Week 2 of the NFL preseason heats up on Saturday with 13 games. Here are five players with the most to prove during a loaded day of preseason action.
Note: All times are in Eastern time zone.
Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (1 p.m.)
The sixth-year Giants quarterback makes his first start since suffering a season-ending ACL injury in Week 9 last season.
"I'm ready to play and looking forward to getting out there," Jones told Giants.com senior writer Michael Eisen before the game.
Jones underperformed in 2023 after receiving a lucrative four-year, $160 million extension last offseason following the Giants' trip to the divisional round of the 2022 playoffs.
He was 108-of-160 (67.5 percent) for 909 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions in six starts.
Jones might need a strong season to keep his job beyond this year. Per Over The Cap, the Giants could save $78 million while incurring $22.2 million in dead cap chargers over the 2025 and 2026 seasons by designating Jones as a post-June 1 cut next offseason.
Chiefs wide receiver Skyy Moore (Lions at Chiefs, 4 p.m., NFL Network)
Kansas City's wide receiver depth chart was scrambled this week when the team announced free-agent addition Marquise Brown is expected to miss four to six weeks with a sternoclavicular injury.
Wideout Skyy Moore, entering his third season, has largely become an afterthought in the Chiefs offense. He could use Brown's absence to stand out in a unit that includes rookie Xavier Worthy and second-year pros Rashee Rice and Justyn Ross.
In Week 1 of the preseason, Moore played 14 snaps and didn't record a target. If he doesn't have better production with Brown out of the lineup, it might be hard for the Chiefs to justify his spot on their roster.
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (Vikings at Browns, 4:25 p.m. NFL+)
While Darnold started last weekend, Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy appeared close to taking over after a promising first outing.
McCarthy's season-ending knee injury means Darnold won't have to worry about his job. For now, at least.
Darnold was 4-of-8 for 59 yards in Minnesota's preseason opener. He played one series and led the Vikings on a 66-yard drive that ended with a turnover on downs.
His role as QB1 is safe, but for a quarterback who has never lasted a full season as an NFL starter, we need to see more to reasonably believe he won't be benched at some point in 2024.
Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson (Commanders at Dolphins, 7 p.m., NFL+)
The Commanders' wide receiver depth behind No. 1 option Terry McLaurin is in flux.
Earlier this week, head coach Dan Quinn listed several names for the No. 2 wide receiver position in the conversation.
"I've been really impressed with Olamide [Zaccheaus]... Looking forward to getting Luke [McCaffrey] some extra work... Jahan [Dotson], Dyami [Brown], so that's where we're at," Quinn told reporters. (h/t NFL.com)
Dotson, Washington's first-round pick (No. 16 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft, had a quiet 2023 after a promising rookie season.
Per Pro Football Reference data, he ranked third in receiving yards (518) and fourth in receptions (49) despite playing the second-highest percentage of the team's offensive snaps among skill-position players.
"[Dan Quinn] didn't draft me," Dotson told The Washington Post.
NFL.com's Bobby Kownack wrote that he led all Commanders receivers in offensive snaps (31) in Week 1 of the preseason, and "Such heavy action is usually reserved for those still needing to give something more to coaches."
Steelers center Zach Frazier (Bills at Steelers, 7 p.m., NFL Network)
Snapping issues with starting center Nate Herbig marred Steelers quarterback Justin Fields' preseason Week 1 start. Herbig (undisclosed injury) could miss Saturday's game against the Bills, giving rookie center Frazier a chance to take command of the position.
He played well with the second unit against the Texans last weekend. Per Pro Football Focus, he was the only lineman to receive a grade above 70 as both a run- and pass-blocker. PFF data credited him without allowing a sack in 18 pass-rush opportunities.
