2024 NFL preseason, Week 2: What We Learned from Saturday's games

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• READ: Journeyman Josh Johnson settles into BAL QB 2 role

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. David Ojabo looks good in latest return from injury. After two seasons washed out by injury, the former second-round pick dipped his toe into the preseason waters on Saturday. The edge rusher generated two QB pressures on just 15 first-half defensive snaps against Falcons backups. Ojabo was active, showed a good spin move and ran a solid stunt. Most importantly, Ojabo looked fresh and healthy. A pre-draft Achilles injury dropped the first-round talent and relegated him to two games as a rookie. Last year, his season ended after three games due to an ACL tear. Proving he can stay healthy in Year 3 will be big. The Ravens can use edge aid behind Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh. Ojabo could be that guy if he can stay on the field.
2. Taylor Heinicke gets the start for Falcons. Atlanta sat Kirk Cousins and rookie Michael Penix Jr. in the second preseason game, giving Heinicke a showcase opportunity. The veteran completed 8 of 16 passes for 114 yards (7.1 yards per attempt) with zero TDs and zero INTs. Playing with a host of backups, Heinicke moved the offense well. The gunslinger splashed some big plays, including a 32-yard shot and a 27-yard zinger to Chris Blair. As we’ve seen during his six-year career, there were some misses and forced balls you’d rather not see against opposing backups. However, he moved the offense, leading the Falcons into field-goal range four times in five drives. With Penix securely in the backup job, the Falcons could be showcasing Heinicke for a potential trade -- he played into the third quarter. His performance Saturday likely didn’t change the calculus one way or another.

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Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Caleb Williams starts slow, then mashes the gas pedal. The Bears offense slogged through the first quarter, going three-and-out on three consecutive drives against Bengals backups. Williams misfired on his first three passes -- two getting him on the move and a third-down intentional grounding. With Chicago failing to generate a first down, coach Matt Eberflus kept his starters in the game through the entire first half. The offense finally found its stride in the second quarter. A beautiful deep ball from Williams led to a 43-yard pass interference penalty, setting up a field goal. The final drive of the first half showcased the entire package from Williams. The rookie made good timing throws to get the drive started. Then came the highlights: Williams spun away from pressure and launched a ridiculous, off-balance, across-body lob down the left sideline to Rome Odunze. On the next play, the QB again got out of the pocket and zipped a laser to Odunze, but the wideout stepped out of bounds on the would-be touchdown. Two plays later, Caleb scrambled for a touchdown. Despite the early struggles against backups, Williams was never rattled. His processing was noticeably better this week -- even on incompletions, he was decisive. The development of the No. 1 pick is still on track.
2. Bengals show depth on defense. The score might have gotten out of hand, but Cincinnati's defense showed good depth of talent early. With backups facing Chicago starters to open the game, Cincy forced three three-and-outs. Up front, second-round defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr. muscled his way for a sack, a great sign for a player who entered the NFL known more as a run-stuffer than a penetrator. Sixth-round DE Cedric Johnson earned three QB pressures on 17 snaps. And 2023 first-rounder Myles Murphy continued his excellent offseason with a pressure in limited snaps. If those players continue to improve behind the starting crew, Lou Anarumo could have a quality rotation. On the back end, DJ Turner II and Dax Hill, in a battle for a starting gig, didn't see a target on two three-and-out series. Josh Newton made a drive-ending PBU as well. The fifth-round rookie later got beat for a long DPI and gave up a TD, but he's shown promise this offseason as a depth player. The attention in Cincy has been on the offense, but Anarumo's D should be good and have better depth in 2024 if everyone stays healthy.  

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• READ: Daboll says Jones working out rust is what preseason's for

Coral Smith's takeaways:

1. Giants QB shaky in first game back. Daniel Jones’ highly anticipated return to action got off to an inauspicious start with his very first throw almost getting picked off. He continued to struggle through his first three drives, with two ending in interceptions, including a pick-six after attempting to throw it away to avoid a safety. Jones settled down a bit over the course of the first half, notably airing it out to Darius Slayton for a pretty 44-yard completion. Jones also gave a first taste of the potential pairing with Malik Nabers, connecting four times for 54 yards, including a couple toe-tapping grabs for the rookie. With only one more game before stats start counting, the Giants will want to see much more from Jones after standing behind him as the starter.
2. Texans backups continue to battle. C.J. Stroud and the starters continued to roll in limited snaps, but once the first-teamers were out, attention shifted to those whose roster spots are less secure. John Metchie III led all receivers with six receptions for 68 yards, including two third-down conversions and the touchdown grab on the Texans’ first offensive scoring drive. As for the running backs, Dameon Pierce had the weakest outing, recording just five yards on four attempts with the starters, while Cam Akers and J.J. Taylor came in later and averaged 4.8 and 7.2 yards per carry, respectively. A surprise standout late in the game was British Brooks, who scored twice in the fourth quarter on runs of six and 15 yards. Cuts are coming, and players made their cases Saturday for Houston's 53-man roster.

