NFL Week 3 preseason winners and losers: Cowboys’ Will Grier, Jets fans can celebrate exhibition finales

That’s a wrap for the 2023 (*3*), once or more the Texans and Saints shut their Sunday evening showdown. Now all 32 groups can flip their consideration to the common season, which kicks off Sept. 7 when the Lions talk over with the reigning champion Chiefs.

In the intervening time, listed below are some notable winners and losers from the overall week of exhibition matchups:

Winner: Jets fans

It’s been an altogether promising offseason for Gang Green, what with Aaron Rodgers’ arrival inviting Super Bowl goals. But Jets devoted in spite of everything were given to witness Rodgers in reside motion Saturday, when the longtime Packers celebrity hit new No. 1 Garrett Wilson for an attractive landing cross in a win over the Giants. It’s all techniques opt for Week 1 and A-Rod’s first-ever Big Apple excursion.

The rookie Georgia product drew fairly prime reward for a hectic preseason debut, however he is since fallen to Earth, sinking to a brand new low in a 41-0 loss to the Broncos on Saturday. The fourth-rounder threw two unsightly alternatives in simply 9 cross makes an attempt sooner than Sean McVay pulled him, elevating questions concerning the workforce’s backup slot at the back of returning starter Matthew Stafford.

Winner: Journeyman backup QBs

Experienced reserves made sturdy pushes for task safety across the NFL: Will Grier balled out with 350+ yards and 4 TDs after the Cowboys necessarily changed him with Trey Lance, Jarrett Stidham aired it out to cement himself because the Broncos’ No. 2, Teddy Bridgewater settled in because the Lions’ new backup towards the Panthers, and each Jacoby Brissett and Jake Fromm led scoring drives for the Commanders towards the Bengals.

The third-round rookie will nonetheless have a task in Jacksonville’s offense, providing measurement for possible goal-line applications. But his fumble in that space towards the Dolphins on Saturday led to Doug Pederson giving the chance to starter Travis Etienne Jr., who promptly punched it in. Etienne might be located for a real three-down function till Bigsby earns again some believe.

The Seahawks have a loaded intensity chart out large, with DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba primed for a lot of objectives from Geno Smith. But Bobo, undrafted out of UCLA after working a 4.99 40-yard sprint, has been open all preseason, together with in Saturday’s loss to the Packers. His 18-yard TD could have secured him a place at the 53-man roster.

Loser: Panthers WR corps

You may as an alternative name this a backhanded praise to Adam Thielen, who proved to be a slightly dependable goal for rookie QB Bryce Young towards the Lions, completing with 4 catches for 48 yards in two drives. But Thielen left in short for an damage, which underscores the delicate state of a pass-catching team nearly solely depending on him; fellow veterans D.J. Chark and Terrace Marshall Jr. had been already sidelined, leaving Young with few play-makers at his disposal.

The Titans would possibly or won’t have the foundational items to make some other playoff run leaning on old-school, run-first offense. But Spears has carried out his section to protected a task as Derrick Henry’s sidekick at the flooring. The third-round rookie were given quite a lot of paintings towards the Patriots, and whilst his numbers were not gaudy, he additionally had an outstanding stiff-arm that showcased his open-field steadiness.