NFL Pre-Season Central...Previews,Injuries,Results,Signings,Pictures,Etc,Etc.

[Greenbacks]

Former Jaguars, Cowboys DL Jeremy Mincey retires.

Jeremy Mincey is putting a bookend on his NFL career. The former Jaguars, Broncos and Cowboys defensive end announced his retirement on Tuesday over Instagram.
"I played the game with love, passion and relentlessly to prove to people your heart will take you as far as you want it to go," Mincey wrote. "Trust me. I had half the talent a lot of guys had in this league. What separated me from the others was my will for victory."

Initially picked by New England in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Florida, Mincey thanked the Patriots for "getting my foot in the door," the 49ers for "giving me a shot" and the Jaguars for "grooming me." Mincey also nodded at the Broncos "for the Super Bowl (XLVIII) experience" and the Cowboys "for exploiting my talents on and off the field."
An unsigned free agent this offseason, the 32-year-old Mincey spent the past two years in Dallas before undergoing elbow surgery in February. He finishes his career with 26 sacks over 62 NFL starts.
"Even after retiring my will for victory will remain," Mincey said. "Life is short and all great things must end sooner or later."

 

[Greenbacks]

Teddy Bridgewater resumes throwing Tuesday.

The Minnesota Vikings are treating Teddy Bridgewater with caution.
The team's starting quarterback resumed throwing Tuesday after sitting out last week's preseason tilt against the Seahawks with a shoulder issue. Bridgewater, though, was restricted to passes inside of 15 yards, skipping the portion where "quarterbacks chucked deep balls," per The Star Tribune's Matt Vensel, who noted that "some of the shorter throws he made noticeably lacked a little velocity."

After skipping the Seattle game, Bridgewater didn't throw the ball during either of Minnesota's weekend practices before jumping back into the fray on Tuesday. Coach Mike Zimmer wouldn't say if Bridgewater will suit up again this preseason.
"He's played an awful lot of games. It's not like he's a first-year rookie," Zimmer said. "We're going to continue to do what we think is best."
After refusing to go into detail last week on why Bridgewater was held out of the Seahawks game, Zimmer on Tuesday explained his thinking.
"I told you guys when I first got here I would try and be as transparent and honest as I can and I will be. But there are certain things I'm not going to tell you,"

Zimmer said. "If he had an issue with his shoulder then I'm going to make sure that I err on the side of caution. Because if I played him and he got hurt, you guys would be killing me in the press. I'm always going to protect the players. I'm going to do what I think is best for the organization and you're going to have to respect that."
Shoulder issues for any quarterback are concerning, but it's too early to panic over Bridgewater. He should be ready for Week 1, but it's worth monitoring Teddy on a daily basis until further notice.

 

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Alec Ogletree, Benny Cunningham, Todd Gurley and others got in a fight today, which forced Jeff Fisher to halt practice. Fisher said he's "not concerned about it carrying over into the game." "It was just competing, man," Ogletree said. "Tempers flare, you know."

 

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Jets injury update: Rookie OLB Jordan Jenkins, a potential starter, is "day-to-day or week-to-week" with a calf injury, per Todd Bowles. Sounds like he may not play Saturday against the Giants. Mike Catapano is making a push for the strong-side OLB job. TE Jace Amaro (groin), WR Quincy Enunwa (concussion) and WR Kyle Williams (knee) were among those who didn't practice.

 

[Greenbacks]

NFC winners and losers.


ARIZONA CARDINALS
Winners: The return to practice for receiver John Brown after missing three weeks for a concussion is a big relief. First-round pick Robert Nkemdiche (ankle) is also expected to make his preseason debut on the defensive line this week. Safety Tyrann Mathieu won't play in a game just yet, but his return to practice is a huge boost.
Losers: There's no need to be concerned about the Cardinals' offensive preseason woes. This roster is loaded with players who have proven what they can do. With that said, quarterback Carson Palmer and coach Bruce Arians both sound motivated to produce numbers this week before questions mount.

ATLANTA FALCONS
Winners: The Falcons keep insisting on mixing and matching running back Tevin Coleman with the starting unit along with Devonta Freeman, removing Freeman for parts of the team's first drive against Cleveland. Coleman is a winner because of the faith the staff has in him. Freeman has proven he's a top-10 running back, but the coaches seems determined to make Coleman happen.
Losers: Second-year head coach Dan Quinn hasn't been able to unveil his plan to play Vic Beasley at strong-side linebacker before moving him to defensive end on passing downs because Beasley's shoulder was hurt again the last two weeks. He is expected to suit up Thursday in Miami. ESPN's Vaughn McClure notes that the Falcons want to rush Beasley, Derrick Shelby, Adrian Clayborn and Dwight Freeney on passing downs. That sounds better than last year. We think.

CAROLINA PANTHERS
Winners: The Panthers have potential breakout players at every level of the defense: end Kony Ealy, linebacker Shaq Thompson and safety Tre Boston. We love watching Boston fly around the football. The Panthers' secret sauce remains the ability to coach up defensive backs.
Losers: Receiver Kelvin Benjamin played eight snaps in his return to preseason action, as the Panthers play it safe with his conditioning. It is not a mistake that coach Ron Rivera publicly set the bar low for Benjamin's Week 1 snap count at 30 to 35. If Packers coach Mike McCarthy said this about running back Eddie Lacy, hot takesmen around the country would be weighing in. The story is strangely under the radar outside of Carolina.

CHICAGO BEARS
Winners: Jeremy Langford has a lot to prove as a primary running back, but he is clearly getting the majority of work with the Bears' first-team offense. That's the good news. The bad news is that he has a sore foot and was one of 20 (!) Bears to miss practice Sunday.
Losers: It's early, but receiver and second-year pro Kevin White hasn't shown much in the preseason yet. That comes on the heels of a quiet training camp.

DALLAS COWBOYS
Winners: While the pass rush remains an open question, a lot of other Cowboys questions have been answered this month. Running back Alfred Morris' excellent play has earned him a big role and could make Darren McFadden expendable. Cornerback Morris Claiborne is entering his fifth season with more positive momentum than ever before. And rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has given the Cowboys a young quarterback-of-the-future to groom, even if he wasn't their first choice.
Losers: It's hard to find a "loser" in Dallas during the same week the team moved into its fancy new practice facilities. Despite the return to health of key players at other positions (Ezekiel Elliott, Tyron Smith, Lance Dunbar), we are no closer to knowing who will start Week 1 at defensive end. The best current guess: Ryan Russell and David Irving, who has been hurt. This is an issue without a Dak-like magic solution.

DETROIT LIONS
Winners: Through two weeks, few quarterbacks have made more difficult throws this preseason than Matthew Stafford. Optimists can see that as a continuation of his Jim Bob Cooter-boosted finish to last season. This team is going to play at a fast pace. Running back Ameer Abdullah and linebacker DeAndre Levy, two of the biggest keys to this Lions season, practiced in team drills with no restrictions for the first time in camp Sunday.
Losers: It's early, but there are some reasons to be concerned about first-round tackle Taylor Decker's ability to hold up as a starter. Meanwhile, former Patriots running back Stevan Ridley is going to have a tough time making this roster.

GREEN BAY PACKERS
Winners: After an offseason of conjecture, Davante Adams is settling into the Packers' No. 3 receiver role. Two nice grabs against Oakland helped his case. On defense, the Packers' young secondary trio of high picks -- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins -- is playing well. All under age 25, these guys have a chance to grow up together.
Losers: It has been a bummer to see backup quarterback Brett Hundley struggle with injuries so much after lighting up the preseason last year. He's missed valuable development time.

