I'm sure the cuts are coming hot and heavy as you read this, but they haven't really started as I write it. Let's get into the games that led to the final cuts and discuss the play of the bottom of the rosters.
Lions
Last year, I spent the whole preseason talking about Sione Vaki and then he did basically nothing all season. Even when David Montgomery was hurt and 140-pound Jahmyr Gibbs was toting the rock like 40 times per game. Expect most of the players I talk about today to have similar seasons this year - we're at the time in preseason when players are battling to be the back-up punt gunner or second guard off the bench.
Speaking of players who aren't going to do much this year, one cut that did happen before writing was Hendon Hooker. The former third-round pick was thought to be Jared Goff's heir apparent at one time, but he just could not make it work in the NFL. It used to be that no Air Raid QBs could play well in the NFL and then we got Pat Mahomes and Baker Mayfield. Now, it's the Art Briles Veer n' Shoot that can't seem to produce NFL QBs. Turns out if your offense only contains three or four routes and half the receivers don't even run sometimes, the QBs aren't going to have an easy transition to the NFL.
BTW, Hooker was 7/10 for 38 yards with a long pass of 15. That means on his other nine attempts, he threw for an inconceivable 2.56 yards per attempt. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if the Packers brought him onto the practice squad to fix him.
This year's fan favorite, Isaac TeSlaa had two catches for 18 yards. TeSlaa played in that Art Briles scheme for a year in college too, and it looks like he'll need time.
Bears
Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent both played in this one and both played pretty well. Bagent had a 128.9 QB rating (and got a contract extension after the game) and Williams had 116.8 rating.
The Bears are desperately trying to make it happen with Brittain Brown but the NFL acted like American colonists this preseason and he could be on the outs. The former 7th-round pick had 13 carries for 27 yards in the final preseason game. Not great! The Bears could end up adding three RBs between now and the season. Try to get one guy who can get yards.
Former Packer Samori Toure had one catch for a two-yard loss and, sadly, was cut after the game.
Also, former Packer, Jonathan Owens played 24 snaps and had two tackles.
Vikings
The Vikings, in one of the weirdest moves of the week, traded Sam Howell in order to sign Carson Wentz. OK!
Max Brosmer, who I hadn't heard of, went 15/23 for 161 yards in the game. Maybe they think he can be the true back-up? And Wentz will be the mentor.
Only other notable player was Myles Price (great name) who had a catch for nine yards.
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Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan who recently moved from Utah to Stoughton (a Madison suberb). You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.
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