Trouble in the AFC North: Training Camp Struggles for Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow Open the Door for Cleveland

For years, the AFC North has been widely regarded as the most unforgiving, talent-dense division in the entire National Football League. Defined by fierce rivalries, grueling defensive battles, and elite quarterback play, winning the crown in this division has historically required near-perfection. Heading into the 2026 NFL season, conventional wisdom suggested that the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens would once again run the show, spearheaded by their franchise signal-callers, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson. However, as 2026 training camps unfold, surprising news and detailed insider reports are emerging from around the division—and they paint a radically different picture.

Rather than seamlessly cruising through summer workouts, both Burrow and Jackson are reportedly experiencing significant stumbles and operational challenges. From tactical scheme shifts that clash with historical strength metrics to unsettling turnover sprees and psychological burnout, the division’s top quarterbacks appear to be hitting a premature wall. Simultaneously, with the Pittsburgh Steelers leaning heavily on an aging 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers, a rare window of vulnerability is presenting itself across the division landscape. For the Cleveland Browns, who have steadily built a younger roster and a dominant defensive foundation, these rival setbacks represent a golden opportunity to alter the balance of power in the AFC North sooner than anyone anticipated.

The Cincinnati Conundrum: Joe Burrow’s Under-Center Struggles and Mental Weariness

In Cincinnati, head coach Zac Taylor and the Bengals offensive staff have reportedly made a concerted effort during 2026 training camp to transition toward a heavy under-center offensive approach. While under-center formations can bolster a team’s traditional running game and play-action passing capabilities, advanced football analytics suggest this structural shift plays directly against Joe Burrow’s natural strengths. Throughout his career—stretching back to his legendary national championship run at LSU—Burrow has excelled primarily in shotgun spread formations, where he can scan defenses quickly, locate soft spots in coverage, and deliver the ball with pinpoint timing.

Advanced metric charts tracking Expected Points Added (EPA) per play paint a stark contrast for the Bengals quarterback. When operated out of the shotgun, Burrow consistently generates positive EPA, placing him among the league’s most efficient and dangerous passing threats. However, when placed directly under center, Burrow’s EPA drops sharply into negative territory, placing his statistical impact near the bottom tier of starting NFL quarterbacks. Forcing a high-caliber passer into a system where he historically struggles creates a major bottleneck for Cincinnati’s offensive fluidity.

Beyond the statistical layout on the field, concerning signals regarding Burrow’s off-field mindset and mental fatigue have surfaced during media sessions. In a remarkably candid press conference during camp, Burrow sounded noticeably somber, reflecting on the emotional and physical toll that consecutive injury-plagued seasons have inflicted on his perspective. “If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing this,” Burrow stated to reporters. “I’ve been through a lot. If it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for? Just a lot of things going on right now—all the above, personal and football-related.”

Compounding these candid statements are observations from training camp practices, where onlookers noted Burrow spending downtime chatting with family and friends along the sidelines rather than maintaining his typical hyper-focused demeanor. Coupled with a extensive personal history of major injuries—ranging from ACL tears to wrist surgeries—questions are growing over whether Burrow’s ceiling is beginning to decline under the strain of continuous physical rehabilitation and structural scheme friction.

Chaos in Baltimore: Lamar Jackson’s Interception Spree and Falling League Stature

While Cincinnati grapples with scheme compatibility and quarterback burnout, the situation in Baltimore is proving equally turbulent for the reigning division champions. Two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson has endured a nightmare start to 2026 training camp, characterized by an uncharacteristic rash of turnover errors during team scrimmages. Beat reporters covering Ravens practice sessions have documented multiple multi-interception performances from Jackson, including a high-profile blunder where he threw a pass directly into the hands of star linebacker Roquan Smith, who proceeded to lateral the ball on a celebratory return.

While defensive coaches often celebrate secondary play in practice, a continuous sequence of interceptions from a veteran franchise leader raises legitimate concerns regarding decision-making and field vision. Furthermore, these practice struggles coincide with a noticeable drop in how Jackson is perceived by his peers and league executives across the broader NFL landscape.

