It’s Week 2 of the NFL preseason, and if we’re lucky, starters might get a bit more playing time this week. Of course, preseason is an important time for coaching staffs to evaluate the talent they have in training camp as they prepare to pare down rosters to just 53 men from the 90 they’re currently carrying, so there will be plenty of playing time for guys who aren’t stars, too.
NFL preseason schedule 2016: Rematch of Vikings vs. Seahawks closes out Thursday’s slate
Week 2 begins with the Battle of Pennsylvania between the Steelers and Eagles.
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
Last week’s slate of games certainly reflected this, but still we were treated to some really fun moments, like Trevone Boykin’s Hail Mary pass that put the Seattle Seahawks in a position to beat the Kansas City Chiefs.
Once again, we’re assigning watchability ratings to help guide your preseason viewing choices Thursday evening. Each matchup is ranked on a scale of 1-to-5 based on how entertaining we expect it to be. Two games will air nationally on NFL Network — an all-Pennsylvania battle at 7 p.m. ET, and a rematch of last year’s playoff contest between the Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings at 10 p.m. ET. For complete local listings, visit 506sports.com.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
7 p.m. ET
National broadcast: NFL Network
Away: WCAU, Comcast Sportsnet, Home: KDKA CBS 2
The biggest news about the matchup between the Eagles and Steelers is that Le’Veon Bell, Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and DeAngelo Williams will all sit out Thursday evening. The reason is identified as the “coach’s decision,” and removing four of the team’s best players from the game certainly impacts the watchability of this one.
The Eagles will be without rookie quarterback and No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz, who suffered a hairline fracture in his ribs last week against the Buccaneers. Doug Pederson may opt to give other players time at right tackle to start to prepare for the possibility of a Lane Johnson suspension. Newest Eagles receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, acquired earlier in the week via a trade with the Tennessee Titans, also won’t play.
Watchability: 2 -- Without the Steelers’ biggest stars, even for a few series, this one seems pretty lackluster. Having Wentz ruled out also negatively impacts our expectations for this game.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Detroit Lions
7:30 p.m. ET
Away: WKRC CBS 12, Home: WJBK FOX 2
On Thursday night, the Bengals will face off against former wide receiver Marvin Jones, who departed for Detroit in free agency. Jones had just one catch in the Lions’ preseason opener, but he looked good in limited play. Jones is battling to establish his spot on a receiver depth chart that’s pretty stacked despite Calvin Johnson’s retirement.
Jones, along with the rest of the starters from each team, should get more playing time Thursday evening. Both teams are also dealing with some injuries, though, which will impact who can actually play this week. Lions running back Ameer Abdullah continues to be held out of practice as he recovers from surgery, and the Lions are thin at linebacker with injuries to Jon Bostic and DeAndre Levy. Injuries are stacking up for the Bengals, too, including right tackle Cedric Ogbuehi and receiver Brandon LaFell.
Watchability: 3 -- We should see more playing time from starters than they got in Week 1, but with so many injuries to key players, this one might be a little less exciting.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Cleveland Browns
8 p.m. ET
Away: WUPA CW 69, Home: WEWS ABC 5
The Falcons’ first-round pick, safety Keanu Neal, will hit the field for the first time Thursday night. Neal was held out last week with a trunk injury, and Dan Quinn suggested he’ll get at least a quarter of playing time Thursday, and maybe more. Dwight Freeney will also get his first playing time in a Falcons uniform, primarily on third downs and in Atlanta’s nickel package.
In Week 1 of the preseason against the Packers, the Browns struggled against the run, giving up 151 rushing yards to Green Bay. That’s something the coaching staff will want to see improved against the Falcons, who have a dynamic set of backs in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. Week 2 should give a better idea of how Robert Griffin III is fitting into Cleveland’s new offense, especially if first-round wide receiver Corey Coleman makes his debut.
Watchability: 4 -- Keanu Neal is a physical safety and he’s fun to watch, and it should be interesting to get an idea of how Atlanta plans to use Freeney. More playing time from RGIII bumps up the watchability of this game, too.
Oakland Raiders vs. Green Bay Packers
8 p.m. ET
Away: KTVU FOX 2, Home: WACY My 32
Although Aaron Rodgers said last week that he will play against the Raiders, he might have to wait another week to get on the field. Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said he’d like to get backup Brett Hundley, who has been battling an ankle injury, significant snaps against Oakland. Joe Callahan and Marquise Williams, who played against the Browns in Week 1, should also get some opportunities.
The Raiders lost defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. with a hip injury in Week 1 of the preseason, and the team will want to get a sense of which player or players can best step up and fill the void that will remain for 4-6 weeks while Edwards recovers. Denico Autry and undrafted free agent James Cowser are two players to keep an eye on against the Packers.
Watchability: 3 -- Without Aaron Rodgers, this game loses a point in watchability, but we are curious to see which Raiders defensive end will look most effective lined up across from Khalil Mack.
Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots
8 p.m. ET
Away: WFLD FOX 32, Home: WBZ CBS 4
The Bears and Patriots have had some joint practices this week in preparation for their preseason tilt Thursday evening, and things have gotten a little intense, with several scuffles breaking out between Bears players and Patriots players. There may be some lingering bad blood between these two teams when they take the field Thursday night.
Rob Gronkowski left practice Tuesday with an injury, and he did not participate on Wednesday, though it has been reported that the injury is just a bruise and he shouldn’t miss much time. Still, it won’t be surprising if New England chooses to rest him on Thursday.
Watchability: 4 -- As chippy as things got between these two teams in practice, it should be a hard-fought, fun game to watch.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Seattle Seahawks
10 p.m. ET
National broadcast: NFL Network
Away: KMSP FOX 9, Home: KCPQ FOX 13
The Seahawks will take the field against the Minnesota Vikings Thursday night without several key players. Safety Kam Chancellor, tackle J’Marcus Webb, running back C.J. Prosise, running back Thomas Rawls, tight end Jimmy Graham and defensive tackle Jordan Hill won’t play against Minnesota. The absences of Prosise and Rawls create an opportunity for Christine Michael, who had 44 yards on seven attempts in Preseason Week 1 against the Chiefs.
For the Vikings, they’ll hope to see the first-team run defense tighten up a bit against Michael and the Seahawks. Last week against the Bengals they struggled at times, and there may be a full-blown position battle at right tackle between Andre Smith and T.J. Clemmings. Even more exciting, there’s a chance that Adrian Peterson will get his first preseason carry in five years. On Monday, head coach Mike Zimmer told the Star Tribune that Peterson would play “if he wants to.”
Watchability: 3 -- The Seahawks knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs last season in a narrow, one-point victory. But while Minnesota’s vengeance may seem like a compelling storyline, it’s preseason and the players probably don’t view it that way.
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