NFL Preseason Week 3: Takeaways from Sunday's Action

With the end of Sunday's three contests, the NFL preseason essentially wound to a close. 

Sure, teams are required to play one more "game" before the start of the regular season. For all intents and purposes, fans have seen the last of their favorite team's starters as franchises begin preparation for games that count. 

The final preseason contest is important for those trying to make the roster. The last thing a coaching staff wants is an injury to a key performer in another warm-up. 

Within the last two days, teams such as the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens suffered major injuries to quarterback Tony Romo and tight end Benjamin Watson, respectively. 

Thus, this weekend's games carry far more weight. First, health remains at the forefront. Second, it's the last chance for teams to define themselves as the regular season approaches. 

Little can be taken from the outcomes. After all, the Detroit Lions finished 4-0 in the preseason before going 0-16 during the 2008 campaign. But how a team performs—particularly when the first-team offense and defense are on the field—should be closely watched.

Bleacher Report kept a close eye on each game and identified Sunday's biggest stories.

Melvin Gordon's Burst Still Exists

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When San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon looked across the field Sunday, he saw his idol and workout partner—Adrian Peterson. 

Peterson didn't play, and Gordon stole the show on one run. With that explosive play, the Chargers running back eased many concerns. 

Whether it's fair or not, certain expectations are placed on first-round picks. Last year, San Diego traded up to select Gordon with the 15th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. 

The talented runner became a massive disappointment when he rushed for only 641 yards during his rookie campaign. The Wisconsin product never looked like the same player who nearly broke Barry Sanders' collegiate single-season rushing record. The burst simply wasn't there, and it showed with an average of 3.5 yards per carry. 

The running back required offseason microfracture surgery—which used to be a curse for a player's career.  

Instead, Gordon looked like his old self during the Chargers' 23-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The biggest play of the game came when Gordon slashed through and past the Vikings defense for a 39-yard touchdown. The former first-round pick carried the ball four times for 51 yards. 

"He's a young back who had some injuries last year and turned it over a few times," quarterback Philip Rivers said after the game, per ESPN.com's Eric D. Williams. "But he’s had a great offseason. He looks healthy. He just seems comfortable and confident, and that’s big for a running back."

The Chargers are going to need Gordon more than the organization originally planned. Backup Branden Oliver suffered an Achilles injury, according to the team's official Twitter feed. The injury likely ends Oliver's season.

Minnesota Vikings Run Game, O-Line Get on Track

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With Adrian Peterson on the bench, it didn't appear to be the right time for the Minnesota Vikings to get their running game going against the San Diego Chargers.

Apparently, a little magic exists in the new U.S. Bank Stadium, because the Vikings offense came together and looked like the group many expected after the front office invested heavily in the offensive line this offseason. 

"Vikings averaging 6.1 yards a carry (and that's with no Peterson) on 13 totes for 79 yards," the St. Paul Pioneer Press' Chris Tomasson tweeted during the contest. "In first (two) preseason games, 2.5 a carry (51-126)."

While Peterson's absence can explain the previous lack of running success, it's not a good enough excuse. 

General manager Rick Spielman signed both guard Alex Boone and right tackle Andre Smith—two of the best players at their respective positions—as free agents. The two were brought in to establish a new level of physicality and overall attitude. 

"(It's) a little more aggressive with the attitude," Peterson told Tomasson on Thursday. "A little more of a sense of urgency, more energy."

Early in the contest, the Vikings offensive line appeared dominant. The starting five consistently won at the point of attack. Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata carried the ball 10 times for 64 yards. An average of 6.4 yards per carry with the team's second- and third-string running backs isn't too shabby. 

The Vikings played well, despite left tackle Matt Kalil's absence due to an injury and Joe Berger still competing with John Sullivan for the starting center spot.

"I'm assuming that we’re pretty close to what we want to do, and hopefully we can continue to improve together," head coach Mike Zimmer said earlier in the week, per ESPN.com's Ben Goessling.

Arizona Cardinals' Growing Secondary Concerns

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The Arizona Cardinals' "No Fly Zone" secondary didn't live up to its name against the Houston Texans during the team's 34-24 loss.

However, neither the game's highest-paid safety, Tyrann Mathieu, nor all-world cornerback Patrick Peterson played. Mathieu's absence from the lineup was expected since the team doesn't want to push him too hard after December's surgery to repair a torn ACL. Peterson not playing is more worrisome, albeit marginally. 

The Pro Bowl cornerback tweaked his ankle during pregame warm-ups, according the Fox Sports' Erin Andrews. The Cardinals staff decided to sit him Sunday as a precautionary measure. 

Veteran Mike Jenkins wasn't as lucky. The 31-year-old defensive back was in a competition to start opposite Peterson. Unfortunately, the South Florida product injured his knee while covering Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and needed to be carted off the field. 

