
New York Jets (1-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-1)
THE SCENE: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET at Arrowhead Stadium. TV: CBS, Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Jamie Erdahl.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
--Jets WR Quincy Enunwa. His surprising emergence over the first two games -- 13 catches on 14 targets -- gives the Jets perhaps the top trio in the entire NFL. Enunwa has gained the trust of QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and could be in for an even bigger role Sunday with Brandon Marshall (knee) and Eric Decker (shoulder) banged up.
--Chiefs WR Jeremy Maclin. The Chiefs have elevated the talent level on their roster at wide receiver, but there's no question who is the team's best pass-catcher and that's Maclin. But the eight-year veteran has gotten off to a very slow start, with only 11 catches for 131 yards in two games. He was targeted by quarterback Alex Smith 22 times, including 15 times against Houston. Maclin was able to grab only six of those passes, while dropping two throws. Maclin was listed down for a single drop last season. However, he may have been out of sorts against the Texans with the game coming four days after the death of a long-time friend, Isaiah DeLeon-Mares. The 29-year-old passed away on Sept. 14. The day after the game, Maclin posted on Instagram: "For 18 yrs he was by my side thru everything. He seen me at my worst and my best. One of the most selfless ppl I've ever had the privilege of knowing. ... Rest easy Zay. I love you bro."
San Diego Chargers (1-1) at Indianapolis Colts (0-2)
THE SCENE: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET at Lucas Oil Stadium. TV: CBS, Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
--Chargers RB Kenneth Farrow. With Danny Woodhead lost for the season, Farrow's chance for more touches increases. The team signed running back Dexter McCluster, who is also a versatile back in the mode of Woodhead. But how quickly he can get up to speed is worth watching, which means keeping an eye on Farrow.
--Colts WR Chester Rogers. With WR Donte Moncrief sidelined 4-6 weeks with a broken shoulder blade, the undrafted Grambling receiver will see the field. He led all Colts receivers in total receptions during the preseason. Rogers (6-foot-1, 180) has good size and has shown the ability to be a playmaker downfield.
Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)
THE SCENE: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field. TV: CBS, Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
--Steelers WR Sammie Coates. The second-year receiver is developing into the offense's big-play threat. He only has four catches through the first two games, but he's averaging 38.2 yards per reception. He had catches of 56 and 44 yards to help set up two of three touchdowns the Steelers scored in last week's victory over the Bengals.
--Eagles RB Wendell Smallwood. The rookie fifth-rounder was sidelined for much of the preseason with a quad injury and then a concussion. But he is healthy now. He rushed for 16 yards on two carries last week, and probably will get more work this week against the Steelers.
Chicago Bears (0-2) at Dallas Cowboys (1-1)
THE SCENE: Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium. TV: NBC, Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya.
PERSONS OF INTEREST
--Bears DE Akiem Hicks. At 330 pounds, he's going to have to be the rock on the Bears' defensive front with many of the other stout run stoppers injured, like Danny Trevathan, Lamarr Houston (injured reserve) and Eddie Goldman. The offensive line is Dallas' greatest strength and Hicks has to stand alone and plug the gap.
--Cowboys WR Cole Beasley. Beasley has a team-leading 13 passes for 140 yards. It puts him on pace for a 104-catch, 1,120-yard season. His career bests are the 52 passes he caught last season for 536 yards and five touchdowns. He is the third receiver, but has become one of the team's most trusted targets, alongside Dez Bryant and tight end Jason Witten.
--Frank Cooney, founder and publisher of The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com, is in his sixth decade covering football and 26th year on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
