Unfortunately for us, we don’t quite know what the rookie class is going to look like just yet, but that didn’t stop the NFL from releasing its full preseason slate Wednesday afternoon. As usual, there are a nice handful of nationally televised games every week and the NFL Network will show every game, either live or in replay.
Here are a few that I’ve picked out that should be particularly interesting.
Hall of Fame Game, Aug. 2
Chicago Bears vs Baltimore Ravens (NBC, 8 p.m.)
Considering this is the first preseason game of the year, we’re all going to be tuning in. By August the NFL Jones is just too strong. That being said, this one should be interesting, at least from the Bears’ perspective. While it’s unlikely Joe Flacco or any of the Ravens’ starters will play, Chicago will definitely trot out Mitchell Trubisky and his skill players for some serious work under new head coach Matt Nagy.
A look at @NFL preseason national TV schedule https://t.co/PA2bFJD0Hb pic.twitter.com/8nXKgkmtsK
— Michael Signora (@NFLfootballinfo) April 11, 2018
Week 1, Aug. 9-13
Cleveland Browns vs New York Giants
Plenty of teams will be breaking in rookie quarterbacks this preseason, but there’s a solid chance we’ll see two in this game. Even if the Giants, wisely, eschew a quarterback at No. 2, the Browns will most definitely be selecting a signal-caller with the top pick and this will be his debut.
Week 2, Aug. 16-20
Philadelphia Eagles vs New England Patriots
It’s a Super Bowl rematch in Week Two and probably the first significant playing time for Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz since he tore up his knee on a touchdown dive against the Los Angeles Rams late last season. It’ll also give Nick Foles another chance to audition against a team he carved to pieces back in February and build some more trade value.
Week 2 of the #NFL Preseason, will Tom Brady finally shake the hand of the Super Bowl MVP, Nick Foles? Stay tuned… pic.twitter.com/C9OweUYfSe
— Justin Grasso (@JGrasso_) April 11, 2018
With the Patriots, they must address their QB situation behind Tom Brady. Whoever they end up drafting for that role, this is the game in which he’ll really be tasked to run the offense.
Week 3, Aug. 23-26
San Francisco 49ers vs Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck, as of this writing, still hasn’t thrown an official NFL ball. By the time this game rolls around, he should be slinging it pretty well. This might be the most action he gets in the preseason as starters usually play at least a half in Week Three, so it’ll be a good gauge on what to expect out of him and the Colts in 2018.
Did pretty well in my mock NFL preseason schedule.
— Eric Stangel (@EricStangel) April 11, 2018
As for the 49ers, this too will give them a chance to take their well-oiled offensive machine off the blocks and run it against an NFL defense under Jimmy Garoppolo. He probably won’t play a snap in Week Four.
Week 4, Aug. 30-31
Carolina Panthers vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Week Four is the exact opposite situation as Week Three. All you’re going to see are back ups, so you’ll want to pick the most compelling backup stories. For me, it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers and whoever they have behind Ben Roethlisberger, this case Landry Jones and Joshua Dobbs.
Joshua Dobbs continues to work, despite talk of Steelers drafting a quarterback https://t.co/9AMSvc0LhR pic.twitter.com/J8kaT6iYtZ
— Zesty NFL Steelers (@zesty_steelers) April 8, 2018
The Steelers pick too late to get into the quarterback derby of the first round of this draft. It doesn’t mean they won’t select a guy later, but it does mean they’re going to cross their fingers and roll with Dobbs or Jones as Roethlisberger’s bullpen. Is there a chance Dobbs can become a starter if Big Ben retires in the offseason? His performance in this game could tell us, and the Steelers, a lot.
