Tag

Roster Battles

All articles tagged with #roster battles

Commanders' Preseason Collapse Exposes O-Line Woes and a Bright Safety
sports14 days ago

Commanders' Preseason Collapse Exposes O-Line Woes and a Bright Safety

Washington Commanders' Week 3 preseason loss to the Ravens featured poor execution across offense, defense, and special teams, raising concerns about coaching, preparation, and roster depth as many backups struggled to stand out. Safety Tyler Owens was the lone bright spot, while several rookies and backups, particularly along the offensive line and at center, looked unprepared, potentially jeopardizing their roster spots and underscoring coach Dan Quinn's frustration after the game. The result intensifies questions about who will make the 53-man squad and how the line will be shored up before Week 1.

Sam Shines as Eagles’ Depth Takes Center Stage in Week 3 Preseason
sports14 days ago

Sam Shines as Eagles’ Depth Takes Center Stage in Week 3 Preseason

In Week 3 of the preseason, Philadelphia used 60 offensive and 67 defensive snaps vs. Cincinnati. QB reps were split: McKee 32, Dalton 25, Payton 3, highlighting ongoing QB2 debate. Carson Steele led RBs with 43 snaps; Dameon Pierce (12) and Jordan Mims (5) also saw work. Danny Gray (47) led WRs, with Watkins (34), Covey (29), and Moore (20) also seeing action; Makai Lemon had a disappointing night with 3 catches for 3 yards and a muffed punt. E.J. Jenkins (31) and Cameron Latu (23) handled tight end duties. Morris and Jordan each logged 60 snaps on the O-line; Zion Wilson and Gabe Hall topped the interior D-line. Andre' Sam starred on defense and special teams, but left with a lower-leg injury; three stars went to Sam, Dameon Pierce, and Carson Steele, and Sam earned the Week 3 game ball as the team continues roster battles and QB2 concerns.

Week 3 Preseason Fantasy Pulse: Early Signals for 2026 Drafts
sports15 days ago

Week 3 Preseason Fantasy Pulse: Early Signals for 2026 Drafts

Week 3 of the 2026 NFL preseason delivered a flood of fantasy signals, from clear depth-chart bets to injury-driven shakeups across several teams: Baltimore’s Ja’Kobi Lane looks locked as the Ravens’ 11-personnel WR3, while Washington’s Luke McCaffrey’s roster spot appears at risk; Kyle Pitts posted limited starter snaps for Atlanta, suggesting more 12-personnel with Woerner and Hooper which could cap his fantasy ceiling early this season; Miami’s WR picture remains unsettled with Malik Washington as the top early-season target and Chris Bell/Caleb Douglas competing for snaps; New Orleans’ Kendre Miller seems likely to be the Saints’ RB2 behind Etienne with Kamara out, while Kansas City’s Emmett Johnson appears to be Walker’s top backup; Bengals’ Colbie Young and Dohnte Meyers emerged as the top backups behind Nabers; and a number of rookies and depth players showed upside but are unlikely to be immediate fantasy starters, underscoring how cutdown decisions will shape rosters.

Packers’ final roster decisions on the line in preseason showdown with Cardinals
sports15 days ago

Packers’ final roster decisions on the line in preseason showdown with Cardinals

Green Bay wraps training camp with a home preseason game vs. Arizona to determine last roster spots: the final wide receiver battle between Isaiah Neyor, J. Micheal Sturdivant, and Will Sheppard; a tight end competition following the Jonnu Smith signing while Musgrave recovers on the PUP list; possible edge in the right guard job with Jacob Monk still in the mix; and ongoing look at cornerback depth with Brandon Cisse and teammates, plus how MarShawn Lloyd’s snaps could indicate his role alongside Josh Jacobs in the backfield.

sports17 days ago

Steelers Aim to Shine in Bills Preseason Finale: Five Players to Watch

The Steelers head to Buffalo for the preseason finale to audition depth players and rookies—Max Iheanachor, Esezi Otomewo, Max Hurleman, Kaden Wetjen, Doneiko Slaughter, and Lew Nichols—while Will Howard and Drew Allar again direct the offense, as Pittsburgh looks to solidify its roster spots and evaluate special-teams contributions ahead of cut-down day.

49ers enter finale with open roster battles across offense and defense
sports17 days ago

49ers enter finale with open roster battles across offense and defense

With one preseason game left, the 49ers still have several open battles: Kaelon Black appears to lead the backup RB race over Jordan James, though injuries and late progress keep it undecided; third linebacker is trending toward Jaden Dugger in Raheem Morris’ hybrid role; starting left guard remains unsettled among four contenders; starting safety is unclear with Marques Sigle ahead for now after Malik Mustapha’s hamstring issue; Kurtis Rourke has emerged as the better third quarterback over Adrian Martinez; punt returner appears to be Jacob Cowing as the frontrunner among many candidates.

Jets' Geno Smith Shines in Preseason as QB Depth Battles Take Center Stage
sports20 days ago

Jets' Geno Smith Shines in Preseason as QB Depth Battles Take Center Stage

Geno Smith flashed for the Jets in a productive preseason showing, while Deshaun Watson struggled and drew boos in his return for the Browns. Across the league, teams used the weekend to evaluate quarterback depth and roster spots, with several backups and rookies—Kyle Allen, J.J. McCarthy, Gardner Minshew, Stetson Bennett and others—making notable impressions as the field of QB candidates narrows ahead of Week 1.

