2026 NFL Preseason

jacque said:
I think is Georgia tie might save him but I still will not be shocked if he’s cut after his great game
Click to expand...
Here’s a quick AI analysis:

Based on the depth chart info I found, here's how it breaks down:

Locked in (top 3):

  1. Bijan Robinson (RB1)
  2. Brian Robinson Jr. (RB2)
  3. Tyler Goodson — described by the Falcons beat writer as the presumptive favorite for the RB3 job, since he's "been showing out" in camp
Competing for that 4th spot — Cash Jones vs. Nate Carter:

  • Nate Carter is the other name in the mix. He's been described as having "quieter practices" and had a "forgettable first preseason effort" so far — which is actually a point in Jones's favor by comparison, since Jones has been getting positive camp buzz and now has a productive game on tape.
  • Trey Sermon was also part of this competition, but he's currently on IR, which effectively removes him from being an option for the initial 53-man roster (players on IR at final cuts either stay there or go on injured reserve for the season, they don't compete for an active roster spot the normal way).
So practically, the RB4 competition looks like a two-man race: Cash Jones vs. Nate Carter, with Jones having the more positive recent momentum (better camp reports, a real live-action touchdown catch today) while Carter's preseason showing so far has been unimpressive by comparison.

The wrinkle that still matters: even if Jones wins that head-to-head, teams sometimes value special-teams contribution heavily for a 4th RB spot (return duties, coverage units) — worth watching whether Jones or Carter gets more special-teams reps in the remaining preseason games, since that can tip a close roster battle either way. Jones's kick-return experience at Georgia could help him there.

Bottom line given this framing: your instinct is right that the real question isn't "can he beat Bijan/Brian/Goodson" — it's "does he beat Nate Carter for the last spot," and based on today's performance plus the more favorable camp reports so far, Jones looks like he currently has the edge in that specific race, though there are still more preseason reps left for that to shift either way.
Click to expand...
 
The media seems intent on attacking JJ McCarthy this preseason. Not the first time we have seen a young White QB in the mainstream sports media crosshairs.
 
Zach Wilson wasn’t great today, but Rattler comes on in the 2nd half and throws a 100 yard pick 6….
 
Lan Larison starts in the backfield for the Patriots against Philly and takes a dumpoff pass on 2 and 20 and takes it 28 yards for the first down. Efton Chism also gets the start.

Shipley just had a nice 18 yard rush.
 
Will Shipley 11 carries for 56 yards and now the TD run. He's been running very hard and effectively and we know how good he is but he really needs this as so many DWFs and media stooges are calling for him to be either the number 3 RB or cut outright.

This is a pretty fun game to watch, at least the first quarter of it, both teams starting White RBs, Covey in for the Eagles at WR, Chism and DeGennaro playing WR for the Pats.
 
Steele with a nice catch and run.



Here’s Larisons catch that Don mentioned. He looks fast and strong.

 
Last edited:
Will Shipley (PHI, RB)
  • Rushing: 11 car, 56 yds (5.1 avg), 1 TD, long 18
  • No receptions
Carson Steele (PHI, RB)
  • Rushing: 12 car, 33 yds (2.8 avg), 0 TD, long 9
  • Receiving: 6 rec / 7 tgt, 84 yds (14.0 avg), 1 TD, long 28 — led all Eagles skill players in receiving
Britain Covey (PHI, WR/returner)
  • Receiving: 1 rec / 2 tgt, 14 yds, 1 TD
  • Punt returns: 4 for 38 yds (9.5 avg), long 21
  • Fumbled once, recovered by himself
Lan Larison (NE, RB)
  • Rushing: 9 car, 33 yds (3.7 avg), 1 TD, long 10
  • Receiving: 3 rec / 4 tgt, 41 yds (13.7 avg), 0 TD, long 28
  • Kick returns: 2 for 54 yds (27.0 avg), long 29
  • Also had 1 tackle on defense/special teams
Efton Chism III (NE, WR)
  • Receiving: 4 rec / 4 tgt, 45 yds (11.3 avg), 0 TD, long 24 — caught everything thrown his way
  • Punt returns: 1 for 16 yds
Nick DeGennaro (NE, WR)
  • Receiving: 4 rec / 5 tgt, 61 yds (15.3 avg), 1 TD, long 37 — the game-winning score
  • Kick returns: 1 for 25 yds
For context, the two QBs: Tanner McKee (PHI) went 16/22 for 173 yds, 2 TD, 125.8 rating; Tommy DeVito (NE) went 8/15 for 151 yds, 1 TD, 110.7 rating; Behren Morton (NE) added 13/17 for 129 yds, 1 TD, 117.0 rating — Morton's TD was the DeGennaro game-winner.
 
