COLTS PLANNING TO KEEP TOP 2 QBS ON THE BENCH FOR PRESEASON FINALE
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen said Thursday he does not intend to play either of his top two quarterbacks, Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson, in Saturday’s preseason finale at Cincinnati.
Steichen also does not intend to play many starters.
The announcement comes two days after Steichen said Jones will be the starting quarterback for Indy’s Sept. 7 season opener against the Miami Dolphins.
“I think he’s one play away from going into an actual game and don’t want to take the risk there in that situation,” Steichen said when asked about Richardson. “We’ve got a lot of our threes and fours playing in this game.”
NFL coaches generally don’t play starters in the final preseason game, which is why Jones will sit out. Richardson also has been susceptible to injuries, starting only 15 of 34 games in his first two NFL seasons after being selected fourth overall in the 2023 draft.
He also was benched for two games last season after pulling himself out of a game because he was tired.
Steichen also announced four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard will not play Saturday. Indy signed Howard on Monday. Howard did not play in the league last season, but worked with Indy’s new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo his first two seasons with the Dolphins.
PRACTICE NOTEBOOK: COLTS ARE GETTING HEALTHIER BUT WILL NOT PLAY STARTERS IN PRESEASON GAME VS. BENGALS
Cornerbacks JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones returned to practice on Wednesday ahead of the Colts’ third preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, both practicing for the first time in weeks since sustaining hamstring injuries early in training camp. Brents participated in Thursday’s practice as well while Jones did individual work and is “tracking well,” per head coach Shane Steichen.
The Colts have been plagued by injuries throughout training camp, notably losing rookies Justin Walley (torn ACL) and Hunter Wohler (foot), as well as offensive tackle Blake Freeland (leg) for the season. Safety Nick Cross (hip), cornerback Kenny Moore II, defensive end Kwity Paye and wide receivers Alec Pierce and Josh Downs were among other key players to sustain various injuries in practices.
Downs, who sustained a hamstring injury in the Colts’ joint practice with the Green Bay Packers last Thursday, has not participated in practice since. Cross not practiced recently either. Cornerback Samuel Womack III and wide receiver Ashton Dulin also left Tuesday’s practice with injuries and were held out of Wednesday and Thursday’s practices.
But Moore and Pierce both returned to practice on Tuesday and Paye returned on Wednesday, and with Brents and Jones back in the mix as well the Colts’ roster is filling out as the regular season approaches.
As a whole, though, the Colts are getting healthier as the regular season approaches – and the starters will have even more time to rest and recover, as they will not be playing against the Bengals on Saturday, per Steichen.
Quarterbacks Riley Leonard and Jason Bean will each play one half of Saturday’s game (Leonard will start), and they’ll be joined mainly by players further down on the depth chart who are vying for spots on the active roster and practice squad alike.
“We’ve got a lot of threes and fours playing in this game,” Steichen said Thursday. “It’s their last opportunity to go prove it, to make the 53-man roster.
“…I just want to make sure our starters are healthy heading into Week 1, so you’ll see a lot of different bodies out there on Saturday.”
Steichen did say that Brents will be getting game reps against the Bengals. Veteran cornerback Xavien Howard, who the Colts signed Monday, will not play on Saturday.
JONES: PARSONS’ AGENT TOLD ME TO STICK CONTRACT TERMS UP MY ASS
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones claims he and Micah Parsons agreed to an extension in March before the pass-rusher’s agent shut the conversation down.
“When we wanted to send the details to the agent, the agent told us to stick it up our ass,” Jones told Michael Irvin on his YouTube channel. “Micah and I talked, and then we were going to send it over to the agent. We had our agreements on term, amount, guarantees, everything. We were going to send it over to the agent, and the agent said, ‘Don’t bother because we’ve got all that to negotiate.'”
He continued: “Well, I’d already negotiated. I already moved off my mark on several areas. So, the issue, very frankly, is we’ve had the negotiation in my mind and the agent’s trying to get his nose in it right now and try to come in there and improve off the mark that we already set.”
Jones also revealed that his offer to Parsons would have made the pass-rusher the highest-paid non-quarterback in terms of guaranteed money.
“The world would know that I want Micah if they knew what I had offered him.”
