Ryan Mallett will have to wait at least another week to make a positive impression in the preseason. The New England Patriots' backup quarterback left Friday night's 31-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the second quarter with a head injury after an uneven performance.
Following the game, Mallett told reporters that the injury is not a concussion and he "just got hit in the chest," according to The Boston Globe's Ben Volin.
Mallett completed 9 of 18 passes for 97 yards in his limited action. He missed a wide-open potential touchdown and was erratic with his accuracy. It's a good sign for his health that the team let him watch the second half from the sideline. It's not a great sign that he's annually disappointed in August.
Tebow, meanwhile, ran an offense wholly unfamiliar to Patriots fans. There were plenty of read-option plays and even more inaccurate passes. Tebow often held the ball too long, completing 4 of 12 passes for 55 yards. Tebow also rushed for 31 yards and led a respectable-looking touchdown drive.
Tebow's effort won't make Mallett worried about his job anytime soon. And Mallett's effort won't get opposing general managers excited for a potential future trade.
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