Week one of the NFL pre-season is in the books, and after catching up with some Pro Ducks through the first week in training camp, it’s time to see who shined week one.
The San Francisco 49er Ducks:
The Chip Kelly Era began on Sunday when the Niners faced off against the Houston Texans. Posted last week, this game has a lot of Ducks involved in it.
Just a couple @WinTheDay guys. #ProDucks pic.twitter.com/Cuv25NfD5X
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 12, 2016
While the starting quarterback debate was not settled due to Colin Kaepernick’s injury and Blaine Gabbert struggles, the 49ers managed to put up 302 yards of first half offense. The Niners managed to put up 13 points in the first half but were shut out in the 2nd half.
DeForest Buckner was “was pushed around a bit in the running game and finished with one solo tackle and two assists.” The rest of the game recap can be found HERE.
The Niners head to Denver to play the Super Bowl Champions Saturday at 6 pm.
Marcus Mariota:
The 2014 Heisman winner started his pre-season under new Head Coach Mike Malarkey against the San Diego Chargers. Mariota was a perfect 5-5 passing for 45 yards, and had no rushing attempts in the three series he played in. The big star of the pre-season game was recently traded running back DeMarco Murray who ran behind a revamped offensive line for 93 yards with a long of 71. The Titans used their first round pick on lineman Jack Conklin from Michigan State, hoping to secure up Mariota’s blind side. The box score of that game can be found HERE
The Titans take on defending NFC Champions Carolina Saturday at noon.
The Philadelphia Eagle’s Ducks:
Kenjon Barner, Josh Huff, and Byron Marshall all got playing time in the Eagles first preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Barner lead the Eagles in rushing, 7 rushes for 35 yards with a long of 10 while receiving only 1 target as a receiver. Josh Huff caught both of his targets for 8 yards; one of them did result in a fumble. Undrafted RB/WR Byron Marshall also caught both of his targets for 8 yards, and as a runner had 5 carries for 6 yards. It seems that Josh Huff, 27 receptions and 21 returns on Kick offs and punts, seems to be solidified as a starter and did not get much playing time in the first preseason game. As is tradition. It’s also good news to see that Byron Marshall has followed up on the positive reports that were generated about him from OTA’s has turned into game time. Andrew Porter of CBSPhillySports.com believes that Marshall will be mostly used as a RB rather than WR as he was used in his final season with the Ducks.
The Eagles play the Steelers on Thursday night at 4 PM, the game will be broadcast on the NFL Network live.
De’Anthony Thomas:
The lightning fast running back and kick return specialist was the leading receiver for the Kansas Cty Chiefs against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday. He made the most of his three targets by catching all three, turning them into 46 yards with a long of 23. It is still not known how Andy Reid wants to use Thomas. Arrow Head Addict speculated HERE that Thomas might be on the cut block when the Chiefs are trying to cut their roster down to 53. That is just speculation, but if Thomas can continue to perform in the pre-season, his explosiveness could be hard to keep off the roster. If he is cut, I do not think it would be for very long with his explosive play ability.
The Chiefs make their return to LA to face the Rams on Saturday. Kickoff is at 6 pm, live on NFL Network.
Injured Ducks:
It was a bad week for former Oregon Ducks on the injury front as well. Corner back Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and Center Hroniss Grasu both went down with ACL injuries. Ekpre-Olomu was making a comeback from his first ACL injury and trying to make the Miami Dolphins roster. Grasu was lined up to be the starting center for the Chicago Bears after starting 8 games last season with Chicago. Ifo and Hroniss will both miss the 2016 season, hoping to be fully healed by the start of the 2017 NFL season.
That’s going to do it for this weeks Pro Ducks round up, let us know who you would like us to check in on next week.
-Nick Rogers