LOS ANGELES RAMS
Winners: Veteran quarterback Case Keenum has helped make rookie Jared Goff's struggles easier to swallow by leading the Rams to three touchdowns in his four preseason drives. The Rams' running game -- from the offensive line to backups Benny Cunningham and Malcolm Brown -- has also shown well. Former No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson is mauling opponents.
Losers: Goff has shown why he was drafted No. 1 for spurts of each preseason game. But the mistakes on handoffs, delay of games and excessive holding of the football show he's not ready to start yet. With Pharoh Cooper all but locking down the No. 3 receiver job, it's worth wondering if Brian Quick will make the team.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Winners: Injuries to cornerbacks Terence Newman and Xavier Rhodes have given 2015 first-round pick Trae Waynes snaps as a starter in practice and in the preseason. This is his chance to push for more playing time, because he could still be stuck as a No. 4 cornerback.
Losers: First-round receiver Laquon Treadwell's inability to separate was hard to miss in Minnesota's second preseason game. It's wild that Adam Thielen is a better bet for early-season snaps than Treadwell.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Winners: Surprisingly normal headline around New Orleans these days: "Jairus Byrd shines in defense-dominated practice." Whether in practice or the preseason, the Saints' defense has impressed since late July despite losing key players. Second-year cornerback P.J. Williams and veteran defensive tackle Nick Fairley, both now starters, are two players who impressed against Houston.
Losers: The flip side: Saints fans are concerned with the team's offensive line. Coach Sean Payton, meanwhile, is concerned with second-year wideout Brandon Coleman, who makes too many mistakes. "I thought he was just OK," Payton said of Coleman. "And honestly, it's been kind of pedestrian throughout the camp."

NEW YORK GIANTS
Winners: Journeyman linebacker Jonathan Casillas has played well in the preseason and is headed for a starting role. Second-year defensive lineman Owa Odighizuwa has also looked good and could give the team enviable depth up front. In second-year man Landon Collins and rookie Darian Thompson, the Giants' seemingly cursed safety spot has hope again.
Losers: The next 10 days could determine Victor Cruz's football future. The receiver needs to show something before final roster cuts. The Giants' depth at the position has been tested quickly. Guys like Tavarres King and Roger Lewis were targeted on back-to-back plays by Eli Manning last week. The offensive line continues to spring leaks. There is a risk of asking Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. to carry the offense far too much.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Winners: Nolan Carroll has settled into the starting cornerback job opposite Leodis McKelvin, surprising his own front office for the second straight year.
Losers: The arrival of linebacker Stephen Tulloch spells bad news for one of the starting linebackers. For now, Tulloch will compete with Jordan Hicks in the middle. Hicks could be moved outside to replace Mychal Kendricks, who has reportedly struggled to fit into new coordinator Jim Schwartz's scheme. Moving to the other side of the ball ... A warning to fantasy leaguers trying to guess how the wide receiver spot will shake out after Jordan Matthews: Don't bother. Nelson Agholor, Dorial Green-Beckham, Paul Turner and Rueben Randle are all in the mix.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Winners: With Colin Kaepernick on track to play this week, 49ers coach Chip Kelly refuses to name Blaine Gabbert the starting quarterback. The team has given away its intentions at other positions, though. 2014 first-round cornerback Jimmie Ward will be an every-down player for the first time. Recently unretired offensive lineman Anthony Davis isn't going to take over at right tackle, instead trying to start at guard. Here's another note for you fantasy fiends: Despite numerous questions out wide, it appears the 49ers have found their tight end in Vance McDonald.
Losers: One week after opening eyes with a boffo preseason performance, 49ers running back Mike Davis gave back all his momentum with two fumbles.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Winners: Coach Pete Carroll continues to indicate running back Thomas Rawls is on pace to play Week 1 against Miami. With Christine Michael showing off his turbo button each week, it's hard to imagine Rawls getting workhorse carries early in the season. After some spotty draft classes lately, the Seahawks are on track to have Week 1 starters in guard Germain Ifedi and defensive tackle Jarran Reed.
Losers: We're going to list Seahawks fans as losers because of the lack of reporting allowed at their practices this time of year. Excellent papers like The Seattle Times have to resort to gleaning takeaways from a photo gallery on the team's website for information. Here's a common-sense deduction: The Seahawks' excellent cornerback depth behind Richard Sherman (DeShawn Shead, Tharold Simon and Jeremy Lane) means that Brandon Browner is not a lock to make the roster.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Winners: Austin Seferian-Jenkins is a winner this week despite playing with backups on Saturday. He made a few chunk plays for Mike Glennon, reminding his coaching staff that he's still the most explosive tight end on the roster. Seferian-Jenkins is splitting first-team snaps with Cameron Brate once again.
Losers: Bucs rookie kicker Roberto Aguayo has already missed three short kicks in two games. In response, he's already spoken to former NFL kicker Ryan Longwell, former Bucs special teams coordinator Billy Miller and a mental coach to deal with the problems, according to Roy Cummings of WDAE Tampa. This does not inspire confidence.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Winners: Vernon Davis is on track to make the Redskins and possibly have a decent role in the offense. Considering the recent trajectory of the tight end's career, that was far from a given.
Losers: Matt Jones has the skills to be a true No. 1 back but faces questions about his fumbling problems and durability. Both showed up Friday night against the Jets. Jones should be ready for Week 1. For now, Rob Kelley and Keith Marshall will battle for early-down work. Kelley is in front. Don't be surprised if general manager Scot McCloughan adds a veteran eventually. Another week passed without first-round pick Josh Doctson (Achilles) hitting the field. This is 11 weeks after one reporter said the Redskins were being "ultra-cautious" just by keeping him off the field in OTAs.