The talented edge rusher, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal, requested a trade earlier this month due to a contract dispute with the Cowboys’ front office. Jones previously said he didn’t regard the trade request with any “seriousness.”
The 82-year-old told Irvin that, in his mind, Parsons will be with Dallas for at least another three seasons because the team can franchise tag him twice. Jones also cited a precedent set by the club’s negotiations with quarterback Dak Prescott, who played the final year of his rookie deal in 2019 before getting a franchise tag in 2020 and 2021, though he was quickly extended after receiving the second.
Jones continued to blame Parsons’ agent for the contract dispute. The pass-rusher noted in his trade request that he no longer wanted to participate in “close door negotiations without my agent present.” Parsons also said he didn’t consider the talks in March a formal negotiation.
“My job is managing the check,” Jones explained. “Micah’s got to do the playing. Where’s the least important part of this whole equation we’re talking about? What is the least incremental part of the whole equation? The attorney or the agent. He works for Micah. He’s not the principal here in any way. They’re in here to make their percentage. They’re in here to, basically, yes, advise Micah.”
He added, “So many times in this industry, you have a different agenda going on with agents. They’re playing a game.”
Parsons removed all mentions of the Cowboys from his X account following Jones’ interview.
Parsons’ status for Week 1 is uncertain, though head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Wednesday he felt good about the pass-rusher’s availability.
RAVENS’ HARBAUGH SAYS THERE’S ‘NO DAMAGE’ TO LAMAR JACKSON’S FOOT AFTER IT WAS STEPPED ON
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh says star quarterback Lamar Jackson is “fine” after his foot was stepped on this week.
That’s the same thing the Ravens told reporters Wednesday, but after Jackson wasn’t at practice Thursday, Harbaugh was understandably asked for an update.
“Got his foot stepped on, like we said yesterday,” Harbaugh said. “They did a quick X-ray, and there’s no damage or anything like that. I’m sure it’s a little sore today, so we just kept him in, but he’s fine. He’s going to be good.”
The Ravens play at Washington on Saturday, but Jackson hasn’t appeared in a preseason game since 2021 and there was no sign that would change this year. Baltimore opens the regular season at Buffalo on Sept. 7.
STEELERS FIRST-ROUND PICK DERRICK HARMON CARTED OFF WITH KNEE INJURY
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft pick Derrick Harmon was carted to the locker room after the defensive end injured his knee Thursday night in the preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers.
Harmon’s knee twisted awkwardly as he was engaged with a Carolina blocker on a pass rush.
He was in tears with a towel over his head as he rode on the back of a cart to the locker room. The Steelers had no immediate update on the injury except to say that Harmon would not return to the game.
The former Michigan State and Oregon player was the 21st pick in April.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin elected to start a handful of starters on both sides of the ball against the Panthers, including Harmon. The rookie had been expected to start this season on a defensive line with Cameron Hayward and Keeanu Benton.
Veteran Isaiahh Loudermilk is expected to see more playing time if Harmon is out a significant amount of time.
The Panthers did not play their starters.
TYREE WILSON SHOWS PROMISE IN TRAINING CAMP, AIMS TO PROVE WORTH AS RAIDERS’ SEVENTH PICK
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — NFL teams that draft a player seventh usually expect that prospect to make an immediate impact.
They count on it.
But Tyree Wilson, as he enter his third season with the Raiders, he is still trying to prove himself.
Maybe this is the season he proves why Las Vegas used such a high pick on him, and Wilson has shown in training camp that he could be poised to take a big step forward.
“The whole camp, he’s been doing a solid job,” coach Pete Carroll said. “We’ve called on him in a number of ways to keep going and keep pushing. We’re really trying to make sure that we put him in the right spots that take advantage of his skills and in his comfort and so that he can play at his best.”
That includes playing Wilson defensive end or tackle.
He was drafted as an edge rusher after making seven sacks each of his final two seasons at Texas Tech, but also has been used inside not only in Las Vegas but in college.
“It’s the quickest path to the quarterback being inside,” Wilson said. “You go through the guard, the quarterback is really going to be standing right there.”
