Bulls in the Pros: Preseason Week 4

Every NFL team has now completed three preseason games and have the top end of their rosters pretty much set in stone. Week 4 is where teams like sit the starters and evaluate the bottom half of the team. A good showing in the final preseason game can make the difference between getting a spot in the NFL or becoming an extremely athletic person working a 9-5.

Kayvon Webster- DB New Orleans Saints

Webster logged only 18 snaps on defense on Saturday in a victory over the New York Jets and has seemed to cement himself into a backup role in the Saints secondary. He didn’t log any stats during Saturday’s game. The Saints will wrap up the regular season against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling- WR Green Bay Packers

Valdes-Scantling was one of 33 players who didn’t see action during the Packers preseason matchup against the Oakland Raiders. The field conditions in Winnipeg, where the game was played for some reason, weren’t ideal for the NFL. To avoid risking injuries to starters, the Packers opted to sit a lot of their impact players. MVS probably won’t see much action, if any, against the Chiefs on Thursday.

Deadrin Senat- DT Atlanta Falcons

Senat has been yo-yo-ing around the depth chart. One week he was with the threes, but in last weeks game with the Washington Redskins, he worked in with the starting defensive front. Not only did he play with them, he played pretty well. Senat was graded as the best Falcons defender by Pro Football Focus. He recorded three tackles and a strip-sack that led to a touchdown. The Falcons head to DUUUVAALLLLL to finish the preseason against the Jags on Thursday night.

Austin Reiter- C Kansas City Chiefs

Reiter is still projected to be the starter for the Chiefs at center this season. He was flagged for a holding call on the second possession of the game, but looked solid other than that one mistake. He likely won’t see much time in the final warm-up before the regular season starts against MVS and the Packers Thursday night

Deatrick Nichols- DB Arizona Cardinals

Nichols didn’t log any stats during this weeks preseason game against the Vikings. However, according to The Athletic, he’s projected to make the 53 man roster. He’ll probably see some significant playing time Thursday night against the Broncos.

Terrell McClain - DL Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are clearly looking for depth along the defensive front. McClain is currently listed as a backup on the depth chart, but some new faces brought into town this week may challenge him for a spot on the 53. In last weeks game against the Vikings, he made one tackle. He’ll likely see a good amount of reps on Thursday night too.

Update: McClain was cut by the Cardinals on Monday to make room for OL Jacob Ohnesorge.

Bruce Hector-DL Arizona Cardinals

Hey! This is different than last week! Shortly after last weeks Bulls in the Pros story came out, Hector was traded from the Eagles in exchange for S Rudy Ford. A player-for-player trade this late into the preseason, you have to imagine all but assures him a spot on the final 53. He didn’t play at all against the Vikings, but may see some time against the Broncos.

Marlon Mack -RB Indianapolis Colts

While he’s clearly not the big story coming out of Indy right now, Mack is still projected to be the workhorse in the backfield come week 1. He didn’t see a down of action in the third preseason game, the Colts opted to rest a ton of their projected starters, Mack included. The Colts take the field again on Thursday night against the Bengals, but I don’t think he’ll see any time then either.

Aaron Lynch- OLB Chicago Bears

Lynch has been considered a virtual lock to make the 53 man roster as a backup OLB, but has been limited by injuries all preseason. Lynch missed the most recent game with a shoulder injury, but he returned to practice Monday afternoon on a limited basis. Lynch may be in action Thursday night against the Titans, just to get some rust off.

Mike Love- DE Buffalo Bills

Love had another impressive preseason game against the Lions and is really making a strong case to crack the 53 man roster as the 4th DE. Love made two tackles and drew a holding penalty on a pass rush. Through three games, The Athletic has the Bills keeping 5 DE’s including Love. If he wants a guaranteed spot in Buffalo, he’ll have a shot to prove he deserves it on Thursday against the Vikings.

Eric Lee -DE Detroit Lions

Lee is on the roster bubble heading into the final week of the preseason. Against the Bills last week, Lee was injured and finally returned to practice Monday. He’ll have one last shot to prove himself when the Lions take on the Browns Thursday.

D’Ernest Johnson-RB Cleveland Browns

Johnson had his worst preseason game statistically in Ray Jay against the Bucs. He Johnson ran for 10 yards on five carries, which isn’t anything to write home about. But Johnson showed his versatility with his pass protection and special teams ability, even returning punts.

Mazzi Wilkins-DB Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Wilkins has been one of the hottest names to come out of Bucs camp with his brilliant practices and the ability to seemingly get a turnover everyday. But since game 3 is the dress rehearsal for the starters, Wilkins didn’t see much playing time and didn’t register any stats. He’ll probably play a ton this week when the Bucs travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys Thursday night.

Quinton Flowers-RB Cincinnati Bengals.

Q logged three carries in the second half of the Bengals last game against the Redskins. On those three carries, he picked up 13 yards, good for 4.3 YPC, good for the second best YPC on the team. Flowers will have to make bog strides from the first three games if he wants to stick on the roster. He’ll get opportunities when the Bengals host the Colts on Thursday night.