What to Watch for in the Hall of Fame game
By Rory Daniels
As I head into my 20th season watching the NFL, I have felt a myriad of emotions toward the annual Hall of Fame Game. As a Brit, I’ve gone from not knowing the game existed to, at my peak, waking eagerly at 1 a.m. to take in every snap, quenching my thirst for anything NFL-related.
Now, with a young family, waking at that hour to watch third-stringers run vanilla schemes as the season’s curtain-opener has lost its appeal. That was until this season, when, for some unknown reason, I find myself desperate to scratch my football itch on Thursday evening.
So, with that in mind, for all you other sickos out there and for any Americans who will be able to watch the game at a much more manageable time, here are the storylines I will have my eye on.
Battle of the Backups
The Chicago Bears have announced that no.1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams will not take any snaps at quarterback when they face off against the Houston Texans in Canton. The same will apply to CJ Stroud for the Texans. So, all eyes turn to their backups.
For the Bears, that may be particularly relevant. Williams is a mobile, creative quarterback who, in his first season, will likely use his athleticism to evade oncoming pass rushers. That does leave him susceptible to injury. Chicago needs to know they have a backup who can, in a pinch, come in and keep this talented offense moving.
Second-year passer Tyson Bagent started four games in 2023 due to Justin Fields’ injury, and despite some promising flashes, six interceptions were a cause for concern. Bagent will be eager to show he has developed and can hold on to the QB2 spot. Behind him, Brett Rypien and Austin Reed will also get snaps and seek to displace Bagent on the depth chart.
There’s a more experienced pair of hands behind Stroud in Houston. Case Keenum goes into his twelfth season on his seventh team, returning to where it all started last offseason. He is capable of operating a competent offense but currently projects as QB3. Davis Mills enjoyed a brief dalliance as the Texans starter post-Deshaun Watson, and he will get the first chance on Thursday night to prove himself as the best backup.
Can a partner emerge for Montez Sweat?
The Bears loaded up on offense in the first round of the NFL Draft. Adding Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze certainly upgrades that side of the ball, but some question marks remain on defense. The biggest one is who will line up opposite star edge rusher Montez Sweat?
DeMarcus Walker is the pencilled-in starter and will likely have his feet up on Thursday. One player who has flashed early on in training camp and could be coming for his job is rookie Austin Booker. The Bears brass traded back up into the fifth round this year using future picks to target Booker and have high hopes for him.
The 6’6, 245lb product out of Kansas had nine sacks last year but is extremely raw. He only took 505 snaps throughout his college career, but nothing will help his development more than going head-to-head with NFL talent. He should relish his first opportunity on Thursday, and when the Bears are on defense it will be worth focussing on number 94.
Secondary spots up for grabs for youthful Texans
The general consensus surrounding Houston, is that they have drafted well over the last two years. Of course Stroud and Will Anderson Jr are the shining examples of that. But, perhaps the real acid test is in the sceondary, where the Texans have invested heavily in a youth movement.
Derek Stingley has been as advertised as a first-round selection, and the early signs are promising for this year’s second-round selection Kamari Lassiter. Despite a 4.61 40-yard dash at his pro day, Lassiter has impressed at camp. So much so that he has already beaten out two players looking to rekindle their careers Jeff Okudah and CJ Henderson. That could mean Lassiter gets the night off, but as a rookie it would be intriguing to see him in action and get live reps under his belt.
Elsewhere, one of my favourite draft prospects Calen Bullock, out of USC should see game time at safety. The experienced Jimmie Ward and Eric Murray are likely ahead of him in the pecking order, but Bullock has some intriguing traits. His athletic profile and range as a deep safety is impressive, even if he didn’t shine in a woeful Trojan defense. Now, with better pieces around him, could he harness that potential and make a charge at a starting spot? A good preseason will be key for that to be the case.
Can a rookie running back make a splash?
The Texans’ backfield was bolstered in the offseason by Joe Mixon, who should be the lead back in 2024. Dameon Pierce will share snaps with him, but some intriguing names are also behind the starting pair. Does Cam Akers have anything left in the tank following his second major Achilles injury? Can Dare Ogunbowale offer more than a replacement kicker role in a crisis?
One player who should get some playing time on Thursday is this year’s 6th-round selection Jawhar Jordan. He averaged 6.4 yards per attempt for the Louisville Cardinals in 2023 as they made it to the ACC Championship game. Finishing the year with over 1000 rushing yards and 225 receiving, as well as 15 touchdowns, shows what Jordan is capable of.
There are always one or two players who emerge from the season curtain-raiser. Could it be an eye-catching running performance from Jordan that steals the show?
All eyes on the first kickoff
We’ll round off our ‘What to Watch For’ preview with a nod to the new kickoff rules. It will be intriguing to see how special teams coaches adapt to the new rules and what personnel they choose to return kickoffs. With the Bears’ new receiver room relatively stacked, could Velus Jones Jr carve out a niche with the new rules? Will the Texans risk Dameon Pierce to give him time to adapt to the changes? It will make this one of the most keenly watched kickoffs in recent memory.
