Are we reading too much into NFL preseason depth charts?
Maybe, but we aren’t stopping. But we are watching some Olympics events; let us tell you what not to miss today.
Rookie QBs vs. Preseason
What Happened: In recent seasons, NFL head coaches have tended to limit clear-cut starting quarterbacks’ playing time in the preseason. Many star QBs sit out the preseason entirely, with teams wary of letting franchise passers risk injury in meaningless games.
With that trend in mind, what does it say about Jayden Daniels and his standing in Washington that new head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Daniels will play against the New York Jets in Saturday’s preseason game?
Why It Matters: We’ve already seen one of the signal callers from the 2024 draft class get a preseason game off; the Chicago Bears featured in the Hall of Fame game, but left no.1 overall pick Caleb Williams on the sidelines entirely.
Does Daniels’ participation point to a slow adaptation to life in the NFL so far, or is Quinn about to get his young star valuable reps ahead of being QB1 for the season?
The Bears’ Williams leads the way in Offensive Rookie of the Year odds over at ESPN Bet at +135, with Daniels in second at +600. (Arizona wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. rounds out the sub-+1600 options at +650.)
One way to read Quinn’s decision is that Daniels hasn’t presented a clear upgrade over veteran option Marcus Mariota, which wouldn’t bode well for Daniels’ chances to star right away this season.
Conversely, if preseason action helps Daniels get up to NFL speed even slightly, and Williams struggles once thrown into the fire of regular season play, perhaps the Washington QB’s learning curve is shortened on his way to some rookie season hardware?
What We’re Watching Today
Women’s 3×3 Basketball Semifinal – Hailey Van Lith, who seemingly plays for a new college each season, led the way for Team USA in a dominant win over China to clinch a matchup with Spain today at 11:30 EST. One more win and a spot in the final is assured, and we are ready for some redemption on the hardwood after the men’s 3×3 flamed out early. The final will be played at 4:00 later today.
Track and Field, Men’s 200M – Noah Lyles is involved? Sign us up. After his oh-so-close gold medal finish in the 100-meter sprint, Lyles is looking to double up on gold by doubling the distance in the 200-meter. Lyles’ Round 1 heat takes off at 1:55 PM EST, and he’s already proven to be a must-watch performer.
Track and Field, Men’s Pole Vault Final – C’mon, you know why we are watching this one. Anytime the phrase “crotch coincided with the crossbar” is used, we are plopping ourselves in front of the TV to watch that sport. It’s at 1:00 PM EST; cancel all meetings accordingly.
The Look Ahead
JP Sears STRIKEOUTS – Not to pick on the White Sox, but we’re intrigued by Sears today and his 4.5-line for strikeouts. No AL team has struck out more than Chicago since the All-Star break, and Sears has gotten over his line for today in four of his last six starts. A 20-game losing streak surely is demoralizing to players, so Sears should be able to take advantage enough to cash the over on this one.