 

[Greenbacks]

The Vikings announced on Thursday morning they are completely sold out for their first season at US Bank Stadium. The team is launching two wait lists, for tickets and suites. The team has 60,400 seats committed for the entire season, with the remaining single/game tickets also sold out.

 

[Greenbacks]

Kaepernick "on track" to play this week.

Colin Kaepernick is on pace to finally take part in a preseason contest.
The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has practiced fully this week and is expected to play in Friday's tilt with the Green Bay Packers, barring a setback.
Coach Chip Kelly has been splitting reps in practice between Kap and Blaine Gabbert this week but has not made a determination on Friday's starter.

"We haven't discussed it, yet," Kelly said Wednesday, via CSN Bay Area. "We got two days of training to go through. We'll see. (Kaepernick is) on track. We're excited and we're hopeful he will be ready to go. But I'm not going to put the cart before the horse. We have a system. When we get to Friday, we'll know exactly from (head athletic trainer Jeff Ferguson) who's up and who's down."

Added Kelly: "If he's up, he's going to play."
Kaepernick missed the first two preseason tilts with a sore throwing arm but has reportedly been back to throwing at his normal velocity this week.
That Gabbert hasn't locked down the starting gig yet is a telling sign for Kaepernick's chances of wrangling the gig.
Regardless of which quarterback starts Friday night, if one signal-caller shines brighter in the "dress rehearsal," he should be considered the favorite to open the season as Kelly's starter.

 

[Greenbacks]

Ravens' Breshad Perriman: I'll be 'worth the wait'.

Tuesday was a very important benchmark for Ravens receiver Breshad Perriman, who completed his first real training camp practice of the season after nearly blowing out his knee in June.
Combined with his walk-through workout on Monday, this is more than some of his teammates have ever seen of the 2015 first-round draft pick, which caused veteran linebacker Terrell Suggs to jokingly ask, "Who's the new guy?"

Perriman gets it. After losing his entire rookie season to a torn PCL, you almost have to keep a good sense of humor about it all. Should he make it to the team's season-opening game against the Bills on Sept. 11, it will represent a mountainous climb back into the starting lineup -- one that the Ravens will no doubt appreciate.
"(I'm) very eager," Perriman told the team's official site. "It's coming real soon. I know it will be worth the wait."
He added: "I don't have any doubt in my mind that I won't be ready. I'm attacking it right now like I will be ready, and I think I will."