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• READ: Mahomes pulls off eye-popping behind-the-back completion

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Xavier Worthy shows off big-play ability. Mr. Behind-The-Back makes watching preseason games fun. When he wasn't doing a Jason Williams impression, Patrick Mahomes unearthed chunk plays. On the first third down of the game, Mahomes found Worthy open deep for a 39-yard conversion. Worthy going in motion kept him off DBs and gave the speedster a running start against the secondary. Hunting for big plays, Mahomes then found Justin Watson for a 20-yard gain. Later, the QB just missed Worthy on another shot. After Carson Wentz took over under center, Worthy again got past the defense for a 22-yard touchdown. The blazer also took an end around for seven yards, fumbling after the hit but recovering the ball. The rookie's big-play ability should help open an offense that was stagnant at times last season. Worthy, Rashee Rice and Watson were the clear top three receivers on Saturday, with Marquise Brown injured. Skyy Moore was the primary backup, with Justyn Ross and Mecole Hardman entering with the backups. Kadarius Toney appears well down the depth chart, battling for a roster spot at this point.
2. Hendon Hooker rides the roller coaster in Kansas City. The quarterback's appearance last week was cut short by a concussion. Hooker played the entire second half Saturday, leading a comeback win over the Chiefs. The former third-round pick, who missed his entire rookie season after a college ACL injury, was wobbly out of the gate, badly airmailing his first pass while on the move. Hooker looked far more poised during his second drive, displaying good accuracy and anticipation during a field-goal drive. On the third drive, Hooker hesitated in the pocket and took a sack to scuttle the possession. The QB then led a sensational drive, finding outlets, hitting receivers in stride and capping it off with a 7-yard touchdown scramble to pull Detroit within two points. Then, with a chance to take the lead, Hooker bobbled the snap and exchange with running back Bam Knight leading to a turnover. After Detroit got the ball back, Hooker immediately hit Tom Kennedy for a 14-yard pass to comfortably get Detroit in field goal range for the win. Hooker's roller-coaster day highlights that the young passer needs seasoning, but there is an upside to his game that simply isn't there with Nate Sudfeld. The question come cut time is whether the Lions' brass trusts Hooker behind Jared Goff if injury occurs or whether they feel the need to keep a veteran on the roster.

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Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Vikings' WR3 gig still up for grabs? Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison sat out with many starters on a rainy day in Cleveland. Jalen Nailor and Brandon Powell, competing for third receiver reps, both played. Nailor played with the first group in both two- and three-receiver sets. Powell mostly played in three-WR sets. Nailor, who flashed last week, added another big play to his ledger, snagging a 31-yard ball. Powell grabbed both of his targets for 19 yards. Nailor's big plays could give him the edge in Kevin O'Connell's offense. Entering his third season, the former sixth-round pick has flashed so far this offseason, and his field-stretching ability on the outside and down the seam could make the Vikings offense even more dangerous. However, the rep breakdown during the regular season will likely depend on formations, with Powell taking slot reps when Jefferson and Addison are on the field.
2. Jim Schwartz's defense continues to come in waves. Perhaps it's not something we "learned" as much as a reiteration of fact. We know the Browns starters can create headaches for quarterbacks. Saturday's performance showed the backups can cause havoc as well. Schwartz dialed up some fun pressures with his secondary players, bamboozling Vikings backups. In the first half alone, Cleveland generated a whopping 25 QB pressures and three sacks. The Browns pressured Nick Mullens on 17 of 21 attempts, per Next Gen Stats. For the game, the group earned 29 pressures and five sacks, including a safety late in the contest. The run defense still has holes and needs work when the starters get involved, but Cleveland can still discombobulate passers regardless of who is on the field.

