Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … Handing out 10 awards from the Eagles-Browns preseason game – PhillyVoice1) The ‘Camp Battle Lead Change’ Award 🪜: Andrew Mukuba. Mukuba took the ball away from the Browns twice. The first takeaway was on a weird play in which Browns QB Dillon Gabriel threw a pass in […] Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … Handing out 10 awards from the Eagles-Browns preseason game – PhillyVoice 1) The ‘Camp Battle Lead Change’ Award 🪜: Andrew Mukuba. Mukuba took the ball away from the Browns twice. The first takeaway was on a weird play in which Browns QB Dillon Gabriel threw a pass in between two Browns receivers who shouldn’t have been that close to each other. Mukuba read the play, stepped in between them, made the interception, and returned it 75 yards for a TD. Mukuba also recovered a fumble on a bad Browns handoff exchange. He was in the right place at the right time, which, sure, has an element of luck to it, but being in the “right place at the right time” is a nice trait for a safety to have. After Mukuba had missed a significant chunk of camp, it was beginning to feel like Sydney Brown was closing in on the starting safety job opposite Reed Blankenship, but Mukuba’s huge game probably puts him in the lead. 2025 NFL preseason, Week 2: What We Learned from Saturday’s games – NFL.com Have a day, Andrew Mukuba. Because of time missed in camp, the rookie safety from Texas seemed to have lost too much ground to Sydney Brown in the battle for the starting safety job prior to Saturday. One day filled with standout play, however, might have changed the equation. Mukuba only finished with one tackle but registered two takeaways, including an interception he returned for a touchdown made possible only by his refusal to give up on the play. Fittingly, when Gabriel and Pierre Strong botched a handoff, Mukuba magnetically found the loose ball and recovered it in Browns territory. At minimum, the Eagles saw some examples of what they envisioned when they spent the 64th pick on Mukuba. Andrew Mukuba’s Big Day, CB Competition, and More Eagles Takeaways With BLG! – The Ringer The Eagles fell to the Browns 22-13 on Saturday in their second preseason game of the season. Sheil and Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation have some takeaways from the game and discuss where some of the close positions might be at following the contest. Eagles second-round pick Andrew Mukuba put his stamp on the game with a pick-six and a fumble recovery. Is that second starting safety spot his to lose (3:01)? Are we any closer to figuring out who will take the CB2 spot (10:50)? Eagles first-round pick Jihaad Campbell had a sack in the game. Are the expectations on the rookie too high (29:50)? How will the depth chart at wide receiver shake out? Will Ainias Smith secure a spot following a touchdown he had (34:31)? Plus, some leftovers, the ongoing feud, and addressing the PHLY guys. Roob’s Observations: Drew Mukuba shines in rookie debut despite loss to Browns – NBCSP One of the guys Dave Zangaro and I said all week we really wanted to see in this game was rookie 2nd-round safety Andrew Mukuba, who missed a week of practice time and the preseason opener with a shoulder injury. And he sure showed why the Eagles are so high on him with a 75-yard interception return on the first play of the second quarter. Dillon Gabriel, the Browns’ 3rd-round rookie quarterback, tried to connect with veteran Diontae Johnson on a crosser toward the left sideline, but Mukuba gave Johnson a subtle push, then stepped between Johnson and tight end Blake Whiteheart and the ball sailed past Whiteheart and right into Mukuba’s hands. He took off the other way with the Eagles’ longest preseason interception touchdown return since Ed Reynolds had a 90-yarder off Jets quarterback (and future Eagle) Christian Hackenberg in the Eagles’ 14-6 win over the Jets at the Linc in 2016. Mukuba has been locked in a battle with Sydney Brown for that second safety spot, and that injury didn’t help, but a play like this sure does. Mukuba added a fumble recovery later in the first half after an aborted handoff. This is a kid who’s just around the ball. A playmaker. Brown hasn’t had a bad summer, but it just feels like the Eagles want Mukuba to win that job, and he may have taken a big step in that direction Saturday afternoon. A fun player and a heck of an NFL debut. Drew Mukuba, Ainias Smith score TDs and the 10 things you need to know about the Eagles’ second preseason game – PHLY If the Eagles have been waiting for someone to go out and win the starting job at either safety or outside cornerback, Mukuba did his part. Starting next to Sydney Brown and playing in his first preseason game after missing time earlier this summer with