NFL Preseason Week 3 Stars

NFL teams had one last chance to hit the field before the regular season commences. Franchises took different approaches to the final week of the preseason. Certain teams played their starters to give them reps against different competition, while others elected to showcase players who are fighting for roster spots. We’ll take a look at players who shined in both situations.

All 32 starting quarterback slots have been confirmed throughout the league, but there seems to be some backup drama taking place in Philadelphia. The Eagles brought veteran Marcus Mariota to hold down the number two job, but he’s had a lackluster preseason. Meanwhile, McKee has played very well, and might have done enough for Philadelphia to think twice about the competition.

Theilen was always going to be an important veteran presence in Carolina this season, but his play will take on added importance with D.J. Chark’s recent injury. The former Minnesota Viking caught a touchdown in the final preseason game, and will need to be able to separate from defenders in the early part of the regular season.

The Titans invested a second round pick on Will Levis in the 2023 NFL Draft, but that selection might have motivated last year’s draft pick at quarterback to improve. Willis has looked better this preseason than he did in regular season spot duty last year. It looks like he’s done enough to hold Levis off for now.

Backup quarterbacks in Kansas City never figure to see the light of day, but the Chiefs have had to rely on reserves in big moments in the playoffs. Chad Henne filled in nicely during last year’s AFC Divisional playoff game, and the team is hoping that Gabbert can play well if Patrick Mahomes ever had to miss time.

It usually takes a monumental performance for a defensive player to get wide acclaim in the preseason, but McCloud had one of those games. He recorded three sacks against the Minnesota Vikings, and six tackles overall on the day. He hasn’t yet appeared in an NFL game, but the linebacker is hoping to crack Arizona’s roster as they break camp.

James Conner is a popular pick in fantasy football circles this year, but the Cardinals will need to spread the wealth in the backfield to keep him fresh. Clement made a strong case to receive some carries in the early going in the final preseason game. He ran for 5.6 yards a carry, amassing 79 yards against the Vikings.

Based on his repeated sentiments, it seems like Rodgers was perfectly content to sit out the preseason. However, he did get some work in for his new team against the New York Giants. He capped off his drive with a touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson. The Jets were none the worse for it, and will now look forward to their regular season opener against Buffalo on September 11.

The Giants’ receiving corps is widely viewed as one of the least lethal pass catching units in the NFL. Since they can use all the help they can get, Sills’ performance in the final preseason game will come as a welcome development. He hauled in six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown, and was targeted a team-high nine times.

With his style of play, there remains a decent probability that Baltimore starting quarterback Lamar Jackson may miss some games. The Ravens will need to have insurance under center if that happens, and they might turn to Anthony Brown in that case. Brown can also use his legs to move the chains, as evidenced by his 41 yards rushing against Tampa Bay.

It’s not clear how Wilkerson would fit into a crowded Raiders wide receiver room, but he certainly left it all out on the field against the Dallas Cowboys. He caught 10 passes for 122 yards. His longest catch was for 29 yards, which showed his ability to get open and come down with throws in tight spaces.

It’s amazing what a little competition will do for a player. The Cowboys traded for quarterback Trey Lance the day before their final preseason game, which prompted reserve passer Will Grier to shine in that contest. He threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns, and added two more touchdowns rushing. He made a strong case to remain on someone’s roster heading into the year.

Known fondly as Albert O, the former Missouri tight end seems to be an afterthought in Denver this year. Greg Dulcich is the favorite to start at the position, but Okwuegbunam reminded fans what he could do. He posted seven catches for 109 yards and one touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams. Given Denver’s injuries at wide receiver, maybe he gets more playing time to open the season.

Chris Olave enters the 2023 NFL season as the undisputed number one receiver on the Saints, but the rest of the depth chart would appear to be in flux. Oft-injured Michael Thomas and Rashid Shaheed are most commonly mentioned as ancillary options, but Krull may hang around after his seven catch, 106 yard performance against the Houston Texans.