What We Saw: Every Game From Preseason Week 2

Lions vs. Texans

 

Detroit Lions

 

Quarterback

• Josh Johnson: 9/18, 85 yards, 1 INT
• David Fales: 12/19, 226 yards, 1 TD

 

Josh Johnson, signed just a week ago, looked like a player who was just signed seven days prior to this game.  Johnson’s list of NFL teams he’s played for is more impressive than his performance in this game.  Johnson never seemed comfortable until late in the first half when Detroit went into a hurry-up offense.  Johnson missed a lot of easy throws and if he is named the primary backup to Matthew Stafford, the Lions’ offense will be in a lot of trouble.

David Fales came in midway through the third quarter and looked better on one series than Johnson looked for two-and-a-half quarters.  On Fales’ first completion, he was bailed out a little by Travis Fulgham as a wobbly pass found its way into his hands.  Fales consistently challenged the defense deep and was nearly perfect on the night.  Johnson has to improve over the next two weeks to hold off Fales for the backup QB job after their performances tonight.

 

Running Back

• Kerryon Johnson: 3 carries, 16 yards
• CJ Anderson: 2 carries, 6 yards
• Zach Zenner: 3 carries, 17 yards; 1 reception, 5 yards, 1 TD

 

Kerryon Johnson saw limited action but looked good on his three carries.  Johnson hit the hole with immediacy and consistently fell forward through contact.  With competent QB play, Johnson has the chance to move into RB1 territory.

CJ Anderson wasn’t particularly impressive as he looked slow and content to take what the defense gave him.  He looked like a clear backup tonight and no threat to Johnson’s workload.

Zach Zenner seemed to bring the same energy and style of play to the offense as Johnson did during his short stint on the field.  Zenner showed explosiveness and determination on his attempts and did a good job selling a play-action fake on his TD reception.  Zenner probably doesn’t overtake Anderson as the RB2 unless this trend continues, but he would have a role if either RB ahead of him misses time.

 

Wide Receiver / Tight End

 

• Brandon Powell: 3 receptions, 53 yards
• Andy Jones: 2 receptions, 60 yards
• T.J. Hockenson: 1 reception, 22 yards
• Travis Fulgham: 3 receptions, 52 yards

 

Detroit’s three starting WRs (Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola) were all given the night off, but starting TE T.J. Hockenson did see limited action.  Hockenson was only targeted twice but did manage to reel in one of them for a nice 22-yard gain.

Detroit is looking for someone to step into the void created when Jermaine Kearse suffered a broken leg in the team’s first preseason game.  Brandon Powell has been generating buzz throughout training camp and looks like he could be that player.  In this game, Powell used his speed to gain separation several times and was the team’s most targeted player (6 targets).  Powell will be the fourth option at best, but his speed makes him worth monitoring through Detroit’s next two games to see how he is utilized.

Andy Jones and Travis Fulgham are deep down the depth chart for the Lions, but both showed good hands tonight after Fales entered the game. We haven’t learned much about Detroit’s receivers through the first two games other than perhaps there isn’t much behind Golladay, Jones, and Amendola.

 

Houston Texans

 

Quarterback

• Deshaun Watson: 5/7, 60 yards, 1 TD; 7 rushing yards
• Joe Webb: 8/17, 109 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

 

Deshaun Watson only played the first series but looked like he was in mid-season form.  He was decisive with his passes and did a good job surveying the field on his TD pass to DeAndre Hopkins.  Watson looks poised to pay off his top-five QB ranking.

Joe Webb played nearly the remainder of the game and made a strong case to overtake AJ McCarron as the primary backup to Watson. Webb threw pinpoint passes all night and should have had a second TD (nullified by a holding penalty) and no INTs (thrown two plays following the nullified TD).  Webb still has a cannon for an arm, but he showed accuracy I’ve not seen from him to this point in his career. If Webb claims the backup QB spot, he’ll become a premiere free-agent acquisition in fantasy leagues if Watson misses time.

 

Running Back

• Buddy Howell: 15 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD
• Karan Higdon: 7 carries, 13 yards
• Damarea Crockett:  9 carries, 35 yards

 

Karan Higdon, Damarea Crockett, and Taiwan Jones are potentially fighting for one roster spot, and during a broadcast interview with Texans analyst John Harris, he indicated special teams play would be the impetus for Houston’s decision on who to keep on the roster.  Jones is a known commodity, and as such didn’t see much time in this game. Higdon looked a lot like CJ Anderson tonight — slow and happy to go down on first contact. Crockett, on the other hand, showed good burst and willingness to fight for extra yards.  Crockett was the better RB tonight, but Higdon and Jones have been better on special teams to this point.

Buddy Howell looked very good against the backups tonight and may have pushed himself into the conversation at RB.  If he can continue to impress throughout the rest of the preseason, he could work his way onto the roster. However, he’ll probably be relegated to the practice squad.

 

Wide Receiver / Tight End

• DeAndre Hopkins: 2 receptions, 17 yards, 1 TD
• DeAndre Carter: 3 receptions, 40 yards
• Vyncint Smith: 1 reception, 31 yards, 1 TD
• Jordan Thomas: 2 receptions, 17 yards

 

DeAndre Hopkins was Watson’s favorite target on the only series the two played.  Watson targeted Hopkins three times with the only incompletion courtesy of a good play by Detroit CB Darius Slay.  Hopkins wasn’t the primary option on his TD catch, but fought through a defender and made the catch.

DeAndre Carter looked like the best WR on the field when he was out there.  He caught all three of his targets and showed perfect technique on his second reception as he ran a crossing route and plucked the ball out of the air with extended arms.  Carter is also Houston’s primary kick and punt returner, so he could return extra value in those types of leagues. Carter looks like Keke Coutee’s replacement while Coutee is injured.

Vyncint Smith has speed to burn and showed off his wheels numerous times during this game.  Smith might be a one-trick pony specializing in the go route, but if he gets behind the defense nobody is going to catch him.  On his lone reception, Smith made a nice move at the line to get free and went to the ground to secure the reception in the back of the end zone.  Will Fuller has been injury-prone during his career, and Smith seems to be the most likely candidate to replace him if injury strikes again.

Houston might have the deepest group of TEs in the NFL, but Jordan Thomas stood out the most to me tonight.  Thomas only managed two receptions but was the recipient of the nullified TD from Webb that was discussed earlier.  On that play, Thomas made a nice over-the-shoulder catch and had the presence of mind to drag his left foot while securing the catch.  I don’t know who will emerge as the starting TE once the season begins, but Thomas has the chops to be a fantasy contributor if he is named the starter for week one.

 

–Bryan Sweet