Thursday marks the beginning of the end for some players as they prepare for their final preseason games, while others see it as the final hurdle before the regular season can start.
With players going out with injuries or even on their own terms into retirement, teams have until Saturday to finalize their 53-man rosters.
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Three things that matter
Change coming to Jaguars' defense?
Jacksonville has three explosive weapons in defensive ends Josh Allen, Yannick Ngakoue and Calais Campbell, but defensive coordinator Todd Wash explained he is comfortable changing up his scheme to ensure the team can maximize Allen and Ngakoue together.
"It's obvious we have to get our best players on the field," Wash said. "So obviously we've got two very good defensive ends in Josh and Yannick. We've got to come up with ways to get them both on the grass at the same time."
Jermon Bushrod to retire a Saint
The veteran guard will reportedly announce his retirement during Thursday's preseason finale against the Dolphins after signing a one-day contract with the Saints so he could finish his career as a member of the team he’s been most closely associated with since entering the league in 2007.
Bushrod started in New Orleans' Super Bowl 44 win over the Colts and earned two Pro Bowl selections during his time with the team before also having stints with the Bears and Dolphins.
Kalan Reed's career likely over after neck injury
The Seahawks' cornerback had been considered for a starting role but suffered the injury in Seattle’s second preseason game against the Vikings earlier this month and has been seeing a specialist for further evaluation.
However, Reed’s agent, Harold Lewis, confirmed injuries to Reed’s third and fourth vertebrae caused numbing and "put him at serious risk if he plays again." It's a huge blow for the 25-year-old and 2017 seventh-round pick given the significant strides he made this offseason.
Two things that don't matter
Falcons giving Matt Bryant a tryout
The 44-year-old kicker spent a decade with the Falcons before being released earlier this offseason, but the team appears to be struggling with fellow kickers Giorgio Tavecchio and Blair Walsh, so why not bring in a familiar face? Bryant will reportedly visit the Falcons on Friday, one day after the team wraps up preseason play at Jacksonville.
Atlanta's all-time leading scorer with 1,122 points, Bryant is one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, ranking eighth in career field-goal percentage (86.222 percent).
Tony Romo wants to be first $10 million per year analyst
The retired quarterback is done throwing passes, but he's ready to corner his next market in television. Romo’s three-year analyst deal with CBS is set to expire after this season, and while his reps have been negotiating a new contract with the network, the former Cowboys star has reportedly been generating offers from ESPN, Fox and Amazon.
Front Office Sports reported Romo is seeking a deal that would pay him $10 million each year, a hefty raise from the $4 million per year he's earning now. But is he worth that much?
One video you have to see
Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf showed off his impressive two-sport talents.
DK Metcalf challenges a World Cup champion in a cross sport battle for football glory.
— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2019
Borussia Dortmund vs. the @Seahawks in #GameRecognizeGame 🏈⚽ @dkm14 | @MarioGoetze | @ljcollier91 | @Gioreyna10 | @BVB pic.twitter.com/JRpQbFXg8s
Thursday's tweet of the day
ESPN reporter Adam Schefter doesn't seem to mind the heat he's taking for the manner in which he broke the news about Andrew Luck's surprise retirement.
"I don't understand [people for criticizing me for breaking the Andrew Luck story during a game]. I'm at a surprise 75th birthday party for my mother-in-law. I apologize for not tracking a Bears-Colts preseason game." - Adam Schefter on @dpshow
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) August 29, 2019