NFL.com breaks down what you need to know from Week 2 of the 2024 ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷Íøpreseason. Catch up on each game's biggest takeaways using the links below:
- READ: First-rounder Bo Nix dazzles again for Broncos
- READ: WR Patrick on comeback: 'Haven't seen anything yet'
- Comebacks in full swing for Broncos. Tim Patrick gave Denver something to smile about for the second game in a row following a pair of lost seasons due to ACL and Achilles injuries. Patrick hauled in a 2-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter from Bo Nix, who went to the receiver early and often en route to Patrick compiling four catches for 30 yards. Preseason or not, it’s pleasant to see the snakebitten Patrick performing well. Another Bronco with bad injury luck has been Greg Dulcich, a playmaking tight end who’s been limited to 12 games over his first two seasons due to injuries. He hauled in a pair of catches Sunday, including a nice 18-yarder. Perhaps most importantly, Javonte Williams averaged 5.7 yards on three carries, showing some great burst and delivering some hard contact. This is Williams’ second season back since tearing up his knee in 2022. If he gets back to where he was trending as a rookie in 2021, it will be a major benefit for the Broncos. It’s comeback season in Denver.
- Packers backup QBs cause for concern. When it comes to Green Bay’s Jordan Love, it’s all puppies and rainbows when discussing the promise for the season ahead. However, there should be some cause for concern below Love on the depth chart. To the surprise of some, Green Bay went with then-rookie Sean Clifford as the backup last year. This season, it’s Clifford presumably at QB2 and rookie Michael Pratt behind him. With Clifford struggling, there’s been some rumblings Pratt should get the backup role, but neither elicited much confidence Sunday. Albeit playing against Broncos starters in the first half, Green Bay’s offense was shut out while Clifford (6 of 10 for 43 yards and an interception) and Pratt (10 of 16 for 52 yards) piloted an offense that totaled 10 first downs and 168 yards.
- Passtronaut is a whole lot of fun. Quarterback Brock Purdy was one of the 49ers starters who saw the field and didn’t do much, hitting on 2 of his 6 passes during two fruitless drives. Leave it to Joshua Dobbs to wake up this sleepy Sunday afternoon affair. Dobbs was just fun to watch, leading the 49ers on three scoring drives to end the first half, culminating with a 1-yard touchdown run in which he juked Jordan Howden en route to six. The score was set up by a beauty of a deep ball from Dobbs to fourth-round rookie Jacob Cowing. Dobbs was simply making it work, running around like he was on a playground, creating plays and excitement. Over the autumns, the 49ers’ backup quarterback spot has been absolutely crucial for the perennial Super Bowl contenders. In a pinch, Dobbs has a track record of coming through off the bench, and he can most certainly keep it interesting.
- Young and the relentless. Having turned heads throughout training camp, Chase Young continued to impress Sunday against the squad he ended last season with. Young’s motor was on high, chasing 49ers starter Brock Purdy and ball-carriers, alike. In 15 snaps, he racked up a pair of tackles and three QB pressures. Saints 2023 first-rounder Bryan Bresee also had three QB pressures and got in a hit on Purdy. If Young keeps this trajectory going into the regular season, the former can’t-miss No. 2 overall pick might be back on target and a massive boon for the Saints defense.