Lions Preseason Watchlist: 10 Players to Impress vs Commanders
sports22 days ago

Lions Preseason Watchlist: 10 Players to Impress vs Commanders

Preview of the Detroit Lions’ Saturday preseason game vs. the Washington Commanders, highlighting 10 players to watch as rosters are trimmed: QB Josh Dobbs starts to show his fit; RB Sione Vaki finally gets more run; WR Tay Martin (and others like Dominic Lovett, Cedrick Wilson, and Tom Kennedy) seek a breakout; the starting offensive line aims to build cohesion; EDGE Derrick Moore returns from injury; DT Ben Stille pushes for a roster spot; LB battles between Devin White and Malcolm Rodriguez; UDFA Erick Hunter could climb the depth chart; CB Keith Abney in the nickel rotation; and S Dan Jackson stepping in if Thomas Harper remains sidelined.

49ers Dominate Chargers in Preseason Showdown, with Odighizuwa, Black, and Okuayinonu Leading the Way
sports22 days ago

49ers Dominate Chargers in Preseason Showdown, with Odighizuwa, Black, and Okuayinonu Leading the Way

San Francisco rolled past Los Angeles in the second preseason game, featuring game-changing plays across all phases. standout performances came from Odighizuwa on the defensive line, Kaelon Black’s patient, physical run game and pass protection, and Okuayinonu’s effective bursts on early downs. The game also spotlighted a strong special-teams and depth showing with Jacob Cowing making a case for return duties and Jack Jones elevating his play. Losers included the left guard competition (Jones, Willis, Pleasants, Colby) and special-teams/rookie coverage struggles from Garret Wallow, highlighting ongoing roster battles as the Niners build toward the regular season.

Undrafted Chiefs shine in Week 1 preseason, fueling roster buzz
sports26 days ago

Undrafted Chiefs shine in Week 1 preseason, fueling roster buzz

In KC’s 2026 preseason opener against the Rams, three undrafted players stood out and could complicate the Chiefs’ final 53-man decisions: WR Andrew Armstrong, TE Jake Briningstool, and CB Melvin Smith. Armstrong, with a 6’4” frame and strong blocking, earned reps with the starters and flashed run-support potential. Briningstool had three receptions for 29 yards and better blocking, giving him a real shot at the third tight end spot ahead of Jared Wiley. Smith claimed first-string opportunities and contributed on special teams, keeping him in the mix in a crowded cornerback room. Kahill Benson remains a near-lock on the line, but these performances heighten the competition as KC heads to Tampa.

Dolphins preseason opener hints at upside as Willis shines
sports28 days ago

Dolphins preseason opener hints at upside as Willis shines

Miami’s 20-7 preseason loss to Washington offered a mix of optimism and questions: Malik Willis delivered a poised 14-play, 93-yard TD drive, highlighting QB upside in a rebuild year, while the rest of the QB group struggled and underscored the depth issues at quarterback. Ollie Gordon II and De’Von Achane flashed at running back, Caleb Douglas and Malik Washington stood out as the top healthy receivers, and Will Kacmarek and Caedan Wallace impressed with blocking. Jalen Reagor disappointed, and several linemen showed mixed pass protection, leaving a path for progress but multiple roster battles to resolve.

Patriots preseason opener vs Colts reveals roster depth and kicking woes
nfl29 days ago

Patriots preseason opener vs Colts reveals roster depth and kicking woes

Patriots’ first preseason game at Gillette exposed depth-chart battles more than star power: kicker Andy Borregales missed multiple field goals, while Bryce Baringer delivered solid punts; younger receivers like Boutte, Hollins, Williams, and Chism earned snaps with A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs sidelined. Interior offensive line injuries to Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich thin the depth, though James Hudson showed four-position versatility and Caleb Lomu had a costly downfield penalty. Jam Miller and Lan Larison carried most of the load in the backfield as Gabe Jacas impressed with his rush ability, and K.J. Britt and Chad Muma had mixed linebacker showings. The defense forced four turnovers with Kindle Vildor’s INT, but coverage against tight ends and some miscues at linebacker remain concerns heading into next week’s practices and game to tighten up the unit.

Cowboys' first preseason depth chart signals open battles and big questions
sports29 days ago

Cowboys' first preseason depth chart signals open battles and big questions

Dallas released its first unofficial preseason depth chart, highlighting several unresolved roster spots as they prepare for Saturday’s game vs. Seattle. The quarterback backup battle between Joe Milton and Sam Howell is open; Javonte Williams and Jaydon Blue lead a tight RB race with Mafah and Abanikanda in the mix. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens anchor the WR corps, but Camden Brown and other youngsters are pushing for spots behind Turpin. Spann-Ford has overtaken Schoonmaker as TE2, while the OL depth centers on LT Guyton and RT Steele with important backups at guard and center. DEF depth shows fluidity at CB and OLB, with Overshown, Williams and James as clear locks and several others vying for snaps. Special teams remain mostly settled but return roles could still shuffle.