WHAT TO WATCH
Five things for Oklahomans to watch in the NFL this week
The NFL pres ea son began last week with t he Hall of Fame Game between the Atlanta Falcon sand Denver Broncos.
The other teams in the league will play for the first time Thursday through Saturday.
Here are five things for Oklahomans to watch.
Mayfield, Beckham look to build chemistry
Browns quarter back Baker May field hasn' t spent all his time during training camp chugging beers while watching the Cleveland Indians.
The former Oklahoma standout has also started to develop a connection with new Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
The duo will have the opportunity to build onfield chemistry when Cleveland hosts the Washington Redskins on Thursday night.
Coach Freddie Kitchens said that he has not determined which starters will play Thursday, but it would be surprising if Mayfield and Beckham don't take the field for at least one series.
Beckham has been his usual self during training camp, making acrobatic catches and showing his new teammates why he is considered one of the best players in the league.
Beck ham, who was acquired f rom the New York Giants during t he off season, said“it' s going to be scary” when he gets fully acclimated in Cleveland.
“Everything that's great comes with patience, takes time, so we're still developing,'' Beckham said, according to cleveland.com. “The best part about it is it' s training camp. So we're just trying to all get on the same page, get everything down, but it's been a lot of fun, working with coach Freddie, Bake and everybody else just trying to get better each and every day.”
Mayfield made headlines Saturday after he was shown on the video board during the Angels-Indians game. Mayfield punctured a beer can with his teeth and downed the beverage to the delight of Cleveland fans.
Jarwin competes with Witten
Oklahoma State alum Blake Jar win is ina peculiar situation with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Tuttle native emerged as the team' s top tight end late last year, but Cowboys legend Jason Wit ten came out of retirement this off season and is expected to get significantp laying time in Dallas.
Jar win will attempt to show the Cowboys he deserves a substantial role in the offense, beginning with Saturday night' s game at San Francisco.
Justice Hill tries to impress Ravens coaches
The Baltimore Ravens have a solid group of running backs.
The Ravens signed veteran Mark Ingram during the offseason. They also have Gus Edwards, who led the team with 718 rushing yards as a rookie last year.
In gram and Edwards are expected to get the most carries on the team this year, but former Oklahoma State star Justice Hill can earn playing time if he has an impressive preseason.
The fourth-round pick in this year' s draft is quicker and more elusive than the other running back sin Baltimore, and he could become the Ravens' change-ofpace weapon out of t he backfield.
Hill, a Tulsa Book er T. Washington graduate, will try to show the coaches that he can be a reliable player, starting with Thursday night's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Ravens have a slew of former Oklahoma players on their roster, including rookie wide receiver Marquise Brown, rookie guard Ben Powers, offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr., tight end Mark Andrews and defensive back Tony Jefferson.
Murray begins new era in Arizona
Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Kyler Murray is set to make hi sp re season debut Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers in Glendale, Arizona.
Murray will likely not play much in the game, but Cardinals f ans will get a glimpse at the former Oklahoma st ar and t he “Air Raid” offensive system of first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
Murray has shined in training camp, showing off his speed and throwing accuracy.
Cardinals veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said that he is already impressed with the No. 1 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft.
“I've never seen a quarterback come in so quickly and be able to command an offense,” Fitzgerald said of Murray on NFL Network. “I mean, from Day 1, he's out there checking the different plays, sliding the line, different protections, getting us in screens when blitzes are coming. His understanding of the offense is crazy.”
Taylor leads Bengals for first time
First-year head coach Zac Taylor will lead the Cincinnati Bengals against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday night in Kansas City, Missouri.
The 36- year-old Norman High School graduate is the secondyoungest head coach in the league. Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay, 33, is the youngest.
Taylor was the quarterbacks coach for the Rams last season. Now, the former Nebraska quarter back is tasked with elevating Cincinnati past mediocrity. The Bengals have not won a playoff game since Jan. 6, 1991.