a shoulder injury, the second-round rookie was responsible for two defensive takeaways. The more impressive of those plays was a pick-six, which came on a play-action rollout by Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel. With two Browns receivers near each other in Gabriel’s vision, Mukuba split between the two and intercepted Gabriel’s pass before sprinting 75 yards for a touchdown. Two possessions later, Mukuba recovered a botched handoff fumble, which was more right-place-right-time than anything. But the ball finds energy. Meanwhile, Brown missed an open-field tackle. If Mukuba ends up starting Week 1 opposite Reed Blankenship, this will have been the turning point in that competition. Eagles rookie’s ‘rare’ trait sets him apart from others: ‘He’s going to shine in this league’ – NJ.com After each turnover, Mukuba’s teammates embraced him. It was a big moment for the rookie, but nobody was surprised with his performance. “He’s just a natural born football player,
Eagles News: Andrew Mukuba pushing for lead in safety position battle
NFL Preseason Week 2 Game Recap: New Orleans Saints 17, Jacksonville Jaguars 17
The New Orleans Saints quarterback battle gained another chapter, with Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough duking it out once again. Premium Content Sign Up NFL Preseason Week 2 Game Recap: New Orleans Saints 17, Jacksonville Jaguars 17 By Ben Cooper Posted Aug 17, 2025 4:31 pm EDT • Jacksonville Jaguars • New Orleans Saints It remains difficult to say who has pulled ahead in the New Orleans Saints‘ quarterback competition, but Spencer Rattler seemed to do his part in moving one step closer to securing the job. The second-year quarterback made three big-time throws — becoming just the third passer to do so in a game this preseason — and was at the forefront of the Saints’ game-tying drive against the Jacksonville Jaguars. His foe, Tyler Shough, looked like a rookie at times but also made a big-time throw himself. The 17-17 result won’t have much bearing on the Jaguars, but they did get a strong showing out of starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence and positive work from their top three running backs, Trevor Etienne, Tank Bigsby and Bhayshul Tuten. On the other side of the ball, Saints cornerback Rejzohn Wright broke up two passes and Jaguars cornerback Keni-H Lovely picked off Rattler in the fourth quarter. PFF’s dedicated team of graders was hard at work, analyzing every player on every play in real time. The comprehensive grades and data will be available after a thorough review tomorrow at 12 p.m. EST. In the meantime, we’ve gathered some high-level data and snap counts from the game to give you an early look. Our expert graders have also nominated the standout player of the game, highlighting exceptional performance on the field. Use the discount code earlybird to save $20 on your PFF+ subscription, and get in-depth analysis, PFF grades, Premium Stats, fantasy football tools, betting dashboards and much more! PLAYER OF THE GAME Jaguars tackle Fred Johnson, who signed a one-year deal with the team this offseason after three seasons with the Eagles, played for nearly three quarters and excelled on both the right and left sides of the line. Johnson didn’t surrender any pressure across 28 pass-blocking snaps and earned a positive grade on nearly 50% of his run-blocking reps — by far the game’s highest rate. BOX SCORE Stat Jaguars Saints Total points 17 17 Total offensive plays 63 59 Average EPA per play 0.001 -0.032 Total net yards 337 323 Avg yards per play 5.3 5.5 Total first downs 21 18 Rushing first downs 7 4 Passing first downs 14 12 Penalty first downs 0 2 Third-down efficiency 50% 31% Fourth-down efficiency 20% 25% Possessions 10 9 Avg plays per drive 6.6 7.1 Avg yards per drive 30.6 32.3 Avg points per drive 1.6 1.7 Red-zone possessions 3 3 Red-zone plays 9 6 Red-zone TDs 2 1 Red-zone FGs 0 1 Red-zone scoring efficiency 67% 67% Explore PFF Premium Stats SNAP COUNTS & PLAYER PARTICIPATION
Former Rams QB gets another shot with Panthers
Stetson Bennett is starring in the preseason for the L.A. Rams, something that fans haven’t seen at quarterback in over three years. That would be the time that Bryce Perkins was supposed to be “a potential Matthew Stafford successor” based on a few preseason plays. But Perkins had a short-lived audition with the team in […] Stetson Bennett is starring in the preseason for the L.A. Rams, something that fans haven’t seen at quarterback in over three years. That would be the time that Bryce Perkins was supposed to be “a potential Matthew Stafford successor” based on a few preseason plays. But Perkins had a short-lived audition with the team in 2022, coincidentally also the last time Stafford suffered a major injury, and the Rams had to release him after they watched what happened to a “preseason QB star” in the regular season. Lucky for Perkins, his NFL career isn’t completely over. The Carolina Panthers have signed Perkins to the 90-man roster as of Sunday, as he happens to once again be stepping in for a quarterback with an elbow injury. Except this time, it isn’t the starter. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Panthers are signing Perkins as insurance for backup Andy Dalton, who is dealing with an elbow injury. Bryce Young is still the starter, but Perkins could push Jack Plummer for backup duties if Dalton is out for an extended period of time. Perkins won UFL MVP this year. The former Virginia quarterback (previously Arizona and Arizona Western) threw one touchdown and two interceptions in his lone NFL start with the Rams in 2022. He spent three training camps with the Rams prior to that. Now he will get another shot at competing in the NFL, this time with the Panthers. See More: Los Angeles Rams History
Bengals are listening to trade offers for Trey Hendrickson
Well, this isn’t the update Bengals fans wanted to hear. According to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport, the Bengals are now listening to trade offers for Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Rapoport adds that no deal is imminent, but it does appear Cincinnati is now willing to part ways with its best defensive player […] Well, this isn’t the update Bengals fans wanted to hear. According to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport, the Bengals are now listening to trade offers for Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Rapoport adds that no deal is imminent, but it does appear Cincinnati is now willing to part ways with its best defensive player ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Earlier this offseason when Hendrickson wanted to be traded, the Bengals reportedly asked for a large package in return, potentially a first-round draft pick and more. Now, they may be willing to take less, though that’s merely speculation at this point. Rapoport has since added that the Bengals may want a young player and a draft pick in return for Hendrickson. Jordan Schultz now says the Browns (lol), Colts, and Panthers are teams to watch for in potential trade talks. What do you think the Bengals should get if they actually trade Trey Hendrickson? The #Bengals have always done their due diligence. But timing is now of the essence. This will be expensive, likely with a young player and a future pick if possible. A challenge for sure — especially because the #Bengals are a playoff-ready team. https://t.co/nauDkkCSLk — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 17, 2025 Cincy Jungle comes loaded with the best Cincinnati Bengals links, news, and analysis. Find us on Twitter and Facebook. If you want to check out our podcasts, it’s here on CJ, the Bleav in Cincy podcast feed, Spotify, Amazon, our YouTube channel, and as always, on iTunes. You can tweet us @BengalsOBI or get in touch with us via email at [email protected]. Who Dey!
John Metchie trade: Eagles acquire Texans wide receiver
The Philadelphia Eagles are trading for Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III, according a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter. The terms of the deal: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES RECEIVE — WR John Metchie III, 2026 sixth-round pick HOUSTON TEXANS RECEIVE — TE Harrison Bryant, 2026 fifth-round pick Funny enough, the pick swap is a reversal […] The Philadelphia Eagles are trading for Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III, according a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter. The terms of the deal: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES RECEIVE — WR John Metchie III, 2026 sixth-round pick HOUSTON TEXANS RECEIVE — TE Harrison Bryant, 2026 fifth-round pick Funny enough, the pick swap is a reversal of the one that took place in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade back in March. With that in mind, the Eagles effectively gave up CJGJ and Bryant to acquire Metchie and Kenyon Green. Metchie, who turned 25 last month, played college football at Alabama (making him the ninth Crimson Tide player on Philly’s roster, including Jalen Hurts). He was then selected by the Texans with a second-round pick (No. 44 overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft. Metchie missed his entire rookie season after being diagnosed with cancer (acute promyelocytic leukemia). After being cleared to play, he made his NFL regular season debut in Week 2 of the 2023 season. Making just four starts in 33 games played (including playoffs) over the past two years, Metchie’s 80 career targets have resulted in 49 