Preseason 2023 NFL Week 1: Biggest Takeaways from Saturday’s Games

The NFL Preseason slate rolled on Saturday with a lot of well-known quarterback debuts. Anthony Richardson, Will Levis and Bryce Younger all got their first model of live action within the early wave of games.

Groups smooth have with regards to a month to prepare for the official open of the NFL season, nonetheless these preseason games are smooth crucial. The exhibitions present a live stage to provide rookies an introduction to the league, contemporary additions a ramp up to acclimate in contemporary systems and people on the roster bubble to fabricate a role.

It be crucial now to now not learn too grand into closing ratings and stat lines, nonetheless there are some advisable takeaways that stretch out of every sport.

Here’s a stumble on at what we discovered from Saturday’s action to date with more takeaways to achieve as the slate progresses.

The Indianapolis Colts took Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick thanks to the enticing bodily tools, now not on memoir of he’s a carried out product.

That notion used to be reinforced in Richardson’s first live spherical in opposition to an NFL defense.

The frail Florida quarterback had a small bit of every part in his first preseason open. He executed his first two makes an try to Isaiah McKenzie for transient positive factors. When he went assist to the McKenzie successfully for the third time, he sailed a dash off his assist foot and used to be picked.

There had been also some correct moments for the rookie. In opposition to the conclude of the main quarter, he had a beautiful deep ball that he dropped correct over the defender to Alec Pierce, despite the fact that the sophomore wasn’t able to direct the ball in.

In all, Richardson executed 7-of-12 passes for 72 yards and not utilizing a touchdowns and the interception. He also had two carries for seven yards.

It used to be the kind of performance that aligns with his scouting file. B/R’s Derrik Klassen infamous Richardson, “flashes high-level throws nonetheless (is) liable to about a peculiar misfires per sport.”

Limiting those misfires would possibly be key if Richardson goes to open early within the season. Gardner Minshew got here in and went 6-of-6 within the main half for 72 yards to shut out the main half.

Unusual head coach Shane Steichen educated newshounds he wished to open Richardson to seem, “the build he’s at.” As it appears to be like, he’s correct the build many pundits had him. A gifted prospect with a high ceiling and a lot of room to grow.

The Titans backup quarterback war used to be one in every of the more appealing storylines of the day. Mike Vrabel and his workers sat Ryan Tannehill and let the 2 younger quarterbacks fragment responsibilities for the day to audition for the backup job.

Both played successfully overall and made a case for themselves.

Malik Willis used to be 11-of-17 for 102 yards and an interception at halftime. That’s a marked development over what he gave the influence of in his rookie season. That’s more passing yards in a single half of action than he had in all three of his begins final one year.

Even his interception used to be a catchable ball that bounced off Josh Whyle’s fingers.

The fact that Willis threw the ball 17 occasions is an encouraging label of development. This time final one year, Vrabel used to be pissed off by Willis’ indecisiveness when it got here to throwing the football and he appears to be like to be to be more cheerful in that dwelling.

Given the fact that the Titans took Will Levis with a 2d-spherical pick, or now not it is annoying to examine Willis having a future with the Titans. However, this performance showed that he’s made actual enhancements and would possibly per chance be worth one other crew giving up a pick to continue his development.

Levis got off to a rough open. He executed his first dash before throwing a shut to-pick and taking sack on a three-and-out possession. Nonetheless he regarded to resolve in after that, changing on a third-and-long within the main half and ending 9-of-14 for 85 yards and an interception at the conclude of the game.

Both quarterbacks took too many sacks (four apiece), nonetheless Willis proved he’s now not a misplaced motive and Levis showed he would possibly per chance be a solid backup to Ryan Tannehill correct now.

Life goes to be a lot more uncomplicated for Justin Fields with the addition of DJ Moore.

Moore’s first get in Bears uniform made that rather apparent. He took a really straight forward cloak cloak dash to the house from 62 yards to tie the game up after the Titans scored on their opening pressure.

That used to be Moore’s supreme purpose of the day as the starters had been rather restricted, nonetheless it undoubtedly used to be a survey at what he can for Fields and this offense. Darnell Mooney and Trot Claypool are good complimentary devices nonetheless Moore is a No. 1 receiver who has had success with less-than-ultimate quarterback scenarios.

Khalil Herbert also looked correct in restricted reps. He took one other straight forward cloak cloak dash for a 56-yard dwelling name.

Fields ended up going 3-of-3 for 129 yards and two touchdowns and not utilizing a interceptions.

Fields smooth needs to demonstrate that he also can fair furthermore be a downfield passer with consistency nonetheless Bears followers must be exasperated to seem the extent of execution and the added dimension that Moore goes to direct to the offense.

Bryce Younger’s first preseason play ended up being rather emblematic of his complete debut.

On 2d down, the Panthers got here out in an empty formation, the Jets responded with a line of defense stunt that brought rigidity rapid. Younger didn’t dread. He checked out his first learn before moving to the supreme facet of the area and handing over an correct ball to Adam Thielen as he took a shot from Solomon Thomas.

Younger’s processing, accuracy and expertise to tackle rigidity had been causes he used to be the No. 1 pick. In that regard, Younger did a great job of exhibiting those issues.

