2021 NFL preseason, Week 1: What we realized from Saturday’s video games

NFL.com breaks down what you might presumably well luxuriate in got to understand from Week 1 of the 2021 NFL preseason. Exhaust up on every game’s largest takeaways the spend of the hyperlinks below:

1) Tua Tagovailoa enters the 2021 season with count on marks hovering over his head after struggling as a rookie. In the Dolphins’ first preseason action, the quarterback displayed wide improvements in his self perception and poise. Tua’s accuracy used to be on the designate in his three drives, particularly downfield. He looped a stupendous contact-toss to tight cease Mike Gesicki — 20-plus air yards — that went for 50 yards to arrange the Fins’ first topic purpose. Tagovailoa place several balls on the cash in tight protection, particularly on third downs en path to ending eight straight passes at one point. His calmness in the pocket used to be encouraging after a wayward rookie season. The 2nd-365 days QB’s one dim play used to be a disastrous resolution. With Miami using into the purple zone, Tua threw system slack over the center into double protection and used to be picked off in the cease zone. It used to be a heart-broken system for his day to whole and a lesson to learn from in the first preseason game. Till that slack throw, Tua regarded more mobile and confident in the modern offense. No matter the INT, it used to be an encouraging performance. He accomplished 8 of 11 for 99 yards and an INT.

2) Attrition to the Bears’ defense this offseason led to questions about whether Chicago’s stifling unit might presumably well perhaps defend its anticipated level of play. With the starters taking part in a pair of sequence Saturday, the unit regarded appropriate. The entrance seven used to be particularly noticeable, with Khalil Mack and his crew living on the quite quite a lot of side of scrimmage in opposition to a suspect Miami O-line. The accelerate defense used to be stifling early, and the protection compelled a pair of demanding catches from Dolphins in tight quarters. Linebacker Alec Ogletree had a wild plod, making a pair of appropriate stuffs, nonetheless got beat by Mike Gesicki deep. He ended that force with a noteworthy take care of for loss to force a topic purpose. Khyiris Tonga appears to be like esteem a keeper in the center, gobbling up blockers. The Bears D also compelled Tua’s INT with an acceptable play on the ball from safety DeAndre Houston-Carter. It used to be a solid launch for build spanking modern defensive coordinator Sean Desai.

— Kevin Patra

1) The Broncos’ top two draft picks got off to blazing starts in their first preseason action. No. 9 overall choice Patrick Surtain II II housed a seize-six early in the 2nd quarter to blow the sport launch. Attempting esteem a savvy broken-down, Surtain jumped an out route, timing the slack pass from Jake Browning completely, and jetted for a 30-yard touchdown. A ready-made starter, Surtain is relaxed in and out of his breaks, adding one more PBU in the cease zone earlier in the sport. Second-round seize Javonte Williams regarded spry off the soar, exhibiting good imaginative and prescient and speedily cuts. The working abet compiled 29 yards on five carries, netting first-down runs on every of his first two totes. The rookie also displayed appropriate eyes and take care of-breaking ability on a immediate TD accelerate that used to be negated by a penalty. Williams need to smooth place force on starter Melvin Gordon for snaps when the season opens.

2) The Vikings sat their starters and key backups, so there wasn’t noteworthy crucial to take faraway from Minnesota getting beat down. With simply three practices below his belt attributable to a stint on the reserve/COVID-19 checklist, rookie quarterback Kellen Mond used to be tossed into the fire in the 2nd quarter following Browning’s INT and done the period. The rookie regarded dull to react early in the passing game. He added a pair of appropriate runs, confirmed the flexibility to flee the pocket and ample arm energy. Mond got more tickled warding off the bound because the reps piled up, nonetheless lacked accuracy and never stretched the topic. Any ideas he would push Kirk Cousins any time at the moment need to be place into carbonite. Mond accomplished a dim 6 of 16 for 53 yards (3.3 YPA). With two more preseason video games, Mond need to smooth rep a boatload of reps to add seasoning sooner than the humble season begins and he spends the season on the pine. Undrafted rookie working abet A.J. Rose earned 100 rushing yards and 18 receiving yards — main the Vikes in every categories. His 118 whole yards were greater than half of of Minnesota’s 235 whole.