Wilson has been playing catch-up since the Raiders drafted him. A foot injury in his final season at Texas Tech forced him to sit out of organized team activities and minicamp, and Wilson didn’t get onto the practice field until well into training camp.
The result? Wilson didn’t record a sack his rookie until Week 7 against Chicago. He wound up making 3 1/2 by season’s end, but no one was mistaking his pass rushing abilities for teammate Maxx Crosby.
Wilson showed a little more promise last season in making 4 1/2 sacks, but the fact he has remained on the second team in practices is telling. He isn’t on the trajectory previously expected, but that doesn’t mean Wilson can’t change the narrative.
The 6-foot-5, 263-pound player has taken advantage of the opportunities he has received in camp.
“I feel like I’m way faster, way more fluid than I have been before, and it’s going to continue to get better,” Wilson said.
As Wilson has progressed and shown flashes, another defensive end is still trying to find his way. Malcolm Koonce ended the 2023 season with six sacks in his final four games and looked poised to form a strong pass-rushing duo with Crosby when 2024 rolled around.
But a torn ACL in last year’s camp took Koonce out of the season, and he used the offseason practices to get back into form. It remains an ongoing effort for Koonce, who signed a one-year, $12 million prove-it contract in March.
“He missed so much in the offseason that he was disappointed in,” Carroll said. “It’s been three, four weeks we’ve been out here, and I think it took him time to realize he’s OK and he’s in great shape. It’s often with injuries, particularly lower-leg injuries in knees and ankles, you got to believe that it’s OK, and sometimes you have to prove it.”
Which is where Wilson also finds himself.
He appears relaxed and confident, and no doubt his positive practice performances help. But until he does it consistently in the season, Wilson will be a big draft miss.
Maybe this season will be a different story.
“He’s working hard,” linebacker Elandon Roberts said. “He does some very good things inside and on the outside. And, man, that guy is really long, so his extension and just being able to get off blocks and affect not just in the pass game but the run game, you really see it.”
FOUR FIELD GOALS SEND STEELERS TO VICTORY OVER PANTHERS
STEELERS BEAT PANTHERS 19-10 IN PRESEASON FINALE, BUT LOSE 1ST-ROUND PICK HARMON TO SPRAINED KNEE
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Skylar Thompson completed 11 of 13 passes for 152 yards including a 24-yard touchdown strike to Lance McCutcheon, rookie Ben Sauls kicked four field goals and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Carolina Panthers 19-10 on Thursday night in the preseason finale.
The Steelers (2-1) played a handful of starters on both sides of the ball, while the Panthers (0-3) rested all of theirs and several top reserves.
Getting some players extra preseason reps may have backfired on Steelers coach Mike Tomlin as defensive end Derrick Harmon, the team’s first-round draft pick, was carted to the locker room because of a sprained knee in the first half. Harmon, the 21st pick in the draft, did not return and will continue to be evaluated.
Tomlin said Harmon has a “knee sprain of some description” and called the injury significant. He did not give a timetable on his return.
Tomlin said despite holding the Panthers to 10 points, there are areas to improve upon.
“I thought we were highly penalized, we turned the ball over there early and the tackling was shaky at best at times,” Tomlin said. “I think they had 100 yards rushing at the half and that’s just kind of indicative of how poor the tackling was at times.”
Thompson entered the game in the second quarter in relief of Mason Rudolph, who started with Aaron Rodgers sitting out. Thompson completed his first five passes for 72 yards, including a perfectly-placed over-the-shoulder pass to McCutcheon in the left corner of the end zone for the game’s first touchdown.
Thompson also connected on a 53-yard strike to Scotty Miller, who finished with 82 yards on three receptions.
“He’s not afraid to attack,” Tomlin said. “I mean, he comes in boom, boom, boom. He’s got playing experience. This guy started (three career) games in Miami and so, I think that experience shows.”
Rudolph finished 6 of 8 for 36 yards, including an interception on an overthrow.
“Hey, we’re not a finished product, but no one is,” Tomlin said.
Jack Plummer, playing in place of Bryce Young and the injured Andy Dalton, started slow for the Panthers with a red-zone interception on Carolina’s third possession after escaping pressure in the pocket. But he battled back to complete 7 of 14 passes for 48 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown toss to a wide-open James Mitchell in the corner of the end zone to tie it at 10 before halftime.
