NFL Preseason Recap: Week 1 Snaps, Routes & Personnel Usage

In most senses, NFL preseason football doesn't matter. It won't help us figure out which teams will make the Super Bowl or playoffs, nor will it help bettors with their strategy heading into the season. Preseason games are also highly unlikely to lead us to the next fantasy breakout star, although I do recall an exception of sorts back in 2017, when Todd Gurley's every-down role in an exhibition contributed to ongoing hype that ultimately bore fruit.

The reason we pay attention to these games — or at least some of us do — is because coaches sometimes drop hints about depth charts or role specifics, e.g., which receiver is on track for the WR3 role, or whether or not the team will use a third-down specialist in the backfield. It's the kind of stuff that doesn't matter much for fantasy if we're only playing in 10-team redraft leagues, but it can be useful for making late-round picks or other roster decisions in deeper formats, dynasty, DFS, etc.

For those who care about all of the nitty-gritty details and backup-RB job battles, you'll find everything you need below with my breakdown of every game from the first week of the NFL preseason. In addition to watching most of the games (or at least the parts that included probable starters), I've pored over NFL box scores, tweets, gamebooks, etc. to provide details on both usage and performance.

I'll certainly make note of rookies or breakout candidates who played well, but the main focus is on any hints that coaches may have dropped about roles and usage for the regular season. 

It's important to take everything we're seeing with a grain of salt, keeping in mind that the information merely gives us hints about strategy for September — we shouldn't extrapolate any of it into certainties. My approach as a writer, in general, is to relay any information/observations that I think readers might want to know, even if it's stuff I don't personally consider significant.

If you're wondering what interests me most, you'll find it in bold below. For some games, there will be a lot of notes and details. For others, I'll barely dive in, because the guys we care about for fantasy didn't play anyway.

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Indianapolis Colts (16) @ Baltimore Ravens (17) 

Both teams rested most of their projected starters, but the Colts had a couple notable exceptions in QB Anthony Richardson and TE Tyler Warren.

Indianapolis Colts

• Richardson was supposed to play until midway through the second quarter, but he injured his finger and left the game after taking a big hit from an unblocked pass rusher on the second drive. Daniel Jones then played the rest of the first half, completing 10 of 22 passes for 144 yards while leading the Colts to three field-goal attempts and two punts on five drives.
  • Advantage: Jones, if only because Richardson's injury issues have become such a source of frustration, not to mention his failure to correctly set the protection / identify an unblocked pass rusher. Also, Jones' stats would look much better without a couple of drops from WR Anthony Gould.
• Warren looked good, catching three passes for 40 yards, after having a seven-yard gain wiped out by a penalty on Indy's second snap of the game. He appeared to play nearly every snap on offense over the first few drives, although that's not necessarily a good thing when Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman, Josh Downs and Alec Pierce were all held out. Warren is a rookie, of course, which explains why he played. TBD if he has a three-down role come Week 1.
• RB Tyler Goodson got the start, but rookie fifth-round pick DJ Giddens played more snaps alongside Jones and the second-string offense. Neither did much, combining for 28 yards on 10 carries.
  • RB Khalil Herbert, meanwhile, didn't get his first carry until the third quarter and was still taking touches deep into the fourth quarter. He did score a TD, finishing with 7-29-1 rushing and one incomplete target, but the rotation suggests Herbert is behind both Goodson and Giddens.

Baltimore Ravens

• Keaton Mitchell got the start, taking five carries for 53 yards and a TD on the two drives that QB Cooper Rush played, while Rasheen Ali got just one carry.
  • Both Mitchell and Ali got some playing time after Rush was done; Mitchell finished with a 9-68-1 rushing line, and Ali with 9-37-1.
  • Mitchell appears locked in ahead of Ali for what may be just one roster spot (as the No. 3 RB). The question now is whether Mitchell can also take away some of the snaps/touches that went to Justice Hill (or Derrick Henry) in 2024.
  • On the downside, Mitchell came out of the game with an undisclosed injury, missing practice Saturday.
• Rookie sixth-round pick LaJohntay Wester had an 87-yard TD on a punt return and also led the Ravens with 41 receiving yards (nobody else had more than nine). He's looking good for a roster spot, although Year 1 playing time on offense may require injuries to others.

How do these players stack up against the rest of the NFL? Visit our fantasy football rankings for a list of the top players for the remainder of the season.

Cincinnati Bengals (27) @ Philadelphia Eagles (34) 

The Bengals used their starters for two drives, while the Eagles rested all but 3-4 of their projected starters. Cincinnati ran over Philadelphia's backup defense with a pair of TDs on two drives, but the Eagles' second-string offense did the same to Cincy's first-string defenders (putting up 10 points on two series).

