Preseason Week 3 Report Cards for Notable Rookies and Veterans

After months of waiting, we've finally reached the doorstep of the 2016 NFL season. The third week of "dress rehearsal" preseason games is now in the books, and we're just over a week away from meaningful NFL action.

Now that the third week has passed, we have a pretty good idea of what players and teams are probably going to look like in the coming season. The schemes have been vanilla in the preseason, of course, but likely starters have now had the opportunity to work against other likely starters in an extended game setting.

We're going to take a look at some key rookies and veterans and hand out report card-style grades based on the latest round of exhibition games. We'll be focusing on players who are expected to start or play a significant role early in the coming season. We will be giving letter grades because, well, what other grades would we be handing out?

Our choices will be based primarily on the third week of the preseason, but we will also consider factors like player expectations, offseason performance, earlier preseason performances and positional competition.

Enjoy.

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers

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Colin Kaepernick finally made his 2016 preseason debut.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick isn't expected to start when the 2016 season begins, but he was expected to be a significant piece of the 49ers' quarterback competition. Unfortunately, recovery from surgery and arm fatigue have kept him off the practice and playing fields for much of the offseason.

Kaepernick finally made his preseason debut this past week against the Green Bay Packers. If he was hoping to gain ground in the quarterback competition, though, he probably failed.

Though he did show off some of his scrambling ability—four rushes for 18 yards—Kaepernick was mostly ineffective as a passer. He finished his outing 2-of-6 for just 14 yards and a passer rating of 42.4. The good news is that Kaepernick will get one more exhibition outing to show something before the regular season starts. The bad news is that the final contest might not matter.

It's worth noting that as a team, the 49ers were atrocious against Green Bay. Likely starter Blaine Gabbert went 2-of-3 for 14 yards, and San Francisco produced just 82 yards passing on the night.

The quarterback play in San Francisco could be tough to watch at times this season. Kaepernick will probably be watching it from the sidelines.

Grade: D-

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

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Ezekiel Elliott was strong in his NFL preseason debut.

The Dallas Cowboys used the fourth overall pick in this year's draft to select former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott. However, the team has been waiting patiently for Elliott to make his unofficial NFL debut.

The moment finally came on Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks, and Elliott did not disappoint.

The 6'0", 225-pound ball-carrier showed strength, agility and a solid pro presence throughout his time on the field. He finished with 48 yards on just seven carries and showed off his pass-protection skills as well. Pro Football Focus now grades Elliott 26th overall among all running backs through three weeks of the preseason.

Elliott, for his part, never seemed intimidated by the pro game.

"I think I probably have one of the easiest jobs in America," he said during training camp, per Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. "I get to run behind the best O-line in America."

Still, it was great to see the rookie step onto the playing field against a tough defense and perform up to the level of a fourth overall pick.

Grade: A

Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

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Dak Prescott may now be tasked with leading the Cowboys offense in 2016.

Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott didn't qualify for our grades list a week ago because he wasn't expected to be a key player when the 2016 season begins. Unfortunately, Cowboys starting quarterback Tony Romo suffered a broken vertebra this past week against the Seahawks, so Prescott immediately became the presumed starter.

According to former NFL physician and SiriusXM Sports analyst David J. Chao, Romo is likely out a minimum of six weeks.

Prescott was solid in Week 3, and he has been all preseason. Against Seattle, he went 17-of-23 for 116 yards and a touchdown. For the preseason, he has gone 39-of-50 for 454 yards and five touchdowns with zero interceptions. He also has two rushing touchdowns.

Pro Football Focus rates Prescott third overall among quarterbacks for the preseason so far.

It's important to remember that this is only the preseason, and Prescott hasn't faced the kind of exotic looks he is likely to see in the regular season. Still, he can only play the competition in front of him, and he has done remarkably well thus far.

Grade: A+

Corey Coleman, WR, Cleveland Browns

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Browns receiver Corey Coleman made his preseason debut in Week 3.

Elliott wasn't the only notable rookie to make his preseason debut in Week 3. Cleveland Browns wideout Corey Coleman, who was the first receiver taken in the draft, made his debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Unfortunately, while Elliott shined, Coleman stumbled. He was held without a catch even though he was targeted twice in his 16 offensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Receiver isn't the easiest position at which to make the leap from college to the NFL, but Coleman appeared to be trying too hard at times. He didn't look like the fluid and natural receiver he was at Baylor.

"What you saw [Friday] night was a young man that was coming to his first NFL game excited to play and wanting to go out and do really well," coach Hue Jackson said of Coleman, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "Maybe he was pressing a little bit."

It's good that Coleman was able to get on the field after weeks of battling a hamstring issue, but the Browns have to be disappointed with his first action as a pro.

Grade: D-

Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns

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Josh Gordon still looks like an explosive, game-changing receiver.

The third week of the preseason also saw the 2016 debut of Browns receiver Josh Gordon. It marked his first game action since being handed an indefinite suspension for violation of the league's substance-abuse policy early in the 2015 offseason.

Though Gordon will have to serve a four-game ban to begin the coming season, his return was an important one for both the Browns and fantasy football enthusiasts.

Gordon, for his part, appeared to pick up where he left off as one of the league's most dangerous downfield receiving threats. He caught two passes during his time on the field that covered a total of 87 yards with a touchdown.