— Kevin Patra

1) Donovan Peoples-Jones has been the famous individual of Browns camp this summer season and proved those buzzing in Berea correct along with his contributions Saturday evening. His absolute top rep of the evening, a toe-tapping third-down reception along the sideline, highlighted the prospective that has of us buzzing about him. However the actual famous individual of the evening used to be rookie linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, a 2nd-round seize whom the Browns were tickled to make a quite quite a lot of on Day 2 in a seize that left of us all around the league resentful. As a linebacker with a frame of a field safety, Owusu-Koramoah’s bound is a weapon when blitzing, and he confirmed it off with a Third-down sack. It popped all over again in a while one more third down when Owusu-Koramoah whiffed on a jam attempt, then recovered to accelerate down Jags receiver Collin Johnson, erasing greater than four yards of separation in reasonably over a 2nd to take him down for no create. Owusu-Koramoah isn’t the truth is a headlining name in Cleveland, nonetheless might presumably well perhaps cease up being a key defender with performs esteem these.

2) Trevor Lawrence can sling it, nonetheless his largest hurdle this season potentially might presumably well perhaps not be of his fill doing. Lawrence used to be forced on more than one makes an attempt in the first quarter, ensuing in passes that amounted to inbounds throwaways, and he wasn’t in a sequence to rep the ball out on two times, ensuing in a pair of sacks (along with a compelled fumble, which Lawrence recovered). Lawrence has ample playmakers to transfer the Jaguars offense — Marvin Jones made two effectively timed catches to intention Jacksonville current sets of downs, and Laviska Shenault Jr. caught a pair of passes — nonetheless his rookie ceiling will be keep by how effectively the Jaguars’ offensive line can provide protection to him. When he had time to throw, Lawrence used to be as marketed, nonetheless the Jaguars cannot be delighted about the moments when Cleveland’s backup defensive linemen got force. They’re going to luxuriate in to be greater in opposition to NFL starters in the humble season.

— Prick Shook

1) As the Saints attempt to rep through the opening allotment of the season without famous individual receiver Michael Thomas, focus used to be on the WR corps Saturday. Marquez Callaway stood out immediately. The 6-foot-2 receiver got launch with ease on the sport’s first force, exhibiting solid route working and sticky fingers. Callaway caught three balls for 61 yards, along with a 28-yard snag. After a mostly aloof rookie season outside one 75-yard game, Callaway projects to having a noteworthy role in the Saints offense, particularly with Thomas keep to omit action. Saturday confirmed noteworthy promise. Lil’Jordan Humphrey, a 6-foot-4 wideout, also flashed the flexibility to be greater than a depth player. After botching his first target, Humphrey caught three of his subsequent four for 29 yards and a TD. Missing from the offense used to be a topic-stretching deep threat Saturday. Nonetheless, if Callaway and Humphrey can grow below fire sans Thomas, there will be some promise for whichever QB wins the starting gig.

2) Patrick Queen appears to be like faster, slimmer and esteem a purple lightning traipse one day of the Ravens’ defense. Wearing No. 6, Queen used to be all around the topic in dinky snaps (20). The ballhawk used to be a blur, compiling four tackles, two for loss, and a sack. A two-play sequence underscored the form of contrast-maker the 2nd-365 days official can even be in 2021. On a temporary swing pass to working abet Devonta Freeman, Queen used to be shot out of a cannon to force a 3-yard loss. The subsequent play, the LB keep the sting and sacked Taysom Hill for a 12-yard loss. Two performs harmful-15 yards. All on Queen. The playmaker highlighted a Ravens defense that flew all around the topic, forcing turnovers at every level. Baltimore generated three compelled fumbles and three INTs. With the Ravens losing pass rushers this offseason, there were some questions about whether Wink Martindale’s defense would live top-shelf. In line with Saturday’s tilt, query one more aggressive unit spearheaded by Queen.

