BBNFL Preseason Week 3: Brandin Echols gets a pick-six

There was understandable controversy surrounding the decision to truncate the NFL preseason to three games, but from a fan’s perspective, I am so, so, so glad the preseason is over. I try to watch it where I can and seeing Will Levis take the field in Week 1 was great, but it is hard to invest interest into a product so non-representative of the regular season.

However, what is really hard to stomach is seeing a lot of guys on the fringe get cut as teams work toward finalizing their 53-man roster. Justin Rigg (Titans), Quadre Mosely (Patriots), and Keidron Smith (Dolphins) were three of the early-announced former Wildcats to get waived, but more could follow before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. roster deadline.

Brandin Echols’ pick-six highlights the week

Even though some guys near and dear to Big Blue Nation get cut this time of year, when former Kentucky players make big plays, it is still pretty awesome, preseason or not. Brandin Echols provided the BBNFL highlight during Preseason Week 3 when he picked off a pass for the New York Jets and ran it back for a touchdown.

Echols made a great read and fell to the ground as he made the catch, then had the presence of mind to get up and follow a hoard of blockers to the endzone. Echols topped all former ‘Cats during Preseason Week 3 in PFF ratings with a grade of 93.8.

It is a play that very well could also make Hard Knocks.

.@matayo_echols GOIN' BACK TO THE CRIB

📺 #NYJvsNYG on WNBC + NFLN pic.twitter.com/jk0RCTB9wG

— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 26, 2023

Chris Rodriguez Jr. is primed for a good year

Chris Rodriguez Jr. entered the third week of the NFL preseason averaging seven yards per carry and bettered that average. The former Kentucky running back carried the ball seven times for 52 yards, including a 25-yard burst.

Rodriguez has been the standout of the Commanders’ preseason. The takeaway of almost any article you read from NFL insiders is that he will most certainly be a factor in the team’s offense this season, even though he will likely begin third on the depth chart.

There are even a few fantasy football articles talking about C-Rod as a deep-round flyer, something that is not often said for third-string tailbacks.

Rodriguez was a 6th round pick but shaping up to be one of the steals of the 2023 draft.

BBNFL Stats | Preseason Week 3

Player	Pos	Stats	Off PFF Grade
Brandin Echols (NYJ)	CB	31 snaps, 1 tackle, 1 INT, 1 TD	93.8
Za’Darius Smith (CLE)	DE	10 snaps, 1 tackle	79.4
Carrington Valentine (GB)	CB	23 snaps, 3 tackles	79
Josh Allen (JAX)	LB	17 snaps, 1 QB hit	69.3
Kelvin Joseph (DAL)	CB	27 snaps, 3 tackles	68.8
Tashawn Manning (BAL)	G	29 snaps	68.3
Benny Snell (DET)	RB	14 snaps, 5 rushes, 26 yards	67.7
Lonnie Johnson Jr. (NO)	CB	30 snaps, 1 tackle	66.4
Yusuf Corker (CIN)	S	9 snaps, 1 tackle	64.8
Phil Hoskins (KC)	DT	12 snaps, 1 QB hit	64.5
Chris Rodriguez (WAS)	RB	19 snaps, 7 rushes, 52 yards	64.2
Josh Ali (ATL)	WR	28 snaps, 2 rec, 12 yards	61.5
Keidron Smith (MIA)	S	5 snaps	61.1
Logan Stenberg (CHI)	G	18 snaps, 1 penalty	60.6
Quandre Mosely (NE)	CB	41 snaps, 1 tackle	57.8
Luke Fortner (JAX)	C	25 snaps	54.3
Justin Rigg (TEN)	TE	7 snaps	48.9
Darian Kinnard (KC)	OT	60 snaps, 2 pressures	48.3
Mike Edwards (KC)	S	16 snaps, 2 tackles	45.4
Randall Cobb (NYJ)	WR	8 snaps	44
TJ Carter (LAR)	DE	41 snaps, 2 tackles	43.1
Quinton Bohanna (DAL)	DT	33 snaps	28
DeAndre Square (LAR)	LB	37 snaps, 2 assists	25.7
Bud Dupree (ATL)	LB	DNP
Chris Westry (CLE)	CB	DNP
Jamin Davis (WAS)	LB	DNP
Josh Paschal (DET)	DE	DNP
Landon Young (NO)	OT	DNP
Lynn Bowden (NO)	WR	DNP
Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG)	WR	DNP
Will Levis (TEN)	QB	DNP