Pro Football Focus now rates Gordon as the Browns' top wide receiver for the preseason.

If you're looking for a valuable wide receiver option in fantasy and are willing to deal with a four-game absence at the beginning of the year, Gordon just might be your guy. He should immediately become Cleveland's top receiving option upon returning in Week 5 of the regular season.

Grade: A

Roberto Aguayo, K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Rookie kicker Roberto Aguayo finally had a strong outing for the Buccaneers.

The Buccaneers traded up in the second round to secure former Florida State kicker Roberto Aguayo in this year's draft. This fact alone places quite a bit of pressure on the rookie specialist. Some missed kicks early in the preseason only added to that pressure.

Through two weeks of preseason action, Aguayo missed one extra-point attempt and two field-goal attempts. Naturally, this led to some concern among Buccaneers fans—though not necessarily the team.

"I don't know if 'concern' is the right word, but every player on a football team has a specific role and specific job to fill, and they're expected to do their job," Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter said, per Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. "Roberto in both the first preseason games—he's been pretty consistent in practice—but in both the preseason games, he's missed kicks that he's expected to make."

Aguayo was able to right the proverbial pirate ship in Week 3 against the Browns. He made all three extra-point attempts and nailed field goals of 21, 27 and 48 yards.

For Tampa Bay and Aguayo, this was a step in the right direction.

Grade: B+

Brock Osweiler, QB, Houston Texans

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Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler is beginning to show improvement.

The Houston Texans spent big to snag former Denver Broncos starter Brock Osweiler this offseason. Though Osweiler only had seven career starts under his belt, the Texans were willing to give him a four-year, $72 million deal.

Through the first two weeks of the preseason, Osweiler was mostly a disappointment. His first outing saw a 4-of-7, 27-yard performance. He was better in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, going 12-of-19 for 124 yards with a touchdown. However, Osweiler also tossed an interception in Week 2 and was sacked in each of the first two weeks.

Osweiler got a shot at redemption in Week 3 against a strong Arizona Cardinals defense, and he performed well. He finished the contest 11-of-13 for 146 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

Osweiler was sacked twice, but he led a pair of touchdown drives against a playoff-caliber Cardinals defense. This is definitely a sign of progress for Osweiler and a comforting development for the Texans. Osweiler may not be ready to be a star, but he's finally beginning to look like a quality starter with his new team.

Grade: A-

Trevor Siemian, QB, Denver Broncos

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Trevor Siemian may have done enough to secure Denver's starting QB job.

The Broncos gave second-year quarterback Trevor Siemian the start for their Week 3 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Siemian wasn't spectacular, but if this was a test to see if the Northwestern product could handle starting against a tough defense, he passed.

Siemian finished the game 10-of-17 for 122 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

"I'm impressed. I think he's very calm," Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said of Siemian, per Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. "I can tell by the way he handles the team in the huddle, he's got control of what's going on. Gets a bad break on the 'go' ball and comes right back and goes down the field. I think what I see is a guy getting better."

It's also worth noting that Sanchez didn't see the field against L.A.

Siemian—who has gone 27-of-43 for 285 yards with two touchdowns and two picks this preseason—looks like a steady, if underwhelming, presence for the Broncos offense. It's worth remembering that the Broncos didn't need elite quarterback play to come away with the Lombardi Trophy last season.

*Update: The Broncos named Siemian the opening-day starter on Monday, via the team's official website.

Grade: C+

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, New England Patriots

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Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to be the Patriots' starting quarterback for the first month of 2016.

The New England Patriots won't have starting quarterback Tom Brady for the first month of the season, as he has been suspended for his alleged involvement in the team's deflated-football scandal.

The guy expected to take the reins in Brady's absence is Eastern Illinois product Jimmy Garoppolo. The third-year signal-caller got a tough test this past week against the Carolina Panthers, and while he wasn't spectacular, he was solid.

This has been the theme for Garoppolo this preseason. He hasn't wowed, but he has consistently looked like a steady presence under center.

Against the Panthers, Garoppolo went 9-of-15 for 57 yards with no touchdowns and no turnovers. For the preseason, he has gone 36-of-54 for 406 yards with a touchdown and zero picks.

These obviously are not overwhelming numbers for Garoppolo, but they do suggest that he can play well enough for the Patriots to win in Brady's absence.

Grade: B-

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

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Tom Brady flashed his trademark accuracy against the Panthers in his preseason debut.

Brady won't be around for the opening month of the season, but he will eventually be returning to the Patriots lineup. This is why it is worth noting his performance against the Panthers, which marked his 2016 preseason debut.

From a pure numbers standpoint, Brady was good but not great. He finished the game 3-of-9 for 76 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Watching the film, though, gives the sense that Brady is already in midseason form. Some of the passes he completed were things of beauty.

"Brady’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Chris Hogan down the right sideline was a perfectly thrown ball, as he dropped it right in Hogan’s outstretched hands over Panthers defender Bene Benwikere," Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald explained. "But the other part of that was Brady identifying single coverage on Hogan before hitting his man."

After watching Brady do his thing for the better part of 15 years, we shouldn't be surprised to see him playing at a high level off the bench. Still, it's important for him and for Patriots fans to gain some confidence now, because Brady won't be on the playing field again until Week 5 of the regular season.

Grade: A-