NFL Analysis
8/19/24
5 min read
2024 NFL Preseason Week 2 Winners, Losers: Steelers Offense, Daniel Jones Struggle
Week 2 of the NFL preseason has come and gone, and we saw more starters on the field this week.
But which players stood out the most? And which ones left a lot to be desired? Here are some of the biggest winners and losers from Week 2:
Preseason Week 2 Winners, Losers
Winner: Xavier Worthy, WR, Chiefs 
As if there were any concerns about Xavier Worthy fitting into the Chiefs’ offense, he squashed those on Saturday. Worthy made several big plays, including a 39-yard reception from Patrick Mahomes on an over route. His speed is obviously lethal, but he is more than just a speed demon.
He finished the game with 73 yards on four touches, including a short touchdown from Carson Wentz on their third drive of the game. The Chiefs won’t need to ease him into the offense. He’s ready to be a big-time contributor for the Super Bowl champions.
Loser: Steelers Offense
Russell Wilson would make this list by himself initially, but that wasn’t entirely fair. Yes, Wilson struggled, and the first-team offense did not score in their five drives together, but it wasn’t entirely his fault.
Wilson was 8-of-10 for 47 yards but took three sacks and was not aggressive at all attacking downfield. Everything was a struggle for Wilson, and he did not show enough athleticism to avoid pressure in the pocket.
But for as bad as Wilson looked, the offensive line struggled even more. Broderick Jones, a top-15 pick from the 2023 NFL Draft, allowed two sacks and four quarterback hits in the first half. He struggled at right tackle, and it’s clear that he hasn’t taken a step forward in Year 2. There is a good chance he ends up backing up Dan Moore in Week 1.
The Pittsburgh Steelers offense has looked incredibly mediocre in the first two weeks of the preseason. It had a hard time sustaining drives, and it doesn’t look like it is any closer to finding an answer at quarterback. They managed to score just three total points, and Wilson and Justin Fields took every snap. Yikes.
Winner: Lewis Cine, S, Vikings
It’s hard not to root for Lewis Cine after the way his career started. A first-round pick in the 2022 draft, Cine suffered a major knee injury just a few weeks into his rookie season. There were some doubts about whether or not he could return, but he did make it back onto the field in 2023 for seven games.
However, Cine didn’t look right last season, and it wasn’t a surprise. However, he’s looked far better this preseason and had an outstanding game against the Browns on Saturday.
He led the Vikings in tackles (11) and recorded a sack, pass deflection, and two quarterback hits. He was flying around the field, finally looking like the player we saw dominate for the Georgia Bulldogs back in 2021.
Cine's spot on the roster isn't guaranteed, but this was a step in the right direction. Look for Cine to see a ton of snaps in Week 3 of the preseason as he fights to make the 53-man roster.
Loser: Daniel Jones, QB, Giants
No one expected Daniel Jones to look perfect in his first game back from an ACL injury, but two interceptions, including a pick-six, were certainly far from ideal.
Jones looked tentative in the pocket, and his decision-making was all over the place. He did have a few nice throws, but the turnovers overshadowed the rest of his performance. Jones finished the day 11-of-18 for 138 yards and a passer rating of 45.4.
The Giants might need to play Jones in Week 3 of the preseason to rebuild some of his confidence because this game certainly didn’t help. It appears the Giants will go into the 2024 season with one of the league's worst quarterback situations.
Winner: Ray Davis, RB, Bills
The Bills want to be a more balanced offense in 2024, which means leaning more on James Cook to help Josh Allen. However, Ray Davis, a fourth-round pick from Kentucky, could make a big impact this season.
Davis fell in the 2024 draft due to his age (he will turn 25 during his rookie season) and his college workload. However, he is a pro-ready back who is primed to contribute right away.
Davis had eight carries on Saturday, racking up 58 yards. His longest run was 19 yards, showing he can consistently rack up yardage on the ground. It sure looks like the Bills found a keeper at running back and a fantastic backup for Cook.
Loser: Kenny Pickett, QB, Eagles
A change of scenery was clearly needed for Kenny Pickett, who had a disastrous season in 2023 with Pittsburgh. He was traded to Philadelphia for a mid-round pick swap with the idea he could be a solid backup for Jalen Hurts.
However, there are now some real concerns about whether Pickett is qualified to be a backup quarterback in Year 3. Pickett got the start in Week 2 of the preseason, and it was a disaster. On Thursday, he had 17 dropbacks, throwing for just 67 yards and taking four sacks. Pickett did complete 11-of-13 passes, but only one of his passes went for a gain of 10 or more yards.
Pickett is now 25-of-35 in two preseason games with just 156 yards and six sacks taken. Averaging 4.4 yards per attempt in the preseason is inexcusable, and Tanner McKee has been the far superior quarterback.
Pickett might not fit Kellen Moore’s offense, which requires a big-arm quarterback to drive the ball to the sideline. After two preseason games, Pickett’s stock couldn’t be any lower.
