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Week 3 of the NFL preseason is as close as it gets to being the real thing before the regular season starts. The third game of the exhibition schedule is when starters will see the most playing time in August.
Coaches and players treat the game as a final tune-up before the kickoff of the regular season. And you won’t see any familiar faces in Week 4 of the preseason. Those games are left to the scrubs.
Miami Dolphins at Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5, 42)
About the Dolphins
The big news in Miami is that former Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey will be playing Thursday with the rest of the Fish starters. Pouncey hasn’t played since last October due to injury.
Miami is expected to play its starting unit for at least the full first half against Philadelphia. Quarterback Jay Cutler didn’t play the first week of preseason and saw limited action in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Dolphins will have their top two running backs available for game action for the first time this month. Both Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake suffered concussions during training camp.
About the Eagles
Head coach Doug Pederson is acting a little more cautious with his first teamers this year than he did in his first year as the Eagles’ HC. The Philly starters saw just half the first quarter last week whereas in Week 2 of the preseason a year ago, the first teamers played the full first half.
Pederson isn’t telling reporters how much his starters will play against the Dolphins on Thursday either.
“Typically in this game, as you know, two quarters in a half… a little bit into the third,” Pederson told reporters earlier this week. “But I haven’t made that decision yet. I’m going to wait and see how the guys are after these couple days.”
Philly beat reporters are predicting the Eagles starters will play the first half against the Fish before taking the pine.
The Eagles and Dolphins have been practicing together this week and QB Carson Wentz has been lighting up the Miami secondary, according to reporters on the scene.
Line moves
No movement on the line or the total in this game.
Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars (+1.5, 43)
About the Panthers
The big story in Carolina is that starting quarterback Cam Newton is expected to see his first preseason action on Thursday against the Jags. Newton is expected to start but beat reporter Scott Fowler says the 2015 league MVP will only play the first quarter and maybe a possession into the second quarter. The rest of the Carolina starters should play until the end of the third quarter.
“He’s starting to get it back,” Rivera said of his starting quarterback. “We’re trying to practice fast and create as close as we can the game simulation. You can see the timing coming back.”
Derek Anderson will assume QB duties once Newton’s night is over in Jacksonville.
The Panthers are 1-1 straight up and against the spread so far this preseason. They’ve scored 27 points in both games, helping the Over cash in both contests.
About the Jaguars
The Jaguars announced Wednesday night that Chad Henne will start at quarterback Thursday.
Henne getting the start over Blake Bortles shouldn't come as a huge shock as head coach Doug Marrone left the door open for both quarterbacks to grab the starting job. Bortles will also see some snaps with the first team.
Rookie running back Leonard Fournette will not play due to a foot injury.
Line moves
The game opened as a pick’em but the line has moved to the home team Jacksonville getting 1.5 points. The total opened at 43.5 but has been bet down to 43.
