The third and final week of the 2024 NFL preseason kicked off on Thursday night with the Chicago Bears defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, 34-21, and the Indianapolis Colts defeating the Cincinnati Bengals by a 27-14 margin.
Here are some takeaways from Thursday's games, including some big statement performances for players on the roster bubble and some growing concern for the Colts starting quarterback.
Anthony Richardson is still a work in progress
The Colts have a lot invested in Richardson after making him the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. But they never really got a chance to see him play last fall as injuries derailed his rookie season. That lack of playing time as a rookie is a concern because he was already one of the more inexperienced quarterbacks in last year's draft class. He simply hasn't played much football as a starting quarterback at a high level and there are still some serious growing pains for him to work through.
After completing just 2-of-4 passes against the Denver Broncos in his first preseason game of the year, he again struggled on Thursday, connecting on just 8-of-14 passes for only 86 yards. He did throw a touchdown, but he also threw a pick-six and fumbled in his five series.
Richardson's upside is still enormous and a couple of tough preseason outings should not be cause for too much concern when it comes to his long-term career. But it is pretty clear the Colts are going to need some patience, here.
Reddy Steward makes big statement for Bears
A team's last preseason game is usually the showcase stage for bubble players, especially those who were signed as undrafted free agents.
If that was the case for the Chicago Bears on Thursday night, defensive back Reddy Steward made one of the boldest statements possible.
He intercepted two passes in Chicago's exhibition victory, including an interception in the red zone to help keep the Chiefs off the scoreboard, followed by a pick-six that put points on the board for the Bears.
That is a good way to make a football team.
Eric Johnson shows the kind of effort coaches want
Third-year defensive lineman Eric Johnson has not made a huge impact so far in his career with the Colts, but he made one of the biggest high-effort plays of the night on Thursday when he demonstrated a never-give-up mentality to chase Bengals quarterback Logan Woodside down from behind to force a fumble.
Johnson traveled over 35 yards in distance to make that play. Any time defensive lineman and offensive lineman run the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine there is always a remark about how they will never have to actually run 40 yards in a game. That is typically true. But as Johnson showed here, sometimes a scenario arises in which a defensive tackle has to run down field to make a play. Johnson showed he can do it.
Carson Steele may have locked up a roster spot with the Chiefs
Steele, an undrafted running back out of UCLA, is trying to secure a roster spot in the Chiefs backfield and he may have done that with a dominant effort in Thursday's game.
The former Bruins back rushed for 50 yards on only four carries, including this angry 31-yard touchdown run in which he refused to be tackled and ran through the Bears defense.
That is one of the best runs of the preseason and quite a statement to be made to the Chiefs coaching staff that he is worthy of a spot on the roster of the defending Super Bowl champions.
