NFL preseason Week 3 takeaways: Chiefs' Kadarius Toney has best performance vs. Bears

Week 3 of the 2024 NFL preseason continued Saturday as teams prepare to turn their focus to the regular season.

The final preseason games will be many players' last chance to prove themselves before the 53-man roster cut-down deadline Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

Our NFL Nation reporters will break down their roster projections at the conclusion of every game. To keep you updated on what to expect of Tuesday's biggest roster questions, they lay out the latest on final roster spots and position battles.



Chargers: Heading into this game it appeared that wide receivers Brenden Rice and Simi Fehoko were in a close battle for a spot on the 53-man roster. It seems unlikely that the Chargers will keep seven receivers given how much they plan to run the ball. Fehoko ended a strong preseason with a 78-yard touchdown in the second quarter. He tallied seven catches for 170 yards, while Rice caught just one pass this preseason. Fehoko watched the rest of the game from the sidelines with the team's starters and others whose spots are secured, an indication that he has made the team.

Season opener: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Kris Rhim's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Cowboys: Sometimes not playing in a preseason can matter as much as playing can. Rookie Cooper Beebe was dressed but did not take a snap against the Chargers, which is a sign he will be the Week 1 starter at center. Same goes with first-round pick Tyler Guyton, who started at left tackle after Chuma Edoga suffered a toe injury.

With news of DaRon Bland needing 6-8 weeks to recover from upcoming foot surgery, cornerback depth will be tested. Andrew Booth, picked up in a trade earlier in camp from Minnesota, was beaten for a 78-yard touchdown a week after giving up a 48-yard grab vs. the Raiders. Caelen Carson did not play Saturday, which is another sign the Cowboys will be counting on the rookie fifth-round pick. Perhaps the Cowboys look for corner help during the final cut-down process.

Deuce Vaughn stated a case for a running back job. The coaches will have to find a way to get him the ball because he has some juice the other backs don't have. -- Todd Archer

Season opener: at Cleveland Browns (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Todd Archer's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Packers: Maybe the Packers don't have a true No. 1 receiver -- although that topic makes coach Matt LaFleur, in his words, "want to vomit." But they might have seven of them worthy of a roster spot. They've kept that many before; it happened as recently as 2022. Malik Heath made his case for a spot, catching 4 of 5 targets for 39 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown from Sean Clifford. Both Clifford and rookie Michael Pratt threw touchdown passes while Jordan Love watched. Pratt had the better day going until he threw a third-quarter interception. Speaking of ruined days, kicker Anders Carlson left everyone wondering whether he is even on the roster after he missed a 32-yard field goal. -- Rob Demovsky

Season opener: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Sao Paulo, Brazil (8:15 p.m. ET, Friday, Sept. 6)

Rob Demovsky's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Ravens: Injuries in the preseason finale could impact how the Ravens address running back and offensive line at the final major roster cut-down. There is a lot of uncertainty for Baltimore's No. 3 running back after Owen Wright was carted off the field Saturday. It would seem as if rookie fifth-round pick Rasheen Ali has the edge now, but he didn't suit up Saturday. Could the Ravens go with just two tailbacks (Derrick Henry and Justice Hill) on their initial 53-man roster? There are also more questions about the offensive line after rookie seventh-round pick Nick Samac was carted off the field with a lower leg injury. Samac had been making a late push by starting at center in the preseason finale. Now, Samac's status could open up a roster spot to add a veteran blocker off waivers. -- Jamison Hensley

Season opener: at Kansas City Chiefs (8:20 p.m. ET, Thursday, Sept. 5)

Jamison Hensley's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Panthers: This was all about quarterback Bryce Young in his preseason debut in Dave Canales' scheme -- even if it was against Buffalo backups. One play summed it up. On fourth-and-3, Young floated to his left, avoided a tackle and completed a 17-yard cross-body pass to Diontae Johnson. He finished the 12-play drive 6-for-8 for 70 yards and a touchdown, an 8-yarder to tight end Jordan Matthews. There were protection issues with two starting linemen out. And Carolina had better hope newly acquired Michael Jackson is the answer opposite corner Jaycee Horn. But Young looked sharp and comfortable after a disastrous rookie season. -- David Newton

Season opener: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

David Newton's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Bills: Most of the game saw playing time handed out as expected, but some of the subsequent decisions the team has to make on the bubble will involve whom they believe could be claimed on waivers by others. Under GM Brandon Beane, the Bills have a history of players they want on the practice squad being claimed. This year, that group could include the likes of linebacker Joe Andreessen -- a Buffalo native -- and defensive end Kingsley Jonathan, among others. With the injuries the Bills have, protecting players the team wants to develop is important.

