Vikings edge Giants in Murray’s debut
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Kyler Murray led a drive that ended in a field goal in his first game action since being named Minnesota’s starting quarterback, New York’s Jaxson Dart threw for a touchdown after passing a concussion test and the Vikings beat the Giants 13-10 in each team’s preseason opener on Saturday.
Murray completed two of his three passes for 10 yards as coach Kevin O’Connell played his first-team offense -- minus top receiver Justin Jefferson -- for just one series. J.J. McCarthy, the 10th pick in the 2024 draft who has been relegated to backup duty, struggled in his first possession before settling in to finish 4 of 7 for 34 yards.
In John Harbaugh’s first time on the sideline as Giants coach, Dart was sacked twice on six drop-backs, the second time getting crushed by Vikings safety Jay Ward. Dart was escorted to the blue medical tent to be evaluated for a concussion, then returned two snaps later to complete a 15-yard TD pass to rookie Malachi Fields on the second-year QB’s final play of the game.
Dart was 3 of 4 for 26 yards.
BEARS 34, BROWNS 10
CHICAGO (AP) -- Deshaun Watson led Cleveland on two early scoring drives in the first half of Saturday’s loss to Chicago, and Shedeur Sanders tossed an ugly interception in the fourth quarter of the preseason opener for each team.
Watson and Sanders are competing for the starting quarterback job in coach Todd Monken’s first training camp since taking over in January. Watson was 11 for 15 for 126 yards in his first game in almost two years, and Sanders was 6 for 11 for 79 yards while playing the third quarter and first part of the fourth.
KC Concepcion had a 14-yard touchdown run for Cleveland on an end around on the first play of the second quarter. The wide receiver, who also had three receptions for 27 yards, was a first-round pick in this year’s draft.
Caleb Williams got the day off as Chicago coach Ben Johnson rested most of his starters. Williams passed for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns in Johnson’s first season in charge, helping the Bears win the NFC North for the first time since 2018.
Tyson Bagent played the first half for the Bears, going 13 for 22 for 169 yards and a touchdown. He also threw an interception. Case Keenum was 9 for 10 for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
RAMS 20, CHIEFS 12
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Justin Fields completed all four of his passes in his first quarter as the backup to Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, then watched as rookie Ty Simpson led Los Angeles Rams to a comeback preseason win.
The Chiefs signed Fields, a former first-round pick of the Bears, to serve as their veteran backup in part because they were unsure whether Mahomes would be ready for Week 1 after reconstructive knee surgery. But the two-time MVP has been ahead of schedule throughout his rehab and the Chiefs are optimistic Mahomes will be on the field to face Denver in a few weeks.
The only time Mahomes got on the field Saturday was the coin toss. He was one of the captains, even though he was never playing.
Rams backup Stetson Bennett was 4 of 6 for 38 yards in his lone quarter before giving way to Simpson, their first-round draft pick out of Alabama. He was 21 of 25 for 190 yards with a pair of TD passes to Dean Connors against fourth-stringers in the fourth quarter.
Seventh-round pick Garrett Nussmeier played most of the way for Kansas City, going 13 of 19 for 98 yards.
COWBOYS 17, SEAHAWKS 7
SEATTLE (AP) -- Rookie Camden Brown had two touchdown catches, including a diving, one-handed snag, to help lead Dallas past Seattle.
Brown caught a 39-yard pass from Sam Howell in the second quarter to put Dallas up 10-7. On the first drive of the third quarter, Brown snared a fade pass from Joe Milton in the back left corner of the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown.
An undrafted free agent who started his career at Auburn before transferring to Georgia Southern, Brown has stood out throughout training camp. The 6-foot-2, 204-pound wide receiver has made good use of his frame, and demonstrated on Saturday he can also do so in an NFL game.
Milton, who’s entering his third pro season and second with Dallas, was impressive in his bid to be the Cowboys’ backup quarterback behind Dak Prescott. The 2024 sixth-round draft pick completed six of his first eight passes against the Seahawks’ backup cornerbacks, and finished 12 of 15 for 107 yards and the TD to Brown.
RAVENS 24, EAGLES 7
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Ja’Kobi Lane had a 16-yard touchdown catch during a promising night for Ravens rookie receivers, and Baltimore beat Philadelphia.
Lane, a wide receiver from Southern California selected in the third round of the NFL draft, finished with three receptions for 38 yards.
Fourth-round selections Matt Hibner (tight end, Southern Methodist) and Elijah Sarratt (wide receiver, Indiana) combined for 11 receptions and 127 yards to help Jesse Minter win his preseason head coaching debut.