The NFL pre-season kicked into high gear this past week with all 32 NFL teams in action. Home teams dominated on the gridiron, winning 14 of the week’s 16 games, half of which ended with totals of 32 points or less. But while the opening week may have been short on point production, fans were kept occupied watching a number of notable NFL rookies make their pro football debut.
It was a difficult offseason for Jadeveon Clowney. Taken first overall by the Houston Texans at this year’s NFL Draft, Clowney underwent surgery this past spring to repair a sports hernia that he played with all of last season. But the 21 year-old linebacker out of the University of South Carolina looked in top condition in Houston’s 32-0 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Playing alongside veteran defensive end JJ Watt, Clowney looked as intimidating as expected, taking down Cardinals RB Stepfan Taylor for a five-yard loss. It is clear that adapting to his new role as a 3-4 outside LB remains a work in progress. But Clowney’s solid debut should give suffering Texans fans something to feel good about.
On the other side of the ball, Saturday also marked the pre-season debut of quarterback Johnny Manziel in a Cleveland Browns jersey. Johnny Football didn’t disappoint, completing seven passes for 63 yards, while rushing for 27 yards in a 13-12 losing effort against the Detroit Lions.
The Browns remain a 5/1 longshot to finish atop the tough AFC North, but show solid promise, particularly at QB, where Manziel is expected to battle for playing time with veteran Brian Hoyer, who is looking to lock down a starting job for the first time in his NFL career. Taking that into account the 5/1 on offer is quite generous and reviewing sports books may even give better odds closer to the time.
Following an outstanding college football career as quarterback for the Northern Illinois Huskies, Jordan Lynch was overlooked at the 2014 NFL Draft, eventually signing with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent running back.
The 23 year-old, who set the NCAA record in 2013 for most rushing yards by a quarterback, did not look out of place as a ball carrier, running for 24 yards on seven carries to lead the Bears’ ground attack in a 34-28 win over the Philadelphia Eagl
