#ProTops Primer: NFL Preseason Week 2
I don’t have to tell you how absent we’ve been lately, and for that I truly appoligize. I also am most ashamed that we completely missed the first week of the NFL Preseason, a week that saw 11 ProToppers in action.
That’s right. We have gone over double-digits in ProToppers in football. From Western Kentucky. What a time to be alive.
Below is something you can expect to find every week — it was one of my favorite things to do at Wave The Red Towel, and you best be sure we are continuing it here.
Brandon Doughty: Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys — Friday (Aug. 19) @ 7:00 CT
Doughty was, not surprisingly, probably the most anticipated debut among WKU fans, and the wait was worth it. Doughty went 7/9 for 66 yards and was briefly credited by ESPN with a touchdown pass, but unfortunately in reality it was a Zac Dysert touchdown. Doughty attempted the second-most passes of any of the four Dolphins QB’s who played last week. Lets see if he gets more time on the field and hopefully a TD pass on Friday against Dallas.
Bobby Rainey: New York Giants at Buffalo Bills — Saturday (Aug. 20) @ 3:00 CT
Lost in the shuffle and excitement of Doughty’s professional debut was Bobby Rainey’s debut in New York Blue. Rainey got touches both out of the backfield and in special teams, combining to return two kickoffs and three punts for 53 yards, while rushing the rock four times for 17 yards. Unfortunately, he also had two fumbles BUT did recover one. Silver lining? He’ll face a Bills defense on Saturday that allowed just 30 rushing yards last week against Indianapolis. (Granted, the Colts only rushed the ball 23 times.)
Jack Doyle: Indianapolis Colts vs. Baltimore Ravens — Saturday (Aug. 20) @ 6:00 CT
Good news — Jack Doyle is a daddy! Bad news — he didn’t get a target last week in the Colts win against Buffalo. But, having said that, we all know the Colts love Doyle and he doesn’t necessarily need to prove anything, so I’ma let it slide. This time. Congrats, Jack.
Quanterus Smith: Detroit Lions vs. Cincinnati Bengals — Thursday (Aug. 18) @ 6:30 CT
I know a lot of you will be pulling for the Bengals tonight, but you can at least pull for Q Smith too, right? Smith, who debuted with his new Lions club after getting cut early last year by the Broncos (who only went on to win the Super Bowl), logged two solo tackles and a sack in his debut in baby blue. We’ll have some Topper on Topper action tonight, although not directly. I doubt Q will be covering Antwane.
Antwane Grant: Cincinnati Bengals at Detroit Lions — Thursday (Aug. 18) @ 6:30 CT
Grant was, I hate to say, one of the players I forgot landed with a team post-draft. Real world has been very busy and its so long from the draft to the preseason. But, I now know and shant soon forget. Grant hauled in one catch in three targets, but damn he looks good in stripes.
Antonio Andrews: Tennessee Titans vs. Carolina Panthers — Saturday (Aug. 20) @ 2:00 CT
My growing up an Auburn fan aside, I was really bummed when the Titans took Derrick Henry this April. Because, I mean, ya already have A.A! Hopefully this can be the year he finally can break out with the Titans, but with Henry and DeMarco Murray in the mix, I’m assuming he’ll just be another one in the fold. Last week against San Diego, Andrews did the most with what he had, rushing for 41 yards on eight touches.
George Fant: Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings — Friday (Aug. 18) @ 9:00 CT
Remember that whole thing about Fant getting time with the offensive line at first string? Yeah, he actually played there in the game.
A quick search of how things went for Fant, and it’s…well, frankly not good. But hey, what do you expect from someone who has never played there in his life. I wonder if Seattle is married to the idea. I wouldn’t hate if they were, it’ll just be interesting to see how everything plays out.
Tyler Higbee: Los Angeles Rams vs. Kansas City Chiefs — Saturday (Aug. 19) @ 8:00 CT
While Doughty has probably had the most anticipated camp, Higbee arguably had the most impressive and buzzed about camp, and he only continued the hype train last week. Higbee brought in five receptions for 49 yards, and got a bit of love from Gruden. No seriously. Check it out.
Oh yeah, and that hype train that keeps rolling? Here’s just one example.
Keep doing you, Higs.
Jonathan Dowling: Buffalo Bills at New York Giants — Saturday (Aug. 20) 3:00 CT
Dowling, who is with his third NFL club since being taken in the 7th round by Oakland in 2014, had three tackles for Buffalo in their loss against Indianapolis. It’ll be another Topper v. Topper game, as Dowling and Rainey will square off.
Mitchell Henry: Green Bay Packers vs. Oakland Raiders — Thursday (Aug. 18) @ 7:00 CT
Like the other tight end ProTopper, Henry didn’t record any stats last week in the Pack’s win over the Browns. Lets see if he can torch some Raider booty this week.
Prince Charles Iworah: San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos — Saturday (Aug. 20) @ 8:00 CT
Prince Charles played but did not log a tackle or interception in his pro debut.
Jared Dangerfield: New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans — Saturday (Aug. 20) @ 7:00 CT
Dangerfield was targeted six times in his pro debut last week in a Saints loss to the Patriots, but did haul in his first catch for six yards.
Hopefully he’ll see some better numbers this week in Houston. (I like that hashtag, WKU Football.)
If you happen to catch wind of an awesome tweet, or are watching the game and one of the fellas does something awesome, let us know over on twitter at @TheTowelRackWKU.
