NFL Preseason Week 3: Takeaways from Saturday's Action

The preseason is no joke.

As everyone learned Saturday, a team's hopes and dreams can be dashed during a meaningless contest, and the repercussions can be far-reaching.

Of course, the Dallas Cowboys must now play without Tony Romo for an undetermined period of time, per David Helman of the team's official website. More than anything, teams want to escape this weekend without a major injury.

Unfortunately, injuries are part of NFL life. Some might not have the lasting effects of a starting quarterback going down for a potential playoff contender, but their impact is still felt on their respective rosters.

Good and bad football was played, too.

The third preseason contest is by far the most important, as teams play their starters for an entire half and, usually, a little more. This is where the makeup of a squad can be identified to varying degrees.

Some fanbases are content in what they've seen in limited appearances from their starters. The sky is falling for others.

Reality usually falls somewhere between those points. Either way, Bleacher Report identified the biggest stories from Saturday's contests.

The Chicago Bears Offense Is Stuck in Neutral

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Everyone expects bad football during the preseason. It's a rite of passage. But every once in a while, a team plays so poorly that everyone starts to question how good the club can be when games count. 

The Chicago Bears did just that on Saturday in their 23-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Head coach John Fox should just burn the tape...or delete it before it's downloaded to the players' tablets. 

Offensively, the Bears couldn't move the ball. In the first half, the offense managed 20 yards on 18 plays.  

Normally, a lot of these issues can be explained by vanilla game plans and poor preseason execution, but Chicago's offense is trying to transition to new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains and needs to get into a rhythm. 

"We still got some time to get better," quarterback Jay Cutler said, per the Chicago Tribune. "We're still missing some guys. ... We got to be a little more disciplined in what we do."

Cutler moved the offense a little when the unit spread the field and operated with some tempo, but the overall effort was still disappointing. 

Poor offensive execution eventually wears on the defense's performance, too. The Bears defense played well against Alex Smith and the Chiefs first team. However, the group wore down and gave up a late touchdown just before halftime. 

A better offense will improve the entire Bears squad, but the unit looked putrid against the Chiefs. 

"There are a lot of bad teams in this league, and the Bears will give them all a run for their money," CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora tweeted.

Baltimore Ravens TE Benjamin Watson Out for the Season

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The Baltimore Ravens must be thinking, "Here we go again." One play is all it took for Benjamin Watson's season to end. 

During an innocuous play in his team's 30-9 win over the Detroit Lions, the tight end fell to the ground after firing off the snap. Unfortunately, the 13-year veteran's career may now be in danger. 

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the 35-year-old Watson tore an Achilles tendon.

The Ravens were likely to rely heavily on Watson. The former first-round pick had a career year last season, when he caught 74 passes for 825 yards and six touchdowns as a member of the New Orleans Saints. 

As a result, Baltimore signed the tight end to a two-year, $7 million free-agent contract with plans to use him as Joe Flacco's security blanket. To paraphrase Robert Burns, the best-laid plans of Ravens and men often go awry. 

This is merely a continuation of last year, when Baltimore suffered a glut of season-ending injuries to key performers such as Terrell Suggs, Steve Smith Sr. and Flacco. 

Fortunately, the Ravens boast a deep tight end depth chart with Dennis Pitta, Crockett Gillmore, Maxx Williams, Daniel Brown, Nick Boyle and Darren Waller in tow. However, Boyle and Waller are suspended to start the season, and Pitta (broken finger) and Williams (undisclosed) continue to deal with injuries. 

To make matters worse, backup running back Kenneth Dixon suffered a knee sprain, according to the Ravens' official Twitter feed. 

Tajae Sharpe Looks the Part as Tennessee Titans' Top Target

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The hashtag #ExoticSmashmouth might be taking over the Tennessee Titans, but DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry will still need the team's receivers to pull defensive backs out of the box. 

General manager Jon Robinson signed veterans Rishard Matthews and Andre Johnson this offseason. However, a recent fifth-round pick is developing into Marcus Mariota's favorite target. 

Tajae Sharpe provided the Titans' biggest offensive play of their 27-14 preseason loss to the Oakland Raiders on a 60-yard reception, which set up the team's initial touchdown. 

His presence in the wide receiver corps exemplifies the direction the Titans are heading. 

"Above all else, Sharpe has shown that he can play, flashing route-running ability, hands and an ability to get open," The MMQB's Albert Breer wrote. "But he also carries himself in a way that fits with what [Robinson] and coach Mike Mularkey are trying to build, with a quiet swagger and confidence that doesn’t spill over."

The running game will help Mariota's development after being pounded as a rookie. But he also needs playmakers on the outside to reach his full potential. 

Sharpe continues to flash—which indicates he'll be a big part of the offense this fall. That his skills have translated shouldn't come as a surprise after he was one of the nation's top receivers over the last two seasons.

His being from UMass instead of an SEC or Big Ten school made those in the NFL question whether he could play with the big boys. He's not being questioned anymore.  

Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr Can Drop It in the Bucket

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Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr can sling it with the best of them. This is obvious even in the preseason. 

The third-year quarterback completed a pair of exceptional passes that appeared effortless. The first came when he connected with Michael Crabtree down the sideline to set up Oakland's first touchdown against Tennessee. Carr threw his second touchdown when he dropped his pass into a bucket to Amari Cooper along the back of the end zone. 

In both instances, the former second-round pick snapped off each pass with ease. There was no wasted motion or extra effort.