Cincinnati Bengals

• QB Joe Burrow misfired on his first pass attempt but then completed nine in a row, including TDs to TE Tanner Hudson and Ja'Marr Chase, the latter of whom had a 4-77-1 receiving line on four targets (plus a second TD cancelled by a blocking penalty).
• RB Chase Brown took 11 of 15 snaps on the first two drives, with Samaje Perine playing the other four (in passing situations). Brown took eight touches for 48 yards on those two drives, and didn't play thereafter. Perine didn't get any touches on his four snaps, and he also didn't play thereafter.
  • Sixth-round pick Tahj Brooks dominated backfield snaps from the third drive until midway through the fourth quarter, taking 10 carries for 26 yards and one catch for three yards (on two targets). He didn't find much room to run, but he at least made a good impression on the incomplete target, which was an ill-advised screen pass to Brooks that would've been a pick-six if not for the rookie hustling to make a tackle.
• TE Tanner Hudson caught two passes from Burrow, including a TD, but it doesn't mean much with both Noah Fant (newly signed) and Mike Gesicki (hamstring) not available. Hudson still appears to be on the roster bubble, possibly hanging around as a practice-squad player who can fill in as a poor man's version of Gesicki.
• WR Jermaine Burton didn't get any first-team work, while Andrei Iosivas got 11 of the 15 first-team snaps and Charlie Jones took three (including a catch from Burrow). Burton did have a long punt return, but there's not much evidence of his role on offense progressing, even though reports from Cincinnati training camp suggest the 2024 third-round pick has matured since a turbulent rookie year.

Philadelphia Eagles

• RB Will Shipley got the starting nod over A.J. Dillon and ripped off a 38-yard run on a perfectly blocked play on the opening drive. Shipley didn't find much room to run otherwise, finishing with 52 yards on eight touches, but he did dominate backfield snaps and touches on the first two drives before giving way to Dillon.
  • Dillon took five carries for 27 yards and three carries for 27 yards, getting all eight of his touches between the third drive and the end of the first half. It's not a great sign for him that he didn't get any touches until Shipley was done for the day, although there's always some chance the Eagles still consider it a competition for the No. 2 RB role, in which case they might swap roles in the second preseason game.
• QB Tanner McKee played deep into the second half, completing 20 of 25 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, plus a tush-push TD on his lone rush attempt. He's locked in as QB2 in Philadelphia, well ahead of Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Kyle McCord.

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Las Vegas Raiders (23) @ Seattle Seahawks (23) 

The Raiders played starters, including Geno Smith and Ashton Jeanty, although Smith and some of the other veterans came out after a four-play opening drive. The Seahawks, meanwhile, rested nearly all of their key guys, including QB Sam Darnold, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba and RBs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet.

Las Vegas Raiders

• RB Ashton Jeanty took three carries for minus-one yard across two drives, staying in for a few plays after Smith and other starters left. The rookie took all four snaps with Smith, before handing things over to Raheem Mostert midway through the second drive.
  • Mostert was the second RB into the game but didn't play much before giving way to Zamir White and Since McCormick for the rest of the first half. Mostert finished with one carry for 11 yards, with McCormick taking three totes for 11 yards and White adding just two carries for two yards.
    • White and McCormick didn't get any touches after halftime, with Dylan Laube and Chris Collier sharing work throughout the second half. That doesn't look great for Laube's roster odds.
• WRs Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker and Dont'e Thornton played all four of Smith's snaps and each drew one target. Tucker was the only one to catch his target, but it's nonetheless interesting to see Thornton, a fourth-round rookie, already running with the starters in both practices and preseason games.
  • Thornton played two more drives after Smith was pulled, which led to a trio of downfield looks from Aidan O'Connell, including a 17-yard gain and an ugly underthrow for an interception.
  • Meanwhile, WR Jack Bech, a second-round pick, played most of the first half after Smith and the other veterans left. Bech caught one pass for five yards on two targets, not doing anything obvious to make a push up the depth chart. Reports dating back to the offseason program have Thornton getting far more first-team work than Bech.
• TE Brock Bowers took just one snap before calling it a night.

Seattle Seahawks

• WR Tory Horton built on his camp hype, getting a bunch of playing time early in the game and then scoring a TD midway through the second quarter (en route to a 3-31-1 receiving line on seven targets).
  • Reports out of camp have Horton, a fifth-round pick with 4.4 speed, already pushing Marquez Valdes-Scantling for first-team reps. It's a role that probably won't come with a lot of targets, but Horton could have occasional spike games as the downfield threat alongside possession receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp.
  • Horton's receiving line may not look great besides the TD, but three of his seven targets were thrown out of bounds, and the fourth incomplete target was Drew Lock's underthrown interception on the first drive. Horton did well to get open, and he made plays when his QBs gave him the chance.
• TE Elijah Arroyo, a second-round pick, also took a bunch of snaps in the first half with QB Drew Lock and the second-stringers. Arroyo caught both of his targets for 14 yards, while second-year pro AJ Barner was rested. This supports the notion that Barner is the favorite to start Week 1, although Arroyo could soon become the top choice clear passing situations even if he isn't a starter.
• Lock led Seattle to a pair of TDs and a field goal on five first-half drives, while Jalen Milroe produced just one score (a TD) on five series after halftime. However, Milroe avoided turnovers and added 38 rushing yards to his modest passing stats (6-of-10 for 61 yards). And Lock only found success after throwing 
• With Walker and Charbonnet both held out, 2024 UDFA George Holani started at RB ahead of seventh-round pick Damien Martinez, although the latter did get a few snaps and one carry before halftime.
  • Holani made his case, producing 81 yards and a TD on eight touches, compared to just Martinez's 25 yards (also eight touches). They're competing for the third (and final?) spot at RB.

