All of a sudden, we’re down to just one remaining week of the NFL preseason. This week will be the last look at certain rookies and training camp invitees before big roster decisions need to be made, so let’s take a look at some players to watch across this Sunday’s preseason action.
Players To Watch in Today’s NFL Preseason Action
Will Levis, Quarterback, Tennessee Titans
Yes, Will Levis is certainly going into the season as the starting quarterback for Tennessee, but just how tight is his grasp on that role? The Titans are expected to lose plenty of games in a surprisingly tough AFC South, and when a team struggles, questions about making a switch at quarterback are more or less inevitable.
This game, in which Levis is expected to see extended action, will be a great tune-up opportunity for the second-year passer. Mason Rudolph and Malik Willis round out a very interesting quarterback room as viable backups, so getting into the swing of things ahead of the regular-season opener could be very beneficial to Levis as he looks to stave off any sort of QB controversy.
Jamaal Williams, Running Back, New Orleans Saints
After leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2022 with Detroit and establishing himself as a fan favorite along the way, Jamaal Williams was a tremendous letdown in his first year as a New Orleans Saint; he didn’t score a single touchdown until the season finale. Now, he’s in a battle to maintain a role in New Orleans’ backfield behind Alvin Kamara.
Kendre Miller was poised to earn a chunk of the carries this season, but he’s been hurt and absent from most of camp. Even with Miller out, Williams isn’t without competition for carries, as James Robinson and Jordan Mims will be in the mix as well, so a strong audition this week could be absolutely vital in terms of securing his spot going into Week 1.
Max Melton, Cornerback, Arizona Cardinals
After a distinguished college career with Rutgers, Max Melton was viewed as a prospect with potential first-round upside but got lost in the wash of an outstanding defensive back class in this year’s draft. The Cardinals ultimately took him early in the second round, picking up some great value and raising questions as to how quickly he’ll have a major role for his new team.
Arizona’s secondary is shaping up to be a quietly solid one, so earning consistent snaps right away is far from a given for Melton. He’s a pro-ready corner but will have to prove that he’s more ready for the job than second-year players Kei’Trel Clark and Starling Thomas V, among others.
Troy Franklin, Wide Receiver, Denver Broncos
Troy Franklin’s last season at Oregon was incredibly productive; he caught 81 passes for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns, mostly from the hand of none other than Bo Nix, Denver’s newly minted starting quarterback. However, amid questions about how his style might translate to the NFL game, he slipped to the fourth round of a loaded receiver class.
In terms of making the roster and getting onto the field, Franklin has a leg up on other lower-tier players in camp due to his familiarity with Nix. Even so, with more established pros like Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, and Josh Reynolds all on the roster, it’ll be a battle for targets. That veteran trio could possibly be entirely inactive for Sunday’s matchup with New Orleans, giving Franklin a potential opportunity to show what he can do as a key option.
Drake Maye, Quarterback, New England Patriots
Head coach Jerod Mayo has indicated that Jacoby Brissett will start New England’s preseason finale against Washington, but he also made it clear that the other three QBs on the roster — Bailey Zappe, Joe Milton III, and Drake Maye — will all get one last shot to show their mettle.
While Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is absolutely assured of a roster spot, it’s not clear when he’ll make his first regular-season start, making this an important audition.
The Patriots aren’t set up to compete this year, so it’s entirely possible that Maye could be given the opportunity to learn on the job in some low-stakes regular-season settings. The question is whether or not these chances are coming as soon as Week 1, and this preseason game is a great chance for him to prove that he’s at least ready enough to step into a real game situation and learn.
Martavis Bryant, Wide Receiver, Washington Commanders
After bursting onto the scene with the Pittsburgh Steelers but struggling to stay on the field, Martavis Bryant has moved to the Canadian Football, National Arena, and XFL leagues, among others. He was a member of the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad last year and will now look to earn his first regular-season roster spot in the NFL since the 2018 season with the then-Oakland Raiders.
The Washington Commanders have a solid handful of receivers on the roster and showed belief in their on-roster talent by trading Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles. Several roster locks at the position will likely be inactive on Sunday, so it will be up to Bryant to show that he’s once again an NFL-level player.