receptions for 519 yards (10.6 average) and one touchdown. For those who didn’t already do the math, that’s only 15.7 yards per game. So, it’s not exactly like this is exactly a blockbuster acquisition for the Eagles. And the trade compensation reflects as much. Bryant was originally signed to compete for a role with the thought that the Eagles might trade or cut Dallas Goedert. He became more expendable when Goedert returned. Kylen Granson has outperformed him for the TE3 job. Still, the Eagles must believe Metchie has some level of untapped upside. The Eagles acquiring a receiver is interesting since they seemingly weren’t in need of more depth at that position. A.J. Brown (who’s dealing with a hamstring injury that the team hasn’t seem majorly concerned about), DeVonta Smith (Metchie’s former teammate at Alabama), and Jahan Dotson are established as the top three for 2025. Johnny Wilson has overcome a slow start to training camp. Undrafted rookie Darius Cooper has had a good camp and really shined in the first preseason game. Ainias Smith hasn’t lit the world on fire in camp but he has two touchdown catches through two preseason games. Unless the Eagles keep seven wide receivers, which is possible but seems unlikely, Metchie’s arrival could be bad news for Cooper or Smith. The feeling here is the Eagles would unwise to expose Cooper to waivers. Smith seems more expendable, though he might have value as a primary punt returner. It’ll be interesting to see how Metchie fits in. The Eagles only have three training camp practices and one preseason game remaining until they shift to preparing for Week 1. Metchie pre-draft scouting report via NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: NFL slot projection with good polish but a lack of noteworthy elements in his game. Metchie has decent size but average play speed. He’s proficient in more sophisticated routes but lacks explosiveness to separate and will have to prove he can become a more physical wideout to win contested catches at the pro level. He can play multiple receiver spots and has the ability to take what the scheme provides him. As long as his recovery from an ACL tear goes smoothly, Metchie has a chance to become a starting slot receiver with a relatively modest ceiling. Watch his highlights videos: Bonus: I joined Bo Wulf on the PHLY Eagles Podcast for the John Metchie III emergency reaction show. Check it out: See More: Philadelphia Eagles News
Preseason Week 2 Game Recap: Immediate fantasy football takeaways from Sunday’s games
PFF’s fantasy football recap focuses on player usage and stats, breaking down all the vital information you need to achieve fantasy success in 2025. Preseason Week 2 Game Recap: Immediate fantasy football takeaways from Sunday’s games By Nathan Jahnke Posted Aug 17, 2025 2:12 pm EDT Tank Bigsby starts for the Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars used a two-man committee with Bigsby and Travis Etienne Jr. when the starters were playing, unlike last week when Etienne played 100% of Jacksonville’s snaps with the starters. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are back: The New Orleans Saints’ top two wide receivers made their preseason debuts after both missing the second half of last season. Data, tools and expert insights: Use code earlybird to save $20 on your PFF+ annual subscription. Estimated reading time: 5 minutes PFF’s fantasy football recap focuses on player usage and stats, breaking down all the vital information you need to achieve fantasy success in 2025. Tank Bigsby starts for the Jaguars: Travis Etienne Jr. started in the first preseason game. The Jaguars used a relatively basic running back rotation in their first game. Etienne took the first drive, Bigsby played the second and third, Bhayshul Tuten took the fourth drive to the eighth drive, and LeQuint Allen played the ninth and 10th drive, and just four plays were exceptions when drives ran long and the Jaguars wanted to give the current running back a break. These kinds of rotations are common in the preseason and give us a look at the current order of the depth chart, but they do little to help us understand how running backs might rotate during the season. This week, the backfield better resembled how it might look in the regular season. On the first drive, Bigsby played on first and second downs, while Etienne played on third down. This makes sense, given the two running backs’ strengths. On the second drive, Etienne started, played two snaps, followed by Bigsby’s two, and another four for Etienne. This put the two running backs in basically a 50/50 split. They surprisingly were near-even in routes, targets and carries. We can expect this to shift at least a little bit in the regular season with Etienne catching more passes and