The NFL preseason has never been less exciting. With starters and even backups playing minimal snaps, the overall hype around the games has been at historic lows. Add to that the fact that third and fourth-stringers are playing for their careers (literally), and it is creating a dangerous scenario where players are getting hurt and starters are losing their entire season, even in limited reps.
With this backdrop, is it worth it to even play preseason games? Let’s discuss.
Case for Keeping Preseason Games
A player can be evaluated in practice, but nothing compares to actual game reps. For players on the outside looking in, this is their best chance to make an impact in an actual game. While critics may point to college film as being enough, consider that some players played at the FCS, DII, or even G5 level, where the talent around them wasn’t at a level that allowed them to really showcase their skills.
For example, if an offensive lineman played for a team that allowed 25 sacks, even the most diligent NFL scouts will overlook a G5 or FCS player because of how poorly the team performed. Getting an undrafted free agent deal allows these players another opportunity, but this time with more talented players.
Also, whether it counts for a record or not, football is football, and people will always tune in.
Case for Getting Rid of NFL Preseason Games
Injuries. Here is a list of players who got injured just in week one of the preseason:
- Bralen Trice – Linebacker – Falcons
- Hollywood Brown – WR – Chiefs
- Drew Lock – QB -Giants
- MarShawn Lloyd – RB – Packers
- JJ McCarthy – QB – Vikings
Again, this is after just one week of preseason games where most of these players only played a series or two. But this makes a ton of sense. Think about it: the second and third-string players that these starters are going up against are giving 110%, particularly while the starters are in. A defensive end trying to get a roster spot can probably not help themselves more than getting a sack against a starting NFL QB.
Another case for eliminating the games is that general interest is declining. Whether it is the access, everyone gets from social media, starters playing fewer reps, or fans just being more okay with waiting until the NFL preseason, interest in the preseason games seems lower than it has been in the past.
Finally, with 17 games now being played, tuning up for the season is less important. Yes, 17 games isn’t a lot, and a team certainly can’t spend the first five games tuning up and figuring things out, but now, with the extra game, dropping a game or two early in the season doesn’t carry quite the same weight as it did when the season was 16 games.
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Verdict
As more players get injured, teams will be less inclined to allow them to play during the preseason. As this happens, the number of players trying out for their teams will also lose value. This will continue until, essentially, the preseason games will hold no value at all.
Should preseason games end? With the way that the sport is trending with so much money on the line for players with their contracts, the answer is yes.
