Johnny Manziel talks about the NFL, Cleveland Browns and everything after football
Johnny Manziel will chat with Mackenzie Salmon about football and his partnership with Sling TV.
Seriously sports
- The Giants rookie first rounder continues to look ready to play earlier than he is late.
- Sitting on a sophomore passerby, it seems like a confusing decision in Atlanta, Minnesota.
- Did Chedure Sanders sit and win the Browns game?
The NFL’s 2025 preseason is nearly complete, with 32 of the 49 games scheduled to close on Monday night when Washington’s manager hosts Cincinnati Bengal.
It is usually appealing to draw premature conclusions from the slates at the exhibition and not make mistakes. Some of these games have rarely escaped professional football, starters and other frontlines completely. That doesn’t mean there’s no important takeout to collect, complete the preparations for the 18-week regular season marathon where 32 teams in the league are waiting for, and follow more games for the best races.
Weekend winners and losers, acknowledging the inherent football warnings for August:
NFL Preseason 2nd Week Winner
Caleb Williams
Take a picture of two drives and a grain of salt. However, his (relatively) long-awaited debut in the offense of new Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson, swam in the 38-0 Buffalo Bills whitewash on Sunday night. Williams was precise and accurate, made good decisions and practiced self-preservation – after he was first drafted overall in 2024 and apparently through training camp this summer, he practiced everything he was trying to do as a rookie. Again, two drives – but positive enough for the bear and its fans to hang their hats. For now.
Jackson Dirt
The Giants’ first-round quarterback made his debut in front of home fans on Saturday, passing one touchdown while running another touchdown in the Jets’ 31-12 driving, the other New Jersey team. Dirt also threw 137 yards, connecting all but two of the 16 throws. Russell Wilson will start the season behind Center for the Giants, but Dirt has consistently shown production, swagger and maturity this month, suggesting he is ready to play later, especially if the Giants struggle to compete with the league’s most difficult schedule.
Treveyon Henderson
The New England Patriot rookie scored an eight-yard score on Saturday after kicking off to the 100-yard home last week. The fantasy owner takes notes – this guy and his massive Abilti will likely acquire important workloads this season, perhaps ultimately, to match the songs in the role of RB1.
Seahawks Run Game
Despite making his 10-7 debut in 2024, second-year Seattle coach Mike McDonald wanted a more physical team in 2025. That means running the ball. G Glaza Bell drilled a hole in the first round, and the Seahawks scored 268 yards on the ground and 5.6 during the Chief’s defeat on Friday night. Anyway, the 268 yards accumulated in the chunks are still accumulated in the chunks, and such power could be a much more damaging attack.
Eagle thrukey
And the rich become just a little richer. After Super Bowl Champions scored a defensive hit during free agency, EVP/GM Howie Roseman invested their first two 2025 draft picks with LB Jihaad Campbell and S Andrew Mukuba. Campbell had the bag among four tackles against the Cleveland Browns, while Mukuba had a 75-yard pick six. Roseman may have reloaded his D more quickly than anyone could have imagined, especially if these lukes were asked to get out of the bench.
Tyler Loop
The Baltimore Ravens rookie kicker has officially won the job as an alternative to his late predecessor Justin Tucker. The Loop continued his Sterling August by excavating five field goals on Saturday in a 31-13 loss for the Dallas Cowboys.
Backgroundouti backup
The Reclamation Project Zach Wilson and Rookie Quinn Ewers combined to complete 26 passes and three TDs out of 40 passes for 259 yards during a 24-17 triamp in Detroit on Saturday. No, Wilson and Ewards are not facing the top Lions defenders, and perhaps not a player HC Mike McDaniel wants to see them in the lineup for the long term. Still, given Tagovailoa’s history of massive injuries, it’s great that FINS will host multiple fallback plans at quarterback.
Ashon Jeanty
The Las Vegas Raiders’ barricade rookie ran through his first (unofficial) touchdown a week after holding a negative yard on his (unofficial) debut on Saturday for 33 yards on 7 carries. However, the real highlights came when Jeanty tracked San Francisco 49ers db Demordore Lenoir in an open field.
Jonas sinks
The safety of the New Orleans Saints rookie made five tackles and scored a pass on Sunday, saving his tie with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and perhaps solidifying his own role.
Stetson Bennett IV
The former University of Georgia star passed 324 yards and three TDs in search of work with the Los Angeles Rams behind QBS Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo.
NFL preseason 2 loser
Stetson Bennett IV
The former University of Georgia star competed for work with the Los Angeles Rams behind QBS Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo. It was then distilled by 6-2, 305 pound rookie lineman Terra Edwards, perhaps at the most viral moment of the weekend.
Jonas sinks
Had he not returned his INT 40 yards and gained a boundary earlier, the Sunker could potentially set up the saint for a game-winning field goal attempt. But the rookie is going to be a rookie – especially in August.
Ashon Jeanty
After him, um, the best (?) NFL game, the former Boise State Star declared, “I’ve arrived, and it’s time to continue playing for this team.” This season, Ashton – you might pin my fantasy team. But hey, you definitely are do not have I made a play that was important, whatever it hadn’t arrived yet. Just hold it here…but your arrival is definitely pending.
JJ McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr.
The sophomore quarterback, drafted in the first round a year ago, combined three regular season starts. Penix hasn’t played for the Atlanta Falcons this preseason, but he barely did that last year. McCarthy was removed from a season-ending August knee injury, and was removed for a week from a limited snap in the 2025 Minnesota Vikings return. You must believe that Vikes coach Kevin O’Connell and Atlanta counterpart Raheem Morris are practicing proper load management. But given what is expected of a glorious pair of rookies, their approach will induce questions if their team and especially the younger Signal Characters get off to a slow start next month.
Panthers Attack
There are no points produced by the Carolina starrer in Saturday’s loss to the Houston Texans, and it appears they won’t play again until the regular season opener. Really?
Colts quarterback
Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen says he has not chosen either Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones as QB1 in 2025. Throughout two preseason games, Richardson and Jones collectively produced one touchdown drive – the former alternately and alternately with each other so that they can predict a flash of greatness and contradiction. The latter is Daniel Jones. This year could be an Indy QB carousel. Riley Leonard, leave it loose.
Dillon Gabriel
The Browns rookie quarterback chose 50 spots before Chedure Sanders. Chedure Sanders had an oblique injury, but he didn’t look as good as his draftmate during his preseason debut. Worse, Gabriel made a statement about “celebrity” in an in-game interview, revealing that some were interpreted as a shot of Sanders, while others did not mention his teammates. Still, it’s all kinds of newcomers’ mistakes.
Joe Milton III
The latest Dallas Cowboys quarterback, who was bought in an offseason trade to compete for the backup job behind Duck Prescott, was again unprepared for the role on Saturday, playing most of the Ravens’ decisive losses. Milton completed half of his 18 passes for 122 yards, picked up once while being outplayed by Prescott’s reliable understudy in recent years, Baltimore’s backup cooper rush.
Jim Harbour
So, coach about those sanctions told to your alma mater in Ann Arbor, Michigan and former employer? Seriously, always “engage.”
NFL Fan
If you’re in a preseason game between teams that have just implemented joint practices (think Broncos cards or Buccaneers steals), you don’t expect to see the many players you recognize on the field when the kickoff actually rolls. Preseason Football – It’s great…unless you’re a paid fan.
Contributions: Michael Middlehurst Schwartz
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