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Jordan Raanan
NEW YORK — Jameis Winston stood on top of a red double-decker bus in the middle of Manhattan with his arms extended as if the city that never sleeps was his oyster. He began belting out lines to the musical “Hamilton” with a massive smile across his face.
“It’s the Greatest City in the World! It’s the Greatest City in the World!” Winston repeated multiple times as the bus inched down 45th Street toward Broadway.
Winston, 31, in his first year with the New York Giants, stood and asked those on board for the midday journey to snap pictures of him with the Richard Rodgers Theatre and the “Hamilton” marquee in the background. He was on a tour of the city with Super Bowl winners and Giants legends Eli Manning and Shaun O’Hara for “The Eli Manning Show,” in conjunction with NYC Tourism + Conventions and the city’s 400th anniversary. This specific landmark clearly struck a chord with the quarterback who joined the Giants back in March.
Winston, known as much for his oversized personality as his on-field unpredictability — devours the culture aspect of his role more than most.
It’s almost as if he belongs in “the greatest city in the world” and was miscast elsewhere.
It’s trips like these that helped convince Winston to sign a two-year deal with the Giants this past offseason. And despite rumblings that teams might inquire about his services, he’s likely to remain in New York. His contract runs through 2026, and the Giants like the idea of having a player with his skill and leadership under contract as their backup for $4 million next season.
“I think it’s just everything that this city encompasses,” Winston said of his affinity for New York. “It fits me. It’s just big. It’s broad. It’s right in your face. … That’s who I am. I’m open. I’m right in your face. I’m organic, authentic, and that’s what the city is.”
It’s no wonder that the Giants and Manning approached Winston to do the tour of Manhattan on an off day during training camp last week. Not everyone would be so flexible and willing. The trio began at One World Trade Center, went past City Hall and the Canyon of Heroes — where Manning and O’Hara reminisced about the championship parades in 2008 and ’12 — drove by the Heisman office to remind Winston of when he won the award in 2013, made a stop at New York institution Joe’s Pizza, careened down Broadway, checked out Madame Tussauds and Eli’s wax figure all before finishing in Times Square, where Winston had his own billboard and they celebrated the city’s anniversary with a cake from Carlo’s Bakery.
The priceless footage and banter is documented in the first episode of Season 5 of “The Eli Manning Show,” released Wednesday. It was only natural that it was the charismatic Winston who joined Manning and O’Hara on the tour. Whether it’s in the huddle or the locker room or off the field, he’s must-see entertainment.
Winston embraced it all, taking it in like a true 2025 tourist — through his Ray Ban Meta glasses and a GoPro. It served him well, too.
“I’m so honored to be on the bus with two Super Bowl champions,” he said on multiple occasions.
“He’s kind of a natural leader. He’s going to speak his mind. But a smart guy, informed, passionate about anything he’s doing, whether it’s football, his faith, his family, his friends,” Manning told ESPN.
“I think he’s a great fit for New York because he’s been through it all. He’s been on top of the mountain, he’s had lows but he’s never lost his work ethic, his commitment, his willingness to do whatever it takes to crawl his way back, whether it’s to be a backup or starter or just be a part of the team. He’s going to be great teammate and do what he has to do.”
Therein lies the beauty of Winston. He appreciates the city and lives in the moment. But he also cares about the football. He picked Manning’s brain on everything from how he used to watched film to what he ate during the season to whether he preferred playing on turf or grass to what it was like to win in New York.
That, Winston, said, was the most memorable part. Hearing Manning and O’Hara describe what it was like coming down the Canyon of Heroes, with shredded paper falling down around their heads from the buildings above them like homemade confetti, before finishing at City Hall to celebrate a Super Bowl triumph. Winston envisioned it all when he signed with the Giants.
“I would love to be a Super Bowl winning quarterback for the New York Football Giants,” he said. “And I got a chance to be that.”
Then seemingly without a care in the world, Winston transformed into a young kid seeing New York for the first time.
“There’s Aladdin!”
“OMG, MSG! It pops up out of nowhere.”
“Nice building!”
“Whoa, it’s Times Square!”
