NFL preseason Week 3 highlights: Drake Maye sharp for Patriots; Samson Nacua nearly pulls off kick six

The preseason involves an in depth this weekend with a jam-packed, four-day string of video games that’ll conclude with a tripleheader on Sunday. Whereas the ultimate week of the preseason oftentimes would not see groups roll out their starters, it’s a fascinating interval with gamers on the bubble persevering with to make their case to make it onto the 53-man roster. 

As they try this, we’ll additionally get some standout performs that ought to wrap up this 12 months’s slate of exhibitions with an exclamation level. Under, we’ll showcase all the high highlights that come out of Week 3 of the preseason. 

Drake Maye marches down the sector in fashion

Jacoby Brissett acquired the beginning underneath middle for the Patriots of their closing preseason contest, however he performed just one collection earlier than giving approach to the rookie. And Maye delivered a collection of highlights in his closing tuneup. 

Backed up close to his personal finish zone on third-and-14, Maye waited out the stress after which stepped up and thru the pocket earlier than taking off and selecting up a primary down.

A pair performs later, he layered a wonderful throw excessive of a defender to hit fellow rookie Ja’Lynn Polk in stride for a giant achieve. (Granted, he had a considerably simpler throw huge open proper in entrance of him, however hey, should you can hit the large play, why not take it?) 

Dealing with one other third-and-long later within the drive, Maye slid to his left and lofted a cross to Demario Douglas on a crossing route. Once more, the Pats picked up the primary to maneuver the chains.

And eventually, Maye fired a strike on a fast hitch to operating again Kevin Harris, who spun himself away from a defender and took it into the top zone for a landing. Maye completed the drive 5 of 6 for 71 yards and the rating, whereas additionally dashing thrice for 17 yards.

Zach Wilson drops a dime

Zach Wilson is among the most-maligned quarterbacks within the NFL, however he is having a pleasant exhibiting within the Broncos’ preseason finale. As of this writing late within the fourth quarter, Wilson is 16 of 25 for 251 yards and two touchdowns by way of the air, and he additionally has a dashing landing. The latest rating got here courtesy of this fantastic thing about a deep ball down the appropriate sideline to Brandon Johnson.

Wilson stays the third-string quarterback in Denver, however you have to give him his props for this one.

Samson Nacua ALMOST pulls off kick six

The older brother of Puka Nacua nearly pulled off an absurd kick six proper earlier than halftime of the Saints’ preseason finale towards the Titans, going 106 yards earlier than tight finish Thomas Odukoya knocked him out on the 3-yard line! 

Spencer Rattler drops it within the bucket

The rookie quarterback out of South Carolina has impressed by way of his first preseason, and he continued to make performs on Sunday by throwing an ideal landing cross to Equanimeous St. Brown.

Titans put collectively good first drive

Tennessee’s offensive starters look prepared for the season opener, as Will Levis led his unit 84 yards down the sector on 9 performs, and Tony Pollard punched within the 1-yard rating. Three of Levis’ 4 completions went for no less than 13 yards, together with this good 22-yard completion to new Titan Tyler Boyd.

He may go all the way in which

Seahawks Dee Eskridge takes it to the home on a 79-yard punt return. The fourth-year Seahawks huge receiver and returner, together with the profitable additional level, makes it 24-10 Seattle of their preseason finale.  

Browns discover the top zone

Below stress, and getting hit instantly after the throw, Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson finds huge receiver Jamari Thrash for 46 yards and a landing, capping off a 70-yard drive. The Browns first TD of the evening lower the Seahawks result in 14-10.

Cannot catch Kenny

Seahawks operating again Kenny McIntosh took the handoff from quarterback Sam Howell and took off. He discovered a gap, fought off defenders and took it 56 yards to the top zone. That is the previous seventh-round choose’s second 12 months within the league, and with the Seahawks.

The TD put the Hawks up 14-3.

Sideline catch counts

Jets huge receiver Brandon Smith with the catch and, most significantly, two ft in bounds. Quarterback Andrew Peasley threw a dime to Smith down the far sideline simply forward of the two-minute warning on the primary play of the drive. After the catch, Giants gamers have been motioning that he was out of bounds, however Jets QB Aaron Rodgers, who had a entrance row seat of the motion, was adamant he was in bounds. Rodgers was proper and the 39-yard play stood.

The reception helped the Jets arrange a discipline purpose strive, however the 47-yarder from Greg Zuerlein was no good.

