AROUND THE NFL Thursday’s preseason games

August 23, 2019 at 12:00a.m.

Giants 25, Bengals 23

CINCINNATI

Daniel Jones completed a difficult week with an encouraging performance, leading the New York Giants to a touchdown in Zac Taylor’s first home game as head coach. In a GQ article published Tuesday, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield said he was stunned that the Giants drafted the quarterback from Duke in the first round. Mayfield tried to tamp down the comment and texted Jones to explain his remarks. Jones got into the game on the Giants’ second series and went 9 of 11 for 141 yards the rest of the half. He had completions of 35 yards to Brittan Golden and 27 yards to Darius Slayton on a seven-play touchdown drive, a solid all-around showing for Eli Manning’s eventual replacement. Manning led an opening 15-play series that ended in a field goal and included five plays that gained at least 9 yards. Manning was 4 of 8 for 41 yards. In three preseason games, Manning is 9 of 13 for 86 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Golden had a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Giants pulled away. The Bengals distributed 34,887 tickets for the game, fewer than for the first home preseason game last year. They had the second-lowest home attendance in the league last season, part of the impetus to fire Marvin Lewis and bring in Taylor to try to stir fan interest. The Bengals’ new offense under Taylor has struggled to find consistency. Andy Dalton played three series that ended with a couple of punts and a touchdown.

Dalton found tight end C.J. Uzomah down the right sideline — he beat safety Jabrill Peppers — for a 26-yard touchdown on his third and final series. Dalton was 7 of 10 for 104 yards behind a mix-and-match line. Andre Smith started at left tackle for Cordy Glenn, who missed practice this week, and moved to right tackle in the second quarter. Rookie Ryan Finley finished the first half when Dalton left and was 14 of 20 for 155 yards with no interceptions and three sacks.

Patriots 10, Panthers 3

FOXBOROUGH, MASS.

This was not the return to the field that Cam Newton was hoping to make. The Carolina Panthers quarterback left in the first quarter with a foot injury that left him grimacing on the sideline. The 2015 MVP was playing for the first time since Dec. 17, when the team shut him down for the last two games of the season because of shoulder fatigue that prevented him from throwing the ball downfield. He had arthroscopic surgery in January and did not play in the first two preseason games. Newton appeared to be injured when he was sacked for a loss of 8 yards by Adam Butler on a third-and-10 from the Carolina 31. It was one of two Patriots sacks while Newton was in the game. Newton was initially evaluated on the sideline and quickly accompanied to the locker room and did not return. He went 4 for 6 for 30 yards. Tom Brady finished his first exhibition game of 2019 by going 8 for 12 for 75 yards, including an 18-yard pass to tight end Ryan Izzo to set up the 1-yard touchdown plunge by James Develin in the second quarter. It was the starting offense’s final series.

Ravens 26, Eagles 15

PHILADELPHIA

Trace McSorley threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score, helping Baltimore win its 16th straight preseason game. The game was stopped by the NFL with 11:43 remaining in the fourth quarter because of lightning after a short delay. Carson Wentz again sat out for the Eagles, but several starters saw their first action this summer and Josh McCown made his debut after ending his brief retirement to play his 18th season. With Ravens starter Lamar Jackson watching from the sideline and Robert Griffin III still out with a thumb injury, McSorley solidified his roster spot. The sixth-round pick from Penn State has also been practicing on special teams throughout training camp. McSorley threw TD passes of 28 yards to Michael Floyd and 7 yards to Jaleel Scott. He scored on a run from 4 yards.

Redskins 19, Falcons 7

ATLANTA

Rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins led Washington to three second-half scoring drives, including two set up by Atlanta’s lost fumbles while attempting to field punts, and the Redskins took a preseason win over the Falcons. Case Keenum played the first half at quarterback and lost a fumble which helped the Falcons lead 7-6 at halftime. Haskins, the first-round draft pick from Ohio State, completed 7 of 13 passes for 74 yards in the second half. Colt McCoy, Washington’s third contestant in the quarterback competition, is still recovering from a broken right leg suffered in 2018.

Dolphins 22, Jaguars 7

MIAMI GARDENS, FLA.

Josh Rosen came off the bench late in the third quarter and engineered a 99-yard touchdown drive for Miami. Rosen, who is battling Ryan Fitzpatrick for the starting quarterback job for Miami (2-1), was 5-for-7 for 59 yards and a touchdown and ran four times for 23 yards. Nick Foles, making his first appearance of the preseason for the Jaguars (0-3), played the first quarter and went 6-for-10 for 48 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Rookie defensive end Josh Allen, the Jaguars’ first-round draft pick, had four tackles, including two for losses in the first half, and two quarterback hits. Rosen entered the game and led a 13-play drive that included a 39-yard reception by Isaiah Ford and a 14-yard scramble by Rosen and culminated in a 5-yard touchdown run by Patrick Laird. Fitzpatrick played the first 21/2 quarters. He was 12-for-18 for 126 yards and one touchdown — the first time he has led Miami into end zone in three preseason games. Most of the yardage for both quarterbacks came when they played with and against second- and third-stringers. Fitzpatrick tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Mark Walton midway through the third. The 11 play, 91-yard drive included catches of 30 yards and 29 yards by tight ends Nick O’Leary and Mike Gesicki, respectively. Fitzpatrick didn’t complete a pass to a wide receiver until a 14-yarder to Kenny Stills in the third quarter. Jason Sanders kicked field goals of 40, 46, and 43 yards for the Dolphins. Foles hit Dede Westbrook on a 10-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to give the Jaguars a 7-0 lead. Rookie Gardner Minshew, who relieved Foles, was 17-for-27 for 141 yards. Leonard Fournette gained 27 yards on seven carries in the first quarter. The Dolphins didn’t have a first down until their fourth possession, when the Jaguars jumped offside on third and five. In the first half, the Dolphins gained 47 yards and were penalized for 63. Jaguars receiver DJ Chark Jr. was tackled by Miami’s Chris Lammons on a kickoff return in the second quarter and left the game to be evaluated for a concussion. He did not return.