In reality, Winston and New York have a history. He became the youngest player to win the Heisman Trophy in 2013 and stayed at the Marriott Marquis, which coincidentally was the next landmark he saw after the Richard Rodgers Theatre. He got engaged to his wife, Breion, in the Rose Room at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan back in 2018. He took his sons to a Yankees game last year, and he saw the Knicks play the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, which he considers the highlight of his days in New York so far.
It really is a sign that Winston has come full-circle after accepting the Heisman in New York. After playing his first five years for the
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Stephen Holder
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- Stephen joined ESPN in 2022, covering the Indianapolis Colts and NFL at large. Stephen finished first place in column writing in the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editors competition, and he is a previous top-10 winner in explanatory journalism in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. He has chronicled the NFL since 2005, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005-2013 and the Colts since 2013. He has previously worked for the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, Indianapolis Star and The Athletic.
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Jeremy Fowler
Closesenior NFL national reporter
- Jeremy Fowler is a senior national NFL writer for ESPN, covering the entire league including breaking news. Jeremy also contributes to SportsCenter both as a studio analyst and a sideline reporter covering for NFL games. He is an Orlando, Florida native who joined ESPN in 2014 after covering college football for CBSSports.com.
INDIANAPOLIS — Anthony Richardson arrived at Indianapolis Colts headquarters the day after the 2023 NFL draft buoyed by optimism and the confidence that comes with being the fourth selection.
The Colts were saying, both in words and actions, that they believed he would become their franchise quarterback. And when coach Shane Steichen named him their opening day starter after Richardson had played just one quarter of preseason football, the Colts seemed to reinforce that they were committed to going on an unpredictable ride with their talented but inexperienced 21-year-old draft pick.
Now, just 2½ years later, those days feel like ancient history.
The Colts on Tuesday named Daniel Jones their Week 1 starter, bringing to a conclusion a tight position battle between Jones and Richardson — two former top-10 picks with mixed histories.
The news opens the door for Jones, the former New York Giants quarterback, to rejuvenate his career on a team with a solid roster. But for Richardson, it’s a potentially devastating blow to his future with the franchise and leaves multiple questions about where he goes from here.
Colts reporter Stephen Holder and national reporter Jeremy Fowler break it down:
Is this the beginning of Richardson’s exit from Indy?
It might be too early to say, but this certainly makes an eventual split more likely. Richardson prepared for 2025 with the expectation that it was going to be the season that dictated his future with the team. The decision to start Jones left Richardson shocked, his agent said Tuesday. Now, every potential outcome is considered to be on the table, according to agent Deiric Jackson.
“We have a lot to discuss,” Jackson said.
If Richardson doesn’t play this season — Steichen was adamant that the intention is for Jones to be the permanent starter — that means he’ll be three full seasons into his career with only one season’s worth of games played. This isn’t the first time the Colts have turned to an option other than Richardson; they also briefly benched him in favor of veteran Editor’s Picks
2 Related Some of those are areas where one might expect a seventh-year veteran to be better than a third-year player who has only played sporadically. But in basing the decision more on those aspects and less on Richardson’s proven play-making ability, Steichen is, in effect, betting on perceived consistency over Richardson’s ample potential. But there’s a reality that must be considered with Richardson: Many of the typical rules of assessing quarterbacks don’t apply to him. His league-high air yards per attempt (11.4) and his rushing ability — Richardson was third among quarterbacks in rushing yards per game — give him higher efficiency marks than his 47.7% completion rate last season would suggest. To that end, consider: Richardson and Jones each averaged 6.9 yards per attempt last season (despite Jones having significantly more completions) and their QBRs were nearly identical. — Holder Principal owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon has expressed faith in Richardson having a long-term future with the team, saying in a recent interview, “Where he is in his career and in his [contract] … we still have time. He still has time to prove it.” While she never weighed in publicly on the quarterback battle, she suggested during an in-game interview during Saturday’s preseason broadcast that she would defer to Steichen. “Shane is going to have a tough decision to make, but I feel confident he’s going to make the right decision,” she said.
Did the Colts’ new ownership play a role in this?
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Daniel Oyefusi
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns on Monday named veteran Joe Flacco their starting quarterback to open the 2025 season. The decision brings an end to what opened as a four-way quarterback competition but had an anticlimactic finish with Flacco emerging as the runaway favorite.
