1 out of 6 Eventually all the main players will be on the field. Some still played during Week 3 of the preseason and left quite the impression. Justin Fields was on fire against the Cleveland Browns. Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill, meanwhile, have already proven they’re on the same page. Others were given breathing room and plenty of live reps to earn their roster spots. The young quarterbacks in Atlanta and Indianapolis manage to earn expanded roles with their respective teams. Ultimately, franchises must trim their roster down to a starting 53 for the start of the 2022 regular season by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Saturday’s action provided some notable elements that will continue to play out in the coming days, weeks and even months. 2 out of 6 During Saturday’s 28-12 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, general manager Terry Fontenot and center Drew Dallman were interviewed during the telecast. Both spoke of the quarterback’s work ethic and going about his business the right way. His performance during the Falcons’ preseason game helped build more momentum for this year’s 74th overall pick to start at some point this season. At first, though, it didn’t seem that way. Ryder threw an interception during Atlanta’s first offensive play. Pressure up the middle caused the rookie to fade to his left and the quarterback dropped it short and slow up the middle. Rather than dwell on the mistake, the first-year signal-caller responded with an outstanding touch on the next series. Ridder completed all five passes he attempted during the drive, including a spectacular deep throw to convert a 3rd-and-8. Ridder knew going into the contest he had to show more, despite his exemplary preseason performance. He outlined the presnap process and the offense’s preparation for the game and was drawn earlier when he spoke to reporters. “I’ve got some things to clean myself up, play calls, take care of business,” Reeder said after Monday’s 24-16 loss to the New York Jets. “It just really executes.” The maturity the 22-year-old displays allows the Falcons to dig deeper and deeper to get him ready if/when he gets called up during the regular season. “I’m not treating him like a rookie,” Smith told reporters Wednesday. “The worst thing you can do is sit there and lower expectations for somebody. We’re trying to get him ready to play real Sunday NFL football, and if you make it too easy for him, you’re not doing him a favor.” In doing so, the Falcons are simultaneously preparing for the inevitable moment when they look to the future by seeing what they have now in Ridder. The coaching staff sees their young quarterback making shots, zipping a perfect slant route so his receiver can create after the catch, running a pass between the second and third levels and finding big receivers in field. He consistently makes NFL-high quality throws. Ridder played well in the fourth quarter Saturday and threw for 185 yards and a score. A second interception did occur, but that was nothing more than a turnover on the final play of the first half. Marcus Mariota is a consummate professional. According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. However, it is nothing more than a bridge. The eventual move to Ridder just might happen sooner rather than later, based on what everyone has seen during the preseason. The Falcons need to learn what they have in the young man and the early returns are quite promising. 3 out of 6 The organization, specifically new general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus, received their share of ridicule this year for what seemed like an ill-advised scheme to build around quarterback Justin Fields. When stacking rosters from around the league, the Bears looked to have one of the game’s worst offensive lines and wide receivers. They could still start the regular season. But the Bears faithful should feel a little relieved based on Fields’ performance during the preseason. The second-year signal-caller tore apart the Cleveland Browns’ defense on Saturday. He completed 81.3 percent of his passes for 156 yards and three scores. Some might argue that the Browns didn’t have their starting defense on the field and Chicago didn’t have to account for a Myles Garrett or Jadeveon Clowney. While it’s true, Fields and the Bears’ first-team offense did what it needed to do, crushing a group of backups and taking full advantage of the unit’s breakdown. The operation was clean and effective, which is a promising sign. As a whole, Fields distributed the ball to multiple weapons, even without the help of Darnell Mooney. Quarterback performance is the result of many factors. It all starts with what he has done to improve. “I’m seeing more progress in practice,” Eberfluss told reporters last week. “His footwork is getting better, his performance when he feels pressure, how he slides into the pocket and passes the ball, he’s also getting a lot better. He’s getting better every day.” The team also bolstered the offensive line late in the summer after not spending much to improve the unit early in free agency or during the draft. The signings of veteran Riley Reiff and Michael Schofield provided veteran help. Teven Jenkins also making the move to right guard came as a pleasant surprise as well. Chicago’s tight ends could be a big part of the offense again this year. Cole Kmet and Ryan Griffin combined for four catches for 58 yards and two scores against the Browns. Wide receiver Dante Pettis has emerged as a potential complementary piece opposite Darnell Mooney, who is also fully healthy for the first time in nearly a year. Fields will continue to struggle at points this season and the Bears offense has its flaws. But the arrangement might not be quite as dire as we first thought. The franchise needs Fields to show progress in his second season in order to improve the cast’s environment next offseason and maximize his potential. 4 out of 6 Hill hadn’t played in the first two games, and the Miami Dolphins coaching staff felt it was important to build some on-field chemistry with their featured quarterback and wide receiver before the regular season began. It didn’t take long for the two to bond. On the first offensive snap against the Philadelphia Eagles, Tagovailoa completed a 51-yard bomb to Hill. If someone was going to punt, the pass was slightly off and didn’t hit the wide receiver. But the project turned out to be a great start. On the next play, the duo connected again for 13 yards. The opening drive lasted four plays and resulted in a touchdown. Hill’s night is over. But it wasn’t Tagovailoa’s. The quarterback hung on for two more runs and the Dolphins scored 10 more points. The sophomore signal caller finished the game 6 of 7 passing for 121 yards and a perfect passer rating (158.3). The 24-year-old now plays in an attacking attacking game and his confidence is clearly growing. “The offense is different. The confidence the kids have going out to practice is different. The confidence that children have when they enter the building is different. The way we do things around the building is different. Just everything,” Tagovailoa said Friday when asked about what’s different this year. The growing confidence of a top-five quarterback draft, combined with excellent offensive weapons and a proven scheme, make the Dolphins a very dangerous offense this season. Apparently, rookie Cordell Volson won the starting left guard job. Sometimes the people who don’t play in prep games say as much as the ones who do. Volson did not take the field during Saturday’s 16-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Instead, Jackson Carman stepped in at left guard with the rest of the second-string offensive line. According to Ben Baby of ESPN, the Bengals coaching staff did not change their options during this week’s joint practices with the Los Angeles Rams. The team is now settled. The organization focused on improving its top five this offseason. First, they signed right guard Alex Capa and center Ted Karras at the start of free agency. La’el Collins joined after being released by the Dallas Cowboys. The team also selected Volson in the fourth round this year. Although the choice almost served as an afterthought and gaining depth. But last year’s second-round pick, Jackson Carman, didn’t secure left guard with his play. The 24-year-old Wolson, meanwhile, showed just how strong he can be at the point of attack and immediately settled into the spot. “He’s hungry and he’s the right guy,” Collins said Cincinnati Enquirerby Charlie Goldsmith. “He’s all the right things. He’s physical and he’s tough. He shows all the great qualities. He wants to learn. He’s definitely one of the great rookies I’ve met. I knew that from day one.” The Bengals are exponentially better up front…
