Backups get top preseason billing
Benkert, Hogan will start Hall of Fame Game
The Falcons will get an early start to the preseason when they play the Broncos in the NFL’s annual Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones won’t be on the field, but both teams have plenty of young talent who can take advantage of extra playing time.
Here are eight players to keep your eye on when football officially (sort of) resumes.
1. Kurt Benkert, Falcons QB: Benkert was an undrafted free agent a year ago. Although he has an uphill battle to earn a spot in this league, his upside was apparent last preseason. Long term, he could take over for Matt Schaub as Matt Ryan’s primary backup. Benkert will have to show he can pick up things quickly in Dirk Koetter’s new offense.
2. Drew Lock, Broncos QB: Could John Elway have finally found a nonretread at quarterback who can carry the franchise for the next 10-15 years? Well, we probably won’t know this season because the Broncos acquired Joe Flacco in a trade with the Ravens. However, Flacco is not going to play in this one. Kevin Hogan will get the start, but second-round pick Lock should see plenty of playing time. He is considered to be one of the best quarterbacks
in this draft class. Undrafted free agent Brett Rypien is also in the mix for Denver at quarterback.
3. Noah Fant, Broncos TE: Considered by most scouts to be the secondbest tight end in the 2019 draft, Denver acquired the pass-catching Fant out of Iowa in the first round. The team no longer has the surplus of weapons it did when Peyton Manning led them to a Super
Bowl, so Fant could a have big role in Denver’s offense sooner rather than later.
4. Keanu Neal, Falcons DB: It will be good to see Atlanta’s best defensive back on the field, even if it’s only for a short stint. Neal’s absence last season, along with fellow starting safety Ricardo Allen, really hindered Atlanta’s defense. With both healthy again, the unit should be aiming to get back to the top-10 level it reached in the 2017 season.
5. Dalton Risner, Broncos OL: Risner is a versatile offensive lineman out of Kansas State and was selected just 10 spots after Atlanta picked Kaleb McGary. Right now, Risner is competing for the starting left guard spot. He has the ability to line up at multiple positions, though. Denver’s new head coach, Vic Fangio, has said Risner is going to learn to play offensive tackle, as well.
6. Chris Lindstrom, Falcons G: Expect to see a steady dose of Atlanta’s top draft pick in the Hall of Fame Game. Lindstrom has been playing well at training camp and appears to be penciled in to start at right guard.
7. Dre’Mont Jones, Broncos DT: Jones was considered a nice value pick in the third round. His 43 tackles, (13 for a loss), 81⁄2 sacks and one interception helped him get scouts’ attention in 2018, and he earned first-team all-Big Ten honors for the Buckeyes. Jones is behind Shelby Harris at nose tackle for the Broncos.
8. Kendall Sheffield, Falcons CB: Sheffield is listed as Desmond Trufant’s first backup at left cornerback, but with Trufant unlikely to play much in this particular preseason contest, the fourth-round pick out of Ohio State could get a long look. Sheffield posted two interceptions and 15 pass breakups in two seasons with the Buckeyes.