Cal in the NFL: Preseason Weeks 2 and 3

We are back with another edition of Cal in the NFL! This time around we will be recapping both Weeks 2 and 3 of the NFL Preseason in terms of the production from former Cal players. Let’s get right into it.

*Yawn*

• In his first preseason action, Lorenzo Alexander started in both Week 2 against the Panthers and Week 3 against the Lions. Alexander picked up one tackle in each game.
• Tyson Alualu did not start but did play in both Week 2 and 3. However, he did not record any stats.
• He did not play in Week 2, but Stephen Anderson played and caught one pass for three yards in a Week 3 match-up against the Panthers.
• Raymond Davison played and recorded five tackles in a Week 2 game against the Steelers. He played but did not record any stats in Week 3. Despite the solid performance in Week 2, he is not expected to make the Chiefs roster.
• Desean Jackson did not play in Week 2, and started but did not record any stats in Week 3.
• Marvin Jones Jr. did not play in Week 2. However, he started and recorded one catch for seven yards in Week 3.
• Cameron Jordan did not play in Week 2, and started but did not record any stats in Week 3. Hopefully he will be given a chance in Week 4 to prove he belongs on the 53-man roster.
• James Looney played in both weeks, recording one tackle in each game.
• Hardy Nickerson played in both weeks, but only had one tackle in Week 2 to show for it. He is still expected to make the Bengals roster.
• Giorgio Tavecchio has greatly struggled over the past two weeks, making just 1/4 field goals (with the lone make being a 24-yarder) while converting both of his extra point tries.

The Big Guys

• We don’t have any stats for L.P. Ladouceur, but we are sure that he did lots of good long snapping over the past two weeks. I mean, the Cowboys did win both of their games...
• Same goes for our other long snapper Nick Sundberg, who played in both games, winning one of the two. The loss was most certainly someone else’s fault.
• Alex Mack started in each of the Falcons two games over the past two weeks. However, they lost both games and only scored 17 combined points between the two. This shouldn’t be a cause for concern, however, as the Falcons are expected to once again sport a good offense.
• Again we do not have any stats for Patrick Mekari, who played in each of the Ravens last two games. However, it is more than worth mentioning that Mekari has had a fantastic preseason. He not only has received first-team reps in practice, but he is also one of only two Ravens linemen to not allow a pressure all season. His chances of making the Ravens roster as a UDFA are growing every day.
• Mitchel Schwartz started in each of the Chiefs last two games. Nothing notable here, as the Chiefs scored just 24 points while running vanilla offense and preserving the starters health and energy for the regular season. Schwartz will once again be the anchor on the offensive line for the NFL’s best offense.

Pretty Solid

• C.J. Anderson got minimal work once again in Week 2, taking two carries for six yards. He finally got a chance to handle an expanded workload in Week 3 against the Bills, turning eight carries in 24 rushing yards and also catching two passes for an extra 17 yards.
• Punter stats! Bryan Anger punted the ball a combined seven times over the past two weeks with an average of 46 yards/punt. He had just one punt inside the opponents 20-yard line.
• The star of the first week of the preseason, Ian Bunting was not given a chance to replicate his early success as he did not play at all in Week 2. In Week 3, however, he shined again, catching two passes for 31 yards. It seems as if he has a good shot to make the Bears 53-man roster.
• Chad Hansen continued to have a solid albeit unspectacular preseason, as he caught one pass for 21 yards in Week 2 and two passes for 24 yards in Week 3.
• Continuing a very solid preseason, Mychal Kendricks had eight total tackles over the past two weeks.
• Khalfani Muhammad did not receive any playing time in Week 2, but he took 10 carries for 30 yards and added two catches for 15 yards. He has an outside but unlikely chance of making the Broncos 53-man roster.
• Davis Webb continued to struggle in Week 2, going 2/5 for 10 yards. However, he managed to bounce back in Week 3 by completing 7/10 passes for 70 yards.
• Jordan Veasy caught two passes for 19 yards in Week 2 and one pass for 18 yards in Week 3. He is unlikely to make the roster but is making a strong case for a practice squad spot.

Top Performers

• Trevor Davis did not play in Week 2, but he was given his first preseason action in Week 3 against the Raiders, and he absolutely shined. The electric Davis finished the game with five receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown, adding an 18-yard rush as well.
• Devante Downs was a player who shined in each of the past two weeks. In Week 2, he recorded just one tackle but added the first interception of his pro career. He should make the 53-man roster barring any surprises.
• Jordan Kunaszyk has had a fantastic past two weeks recording seven tackles in Week 2 and adding another four tackles in Week 3. His great play during the preseason has him pushing for a roster spot, but even if he fails to make the Panthers roster, he is pretty much a lock for the practice squad.
• Patrick Laird stole the show in Week 2, taking seven carries for 51 yards while catching two passes for 16 yards and a touchdown. He followed that up by running the ball six times for 26 yards and a pretty epic touchdown. I know most of us have watched it 50 times already, but one more can’t hurt.

Extra Players

• DNP: Keenan Allen, Jared Goff, Brandon Mebane, Aaron Rodgers, Richard Rodgers
• Maurice Harris was placed on IR by the Patriots, likely ending his season.