5 Things to Watch This 2018 NFL Preseason

Thursday night features the beginning of the 2018 preseason in the National Football League, as the Chicago Bears and the Baltimore Ravens meet in Canton, Ohio, for the Hall of Fame Game. There will be interesting things to watch in this matchup, as we will see the latest iteration of Robert Griffin III, in a Ravens uniform, along with the likely debut of Lamar Jackson for Baltimore. On Chicago’s side, the sophomore season of Mitch Trubisky gets underway tonight, but this is also a game that will be all about the reserves and about the analysis of talent. Sports betting enthusiasts can use the preseason to learn about the 32 teams and what they will deliver during the regular season, and here are five things to look at as you review the 2018 NFL preseason action in August.

5 Things to Watch This 2018 NFL Preseason

Football is back! Will you be watching? The Chicago Bears and the Baltimore Ravens open the NFL preseason in the Hall of Fame game. https://t.co/clMdJH0SM7

— KSAT 12 (@ksatnews) August 2, 2018

Watch for key free-agent signings

While Dez Bryant may be the most vocal of the free agents still out there looking for work this season, he’s far from the only one. He turned down a three-year deal from Baltimore, because he wants just a one-year deal so that he can be a free agent again in 2019. Pittsburgh apparently has interest, as does Cleveland. But is the drama that Bryant brings off the field worth it, given his decreased speed and the difficulty that he has learning routes from different parts on the field? Then there’s cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who had a three-year deal with CArolina voided because of a failed physical (foot infection). However, several AFC teams have shown interest in him. Safety Eric Reid still has a grievance for collusion pending against Cincinnati, and he has connections with player protests that could keep him out of a job. Safety/linebacker hybrid Kenny Vaccaro is an intriguing defensive fit who could help out a number of teams.

Watch the injury reports

Training camp and the pre-season have brought down a number of key contributors before the regular season even begins. That includes players like Tony Romo, who saw his career end in a preseason game against Seattle. It includes players like David Johnson, who went down to injury in the preseason for Arizona a year ago. Teddy Bridgewater saw his knee collapse in the preseason two years ago and led to a deal that sent Sam Bradford to Minnesota. More and more, we’ll see head coaches shield their stars from potential injury by significantly limiting their exposure to injury in preseason games (and even practices), but pay attention to what happens with injuries, as that can seriously impact win-loss totals and other future wagers.

Watch those young quarterbacks

Are you a fan of Pat Mahomes II in Kansas City? He has thrown seven interceptions in training camp already, including three in one day. He’s having a hard time figuring out when to run the ball and when to pass it — but these are just part of the lessons that young quarterbacks learn when they get the starting job. Sam Darnold is irritating his coaches in New York with a hitch in his throwing motion, but he is still the likeliest candidate to start Week 1, unless his preseason results are a disaster — which means that Teddy Bridgewater could be on the trading block. How hard will Mason Rudolph push Ben Roethlisberger? What will Baker Mayfield bring for Cleveland this year? All of these answers will come in the preseason.

Remember the Pete Carroll rule

In the preseason, most coaches don’t really push hard to win the games. They’re too busy evaluating talent and deciding who to keep on the lower tier of the depth chart. However, one exception to this is Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks, who tries his best to combine that evaluation with winning games. So you can expect Seattle to make late-game decisions that benefit the scoreboard rather than letting third-stringers settle things without any thought toward the final outcome, and you can also expect them to leave their starters in longer. So if you like to use the preseason to make money betting, that’s one key to remember.

Pay close attention to starters returning from injury

This rule especially applies to quarterbacks. We’re hearing that Carson Wentz will be ready for Week One. However, if he doesn’t appear in the postseason, he is likely to be rusty in that return. What about Andrew Luck? He’s had a number of different injuries, most recently a shoulder ailment, and if he doesn’t get significant time in the postseason, it could take several games for him to round into shape. Deshaun Watson missed most of last season with an ACL tear. How ready will he be? If coaches expose these quarterbacks to preseason playing time, take a look and see how well they’re moving as you consider futures wagers on those teams.