Detroit Lions (17) @ Atlanta Falcons (10) 

Both teams held out starters and many veteran backups, so we'll mostly skip over this game.

Detroit Lions

• QB Hendon Hooker got the start but then seemingly lost ground to Kyle Allen in their competition for the backup QB job. Hooker lost two fumbles on four drives while failing to produce any points. Allen then came in and threw for two TDs on three drives, putting up 17 points.
• Rookie wideout Isaac TeSlaa caught two of three targets for 18 yards and a TD, after catching two of three targets for 46 yards in the Hall of Fame Game. Fellow wideouts Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond all were rested. 

Atlanta Falcons

• With Carlos Washington (undisclosed) unavailable, there aren't really any conclusions to draw in Atlanta's RB3 battle. Elijah Dotson was first through the rotation but managed just eight yards on six touches, with Nathan Carter (three touches for 12 yards) and Jashaun Corbin (one carry for one yard) also ding nothing of note.

Cleveland Browns (30) @ Carolina Panthers (10) 

The Panthers played most of their healthy starters, while the Browns stuck to rookies and backups. QB Bryce Young played two drives, with the first resulting in a punt and the second in a TD pass to Jalen Coker. QB Shedeur Sanders started for Cleveland, leading the second-string offense with both Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel sidelined by hamstring injuries.

Cleveland Browns

• QB Shedeur Sanders played surprisingly well for a fifth-round rookie, throwing a pair of TD passes and leading the Browns to 21 points on nine drives before handing things over to Tyler Huntley late in the third quarter. All signs point to Joe Flacco starting Week 1, but this could be the beginning of Sanders making a push to challenge Gabriel/Pickett.
  • Sanders completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two TDs, with two sacks, zero turnovers and four rush attempts for 19 yards. PFF gave him a 79.1 game grade.
• Rookie RB Dylan Sampson got the start and the first carry, with Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong being rested and Quinshon Judkins still unsigned. Sampson only played in the first quarter, which is probably a good sign for having a Week 1 role. He took two carries for six yards before handing things off to Ahmani Marshall, who might now be viewed as the favorite for the fourth RB spot (behind Ford, Sampson and Strong) if the Brown decide to keep four.
• Rookie TE Harold Fannin also played, but like Sampson, he wasn't in for long. Fannin finished without any targets.
• WR Diontae Johnson started and saw a pair of incomplete targets on the first two drives. Cedric Tillman and Jerry Jeudy both were rested, which suggests Johnson is competing with Jamari Thrash (and possibly others) for the No. 3 receiver spot.

Carolina Panthers

• The Panthers opened with WRs Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Legette in two-wide formations, bringing Adam Thielen on for three-wide looks, but then Legette got ejected after the sixth snap and was replaced by Jalen Coker, who caught a TD pass on a scramble drill on the final snap for most of Carolina's starters.
  • Coker and McMillan both played a bit with the second-string offense, but all of McMillan's production (two catches for 47 yards) came on passes from Young. Coker, meanwhile had a 34-yard pass from Andy Dalton wiped out by a penalty.
  • In terms of playing time in the regular season, the big question here is Legette vs. Coker. We can probably assume McMillan is already a full-time player, while Thielen figures to be WR3/slot guy.
• RB Chuba Hubbard got the start and played a handful of snaps before giving way to Rico Dowdle, who then continued playing well into the second quarter with the second-string offense. Dowdle also got a few snaps before Hubbard was done, with both coming on third downs (a role Dowdle may have in-season, given Hubbard's lack of receiving success).
  • Rookie RB Trevor Etienne then took the field at the start of the third quarter, but he didn't play all that much, taking three touches for 17 yards.
• TE Ja'Tavion Sanders took most of the snaps with the first-team offense, giving way to Mitchell Evans a few times. But it doesn't really tell us anything with Tommy Tremble (back) still on the PUP list.
  • Tremble is uncertain for Week 1, FWIW.

Washington Commanders (18) @ New England Patriots (48) 

The Commanders held out starters and key backups, while the Patriots played most of their healthy starters (Stefon Diggs being a notable exception).

