Saturday saw a full slate of action around the NFL. With 24 teams playing, there was a lot to unpack from preseason Week 2. We take a look around the league and discuss 10 of the biggest takeaways from the slate of games.
10 Takeaways From Saturday’s NFL Preseason Action
Caleb Williams Is as Advertised
After not participating in the Hall of Fame Game, Caleb Williams has played in both games since, with Saturday versus the Cincinnati Bengals just serving as another reminder of why he was taken No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Williams is a baller, and it’s tough to tell Chicago Bears fans around the league to temper their expectations when they see him on the field.
CALEB WILLIAMS TO ROME ODUNZE 🤯pic.twitter.com/KJx5kreq4Y
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 17, 2024
He finished 6 of 13 with 75 passing yards while adding a seven-yard touchdown run against Cincinnati.
Williams has looked comfortable and confident. He’s displayed his unique shiftiness and improvisation skills that many in college have been lauding him for over the years.
Daniel Jones Struggled in Return
There was a lot of talk about Daniel Jones and his job security heading into the season, and with him back on the field on Saturday, his play didn’t quiet the noise at all. Jones finished the game 11 of 18 for 138 passing yards but with zero touchdowns and two interceptions.
Jones’ QB rating of 45.4 is downright bad. Particularly for a preseason game and all other things considered, it was a rough night for the former Blue Devil.
Things are tense in New York right now, with not much of a long-term contingency plan behind Jones. However, if this is what he looks like in 2024, it’s tough to imagine he’s in the Big Apple much longer.
What Are the Falcons Doing With Michael Penix Jr.?
NFL teams handle preseason action in various ways. Some prefer to have their established stars and starters not play much at all, while others choose to give everyone a little bit of work.
Then there are the Atlanta Falcons, who no one quite knows what they’re doing.
After using a first-round pick on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in this year’s draft, with an eye for the future, many assumed we would see plenty of the young quarterback in preseason work. Not so fast, said Atlanta, who instead kept him on ice in Game 2, leading many to ask, “Why?”
One would assume the more work, the better, especially for a player who, in most likelihood, isn’t going to see much action this season. It was a head-scratching decision.
Xavier Worthy Hitting the Ground Running
The Kansas City Chiefs have found their next deep threat this offseason in first-round pick Xavier Worthy. The former Texas Longhorn wasted no time making his impact felt, finishing the evening with three receptions for 62 receiving yards.
The fastest man in the NFL has no problem stretching the field, and with Patrick Mahomes willing to uncork a deep ball, it could pose a major problem for opposing defenses. Worthy has hit the ground running and only projects to get better, which is a scary thought.
Justin Fields Applying Pressure
No one cares about the outcome of a preseason game, except for maybe the players on the field trying to win. What is important is what it looks like, and in the case of Justin Fields, he had some down moments on Saturday. For the most part, though, he’s played well enough to warrant a QB1 discussion.
Fields may not be as composed or as experienced as Russell Wilson, but it’s clear the former Bear is more of a dynamic threat and game-breaker. Fields finished the evening 11 of 17 for 92 passing yards, along with eight rushes for 42 yards.
I’m sorry Justin Fields WHAT!? 😳 pic.twitter.com/HxMxJ95gdE
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 18, 2024
He may not be a finished product right now, but the offense just looks different with Fields out there. If Mike Tomlin is okay with weathering the storm at times, there may be a real conversation to be had about who should be under center Week 1.
Jayden Daniels Looks Solid
The Washington Commanders know who their quarterback of the future and current day is. The only thing left to do is give him enough work to get him ready for Week 1.
With that, Jayden Daniels has continued to look solid in the preseason. While he hasn’t “wowed” much, he’s done many little things to feel good about.
Such is the case for Saturday, where he finished 10 of 12 for 78 passing yards and a passer rating of 93.8. Comfortability in the pocket appears to be growing, and when needed, Daniels has shown the ability to get out and run. With some bumps along the way, there were still several good signs for the young QB to build off of.
Trey Benson Shows Promise
Good NFL running backs typically find a way to hit the ground running early. It’s part of the reason why some teams around the league have found a way to devalue the position.
With the thought that you can find production anywhere in the draft, some choose not to invest premium resources to the spot. Yet, in some cases, when a good player hits the field, it just looks different.
Such is the case for Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson. The former FSU Seminole was taken in Round 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft and has already begun to show that he’ll be a good one.
Benson finished the night with nine carries for 43 rushing yards and displayed power, burst, and decisiveness when hitting the hole. He looks strong, and the Cardinals look like they have their running back of the future.
Easton Stick Not Instilling Confidence
With Justin Herbert dealing with an ankle injury that at least puts the start of his regular season in jeopardy, the Los Angeles Chargers find themselves looking even closer to the quarterback room as a whole. However, backup Easton Stick isn’t doing much to instill confidence in LA’s coaching staff, prompting some to wonder how the team chooses to proceed forward.
Stick finished with a rating of 48.6 after completing eight of 13 passes for 85 yards. He added an additional 22 yards on the ground, proving he still is a dynamic threat. However, his play was up and down, with an interception and questionable decisions sprinkled throughout the evening.
The Chargers recently signed Luis Perez of the UFL, who looked far more comfortable in his appearance than Stick did. It may be an ever-evolving situation, like much in the NFL. Still, the Chargers must feel a little nervous about what’s behind Herbert in their QB room.
Trey Lance Gets Redemption
To put it bluntly — Week 1 preseason action for Trey Lance wasn’t good. However, Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders offered a chance for redemption, and he capitalized on it.
Lance finished the game 15 of 23 for 151 passing yards, one touchdown pass, and added 34 yards on the ground and an additional score.
Lance looked more comfortable and was able to find a rhythm. While it wasn’t all clean, he put together a performance to feel good about. Lance figures to get one more chance this offseason to show his stuff, and with him trending up after Week 2, the final preseason game could be vitally important for the young quarterback.
Raiders’ Quarterback Competition Is Rough
Both Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell were given a massive opportunity to assert their dominance as the guy atop the Raiders’ QB depth chart on Saturday. However, neither did much to instill confidence against the Dallas Cowboys.
Minshew was given the first crack at action in the game, and while many of his starters were playing, the Cowboys’ defense was comprised of many second and third-string players during his time on the field. Dallas’ defense held Minshew and Co. to only six points in the first half, setting up a very unsettling quarterback battle for the Raiders.
O’Connell came into the game later, and although he occasionally looked more efficient in the second half, he also struggled. He threw a touchdown pass — something Minshew wasn’t able to do — but O’Connell also threw a back-breaking pick-six that was the final straw against any type of comeback for the Raiders.
Saturday was supposed to provide answers, and right now, it looks like head coach Antonio Pierce and Co. are left with far more questions than anything else.