Jags roll past Lions as backups take spotlight
DETROIT — C.J. Beathard threw a 15yard touchdown pass to Parker Washington late in the first half and the Jacksonville Jaguars went on to beat the Detroit Lions 25-7 on Saturday.
Beathard filled in for Trevor Lawrence as most of the starters for both teams watched the preseason game to avoid injuries.
Beathard, a backup in his sixth NFL season, was 12 of 20 for 138 yards. He threw an interception along with the touchdown pass to Washington, a rookie receiver, that put Jacksonville ahead 12-0 at halftime.
Teddy Bridgewater, meanwhile, was shaky in his Lions debut while surrounded by backups.
Bridgewater, signed this month to be Jared Goff’s backup, was sacked on his first snap and completed 5 of 11 passes for just 34 yards.
Detroit’s Nate Sudfeld, who threw his third interception of the preseason in the second quarter, connected with Chase Cota on a 1-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to avoid a shutout.
D’Ernest Johnson restored the Jaguars’ cushion with a 1-yard touchdown run late in the third and helped them pull away with a 15-yard run that put them ahead 25-7 early in the fourth.
Dolphins 38, Texans 3: In Houston, Tua Tagovailoa was intercepted on his first play of the preseason Saturday for the Miami Dolphins against the Houston Texans.
His second drive went much better. Playing in his first game since sustaining a concussion on Christmas Day, Tagovailoa led a 14-play, 93-yard drive capped by a 2-yard scoring run by Raheem Mostert to give the Dolphins an early lead in a 28-3 win Saturday.
Tagovailoa sat down after that, ending his day 5 of 7 for 61 yards for the Dolphins (1-1).
Houston rookie C.J. Stroud was much sharper Saturday than he was in his NFL debut last week when he was picked off on his first possession and finished with 13 yards passing on two drives. Playing the entire first half Saturday, the second overall pick was 7 of 12 for 60 yards and helped the Texans (1-1) to a field goal on his second drive.