Jackson looks sharp, Rodgers sits as Ravens top Packers
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 26-13 victory over the Green Bay Packers, who played Thursday night without quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers developed back stiffness and was a late scratch — a move the team labeled as a “precaution.” After being held out of Green Bay’s first preseason game against the Texans, the seventime Pro Bowl star was slated to start for the first time under rookie head coach Matt LaFleur.
Instead, DeShone Kizer, Tim Boyle and Manny Wilkins struggled against a defense that last year ranked No. 1 in the NFL.
Jackson started and played three series last week in a 29-0 rout of Jacksonville. This time, the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner stuck around for two possessions, both of which ended with field goals. He completed six of 10 passes for 58 yards and ran twice for 14 yards.
RAIDERS 33, CARDINALS 26
Kyler Murray’s second outing as an NFL quarterback didn’t go nearly as well as his first as visiting Oakland moved the ball with ease on Arizona’s top defensive units.
Murray, the first overall pick in this year’s NFL draft who looked sharp in his debut last Thursday against the Los Angeles Chargers, finished 3-of-8 passing for 12 yards. He also ran once for 4 yards, and the Cardinals went three-and-out on two of his four series.
Raiders backup Mike Glennon completed 11 of 14 passes for 175 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and the Oakland defense tackled Murray in the end zone for a safety to lead the Raiders to their second preseason win.
JETS 22, FALCONS 10
Matt Ryan looked sharp in his preseason debut for the Atlanta Falcons, completing nine consecutive passes, and Sam Darnold led visiting 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.
The Jets (1-1) are certainly pleased with Darnold, who followed up a marvelous drive in the preseason opener by completing five of seven passes for 46 yards. He guided New York on a 66-yard touchdown drive to start the game, capped by Ty Montgomery’s 1-yard scoring run.
EAGLES 24, JAGUARS 10
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 24-10 preseason victory over Jacksonville 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. Starter Carson Wentz rested for the second consecutive game.
Rookie Clayton Thorson, the only other QB on the roster, played three-plus quarters and completed a 38-yard touchdown pass to former University of Houston quarterback and Alliance of American Football wide receiver Greg Ward Jr. on fourth down in the second quarter.
COLTS’ FOUNTAIN INJURES KNEE
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Daurice Fountain suffered a “significant” left ankle injury during a joint practice with the Cleveland Browns at Westfield, Ind.
The second-year player was injured on a running play and, when he hit the ground, Fountain could be heard screaming “Oh my God” over the crowd.