Carolina struggled in the second half under recently signed quarterback Bryce Perkins, who turned the ball over on a sack-fumble by Yahya Black and failed to lead a scoring drive.
Panthers rookie outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen said he’s not worried about the team going winless in the preseason and being outscored 69-23.
“I don’t really look at it too much and read into it too much because (teammates) DJ Wonnum and Pat Jones told me when they were at Minnesota they never won a preseason game — and Minnesota was usually always in the playoffs,” Umanmielen said.
Warren makes debut
Running back Jaylen Warren made his preseason debut for the Steelers and had 3 yards rushing on two carries and 12 yards receiving on two catches. Warren is expected to start for the Steelers this season, although rookie Kaleb Johnson will push him for playing time.
Johnson had 24 yards on five carries.
Kicking battle
Ryan Fitzgerald made a 43-yard field goal and an extra point for the Panthers.
The rookie from Florida State is battling for a roster spot with journeyman Matthew Wright. The Panthers elected not to re-sign unrestricted free agent Eddy Pineiro. Despite being the NFL’s third-most accurate kicker ever at 88.1%, Pineiro has yet to land a spot with an NFL team.
Sauls made field goals of 38, 50, 49 and 28 yards.
“Really happy for Ben Sauls, the work he was able to show us tonight, man, good for him,” Tomlin said.
Injuries
Steelers: Aside from Harmon, WR Brandon Johnson left in the first half with a foot injury.
Panthers: Umanmielen said he will have an MRI on his right shoulder on Friday. OT Ja’Tyre Carter (ankle) and RB Raheem Blackshear (ankle) sustained injuries.
Up next
Both teams open the season on the road Sept. 7, with the Steelers facing the Jets, and Panthers playing the Jaguars.
SKATTEBO PLAYS, DART CLEARS CONCUSSION PROTOCOL AS GIANTS BEAT PATRIOTS
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Cam Skattebo saw his first game action for the New York Giants and Jaxson Dart had an eventful preseason finale by throwing a touchdown pass and clearing concussion protocol following a big hit, with reserves playing much of a 42-10 rout of the New England Patriots on Thursday night.
Skattebo started at running back after missing much of training camp because of a hamstring injury setback and had three carries for 12 yards. Getting the the nod at quarterback with Russell Wilson and most of the starters sitting out, Dart showed some more promise along with a reminder he is a rookie.
The first-round pick out of Mississippi completed 6 of 12 passes for 81 yards, including a 50-yard throw and catch with Gunner Olszewski and a touchdown to Greg Dulcich. Instead of sliding to give himself up on a run late in the first quarter, he fumbled when tackled by Jack Gibbens and was taken to the medical tent on the sideline to be evaluated for a concussion.
Dart did not return, though it was not immediately clear if that was part of the coaching staff’s plan going in. Veteran Jameis Winston replaced Dart and connected with Jalin Hyatt on a 27-yard TD on the next play.
Dart finished the preseason 32 of 47 passing for 372 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, also running six times for 52 yards and a TD. He and No. 3 pick Abdul Carter, who was disruptive in the couple of plays he got on the field, were the captains for the pregame coin toss — a glimpse into what the organization hopes is its future cornerstones on offense and defense.
Fourth-string QB Tommy DeVito had three TD passes after taking over for Winston, and rookie TJ Moore scored on a 44-yard pick-6. The Giants (3-0) went unbeaten in exhibition play for the first time since 2019, outscoring opponents 107-47.
The Patriots (2-1) rested nearly all of their starters, including QB Drake Maye, plus backup Josh Dobbs. In their absences, undrafted free agent Ben Woolridge played the entire game, going 10 of 20 for 82 yards.
Injuries
Patriots: Receiver Kendrick Bourne was among those who did not dress because of a leg injury.
Giants: Moore was carted off after injuring his right leg on a punt with under four minutes left. Teammates took a knee while he was attended to by medical personnel, and Wilson, Dart and Winston helped lift him onto the cart.
Up next
Patriots: Host Las Vegas to open the season Sept. 7.
Giants: At Washington to open the season Sept. 7.