With Jenkins possibly out for the season, Justin Bethel received an opportunity to regain a starting spot, and he didn't perform well. The Texans' rookie speedster, Will Fuller, beat Bethel over the top for a 27-yard touchdown. It wasn't the only time a Texans receiver beat the fifth-year defensive back, either. 

As it currently stands, Mathieu continues to recover, Peterson is dinged, Jenkins isn't available and Bethel struggles. This puts more pressure on the team's other cornerbacks: Brandon Williams, Cariel Brooks, Asa Jackson and Harlan Miller. 

Mathieu and Peterson should be fine for the regular season, but the spot opposite Peterson remains in flux.

Houston Texans QB Brock Osweiler Flashes Franchise Potential

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For one half against the Arizona Cardinals, Brock Osweiler looked like he was worth every penny of the four-year, $72-million contract he signed with the Houston Texans.  

Yes, it's just a preseason game, but Osweiler put together a stellar performance. The first-year starter completed 11 of 13 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown. Those two incomplete passes came courtesy of wide receiver drops. 

Since the organization moved past Matt Schaub, eight different quarterbacks played over the last two seasons. Chasing Osweiler in free agency just made sense, even if he only had seven career starts in four years with the Denver Broncos. 

As such, any sign he can develop into a legitimate franchise quarterback is a monster step in the right direction. Osweiler appeared to be comfortable in the pocket, creative when flushed and possess the ability to put the ball where it needed to be for his receivers to make plays. 

"I thought Brock went in there and managed the offense well," head coach Bill O'Brien said after the game, per the team's official Twitter feed. "Made some good throws. I was pleased."

The 25-year-old signal-caller will experience rough patches, but it's OK to enjoy the moment when he excels against a talented defense. 

"He's made a lot of progress," O'Brien said. "Improved every day. Easy guy to coach. Pleased with where he is right now."

Injury Bug Bites the Cincinnati Bengals

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Breathe easy, Cincinnati Bengals fans. A.J. Green is OK. 

Surely, more than a few fans held their breath after Green left Sunday's meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars with an apparent knee injury. 

"Bengals officials stated the injury was not serious and said if this had been a regular-season game, Green would have returned," the Cincinnati Inquirer's Paul Dehner Jr. reported. 

Although that is out of the way, the team's injury woes actually started before the game began when Adam Jones tweaked something during pregame warm-ups. 

According to ESPN.com's Katherine Terrell, the cornerback suffered a calf strain, which prevented him from playing. Like Green, Jones' injury doesn't seem significant, but it could linger.

The same can't be said for Cedric Peerman. The Pro Bowl returner was dragged down and tackled by the arm in the first half. Unfortunately, Peerman's arm got caught underneath Jaguars cornerback Davon House. The running back suffered a left forearm fracture, per Terrell.

Peerman's injury creates opportunities in two different phases.

First, the team's running back depth took a hit. Without Peerman, Rex Burkhead should have a bigger role this season. Bronson Hill and Tra Carson are young players trying to earn a roster spot, too. Peerman hasn't been a big part of the offense, but he provided veteran depth. 

The Virginia product excelled on special teams. Yes, Peerman could return kicks, but he was one of the NFL's best core-four special teams performers. His absence opens up a spot for a young player to truly become an invaluable part of the roster by performing well in the third phase of the game. 

Green and Jones should be available for the start of the season, but Peerman's loss will be felt throughout the roster.

Luke Joeckel Guard Experiment Fails First Test

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Welcome to guard, Luke Joeckel, and enjoy trying to block All-Pro defensive tackle Geno Atkins. Needless to say, it didn't go well for the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman. 

The Cincinnati Bengals' defensive tackle presents one of the most difficult matchups even for a grizzled blocker. Joeckel really didn't have a chance during his first start along the offensive interior. 

The Jaguars coaching staff wants to find the best combination along the left side of its line. Unfortunately, Joeckel didn't give them much of anything. 

His performance got ugly early when Atkins planted the lineman with an overwhelming bull rush, blew past him in the run game and continually found his way into the backfield. 

"When you just slide a LT to G that wasn't good with his hands [and] lacked lower-body play strength at LT, it happens," Duke Manyweather of Block 'Em Up tweeted. 

Atkins wasn't the only Bengals defensive lineman to plant Joeckel on his backside. During his first pass set at left tackle, Michael Johnson overwhelmed the Texas A&M product. 

The same technique issues became apparent each time the lineman got destroyed. His hands are too wide and slow. He allowed the defensive lineman into his body. And the former first-rounder didn't sink his hips to take the brunt of the blow. It didn't matter if it was Atkins or Johnson. Technique, or lack thereof, was the real culprit. 

Joeckel is now on the Robert Gallery career path. He's a former second overall pick who didn't develop into a top-notch left tackle and, instead, needed to move to guard. The difference right now is Gallery became a serviceable guard. Joeckel has yet to show that potential, and Kelvin Beachum is clearly a better left tackle.