Jiles exhibits off

Protection in his path? That is no downside for Giants huge receiver John Jiles, who made his first catch of the evening depend. After quarterback Tommy DeVito discovered him on the primary play of the drive, Jiles jumped over Jets cornerback Shemar Bartholomew to increase the play and impress his sideline with the 21-yard play. 

The collection resulted in a punt.

Izzy makes Giants dizzy 

Jets operating again Israel Abanikanda did his finest Barry Sanders impression on this 45-yard landing run that noticed him muscle by way of a number of would-be tacklers earlier than turning on the jets (pun meant. Abanikanda, who broke Tony Dorsett’s 47-year-old single recreation faculty dashing file throughout his closing eyar at Pitt, is hoping to land a much bigger position within the offense after getting simply 22 carries throughout his rookie marketing campaign. 

Lance lights it up 

Cowboys backup quarterback Trey Lance proceed his strong preseason with a nifty 11-yard landing cross to Ryan Flournoy. He later had a 46-yard run that noticed him discover area on the skin earlier than moving into excessive gear. 

In final week’s matchup with the Raiders, Lance went 15 of 23 with two complete touchdowns. He began sluggish however completed robust in Dallas’ preseason opener towards the Rams two weeks in the past. 

Stick ’em 

Chargers quarterback Easton Stick and wideout Simi Fehoko teamed up on a powerful 78-yard landing cross towards the Cowboys. Whereas the rating was actually an thrilling play for Chargers followers, it additionally bolstered Dallas’ present depth points within the secondary. Shortly previous to the Chargers’ massive touchdowns, information broke that Cowboys All-Professional DaRon Bland will be out 6-8 weeks with a stress fracture in his foot. 

Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper 

Vikings operating again DeWayne McBride had an unlucky encounter with Eagles second-round choose Cooper DeJean late within the third quarter. DeJean made his NFL debut on Saturday after battling by way of a hamstring this offseason. 

DeJean’s versatility, considered one of his strengths as a soccer participant, really created some uncertainty concerning his draft inventory. These questions have by no means been a priority for DeJean, although, who’s seeking to assist the Eagles win in any means doable. 

“No matter place that’s, I am prepared to try this,” DeJean told CBS Sports previous to April’s draft. “Clearly, I performed nook most of my school profession, however I really feel like there’s a number of positions in a protection that I can play. I simply need to belief the coaches which were doing it for a very long time and attempt to make an impression wherever they put me.” 

Two generations of Frank Gores have now suited up for the Buffalo Payments. Within the workforce’s preseason finale towards the Carolina Panthers, undrafted operating again Frank Gore Jr., son of the NFL’s third all-time main rusher, acquired some prolonged run for Buffalo. That included this 17-yard achieve within the second quarter, which had his father fired up. At halftime of this matchup, Frank Gore Jr. was as much as 41 yards on the bottom on seven rushes. 

Packers strip sack returned for landing

One of many greatest defensive performs of the weekend got here out of Lambeau Subject. Packers defensive finish Arron Mosby was in a position to get within the face of Ravens quarterback Devin Leary within the blink of an eye fixed and pressure the strip sack, whereas security Anthony Johnson Jr. scooped the ball up for a 24-yard landing return. Naturally, the rating needed to finish with a Lambeau leap. 

Ravens WR Wallace rips off 48-yard landing reception

Veteran wideout Tylan Wallace helped put Baltimore on the board in its preseason finale towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Early within the second quarter, Josh Johnson took a third-and-nine snap and threw the ball to a wide-open Wallace over the center of the sector and took it 48 yards to the home. 

The Panthers second-year quarterback seems to be primed for a bounce-back season. In Carolina’s preseason finale towards the Payments, Younger flashed the expertise that made him the No. 1 general choose in 2023. The Alabama product was in a position to escape stress by operating out of the pocket, rolling to his left and threw a dart to his receiver down the sector to maneuver the chains.

Patterson gallops for 31-yard landing

The 33-year-old nonetheless has some giddy up! Whereas the eye is being paid largely to Pittsburgh’s quarterback battle, Cordarrelle Patterson confirmed he can nonetheless be an element out of the backfield breaking off a 31-yard landing run to provide the Steelers and early lead. 

The Steelers are nonetheless making an attempt to determine who’ll be their Week 1 starter heading into their preseason finale and Russell Wilson made an early case why he ought to stay underneath middle. The veteran acquired the nod to start the exhibition and flashed his deep ball capacity out of the shoot. On the opening drive of the afternoon, Wilson discovered wideout George Pickens for a 32-yard achieve simply alongside the left sideline.

