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Just eight more days. The preseason is over, training camps have finished, and the only event we have left on our calendars starts on September 9th. But there’s still news to digest. We still have storylines to follow ahead of our drafts. The past week of practice and the preseason finale were the last chances for players to make the final roster. To wrap up the preseason, I pulled together the notable stories from across the league for us to monitor as we head into the regular season.
Colts, COVID-19, Chaos
Indianapolis can’t seem to have a normal week of practice. Carson Wentz returned last week and gave us hope for the Colts’ offense. And his comeback couldn’t come at a better time. Just days later, Sam Ehlinger sprained his knee and is expected to miss the first month of the season. It placed even more emphasis on Wentz’s availability throughout the rest of the camp but there was more trouble right around the corner.
The three players the #Colts placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list today -- QB Carson Wentz, WR Zach Pascal and C Ryan Kelly -- are all close contacts with a staff member who tested positive, per source. Back in five days as long as they remain negative and asymptomatic.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 30, 2021
Wentz will now miss the next 5-10 days (depending on his vaccination status) with Jacob Eason filling in as the starter. Their first game is on September 12th. The timing couldn’t be worse. But on top of the COVID-19 chaos, the Colts are also dealing with injuries.[[ad:athena]]
Back-up LT Sam Tevi tore his ACL during their last preseason game. T.Y. Hilton is expected to miss multiple weeks with a “disc issue” in his neck. The allure of a team that will face the Texans’ and Titans’ defense twice a season isn’t enough with so much stacked against the team. Hopefully all players are, and remain, asymptomatic, but the regular season looms in front of the Colts.
Giants’ “Offensive” Line
To say the Giants have issues would be an understatement. Their top wide receiver has been sidelined with an injury all month and has spent little time with Daniel Jones. Saquon Barkley’s practice participation has been limited at best. Plus, their offensive line has sustained multiple injuries. The situation has progressed to the point where it’s difficult to determine if Jones’ struggles are because of him, his pass-catchers, or lack of time to throw the ball.
The @Patriots take the ball back with the end zone interception!
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 29, 2021
📺: #NEvsNYG on NFL Network (or check local listings) pic.twitter.com/TgdHNMlKHL
One throw isn’t an indictment on a season and Jones has displayed well at times. But those times are too few and far apart. We still have multiple questions about the offense and its potential. Jones ended 2020 as the 8th worst quarterback under pressure with a -0.61 Expected Points Added (EPA) per Play. And it appears the same issues still exist.
The Giants lost all three preseason games, scored more than 20 points once, and the healthiest starting pass-catcher is Sterling Shepard. Their lack of production could be what’s prompted the team to bolster their line so close to the start of the season. Trades that bolster a clear need for Daniel Jones and the rest of the offense. But the problem is we’ll never know if the offense has come together before the season starts.
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Notable Roster Cuts
The #Patriots gave Cam Newton a $2 million signing bonus and $100,000 workout on the one-year deal they signed him to back in March. His $1.5M base salary was also guaranteed but subject to offsets. No reason financially they couldn't move on and they released him today.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 31, 2021
Sadly, the speculation on last week’s absence and its impact on his future with New England was at least partially accurate. The era of Mac Jones has begun. All facets of the Patriots’ offense get a boost with Jones showing greater accuracy and less mobility throughout camp and the preseason. Newton’s vaccination status puts him in a tough situation for teams to bring him in during the season given the league’s protocols. Regardless, let’s all hope we haven’t seen the last of the former MVP.
The Washington Football Team released Peyton Barber amid the early stages of their cut down. Barber himself wasn’t a draft target, but we were targeting his role. He was used on 45.9% of Washington’s third downs and earned a 27.1% share of the red-zone carries. Game situations that are vital to Antonio Gibson’s value in 2021. It’s not guaranteed Gibson is the beneficiary, but one less player on the depth chart helps his case.