Washington Commanders

• Rookie RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (got the start and shared some snaps with Jeremy McNichols early in the game. Croskey-Merritt played deep into the second quarter, while McNichols and Chris Rodriguez both played into the third quarter, perhaps suggesting the rookie is ahead of the veterans in this RB3 battle.
  • Croskey-Merritt has been the subject of considerable camp hype, although from a prospect-profile standpoint he doesn't really stand out as being more than a typical Round 7 pick.
• TE Ben Sinnott played, catching two passes for 10 yards, on a night when both Zach Ertz and John Bates were held out. There have been some positive updates on Sinnott out of training camp, but nothing to really suggest he's an imminent threat to Ertz's role.

New England Patriots

• Rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson was the star of the night, returning the opening kickoff for a TD and then getting three targets from Drake Maye.
  • Rhamondre Stevenson got the start and the first few snaps, ultimately taking seven carries for 36 yards while splitting work with Henderson on the first three drives. Henderson got just one carry, but it went for 18 yards, plus a 15-yard facemask penalty.
• QB Drake Maye played two drives. He lost a fumble on the first but then had a five-yard TD scramble on the second. He was 3-of-5 passing for just 12 yards, adding 16 yards and the TD on the ground.
• WRs DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte got most of the playing time alongside Maye, but rookie Kyle Williams also took a handful of snaps with the starters.
  • Douglas got a bunch of work on the perimeter, which might be a signal for the regular season, or might just be the Patriots trying things out in August. Either way, we shouldn't read too much into the WR rotation without Diggs as part of the equation.

New York Giants (34) @ Buffalo Bills (25) 

The Giants played their healthy starters for one series, while Buffalo took a mixed approach, holding out QB Josh Allen but using guys like WRs Joshua Palmer and Keon Coleman for the first two drives. The Bills pulled some starters after the second drive, but others were left in, including Palmer and QB Mitchell Trubisky.

New York Giants

• RB Tyrone Tracy got the start and the first four snaps, before handing things over to Devin Singletary (although Tracy did come back in for one snap). Rookie RB Cam Skattebo (hamstring) didn't play.
• WR Wan'Dale Robinson, like New England's DeMario Douglas, got a bunch of perimeter snaps. But that was with both Malik Nabers (shoulder) and Darius Slayton (shoulder) being held out. There was offseason chatter about Robinson being frustrated with his role/usage, but I'm not sure it'll change much (other than fewer targets) in an offense that has Nabers and Slayton as the other wideouts.
• TE Theo Johnson got the start and most of the first-team snaps, catching both of his targets for 10 yards in the process. If nothing else, it's a good sign he was cleared to play after missing the end of last season to undergo major foot surgery. TBD if he has an every-down role — as was the case for much of last year — or loses considerable playing time to Chris Manhertz and Daniel Bellinger. Given his athletic traits and the possibility of an every-down role, Johnson is underrated as a low-end breakout candidate at TE.
• QB Jaxson Dart was the second QB into the game, after Russell Wilson, and threw a 28-yard TD pass on his second drive. Dart completed 12 of 19 passes for 154 yards and a TD, with no sacks or turnovers, before handing things off to Jameis Winston (7-of-11 for 61 yards and a TD).

Buffalo Bills

• With James Cook unavailable due to his contract situation, RB Ray Davis got the start and the first three carries, although Ty Johnson also took some snaps early in the game.
• Palmer, Coleman and Elijah Moore were the first-team WRs, with Moore mostly playing the slot. That'll probably be the set up come Week 1, only with Khalil Shakir (ankle) or Curtis Samuel (hamstring) in the slot instead of Moore, health permitting.
• TEs Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox split snaps at the beginning. Kincaid came out after two drives, with Knox then scoring a TD on the third drive.          

Houston Texans (10) @ Minnesota Vikings (20) 

The Texans played backups and rookies, while Minnesota used a lot of starters on the opening drive (but not RB Aaron Jones or WR Justin Jefferson).

Houston Texans

• RB Dare Ogunbowale started and took the first five carries, gaining 29 yards in the process. He's only been used as a passing-down specialist in the NFL, but the Texans gave him early down work in the absence of Joe Mixon (foot), Dameon Pierce (undisclosed) and Nick Chubb (head).
  • Rookie RB Woody Marks entered the game later in the first quarter and ended up taking three carries for four yards, without any targets.
• WRs Jayden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson got most of the snaps on the first couple drives, with Jaylin Noel subbing in for three -wide formations. Each of the three had two targets and two catches for less than 20 yards.

Minnesota Vikings

• RB Jordan Mason got the start and appeared to play every snap on a lengthy opening drive, before exiting along with QB J.J. McCarthy and other starters after that lone series.
  • Mason took four carries for 20 yards and saw one incomplete target. Ty Chandler then came in for the next drive, signaling that he's at least on track for a roster spot still.
• With Jefferson held out, the Vikings had WR Lucky Jackson (not rookie Tai Felton) running alongside Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor with the first-team offense.
  • Jackson and Nailor continued playing with the second-stringers, while Addison was pulled after catching three of four targets for 33 yards on the opening drive.
  • Felton, meanwhile, caught both of his targets for 14 yards, with the first reception being the second snap of the second drive. So it's not like he was playing deep into the fourth quarter with guys who have no shot at a roster spot.
• WR/RS Rondale Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury. I'm not sure if he would've made the Week 1 roster anyway, but it stinks to see a guy suffer major injuries in consecutive summers while trying to resurrect a disappointing career.

Dallas Cowboys (21) @ Los Angeles Rams (31) 

Both teams held out starters and some key backups, making this among the least interesting games of the week.

Dallas Cowboys

• QB Joe Milton completed 17 of 29 passes for 143 yards, with one touchdown and one interception (a deep throw into double coverage that hit the receiver's hands and landed in a defender's hands). He also took five rushes for 22 yards. It wasn't as impressive as his outing against Buffalo at the end of last season, but Milton at least appeared competent again.
• Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders (knee) and Jaydon Blue (heel) all were held out.

Los Angeles Rams

• RB Blake Corum got the start and scored short TDs on both of the first two drives, en route to a 9-32-2 rushing line (plus one catch for four yards).
  • Jarquezz Hunter didn't get his first touch until the second drive, but he and Corum rotated thereafter, with the rookie also having a solid night (11 carries for 41 yards). The rotation hints at Corum for the RB2 role, but that might just be deferring to the incumbent for the first week of the preseason. Whoever gets that job will be one Kyren Williams injury away from big-time fantasy value.
• Camp superstar Konata Mumpfield, a seventh-round pick, caught two of five targets for 24 yards, mostly playing early in the game. Both Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington (competing for the No. 3 job) were held out.

Pittsburgh Steelers (31) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (25) 

The Steelers held out key veterans, while Jacksonville played nearly everyone that was healthy on the opening drive, including QB Trevor Lawrence, WR Brian Thomas, etc.

Pittsburgh Steelers

• RB Kenneth Gainwell got the start over Kaleb Johnson, but the rookie ended up getting more snaps and touches before second-string QB Mason Rudolph left the game. Johnson then continued playing with the third-stringers, finishing with an 8-20-0 rushing line and 1-6-0 receiving line (two targets).
• WRs Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller, Brandon Johnson, Robert Woods and Lance McCutcheon all took at least 4-5 snaps on the first two drives while Rudolph was in the game. 
  • Wilson caught both of his targets for 24 yards and then didn't appear to play with the third-stringers. That's a good sign, but he still has an uphill path to considerable targets, even if he's on track for the No. 2 WR role. Meanwhile, projected No. 3/slot receiver Calvin Austin was rested Saturday.

Jacksonville Jaguars

• RB Travis Etienne played every snap on the opening drive, taking two carries for six yards and one catch for 10 yards, before handing things over to Tank Bigsby when the second-string offense came on for the second drive.
  • Bigsby took all the carries on the second and third drives, gaining 24 yards on six attempts, with rookie Bhayshul Tuten then coming on for the fourth series and getting extensive run until he scored an eight-yard TD early in the fourth quarter.
    • Tuten looked good, taking six carries for 24 yards and the TD, plus two catches for 16 yards. The TD was impressive, with Tuten keeping his legs moving in traffic to fight through tacklers, before his linemen pushed him the final 2-3 yards over the goal line.
    • Meanwhile fellow rookie RB LeQuint Allen (seventh-round pick) didn't get work until late in the fourth quarter.
• WR Travis Hunter played 11 of 12 snaps on the opening drive, catching both of his targets for nine yards (with another seven-yard gain wiped out by a penalty). He didn't play on offense after the opening drive.
  • FWIW, Hunter came off the field for the only play that was in a two-wide set. Fantasy managers won't complain about that, as long as he's a regular in the three-wide formations that will comprise the bulk of Jacksonville's offense.
  • Hunter also played left cornerback, without recording a statistic or being targeted, although he didn't come on until the second drive after the Jags had pulled a few starters.
• WR Brian Thomas took all 12 snaps on the opening drive, with one catch for eight yards on two targets. Thomas and Hunter both spent a bunch of time in the slot.
• WR Dyami Brown got most of the snaps on the first drive, but he came off a few times, and WR Parker Washington also got a couple of plays with the starters. Brown wasn't targeted but did convert a 4th-and-1 on a quick-hitting end-around.
• TE Brenton Strange got the start, as expected, but he was subbed off for Hunter Long for a few plays on the opening drive (whereas Etienne and Thomas played every snap).

Tennessee Titans (7) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (29) 

The Titans used most of their starters for the first couple drives, while Tampa Bay left Saturday's game for backups and rookies, holding out Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Bucky Irving and Cade Otton, among others.