Deebo being Deebo, Kittle being Kittle

The 49ers surprisingly despatched their starters on the market for the preseason finale towards the Raiders, and so they in a short time made a splash. On the primary play of the sport, Brock Purdy lofted a throw up the sideline for Deebo Samuel (now sporting No. 1 as a substitute of his acquainted No. 19, by the way in which), who did some fancy footwork to come back down with the ball for a 27-yard achieve. 

The drive ultimately stalled out and resulted in a discipline purpose by Jake Moody, however it was good to see the offense create an explosive play early on. On the subsequent drive, the opposite 49ers pass-catcher who starred in Netflix’s “Receiver” collection made an enormous seize of his personal. 

That is a fairly harmful throw by Purdy, however George Kittle made it work. The ball got here excessive of 1 defender and dropped down simply in entrance of one other, with Kittle going up between them and making the snag for a giant achieve. The drive ultimately ended with Jordan Mason operating it in from 4 yards out. 

The one who knocks 

Skylar Thompson acquired the Dolphins on the board with a nifty 20-yard landing cross to Hayden Rucci. The landing cross was Thompson’s fifth completion in as many makes an attempt. 

Only a few passes touched the bottom in the course of the first 28 minutes of Friday evening’s recreation. Thompson and Mike White went a mixed 10 of 14 passing, whereas Buccaneers quarterbacks Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield went 14 of 17. 

Baker’s acquired the products 

Baker Mayfield was 3 of three for 54 yards on Tampa’s opening drive towards Miami. The drive’s massive play was Mayfield’s 28-yard completion to Jalen McMillan that arrange Rachaad White’s quick landing run on the subsequent play. 

Trevor Lawrence closes out preseason with two scoring drives

The Jaguars are one of many few NFL teams really enjoying their starters this week, and so they did not take lengthy to get to work towards the Falcons‘ second-string protection. Travis Etienne ripped off a long term early on their first drive, then Trevor Lawrence discovered rookie Brian Thomas Jr. over the center for a 38-yard achieve to get Jacksonville into scoring place.

Together with a roughing-the-passer penalty, these two performs and one other completion to Parker Washington gave Jacksonville a goal-to-go alternative, and Lawrence capitalized by hitting Evan Engram at the back of the top zone for a rating. He went 4 of 4 for 59 yards on the drive, whereas Etienne had 4 carries for 28 yards.

Lawrence related with Engram for six on the Jaguars’ subsequent drive as nicely, discovering him on a nook route from the slot. Engram put a fully nasty transfer on Falcons cornerback Anthony Johnson and acquired himself huge the heck open on the play. Lawrence completed his evening 8 of 10 for 92 yards and two scores.

Within the fourth quarter of the ultimate preseason game, people are merely seeking to put good movie on tape for the street forward of creating their present workforce’s roster or another throughout the league. Ian E-book and Montrell Washington did simply that. On a second-and-6 play from their very own 41-yard line, E-book uncorked a deep ball up the center of the sector, which Washington was in a position to haul in regardless of two defenders between him.

That reception put the Chiefs on the doorstep of the top zone, which they discovered on the very subsequent play as E-book related with tight finish Baylor Cupp for the 10-yard rating.

Carson Steele continues to shine for Chiefs

The Chiefs could have discovered a gem in undrafted operating again Carson Steele. All through the preseason, the UCLA product has popped, and that continued within the finale towards the Bears. Within the second quarter, Steele was in a position to rip off a 31-yard achieve that originally seemed like he reached the top zone. Nonetheless, after evaluate, it was deemed he was down simply quick, however Andy Reid swiftly gave him the ball on the following play, which he changed into a goal-line landing. 

Richardson’s sharp opening drive ends with TD

Anthony Richardson positive seemed like a former top-five choose on the NFL Draft to start the sport. In Indianapolis’ preseason finale towards the Bengals on Thursday evening, Richardson was dialed in out of the gate. The second-year quarterback accomplished seven of his eight passes on the drive for 65 yards, together with a nine-yard landing to cross to rookie wideout Adonai Mitchell. Dealing with stress, Richardson was in a position to zip a cross over the center and Mitchell fought his means over the purpose line. 

Colts cross rusher Laiatu Latu flashes DROY potential

Indianapolis’ rookie class may very well be one thing particular as quickly as 12 months 1. The primary defensive participant off the board on the 2024 NFL Draft, Laiatu Latu flashed his potential early within the Colts preseason finale towards the Bengals, beating the left deal with with relative ease to sack Logan Woodside. Latu is the favourite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the 12 months, and it is no shock as to why after seeing that play.