Bigsby running more, but we shouldn’t expect these tendencies to be as strong as last season, given how Liam Coen used his running backs in Tampa Bay last season. Currently, Etienne has a consensus ADP two rounds earlier than Bigsby, ranging from one round or less on ESPN and Yahoo! to four rounds on Sleeper. These should be closer together, and if anything, Bigsby should be the one drafted earlier. For the second straight game, Tuten did not play a snap with the starters. He missed some time during training camp, so it’s understandable that he hasn’t worked his way to the starters yet. He may mix in more frequently as the season progresses, hurting both Bigsby and Etienne’s fantasy value. The only way any of these players will become a consistent fantasy starter this season is if one starts to clearly outperform the other two. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed make their preseason debuts: Both wide receivers missed the second half of the 2024 season. The first and most obvious takeaway is that it’s good to see both players are healthy. We expect both players to rarely leave the field this season and both played 100% of New Orleans’ snaps with the starters, so this game was also in line with expectations. Brandin Cooks was among the veterans not playing in this game, so we don’t have a great view of how the wide receivers will be rotated or used this season. The general expectation is that Cooks would join Olave and Shaheed in three-receiver sets, but that might not be the case, as none of the three receivers primarily play out of the slot. Last week, Brandon Cooks and Mason Tipton were the primary receivers on the first drive, while Cedrick Wilson Jr. played in the slot in three receiver sets. In this game, Wilson also played in three-receiver sets and was the slot receiver more often than not. Wilson had seven snaps out of the slot in 11 personnel on the first three drives, compared to Olave’s three and Shaheed’s three. This suggests Wilson could have a larger role in the offense in 11 personnel, and Cooks could end up being more of a backup to Olave and Shaheed. It’s also possible we simply see a rotation of Olave, Shaheed and Cooks playing in the slot, while all of them take between 30-40% of the snaps in 11 personnel. It’s worth noting that Wilson’s best season was in 2021 with the Dallas Cowboys, where he caught 45 passes for 602 yards and six touchdowns as the Cowboys‘ primary slot receiver, while CeeDee Lamb was playing more snaps lined up out wide. Kellen Moore was the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator that season. The slot role in New Orleans is particularly noteworthy because of Moore’s history. Over the last three seasons, Moore’s primary slot receiver has averaged between 15.3 and 21.5 PPR points per game. His six primary outside receivers in three receiver sets have largely been unrosterable in fantasy, but the major exception wasA.J. Brown last season. We will likely see those tendencies change this season due to Olave and Shaheed playing significantly on the outside and their talents, but we could see Wilson receiving a few more targets than originally anticipated, while Olave and Shaheed receive a little less. Miscellaneous Notes Wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter is dealing with an upper-body injury and was announced out prior to the game. Dyami Brown was also ruled out for an undisclosed reason. Last week, Brian Thomas Jr. and Hunter split snaps in the slot with the starters. In this game, it was a split between Thomas and Austin Trammell, further suggesting the Jaguars won’t have a clear slot receiver and instead will move their wide receivers around more
Stock up, stock down from Rams-Chargers preseason game
The Los Angeles Rams came away with a thrilling 23-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2 of the 2025 preseason. Stetson Bennett connected with Tru Edwards on an 8 yard pass with five seconds remaining to complete the comeback. It was another impressive outing for Bennett and a few other names as […] The Los Angeles Rams came away with a thrilling 23-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2 of the 2025 preseason. Stetson Bennett connected with Tru Edwards on an 8 yard pass with five seconds remaining to complete the comeback. It was another impressive outing for Bennett and a few other names as the Rams prepare to trim their roster to adhere to the 53 man requirement. Here this week’s stock up, stock down… STOCK UP Stetson Bennett, QB Bennett continued to display his polished play in year three with a huge line against the Chargers. Bennett was 28/40 with 324 yards, 3 Touchdowns, 1 interception. His fingerprints were all over the final touchdown drive for Los Angeles’s comeback as he went: 6/10, 75 yards including 