When the NFL announced its annual Top 100 Players list—voted on directly by current NFL players—Jackson experienced a staggering fall from grace, sliding all the way down to the #69 overall position. In previous seasons, Jackson routinely commanded a top-ten or top-twenty ranking. In the 2026 voting results, a long list of quarterbacks were ranked ahead of Jackson by his direct peers, including young signal-callers like Trevor Lawrence, Bo Nix, Caleb Williams, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, Jared Goff, Dak Prescott, and Joe Burrow.

This downward evaluation is mirrored by front-office personnel across the league. In recent consensus surveys conducted among NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, Jackson was downgraded from the elite “Tier 1” quarterback category into “Tier 2.” Insiders point directly to Jackson’s persistent postseason shortcomings, where his high-octane regular season production has repeatedly stalled in elimination games. When secondary injuries strike—such as top secondary pick Nate Wiggins being carted off the field during recent Baltimore practices—the pressure on Jackson to carry the offense becomes immense, exposing the cracks in Baltimore’s operational armor.

Pittsburgh’s Fragile Bet on an Aging Aaron Rodgers

Across the state line in Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Steelers enter the 2026 campaign relying on veteran future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Rodgers to stabilize their offense. While Rodgers possesses unmatched pre-snap intellect and decades of high-level experience, the realities of his age can no longer be ignored. At 40 years old, coming off major lower-body injuries in recent seasons, Rodgers represents a pocket passer with severely limited mobility.

In modern NFL defensive environments, where edge rushers arrive with explosive speed, a quarterback’s ability to extend plays outside the pocket is paramount. Ranking in the mid-twenties among active starting quarterbacks in overall athletic capability, Rodgers provides Pittsburgh with a stable manager but lacks the game-breaking physical dynamism that once defined his MVP campaigns. Furthermore, the Steelers possess minimal proven depth behind Rodgers, leaving their entire offensive blueprint vulnerable to a single physical setback across a demanding 17-game schedule.

The Window Opens: Why the Cleveland Browns are Prepared to Pounce

When evaluating the AFC North landscape holistically, a clear pattern emerges: the division’s traditional powerhouses are dealing with aging assets, declining quarterback efficiency, and scheme instability. This convergence of rival vulnerabilities presents the Cleveland Browns with a distinct window of opportunity.

Granted, Cleveland’s quarterback room—featuring veteran Deshaun Watson and rookie Shedeur Sanders—is not without its own share of training camp storylines and learning curves. Watson himself has endured high-turnover practice sessions as he adjusts to defensive looks. However, unlike their divisional rivals, the Browns are constructed to win through a balanced, multi-dimensional team concept rather than relying exclusively on extraordinary quarterback play.

Cleveland boasts one of the most athletic, aggressive defensive units in football, anchored by game-disrupting pass rushers and a lockdown secondary capable of pressuring opposing passers into mistakes. As rival quarterbacks like Burrow and Jackson struggle with rhythm and accuracy, Cleveland’s defense is uniquely equipped to capitalize on those exact mistakes. Furthermore, the Browns hold a significant age and roster longevity advantage over teams relying on aging veterans like Rodgers.

The calendar further favors a fast start for Cleveland. The Browns get their first crack at divisional competition early in the schedule with a high-stakes Week 4 prime-time matchup against Pittsburgh on Thursday Night Football, followed closely by a crucial Week 6 home battle against Baltimore. Early-season divisional contests offer Cleveland a immediate platform to establish dominance while rival offenses are still attempting to iron out training camp deficiencies.

In professional sports, championship windows rarely stay open for long, and the balance of power often shifts during unexpected moments of rival transition. With Joe Burrow struggling to adapt to a new scheme in Cincinnati and Lamar Jackson battling confidence and efficiency issues in Baltimore, the elite status of the AFC North’s top quarterbacks is visibly cracking. If the Cleveland Browns execute their game plan and leverage their physical defense, 2026 could mark the year the division crown officially changes hands.