The rest of the piece contained your fairly standard comeback information -- Perriman feels like he's just as fast as the player Baltimore drafted a year ago. He feels like he can make sharp cuts and accelerate. He's looking forward to spending those long, late hours with Joe Flacco building that unconscious football bond that all great receivers and quarterbacks have.
But we're most interested in some potential game reps. Head coach John Harbaugh wouldn't rule out playing on Saturday against the Lions. More than a practice, that would be a sight for sore eyes in Baltimore.

 

[Greenbacks]

The Lions announced today that they have released RB Stevan Ridley.

 

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Nick Martin expected to miss season with ankle injury.

The Texans sustained a huge blow to their offensive line on Thursday.
Second-round pick and projected starting center Nick Martin is expected to miss the entire season due to an ankle injury that requires surgery, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport.
The 23-year-old drew comparisons to his brother, Cowboys guard Zack, and was a favorite of head coach Bill O'Brien's heading into the regular season. Martin sustained the injury a week ago during a practice against the New Orleans Saints.

While we can overrate the quarterback-center relationship at times, we can't imagine Brock Osweiler is excited about losing Martin. Just like he'll need to put in extra hours with Braxton Miller, Will Fuller and DeAndre Hopkins, he'll need to learn the ins and outs of veteran Tony Bergstrom, or whoever ends up securing the job long-term.
The Texans have made heavy investments in their offensive line over the past few seasons but, unfortunately, haven't had the health and proper circumstances to see them pan out. Former second-round pick Xavier Su'a-Filo (2014) is just now coming into his own. We'll have to wait another year to see what Martin can truly become.

 

[Greenbacks]

What to watch for in every Week 3 preseason game.

It's the moment we've all been waiting for -- Week 3 of the NFL preseason. We'll see more established stars and potential starters than any other week of the preseason. Here's what to watch for during this week's preseason games.

THURSDAY (all times ET)

FALCONS at DOLPHINS (8 p.m., NBC)
» The Dolphins reportedly will be testing new running back Arian Foster to his limits in prime time. Coach Adam Gase will essentially give him the chance to top the depth chart against a Falcons defense that has been anything but impressive so far this preseason.
» Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins is about to bow out for four games thanks to a performance-enhancing drug suspension, which means he'll continue to get a significant amount of reps. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Collins played more than any other defensive player (23 snaps) in a game against the Browns last week. Will he flash improvement before a long break?
» Dolphins fans wondering where tight end Jordan Cameron has gone can take solace: Ryan Tannehill is taking great measures to find him on Thursday against the Falcons. Per the Palm Beach Post, Tannehill has been overly encouraging to the former free-agent prize in an attempt to bring him around before the regular-season opener.

COWBOYS at SEAHAWKS (10 p.m. NFL Network)
» Cowboys first-round pick Ezekiel Elliott could get as many as a dozen touches, according to The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Outside of Jared Goff, this will be the most highly-anticipated debut of the preseason. Elliott has a chance to bring Dallas' offense back to 2014 levels if he can stay healthy. Will he run like he's not encased in bubble wrap?
» After a hit-and-miss performance against Minnesota a week ago, the Seahawks will likely shuffle their starting offensive line a few times, position coach Tom Cable told The Seattle Times. Be on the lookout for former starter J'Marcus Webb to make a play for one of the tackle jobs against a defensive line that can be pushed around.
» Seattle's rookie running back C.J. Prosise has the chance to steal the show from Elliott if he also makes his preseason debut. The former Notre Dame star is eyeing a hybrid role in the team's offense and will need to show some of his pass-catching skills if the tweaked hamstring allows it.

 

[Greenbacks]

FRIDAY

PATRIOTS at PANTHERS, 7:30 p.m.
» While it is foolish to try and project when and where we will see Tom Brady next, the Patriots quarterback discussed with reporters this week that he has not been told he won't be taking snaps against the Panthers. As we've said before, this preseason was always about Jimmy Garoppolo, but even the NFL's best quarterback would like to take some game snaps before a four-week hiatus.
» We have been subjected to a non-stop barrage of Devin Funchess hype this offseason and, according to reporters on the ground in Carolina, the hype is warranted. The Panthers will take that over a Terrelle Pryor preseason that could eventually go nowhere, but Funchess is currently 177th among wide receivers in the preseason with three grabs for 29 yards and a touchdown. Here's hoping the robust dress rehearsal doubles that total.
» Bill Belichick downplayed the importance of the third preseason game significantly in an interview this week. It will be interesting to see if he decides to handle his starting lineup any differently than the norm this year given his situation at quarterback and offensive line.

