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Yesterday, Sean Payton named Bo Nix the first rookie QB to start Week 1 for the Broncos since John Elway. It was only a matter of time after Nix’s first two preseason games, when he led Denver to scoring position on six of seven drives, with zero sacks or interceptions. As for the rest of the NFL:
- 📺 Tonight’s preseason stakes
- ✍ Dianna on Brandon Aiyuk
- 🔬 Examining the new kickoff
- 💎 49ers’ third-round steal?
Storylines for Colts-Bengals, Bears-Chiefs tonight
We’ve got two games on the docket tonight: Colts at Bengals at 8 p.m. ET (Amazon Prime) and Bears at Chiefs at 8:20 p.m. ET (NFL Network). One note for each team:
Watch Colts QB Anthony Richardson: “He’s just throwing to spots,” Bengals S Geno Stone yelled as Richardson struggled in joint practices. “He doesn’t see his receivers.” Richardson has a chance at redemption tonight, when the Colts plan to play their starters into the second quarter. As film guru Ted Nguyen wrote, this Colts offense is a potential powerhouse. They’d better look capable tonight against second-teamers.
Listen for updates on WR Ja’Marr Chase: With the Bengals already looking ready to open the season, they are expected to rest their starters tonight. Chase — who has two years left on his contract — has been present at practice but is not participating as he looks for a lucrative extension. Bengals president Mike Brown said the team would “bend over backwards” to get Chase signed, but nothing’s happened yet. Adam Schefter called it “mysterious.”
Watch Chiefs receivers. With HC Andy Reid saying he’ll “probably sit the starters,” this is the final audition for receivers of all backgrounds: former first-round pick Kadarius Toney, second-rounder Skyy Moore, Super Bowl hero Mecole Hardman (tough business) and promising UDFAs Justyn Ross and Nikko Remigio. In Nate Taylor’s most recent roster projection, he left off Toney and Moore. Oof. Maybe Kansas City should’ve been letting someone else scout/trade for receivers?
Watch film with Bears HC Matt Eberflus: “Most” of the starters — including Caleb Williams — won’t play tonight, according to Eberflus. If you’re not watching the potential preseason debut of RB Roschon Johnson, read what happened when Eberflus joined The Athletic to dissect a few key plays from the defense last season.
Now, over to Dianna for the latest on a (seemingly never-ending) situation:
What Dianna’s Hearing: Brandon Aiyuk’s waiting game
This feels like a good time to check in on Aiyuk’s ongoing “hold-in” with the 49ers, though the only real news is the lack thereof.
The 49ers continue to wait for a response from the receiver on their latest contract proposal, which has improved from the original $26 million per year average but is hovering around $30 million. Meanwhile, the Steelers’ trade offer to San Francisco still stands, in the event Aiyuk turns down this latest offer.
Kyle Shanahan wants this resolved. The Steelers would like this resolved, particularly since they’re potentially bringing in a new player about two weeks before their regular-season opener. But everyone will simply have to be patient, while they wait on Aiyuk.
And in case you missed it, I covered the latest on what I’m hearing in the most recent Scoop City podcast, linked here.
Back to you, Jacob.
The new NFL kickoff, two weeks in
“Two thousand additional plays per season” was just one reason NFL executives, the Players Association and coaches supported the new kickoff rules, imposed as a one-year trial after the league averaged a lowly 22 percent return rate last season.
But will these kickoffs be just as boring as a touchback? After two weeks of preseason action, the jury is still out. While the NFL claims the return rate is up to about 78 percent, we’ve seen plenty of this:
Most of the returns have looked similar: a few seconds for the returner to decide which wall he’s running into. Not fun. But there’s hope. Tashan Reed’s article on the new kickoff made many important points, including:
- This preseason, the average kickoff return has been just two yards longer than last season’s 23 yards per return. Meh. However …
- In 33 preseason games, 39 kickoff returns have gone 30 or more yards, more than once per game (and nearly triple last year’s frequency). Promising!
But as Parker Washington’s 74-yard return proved last weekend, it looks difficult to return these kickoffs far. Returners are quickly enveloped in a mass of defenders, requiring plenty of missed tackles before an above-average return.
It’s also too early to know if the new rule is safer for players, and I’m slowly adjusting to the oddity of everyone standing still after the ball is kicked.
No, I’m not sold yet. But I expect we’ll see more creativity once the regular season kicks off. That creativity might come from the league itself, as Tashan noted the NFL is open to further tweaks.
49ers’ timely addition
We want to hear from you! Submit questions for us here. Today, a reader asks:
What is your outlook on the 49ers O-Line? It seems like they haven’t invested much to improve on a below average line from last year. Or am I wrong?
💬 Matt Barrows: “No, you’re right, and the 49ers have admitted as much in recent months: They value playmakers over offensive linemen, especially early in the draft.
“An exception to this is 2024 third-round pick Dominick Puni, who’s been inserted at right guard due to injuries and who hasn’t looked out of place thus far. Over the years, the 49ers have tended to fill right guard with journeymen like Mike Person, Daniel Brunskill and Jon Feliciano. It’s still early, of course, and there are bound to be rookie mistakes. But it seems like Puni could be the most talented player at that spot in a long while.”
Keep an eye on Puni, who is even impressing Fred Warner and is a timely addition, with All-Pro OT Trent Williams still holding out.
Matt also shared one thought on each 49ers offensive player. Brandon Aiyuk: “You have to wonder how quickly he can round into form. Last year, he was the top player on the field in spring and summer practices, momentum he parlayed into the best season of his career.”
Around the NFL
Panthers HC Dave Canales is not ready to say whether the starters will play at Buffalo. Carolina’s starters — which of course includes Bryce Young — have yet to play in a preseason game.
Eagles DB Cooper DeJean, who fell to them in the second round of this year’s draft, looked like a full participant in practice yesterday.
A history lesson is included in Steve Buckley’s look at the Patriots’ decision on whether Drake Maye should start in Week 1. One thing is clear: In New England, they still don’t know the answer.
The Browns traded backup K Cade York to the Commanders for a conditional seventh-round pick. Trades are underway as August 27’s roster cutdown approaches.
Yesterday’s most-clicked: Dane Brugler’s NFL Draft 2025 Big Board.
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