Bears first-team offense shines against Titans
Justin Fields threw touchdown passes to prized newcomer DJ Moore and Khalil Herbert on Chicago’s first two possessions, then watched as the Bears beat the Tennessee Titans 23-17 in the teams’ preseason opener Saturday.
DJ Moore caught a screen from Fields and went 62 yards untouched along the left side. Not a bad way to introduce himself to the Soldier Field crowd, after the Bears acquired him from Carolina for the top pick in the draft.
On Chicago’s second drive, Fields rolled to his left to avoid the blitz and found a wide-open Herbert, who was barely touched on a 56-yard TD that gave the Bears a 14-7 lead.
Panthers
No. 1 overall draft pick BryceYoung was 4 of 6 passing for 21 yards for Carolina in his NFL preseason debut — a 27-0 loss to the New York Jets in Charlotte N.C.. He played three series and the Panthers picked up just one first down with the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner undercenter.
Colts
Indianapolis rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson threw an interception and was unable to generate much offense with his legs either during a preseason-opening 23-19 loss to the Buffalo Bills in an outing decided by the third-stringers. He finished 7 of 12 for 67 yards and an interception and two carries for 7 yards.
Giants
Cornerback Deonte Banks, center John-Michael Schmitz — the Giants’ top two picks — and cornerback Tre Hawkins all showed flashes in New York’s 21-16 loss to Detroit Friday night. “I thought a lot of our young guys in our two corners, our center, I thought they showed well in the game for us play with confidence, did their job,” coach Brian Daboll said after watching the game film.
Browns
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Jacob Phillips suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in a preseason loss Friday to Washington. Phillips, a third-round pick in 2020 from LSU, sustained a similar injury during the 2022 regular season against Baltimore. Also, the team’s confidence in Cade York could be fluttering — like one of his recent kicks. Cleveland’s secondyear kicker, who struggled for much of his rookie season, missed his second field-goal attempt of the preseason Friday.