Our algorithms project Green to haul in 86 catches for 1,201 receiving yards and 8.99 touchdowns in 2016. If anything, they have made improvements in their secondary and it should be even more hard to move the ball against.
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Wide receiver A.J.
Tate has shown a bit more as a receiver through the first two preseason games due to injury, but Erickson has had the flash plays, with the return touchdown against Minnesota and a near-score in Detroit. It’s a gamble for the Jaguars but a smart one, in that it gives Beachum a year to prove himself coming back from injury and protects the team in case it doesn’t happen. The Texans chose Fuller in the first round this year to take pressure off Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins, who was third in the National Football League with 1,521 yards receiving last season despite facing near constant double teams.
The Cincinnati Bengals were so sharp against Jacksonville that Andy Dalton and several teammates were done long before halftime.
The Bengals should be fine at running back, with Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard remaining in the primary roles, and the lost contributions on special teams might not be immediately noticeable while Peerman is sidelined. He played the expected number of snaps and seems poised to start at that spot when the season begins.
It capped off a preseason in which the first defense didn’t allow a touchdown and held Bortles and Matthew Stafford, two prolific quarterbacks from last season, to a combined 3-for-9 on third down.
The defense appeared ready for the season opener as well, forcing three punts and limiting the Jaguars to just 90 yards.
McCarron added a 21-yard scoring pass to Alex Erickson on the opening drive of the third quarter to up the lead to 21-3 before the Jaguars scored 23 unanswered points to win the game. Ngakoue finished with two tackles. Hill had 49 yards – 21 on eight carries and a 28-yard catch.
The Jaguars assigned the reserve/physically unable to perform designation to third-year OL Luke Bowanko (hip) and rookie DL Jonathan Woodard (achilles). “We just didn’t execute it and get things done”.
Right guard A.J. Cann shoved defensive tackle Domata Peko to the ground, but right into Yeldon’s path, who was tripped up and fell to one knee.
Joeckel, meanwhile, hadn’t played anywhere else since before high school.
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It’s doubtful starting tackle Andrew Whitworth will play Thursday against Indianapolis, and the same goes for Ogbuehi and Fisher, even if they are healthy. “Obviously I don’t want to speculate”, coach Marvin Lewis said, “but we have some great guys that can step in”. Andre Hal intercepted Palmer’s second pass of the day to set up Houston’s first score, a 1-yard touchdown run by new running back Lamar Miller.