Flacco, 40, has taken the overwhelming majority of first-team reps in training camp as fourth-year quarterback Kenny Pickett has been limited since suffering a hamstring injury July 26. Rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel has also received first-team reps, but he missed the preseason opener with a hamstring injury. Rookie fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders, who has not received any first-team reps, missed the team’s second preseason game because of an oblique injury suffered last week.
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• The massive draft capital the Browns hold in 2026 only underscores the need for the franchise to further evaluate its young quarterbacks sooner rather than later — a reality owner Jimmy Haslam acknowledged in late July. When asked if it’s important to see Gabriel and Sanders on the field in game situations before using their first-round picks in 2026, Haslam answered, “Absolutely, absolutely.” “Kevin is aware of that, he knows how important quarterback is, and he and Andrew talk about those kinds of things all the time,” Haslam said. “It’s a daily, ongoing conversation.” The sheer number of first-team reps Gabriel — a six-year college player at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon — has received this summer signaled the Browns believe he could be ready to see the field soon. Sanders — a four-year player at FCS school Jackson State and Colorado — has been brought along slower as QB4 on the depth chart. However, he impressed with a two-touchdown performance in the Browns’ preseason opener against the
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NFL Nation
The second week of the 2025 NFL preseason kicked off Friday as several teams prepared to give extended looks to their starters in a dress rehearsal for the regular season.
To keep you updated on how teams fared, our NFL Nation reporters summarized the games below.
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Sunday’s results
Jaguars: After a sloppy performance by the offense in Thursday’s scrimmage (10 penalties, 7 drops), the Jaguars were significantly cleaner against the Saints on Sunday. Trevor Lawrence and the first-team offense were nearly perfect — 7 first downs, 108 yards and 4.6 yards per carry, and the quarterback went 8-of-10 for 76 yards with one TD pass. The only blemish was Lawrence’s lost fumble, which came when left guard Ezra Cleveland stepped on one of his feet, tripping the QB as he was trying to hand the ball off to running back Tank Bigsby.
In three drives spanning two preseason games under new coach Liam Coen, Lawrence is 14-of-17 for 119 yards and one touchdown with one drop. That’s an encouraging sign for those hoping Coen can do the same thing for Lawrence that he did for Baker Mayfield with Tampa Bay last season. — Michael DiRocco
Next game: at Miami Dolphins (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET)
Saints: The quarterback competition might go down to the wire. Spencer Rattler looked like he had the edge over Tyler Shough in this game despite playing in the second half with backups. Shough played four drives and gained only 9 net yards on the first two. He went 5-of-6 on his best drive, which ended on a Chris Olave drop leading to a field goal. The rookie also had a 28-yard pass to Treyton Welch on that series.
Rattler had five drives, one of which ended with a field goal after he drew a 45-yard pass interference call on an incompletion to Mason Tipton. He hit Tipton for a 45-yard gain on another series. Rattler’s best drive came after he threw an interception. The Saints brought him back on the next series to run the two-minute offense, and he not only drove the team down the field for the score but also ran in the 2-point conversion himself. Rattler finished 18-of-24 for 199 yards with a touchdown and the interception. — Katherine Terrell
Next game: vs. Denver Broncos (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)
Saturday’s results
Giants: Cue the Jaxson Dart hype. The first-round pick was again impressive in preseason action, especially while leading consecutive touchdown drives to begin the second half. He completed 5 of 6 passes for 62 yards on the first drive, which was capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass to tight end Greg Dulcich. Dart then capped the next drive with a 1-yard TD run. The rookie finished 14-of-16 for 137 yards with a TD passing and another rushing. This came on the heels of an impressive debut against the Bills. Even though Russell Wilson led a touchdown drive to start the game, Dart is showing he might be ready to start sooner rather than later. — Jordan Raanan
Next game: at New England Patriots (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET)
Jets: Quarterback Justin Fields and the passing offense were out of sync, which is not surprising. They’ve been sputtering throughout most of training camp, with Fields unable to get the ball downfield to his wide receivers. Fields completed his first throw — a 4-yard flare to tight end Mason Taylor — then finished with five straight incompletions in two series of action (a high snap and a QB pressure contributed to two of the errant throws.) Fields was 0-for-3 when targeting wideout Garrett Wilson, his old buddy from Ohio State. Yes, the Jets again showed potential in the running game, but it’s hard to be one-dimensional in the NFL. The lack of a legit WR2 to complement Wilson is one of the reasons they’re not clicking. — Rich Cimini
