NFL Preseason Takeaways: Jaydon Blue Hurdles Cardinals as Geno Smith Goes 7-for-7

Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue showcased his burst with a hurdle over a Cardinals defender during Saturday's NFL preseason action.

Saturday's NFL preseason slate featured Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue recording a hurdle over a Arizona Cardinals defender, while Malik Davis secured an 8-yard touchdown reception. In Denver, quarterback Bo Nix completed a performance totaling 76 passing yards and one touchdown. New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith finished his lone drive with a perfect 7-for-7 passing line for 65 yards and a touchdown, targeting six different players. Carolina Panthers rookie Jonathon Brooks logged 10 of 12 snaps with the starters, recording five carries for 18 yards and his first career NFL touchdown.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson led his backfield with 21 snaps, surpassing Brashard Smith’s 19 and Emari Demercado’s 14. Both Johnson and Smith earned two targets each in the passing game. In Green Bay, MarShawn Lloyd played eight of 12 snaps with the first-team offense, turning four carries into eight yards and catching his only target for an 11-yard touchdown. Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey played all six snaps of the opening drive, totaling 25 receiving yards and a touchdown on two catches plus a 5-yard rush.

Roster Battles and Injury Updates

Dallas Cowboys receiver Camden Brown recorded a 70-yard reception, competing for depth behind CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, and KaVontae Turpin. Tight end Colston Loveland avoided injury following a hip-drop tackle on Saturday night. The Chicago Bears have also placed Jahdae Walker in "bubble wrap" to preserve health for September. Miami Dolphins wideout Kevin Coleman Jr. caught two of his six targets, including one highlight reception, while playing with Malik Willis. Detroit Lions tight end Jackson Meeks caught four of six targets as a potential backup to Sam LaPorta.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders outplayed Deshaun Watson, who stated he would play 17 road games if he were to start. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren played the entire three-snap first drive, while Rico Dowdle took all four snaps of the second drive. Dowdle finished with 10 snaps and 20 yards on six opportunities, while Warren recorded nine snaps and 17 yards on five opportunities. Carolina wide receivers Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker played all 11 snaps with the starters, with McMillan lining up in the slot for three of those plays.

Thursday and Friday Standouts

Las Vegas Raiders receiver Tre Tucker is locked into the Z role after Jalen Nailor played into the second quarter against the Houston Texans. Tucker has ranked in the top 10 for snaps and routes run among wide receivers over the last two seasons. Houston's Woody Marks recorded 37 rushing yards and a touchdown on four attempts. De'Zhaun Stribling caught three passes from Brock Purdy during the San Francisco 49ers' first nine plays on Thursday, following a seven-catch performance in the opener. Stribling also added a 21-yard reception from Mac Jones.

New Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel utilized a three-man tight end rotation involving David Njoku, Oronde Gadsden, and Charlie Kolar. Gadsden did not see the field during the first two drives against San Francisco. Keaton Mitchell handled the majority of snaps on the second and third drives for his team. In Denver, Jonah Coleman played all eight snaps of the second drive but saw a decrease in effectiveness compared to the previous week. Pat Bryant played five snaps on the opening drive and remained in for the second possession.

Significant Injuries and Contract News

Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren is recovering from an adductor strain suffered during a joint practice with the Atlanta Falcons. As a rookie, Warren caught 76 passes for 817 yards and four touchdowns on 106 targets. Houston Texans receiver Jayden Higgins will miss the 2026 season due to a torn ACL suffered in practice. Xavier Hutchinson, who scored 30.3 fantasy points on 15 targets in two games last year, is the favorite to replace him.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is expected to miss one month with a sprained MCL. The Saints recently signed Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year, $52 million contract with $24 million guaranteed. Last season, Kamara produced 100.7 fantasy points in 11 games, his lowest career total. Adonai Mitchell caught two targets for 29 yards for the Jets, while rookie Omar Cooper Jr. played seven of 10 snaps with the starting unit.