Nonetheless the overall performance of the offensive line must be a provide of reveal. Younger played for 3 drives before giving technique to Matt Corral. The rookie used to be sacked correct one time nonetheless constantly had rigidity in his face.

In total, the Jets had six quarterback hits within the main two quarters. Corral took two sacks within the main half.

The Jets had been one in every of the supreme dash-speeding groups within the league final season. They gave the influence of they had been in midseason develop, nonetheless the Panthers must shore up their dash security if they would possibly well care for the No. 1 pick wholesome all season.

No doubt one of many mammoth questions the Cowboys must answer to loyal thru the preseason is what the backfield goes to seem like with out Ezekiel Elliott.

Pollard overtook Elliott for the lead role final season, nonetheless the dilapidated smooth took masses of carries to care for Pollard contemporary.

Dan Graziano of ESPN reported the Cowboys smooth don’t look for Pollard as any individual whose going to present the likelihood to raise the backfield by himself:

“The Cowboys smooth look for Pollard as a participant they have gotten to be careful now to now not overwork if they would possibly well care for getting the supreme out of him, so I’d seek data from them to make employ of other backs alongside side him.”

With Pollard out of the lineup, the Cowboys other backs had a risk to demonstrate additionally they are able to fair grab a role within the offense.

The outcomes had been uninspiring.

Rico Dowdle got essentially the most carries within the main half when the Jaguars 1’s and a pair of’s had been in. He had six carries nonetheless had correct 21 yards and seven of them got here on one raise. He did have some burst nonetheless also fumbled at the target line.

Malik Davis used to be even more unproductive with three yards on four carries. Dowdle used to be undoubtedly the simpler of the 2, he also had three receptions for 33 yards.

Rookie Deuce Vaughn added a spark within the 2d half. He broke off a 26-yarder and carried out with eight carries for 50 yards and a landing.

Perchance he’ll look for more early action within the 2d week of the preseason, or the Cowboys will most likely be a crew that appears to be like to be to add a dilapidated assist thru free company.

The stat line doesn’t continuously uncover the overall fable, especially within the preseason when working with a small sample size. Zay Flowers used to be a supreme example in his Baltimore Ravens debut.

The field ranking says the massive receiver had one raise for one yard, nonetheless he showed off blueprint more than those numbers would level to.

First off, here’s a stumble on at the one-yard speed. Even supposing he didn’t damage it, he made an athletic transfer correct to gain it assist to the street of scrimmage. He broke out a video sport-esque juke to shake the main defender.

The largest thing that Flowers did all evening used to be verify Peter King’s analysis of the electrical receiver. King named Flowers the “most impressive” rookie he had considered within the main six camps he visited this season, noting that cornerbacks needed to preserve him or intervene to care for him from getting the ball for NFL on NBC.

The Ravens first-crew offense (sans Lamar Jackson) scored on a pressure wherein Flowers drew an illegal employ of fingers and a defensive preserving penalty.

If it had been an actual sport or now not it is a stable guess the Ravens would have compelled the Eagles to continue covering Flowers and he would have had a grand bigger influence on the sector ranking.

The NFL at neat would possibly well well have made a mistake allowing Jalen Carter to descend the overall technique to No. 9 within the draft. The Eagles didn’t necessarily need one other dominant dash-rusher, nonetheless Carter wasted no time in exhibiting his capability to turn out to be one.

Josh Johnson came all the blueprint thru out who he used to be on his first play. Carter crossed up Ben Cleveland on his first snap and got to Johnson with some unpleasant intentions to make his presence felt.

Carter’s dash speed numbers at Georgia weren’t discover-popping. He had correct six sacks in his final two seasons with the Bulldogs, nonetheless that’s why or now not it is a must-must seem at traits.

Bleacher Account’s Matt Holder infamous Carter’s capability to, “redirect and make the offensive lineman dash over if slanting places him out of region.”

It used to be correct to seem him set that on film correct from the jump. Nicely, that’s whereas you are an Eagles fan. For the opposite 31 groups within the league, or now not it is now not enormous news.

The Fight of Los Angeles preseason sport had a heavy TCU flavor to it. The Chargers drafted a trio of TCU stars from final one year’s Fiesta Bowl winners in Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis and Max Duggan.

The Rams also had two Horned Frogs in action as successfully with interior offensive lineman Steve Avila and cornerback Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson every getting action.

Nonetheless it used to be Johnston and Davis who stood out as capability distinction-makers for the Chargers.

Johnston’s day started off slowly. He has had disorders with drops in coaching camp and had two on the crew’s opening pressure. Nonetheless he ended up getting issues assist now not off target, bringing in a landing dash from Easton Stick correct before halftime.

Derius Davis—a fourth-spherical pick for the Chargers—did his easiest to order the punt returner role. He showcased his bustle and explosiveness with an 81-yard punt return for a landing.

Davis also caught the loyal two targets thrown his technique for 21 yards to level to that he’s in a position to contributing on offense and particular groups.

That’s enormous news for a crew that struggled offensively when either Keenan Allen or Mike Williams used to be now not within the lineup as a result of damage.