Next game: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET)
Bucs: With quarterback Baker Mayfield sitting, Teddy Bridgewater hit running back Bucky Irving and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka for 15- and 5-yard touchdown passes. Wide receiver Jalen McMillan left the game with a back injury and will be evaluated for a concussion after a fall on his head/neck area. And while cornerback Zyon McCollum notched an interception (so did Kindle Vildor, along with a deep ball pass breakup), Jamel Dean surrendered a 42-yard reception to Roman Wilson, a 2-yard touchdown to Brandon Johnson and a pass interference call on a single drive. Tez Johnson’s splashy preseason debut included a 32-yard punt return. — Jenna Laine
Next game: vs. Buffalo Bills (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET)
Steelers: In a preseason game that wasn’t nearly as clean as the first, the Steelers’ run defense was dominant while the offensive ground game continued to look sluggish. The defense, playing without most of its starters, held the Bucs to 2.5 yards per carry in a first half featuring most of their starters. Juan Thornhill and Brandin Echols set the tone early, stuffing running back Bucky Irving on the first play of the game. The Steelers’ offense, however, had about as much success as Tampa Bay in running the ball. With starting RB Jaylen Warren sitting out for the second week in a row, rookie Kaleb Johnson saw plenty of action. Not counting his second-quarter 14-yard run, Johnson averaged just 0.5 yards per carry on four rushes. He had a better showing in the second half with a pair of 9-yard runs, but the second preseason game suggested the third-round pick still has room to grow. — Brooke Pryor
Next game: at Carolina Panthers (Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET)
Rams: Third-string quarterback Stetson Bennett has looked much improved this preseason. Against the Chargers, Bennett completed 28 of 40 passes for 324 yards with three touchdowns and a fourth-quarter interception. Bennett’s first touchdown drive came against the majority of the Chargers’ starting defense. Bennett has started and played the majority of the Rams’ preseason games as coach Sean McVay does not play his first-stringers during the preseason.
Starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is dealing with an aggravated disk in his back, was scheduled to workout Saturday morning at the Rams’ facility. When asked to confirm that the workout took place, a Rams spokesperson declined to comment and said McVay would address the situation Monday. — Sarah Barshop
Next game: at Cleveland Browns (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET on NFL Network)
Chargers: The stars of Saturday’s game were the Chargers’ rookie receivers: KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Tre Harris. The rookies had the game’s best highlights, each with their own diving 30-plus-yard catches on the sideline. Lambert-Smith, a fifth-round pick who has been the star of training camp, finished with two catches for 66 yards. It was a breakout game for Harris, the Chargers’ second-round pick. Harris has struggled with drops and hadn’t had a catch in preseason until Saturday. He finished with six catches for 85 yards, leading the team in both categories. — Kris Rhim
Next game: at San Francisco 49ers (Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET)
Ravens: Tyler Loop is officially the Ravens kicker to start the 2025 season, coach John Harbaugh announced after Loop’s impressive performance Saturday. The rookie sixth-round pick made 5 of 6 field goals, including kicks from 51 and 53 yards in Dallas. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said the decision at kicker would come in the preseason games, and Loop is now 6-of-8. Loop’s strong leg would provide a weapon that has been lacking lately in Baltimore. Former kicker Justin Tucker, who was cut in May, was 16-of-30 (53.3%) from beyond 50 yards over the past three years. — Jamison Hensley
Next game: at Washington Commanders (Saturday, noon ET)
Cowboys: Through two games, Joe Milton III has not done enough to convince the Cowboys he is the backup quarterback to Dak Prescott. Milton was intercepted in the second quarter forcing a deep ball into coverage. He took a sack on the first drive that led to a safety. He missed reads. It didn’t help that former Cowboys backup Cooper Rush started for the Ravens. Yes, Rush had two first-half picks and one was returned for a touchdown, but he also had a TD pass and smartly got the Ravens into field goal position late in the second quarter. The Cowboys have given Milton all of the second-team work this summer. It might be time to give Will Grier more work in the final week of the preseason. — Todd Archer
Next game: vs. Atlanta Falcons (Friday, 8 p.m. ET)
