Kap kneels for anthem before start Brady

Preseason usually goes the same way for pretty much every NFL team. The starters play somewhere between a series and a quarter during the first two preseason games, then play into the second half in the third game before sitting out the fourth game entirely. There are some exceptions, of course, but that's a pretty rough sketch for how things usually go. This year was anything but usual for the . is, of course, suspended for the first four games of the regular season, so he did not follow the typical starters' schedule. In the Pats' fourth preseason game on Thursday night, Brady wound up Nolan Ryan Jersey playing . Even as it was happening, people were ... perplexed.It's madne s for Brady to be out there. If any other coach took a risk like that he'd be eviscerated. Dave Dameshek (@Dameshek) Tom Brady is on the field for a 6th series behind an o-line of Fleming-Barker-Kline-Karras-Waddle. Mike Rei s (@MikeRei s) Tom Brady is up to 38 offensive snaps played (including 2-point conversion), as 6th drive ends with 1:11 remaining in second quarter. Mike Rei s (@MikeRei s) Tom Brady plays entire first half, 39 offensive snaps, and is 16 of 26 for 166 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. Mike Rei s (@MikeRei s) Brady's No. 1 wideout, , was out there, too. They connected on 3 of 5 pa s attempts for 28 yards, which was nice, but still weird. They weren't the only notable players sticking around in their team's preseason finales far later than expected: Also interesting that free agent signee Cedric Thornton is also playing tonight. Clearly he has not made the impact the Cowboys had hoped Clarence Hill (@clarencehilljr) Cedric Thornton is making $6 million this year. Terrell McClain is making $1 million. The Cowboys had hopes of Thornton being a starter Clarence Hill (@clarencehilljr) Why is Josh Gordon still in the game for the Browns? Get him out of there ASAP please, decision-makers. Marc Se sler (@MarcSe slerNFL) Koetter: Seferian-Jenkins needed all the playing time he got in preseason finale via Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) And those are just a handful of guys that beat writers tweeted about. Needle s to say, things got a bit weird on Thursday night. Here are eight Cameron Maybin Jersey more takeaways from around the league on the final day of the preseason.1. Kap kneels for anthem, solid for The night belonged to , who entered the 49ers' preseason game in San Diego under a microscope. Most tuned in to see what Kaepernick would do during the playing of so let's start with that. As expected, Kaepernick didn't stand. He didn't, however, sit. Instead, And he was joined by 49ers safety . In Oakland, cornerback Kaepernick's decision to kneel was met with approval from Green Beret Nate Boyer, who met with Kaepernick before the game Boyer, who had previously written an open letter to Kaepernick and after the anthem on Thursday, texted that Kaepernick "took a big step by getting up off the bench and taking a knee. He gave a little so I gave a little respect." As for the actual game itself, Kaepernick started for the 49ers and submitted a solid performance. In all, he completed 11 of 18 pa ses for 103 yards and added 38 yards with his legs before stepping aside after halftime. Though Kaepernick didn't score a touchdown, he led the 49ers on a 16-play, 85-yard touchdown drive, which included that placed the ball at the 1-yard line Andrelton Simmons Jersey . On that drive, he went 6 of 8 for 58 yards and rushed for 30 yards. Kaepernick probably didn't do enough to wrestle away the starting job from , but he showed composure in a hostile environment. The 49ers could use him on the roster when the season starts, because Gabbert might not last long as the starter. 2. The shape of things to come for ? does not look like a typical running back. The Heisman Trophy winner from stands 6 feet 3 and weighs 247 pounds. In post-merger NFL history (i.e. since 1970), that checked in 6-3/240 or larger have recorded at least 100 career carries: Brandon Jacobs, Barty Smith, and . If Henry's play this preseason is any indication, we'll be adding a fourth name to that list in short order.Derrick Henry's preseason: 34 rushes for 216 yards (6.35 YPC) and 3 TDs. It's going to be hard to keep him off the field. Chris We seling (@ChrisWe seling) quarterback has gotten a ton of attention for his huge preseason, but Henry has basically given an equivalent performance at his position, with le s fanfare. He's not merely using his size to run defenders over, either. He's got some wiggle in his game: Again... If you have any plans to stop .BRING MORE DEFENDERS. NFL (@NFL) The Titans are committed to their exotic smashmouth offense, and it's po sible (likely?) will still be the lead ball-carrier, but Henry has surely earned himself a sizable role with his play.3. The ' King for a day Back in 2010, an undrafted wide receiver who signed with the New York Giants started off the preseason with a bang, catching six pa ses for 145 yards and three touchdowns. eventually became one of the NFL's best receivers, and on Thursday he made his return to game action after more than a year and a half away. While he didn't catch any pa ses, one of his Blake Parker Jersey teammates had a breakout performance. , who has bounced around the NFL during the past few years, notched four catches (on five targets) for 80 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots, giving him all three of the Giants' air scores during the preseason. At least one Giants beat reporter thinks Big Blue needs to reward him with a roster spot:59-yard touchdown pa s from Ryan Na sib to Tavarres King, who has been the Giants best WR this preseason. He has to make the team. Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) is one of the NFL's best weapons, is going to be a big part of the New York offense, and Cruz should have a role if he can stay healthy, but maybe King has worked his way into some snaps.4. Things did not go great for the ' top pick was the No. 1 pick in the draft, and the Rams will presumably give him plenty of time to develop. But he's not going to begin the season as the starter (the first No. 1 overall pick quarterback for whom that's true) and the preseason did not exactly inspire confidence. Goff went 16 of 33 for 165 yards, a touchdown and an interception through the Rams' first three preseason contests, then stunk it up Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim Jersey something good in their preseason finale. Goff has looked increasingly skittish behind ' 2nd-/3rd-string OL. Just dropped a shotgun snap on third down, lost fumble near own GL. Tom Peli sero (@TomPeli sero) Next series, Goff throws has another screen pa s tipped, then intercepted on a helluva diving grab by 325-pound DT Toby Johnson. Tom Peli sero (@TomPeli sero) Jared Goff's last 5 third-down plays: OverthrowOverthrowOverthrowBails out on the throwMuffs shotgun snap inside his 10-yard line Chris We seling (@ChrisWe seling) By the time the game hit halftime, Goff was 6 of 16 for 67 yards (a truly ugly 4.2 per attempt), a touch