BILLS at REDSKINS, 7:30 p.m.
» Seantrel Henderson made his return to practice this week, and according to the Buffalo News, the former 16-game starter made his presence known. Henderson missed nearly a year with Crohn's Disease, but could find himself in the thick of things soon. Amid a very crowded tackle depth chart in Buffalo, his frame and intensity make him hard to ignore. Hopefully Ryan allows him the chance to suit up this weekend.
» Linebacker Bryson Albright is climbing up the Bills' depth chart and could be your plucky undrafted free agent to keep an eye on against Washington. As the News noted, that distinction was once handed to Eric Striker, but now Rex Ryan & Co. seem to be favoring the Miami (Ohio) product.
» Robert Kelley is the currently the Redskins' en vogue running back now that Matt Jones is out for the rest of the preseason. Keith Marshall struggled again a week ago, leaving the team desperate to find a dependable option at No. 2. This could be the game that convinces Washington whether or not to hit the waiver wire on cut down day.

STEELERS at SAINTS (8 p.m.)
» Saints head coach Sean Payton can sometimes lead us astray with his player hype (which would make him no different than the NFL's 31 other head coaches) but the fanfare surrounding wide receiver Michael Thomas seems legitimate. The second-round pick was viewed as one of the most pro-ready wide receivers to hit the NFL in this year's class, and Friday is another chance to prove he belongs in the starting lineup.
» Landry Jones didn't have as bad of a preseason game as you might have imagined a week ago despite the four picks, but the Steelers backup would still like to put something more stable on tape before coasting into the regular season. Ben Roethlisberger is as sturdy as they come build-wise, but he has missed at least one game in all but three of his NFL seasons.
» We have not heard much from Steelers first-round pick Artie Burns, outside of the fact that he returned to practice a little more than a week ago. With Pittsburgh's starting corner jobs locked up for the moment, Burns will look to make his case for sub-package duty and an eventual takeover.

BROWNS at BUCCANEERS (8 p.m., CBS)
» This will be the most realistic look at Cleveland's starting lineup so far. Suspended receiver Josh Gordon is expected to get some time as is rookie first-round pick Corey Coleman. Lining them up alongside preseason sensation Terrelle Pryor presents the most hope a Browns fan has felt for the offense in almost a decade.
» Unfortunately, all eyes will be on struggling rookie kicker Roberto Aguayo. The Bucs made him a second-round pick and, in turn, made him hoist a gigantic magnifying glass over his head during the preseason. Aguayo has already missed a pair of kicks during competition and has been spotty at best in practice during the week. Another poor performance will raise some very serious questions about the position in Tampa.
» This is still the preseason, but Jameis Winston is coming off a poor performance against the Jaguars. The former No. 1 overall pick completed just 30 percent of his passes and chucked an interception. The (relatively) long stretches of ineffectiveness could just be a product of the preseason in general, but Cleveland's porous secondary could be a nice springboard into the regular season.

PACKERS at 49ers (10 p.m., NFL Network)
» Colin Kaepernick started throwing again! He'll also do some of that against Green Bay in Prime Time this weekend, which merits our attention. There's little doubt Blaine Gabbert is getting the job at this point, but Kaepernick could set himself up for a replacement role sooner rather than later with a vintage game against the Packers.
» Aaron Rodgers is on pace to make his preseason debut. While this would normally be a ho-hum affair, there have been multiple reports suggesting Rodgers had one of his best practice preseasons ever. The 32-year-old could just be entering the prime of his career, which is scary.
» According to the Sacramento Bee, the team trotted out former star tackle Anthony Davis at guard with the starters opposite first-round pick Josh Garnett -- a potentially enticing combination we can hopefully see against the Packers.