Broncos: The Broncos certainly flashed their depth Saturday night. With second- and third-teamers getting virtually all of the work, Denver scored on four of its first five drives and the Broncos’ defensive reserves held the Cardinals’ reserves to 126 yards through three quarters. Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham is 30-of-38 passing for 376 yards with four touchdowns in 3½ quarters this preseason. Coach Sean Payton said the depth will make roster decisions far more difficult than last summer, with tough calls to make at wide receiver, running back and the defensive line in particular. — Jeff Legwold
Next game: at New Orleans Saints (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)
Cardinals: Rookie cornerback Denzel Burke showed Saturday night that, while there’s work to do, he has what it takes to eventually be a piece of the Cardinals’ cornerback rotation. He had the kind of preseason game one would expect from a rookie: There were highs and there were lows. He played 33 snaps, was targeted six times and allowed three catches for 62 yards and a touchdown, but he flashed at times with plays that showed a natural talent. After fine-tuning his technique and learning more about the NFL game, Burke could work his way onto the field this season. — Josh Weinfuss
Next game: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Saturday, 10 p.m. ET on NFL Network)
49ers: The 49ers didn’t have enough healthy starters on defense to give the first unit a full look against the Raiders, but the offense did. The good news? Quarterback Brock Purdy and receiver Ricky Pearsall carried their training camp connection into this one, connecting three times for 42 yards on the opening drive before Purdy & Co. called it a day. The bad news? Right guard Dominick Puni suffered a right knee injury on the field goal to cap that drive and was quickly ruled out. Suffice it to say, the Niners probably won’t use many of their projected Week 1 starters in the exhibition finale against the Chargers next week. — Nick Wagoner
Next game: vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET)
Raiders: The Raiders’ run defense was stout against San Francisco compared with last week’s game in Seattle. In the first half, Las Vegas gave up an average of 2.8 yards on 18 carries. However, Las Vegas struggled to contain San Francisco’s passing attack, which was also a noticeable issue during Thursday’s joint practice.
Las Vegas’ first-team defense allowed 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to complete 5 of 7 passes for 66 yards on the opening drive, which resulted in a field goal. After defensive end Maxx Crosby helped stop running back Patrick Taylor Jr. for a combined loss of 8 yards on two straight carries, the Raiders gave up a 21-yard reception to wideout Ricky Pearsall on third down, followed by an 11-yard catch from Isaiah Hodgins. Even though safety Jeremy Chinn picked off Mac Jones on the next drive, it was an inconsistent afternoon for the Raiders’ pass defense. — Ryan McFadden
Next game: at Arizona Cardinals (Saturday, 10 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Texans: In what is likely the last we’ve seen of the Texans’ starting defense in preseason, Houston allowed only one first down through three series. That unit is primed to continue from where it finished in 2024: as a top-10 group in total defense. On the opening play, cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. intercepted Panthers quarterback Bryce Young off a scramble drill. The play was nullified because of a defensive holding call, but Houston just kept overwhelming the Panthers’ starting offense as it held Young to zero completions, and he took a sack. — DJ Bien-Aime
Next game: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (7 p.m. ET, Thursday, NFL Network)
Panthers: A lot of work needs to be done. It was puzzling that Panthers coach Dave Canales didn’t give quarterback Bryce Young and the starters a third series. Young got only six plays, going 0-for-2 with a sack. He also had an interception negated by defensive holding. Young got a lot of good work in during the joint practice Thursday and looked solid. But after this effort, Canales has to consider giving the starters one more look in Thursday’s preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Besides being outscored 7-0, they were outgained 68-2 in yards. Not exactly a confidence booster. — David Newton
Next game: at Detroit Lions (1 p.m. ET, Saturday)
Browns: Dillon Gabriel’s preseason debut was a mixed bag that leaves the Browns with continued questions at quarterback. The third-round pick completed eight of his first nine passes and led scoring drives on three of his five possessions in the first half. Gabriel, though, also threw a pick-six on a poor decision to force a pass and was later credited with a fumble on a botched handoff. Injuries have led to Joe Flacco being the likely starter for Week 1, but who could serve as the backup remains up in the air entering the preseason finale. — Daniel Oyefusi
Next game: vs. Los Angeles Rams (1 p.m. ET, Saturday)
Eagles: Rookie safety Andrew Mukuba made his case for cracking the starting lineup.
