Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver C.J. Williams got an extended look in Saturday's 24-20 preseason win over the New Orleans Saints. With most of Jacksonville's starters held out, the rookie started and drew five targets, catching two passes for 28 yards. His longest gain came midway through the second quarter, when Carter Bradley found him for 17 yards. Head coach Liam Coen called Williams and fellow rookie Josh Cameron "solid" afterward while noting how many young players were getting their first NFL game action. Williams was a sixth-round pick out of Stanford after catching 59 passes for 749 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. He's currently listed behind Jakobi Meyers on the Jaguars' first unofficial depth chart, so Saturday's workload shouldn't be confused with a regular-season starting role. Still, five targets in his first preseason game gave Jacksonville a long look at Williams, and he should have more chances to separate himself in the receiver competition.

Kansas City Chiefs rookie quarterback Garrett Nussmeier completed 13 of his 19 pass attempts for 98 yards in the 20-12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the preseason opener on Saturday. Nussmeier averaged 5.2 yards per completion and took two sacks in the contest. With superstar Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs starters sitting out for the first preseason game, Nussmeier and the other Kansas City rookies had the opportunity to take the reins. Nussmeier was selected 249th overall in the seventh round and appears to be the QB behind Mahomes in the pecking order. Nussmeier may get the opportunity to start again next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if Mahomes remains sidelined, but he should not be viewed as a player to draft for the 2026 season.

Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (quad) will miss a few weeks, according to Ben Standig. Head coach Dan Quinn provided the timeline Sunday after McNichols had already missed Friday's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins. The 30-year-old appeared in all 17 games for Washington last season, finishing with 44 carries for 221 yards and a touchdown while catching 25 passes for another 196 yards. McNichols is currently listed alongside rookie Kaytron Allen on the third line of the Commanders' unofficial depth chart, behind Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White. His absence leaves more camp and preseason work available for Allen and undrafted rookie Robert Henry Jr. Both got chances against Miami, with Henry breaking a 22-yard touchdown run and Allen scoring from four yards out. McNichols was already fighting for a depth role in a crowded backfield, so missing multiple weeks at this stage of camp could make that battle tougher for him when he returns.

Miami Dolphins second-year quarterback Quinn Ewers (groin) suffered a groin injury early in his action in Friday's preseason opener against the Washington Commanders and is now considered week-to-week, a source told David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. As a result, the Dolphins are bringing back QB Mark Gronowski for more depth at the position behind starter Malik Willis and Cam Miller. Ewers, a seventh-rounder in 2025 from the University of Texas, appeared in four games (three starts) as a rookie last year, going 55-for-83 passing for 622 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. The 23-year-old will not be available for the team's next preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 22, versus the New York Giants, but he could be ready to return for the final preseason tilt on Friday, Aug. 28, against the Atlanta Falcons. If healthy for the start of the 2026 regular season, Ewers is primed to open up his second year in the NFL as the backup to Willis.