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Jeremy Bergman's takeaways:

1. Jets' top rookies hold their own. With most of New York and Carolina's starters sitting out Saturday's proceedings, youngsters on both sidelines got an extended amount of run. For the Jets, first-round pick Olu Fashanu played 28 offensive snaps, while later-round selections Braelon Allen and Malachi Corley played 16 and 15, respectively. Slotted at right tackle on the night, Fashanu blocked alongside second-teamers for a third-string QB and against a second-team defense. But all reps are good reps in the preseason, and in his 16 pass blocks, Fashanu allowed just one QB pressure. Allen continued to look tough out of the backfield, taking eight carries for 27 yards, but the bruiser also added two catches on four targets and seven routes, a display of his diverse skill set. New York will need to see more from Corley if he is to get his fair share of action early in the season; the third-rounder caught two balls on eight routes for 10 yards against Carolina. The breakout rookie of Saturday night, though, wasn't drafted. It was UDFA cornerback Brandon Codrington, who logged three returns (two punt, one kick) for 109 yards. Perhaps he can pull an Xavier Gipson and find a spot on the final 53, thanks to his return prowess.
2. Who can fill in for Dane Jackson? With the Panthers CB out around six weeks with a hamstring injury, the starting spot across from Jaycee Horn is open. Lamar Jackson and D'Shawn Jamison had the honors of starting Saturday with regular-season game time on the line, logging 18 and 34 snaps, respectively. Jamison earned a pass defensed, while neither corner allowed a reception when targeted. With such a young roster coming off a tough year, the Panthers are flexible at every position, especially cornerback, considering one of their starters is out for the start of the year. It's up to the likes of Jackson, Jamison and Dicaprio Bootle to make more of an impact in their final preseason outings, if they're to crack the opening day roster and not be replaced by an 11th-hour signing or acquisition (looking at you, Stephon Gilmore).

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Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Arizona backups struggle to protect. The Cardinals sat a lot of offensive starters Saturday against the Colts (including Marvin Harrison Jr., sadly), and starting QB Clayton Tune had trouble getting the offense going early, failing to cross midfield on their first three drives. They finally got on the board with a field goal on the fourth series, but the drive was marred by three straight holding penalties -- all by fifth-round OT Christian Jones -- that pushed them from the high red zone to nearly out of field-goal range. Tune wasn’t bad, even if most of his attempts were shorter. One reason why: The Colts had three sacks on Tune’s first five dropbacks. Jones also was beaten on a few rushes, taking a step backward after a strong debut last week. Offensive tackle is actually considered something of a position of strength for the Cardinals, but if young players such as Jones aren’t quite ready for action, they might have to rethink any ideas of possibly trading some of their depth there as we get closer to cutdowns.
2. Two Indy defenders make play for playing time. Hardly any starters suited up for the Colts, with the team’s most important players sitting out against the Cardinals. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t an important game for the reserves trying to battle for roles, namely two former mid-round picks on defense in Nick Cross and Adetomiwa Adebawore. Cross is vying for the open free-safety job, and he made a strong statement Saturday, playing the first four defensive series before coming out. His biggest statement was a stick on the Cardinals’ Trey Benson for a 2-yard loss, one of five tackles for Cross. Adebawore converted speed to power on a pretty bull rush that ended in a one-armed sack of Clayton Tune and later shed a blocker on a nice run stuff deep in the red zone. If Cross and Adebawore can keep the momentum going, they might very well carve out notable roles on this Colts defense.

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Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Jayden Daniels respectable again in second preseason action. The rookie QB turned in two solid offensive series against the Dolphins, twice leading the Commanders into field-goal range in another respectable night of work. Daniels’ first drive looked mostly smooth before overthrowing a third-down fade with Miami bringing a blitz, and the Commanders settled for the field-goal try (and missed). It was mostly short attempts in Daniels’ 10-of-12 passing night for 78 yards, but he got through his reads, got the ball out on time and had mostly good ball placement. Daniels also added an easy 13 yards on a read-option keeper; he’s going to be a huge weapon as a runner this year. Defensively, the Commanders rested some starters, but the cornerback concern shouldn’t be ignored. Benjamin St-Juste, one of Washington’s better corners, was beat by River Cracraft on a fade for a touchdown, as Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins’ first-team offense threw the ball with ease against the entire secondary in their one drive out there. That problem isn’t going away for the Commanders.
2. Tua, first-teamers sharp in lone series, impress Dolphins owner. In a game with several key players sitting, including Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Terron Armstead, the Dolphins’ first-team offense looked terrific in its one drive. Tua Tagovailoa was 5-of-5 passing, including a fourth-down beauty of a TD throw to River Cracraft. Tua looked very sharp and comfortable throwing to the likes of Cracraft and Jonnu Smith, and owner Stephen Ross gushed on the Dolphins’ broadcast, saying they’re “certainly contenders for the Super Bowl.” The Dolphins are absolutely loaded at running back, but is there room for a fifth one? Chris Brooks ripped off a 59-yard run on a play that was expected to go only 13 yards, per Next Gen Stats. Brooks came out of the game after being hit in the helmet, but he’s making a strong push to make the team, even with a crowded RB room. Cracraft also left the game with injury, adding a little concern after the terrific opening series.