The second-round pick out of Texas had an interception return for a touchdown and a fumble recovery in the first half. The pick-six was off rookie QB Dillon Gabriel. Mukuba jumped in front of receiver Diontae Johnson to snag the pass and raced 75 yards down the right side for the score. Generating takeaways is nothing new for Mukuba, who led the SEC with five interceptions in 2024.
Mukuba got off to a hot start this summer before being slowed by a shoulder injury. Now back in action, he has resumed his competition with third-year player Sydney Brown for the starting spot opposite Reed Blankenship. It has been pretty even to this point, but this performance could move the needle in Mukuba’s favor. — Tim McManus
Next game: at New York Jets (7:30 p.m. ET, Friday)
Patriots: Undrafted free agent WR Efton Chism III (Eastern Washington) might have solidified his spot on the roster with six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown in the first half. The TD was a 12-yard catch-and-run on third-and-9 in which he evaded and/or broke tackles from six defenders.
The Patriots project to have Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas as their starting receivers, with Mack Hollins and 2025 third-round pick Kyle Williams also locks as complementary options. So Chism has essentially forced the team’s hand to keep six receivers and maybe even a seventh.
“Everybody is here for a reason, and he’s certainly made the most of his opportunities,” coach Mike Vrabel said at halftime on the WBZ-TV broadcast. “His play strength really shows up.” — Mike Reiss
Next game: at New York Giants (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Vikings: The Vikings sat all of their starters and more than a dozen key backups, having prioritized the two days of joint practices with the Patriots over preseason playing time. That left two personnel groups to monitor: the backup quarterbacks and kick/punt returners.
Presumptive No. 2 quarterback Sam Howell had a shaky outing, completing only one of five passes for 13 yards with an interception. Rookie Max Brosmer played the entire second half and performed well enough, completing 15 of 26 passes for 156 yards, to make the backup competition interesting for the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, the return game offered interesting takeaways as rookie receiver Tai Felton took the first punt and kickoff returns, and rookie receiver Myles Price ripped off an 81-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter. Felton fair-caught the only punt he saw, and he fumbled at the end of a 21-yard kickoff return. After the game, coach Kevin O’Connell said that the Vikings drafted Felton in part because of his kickoff return skills and that he simply needs more work in the role. There remains less clarity at the punt return position, however. — Kevin Seifert
Next game: at Tennessee Titans (Friday, 8 p.m. ET, CBS)
Packers: Penalties slowed down the Packers early; rookie second-round tackle Anthony Belton had five (FIVE!) by himself in the first half. But at least they got to see what second-year running back MarShawn Lloyd might be able to do after missing most of his rookie year because of injuries and illness. The 2024 third-round pick made the biggest play from scrimmage in the first half with a 33-yard catch on a wheel route from Malik Willis.
With Josh Jacobs and most of the first-stringers sitting, Lloyd started and played 11 snaps. He had six carries for 15 yards and was targeted four times with the one catch. The Packers like Lloyd’s explosiveness as a backup for Jacobs, but he needs to stay healthy. He has already missed time this summer (groin), and he appeared to get shaken up on his catch and did not play another snap. When asked after the game if Lloyd was OK, Packers coach Matt LaFleur said: “We’ll see.” — Rob Demovsky
Next game: vs. Seattle Seahawks (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Colts: QB Anthony Richardson Sr. saw his most extensive preseason action yet after sustaining a dislocated finger in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens. He did little to hurt his bid to become the starting quarterback in his ongoing battle with Daniel Jones. Richardson completed 6 of 11 attempts for 73 yards, but his numbers were undermined by penalties. He started 5-of-6 for 64 yards, leading a methodical 90-yard touchdown drive with crisp passes before offensive penalties derailed his next two possessions (including a negated 38-yard completion). Jones started the game and led a field goal drive, completing 7 of 11 attempts for 101 yards. — Stephen Holder
Next game: at Cincinnati Bengals (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)
Dolphins: This might be a quarterback battle, after all — backup quarterback, that is. Zach Wilson put together a solid start in the Dolphins’ second preseason game, completing 15 of 23 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. But he looked hesitant to throw at times and missed a couple of would-be touchdowns, including a deep pass to a wide-open Dee Eskridge that he underthrew.