The other battle to note is kicker Tyler Bass' battle with himself. The camp issues on long kicks continued Saturday -- Bass missed a 51-yarder -- and although he is not in danger due to his salary and the team's belief in him, it's an issue to monitor. -- Alaina Getzenberg

Season opener: vs. Arizona Cardinals (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Alaina Getzenberg's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Lions: It was a rough beginning for second-year QB Hendon Hooker in his first pro start. He was sacked five times in the first half as Detroit fell behind 14-0, but Hooker settled in and helped the Lions charge back to enter halftime knotted 14-14. Hooker has competed all offseason with Nate Sudfeld for the QB2 spot behind veteran Jared Goff and likely pulled away with come-from-behind victories in the last two preseason games, on the road against Kansas City and now at home versus Pittsburgh. Against the Steelers, Hooker played until the beginning of the fourth quarter. He rushed for a game-high 93 yards off 10 carries while completing 12 of 20 passes for 114 passing yards. He also finished with an interception and a touchdown as Sudfeld or Goff didn't play with most of the starters on the sideline. -- Eric Woodyard

Season opener: vs. Los Angeles Rams (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Eric Woodyard's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Steelers: The Steelers didn't enter the preseason finale with many spots up for grabs, but defensive backs Thomas Graham Jr. and Cory Trice Jr. seemingly cemented roster spots with starts over injured players Beanie Bishop Jr. and Joey Porter Jr. And if the Steelers opt to keep four running backs -- especially in the wake of Jaylen Warren's hamstring injury -- La'Mical Perine continued to make a solid case for RB4 with a first-quarter touchdown and three carries for 14 yards. And in the final battle for WR spots, Scotty Miller and Dez Fitzpatrick each spent time at gunner, and each made significant preseason catches, including a 59-yard snag by Fitzpatrick from QB Kyle Allen. -- Brooke Pryor

Season opener: at Atlanta Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Brooke Pryor's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Vikings: As the preseason closed, the Vikings' starting lineup appeared long settled. But it remains to be seen whether receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) and linebacker Blake Cashman (finger) can recover from short-term injuries quickly enough to be factors for Week 1. Minnesota's remaining roster questions largely revolve around the top of its 2022 draft. Will safety Lewis Cine get a third season with the team? What about linebacker Brian Asamoah II? Both played extensively in Saturday's preseason finale. Team officials must also decide their depth at cornerback. It was mildly interesting to see veterans Akayleb Evans and Fabian Moreau start Saturday while every established starter remained on the sideline. Finally, third quarterback Jaren Hall's preseason performance (339 yards and four touchdowns) suggests the Vikings might have to keep him on their 53-man roster rather than take the risk of moving him to the practice squad. -- Kevin Seifert

Season opener: at New York Giants (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Kevin Seifert's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Eagles: The acquisition of Jahan Dotson from the Washington Commanders strengthens the top of the receiver depth chart and could change the calculus further down the roster. Veteran Parris Campbell looked to be a favorite to claim the No. 3 wide receiver role earlier this summer but missed some time with a groin injury, opening up reps for Britain Covey and rookie Johnny Wilson, among others. Will the Eagles hold on to the veteran, or will they be more incentivized to keep fifth-round pick Ainias Smith, who was slowed this offseason by a shin injury but could offer more value down the line? Campbell had a pair of catches for 34 yards in the preseason finale against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, and Smith caught six balls for 36 yards. -- Tim McManus

Season opener: vs. Green Bay Packers, Sao Paulo, Brazil (8:15 p.m. ET, Friday, Sept. 6)

Tim McManus' final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Texans: The final game didn't feature running back Dameon Pierce, who struggled in the preseason -- but that means his roster spot should be secured. He'll enter the regular season as the backup to Joe Mixon. Running back Cam Akers had seven carries and 53 rushing yards. That might be enough to push him ahead of the other running backs, rookies Jawhar Jordan and British Brooks. Akers doesn't offer much in special teams, but his running ability could be more valuable than the traits of those he's competing with for final spots on the 53-man roster. -- DJ Bien-Aime

Season opener: at Indianapolis Colts (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

DJ Bien-Aime's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Rams: It was who didn't play in the preseason finale that stood out for the Rams, as third-string quarterback Stetson Bennett was held out to avoid injury. That's significant because it means he has shown Sean McVay enough during training camp and the preseason to serve as Matthew Stafford 's backup for the first two games of the regular season while Jimmy Garoppolo is suspended. Bennett struggled at times during the preseason, turning the ball over six times in two games, but showed McVay enough that he will be on the roster for Week 1. -- Sarah Barshop

Season opener: at Detroit Lions (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Sarah Barshop's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)



49ers: Before Friday's preseason finale in Las Vegas, the Niners seemed to have a good handle on their defensive line group. But two of their top three defensive ends -- Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos -- suffered knee injuries early in the game. The extent of those ailments isn't yet known, but it might force the Niners to go a bit heavier with defensive line depth, which could take away from other positions with better talent such as cornerback or linebacker. -- Nick Wagoner

Season opener: vs. New York Jets (8:20 p.m. ET, Monday, Sept. 9)

Nick Wagoner's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Raiders: Do the Raiders go with just two quarterbacks -- starter Gardner Minshew and backup Aidan O'Connell -- on their initial 53-man roster to give themselves position group flexibility? Or do they have three QBs, and if so, is UDFA Carter Bradley, who has been with the team the entirety of the offseason, or vet Nathan Peterman, who signed Aug. 13, the guy? Intriguing questions all. Peterman got the start against the 49ers and led a two-minute touchdown drive to end the first half, finishing with 108 passing yards, including a 3-yard touchdown, in completing 12 of 19 attempts. Bradley, meanwhile, started hot with a 35-yard touchdown, and finished 9-of-21 for 169 yards with a touchdown and an end zone interception. -- Paul Gutierrez

