NFL Preseason Week 3 Preview - News, Injuries, and Playing Time Notes

Aug 25th 2022

Sosa Kremenjas

We're onto our final week of the preseason. Once we wrap up this week's slate of games, teams will be on their way to cutting their rosters down from 80 players to 53 in preparation for the NFL Week 1 kickoff.

Let's dive into the news, notes, depth charts, historical playing time, and notable injuries for all four teams heading into Thursday.

Giants @ Jets

Giants Notable Injuries/Absences:

OUT: WR Sterling Shepard (Achilles), WR CJ Board (ribs), WR Collin Johnson (Achilles), TE Ricky Seals-Jones (undisclosed), TE Andre Miller (wrist), DE Kayvon Thibodeaux (knee); QUESTIONABLE: RB Matt Breida (undisclosed), RB Gary Brightwell (undisclosed), WR Kadarius Toney (leg), WR Darius Slayton (undisclosed), WR Wan'Dale Robinson (undisclosed)

Giants News & Notes:

  • The Giants have not publicly stated if they plan on playing their starters or not. They've started in both of the past two games, though.

  • According to this article, coach Daboll sounds like he could be leaning towards resting his starters:

    • "But it sounds like Daboll is perhaps leaning toward resting them, based on what he said before Friday’s practice. “I think we’ve got a lot of good work,” Daboll said of his starters. Daboll played his starters — against backups for the Patriots and Bengals — in each of the first two preseason games, albeit on a limited basis in both games."

  • If the starters sit, we can expect to see a lot of QB Davis Webb and potentially a decent amount of RB Antonio Williams.

Jets Notable Injuries/Absences:

OUT: QB Zach Wilson (knee), RT Mekhi Becton (knee); QUESTIONABLE: WR Tarik Black (concussion), WR Irvin Charles (ribs), DT Quinnen Williams (ankle)

Jets News & Notes:

  • While the Giants haven't elaborated on their plans, the Jets have, and their starters will play. They'll go for about one quarter or up to the whole half, per coach Saleh.

  • We should get our first look at starting QB Joe Flacco in this offense. It remains to be seen if anyone else will be held out, but if not, Flacco should get some opportunities to build chemistry with WRs Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, and Garrett Wilson.

  • Recently added LT Duane Brown will play in this game. He's making his debut.

Lions @ Steelers

Lions Notable Injuries/Absences:

OUT: QB Jared Goff (rest), RB Greg Bell (hamstring), WR Jameson Williams (knee), DE Romeo Okwara (Achilles), DE Josh Pascal (hernia); QUESTIONABLE: WR Quintez Cephus (leg), TE Devin Funchess (groin)

Lions News & Notes:

  • While the Lions appear ready to play their starters up to a half, Goff will not be one of them. The Lions are going to start QB Tim Boyle in his place, with David Blough following.

  • WR Tom Kennedy has been a target hog through two games as he sports a 22.0% target share entering this game.

  • No RB on the team has played more snaps than Jermar Jefferson (54) through two games.

Steelers Notable Injuries/Absences:

OUT: RB Jeremy McNichols (shoulder), WR Calvin Austin (foot), WR Anthony Miller (shoulder); UNLIKELY TO PLAY: DE Alex Highsmith (rib)

Steelers News & Notes:

  • The Steelers are going to start Mitch Trubisky at QB, with Kenny Pickett following and Mason Rudolph finishing the game.

  • RB Najee Harris will make his preseason debut and will play in this game. How long isn't known, but he shouldn't expect to see a ton of playing time.

  • Coach Tomlin didn't delve into any other players, but the Steelers' team site believes the rest of the offense will suit up, too:

    • "In the old days, Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, and Antonio Brown wouldn't play, but on Sunday, Coach Mike Tomlin said all three quarterbacks currently involved in the competition to replace Roethlisberger would get into the game, that Najee Harris would get his first carries of the preseason, and if Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, and Mason Rudolph were going to be in the game, it only made sense that Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, and George Pickens would be playing as well."