The week one preseason brought a lot of excitement. Football is officially back in the books.
Today, we assess the winners and losers of the NFL preseason’s first week.
Detroit Lions
Winner: WR Jackson Meeks
Technically, this is Detroit’s second week, but it is really the first big weekend of football. The Lions previously played in the Hall of Fame game that featured Issac TeSlaa as its star of the show.
This week, it was Jackson Meeks.
Let’s be real here: the real winner is Morice Norris, who is recovering now in concussion protocols. We hope he continues to get well.
Meeks made play after play, including a beautiful catch in the endzone, creating separation from Falcons defensive back Mike Ford Jr.
I want to see Jackson and TeSlaa on the same field. If Meeks keeps this going into the last preseason game, he could lock himself in on this roster.
Loser: DB Erick Hallett
Hallett was just stuck every time. In a bad position every time, and when given the chance to cover someone of importance, he couldn’t. He even held on the play he gave up the touchdown on.
I do understand he converted from safety to corner, and those kinds of plays happen, but those kinds of plays also make someone not on the roster for them, too.
Green Bay Packers
Winner: RB Amar Johnson
He was the lone bright spot besides the special teams for the Packers. His touchdown in the fourth quarter was a jolt of life for that offense, and now I want to see more of this guy bouncing off people and keep running.
Combine a possible hidden gem with Josh Jacobs, and this could be the team’s actual bread-and-butter on an offense that really doesn’t have an identity.
Loser: G Sean Rhyan
I have never seen a player on the starting rotation get bullied in the trenches like Rhyan did. He not only gave up sacks, but he threw the tackle into Malik Willi,s causing him to fumble.
Believe me when I say I love the Jets’ defense, but the Packers are supposed to be considered a good offensive line. They need to let Sean and company move forward and run block that should help fix his woes in the passing game.
Chicago Bears
Winner: LB Noah Sewell
The obvious answer was Austin Booker because he played out of his mind, but Sewell deserves a lot of praise. On one drive, he got four tackles and one that he shot the gap and stopped Miami at the goal line.
He was phenomenal out there and may have locked himself in as the third linebacker on this team. Definitely looked better than Amen Ogbongbemiga.
Loser: G Chris Glazer
The man looked confused out there. Seemingly every play, he looked like he got pushed back. He had no footing against anyone Miami put out there.
Then in the second quarter, the Bears put Luke Newman in, and you just see the offensive line look immediately better. Later, they put him back in, and he still looked bad.
He won one block on the day, and it was the play in which Jahdae Walker didn’t get his pass interference call.
Minnesota Vikings
Winner: SS Kahlef Hailassie
Some may say he was just in a good place at the right time when they talk about Kahlef’s two interceptions, but to me, being able to create takeaways is a big deal.
Even if they were right place at the right time plays.
All three times Houston challenged him, he won, adding three pass deflections to his preseason stats. He certainly outplayed Theo Jackson, who needed to do more. It’d be intriguing to see Hailassie and Jay Ward out there together in the next preseason game.
Loser: SS Theo Jackson
Speaking of Theo, he is my loser of the day. He looked lax on plays, and if he is going to be backing up Joshua Metellus as the second safety, he has to make plays.
He had a couple of tackles but didn’t impress in coverage, and if he doesn’t do that and players like Jay Ward and Kahlef Hailassie continue to make plays, he could slide down this depth chart very quickly.
