The second week of preseason football is behind us, which might have been the last glimpse of several starters before Week 1 of the regular season kicks off. (Lions-Chiefs is 17 days from now, but who’s counting?)
Running backs get the spotlight in this Week 2 preseason recap as some players made their debuts, others returned from injuries and still more built on strong starts to the preseason.
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Javonte Williams plays well in first game back
Denver didn’t wait to involve running back Javonte Williams on Friday. The first play was a target from Russell Wilson. Incomplete. Wilson went back to the well on second down and found Williams for a 12-yard gain, his first touch in a game since he tore his ACL in October. The third-year back recorded two more touches on that opening drive and finished the game with three carries for 12 yards and a team-high four catches for 18 yards across two series in an encouraging return to play.
Samaje Perine was not involved at all as a pass-catcher against the 49ers, though he was in on third down ahead of Williams. The Broncos targeted running backs at one of the highest rates in the league last season, so the third-down role will hold plenty of value in this offense.
The biggest takeaway is that Williams is healthy enough to play in a preseason game a few weeks ahead of the season opener. Even better that he looked comfortable out there. Williams’ ADP is already on the rise; expect him to be even more expensive in drafts after this appearance. But don’t discount Perine, who will certainly have a role for the Broncos and is available outside the top 100 picks.
Where things stand in the Bears RB room
Khalil Herbert ran with the starters in Chicago’s preseason opener and he had the night off Saturday along with Justin Fields and DJ Moore. D’Onta Foreman ran with the first team in his place, but rookie Roschon Johnson was the player to watch in the Bears’ backfield. The fourth-round pick gained 32 yards on seven carries and added an 11-yard reception while Foreman finished with 12 yards on three carries, plus a six-yard catch.
Johnson led the team in rushing yards in his preseason debut, though he only saw the field after Herbert, Foreman and Trestan Ebner, who missed Saturday’s game. The rookie has already made a strong case to see the field but he faces an uphill battle with Herbert and Foreman clearly ahead of him on the depth chart.
Herbert is the team’s top returning rusher after Fields. Foreman signed with Chicago in free agency after a career-best, 900-yard season with the Panthers. Playing behind Bijan Robinson at Texas, Johnson had to fight for snaps and he’ll be in a similar position as a rookie.
Kendre Miller quickly returns from injury
Miller didn’t let a knee injury sideline him for long. A week after he was diagnosed with a knee sprain he was back on the field with the starters for New Orleans’ second preseason game. Of course, Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams both rested, which is why Miller got the start, but the rookie had a day against the Chargers on Sunday.
Miller’s preseason debut, which is when he was initially injured, was uninspiring as he turned five touches into six yards. Compare that to this past weekend when he laid out for a 27-yard catch that put the Saints inside the 10 and he capped off the drive with a rushing touchdown on the next play. Miller finished with 10 carries for 23 yards and added three catches for 36.
Kamara’s suspension will keep him out for three weeks, which means Miller might have a shot early in the season to make a name for himself behind Williams. Don’t bank on him having a huge role as a rookie, though.
Other running back notes
Robinson, the No. 8 pick in the draft, made his highly anticipated debut over the weekend and wowed while playing the majority of his snaps with the Falcons’ starters. Though the rookie didn’t start, he subbed in for Tyler Allgeier on the first drive and finished with four carries for 20 yards, one catch for six yards and an impressive run on his first touch.
Tank Bigsby’s showing on Saturday did little to slow down his hype train. Starting running back Travis Etienne rested, so the third-round rookie got the start and took full advantage. Bigsby led the team in rushing again, this time with 70 yards on 13 carries. It will be hard for head coach Doug Pederson to keep Bigsby off the field if his preseason play carries over into the regular season.
Deuce Vaughn is still fighting to move up the Dallas depth chart and he hasn’t started in either preseason game — Malik Davis started last week and Rico Dowdle got the nod over the weekend. The 5’6” sixth-round rookie has shined in the preseason, though. Vaughn romped for a team-high 50 yards and a score in the opener and though his output wasn’t nearly as efficient in Week 2, he drew more attention with a highlight-reel touchdown run.