Freethinker said:
Will Shipley (PHI, RB)
  • Rushing: 11 car, 56 yds (5.1 avg), 1 TD, long 18
  • No receptions
Carson Steele (PHI, RB)
  • Rushing: 12 car, 33 yds (2.8 avg), 0 TD, long 9
  • Receiving: 6 rec / 7 tgt, 84 yds (14.0 avg), 1 TD, long 28 — led all Eagles skill players in receiving
Britain Covey (PHI, WR/returner)
  • Receiving: 1 rec / 2 tgt, 14 yds, 1 TD
  • Punt returns: 4 for 38 yds (9.5 avg), long 21
  • Fumbled once, recovered by himself
Lan Larison (NE, RB)
  • Rushing: 9 car, 33 yds (3.7 avg), 1 TD, long 10
  • Receiving: 3 rec / 4 tgt, 41 yds (13.7 avg), 0 TD, long 28
  • Kick returns: 2 for 54 yds (27.0 avg), long 29
  • Also had 1 tackle on defense/special teams
Efton Chism III (NE, WR)
  • Receiving: 4 rec / 4 tgt, 45 yds (11.3 avg), 0 TD, long 24 — caught everything thrown his way
  • Punt returns: 1 for 16 yds
Nick DeGennaro (NE, WR)
  • Receiving: 4 rec / 5 tgt, 61 yds (15.3 avg), 1 TD, long 37 — the game-winning score
  • Kick returns: 1 for 25 yds
For context, the two QBs: Tanner McKee (PHI) went 16/22 for 173 yds, 2 TD, 125.8 rating; Tommy DeVito (NE) went 8/15 for 151 yds, 1 TD, 110.7 rating; Behren Morton (NE) added 13/17 for 129 yds, 1 TD, 117.0 rating — Morton's TD was the DeGennaro game-winner.
Click to expand...
One of the best pre season games I can recall recently
 
Steele hopping over would be tacklers was nice to see. Crazy, the amount of white RBs in this one game. Loved watching the highlights of that.
 
El Gringo said:
Steele had a 2nd catch that ended with another “Leonard Leap” and a TD.

Click to expand...


I noticed on Twitter they were comparing Steele's leaps to Barkley. Had to remind people that Leonard was doing it 2 decades earlier than Barkley.

Steele and Shipley looked every bit the part of NFL caliber running backs. If we are being honest every RB on display yesterday illustrated their ability to be on a 53 man roster and be part of an offensive game plan.

Steele and Shipley both received pretty fair opportunities in college - although at UCLA Steele's usage was pathetic as he should have been the primary running back. He's an absolute unit. Shipley had one great year in college and two very good ones (if my memory serves me correct he was injured in 2023 which hampered him a bit). Dean Connors should have secured a roster spot after the week 1 preseason game but who knows what will happen there since he got 1 carry yesterday. Lan Larison was a dominant FCS running back as was Dylan Laube. All of these guys should be making their respective rosters.

Anderson Castle was never given much of an opportunity in college until last year when he played for Duke. With that expanded opportunity he proved to be a very effective RB and has carried that momentum into the preseason. Cash Jones would have been a 500 yard rusher/500 yard receiver in college if given a fair shot. I'll acknowledge he is not an every down running back BUT he is a change of pace back with an explosive first step and an absolute threat out of the backfield as a receiver (which was on display at UGA in his limited opportunities). @Freethinker already called out the cuck Kirby Smart for his misusing of Cash Jones earlier in this thread. I'd place Eli Heidenreich in the same category as Jones. He is a change of pace back but also belongs on an NFL team.

