NFL Roundup

NFL Roundup

Thursday’s Games

Eagles 24, Jaguars 10

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.

Cody Kessler’s return to Jacksonville lasted seven plays and ended with a slow walk to the visitors’ locker room. Philadelphia’s third-string quarterback was knocked out of the team’s preseason victory against the Jaguars on the opening drive. Defensive end Datone Jones came unblocked off the edge and walloped Kessler in the back. Kessler was escorted to the sideline, evaluated for a head injury in the locker room and then placed in the concussion protocol. The team already was without backup Nate Sudfeld, who broke his left wrist in the team’s preseason opener against Tennessee. Rookie Clayton Thorson completed 16 of 26 pases for 175 yards. Greg Ward finished with two receptions for 42 yards, including a 38-yard score from Thorson. Rookie Gardner Minshew started in place of Nick Foles for the second straight week and looked better than his debut in Baltimore. Minshew completed 19 of 29 passes for 202 yards.

Jets 22, Falcons 10

ATLANTA

Matt Ryan and Sam Darnold both appear ready for the regular season. Ryan looked sharp in his preseason debut for the Atlanta Falcons, completing nine straight passes, and Darnold led New York on another scoring drive in the Jets’ victory. After sitting out the first two exhibition games, Ryan played most of the first half. He completed 10 of 14 passes for 118 yards, a performance that was even more impressive considering Brian Hill and Justin Hardy dropped back-to-back passes in the back of the end zone that should have been touchdowns, sparking boos from the meager crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Jets (1-1) are certainly pleased with Darnold. He guided New York on a 66-yard touchdown drive to start the game, capped by Ty Montgomery’s 1-yard scoring run. Atlanta’s backup quarterback, Matt Schaub, took over for Ryan and led the Falcons (0-3) on their lone touchdown drive to close out the first half. Running the two-minute offense to perfection, Schaub went 8 of 10 for 76 yards to set up Ito Smith’s 4-yard touchdown run with 33 seconds remaining.

Ravens 26, Packers 13

BALTIMORE

Lamar Jackson directed two scoring drives during a limited appearance, had an impressive touchdown run erased by a penalty and sparked the Baltimore Ravens to a victory over the Green Bay Packers, who played without quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers developed back stiffness and was a late scratch. Packers quarterbacks DeShone Kizer, Tim Boyle and Manny Wilkins struggled against a defense that last year was ranked No. 1 in the NFL. Jackson completed 6 of 10 passes for 58 yards and ran twice for 14 yards. Justin Tucker converted four field goals for Baltimorre.

Bengals 23, Redskins 13

LANDOVER, MD.

Washington first-round pick Dwayne Haskins made strong throws and his share of mistakes, and fellow rookie Ryan Finley continued to make his case to be Cincinnati’s backup quarterback in the Bengals’ victory over the Redskins. Haskins threw a 55-yard TD pass to camp standout Robert Davis and was 7 of 14 for 114 yards with a fumble. Veteran Case Keenum, who played the first three drives and was 3 of 7 for 52 yards. Keenum, Haskins and longtime backup Colt McCoy are competing to be the Redskins’ Week 1 starter. McCoy has yet to play in the preseason while he deals with lingering pain from a broken leg last year. After already passing Jeff Driskell on Cincinnati’s depth chart, Finley again showed why he’s now the favorite to back up Andy Dalton. The fourth-round pick out of N.C. State completed his first nine passes and was 20 of 26 for 150 yards with two TD passes.

Associated Press