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• READ: Steelers' QB battle an 'incomplete study' after Saturday struggles

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Steelers offensive line continues to worry. Rookie Troy Fautanu didn't play Saturday, forcing Broderick Jones to move over to the right side to replace him, and leaving Dan Moore Jr. as Pittsburgh's best option on the left side. The results were unsettling. Russell Wilson rarely had ample time to throw against Buffalo's starting defense, neither Najee Harris nor Jaylen Warren had room to run, and the Steelers offense lacked punch throughout the duration of their matchup against Buffalo's top group. Sure, it's preseason, but much of this season will be predicated on how well the Steelers can block. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith likes to run the ball, but that's not possible without effective blocking up front. And the last thing an older Wilson needs is frequent pressure. Here's to hoping the Steelers clean things up before the regular season arrives.
2. Buffalo might have a sneaky good backfield tandem. We all know about James Cook (and how he flourished once Joe Brady took over as OC last season), but many of you might not know about Ray Davis. Get familiar with the Kentucky product, because through two preseason games, he looks like a legitimate second option behind Cook. Davis sliced through Pittsburgh's defense with ease on his eight carries, racking up 58 yards and nearly finishing off a run with a touchdown. Defenders pinballed off the stocky running back, who used his low center of gravity to stay upright and keep pumping his legs for positive gains. I'm excited to see how Brady uses both of these running backs in this offense, which might finally find enough balance to truly help Josh Allen.

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Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Slingin' Sammy Howell! Yes, it's preseason, but with Geno Smith rightfully spending the night on the sideline, much of this game belonged to Seattle's offseason acquisition. He did not disappoint. After some skittish play early, Howell settled in and ripped a handful of beautiful passes down the seams, showing no fear while evading the rush, taking plenty of chances and producing positive results. His touchdown pass to Easop Winston was a thing of beauty, with Howell dropping and tossing a perfect ball away from the safety and corner into Winston's bread basket for six. Howell finished with an 11-for-14, 153-yard, one-touchdown passing line that matches the tape. Games like these help us understand why Ron Rivera chose to proceed with Howell for so long last season in Washington. Seattle should feel good about its situation behind Smith.
2. Mason Rudolph confirms his place. It's Year 3 for Malik Willis, and he still looks much like the same guy. Rudolph, meanwhile, played like a veteran with plenty of NFL experience, operating Tennessee's offense relatively efficiently and finishing off the Titans' first scoring drive by firing a dart through a tight window to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who did the rest of the work by fighting through defenders across the goal line. Rudolph's line (10 of 17, 125 yards, one touchdown) doesn't quite suggest he was fantastic, but he looked much better than Willis, and should make coach Brian Callahan a bit more comfortable with his top two quarterbacks. 

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Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Should the Chargers look for another backup QB? Easton Stick again looked shaky with Justin Herbert sidelined, turning the ball over twice and throwing for 85 yards in one half of work against the Rams. His third pass of the game easily could have been six the other way had the Rams’ Russ Yeast not dropped it. After a promising drive with a nice throw to Isaiah Spiller for 13 yards amid pressure, Stick coughed it up at the 2-yard line. It looked like he never cleanly handled Brenden Jaimes’ third-and-goal snap. The very next drive, just outside Cameron Dicker range, Stick badly misfired on an easy throw, deflecting off Simi Fehoko’s hand and right to the Rams’ Jaylen McCollough. Jim Harbaugh wants a ball-control offense, and his run game showed promise. Rookie Kimani Vidal ran decisively, Jaret Patterson converted a fourth-and-short and Spiller had a few moments. But it was undercut by another tough preseason performance for Stick. Is Herbert’s backup definitively on the roster? Stick was replaced by Luis Perez, the 30-year-old former UFL MVP signed just four days ago.
2. Bennett better with help of young Rams receivers. After his four-INT roller-coaster outing against the Cowboys, Stetson Bennett needed to show he could play with a little more poise. And he did -- even if Bennett had an up-and-down night overall, playing the entire game against the Chargers. There were nice moments for sure, including a pretty connection with Xavier Smith for 22 yards and a perfect decision on the 24-yard hookup with Jordan Whittington, coming off his first read to convert the third down. But Bennett also missed some other third-down throws and was 0 for 2 on fourth downs, including an interception on fourth and goal. Had Bennett seen him, Whittington appeared open underneath on the play. The sixth-round receiver continued a strong start to his pro career with five catches for 52 yards. His fellow preseason hero, Smith, also had a good night, with five grabs for 45 yards, adding a 9-yard run. They’re both making strong cases for the initial 53 if they haven’t already made it. Even with the slight concern with Bennett, the young receivers flashed some real skill.

