A whole week of preseason soccer is formally within the books and holy heck, that’s super-exciting. A few of our pre-conceived ideas and opinions are proving to be correct whereas others want some extra time within the oven. So it goes within the preseason.
Each week right here at The Skinny Submit, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, do our greatest to maintain issues calm within the identify of assessing the sport that all of us love.
We have now tried to do that as soon as extra. Right here we go.
True or False: Trey Lance has modified the trajectory of his profession
After being traded from the 49ers to the Cowboys two offseasons in the past in change for a fourth-round decide, Trey Lance hoped that was the contemporary begin he wanted. Sadly, he had a fairly disastrous preseason (threw 5 picks towards the Chargers within the preseason finale) earlier than showing in 4 common season video games the place he threw no touchdowns to a single interception.
The Cowboys would transfer on from Lance after simply two seasons. When issues seemed most bleak, the Chargers swooped in and picked him up to be able to present competitors this offseason with backup Taylor Heinicke. The factor is, Lance has been far and away the higher participant this offseason. After throwing two scores and no picks in the course of the Corridor of Fame Recreation, Lance adopted that efficiency up with one other strong outing the place he utilized his legs to maintain drives alive whereas additionally discovering the tip zone on a 5-yard jaunt.
On the opposite facet, Heinicke noticed his first motion this preseason however turned in a 1-for-5 stat line that included solely eight passing yards and plenty of missed throws.
It’s early, and Heinicke nonetheless clearly has far more beginning expertise on this league, however Lance may actually have the backup gig locked down if closing cuts had been this week. That’s one heck of a turnaround from this time a season in the past.
Let me first say that I’m rooting for Trey Lance in his profession and hoping that he has an opportunity for some reputable growth. He clearly has not likely had that chance.
As our resident Dallas Cowboys Dude round right here I really feel fairly certified to debate this. Think about that Dak Prescott was harm within the crew’s eighth sport final season and that they didn’t give a severe look to Trey Lance till the meaningless season finale. That wasn’t a lot about Trey because it was about different elements, however he clearly has been in want of a chance particularly just like the preseason in order that he can develop.
Whereas it has been good to see him shine in a handful of moments I’m merely not able to say that he has turned something round. I supposed the trajectory was technically headed due south and so in not shifting that manner anymore he has modified it. I simply assume we have to see extra.
Can Bryce Younger get his profession on observe this season?
If there’s a participant who I really feel this fashion about or at the least really feel like I’ve the potential to really feel this fashion about them… it’s Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Younger.
All of us wrote Bryce off WAY too quick and a few of it was as a result of the jokes and memes had been enjoyable. Such is life generally.
To be clear my level isn’t that I feel Younger goes to mild the world on fireplace anytime quickly, however I completely imagine that the potential for him to show right into a viable franchise quarterback completely exists.
If Younger can play like he did in his lone drive towards the Browns, then I do imagine there’s some untapped territory left in his sport. Additionally, if Tetairoa McMillan additionally continues to make huge performs like he did in that very same sport, then heck yeah I feel Younger has his finest ball forward of him.
This would be the first season the place Younger has 4 reputable receivers to throw to in Tet, Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, and Jacob Coker. Chuba Hubbard additionally offers a pleasant excessive ground/excessive ceiling outlook for the operating sport.
The one factor that worries me is that I nonetheless see Younger in clips from apply and instantly assume he’s some random dude in a Panthers jersey. He doesn’t look the half and it isn’t nearly his peak.
What did you consider Shedeur Sanders’ debut?
With accidents at the moment limiting fellow rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders received the prospect to start out the Browns’ first preseason sport this previous Friday towards the Panthers. Going into the sport, head coach Kevin Stefanski instructed reporters that Sanders would mess around 50 snaps which is a large pattern measurement for a rookie’s first NFL sport.
The 2025 fifth-round decide completed with 138 yards and two scores on 14-of-23 passing with no interceptions. Whereas he did have some damaging performs on the day, together with cases of drifting an excessive amount of within the pocket and into hazard (one thing he did an excessive amount of of in school), it was general a optimistic outing for a man the Browns had labeled as their QB4. He didn’t flip the ball over and even made some performs along with his legs when wanted.
I feel this was an superior and profitable begin to his NFL profession given the circumstances and I’m excited to proceed watching him play this preseason.
In the end I feel that it’s arduous to come back away with any robust takes about something within the preseason. I feel all of us agree with that.
That being mentioned, I do assume that you could profit from the scenario and definitely really feel that that is what Shedeur did. He performed the best way lots of people thought he might, however he additionally performed in a manner that some mentioned was inconceivable. The context of the second is important, certain, however finally I’m to proceed to observe him.
How anxious are you concerning the Matthew Stafford scenario?
The Rams are appearing very unusual about this Stafford scenario for my part.
Is he wholesome? Is he going to play? Is he going to apply? These really feel like honest questions.
Greater than something, it feels honest for Sean McVay to need to reply them. I’ve at all times discovered it wonderful, and Michael will agree, that the Rams sort of dodge any highlight on intense and vital issues. Keep in mind a number of years in the past when there have been stories that Cam Akers was by no means going to play for the crew as a result of a relationship had been broken? After which a number of weeks later how he was completely advantageous enjoying for the crew?
The Rams play in a MASSIVE media market and for some motive are fairly invisible on this sense. I imply, their literal franchise quarterback who received a Tremendous Bowl for them is type of an ongoing query mark and persons are simply shrugging their shoulders.
I don’t have a lot so as to add right here since you’ve hit all of it on the pinnacle.
At first once I learn the information concerning the epidural I assumed that sounded fairly dangerous. Then when he didn’t apply on Monday regardless of all stories coming from Sean McVay about how the expectation was Stafford at minimal doing particular person drills, it now leads me to imagine that that is really a lot worse than the crew is making it appear.
I nonetheless assume the Rams solely go so far as Stafford goes this 12 months and I’m not a giant believer in Jimmy G, no matter who he’s throwing to. If Stafford isn’t anyplace close to 100% and this explicit downside lingers, I’m VERY anxious about this complete factor.
