Thursday 3rd August was a day that had been circled on my calendar for some time now. For many there will be nothing special about this day but for the thousands of the diehard NFL fans like myself today marks two significant occasions; one being the induction of the 2023 Hall of Fame class and the second being the simple truth that NFL football is finally back.
The Hall of Fame Game and the subsequent 2023 pre-season fixtures marks the beginning of NFL careers for hundreds of hopeful athletes from the big names drafted in the early rounds to those that went undrafted and signed on as free agents. For this incoming class of rookies, aspirations of claiming their own places in Canton will be placed firmly at the back of their minds as they first try to earn their place on a competitive 53-man roster or at least a practice squad place. For several high round picks this will be a given, players such as Panthers QB Bryce Young have the luxury of walking onto the team as a starting player with a multi-year, fully guaranteed contract meaning that they can use the upcoming weeks of fixtures to acclimatise to life in the league. However, for most a career playing professional football is not guaranteed and with teams currently carrying 90 players they will soon be forced to winnow their squad size down to the magic number of 53 leaving hundreds of NFL hopefuls with quashed dreams to pair alongside their status as a ‘cut’ player.
Devout fans will no doubt have players that they are rooting to make the team, as a New England Patriots fan myself I’m particularly intrigued by the likes of WR Kayshon Boutte and QB/WR Malik Cunningham, whereas others will have their fingers crossed for their favourite college athletes to get a chance to make a name for themselves at the next level. Regardless, the NFL preseason will make for interesting TV not because the wins and losses count for anything, but because these next few weeks will alter a team’s trajectory for the upcoming season. Each player that takes to the field will be under a microscope, their successes amplified, and their mistakes analysed not just by their coaching staff and front office, but by the fans that cheer them on, and the Hall of Fame game was the first taste of this.
On the Bowns’ side of the ball during the Hall of Fame Game RBs John Kelly Jr (#41) and Demetric Felton Jr (#25) stood out with their performances overshadowed only by QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (#17) who, at least in my opinion, vastly outperformed QB Kellen Mond (#7). Thompson-Robinson looked much more confident, in control and talented than his teammate/rival as he demonstrated not just his commitment to the team but also his value both along the ground and in the air, whilst also getting stuck in by throwing a block on a TD scoring run-play. QB Mond on the other hand looked jittery, uncomfortable with the snap and in the pocket leading him to make a poor read which resulted in an interception by Jets LB Chazz Surrant (#55) who undercut a crossing route on a ball that simply should never have been thrown.
For the Jets CB Brandon Echols (#26) looked solid against the run before being ruled out of the game after half-time with a hip injury whilst New York fans got their first glimpse at 1st round pick Will McDonald IV (#99) in a Jets uniform. However, the big story for New York was always going to be the QBs after their blockbuster trade for QB Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers, who didn’t suit up of the game, was the main point of focus for the broadcasting crew, at times overshadowing the game and even the Hall of Fame inductees that were being honoured. Rodgers soaked up all the attention, giving multiple interviews and appearing on the sideline with a headset as he looked to lend his extensive knowledge of football to his backups QBs. Head Coach Robert Salah gave QB Zach Wilson (#2) the starting nod with the former 1st round pick entering into a new chapter of his career, one centred around the singular goal of proving that despite his, one might say abysmal, beginning to his tenure as a Jets QB that he remains a viable option to a team needing a starting QB.
Wilson’s future in the league, whether that is on the Jets of not remains to be seen. He has shown flashes of brilliance only for these to be drowned out by a sea of failings which ultimately led to the team trading for his replacement, albeit a seemingly temporary one. However, in his first game of this season Wilson looked noticeably better than how he had been seasons passed. Granted he only played one quarter of football, but he demonstrated a certain calmness in the pocket that had been lacking until now with his standout play being a 57-yard completion to WR Malik Taylor (#86) a success which he credited to his new mentor Rodgers. The performance although brief, was enough to satisfy his Head Coach who afterwards said: “Zach did a good job, he was poised and looked comfortable in the pocket…. It’s just rebuilding that confidence and swag we (saw) during the draft process. No setbacks. It’s all about confidence with him.” But whist Wilson may have gotten off to a good start in 2023 it is unlikely that we see much of him during the regular season, he like many will have to make the most of the upcoming preseason fixtures to put good things on film to secure his future in the professional game.
The rookies that played in Canton Ohio in the New York Jets-Cleveland Browns game will have the starts of their careers overshadowed by the nine inductees that dominated the league throughout their time earning them the right to be immortalised with a bronze bust made in their likeness. However, as a generation of players leave the league, so too does a new one join and with every Hall of Fame career beginning in the same way, that being during the preseason, it begs the question; How many of the players that make their debut over the coming weeks have what it takes to leave the NFL as a legend? The rest of the games are set to begin today and will see hundreds of thousands of people tune in to get their first glimpse at their teams’ new rosters. For each of the 32 teams and their fans the goal has and always will be to lift the Lombardi Trophy, but February is far off in the future and the focus must first be placed on building a roster that can compete. It has been a long time coming but its finally that time of the year where across the United States stadium lights shine bright as crowds roar on their teams, willing them to climb atop the NFL mountain and win. The 2023/24 season is upon us, Football starts now.