Week Three preseason takeaways: O Canada, land of the shortened discipline
It is Week Three of the NFL preseason, after we’re alleged to get essentially the most severe take a look at groups earlier than the common season begins. Until, in fact, you are taking part in on an 80-yard discipline in Winnipeg — just like the Oakland Raiders and Inexperienced Bay Packers did Thursday — and also you sit nearly all of your starters. Elsewhere, Daniel Jones continues to impress for the New York Giants, Tom Brady confirmed off his “velocity” for the New England Patriots and Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers was sidelined after an harm to his left ankle.
We now have all of that and extra within the largest takeaways and fantasy soccer nuggets of the preseason’s third week from NFL Nation:
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NYG-CIN | WSH-ATL | CAR-NE | BAL-PHI | GB-OAK | JAX-MIA
Zero:35
Daniel Jones connects with Brittan Golden and Darius Slayton to arrange the Giants’ landing, then hits Golden once more earlier than the half.
Daniel Jones retains checking packing containers. The rookie confirmed bodily toughness and moxie in his first highway preseason recreation. He misplaced a fumble on a sack, however adopted it up by making some robust throws on a landing drive. The rookie took over the offense after one Eli Manning sequence. Manning went Four-of-Eight passing for 41 yards, which resulted in a discipline purpose. Jones one-upped him. He was 9-of-11 passing for 141 yards. He is accomplished a formidable 25 of 30 passes for 369 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions by means of three preseason video games. — Dianna Russini
It was a robust evening for a couple of notable members of the Bengals’ current draft class. Ryan Finley (fourth spherical) had good preseason efficiency. He accomplished 14 of 20 passes for 155 yards. Rodney Anderson (sixth spherical) starred in his Bengals debut. He caught all 4 of his targets for 51 yards. And Michael Jordan (fourth spherical) began at left guard and seems to be the frontrunner to carry that spot when the common season begins. Although first-round decide Jonah Williams will seemingly be out for the yr with a shoulder harm, Thursday confirmed causes to be optimistic about this yr’s draft class. — Ben Child
The Redskins’ offense acquired a lift from how properly second-year again Derrius Guice ran the ball and the protection appeared robust once more. However the first three preseason video games haven’t engendered a number of confidence within the quarterback place. The Redskins simply do not feel rookie Dwayne Haskins is shut; he appears sharp on some throws — and the long-range potential is apparent — however they need him to grasp extra of the offense and the nuances of the place. That is high quality. However the issue is, Case Keenum hasn’t appeared sharp and makes his personal errors. At occasions he strikes the offense, however he generally forces performs that result in errors. If Colt McCoy returns to full well being, he’d seemingly get the job. However no one is aware of when that can occur. Keenum must show he is a worthy starter. — John Keim
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The Falcons seem to have a kicking drawback. Giorgio Tavecchio, who the staff turned the kicking duties over to after saying goodbye to dependable Matt Bryant, missed a 39-yarder on his first try towards the Redskins Thursday evening. It may not have been such a priority had Tavecchio not missed two from 52 yards towards the New York Jets final week, one in every of which was blocked and the opposite which sailed huge left. Tavecchio, who additionally missed a 54-yarder quick within the Corridor Fame Recreation towards Denver, took possession for the misses towards the Jets and vowed to appropriate the issue. It is truthful to surprise if it is price bringing the 44-year-old Bryant again for one final run after he made 20 of 21 discipline objectives final season, together with a season-long, 57-yarder. Tavecchio is because of make $645,000 this season. Bryant made $Three.5 million whole final season with a base wage of $1.1 million. Of us across the league count on Bryant to be on some staff’s roster after Week 1, because the veteran’s wage in Week 1 could be totally assured. Possibly the Falcons will revisit the chance after the season-opener at Minnesota, if not addressed now. — Vaughn McClure
This begins and ends with Cam Newton’s left foot. Sure, so much went unsuitable for the Panthers in Thursday’s loss to New England. The road gave up three first-half sacks, generated solely two first downs and 29 yards within the first half and 63 yards after three quarters. Rookie deal with Greg Little left within the fourth quarter to be evaluated for a concussion. Some issues went proper, too, specifically first-round decide Brian Burns selecting up his third and fourth sacks of the exhibition season. However Newton leaving after a sack on the finish of the primary quarter of his preseason debut with a foot harm is the headline. Backup quarterbacks Kyle Allen and Will Grier are extraordinarily inexperienced. The success of the Panthers relies on Newton, solely now add a foot harm to the priority over whether or not his surgically-repaired proper shoulder will maintain up. The harm did not seem severe, however the 2015 NFL MVP did not return to the sector after leaving beneath his personal energy. He has a historical past along with his left foot, too, present process surgical procedure on that ankle in 2014. Is Newton changing into fragile at 30? Are the 1,221 hits he is taken since 2011, greater than any quarterback throughout that span, beginning to take their toll? Or will this develop into nothing? Coach Ron Rivera mentioned earlier within the week he’d be holding his breath if Newton acquired hit. He must be holding his breath hoping that Newton is all proper.– David Newton
Zero:40
Tom Brady methodically works the Patriots down the sector to the tip zone as they take a 7-Zero lead over the Panthers.