— Kevin Patra

1) The Jets deserve some credit for surrounding Zach Wilson with official playmakers, attributable to on Saturday, their ability used to be on rotund expose. Wilson used to be interesting, and so were his pass-catchers, who consistently hauled in his on-target throws. Corey Davis used to be there to create a key seize along the sideline on third down, and on one more third down later in the quarter, it used to be Keelan Cole snagging a accelerate from Wilson over the center for one more first down. They’re smooth a work in progress, nonetheless even in their first preseason action, the Jets already glance esteem a technique more capable bunch than they were closing season.

2) The Giants had 92 whole offensive yards through three quarters. That’s not exactly revelatory manufacturing, nonetheless after spending a season largely without Saquon Barkley, the avid gamers in the abet of him on the depth chart are significant. Newcomer Corey Clement flashed as a potentially viable 2nd option for New York, working laborious on his first few carries and serving to the Giants reach the purple zone sooner than fumbling away New York’s absolute top scoring chance of the evening. Clement accomplished with an otherwise authentic line (five rushes for 32 yards) and stands as a contender for RB2 in the abet of Barkley with two preseason video games left to play.

— Prick Shook

1) Welcome to your Kodak moment, Joseph Ossai. The third-round defensive cease’s versatility and ability to make a contribution on the sting immediately flashed in some encouraging ways in the preseason opener. On the sixth play of the sport’s opening force, Ossai impressively beat stud correct take care of Tristan Wirfs on his system to ending Tom Brady‘s evening with a sack on third-and-10. A pair of performs after hideous all of Tampa, Ossai followed that effort with exhibiting on the actual side, forcing Blaine Gabbert to bound his throw, which resulted in an incompletion. An early third-quarter wrist be troubled sidelined Ossai (head coach Zac Taylor mentioned he wanted to be evaluated sooner than sparkling the severity) for the period, nonetheless his debut served as a solid introduction.

2) Vying for a residing in the Bucs’ safety room, Javon Hagan became in an interesting evening. Hagan, an undrafted free-agent signing in 2020, used to be all around the topic, registering four tackles (two for a loss) and an INT. The seize — leaping, one-handed snag — used to be no doubt Hagan’s absolute top play of the evening; the following fumble, which used to be recovered by Bengals’ wideout Michael Thomas, nearly immediately negated the highlight that preceded it. Hagan will be one to defend an survey on subsequent week in Tennessee.

— Jelani Scott

1) With most of Green Bay’s top pass-catchers spending the evening on the sideline, the evening became a chance for Devin Funchess. The noteworthy-bodied receiver helped Jordan Like rep tickled and defend drives, the spend of his astronomical wingspan to haul in a reasonably errant throw and defend a force going. Funchess accomplished with six receptions for 70 yards and used to be clearly the Packers’ top playmaker with most of their premier avid gamers spending the evening on the sideline. It is a packed personnel after the return of Randall Cobb, nonetheless if Funchess wanted to create a statement about his candidacy, he absolutely did so Saturday.

2) With the Texans’ quarterback snort in flux, the preseason is the first keep of opportunities for Houston to launch to belief for a ability existence without Deshaun Watson. Enter Davis Mills, a rookie with lower than a rotund season’s worth of collegiate experience. Mills confirmed promise in his play, ending 50% of his passes and injecting existence into Houston’s offense. He connected with a fluctuate of targets and got the ball out at a solid lumber (2.62 seconds on moderate, per Next Gen Stats), and while he wasn’t entirely appropriate — a pair of deep throws to the cease zone left out his targets — Mills did rep a mode to transfer the ball. In some unspecified time in the future of one possession, Mills twice converted on third down by completely putting passes to intended targets out of the reach of defenders. He ended up main a touchdown force that started in Green Bay territory, and though he also threw a dim interception in the purple zone, the Texans need to be impressed by what they saw from him — and from Houston’s offensive line, which appears to be like improved below respected assistant James Campen.