2/2 on 4th down attempts. The Rams may actually want to consider resting Bennett for the third preseason game because of Stafford’s back injury. If Stafford is forced to miss time, Bennett would be QB2 behind Jimmy Garoppolo. Brennan Jackson, EDGE After Josiah Stewart produced the first sack in last week’s preseason game, Jackson became the first player to register a multi-sack game. The performance comes at a key moment with LA’s depth at the edge rusher position being up for grabs. Brennan Presley, WR Presley led all players with 102 receiving yards on 6 receptions (8 targets). His leaping grab on 4th and 10 took the Rams chances of winning from 4.0% to 41.5%. As we know, it ultimately set up the game winning touchdown. Desjuan Johnson, DL Desjuan Johnson created the first sack opportunity via a stunt for Brennan Jackson. Johnson recorded a 77.2 pass rushing grade and was the second highest graded defender for Los Angeles. LA currently has four defensive linemen locked onto the roster: Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, Braden Fiske, and Tyler Davis. It would make sense to add another one more run stuffer and one more pass rusher. I think Desjuan Johnson fits the bill as a pass rusher; leaving Ty Hamilton and Larrell Murchison to compete for the 5th spot. STOCK DOWN Matthew Stafford, QB The fact that there has not been any news yet on how Stafford’s pregame workout went only seems to indicate that this issue is/has been far more serious than the Rams originally thought. Ty Hamilton, DL Hamilton was the lowest graded defender among the Rams defensive line rotation. His chances now hinge on beating out veteran Larrell Murchison. To Be Determined…*Players Hurt in Game* According to reports, both Willie Lampkin and Chris Pooh Paul Jr suffered injuries in the game versus the Chargers. The severity of their injuries is not yet known. The LA Rams are now 2-0 in the 2025 preseason and will travel to the Cleveland Browns next Saturday on August 23rd, 1:00 pm EST for their third and final preseason game. All eyes will revert back to Matthew Stafford this week as fans and media await the latest news on the franchise’s star quarterback.
Browns, Colts and Panthers among early trade suitors for Trey Hendrickson
With news breaking that the Cincinnati Bengals are now open to trading Trey Hendrickson, some early teams to watch for have emerged. According to Fox Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and Carolina Panthers are three teams that have emerged as early suitors for Hendrickson. You can pretty much cross the […] With news breaking that the Cincinnati Bengals are now open to trading Trey Hendrickson, some early teams to watch for have emerged. According to Fox Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and Carolina Panthers are three teams that have emerged as early suitors for Hendrickson. You can pretty much cross the Browns off, as there’s no way the Bengals are trading their All-Pro defender to a division rival unless they’re offering something insane like three first-round picks (in other words, not happening). The Colts make a lot of sense now that former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is running the defense in Indy. Still, the Bengals would likely prefer to trade Hendrickson to an NFC team, and the Panthers defense desperately needs some more firepower in the pass-rushing department after finishing dead last in sacks in 2023 and tied for 30th this past season. But will anyone be willing to meet what’s almost certainly a large asking price for Hendrickson, potentially a first-round pick, and then make Hendrickson one of the highest-paid defenders in football as he turns 31 this December? It’s a mess, and it’s one of the Bengals are still clearly struggling to navigate. See More: Bengals
PFF grades and snap counts from the Giants’ 31-12 victory over the Jets
Take preseason games for what they are – a chance for players to get used to playing with each other, for rookies to get into the rhythm of real NFL game action, and for those on the roster bubble to make their case. By any measure, though, the New York Giants’ 31-12 victory over the New York Jets was a success. If nothing else, it’s been years since the Giants defeated the Jets in any game, whether it counted or not, and goodness knows, this team has to get used to winning after two miserable seasons. Let’s see who was on the field a lot or a little and how they performed in the eyes of your favorite evaluators, the people at Pro Football Focus. A note about playing time: In preseason games, snap counts are not meaningful in the way that they are in the regular season. In the real games, the best players play as much as possible. Depending on position and talent, some may play all or most snaps (e.g., quarterback, starting offensive linemen, off-ball linebackers, defensive backs). Other positions will inevitably rotate in and out (e.g., defensive line, running backs, receivers). In the pre-season, though, the coaches’ dual goals are to get the starters sufficient work to have them ready for the real season, and to evaluate those on the roster bubble and those whose roles might expand given a fair chance to shine. Here is Brian Daboll’s explanation of that: “We had a target of what we wanted to get. For example, the inside linebackers, we were hoping for around 20 each so I was asking between every series, ‘Where are we at with (inside linebacker) Bobby O (Okereke)?’ ‘He’s at 15.’ ‘Where we at with (inside linebacker) Micah (McFadden)?’ ‘He’s at 21 or 20.’ ‘Alright, get Bobby O one more. Where we at with (inside linebacker) Darius (Muasau)?’ ‘He got 25.’ We had how many reps we wanted to get so who was in there, when they were in there, doesn’t really necessarily mean anything…I’m talking to the coaches in between every series, where they’re at, target number. (Cornerback Cor’Dale) Flott had a couple more than we were going to give him. I think he had 18, we were shooting for roughly 10-12 but they got into a little bit of a series. (Wide received Darius) Slayton and Hyatt were right around 10-12, which they got right around that area, so I’d say the reps or the rep counting that everybody’s doing, I understand it, but there’s a specific plan for it and the reason why we do it.” Offense PFF grades It’s great that the Giants have put up more than 30 points in their first two preseason games. Remember, though, who’s on the field on the other side of the ball. The Jets, who have had a pretty stout defense the past couple of years, did not play Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams, Will McDonald IV, and Jermaine Johnson at all last night. In practices this week that defense mostly gave the Giants’ offense fits. Keep that in mind as we look at the offensive grades. First, the quarterbacks: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Giants’ quarterbacks had three big-time throws last night, with Russell Wilson (81.7) leading the pack due mainly to his moon ball to Beaux Collins. Tommy DeVito (76.3) and Jameis Winston (61.2) had their own big plays. Jaxson Dart (67.4) had a highly efficient though unspectacular evening compared to his first game, but he was 14 of 16 with the only TD pass of the game. Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Welcome to the New York Giants, the home of elite NFL wide receivers. Zach Pascal graded 85.7 for his two receptions in two targets for 27 yards, while Jordan Bly (85.3) had only one catch on one target, but it was a 41-yard beauty from Tommy DeVito. Beaux Collins (84.9) had the catch-and-run that everyone will remember, an 80-yarder that just missed being a TD on Russell Wilson’s first moon ball as a Giant. Dalen Cambre (79.3) would not be denied either, with two catches in three targets for 45 yards. Who needs Malik Nabers? The Giants’ tight ends also had a good night, led by Theo Johnson (82.8), who had 35 YAC on a 30-yard catch and run, and Greg Dulcich (69.0), who had a 20-yard TD reception. Worth noting is that all the tight ends and running backs who pass blocked graded above average. Dante Miller, a running back, has impressed thus far as a receiver (72.1). Speaking of running backs: Miller made hay last night as a runner as well (72.9), with 17 yards in five attempts. The other running backs had average grades. Worth noting, though, is the 29 yards after contact (YCO) by Tyrone Tracy, continuing what we saw from him last year, as well as the 14 YCO by Miller and the 13 YCO by Jonathan Ward. I’ve sorted the blocking stats by number of blocking snaps to isolate the offensive linemen, and those who played enough snaps for their grade to be at all meaningful. Thus the players are not in ranked order by grade. Jermaine Eluemunor (76.0 overall) continues to be the best combined pass and run blocker on the Giants’ offensive line with Andrew Thomas still sidelined. However, Aaron Stinnie (71.9) graded well for the second game in a row, especially in pass blocking. The same was true to a lesser extent for Austin Schlottman (70.2). Evan Neal had his moments but had a rough night overall (47.6), including one QB hit. Marcus Mbow (55.6) was less impressive than he was last week in Buffalo, surrendering two QB hits. James Hudson III (52.7) gave up the only sack of the night by the OL. Again, it’s worth remembering, when we see the beautiful pocket the line gave Russell Wilson on his moon ball to Beaux Collins, that the Jets’ best pass rushers were all on the sideline last night.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links: How many roster spots are open?
