Lawrence not off to good start
Rookie struggles against Cleveland
Trevor Lawrence’s professional debut opened with a sack and a fumble, hardly ideal but not too concerning forthe Jacksonville Jaguars.
TheNo. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft rebounded, delivering a couple of impressive throws and somewhat salvaging his first preseason game — a 23-13 loss Saturday night tothe Cleveland Browns.
Lawrence started over Gardner Minshew and completed 6 of 9 passes for 71 yards in two series. The most important part for Jacksonville — the former Clemson star left TIAA Bank Field healthy. There had to be some worry after Lawrence was sacked on theteam’s first play.
Tim Tebow failed to register a catch, and was only targetedonce.
Bears
Another rookie quarterback, Justin Fields, got his first action in the NFL. The Chicago Bears first-round pick showed the playmaking ability Chicago dreamed about on draft day. Fields rallied Chicago from a 13-0 deficit in his preseason debut by throwing for a touchdown and running for one in a 20-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
In just over two quarters of playing time, Fields was 14 of 20 for 142 yards. Fields’ passing also helped the Bears get on the scoreboard for the first time with a 53-yard Cairo Santos field goal on the final play of the first half. Until that possession, the Bears hadn’t picked up a first down as Miamidominated play early.
Broncos
Drew Lock passed for 151 yards and two touchdowns in three possessions in a crisp first audition for Denver’s open quarterback competition. Teddy Bridgewater was sharp, too, and the Broncos beat the Minnesota Vikings, 33-6. Broncos first-round draft pick Pat Surtain II scored on a 30-yardinterception return.
Bills
Buffalo owners Terry and Kim Pegula are committed to paying a portion of the projected $1.4 billion in their proposalto build a stadium.
“When it comes to the future new home of the Bills, [the Pegulas] have always known that, like virtually all NFL stadiums, this will ultimately be some form of a public/private partnership,” Pegula Sports and Entertainment senior vice president RonRaccuia said Saturday in astatement.