The potential he displays in a young, promising Raiders squad is enough to put this roster in the playoff mix. Yes, it's only preseason, but his increased comfort level in offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave's system—now in its second year—is obvious. 

"The familiarity is important," Musgrave said earlier in the week, per CSNBayArea.com's Scott Bair. "He doesn’t have to learn a new language, and he’s been around the block once before (in this scheme). He’s able to take it to the next level, to take it to the graduate level from undergrad, where he was last year.”

Carr finished the contest 12-of-18 passing for 169 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 

With young quarterbacks, consistent progress is vitally important. The signal-caller should improve between his first, second and third seasons. Carr appears to be on the verge of being considered among the league's elite. 

Indianapolis Colts' Offensive Line Woes Continue

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The first rule of the Indianapolis Colts offense is to keep Andrew Luck upright. The second rule of the Colts offense is to keep...Luck...upright. 

The Colts offensive line continues to break the offense's rules. 

"We didn't do the job we should have done protecting our quarterback," Colts head coach Chuck Pagano said on the Colts' broadcast (via Pro Football Talk's Zac Jackson). "Guys have to man up and block their guys."

They're not blocking their guys, and Luck paid the price. 

Le'Raven Clark looks out of place at right tackle. Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro defensive end Fletcher Cox had his way with the rookie blocker. The Colts will re-insert Joe Reitz into the lineup once he's recovered from a sore back, but it's a situation to watch closely if the injury lingers. 

Left guard Jack Mewhort also suffered a major knee injury during the Colts' 33-23 loss to the Eagles and didn't return. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Ohio State product suffered a torn ACL. 

Ouch.

With Mewhort done for the season, Hugh Thornton and rookie Joe Haeg should compete for his spot. 

Pagano was already breaking in two new starters in rookie Ryan Kelly at center and last year's seventh-round pick Denzelle Good at right guard. Now, the unit's depth takes a major hit in an area already considered weak. 

The Eagles sacked Luck three times and hit the Colts' quarterbacks nine times. This is simply not good enough. The offensive line doesn't look any better this year despite general manager Ryan Grigson's large draft investment in the position group. 

Signs of Life from New York Jets Rookie QB Christian Hackenberg

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Christian Hackenberg got his first taste of NFL football in the New York Jets 21-20 loss to the New York Giants, and he didn't look out of place. In fact, he stood tall in the pocket and appeared comfortable—which is a bit surprising, considering his performance during his final season with the Penn State Nittany Lions. 

Even so, the Jets saw something in the former top high school quarterback recruit, and it materialized in front of a large audience. 

Too much stock shouldn't be placed in one performance against the New York Giants' second- and third-string defense, but it was positive. 

However, there's still work to do. Earlier in the week, Jets quarterbacks coach Kevin Patullo discussed the rookie's mechanics, per ESPN.com's Rich Cimini. 

"It's like a golfer," Patullo said Wednesday. "You don't want to change his swing midseason."

The Jets staff continues to tweak his mechanics while trying to ready him for the NFL game—a monumental task unto itself. 

Yet the rookie's swing looked compact and comfortable upon its unveiling. Hackenberg stumbled later in the game with an interception, but he flashed his immense potential. Overall, the first-year signal-caller completed six of 16 passes for 105 yards. 

The Jets staff can build on a foundation started with his first promising NFL drive. 

New York Giants Linebacker Jonathan Casillas Ready to Play Despite Injury

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The New York Giants faithful can breathe a sigh of relief, because linebacker Jonathan Casillas' status for the regular season appears safe despite his leaving Saturday's contest against the New York Jets with a rib injury. 

"Casillas has a cracked rib, per source," ESPN.com's Jordan Raanan reported. "Should be able to play through it, though."

Last season, the Wisconsin product finished second on the team and led its linebackers with 88 total tackles. His presence in the lineup—injured or not—can't be underestimated. 

"He seems like a guy that's really taken ownership of the defense and the team," Giants head coach Ben McAdoo said earlier this week, per NJ.com's Dan Duggan. "He has some leadership qualities and capabilities to him. He plays with a lot of energy and you look for that in your linebacker group."

Casillas is an important part of the defense not only as a leader, but as a key component within the team's sub-packages. He runs as well or better than any linebacker on the Giants' roster. 

"I was always blessed with the ability to run," Casillas said, per Duggan. "I want to let (defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) and my other teammates know that they can rely on me in passing situations and situations where I'm covering skill guys."

Last year, Casillas suffered a neck injury, but he still played well. He'll have to do the same this fall with his injured rib.

The Denver Broncos Are Trevor Siemian's Team...for Now

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When an NFL quarterback starts his team's third preseason contest, he's the projected starter. 

Trevor Siemian got the nod as the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams. His spot atop the depth chart wasn't guaranteed as recently as Thursday, though. 

"I'm looking at what's taken place the last six months: how they've handled themselves, how they've handled the team and how they respond to things," head coach Gary Kubiak said of Siemian and rookie Paxton Lynch, per ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold. "That's what I'm looking at."

What Siemian did over the last six months led to Saturday's contest. His performance had its ups and downs—he threw an interception that wasn't his fault and then lucked out when another potential interception was dropped. 

But Siemian also led the Broncos on an impressive touchdown drive and finished 10-of-17 passing for 122 yards. 

Eventually, the second-year signal-caller will give way to this year's first-round pick. An opportunity still exists to open the season as the Broncos' starting quarterback and prove himself as a legitimate NFL commodity. 

Veteran Mark Sanchez fell short in those areas, while Siemian has been a steady hand throughout this entire process—which is exactly what Kubiak has been asking of his quarterbacks.