QB duel in Green Bay, Cowboys kicking highlight what to watch in Week 2 of preseason
Here's a rundown of the most intriguing storylines ahead of Week 2 of the preseason.
Bounce-back games for Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud?
The top two picks of the 2023 NFL Draft struggled in their debuts and look to rebound in Week 2.
Carolina head coach Frank Reich said his team was intentionally vanilla in its approach with Young in Week 1. Still, it would be nice to see him (and, for Houston's sake, Stroud) orchestrate at least one long drive before the regular season begins.
Sean Clifford, Malik Cunningham duel in Green Bay
Who's ready for the quarterback duel of the century preseason?
Clifford (Green Bay) was drafted in the fifth round (149th overall) while Cunningham (New England) somehow went undrafted in 2023. Yet both were among the most impressive rookie quarterbacks in Week 1 and their teams face off in Week 2 at Lambeau Field.
Clifford needs to clean up on turnovers, but he made several impressive throws against the Bengals.
Cunningham was the offensive star of the week for the Patriots against the Texans and could be a major weapon in the red zone this season as a wildcat quarterback.
Broncos, 49ers have problems to fix
Russell Wilson and Trey Lance started slow in Week 1, with both quarterbacks playing well into the second quarter before leading touchdown drives. Head coaches Sean Payton and Kyle Shanahan are likely hoping for faster starts when the teams play on Saturday.
Bengals' backup plan
Cincinnati should be concerned about its chances without Joe Burrow (calf). Backups Jake Browning and Trevor Siemian didn't inspire much confidence against the Packers. The Bengals need to see more from one, or both, against Atlanta to feel comfortable in a crowded AFC while Burrow is sidelined.
Unheralded rookies vying for playing time
Texans wide receiver Tank Dell made arguably the catch of the week against New England.
With plays like that, the third-round pick will receive plenty of playing time during the regular season. He could be joined by Saints' sixth-round pick A.T. Perry, who hauled in a nice 29-yard touchdown against the Chiefs.
Third-round running backs Tyjae Spears (Tennessee), and Devon Achane (Miami) also showed flashes in Week 1 and could be in line for backup roles. Spears had six carries for 32 yards. Achane, meanwhile, was held in check on the ground but had four receptions for 41 yards against Atlanta.
Cowboys kicking
The Cowboys are talented in a lot of areas. Kicking isn't one of them. Brandon Aubrey missed an extra point against Jacksonville, the team's fourth consecutive game with a missed extra point dating back to last season. Will the streak continue against the Seahawks? Fat chance. It isn't like Dallas ever had problems kicking in Seattle before. On second thought...
More must-reads: