The Countdown to Kickoff ⏱️
08/30/2021
By: Jeff Yoder
Goodbye Preseason. Ten Days to Week 1. The NFL’s Countdown to Kickoff is On!
The final preseason games are in the books, and the NFL is officially gearing up for Week 1. In today’s top section, we’ll recap all the action from Week 3 of the preseason before starting the 10-day countdown to kickoff. Here are the top stories and highlights from around the NFL.
NFL Storylines
After a year of rehabbing a broken ankle and an offseason of shoulder concerns, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed that QB Dak Prescott is “good to go” for Week 1. With Prescott under center, Dallas is the favorite to win the NFC East.
Baltimore Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins suffered a torn ACL in the first quarter of the team’s final preseason game on Saturday. He was the Ravens’ starting running back after letting Mark Ingram leave for Houston this offseason. Gus Edwards will likely be the feature back.
Trevor Lawrence Shines in Final Tune-Up
There wasn’t much to get excited about in Trevor Lawrence’s first two preseason games with the Jaguars, but the No. 1 overall pick looked nearly perfect in Week 3. Lawrence went 11-of-12 for 139 yards and 2 TDs in the team’s 34-14 win over the Cowboys. He’s already been named the starter in Week 1 after the team traded QB Gardner Minshew to the Eagles.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick still hasn’t named his starting quarterback for Week 1. He likely won’t until gameday, but rumors suggest Pats fans could see an interchanging quarterback scenario until either Cam Newton or rookie Mac Jones prove they’re worthy of the starting job.
Other Preseason Highlights (Week 3)
Ravens QB Tyler Huntley Scores 5 TDs
Tom Brady Shines in Bucs Preseason Tune-Up
Baker Mayfield Leads Browns TD Drive
Josh Allen Looks Nearly Perfect in Bills Shutout
NFL Season-Opener
Cowboys at Bucs (Thurs. Sept. 9, 8:20 pm ET)
Additional Storylines
ESPN: Final 53-Man Roster Projections for All 32 Teams
USA Today: Jets Acquire Edge Rusher Shaq Lawson in Trade With Texans
NFL: Vikings Sign Safety Harrison Smith to 4-Year, $64 Million Extension
Photo: Tom Pennington / Getty Images