The Hall of Fame Game kicked off preseason this past Sunday, but the first day of action for a third of the league is on Thursday, with six games on the schedule.
NFL preseason 2015 schedule: Patriots, Jets quarterbacks make debut
With Geno Smith out with a broken jaw, the Jets will have a few quarterbacks with the chance to step up on Thursday night in the team’s preseason debut.
Teams typically take it easy in the first exhibition game of the season, so don’t expect to see many stars. But given the amount of quarterback drama around the NFL, there are still storylines that make football worth tuning in for, thanks mostly to the craziness that is the AFC East.
Even if Tom Brady and Geno Smith aren't providing you with the type of NFL stories you enjoy, football's back. Enjoy it.
Here’s a look at the slate of games on Thursday night along with what, and how, to watch (all times Eastern):
(Away: TV, WVUE-FOX 8: WBAL-NBC 11) -- 7:30 p.m.
The Ravens and Saints both carry high expectations into the 2015 season, but don’t expect to see either put forward a Super Bowl-winning lineup on Thursday. Drew Brees played in just one preseason game last year and looked just fine once the regular season rolled around.
Joe Flacco might actually get the green light for the Ravens, though. He's played in the preseason opener in every season of his career and there's really no reason why he wouldn't get the go-ahead to play on Thursday. His weapons won't look like they will in the regular season, though. Both of the team's top two picks in the 2015 NFL Draft, Breshad Perriman and Maxx Williams, are unlikely to see action.
(Away: WGBA-NBC 26, Home: WBZ-CBS 4), NFL Network -- 7:30 p.m.
Brady is actually eligible to play in this game. Amid all the DeflateGate chaos it’s easy to forget that he’s practicing with the team and preparing to be the team’s starting quarterback, whether that’s Week 1 or not. Still, Brady will probably get the day off.
On the other sideline, it's a guessing game whether Aaron Rodgers takes any snaps. Packers head coach Mike McCarthy wants every player who makes the trip to see the field and Rodgers says he's making the trip, but McCarthy didn't guarantee anything. Even if Rodgers sits out, the Packers are the Super Bowl favorite and have a lot of offensive weapons to show off.
(Away: WCBS-CBS 2, Home: WJBX-FOX 2) -- 7:30 p.m.
Finally, the Jets have a chance to be in the spotlight. It seems like New York is never in the headlines. Well, except for that time that a linebacker punched the starting quarterback, broke his jaw and sent the Internet into a frenzy on Tuesday. Now the Jets have Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bryce Petty and Jake Heaps at quarterback, and the formidable Lions defense to debut against.
While the Jets' quarterback situation is worth tuning in for, the Lions' running game is something to watch, too. Detroit has relied on tremendous amounts of passing from Matthew Stafford for a while, but with plenty of new talent on the interior offensive line and rookie running back Ameer Abdullah drawing rave reviews in camp, the progress of the Lions running game is worth keeping a close eye on.
(Away: WFOR-CBS 4, Home: WFLD-FOX 32) -- 8 p.m.
The Dolphins say that the starters will all get to go on Thursday against the Bears, which means we'll get our first look at Ndamukong Suh in Miami.
It'll also be the first look at the John Fox era in Chicago that will also debut its 3-4 defense for the Bears. While quarterback Jay Cutler draws the headlines and eyes, the transition to a new defense for players like Ego Ferguson, Will Sutton and Lamarr Houston is what will make Thursday especially interesting for Bears fans.
Washington at Cleveland Browns
(Away: WRC-NBC 4, Home: WEWS-ABC 5) -- 8 p.m.
Some preseason games will have longtime quarterbacks sit out and watch, but for Washington and Cleveland, Thursday will be a chance for a stable of quarterbacks to make a good impression. Robert Griffin III could certainly use a good start to his 2015 after two straight years of injuries and drama.
Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is no stranger to drama either and will make his return to football after spending a significant amount of the offseason in rehab. Manziel is behind Josh McCown for the starting job, but showing that he's taken a step forward is priority No. 1 before he worries about outplaying the starter.
(Home: KFMB-CBS 8), NFL Network -- 10 p.m.
The Cowboys left their Oxnard, Calif., training camp on Wednesday morning via train to head to San Diego. While Tony Romo won't play for the Cowboys, pass rushers Greg Hardy and Randy Gregory will, putting the team's new-look defense on display.
For the Chargers, Philip Rivers is expected to make the start behind center, but it will be tailback Melvin Gordon who is most worth watching. Drafting Ryan Mathews in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft didn't work out well for the team, so they're giving it another try with Gordon.
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