NFL Preseason Has New Meaning For Bengals, Colts, Jags, Vikings

Forbes

6 hours ago

The NFL preseason matters for the first time in years. The league has Joe Burrow to thank for it.
The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback lobbied head coach Zac Taylor for months during the offseason that he wanted to play in the preseason because he wanted to get the work in before the season kicked off in earnest. He won his argument as he started against the Eagles in Cincinnati's opening summer game and completed 9 of 10 passes for 123 yards with two touchdowns. He was razor sharp and now he will have confidence that he is ready to start the season.
'We've still got a ways to go,' Burrow said. 'But it was a good start. It's just good to play football again. We got 15 reps tonight, so we're 15 reps better.'
Preseason has always mattered for rookies and backups who are trying to make the roster, but starters have been excused from competing for years.
The Indianapolis Colts have a major quarterback battle on their hands between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson. Jones gained an early edge in training camp and that played out as the Colts met the Ravens in their first preseason game. Jones completed 10 of 21 passes for 144 yards and avoided turnovers, while Richardson completed 2 of 3 passes and then came out of the game after dislocating his right pinkie.
Richardson has already returned to practice for the Colts, but part of the reason he got hurt is that he didn't read the Baltimore Ravens defense correctly and he took a hard sack. Richardson's inability to stay healthy has been a big issue as he prepares to begin his third season in the NFL.
Joey Bosa took positive steps in his debut with the Buffalo Bills. Bosa is an edge rusher who does not have the kind of earth-shattering speed that can make him a dynamic performer. Bosa's greatest strength is his power and that aspect of his game was on display against the New York Giants. The big question is whether Bosa can stay healthy, and he passed his first test. He looked sharp as a run defender and also demonstrated his power move when rushing the passer.
Rookie Travis Hunter made his preseason debut for the Jacksonville Jaguars, playing both offense and defense against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hunter got his feet wet by making two catches for nine yards. He also had a chance to make an open-field tackle and he failed to bring his man down.
Hunter breathed a sigh of relief after the game. 'I felt great,' he said. 'A little nervous, but it felt great. It definitely settled down when I got the first catch, really when the first play started.'
McCarthy returns to the show
Hunter was not the only high-profile player to feel a bit of relief after getting a chance to show what he could do in a game. Minnesota Vikings second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy was back at U.S. Bank Stadium a year after making his debut in 2024. McCarthy tore his meniscus in that game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and he finally had a chance to get back into action against the Houston Texans.
He played the first series for head coach Kevin O'Connell and completed 4 of 7 passes for 30 yards and also ran one time for eight yards and picked up a first down. Most importantly, he had a chance to shake off the rust and demonstrate he was healthy.
O'Connell was satisfied with the performance of his QB1. 'There was a level of composure and poise to how he ran the show that was exactly what I was looking for,' O'Connell said. 'Now, we go back to work.'
Finally, second-year placekicker Cam Little of the Jaguars accomplished the seemingly impossible when he nailed a 70-yard field goal just before halftime against the Steelers. The NFL's all-time record is a 66-yard field goal kicked by former Baltimore Raven Justin Tucker.
Little's kick won't be in the record book because it is a preseason accomplishment, but it will be remembered. He made 27 of 29 FG attempts last season, and his leg strength is unchallenged. Little will be kicking in the NFL for many years to come.