The NFL is rapidly approaching regular season football, but for the next two weeks, week three of preseason action is as close as we’ll get to it. NFL teams are set to prepare for week one with their regular season dress rehearsal games this week, where fans can expect to see most of the star players for their favorite team take the field for the longest amount of time.
Three games go down on Friday night and there could be plenty to watch for. Let’s break down the top reasons to tune in:
Jimmy Garoppolo or Tom Brady?
Tom Brady’s legal woes continue on, so for the moment he’s still suspended for the first four games of 2015. With that probably not changing, the Patriots would be smart to let Jimmy Garoppolo either start this game or play the final three quarters. It will be interesting to see what Bill Belichick and co. decide, as well as how Jimmy G performs, in general.
Devin Funchess’ Role
With Kelvin Benjamin lost for the season due to a torn ACL, a lot of pressure falls on Panthers rookie receiver Devin Funchess. And he’s only appeared in one preseason game. It’s crucial for Funchess’ development and the passing offense in general that he hits the field for week three and performs well. Funchess absolutely has the size and athleticism to develop into a red-zone menace in his first season, but he’s still a little raw. How quickly he can progress will be key for Cam Newton and Carolina’s offense.
Marcus Mariota’s Progress
Mariota turned the ball over twice in his pro debut and then kept things very clean last week. In week three we should see him play at least a full half as he gears up for his official debut in week one of the regular season. Mariota might be an inconsistent performer as a rook, but how he does on Friday could shed some light on what kind of offense the Titans will be rolling with.
David Cobb vs. Bishop Sankey
If the Titans want Mariota to do well in year one, they’re going to want to establish the run. Whether that’s with Cobb or Sankey (or a mix of both) has yet to be determined. Sankey is weak when it comes to fundamentals, but on paper is a plus athlete and actually ran quite well in Tennessee’s second preseason game. Cobb wasn’t as good last week, but blew Sankey out of the water in week one. How both do on Friday night could decide who starts the season with the bigger workload.
T.J. Yeldon’s Debut
Yeldon was drafted to be Jacksonville’s savior at running back, yet a finger injury has kept him from playing in any preseason action. Yeldo has feature back written all over him and should make his pro debut on Friday night. How he fares could go a long way in telling us whether or not he’s going to be handed the keys to the backfield right away as a rookie.
More Ameer Abdullah, Please
Abdullah is a freak athlete and he showed that in his preseason debut. He hit the field for a very brief amount of time in game two, however, so two things will be interesting in game three: his exact role and how much the Lions showcase him. Joique Bell is tentatively still expected to hold onto the starting running back job in Detroit, but health and age have caught up with him. Will we see the passing of the torch on Friday night? Perhaps. Also, be sure to check out undrafted rookie Zach Zenner, who has pieced two awesome games together. He could still not even make the team, but how much he plays (if at all) with the first team unit will be fun to track.
Got something better to note in these Friday night NFL preseason games? Let us know in the comments below!