The second preseason game is over and it is hard to really assess where the position battles really lie. Most of us only see the games and have to rely on practice reports to determine which players the team is going to keep. The game left a little to be desired but there were some […] The second preseason game is over and it is hard to really assess where the position battles really lie. Most of us only see the games and have to rely on practice reports to determine which players the team is going to keep. The game left a little to be desired but there were some bright spots. I thought Max Brosmer looked pretty good. I could see the team keeping him on the final 53 and taking a chance that no other team will pick up Rypien. If they try that with Brosmer he could get picked up. Even if he is not picked up and signs onto the practice squad, another team could still sign him if he is not protected which can only happen four times. It will be interesting. I wanted to see the wide receivers because Rondale Moore is out for the season and Jalen Nailor has a hand. I think that it could be time for the Vikings to look for alternatives. I do think that Thayer Thomas looked good. Some free agents still available are Amari Cooper, Gabriel Davis, Tyler Boyd, Brandon Powell, Jamison Crowder, and Allen Robinson among others. I like Gabriel Davis who is 26 years old and could be a longer term option. I would be surprised by any trade but not disappointed. Trying to determine the final 53 is tough. Since there are an additional 16 players that can be added to the practice squad, the final 69 is probably easier right now. One more preseason game to go. Minnesota Vikings News and Links Myles Price makes a name for himselfPrice, an undrafted rookie free agent, might’ve played himself into the to kick and punt returner position as the Vikings enter the final two weeks before the regular season begins Sept. 8 in Chicago. After catching the go-ahead touchdown in Minnesota’s preseason win over Houston last week, he exploded with a 21-yard punt return on his only attempt against the Patriots and added an 81-yard kick return late in the fourth quarter. “This guy, to me, falls under the category, if we can get him comfortable catching it, he’s gott he skill set to make guys miss,” O’Connell said while mic’d up in the third quarter. Seconds later, Price returned a punt 21 yards. “There it is. Make the first miss. That’s a helluva job right there,” O’Connell reacted live to the return. Did any wide receivers step up?While Lucky Jackson had a bad drop and finished with only one catch for nine yards, the Vikings didn’t get much from any other receivers, either. Tai Felton had two catches for 32 yards. Jeshaun Jones had four catches for 39 yards. Myles Price had two receptions for 11 yards (his 18-yard catch was erased by a penalty). Thayer Thomas has one catch for eight yards. Who haven’t we mentioned? Tim Jones, who finished with four catches for 68 yards, including a beautiful, over-the-shoulder catch on a perfect pass from Brosmer down the left sideline. Head coach Kevin O’Connell pulled Howell from the game after the first quarter, inserting Brett Rypien for the second stanza and undrafted free-agent rookie Max Brosmer for the entirety of the second half. Reporters asked O’Connell about those decisions following the contest. “It was really not a matter of anything Sam did or didn’t do,” O’Connell said. “I envisioned Max having the whole second half, but I wanted to make sure that [Rypien] wasn’t a victim of the clock there, where all of the sudden his time goes.” O’Connell also spoke directly to Howell’s overall day. For a lot of his chunk of time in there, [Howell] went up against their starting unit. We sat a lot of guys today, so it was going to be tough. But … I’m looking at just guys going out there and playing physical and executing and playing with detail and throwing and catching in the pass game. So obviously we didn’t get off to the fast start we wanted. But no, that decision had nothing to do with any kind of performance-based decision. It was more about a plan to try to get all three guys in a game, and now we can obviously assess with four quarters next week the best way to handle it. O’Connell also spoke at length about Brosmer and admitted that the competition for the QB2 position remains wide open in Minnesota. “What I loved about Max is there were some breakdowns up front and maybe he couldn’t progress and read through concepts, but he plays with very fast eyes and very rarely puts the ball in harm’s way when he’s doing it, which is a unique trait,” O’Connell explained. The coach noted an explosive play Brosmer made in the pass game, which referees reversed via a penalty, as well as a “dagger throw” on fourth down. Both examples displayed the relatively high ceiling Brosmer brings with him to the Vikings huddle. “The things … that he’s done and shows consistently [are] why he’s getting the reps that he is. I thought Brett Rypien did some good things, and obviously Sam had some tough circumstances,” O’Connell continued. “There’s a reason why we’re playing all three of them. As far as like what that means in the overall competition, I would just say it’s still open and we’re trying to figure out what that room is gonna like for the season.”…“I do like all the [three] players, a lot,” O’Connell said. Backup QB battle part 2 Sam Howell silenced external skepticism with a close-to-flawless effort in Minnesota’s first exhibition (11-for-13 passing, 105 yards, and a TD on a sneak).