— Prick Shook

1) Even though the eye and admiration sooner than, for the period of and after game used to be upon Trey Lance, the receiver who hauled in Lance’s 80-yard opening-quarter gain has been elevating eyebrows in coaching camp and followed suit Saturday. Trent Sherfield’s 80-yard TD gain used to be his absolute top rep and his absolute top target, nonetheless that used to be par for the direction in the first half of for the 49ers with seven avid gamers garnering catches and absolute top rookie abet Trey Sermon getting two receptions. San Francisco’s WR corps hasn’t been immediate on ability the previous couple of years, nonetheless injuries and unfulfilled promise luxuriate in left the door launch for build spanking modern ability to emerge. Sherfield, entering his fourth season after three years with NFC West-rival Arizona, is on the whole a player for San Francisco.

2) Would possibly the Chiefs’ offense provide up more weapons? A first glance used to be had of working abet Jerick McKinnon, who arrived in Kansas Metropolis after injuries dismantled his ability over the final three years. McKinnon regarded appropriate and current as he tallied three carries for 19 yards and two catches for 21 yards. If the Chiefs are to profit from a wholesome McKinnon, what a boon it might presumably well perhaps be with Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman and Clyde Edwards-Helaire already daunting for defenses. Extensive receiver Byron Pringle, who got three starts a season prior to now for Ok.C., hauled in a first-quarter gain and also portends to contribution. The Patrick Mahomes-led offense has ability beyond its established stars.

— Grant Gordon

1) The Seahawks’ never-ending search for for working abet depth led them to drafting DeeJay Dallas in 2020. In opposition to the Raiders, Dallas displayed the 2-system ability that made him an keen prospect in the first residing. With broken-down Alex Collins getting the launch, Dallas wouldn’t survey his first contact, outside of two 20-plus yard kickoff returns, except the launch of the third quarter. He made basically the most of those reps with 69 scrimmage yards, along with a 43-yard rep-and-accelerate gain on fourth-and-4 in the third quarter. Dallas’ performance gave him head launch in the combat for backup reps in opposition to Rashaad Penny, who sat this one out.

2) Certain, it be absolute top the preseason opener, nonetheless questions about the Raiders’ offensive line existed long sooner than Saturday evening. The bunch’s exhibiting in opposition to Seattle provided a mixed rep of outcomes, to grunt the least. Las Vegas trotted out a starting lineup of Brandon Parker, John Simpson, Andre James, Lester Cotton and Alex Leatherwood. And, by evening’s cease, 11 linemen saw taking part in time in opposition to Seattle. The unit created decent working lanes (158 rushing yards, two touchdowns) nonetheless struggled at instances in pass protection, allowing four sacks, along with two to linebacker Cody Barton. Saturday used to be a launch on the side road to building depth in the abet of Richie Incognito, Kolton Miller and Denzelle Appropriate, all of whom failed to play.

— Jelani Scott

1) As frail Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley and most up-to-date head coach Sean McVay reunited to launch the preseason, they every embraced the same philosophy of sitting key starters (in McVay’s case, all of them). Thus started a 3-game glance at the groups’ reserve quarterbacks. With starter Matthew Stafford and backup John Wolford being held out of the preseason, Devlin Hodges and Bryce Perkins will be in store for a intriguing showdown for the No. 3 residing. The necessary round went to Perkins, who used to be 7-of-10 for 42 yards, had a 111.3 rating and tossed the Rams’ absolute top gain to Trishton Jackson. Perkins also impressed on the ground with 23 yards on four carries, along with a highlight-reel play when he hurdled a defender. Hodges, in the period in-between, struggled to the tune of 11-of-19 passing for 85 yards, a 47.1 rating, no rankings and an interception. The undrafted rookie confirmed promise, while the frail Steelers residing starter sputtered.

2) As for the Bolts backups, Trip Daniel has made a form of cash over 11 seasons as a broken-down backup who can manage in the pinch. He confirmed that Saturday in the launch, tossing for 104 yards on 24 makes an attempt. But youngster Easton Stick used to be spotless at 7 for 7 for 63 yards. Neither used to be stellar to the survey, nonetheless in case of emergency, if the Bolts need to destroy the glass at the least, ability to cease afloat used to be seen.

— Grant Gordon

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