BBNFL Preseason Week 2: Lonnie Johnson secures game-sealing interception
Last week, Carrington Valentine came up with an interception for the Green Bay Packers in his debut NFL game. During preseason Week 2, Lonnie Johnson Jr. was the former Kentucky defensive back who made the biggest highlight, stepping it up a notch and securing the game-sealing pick at the goal line for the New Orleans Saints.
Johnson finished the game with an above-average PFF rating of 76.4. After spending his first three years with the Houston Texas, Johnson played 12 games for the Tennessee Titans last year and hopes to latch on to the New Orleans Saints’ 53-man roster this season. Plays like this will help his cause.
DeAndre Square tops Rams defensive players in PFF grade
Liam Coen may no longer be with the Los Angeles Rams, but BBN is still represented in Southern California by DeAndre Square. The former Kentucky linebacker had a solid debut last week, but elevated his game in Week 2, playing 39 snaps and finishing the day with the highest defensive PFF grade on the team with a remarkable 90.5. He only officially logged one tackle assist, but he was flying all over the field, showing how simple tackle stats don’t tell the whole story.
Bud Dupree made a brief appearance for the Atlanta Falcons, logging seven snaps as he works on tuning up his skills before the start of the season. Despite the limited team on the field, he still graded out very highly at 85.7, good for third-best on the team.
Josh Ali and Chris Rodriguez led teams in yardage…again
Chris Rodriguez Jr. led the Washington Commanders in rushing yards last week in his debut, most of which came after contact. He followed that up with another strong outing under the primetime lights of Monday Night Football, carrying the rock five times for 31 yards. He also caught a pass for four yards.
Critics will point to the fact that he coughed up a fumble this game and his pass grade was low, but you can’t look past the fact he is averaging seven yards per carry through his 10 carries over two games.
Josh Ali, the man who caught Lynn Bowden’s touchdown pass in the closing seconds to win the 2019 Belk Bowl, keeps giving NFL coaches reasons to keep him on the field. One week after leading the Atlanta Falcons in both receptions and yardage, he did it again in Week 2 of the preseason against the Cincinnati Bengals, snagging three of his four targets for 39 yards.
Ali primarily served on the team’s practice squad last season but hopes to land on the primary roster this year.
Lynn Bowden shows he is reliable in the return game
Whoever puts together the official New Orleans Saints team program did Lynn Bowden Jr. wrong. Above his name on the roster page sat a picture of Mark Ingram, the veteran running back who spent many years in NOLA and is decidedly not Lynn Bowden.
The former do-everything ‘Cat made a big step in ensuring that won’t happen again. Bowden grabbed two receptions for 37 yards, including a 32-yarder, and also played a big role on special teams. He returned two kickoffs for 41 yards and three punts for a total of 13 yards. This comes after juking a guy out of his shoes on a nice punt return last week. This specialty of his might be what keeps him in the league.
It’s time for the NFL to come see about it.
Darian Kinnard stands out for Kansas City
Darian Kinnard is another former Kentucky player who spent much of his time last season on the practice squad but is flourishing in the preseason. PFF graded the big man out with an overall score of 81.4 in the Kansas City Chiefs’ drubbing of the Arizona Cardinals, the highest on the team amongst offensive linemen.
Kinnard was a keystone in the Kentucky Big Blue Wall that was the best O-line in the SEC for three straight years. Fresh off a Super Bowl victory, he looks to start the season on the 53-man roster of the defending champions.
As for Kentucky’s other linemen, Tashawn Manning, who graded out the best among his peers last week, scored 82.1 on Monday night. This was on par with last week and placed him second among most offensive linemen on the Ravens. Manning likely entered camp as a longshot to make the team, however, he has played extremely well in his first preseason games and will make the decision difficult for the coaching staff.
Landon Young is dealing with an injury for the Saints and Luke Fortner will likely sit out the rest of the preseason as he prepares for a starting role as center for Jacksonville.
BBNFL Stats | Preseason Week 2
| Name | Pos. | Stats | PFF |
| DeAndre Square (LAR) | LB | 39 snaps, 1 assist | 90.5 |
| Bud Dupree (ATL) | LB | 7 snaps, 1 assist | 85.7 |
| Tashawn Manning (BAL) | G | 17 snaps | 82.1 |
| Darian Kinnard (KC) | G | 22 snaps | 81.4 |
| Marquan McCall | DT | 18 snaps, 1 tackle, 1 assist | 79.2 |
| Lonnie Johnson Jr. | S | 28 snaps, 2 tackles, 1 INT | 76.4 |
| Kelvin Joseph (DAL) | CB | 21 snaps, 1 QB hurry, 1 tackle | 74.8 |
| Josh Ali (ATL) | WR | 20 snaps, 4 targets, 3 rec, 39 yards | 73.9 |
| Josh Paschal (DET) | DE | 15 snaps, 1 tackle | 72.2 |
| Benny Snell (DET) | RB | 8 snaps, 3 rush, 15 yards, 1 rec, 6 yards | 69 |
| Brandin Echols (NYJ) | CB | 13 snaps | 66.1 |
| Mike Edwards (KC) | S | 21 snaps | 65.5 |
| Jamin Davis | LB | 19 snaps, 2 tackles, 1 assist | 64.1 |
| Keidron Smith (MIA) | S | 7 snaps | 62.9 |
| Phil Hoskins (KC) | DT | 12 snaps | 57 |
| Lynn Bowden Jr. (NO) | WR | 30 snaps, 2 rec, 37 yards, 2 K return, 41 yards, 3 PR, 13 yards | 57 |
| Carrington Valentine (GB) | CB | 58 snaps, 2 tackles | 54 |
| Justin Rigg (TE) | TE | 8 snaps | 52.9 |
| Quinton Bohanna (DAL) | DT | 27 snaps | 48.7 |
| TJ Carter (LAR) | DT | 25 snaps, 1 tackle | 47.5 |
| Chris Rodriguez Jr. (WAS) | RB | 5 rushes, 31 yards, 1 rec, 4 yards, 1 fum | 46.9 |
| Chris Westry (CLE) | CB | 20 snaps | 32.4 |
| Za’Darius Smith (CLE) | DE | DNP | |
| Wan’Dale Robinson | WR | DNP | |
| Josh Allen (JAX) | DE | DNP | |
| Luke Fortner (JAX) | C | DNP | |
| Will Levis (TEN) | QB | DNP | |
| Randal Cobb (NYJ) | WR | DNP | |
| Quandre Mosely (NE) | CB | DNP | |
| Yusuf Corker (CIN) | CB | DNP | |
| Landon Young (NO) | T | DNP |
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