Tennessee Titans

• QB Cameron Ward was sharp, completing five of eight passes for 67 yards while leading the Titans to seven points on two drives.
• RB Tony Pollard was a big fantasy winner of the night. First, because he played 12 of the 15 snaps with Ward. And then, because Tyjae Spears suffered a high-ankle sprain while working with the second-stringers. Pollard also had a goal-line TD, scoring on the starters' second series.
  • RB Julius Chestnut took over at the start of the second half, after Spears was injured on Tennessee's final non-kneel play of the first half. Chestnut had three carries and two targets on the opening drive of the second half, before rookie Kalel Mullings came on at the end of the drive and got stuffed on a 3rd-and-1 inside the 10-yard line. Mullings then got all the carries on the next couple drives, taking seven totes for 33 yards, before Jordan Mims handled most of the fourth-quarter snaps.
• WR Calvin Ridley was in mid-season form, catching passes of 27, 13 and 10 yards on the second series. 
  • Van Jefferson and Tyler Lockett got most of the first-team WR snaps otherwise, although rookie Elic Ayomanor was in for a handful of plays and saw an incomplete target from Ward.
  • Fellow rookie fourth-round pick Chimere Dike got just one or two snaps with the starters. He and Ayomanor also got some run with the backups, unsurprisingly, but combined for just six yards. 
• TE Chig Okonkwo appeared to play every snap with the first-team offense, although he was targeted just once (for a 10-yard gain). Rookie tight end Gunnar Helm came on a few times for multi-TE formations, while Josh Whyle didn't play until later in the game.
  • The Titans opened in 12 personnel with Helm, Okonkwo, Ridley, Jefferson and Pollard. They then brought Lockett in for Helm in 11 personnel.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• WRs Jalen McMillan and Emeka Egbuka both started and made catches of 20-plus yards early in the game. Sterling Shepard was the WR3 who came on for three-wide looks. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (PUP - ankle) didn't play.
• RB Rachaad White played every snap on the first drive and into the second drive, but he then suffered a groin injury and was replaced by Sean Tucker, who took 13 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown.
  • White's injury didn't look good. He came up favoring his leg after a 12-yard run, but he stayed on the field and took a carry for three yards on the next snaps. He then limped off the field in obvious pain and dropped to the ground while pointing to his groin once he reached the sideline. Bucs coach Todd Bowles said Monday that White is merely day-to-day, but I'm not sure I buy it.
  • Remember that Tucker only went undrafted in 2023 because of a heart condition, and he had over 150 total yards in this lone game last season with considerable playing time. He's a solid player, and arguably a better pure runner than White, although without comparable passing-down skills.

New York Jets (30) @ Green Bay Packers (10) 

Both teams used most of their healthy starters, with Justin Fields and Co. staying in for one drive (a TD) while Jordan Love and Co. got two series (zero points).

New York Jets

• QB Justin Fields played the opening drive, completing three of four passes for 42 yards and running twice for 14 yards and a TD (on a scramble).
• RB Breece Hall got five of 10 snaps with the starters, taking three carries for nine yards.
  • RBs Braelon Allen and Isiah Davis each got 2-3 snaps on the opening drive and then continued playing with the second-stringers. Allen finished with eight carries for 33 yards, while Davis had six carries for 14 yards and one catch for 11 yards.
  • Two of Davis' three snaps on the opening series were on third downs. TBD if he actually gets those snaps in the regular season, given that Hall has a strong pass-catching record.
• WRs Garrett Wilson and Josh Reynolds both played 9 or 10 snaps on the opening drive, and not at all thereafter, suggesting Reynolds remains on track for the No. 2 WR job.
  • Tyler Johnson came on as the No. 3 receiver, but Allen Lazard and Arian Smith also made cameos on the opening drive.
    • Lazard came out of the game with a shoulder injury, wearing a sling in the locker room afterward. There's been talk he won't make the Week 1 roster anyway.
• TE Jeremy Ruckert played every snap on the opening drive, which doesn't mean a whole lot with Mason Taylor (ankle) unavailable.
  • No other TEs got work on the first drive, with the Jets instead using FB Andrew Beck, who caught a pair of passes for a team-high 36 yards.

Green Bay Packers

• RB Josh Jacobs played one snap before giving way to Chris Brooks, who then took all of the remaining snaps on the first two drives. MarShawn Lloyd (groin) and Emanuel Wilson (knee) both were unavailable, pushing Brooks up the depth chart from third/fourth to second.
  • The Packers then brought Israel Abanikanda in with Malik Willis and the second unit. Abanikanda has a real shot at a roster spot, if only because of the injuries in front of him, although he's also a candidate to handle kickoff returns. He took six carries for 19 yards Saturday before giving way to UDFAs Amar Johnson and Jalen White.
• WRs Matthew Golden and Romeo Doubs played every snap on the first two drives, with Malik Heath stepping in for Jayden Reed (foot) as the No. 3 receiver. Reed and Dontayvion Wicks (calf) haven't been practicing, and Reed at least is considered uncertain for Week 1 (Wicks may be too).
  • Golden caught his lone target for seven yards and drew a short DPI penalty, with Doubs going 0-for-2 on targets. Heath caught one of four targets for four yards, although only one of those targets came with the starters (he continued playing with the backups).
• TE Tucker Kraft got most of the snaps on the opening drive, but Luke Musgrave replaced him for a couple plays in single-TE looks and also came on for a handful of plays in two-TE formations (something the Packers will use more often if Reed is out for the start of the season).