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Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. The duality of Mac Jones. I wanted to use this space to wax poetically about Parker Washington's efforts to earn a role on this roster, but by the end of the game, it became clear we needed to talk about the former Patriot. Jones' start was filled with highs (two touchdown passes, including a dime to Washington over the middle) and lows (Jones stumbling over his own feet while trying to navigate the pocket, missed open targets), but by the end of it, I came away with a warm and fuzzy feeling. After a couple of trying final years in New England, Jones looks like he's enjoying football again, and isn't carrying the weight of an entire franchise on his shoulders. Sure, he still does some quirky, awkward things in a game, but when it works, it's fun. That -- plus 210 yards and a 69.6 completion percentage -- made for a nice night for Jones, who represents a solid option behind Trevor Lawrence.
2. Sean Tucker shows some flashes. There wasn't much to say about this showing from the Buccaneers, who sat almost every significant player in this one, but one player stood out: former undrafted free agent Sean Tucker. The second-year back received just 15 carries last season but seems to be entering his sophomore season as an improved version of himself. First off, he's big. He's listed at 5-foot-10, 210 pounds, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was closer to 220, especially because he runs like it. Tucker barreled through arm tackles on his four carries and showed the most pop of any Buccaneers ballcarrier, finishing with 32 yards. I immediately started attempting to sort out a Buccaneers depth chart that left space for Tucker (and Rachaad White, Bucky Irving and potentially Chase Edmonds), because I think he might offer some value to the Bucs' beleaguered rushing attack. It might just be a preseason fluke, but on a night in which Tampa Bay gained just 207 total offensive yards, Tucker was a bright spot.

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• READ: Cowboys QB Trey Lance 'felt more comfortable' in improved effort

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Raiders seek separation, receive complication from QBs. Gardner Minshew took the field first in this supposedly decisive preseason game -- in which Antonio Pierce would get his final look at his two quarterbacks and decide on a starter -- hit a couple of shot plays, and then watched the wheels fly off the offense's axles. The Raiders found themselves on the plus side of the field three times with Minshew under center, turned it over on downs twice and settled for a field goal once. Luke Getsy's offense lacked any sense of flow, and Minshew missed open targets on a couple of occasions, contributing to the unit's repeated stalls and giving the Raiders little, if any decisive proof that Minshew should be their starter. Aidan O'Connell entered the game in the first half and received two possessions, showing off better accuracy and rhythm than Minshew on his first drive (which admittedly began at Dallas' 28), then went three-and-out on his second opportunity inside two minutes. Fortunately, O'Connell orchestrated a well-paced, effective scoring drive to open the second half, including a fourth-and-2 conversion and a rollout touchdown pass to Harrison Bryant. Unfortunately, he followed that up by cutting a promising march the following possession short on a pick six. His overall performance probably won’t be enough to push him past Minshew, considering the highlight came in the third quarter of a preseason game, but I still lean toward O'Connell based on Saturday's showing, even if it was far from certain. We'll see how Pierce interprets this data before making a decision.
2. Have a day, Andrew Booth. For a second straight August, Dallas swapped defensive backs via trade, acquiring Booth from Minnesota in a low-level deal that understandably didn't move the needle much. Booth made waves Saturday, though, showing off some excellent tackling ability in the open field on his way to a team-best six tackles in the first half. Sure, I could talk about Trey Lance in this space, as Lance put together a couple nice scoring drives, but Booth was the one who impressed me most, especially considering how much of an afterthought the trade was. He might provide some nice depth to a Dallas defense that many expect to be a menace in 2024.