Texans top Chiefs 17-10 in preseason opener
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Patrick Mahomes finished 5 of 7 for 33 yards on two drives in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 17-10 loss to the Houston Texans in the preseason opener for both teams on Thursday night.
Houston’s Deshaun Watson, who’s coming back from a torn ACL, was used sparingly. He threw only one pass _ a 4-yard completion to wide receiver Bruce Ellington _ during a five-play drive to midfield that featured four handoffs to running back Lamar Miller.
Mahomes at No. 10 and Watson at No. 12 were taken in the first round of the 2017 draft to be franchise quarterbacks.
Brandon Weeden took over for Houston after the game’s opening drive and led back-to-back touchdown drives before joining Watson on the sideline for the remainder of the game.
Mahomes took over the starting job when Alex Smith was traded to Washington during the offseason. He also was sacked once and didn’t throw a touchdown or interception.
Mahomes didn’t complete a pass longer than 14 yards and never targeted Sammy Watkins, who signed a three-year, $48 million deal with the Chiefs in the offseason.
Weeden led Houston on a 12-play 68-yard drive during his first series, which was capped by a 6-yard touchdown to rookie tight end Jordan Akins.
Weeden hooked up with Akins for a 14-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the second quarter, finishing 9 of 11 for 97 yards with two touchdowns.
Mahomes’ backup, Chad Henne, was responsible for the lone Chiefs touchdown _ a 24-yard strike over the top to Demarcus Robinson late in the second quarter.
Robinson finished with game highs of three catches and 48 yards, while Henne overcame a rough start, which included an interception on a tipped pass, to finish 8 of 14 for 91 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Several notable players were absent for both teams.
Chiefs safety Eric Berry (Achilles’ heel), who was injured in last year’s regular-season opener, didn’t dress for the game. Backup Eric Murray got the start alongside rookie safety Armani Watts, who replaced injured starter Daniel Sorenson (knee).
Kansas City also was without both starting inside linebackers _ Anthony Hitchens, a free-agent acquisition from the Cowboys, and Reggie Ragland. Second-year pro Ukeme Eligwe and veteran Terrance Smith played with the starters.
Most of the Texans’ absences also were on defense.
Linebacker Whitney Mercilus (soft tissue injury) didn’t make the trip and linebacker Benardrick McKinney didn’t play.
Defensive end J.J. Watt, who is returning from a broken leg suffered last October in the regular season against the Chiefs, and linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (knee) didn’t play either.
Offseason addition Tyrann Mathieu and Johnathan Joseph also sat out for Houston, while starting wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller took the night off as well.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
There were no protests at Arrowhead Stadium from players on either team _ though a few Chiefs, in particular, stood well off the sideline near the benches _ during the national anthem. It didn’t appear that any players went to the locker room for the anthem.
INJURIES
Texans LB Kennan Gilchrist did not return after absorbing a helmet-to-helmet blow late in the fourth quarter from Chiefs running back Darrel Williams.
The play could have been called a penalty under new NFL rules regarding players lowering their heads and leading with the crown of the helmet, but no flag was thrown.
NEXT UP
The Chiefs (0-1) return to action Friday, Aug. 17, at the Atlanta Falcons.
The Texans (1-0) host the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, Aug. 18.
Prescott throws for TD before 49ers rally past Cowboys 24-21
By JOSH DUBOW
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) _ Dak Prescott made the most of his brief appearance in the preseason opener for Dallas by throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass to rookie Michael Gallup before the San Francisco 49ers rallied with two late touchdowns to beat the Cowboys 24-21 Thursday night.
Nick Mullens threw a 7-yard TD pass to Richie James Jr. with 18 seconds left to cap the comeback. Jeremy McNichols scored on a 1-yard run with 4:24 to go for San Francisco.
San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo didn’t fare as well as Prescott in his first game action since signing a $137.5 million, five-year contract this offseason. Garoppolo completed 3 of 6 passes on his one drive.
More concerning for the 49ers was the fact that five players left with injuries in the first 16 minutes of the game, including defensive starters Malcolm Smith and Solomon Thomas.
Prescott sat out the first exhibition game last season but got one series of action against the 49ers this year and looked sharp. He completed all three of pass attempts and converted a third-and-9 with a 12-yard scramble.
He capped his night with the deep ball to Gallup, who beat Jimmie Ward down the sideline. Ward got the start at cornerback in place of Richard Sherman, who is nursing a hamstring injury.
With the release of three-time Pro Bowl receiver Dez Bryant and the retirement of 15-year tight end Jason Witten, the Cowboys are searching for receiving threats this preseason. Gallup, a third-round pick out of Colorado State, has been impressive so far in camp.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
No players on either team kneeled during the national anthem, although 49ers receiver Marquise Goodwin did raise his right fist throughout the song. The Niners have been at the center of the protests during national anthem ever since Colin Kaepernick began kneeling two years ago. Eric Reid protested last year but both players are no longer with the team. Linebacker Eli Harrold also kneeled during the anthem the past two years but stood to start this season.
INJURIES
The Niners had a parade of injuries early, starting with Smith limping off with a hamstring issue on the opening drive. TE George Kittle and backup RB Matt Breida left with shoulder injuries. Thomas and backup tackle Garry Gilliam were sidelined by head injuries.
Cowboys OL Marcus Martin limped off the field in the second half with a toe injury, S Marqueston Huff left with a groin injury, and WR Marchie Murdock had an ankle injury.
NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES
Joe Thomas got the start at linebacker for Dallas in place of Sean Lee and delivered an interception against C.J. Beathard on a tipped pass by Kavon Frazier. … Cowboys rookie RB Bo Scarbrough had a 28-yard run and scored a 1-yard TD in the second quarter. … James had four catches for 46 yards and fellow rookie Dante Pettis caught a 53-yard pass .
HELMET FOUL
There was one penalty under the new rule prohibiting players from leading with their helmets. San Francisco LB Elijah Lee was called for the infraction on a tackle against Scarbrough in the third quarter.
NEXT UP
Cowboys: Host Cincinnati on Aug. 18.
49ers: Visit Houston on Aug. 18.