As many as it takes. Obviously, this coaching staff believes that these players have the ability, and seem to understand that their talent is still there. It seems like fans/media think that they can tell how good a player can/will be all based on what they see from past performances. I tend to side with the people in the meeting rooms, on the practice field, who see these guys everyday.
I have been fortunate to watch every open practice at training camp since BOTH players have been here. And for those of you who base your decisions solely on what you see (or don't see) on the stat sheet, don't have any idea how talented these two players are. Or don't seem to have any idea what the coaching staff obviously feels about their talent.
Isaiah Pead, even while facing an opening game suspension, took every single one of his training camp reps with the 1st unit, alternating with Daryl Richardson. Brian Quick has shown more so than any other WR on the roster, to have the PHYSICAL ability that the other guys on this roster can only dream about. He got plenty of 1st and 2nd unit reps all throughout training camp. But it was also very obvious, that Fisher gives his most experienced players first crack at 1st unit reps.
Givens and Pettis were taking all of their reps with the 1st unit from the outset of camp. And it stayed that way right up to he start of the season.
I would fully expect that to change this year, and will be shocked if Quick and Britt aren't sharing 1st unit reps from the beginning of camp.
The bottom line here, for me, is these guys have the talent, and the only thing that is lacking is the experience and development of that talent to be CONSISTENT performers. When does that happen? Who knows, but it sure seems the coaching staff, and organization are more than willing to find out.