Rookie Quinn Ewers was markedly improved from his debut, completing 11 of 16 passes with a pair of touchdowns to fellow rookie Theo Wease Jr. Miami signed Wilson to be its backup quarterback this season, and the team will likely keep three passers, but Wilson has not run away with the job, and Ewers is steadily improving as he learns this offense. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Lions: Lions RB Sione Vaki made his preseason debut, contributing on offense and special teams. Vaki exited practice early after suffering a hamstring injury July 21, which sidelined him for a period, but he returned to practice this week prior to suiting up against Miami. Vaki displayed his versatility, forcing a fumble on a punt return, which the Dolphins recovered. He also gained 30 yards from five carries during the first half.
Despite playing in a loaded backfield, he could expand his role due to his ability to play multiple roles, Lions coach Dan Campbell has said. Detroit picked Vaki in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft out of Utah, and he appeared in 16 games as a rookie. — Eric Woodyard
Next game: vs. Houston Texans (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)
Friday’s results
Seahawks: Zach Charbonnet continued to show why he’ll have a bigger role in the Seahawks’ backfield this season than you might expect. With Kenneth Walker III out again, Charbonnet carried five times for 45 yards on the opening drive, showing excellent vision and burst on a 15-yard touchdown run.
Walker has missed extensive chunks of time in the spring and summer after missing 11 games last year, and it’s enough to wonder not only about his availability but how crisp he’ll be in a new blocking scheme when he is on the field. The ever-reliable Charbonnet, meanwhile, hasn’t missed a day, and his production has been validating all the glowing praise he gets from teammates and coaches. Between Charbonnet’s strong offseason and Walker’s availability issues, it may be more of an even split in Seattle’s backfield than a typical starter-backup situation. — Brady Henderson
Next game: vs. Green Bay Packers (4 p.m. ET, Saturday, NFL Network)
Chiefs: All four of the Chiefs’ prominent rookies on defense — tackle Omarr Norman-Lott, end Ashton Gillotte, cornerback Nohl Williams and linebacker Jeffrey Bassa — struggled with extending playing time Friday. The Chiefs’ defense gave up huge chunks of rushing yards in the first half as Norman-Lott and Gillotte weren’t able to make much of an impact. Bassa, who was a star in the preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, was exploited by the Seahawks’ misdirection plays. Williams showed his physicality again, but he left the game in the third quarter with a concussion. — Nate Taylor
Next game: vs. Chicago Bears (8:20 p.m. ET, Friday)
Titans: Rookie receiver Elic Ayomanor had what he called his worst practice of training camp Tuesday when he went up against the Falcons’ defensive backs. Ayomanor bounced back with a solid practice Wednesday, and he carried that momentum over to game day.
Ayomanor caught two passes for 47 yards and is becoming a problem working the middle of the field. Fellow rookie Gunnar Helm is a playmaker, whether it’s finding holes in zone or running seam routes. Helm went up and grabbed a Brandon Allen pass over two defenders for a 25-yard touchdown, finishing with four receptions for 48 yards.— Turron Davenport
Next game: vs. Minnesota Vikings (8 p.m. ET, Friday)
Falcons: The Falcons’ wide receiver corps is not making things easy for the coaching staff with a little more than a week until cut day. Against the Titans, David Sills V, Chris Blair and Dylan Drummond all had moments. Blair caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Easton Stick. Drummond has 12 catches in two preseason games.
Sills, who has been Kirk Cousins’ favorite target in practice, had two catches on the first series Friday and was then removed from the game, potentially indicating that the coaches have seen enough and Sills has a 53-man roster spot already. Casey Washington didn’t suit up Friday, meaning he’s a lock. — Marc Raimondi
Next game: at Dallas Cowboys (8 p.m. ET, Friday)
Sunday’s games
Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. (NFL Network)
Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears, 8 p.m. ET
Monday’s game
Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Commanders, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)