While rookie quarterbacks Derek Carr and Blake Bortles continue to make it difficult on their teams' coaching staffs in regards to choosing a starter, rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins is giving the Bills some headaches with his injuries.
The NFL preseason finales took place on Thursday night while the season is set to start next Thursday in Seattle when the Packers visit the Seahawks. Teams must make their final roster cuts by Saturday at 4 p.m., but more importantly, some might have trouble with deciding who will be their starter at the quarterback position. Oakland Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr and Jacksonville Jaguars rookie quarterback Blake Bortles are making it tough on their coaches.
Oakland acquired Matt Schaub in a trade with the Texans and planned to have him as their starter, but Carr has been impressive, especially last night against Seattle. The rookie was 11-of-13 for 143 and three touchdowns in the team's 41-31 win. Carr suffered a concussion and a rib injury earlier in the preseason against the Lions, but has still managed to complete 30-of-45 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns in three games. Carr started the game last night and now head coach Dennis Allen could be changing his mind before the team's week 1 matchup against the New York Jets.
Similarly, Blake Bortles is pleading his case to head coach Gus Bradley to be named the Jaguars starting quarterback. Bradley already said Chad Henne would be the starter come week 1, but Bortles has stood out in his performances, completing 32-of-51 passes for 521 yards and two touchdowns with a 110 rating. The rookie out of Central Florida was supposed to be a developmental project for Jacksonville, but if he's showing he can compete at the NFL level this early, Bradley might change his mind and put Bortles under center. In the team's final preseason game on Thursday against the Atlanta Falcons, Bortles started at quarterback and was 4-for-6 for 86 yards and a touchdown (a 57-yard pass to rookie Marquise Lee).
In Buffalo, the coaching staff might have to start worrying about rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins. The Bills traded up to the No. 4 spot in the NFL Draft this past May and selected the receiver out of Clemson, but he has essentially done nothing in the preseason except injure his ribs twice. Watkins has just three receptions for 21 yards in four games despite impressing many during training camp. He injured his ribs during the Bills' third preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and did not play the following week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He then re-injured his ribs on Thursday night against the Detroit Lions and left the game in the first quarter. It's unknown if he'll be ready for the first regular season game against the Chicago Bears in Sept. 7.
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