Sam Scott is hard to gauge, certainly screwed over at Wyoming he is playing on a Jets team late in games so it's hard to make a fair assessment of him. Cody Schrader seems destined for the caste memory hole unfortunately. I believe he is a capable running back and better than half the black RBs that take up the 3rd/4th spot on depth charts across the league.
 
 
Jimmy Chitwood said:
Click to expand...

Butker's always been one of the best, and he's an outspoken Christian to boot. That's why I like to give props to kickers now and then, because they're so good now there's no comparing them to kickers of the past. Routinely kicking 60+ yard field goals and the percentage of kicks made from 50+ yards out rivals what they used to make from much closer in.

No one talks about the dramatically increased leg strength, likely because none of them are black. It would be like quarterbacks routinely throwing the ball 70 yards and more in the air and with accuracy, similar to Crissie's wet dream fantasy about Donovan McNabb.
 
Leonardfan said:
I noticed on Twitter they were comparing Steele's leaps to Barkley. Had to remind people that Leonard was doing it 2 decades earlier than Barkley.

Steele and Shipley looked every bit the part of NFL caliber running backs. If we are being honest every RB on display yesterday illustrated their ability to be on a 53 man roster and be part of an offensive game plan.

Steele and Shipley both received pretty fair opportunities in college - although at UCLA Steele's usage was pathetic as he should have been the primary running back. He's an absolute unit. Shipley had one great year in college and two very good ones (if my memory serves me correct he was injured in 2023 which hampered him a bit). Dean Connors should have secured a roster spot after the week 1 preseason game but who knows what will happen there since he got 1 carry yesterday. Lan Larison was a dominant FCS running back as was Dylan Laube. All of these guys should be making their respective rosters.

Anderson Castle was never given much of an opportunity in college until last year when he played for Duke. With that expanded opportunity he proved to be a very effective RB and has carried that momentum into the preseason. Cash Jones would have been a 500 yard rusher/500 yard receiver in college if given a fair shot. I'll acknowledge he is not an every down running back BUT he is a change of pace back with an explosive first step and an absolute threat out of the backfield as a receiver (which was on display at UGA in his limited opportunities). @Freethinker already called out the cuck Kirby Smart for his misusing of Cash Jones earlier in this thread. I'd place Eli Heidenreich in the same category as Jones. He is a change of pace back but also belongs on an NFL team.

Sam Scott is hard to gauge, certainly screwed over at Wyoming he is playing on a Jets team late in games so it's hard to make a fair assessment of him. Cody Schrader seems destined for the caste memory hole unfortunately. I believe he is a capable running back and better than half the black RBs that take up the 3rd/4th spot on depth charts across the league.
Click to expand...
Good summary!

I've put this little chart together to help track our running backs that are fighting for roster spots and get PT each game. So I've obviously excluded CMac and Skattebo, as they are being rested. Max Hurleman has only been used as a WR, despite being listed as a RB so I've left him off too. That leaves 10 players, which feel like the most we've had since CF has existed. I think all of these guys can either make their teams (maybe half) while the others will be prio practice squad additions. Its a strong group.

1787509819906.png
 
Last edited:
Saw where Rams WR Alex Bachman had 4 receptions for 48 yards! He finally signed a million dollar contract although it's for only 1 year. I admit I don't understand these contracts sometimes. Can he still be cut? He originally signed as a UDFA out of Wake Forest. He signed a 3 year contract with LA, but was traded to NYG, then went to the Raiders. I have to hand it to him. He just keeps sticking around.
He out performed fellow black WR combine wise at the WF pro day in 2019. He ran faster, 4.4 40 and jumped higher, yet Greg Dortch was drafted and signed a guaranteed contract. I hope he makes it this time. He deserves a guaranteed contract!

Chiefs TE 6'6 Jake Briningstool-Clemson, with a few receptions as well after battling injuries last season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top