Kansas City Chiefs () @ Arizona Cardinals () 

QB Patrick Mahomes played just three snaps, throwing a TD pass after Arizona's Greg Dortch lost a fumble on the opening kickoff. QB Kyler Murray and the Arizona starters got far more run, with 18 plays over two drives (one INT, one FG).

Kansas City Chiefs

• RB Isiah Pacheco took all three snaps alongside Mahomes, with Kareem Hunt then entering on the next drive with Gardner Minshew.
  • Carson Steele played the third drive, although Elijah Mitchell appeared to get a couple of snaps as well. Both then got some work until the end of the first half.
  • After halftime, rookie Brashard Smith was the first RB up, taking five touches for four yards and sharing playing time with UDFA Elijah Young.
• WR Xavier Worthy got two of three snaps on the opening drive, subbing out on the third play for Jason Brownlee, who promptly scored a short TD on a fade route.
• WRs Tyquan Thornton and JuJu Smith-Schuster took all three snaps with Mahomes, as did TE Travis Kelce.
  • Rashee Rice (groin) and Hollywood Brown (ankle) didn't play.

Arizona Cardinals

• WR Marvin Harrison appeared to play every snap on the first two drives, with Michael Wilson, Zay Jones and Greg Dortch rotating. Jones played over Wilson in multi-TE looks, but Wilson was a regular for three-wide formation, joined by either Jones or Dortch.
  • The AZ broadcast was hyping Wilson as a breakout candidate, but it's hard to imagine that happening if he can't even earn snaps ahead of Zay Jones in two-wide looks.
• The Cardinals mostly used multi-TE formations, with Trey McBride joined by Tip Reiman. The Cardinals removed McBride and RB James Conner before other starters, which led to Elijah Higgins playing alongside Reiman with the first-team offense on the second drive.
  • Conner took seven of eight snaps on the first drive, with Trey Benson then taking all 10 snaps on the second drive. Benson continued playing with the second-team offense, sharing work with Emari Demercado, who had a 43-yard TD reception and handled the two-minute drill before halftime.
  • After halftime, Michael Carter played three drives, before giving way to Zonovan Knight (not gonna make the team) and DeeJay Dallas (only around for special teams). Carter is unlikely to make the roster, as Dallas and Demercado have more value on special teams, and Demercardo perhaps some utility as a passing-down back.

Denver Broncos (30) @ San Francisco 49ers (9) 

The Broncos used nearly all of their healthy starters, including three drives for Bo Nix, while the 49ers mostly played rookies and backups.

Denver Broncos

• RB R.J. Harvey started over J.K. Dobbins and got all seven carries on the first three drives, plus two of the three RB targets.
  • Dobbins did get a bunch of snaps with the first-team offense, but mostly in passing situations, and a few times he was blocking rather than running a route.
  • Broncos coach Sean Payton downplayed the significance of Harvey's usage afterward, kind of, telling reporters that he'll mix up RB rotations throughout the preseason.
  • Harvey looked quick and agile, but maybe not quite comfortable. His best run was an 11-yard gain around the end, although with better defense it might've been a mistake where he turned a one-yard gain into a two-yard loss. To be fair, it's easier to pull that stuff off when you have 4.4 speed and can cut on a dime.
• WR Marvin Mims got just one target, but he and Courtland Sutton took the vast majority of snaps with the starters, while Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin were on for about half the plays.
  • Franklin and Sutton drew three targets apiece, with Franklin then adding a fourth while playing with the backups.
  • Rookie WR Pat Bryant got only a couple of snaps with the starters and then a bunch of run with the backups. It seems like he may be Sutton's backup rather than a challenger for Vele's possession role. Either way, the Year 1 fantasy case is poor, IMO.
• TEs Evan Engram and Adam Trautman both got a bunch of playing time with the starters. Engram more so than Trautman, but with the latter subbing in enough that it would be a concern for Engram's fantasy value if it continues in the regular season.

San Francisco 49ers

• RB Patrick Taylor got the start and played every snap on the first two drives, with Christian McCaffrey held out and both Isaac Guerendo (knee) and Jordan James (finger) unavailable. Taylor managed just seven yards on five carries but scored a short TD.
• WRs Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Watkins also played every snap on the first two drives while Mac Jones was in the game at QB. Russell Gage (remember him?) came on as the No. 3 receiver, while the likes of Robbie Chosen and Isaiah Hodgins mostly worked with the third-stringers.
  • Watkins continued playing with the backups en route to a 3-56-0 line on six targets.
  • Ricky Pearsall, Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Jauan Jennings (calf) all were held out, as was Jacob Cowing (hamstring).
• RB Ameer Abdullah, signed two weeks ago, left the game with a rib injury. He's competing with Taylor, Jeff Wilson and Corey Kiner for what likely will be one or two roster spots for Week 1, depending on the health of Guerendo/James.

