Preseason Blog: Players to Watch and Week 3 Winner
NFL training camps and preseason games are well under way and we are quickly approaching the 53-man roster deadline of September 2.
The weeks leading up to the start of the regular season often go unappreciated and ignored by many, yet, in reality, many questions and concerns are answered here.
Today continues a four-week series that will address some notable topics of the preseason ranging from position battles to trades and everything in between.
This week’s segment will focus on the finality of quarterback dramas, injuries and the risk thereof, the tragedy and effect of Hurricane Harvey on Houston and the NFL, and of course, my week 3 winner, or winners.
For once this preseason the drama of quarterback battles seemed overshadowed. As much as I love the back-and-forth of preseason position battles, it will be nice to focus elsewhere this week. But before I get into all the new drama of week 3, a look at where teams stand in terms of starting QBs: DeShone Kizer in Cleveland, undecided in Chicago, and Blake Bortles in Jacksonville (for week 1, at least). Any team that is not in the top echelon will face quarterback woes going through the season, but at least a few are beginning to find answers, at least on the QB front. There are copious other hurdles teams must face.
At the tail end of week 2, Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a severe ankle sprain in the Giants’ game against the Browns. He has since sat out practice and is expected to miss the rest of the preseason. While this injury should not keep Beckham from his all-star ways this season, others have not been quite as fortunate. Four starters, and relative center pieces for their respective teams, have been counted down and out for the upcoming regular season: Julian Edelman, New England.
Spencer Ware, Kansas City
Cameron Meredith, Chicago
Albert McClellan, Baltimore. Each suffered a torn ACL during their week 3 matchups. Cowboys’ linebacker Anthony Hitchens nearly suffered the same fate but came away “lucky”.
Of course, injuries can be incredibly devastating to a team and it will likely be visible with each of these organizations, even for Tom Brady and company.
There are numerous other injuries, many of which are not season ending. But a very serious question can be raised from this: Should starters play in the preseason? Another popular dilemma is if there should be a preseason at all. The latter query is one that most people might shrug off. Preseason games are a valuable time to evaluate talent and prepare teams for the season. However, a case can be made for the first question.
With so many starters falling victim to injury, facing the possibility of season-ending pain, is it worth the risk starting 1st string players? Some would argue yes, there is a need to get reps and prepare for the upcoming 17-week journey. Others might say no, for obvious reasons. Following the Beckham injury, Cowboys’ writer David Helman made his feelings known:
I honestly feel the same way. All too often are big name players put in jeopardy just for the sake of a few reps. Think back to last year, it took all of three plays for Tony Romo’s season, and eventually career, to be over. None of the aforementioned players will likely see any major repercussions of these injuries on their careers like Romo did, but the effects are immediate and run deep. With the roster cap deadline quickly approaching, teams can only hope to have the best available players filling roster spots. When injuries take place it makes life, and business, just a little bit more complicated.
Speaking of complicating the business, Ezekiel Elliott’s appeal hearing began on Tuesday, August 29 and has finally concluded today. There are hopes and even expectations that the suspension will be reduced, but that remains to be seen as of yet.
Similarly, Bengals’ linebacker Vontaze Burfict faces suspension. What was originally set to be a five game suspension for an illegal hit has been reduced to three games.
On complicating life, Hurricane Harvey has wreaked havoc on southeast Texas, specifically Houston and the Texans. The past week and a half have been a roller coaster for the team and coaches. The Texans held camp in Virginia this year and because of their schedule the past weeks, have not been able to get home to be with family in midst of the tragic destruction.
All is not without hope, however. Texans DE J.J. Watt took to social media to raise funds and support for victims and families of the devastation. What started as an effort to raise $200k for relief efforts has turned into a trek above and beyond $10 million.
The battle in Houston is far from over and you can click here to donate to Watt’s flood relief fund, and here to donate to the Red Cross to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Although not technically part of week 3’s games, J.J. Watt and the NFL are my winners this week. The effort and camaraderie demonstrated this past week by players, coaches, and owners alike as proven that the NFL is not just a sports organization. It is a family and a force for global impact.
