Week 3 of the NFL preseason used to be the so-called “dress rehearsal” for all 32 teams. Each team would play their starters the entire first half and maybe a little bit of the second half.
But ever since the NFL expanded to 17 regular-season games — and the preseason was cut to just three games — teams no longer approach the third week as a “dress rehearsal.” Instead, it’s now the last chance for a lot of players on each of the 32 teams to show why they should make each team’s final 53-man roster.
Saturday’s preseason games will still feature some teams playing their starters, but we’ll also get to see players fighting to make their team’s final 53-man rosters. Here are the key players to watch in Saturday’s preseason games.
Players To Watch in Today’s NFL Preseason Action
Bryce Young, Quarterback, Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young had a rough rookie season, even if some things weren’t in his control. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft barely threw for more touchdowns (11) than interceptions (10) last year.
Enter new head coach Dave Canales, who, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator in 2023, helped quarterback Baker Mayfield earn a $100 million contract extension this offseason. Canales was also on the Seattle Seahawks offensive coaching staff for all 10 of Russell Wilson’s seasons in the Emerald City. There is hope Canales can mentor Young and make him a really good quarterback in Carolina.
Canales said Thursday he plans to play the Panthers’ starters at least a couple of series against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. That will give Young a chance to get final live game reps before the Panthers’ regular-season opener at the New Orleans Saints.
Ikem Ekwonu, Left Tackle, Carolina Panthers
If Young is going to take strides in his second season, his offensive line must cut down on the 62 sacks they allowed in 2023. Much of that responsibility lies on Ikem Ekwonu.
Ekwonu is a former No. 6 overall pick out of NC State in 2022 but has yet to establish himself as a top-tier tackle in the NFL. Pro Football Focus’ highest grade for Ekwonu in his first two seasons is 67.4, in 2023. The former unanimous All-American has allowed 17 sacks in his first two seasons.
Conclusive perceptions of NFL players can be formed after their third seasons, which makes 2024 a pivotal year for the Panthers’ starting left tackle. Beyond Saturday’s preseason game at the Bills, Ekwonu will be going up against some of the NFL’s most lethal edge rushers in the regular season. Behind Young, Ekwonu is the Panthers player facing the most pressure in 2024.
Mack Hollins, Wide Receiver, Buffalo Bills
Given the Bills’ thin depth in their wide receiver room after Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis departed this offseason, Mack Hollins could carve himself a role in the offense in 2024. He’s currently not listed as a starter on the Bills depth chart. But with the Bills starters not playing on Saturday, Hollins will get a chance to prove why he could see a decent amount of targets in the regular season.
Hollins had his best season in 2022 when he hauled in 57 passes for 680 yards and four touchdowns with the Las Vegas Raiders. He also played on the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl 52-winning team in 2017.
The eight-year veteran out of North Carolina is on his third team in three seasons, but Josh Allen is undoubtedly the best quarterback he’s played with in that span. A good showing on Saturday could show Allen, offensive coordinator Joe Brady, and the Bills why Hollins could be a good addition to a wide receiver room in need of more weapons.
Russell Wilson, Quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers
The 13-year-veteran, who signed with the Steelers this offseason, will have one more chance Saturday to cement his status as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback in Week 1 of the regular season. Pittsburgh is at the Detroit Lions for their preseason finale on Saturday.
Wilson struggled mightily in his previous start last Saturday, failing to lead the Steelers’ offense to any points on five possessions. He dealt with a calf strain at the start of training camp, which kept him out of the Steelers’ first preseason game.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said earlier this week that the team has the mentality that this game is a dry rehearsal for what they want to do in their regular-season opener in Atlanta. Tomlin also said that the Steelers’ offense has had some really awesome practice days, but he wants to see it translated to gameplay before the regular season gets underway.
Zach Frazier, Center, Pittsburgh Steelers
Zach Frazier is now the Steelers’ projected starting center going into the regular season after Nate Herbig suffered a season-ending injury last Saturday against the Bills. The second-round pick out of West Virginia will make his first preseason start in the NFL on Saturday in Detroit.
One reason for Wilson’s struggles in Denver was lackluster offensive line play, allowing Wilson to be sacked 100 times in two seasons. That makes Frazier’s job even more crucial to Wilson’s performance if he is the starter entering the regular season.
A first-team All-Big 12 member in 2023, Frazier earned a PFF season grade of 77.1. The Steelers are hoping Frazier can step in and immediately help their offensive line continue the ascension they’ve been on over the last two seasons.
Matt Corral, Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings
You might remember Matt Corral when he had a stellar season with the Ole Miss Rebels in 2021. The Panthers thought enough of him to draft him in the third round the following spring, but a Lisfranc injury cost him his entire rookie season in 2022.
Corral is now with the Vikings following rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said Corral, who helped lead the United Football League’s Birmingham Stallions to a league championship this past spring, will play Saturday in Philadelphia after fellow quarterback Jaren Hall starts the game.
Fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster or the practice squad, Corral needs a solid showing to prove he still has a shot to play quarterback in the NFL.
Geno Smith, Quarterback, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald said this week that all of the Seahawks’ starters, on offense and defense, will play Saturday against the Cleveland Browns. That means we’ll get one final look at Geno Smith before the regular-season opener against the Denver Broncos.
What Smith has done in two seasons with the Seahawks after Wilson was traded has been remarkable. After attempting to carve out roles with three other NFL teams from 2013-2018, Smith has found a stable and prosperous situation with the Seahawks, leading Seattle to back-to-back 9-8 seasons and a playoff appearance in 2022. Smith has thrown for over 3,500 yards in both seasons as the Seahawks’ starting quarterback.
Playoff expectations are still prevalent in Seattle heading into 2024, and Smith will be a driving force in guiding a talented Seahawks offense this season. He has proven more than capable of playing quarterback in the NFL and has landed in a great situation with the Seahawks.
Julian Love, Free Safety, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have a lot of great young players in their secondary. Julian Love may be the best player in their defense’s back end.
His 2023 season was spectacular with 86 solo tackles as a safety, and he also had four interceptions with 10 passes defended, earning his Pro Bowl selection. We saw what Macdonald did with Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton — a first-team All-Pro in 2023 — in two seasons as the Ravens defensive coordinator. Love has the potential to have that same level of success now with Macdonald as the head coach in Seattle.