Season opener: at Los Angeles Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Paul Gutierrez's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Jaguars: It's an under-the-radar battle, but Elijah Cooks and Tim Jones are fighting for the sixth receiver spot. The outcome depends on what the Jaguars want. Jones didn't have a catch in the preseason (he was targeted only once). But he is very good on special teams, and that's usually what teams want out of that player because he's unlikely to see much time on offense unless there are multiple injuries. Cooks doesn't play special teams but has three catches for 33 yards and a touchdown on five targets in the preseason, including two catches for 23 yards and a touchdown against Atlanta. -- Michael DiRocco

Season opener: at Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Michael DiRocco's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Falcons: Cornerback Natrone Brooks' preseason play is making things difficult for the Falcons. On Friday night, the Falcons moved veteran corner Kevin King to safety, which potentially opens the door for Brooks to make the roster at CB with King at safety. Both have played well. But safety Micah Abernathy would be tough to cut. Maybe Atlanta goes lighter at linebacker or defensive line to accommodate both players. Brooks had 13 tackles and a forced fumble against the Baltimore Ravens last week and added another six tackles against the Jaguars. He has made more plays in preseason games than anyone on Atlanta's defense, and the team also has been trying him out returning kicks and punts. -- Marc Raimondi

Season opener: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Marc Raimondi's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Dolphins: Yet again, the spotlight was on the battle at second-string quarterback. Mike White got the start and completed 5 of 9 passes for just 37 yards. He narrowly avoided a strip sack that was ruled an incomplete pass after the Buccaneers returned it for a touchdown. Skylar Thompson entered midway through the second quarter and immediately led a touchdown drive. Despite a late interception, it represented Thompson's best outing of the preseason after two underwhelming performances the past two weeks. But was it enough to earn him a roster spot? If Friday's game was the deciding factor, Thompson did enough to earn the No. 2 job.

In non-quarterback news, rookies Jaylen Wright and Malik Washington capped off strong preseasons, and both players should have meaningful regular-season roles -- Wright on offense and Washington in the return game. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Season opener: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Marcel Louis-Jacques' final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Buccaneers: After missing the first two preseason games, undrafted free agent wide receiver Kameron Johnson showed some of the explosiveness that turned heads in practice, while veteran Cody Thompson led the team with seven catches on eight targets for 45 yards. Defensive end Earnest Brown IV and defensive tackle C.J. Brewer both made compelling cases for themselves, with Brown registering two quarterback pressures. -- Jenna Laine

Season opener: vs. Washington Commanders (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Jenna Laine's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)



Colts: The Colts' priority Thursday was finally getting extended playing time for their starting units, including quarterback Anthony Richardson (who had mixed results). In terms of position battles, it seems little has changed at safety, where Nick Cross appears headed for a starting job alongside Julian Blackmon. Elsewhere, defensive tackle Eric Johnson II, who is fighting for a roster spot, produced a highlight play when he pursued and ultimately caught scrambling Bengals quarterback Logan Woodside, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Indianapolis. Sam Ehlinger seems likely to remain the No. 3 quarterback, but rookie Jason Bean made another bid with a 4-for-4 passing performance that included three rushes for 15 yards and a touchdown. -- Stephen Holder

Season opener: vs. Houston Texans (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Stephen Holder's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Bengals: Even with no starters playing, there was little to glean in battles to make the 53-man roster. But the big winner might have been Maema Njongmeta, the undrafted linebacker out of Wisconsin. He led the team in tackles entering the preseason finale and continued to be productive against the Colts. He had nine tackles through the first three quarters. For Njongmeta to make the roster, he'll have to beat out players at other positions. But he made a very strong case with an excellent preseason. -- Ben Baby

Season opener: vs. New England Patriots (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Ben Baby's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Bears: Velus Jones Jr.'s playing time in the preseason finale -- his first snap on offense not coming until well into the second quarter and no reps on kickoff return -- seems to indicate that he's headed to the 53-man roster. There have been some questions about whether the 2022 third-round pick has done enough to stick around for a third straight season, but the Bears continually gave Jones every opportunity to prove his value. He has experimented at running back in addition to his duties on special teams, which will likely earn him a spot on the team. -- Courtney Cronin

Season opener: vs. Tennessee Titans (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 8)

Courtney Cronin's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)

Chiefs: After major roster changes at wide receiver during the offseason, when the Chiefs added speed in veteran free agent Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy, a first-round draft pick, the additions echoed throughout the depth chart. On top of that, former Super Bowl stars such as Mecole Hardman and Kadarius Toney are fighting for roster spots. Toney made a strong case Thursday against the Bears with his best preseason game, catching two passes for 26 yards and returning a punt for 16 yards. -- Adam Teicher

Season opener: vs. Baltimore Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET, Thursday, Sept. 5)

Adam Teicher's final 53-man roster projection (ESPN+)