Tom Brady made his preseason debut, and whereas he completed Eight-of-12 for 75 yards in three sequence of labor, the spotlight really got here along with his legs. Brady joked this offseason about his gradual velocity score within the Madden online game, and the way he was quicker than he is been prior to now, then he confirmed it (type of) by lumbering to transform a third-and-Three with a Three-yard rush to maneuver the sticks. That was an enormous play to increase what changed into a 15-play landing march, culminating in fullback James Develin’s 1-yard TD dive. Brady wasn’t throwing to his full arsenal of receivers, as Julian Edelman, Demaryius Thomas and Josh Gordon (non-football harm record) did not play, however he was environment friendly, as typical, main the assault. The following time Brady takes the sector will seemingly be the regular-season opener Sept. Eight towards the visiting Steelers. — Mike Reiss
Thursday evening made it clear — the Ravens will depend on rookie receivers this season. First-round decide Marquise “Hollywood” Brown caught three passes for 17 yards, however this efficiency went past the numbers. Brown, who was making his debut after being introduced again slowly from offseason foot surgical procedure, confirmed the flexibility to get constantly open and nice quickness in getting out and in of cuts. Miles Boykin, a third-round choice, continued a robust summer time with a 44-yard catch. He used his measurement to interrupt a deal with and his velocity to burst up the sideline for further yards. Beginning quarterback Lamar Jackson was held out the third preseason recreation, however he acquired an up-close take a look at his playmaking targets. The Ravens’ high three huge receivers on the roster are Boykin, Brown and Willie Snead. — Jamison Hensley
Every little thing you want this week:
• Full schedule: All 16 video games »
• Takeaways from Week Three »
• Transaction tracker: Prime information »
• How one can shorten the preseason »
Extra NFL protection »
5 days out of retirement, 40-year-old quarterback Josh McCown acquired the majority of the snaps towards Baltimore in a weather-shortened recreation and lit it up. He ended 17-of-24 for 192 yards with two touchdowns, together with a great thing about a move down the suitable sideline for rookie JJ Arcega-Whiteside that resulted in a 20-yard rating. Accidents to Nate Sudfeld and Cody Kessler this preseason prompted the Eagles to lure McCown out of retirement to at the very least briefly again up Carson Wentz. Thursday’s efficiency suggests he is up for the duty.– Tim McManus
Matt LaFleur pulled an audible and yanked his starters out of the lineup shortly earlier than the sport over discipline situations in Winnipeg, the place the sport was performed on an adjusted 80-yard discipline due to unhealthy spots in the long run zones the place the CFL purpose posts are usually anchored. So any hope of seeing Aaron Rodgers in motion glided by the wayside. There is a good likelihood Rodgers will go into the Sept. 5 regular-season opener with none preseason motion. On the plus aspect, he must be wholesome so long as the again tightness that stored him out of final week’s recreation would not flare up. The star of the evening was WR/KR Trevor Davis, who made his preseason debut and did all of it with 5 catches for 78 yards and a landing, an 18-yard run on an end-around and a 17-yard punt return. Additionally, Tim Boyle made a stable bid for the No. 2 quarterback job with a pair of landing passes. — Rob Demovsky
Good luck to Jon Gruden, Mike Mayock and Co. in getting one thing helpful out of this tape. Apart from leaving 24 gamers again in Oakland, the Raiders who did play did so on a brief discipline. Yeah, divots in the course of every finish zone from the place the CFL goalposts are positioned made the sector unsafe, so the taking part in floor was restricted to 80 yards, with every 10-yard line serving because the reconfigured purpose strains. Possibly it is good tape for the Enviornment League, however the Raiders have some onerous selections to make of their last cuts. No less than Keith Smith, who missed most of camp recovering from a torn meniscus in his knee, scored a landing on a 15-yard catch and run, serving discover to undrafted rookie Alec Ingold to gradual his roll. And for what it is price, Nathan Peterman acquired nearly all of work at quarterback after Mike Glennon began and performed the primary quarter. — Paul Gutierrez
Rookie defensive finish Josh Allen overshadowed QB Nick Foles’ first recreation snaps in a Jaguars uniform with a dominating efficiency. He led the Jaguars with 4 tackles (two for loss) and in addition had two QB hits. Throughout the first half he pressured Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick into a nasty throw, beat veteran tight finish Dwayne Allen for a deal with for loss, hammered Fitzpatrick as he threw the ball to drive an incompletion, pressured Fitzpatrick out of the pocket right into a sack by Dawuane Smoot and dropped into protection within the flat and tackled operating again Kalen Ballage for a loss. He was the principle purpose the Dolphins offense managed lower than 50 yards within the first half. Although Allen performed concurrently defensive ends Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue early within the recreation, he did not have these guys on the sector with him within the second quarter and nonetheless made performs. If he is capable of play near this stage within the common season the Jaguars’ defensive entrance might be nearly as good or higher than it was in 2017, when Campbell, Ngakoue, Malik Jackson and Dante Fowler Jr. mixed for 26.5 sacks. — Mike DiRocco
Zero:27
Josh Rosen steps up within the pocket and completes a move on the run to Isaiah Ford for a 39-yard acquire.
Ryan Fitzpatrick has been the chief within the clubhouse for the Dolphins’ quarterback battle all offseason, however Josh Rosen gave followers some purpose for hope. He piloted a 99-yard landing drive within the second half wherein he confirmed off his pocket presence, mobility, arm expertise and decision-making. The most important factor for Rosen is that he is persevering with to enhance. Fitzpatrick had some struggles early however led a landing drive of his personal. Fitzpatrick would possibly find yourself the Week 1 starter, however Rosen appears like he will probably be prepared prior to later. That is excellent news for Dolphins followers.– Cameron Wolfe