Miami Dolphins (24) @ Chicago Bears (24) 

The Dolphins played Tua Tagovailoa for one drive, while the Bears left Sunday's game for backups and rookies.

Miami Dolphins

• RB De'Von Achane started and appeared to play the first 8-9 snaps before being pulled from the game for good and replaced by Jaylen Wright, who got stuffed on back-to-back carries at the goal line to end the opening series.
  • A humorous outcome, after discussion in training camp about Miami's goal-line struggles with Achane, and the potential for Wright (or Alexander Mattison) to solve them. 
  • Mattison punched a TD in from one yard out on the following drive, although it took him two tries. On the third series, Wright scored from seven yards out, with Miami again marching down the field easily.
  • Wright finished with a 9-16-1 rushing line, while Mattison put up 3-8-1 plus a 21-yard reception. 
  • Rookie Ollie Gordon didn't play until late in the third quarter but also hit paydirt, putting up 8-33-1 on the ground plus a 39-yard catch (on three targets).
  • UPDATE: Mattison had season-ending neck surgery Monday, improving Gordon's roster odds and Wright's hold on the No. 2 RB role.
• WR Tyreek Hill (oblique), WR Jaylen Waddle (undisclosed) and TE Darren Waller (conditioning) didn't play, leaving first-team work for Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Dee Eskridge, Malik Washington, Julian Hill, Tanner Conner and Pharaoh Brown.
  • Washington was targeted on four of his five routes, which accounted for four of Tua's five targets. Washington caught all four passes, for gains of 3, 4, 6 and 5 yards. He also had an eight-yard run, but fumbled the ball out of bounds at the end of the play.
  • NWI may be the No. 3 receiver, but Washington seems like the guy that might actually be able to support a high target rate if he ends up getting a bunch of snaps because Waddle and/or Hill miss time this season. 

Chicago Bears

• Rookies Colston Loveland and Kyle Monangai took all six snaps on the first two drives, while Luther Burden took four snaps, coming on as the No. 3 receiver (alongside starters Tyler Scott and Devin Duvernay).
  • Monangai ended up playing three drives, with six carries for 30 yards and no targets. D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson were held out. Travis Homer was the next RB into the game after Monangai (an excellent sign that the rookie is headed for either the No. 2 or 3 job in Week 1).
• Loveland caught one of two targets for eight yards, and didn't play after the second drive. Burden, on the other hand, continued playing well until the end of the first half, catching two of three targets for 29 yards (with a catch on the final play of Q2).
  • It's a strong sign that Loveland is viewed as being ahead of Burden, but we can't make any assumptions about Week 1 playing time without knowing where they stand relative to the veterans that were rested Sunday.

New Orleans Saints (13) @ Los Angeles Chargers (27) 

The Chargers used Sunday's game to evaluate backups and rookies, while the Saints played some of their healthy starters (but not RB Alvin Kamara or WR Rashid Shaheed).

New Orleans Saints

• With Kamara, Shaheed and Chris Olave (ankle) held out, the Saints mostly had RB Kendre Miller, WR Brandin Cooks, WR Mason Tipton and TE Juwan Johnson on the field for the first two drives with QB Spencer Rattler
  • WR Cedrick Wilson and TE Jack Stoll also got some snaps on the first couple drives.
  • Miller played all nine snaps on the first two drives, with Cam Akers then taking over. Rookie Devin Neal (hamstring) was absent due to a hamstring injury, and it's unclear if he'll be ready for Week 1.
    • Miller took six carries for 15 yards and one catch for nine yards. Akers then took four carries for nine yards, before handing things over to Clyde Edwards-Helaire
• Rattler ended up playing five drives, producing zero points and losing a fumble while completing seven of 11 passes for 53 yards. He took three carries for 22 yards but was also sacked three times.
  • QB Tyler Shough replaced Rattler for the final drive of the first half and promptly led the Saints down the field for a chip-shot FG, connecting with Wilson and Kevin Austin. Shough then threw an ugly pick-six on the second drive of the second half before bouncing back with a long TD pass on the next drive.
    • Shough played into the fourth quarter, ultimately completing 15 of 22 passes for 165 yards, with one TD, one INT and two sacks (plus one carry for three yards). He at least fared better than Rattler.
  • TE Juwan Johnson played every snap on the first two drives.

Los Angeles Chargers

• WRs Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith started alongside QB Taylor Heinicke and played a few drives, but neither rookie caught any passes (0-for-3 on targets).
• RB Kimani Vidal got most of the playing time with Heinicke, although Hassan Haskins was also involved, suggesting they're still competing for the No. 3 RB role (or the No. 2 spot if Najee Harris' eye turns out to be a real problem?).

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