 

[Greenbacks]

SATURDAY

CHIEFS at BEARS (1 p.m., NFL Network)
» The Bears have an offensive line problem at the moment. Depending on how long guard Kyle Long is out for, the team could be auditioning reserve center Ted Larsen at guard like they've done in practice, according to the Chicago Tribune. Long's shoulder issue might be nothing, but it might be enough to seriously rattle a team already missing their starting center.
» The Bears are either keeping a secret when it comes to 2015 first-round pick Kevin White, or they're still figuring out how to properly use him. If they are still being cautious with their playmaker, it's completely understandable. If they aren't, two catches and nine yards is something to worry about.
» 2015 third-round pick Chris Conley continues to make a case as a legitimate No. 2 complement to Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. His Week 2 preseason performance elicited this flamethrower quote from quarterback Alex Smith (via the Kansas City Star): "He did a bunch of stuff," Smith said. Damn. Look out, Washington.

EAGLES at COLTS (7 p.m.)
» Veteran Stephen Tulloch rolled into town just a few days ago but could already be making his move for the middle linebacker job. A game against the Colts could settle the depth chart for now, but that may be up to Jordan Hicks.
» Dorial Green-Beckham made a surprise appearance for the Eagles last week immediately after a trade from the Titans. Now? He will start. The mammoth receiver could lend the Eagles a hand in the red zone, though Sam Bradford is hoping for a better all-around target to complement Jordan Matthews.
» The Colts may need Antonio Cromartie to start this weekend against the Eagles, never mind Week 1 of the regular season. Amid reports of his demise via hip injury, Cromartie will look to show that he still has some good football left in the tank.

LIONS at RAVENS (7 p.m.)
» Ravens head coach John Harbaugh did not close the door on some snaps for Breshad Perriman against the Lions, which would be a welcome sight for Ravens fans eager to see their 2015 first-round pick.
» Joe Flacco will make his preseason debut, giving Ravens fans their first significant look at the franchise quarterback in a long time. Flacco's knee still isn't fully healed, but give the man credit for signing up (and hoping) to take a few shots on Saturday to get him into game shape.
» Resident Lions fan and physicality aficionado Kevin Patra chimes in with this: Rookie first-rounder Taylor Decker improved immensely from Week 1 to Week 2 of the preseason. Another solid week of ascension could put the Lions at ease (if that's possible) heading into their season opener.

GIANTS at JETS (7:30 p.m.)
» Does the offense bounce back? Facing essentially the same scheme as they did a week ago but with better players, the Giants are hoping to avoid the goose egg on the scoreboard. The team is an odd mix of concerned and understanding at the moment, but a brand-new head coach never wants to roll into the regular season with a general malaise.
» The Giants brought in kicker Randy Bullock after Tom Obarski missed a field goal against the Bills last week. Bullock is essentially auditioning for the Week 1 gig, which should bridge the gap until the team welcomes Josh Brown back from a personal conduct suspension. However, the team has been mum on Brown of late, and a strong performance from Bullock could eventually lead to a long-term gig.
» Earlier this week, Jets head coach Todd Bowles told reporters he had a plan at quarterback but would not reveal it. Geno Smith is still the acting backup for Ryan Fitzpatrick but with no direct conformation, we'll have to wait and see. Regardless, Bryce Petty is hot on Smith's trail after a strong performance against the Redskins last week.

TITANS at RAIDERS (8 p.m., CBS)
» How does Marcus Mariota finish out the preseason? Last year's No. 2 overall pick has been nothing short of fantastic and has only thrown one incomplete pass. The Raiders are no joke on defense, unfortunately, and could look to spoil what has been a fantastic preseason.
» Does Menelik Watson finish off Austin Howard for the right tackle job? The Raiders certainly hope so, and have poured a ton of time and effort into developing their 2013 second-round pick. An Achilles issue last season threw away what seemed to be a ton of progress, but now Watson isn't looking back.
» Earlier this week we wrote about Andre Johnson refusing to take days off in Nashville, though we still don't have a completely realistic picture of how the receiver will fit in the offense. Head coach Mike Mularkey would like us to think otherwise, and could prove it this weekend against Oakland.

RAMS at BRONCOS (9 p.m.)
» Trevor Siemian gets the start under less-than-ideal circumstances. The presumed Week 1 starter missed practice this week with shoulder soreness, but has been gifted a golden opportunity to knock Mark Sanchez clear out of the competition.
» Speaking of Mark Sanchez, there is still no word if he'll be next in line behind Siemian, according to ESPN.com. What does this mean? If rookie Paxton Lynch takes the field after the starters come out, we could be waiting to see Sanchez on the cut list come roster trim down. While we would suggest Denver keep all three quarterbacks, the trade for Sanchez was conditional and Denver could get their pick back if they decide not to keep the former Eagles and Jets quarterback.
» Jared Goff hasn't driven the coaching staff wild so far in the preseason, to the point where some are wondering if he's currently beating out Sean Mannion for the No. 2 job. Goff is currently 57th among preseason quarterbacks in yards (120) and is still below 60 percent completion rate. Does it matter? Probably not. The Rams seemed hell bent on making Goff earn this and Case Keenum has played pretty well. This is Goff's last realistic chance to make a play for the Week 1 job.

 

[Greenbacks]

SUNDAY

CHARGERS at VIKINGS (1 p.m., FOX)
» While this isn't necessarily an in-game issue, the war of words between the Chargers and Joey Bosa reached a fevered pitch on Wednesday when the team released a deeply detailed statement about Bosa's refusal to sign his rookie deal. With a nationally televised game on tap, it will be interesting to see if the team uses the forum to further their public stance on the matter.
» Teddy Bridgewater will return to the field after not playing last weekend because head coach Mike Zimmer said so. This has been an unintentionally odd offseason for Bridgewater, who, at times this summer, flashed some of the playmaking ability that we've come to expect on a weekly basis. According to the Star-Tribune, the coaching staff did not see any injury limitations to Bridgewater's workouts this week, though it bears watching.
» Will Adrian Peterson play, or at least make a push to? Peterson never takes the field during the preseason, but oddly left the door open this summer after wishing he played in a warmup game last year. The Vikings would probably prefer he plays it safe, but who can question a veteran who knows his body better than anyone else?

CARDINALS at TEXANS (4 p.m., FOX)
» Jadeveon Clowney was beastly against the Saints a week ago, at times forcing New Orleans offensive linemen to grab him by the shoulder pads and tackle him in lieu of another quarterback take down. This was the monstrous defensive end we were expecting all those years. Will the Cardinals let him anywhere near Carson Palmer this weekend?
» A bit esoteric given that it's the third preseason game, but Texans backup quarterback Tom Savage has been chucking the football with a sense of urgency this offseason. Savage is among the 10 most productive passers in football this preseason and has a chance to spike the football on Houston's backup gig with a nice performance against the Cardinals' second-string. There were whispers about Savage being a second round-type quarterback the year he came out, and we may finally be seeing why.
» Cardinals first-rounder Robert Nkemdiche is set to make his preseason debut this weekend, giving us a realistic preview of how scary this defensive line might be. We too often associate the Cardinals with just Arians and his offense, but with Chandler Jones and Nkemdiche in the fold -- look out.

BENGALS at JAGUARS (8 p.m., NBC)
» Primetime for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and it is well-deserved. This team has been building their foundation over the past three seasons and is finally good enough to turn some heads. This will be America's first good look at quarterback Blake Bortles in 2016 -- will they agree that he's one of the most fun to watch in football right now?
» Chris Ivory and T.J. Yeldon have been quite harmonious this offseason. With the most realistic dress rehearsal coming, we'll see if Jacksonville is fixing to break up this running back utopia or if they are committed to a 50-50 split as Jacksonville.com predicted.

 

[Greenbacks]