Friday NFL roundup: Jerry Jeudy opens preseason with TD
Rookie running back Emari Demercado bulled across the goal line on a 2-point conversion run with two seconds to play to lift the Arizona Cardinals to an 18-17 victory over the Denver Broncos in an NFL preseason game on Friday night.
The Broncos were making their debut under coach Sean Payton. The former New Orleans Saints coach has been tasked with turning around Denver after a 5-12 season.
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One of Payton’s top jobs is getting nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson back on track. Wilson started the Broncos’ preseason opener and completed 7-of-13 passes for 93 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.
Wilson’s 21-yard touchdown pass for the first points of the game went to former Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy with 6:54 left in the first quarter.
While that lead didn’t hold up, Denver still appeared headed for a victory when the Broncos took a 17-10 lead with 90 seconds to play. But Cardinals QB David Blough got Arizona in the end zone with two seconds left to cap a 10-play, 75-yard drive and set up Demercado’s winning run.
In the other NFL preseason games on Friday night:
· The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Miami Dolphins 19-3 by coming up with four takeaways to win even though they were outgained by 90 yards. Seventh-round rookie safety DeMarcco Hellams had one of the Falcons’ three interceptions and led the team in tackles in his pro debut.
· An undrafted rookie from Fort Valley State, Emanuel Wilson ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns on six carries in the Green Bay Packers’ 36-19 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. In his first pro game, Wilson had touchdown runs of 11 and 80 yards as the Packers pulled away.
· Wide receiver Maurice Alexander started Detroit’s comeback with a 95-yard punt return in the third quarter of a 21-16 victory over the New York Giants. The Lions won on rookie QB Adrian Martinez’s 1-yard touchdown run with 1:51 to play.
· Quarterback Kenny Pickett threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver George Pickens on Pittsburgh’s first possession of the preseason to start the Steelers on their way to a 27-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
· The Washington Commanders stopped a 2-point conversion pass with 1:39 to play to hold on for a 17-15 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Sixty-five players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during Friday night’s games:
Atlanta Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams intercepts a pass during an NFL preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.(Photo by Bryan Cereijo/Getty Images)
Atlanta Falcons 19, Miami Dolphins 3
· Falcons wide receiver Slade Bolden (Alabama) did not record any stats.
· Lester Cotton (Central-Tuscaloosa, Alabama) started at right guard for the Dolphins.
· Dolphins defensive tackle Raekwon Davis (Alabama) did not play.
· Falcons linebacker Tae Davis (Oxford) made five tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage, on defense and one tackle on special teams.
· Da’Shawn Hand (Alabama) started at defensive end for the Dolphins. Hand made three tackles.
· DeMarcco Hellams (Alabama) started at safety for the Falcons in his first pro game. Hellams led Atlanta with seven tackles. He ended Miami’s first possession by intercepting quarterback Mike White in the end zone and returning it 15 yards to the Falcons 13-yard line.
· Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama) did not play.
· Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville, Auburn) started at cornerback for the Dolphins. Igbinoghene made one tackle.
· Malik Reed (Dothan) started at linebacker for the Dolphins. Reed made two tackles and registered one quarterback hit.
· Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama) did not play.
· Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (Alabama) did not play.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ Evan McPherson kicks a field goal during an NFL preseason game against the Green Bay Packers on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.(AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Green Bay Packers 36, Cincinnati Bengals 19
· Jordan Battle (Alabama) started at safety for the Bengals in his first pro game. Battle made two tackles on defense and one tackle on special teams, recorded one tackle for loss and broke up one pass.
· Packers kicker Anders Carlson (Auburn) made a 45-yard field goal and three extra points in his first pro game. But Carlson missed his final two kicks when a pair of extra-point attempts went wide right.
· Packers wide receiver Grant DuBose (Park Crossing) did not play. DuBose opened training camp on the non-football injury list and had returned to practice from a back injury on Monday.
· Packers safety Rudy Ford (New Hope, Auburn) did not record any stats.
· Bengals cornerback Allan George (Andalusia) tied for the team lead with five tackles.
· Bengals wide receiver Shedrick Jackson (Hoover, Auburn) caught two passes for 14 yards and returned three kickoffs for 65 yards in his pro debut.
· Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (Fort Payne) made his four field-goal attempts, connecting from 38, 51, 39 and 43 yards. McPherson also made his only extra-point attempt and recorded one tackle on special teams.
· Bengals linebacker Jaylen Moody (Alabama) did not record any stats.
· Packers defensive lineman Antonio Moultrie (UAB) made one tackle in his first pro game.
· Bengals linebacker Tyler Murray (Troy) made four tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.
· Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr. (Alabama) did not play.
· Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (Park Crossing) did not play.
· Packers offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort (UAB) did not record any stats in his first pro game.
· Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams (Alabama) did not play.
· Packers defensive lineman Colby Wooden (Auburn) made one tackle and broke up a pass in his first pro game.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs carries the football during an NFL preseason game against the New York Giants on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, at Ford Field in Detroit.(AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions 21, New York Giants 16
· Lions defensive back Brian Branch (Alabama) made three tackles and recorded one tackle for loss in his pro debut.
· Isaiah Buggs (Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Lions. Buggs broke up a pass.
· Korey Cunningham (Montevallo) started at right offensive tackle for the Giants.
· Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott (Saraland) made one tackle on defense, recorded one tackle on special teams and broke up one pass.
· Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama) started at running back for the Lions. Gibbs ran for 19 yards on six carries and had an 18-yard reception. He also made a tackle after an interception.
· Giants cornerback Zyon Gilbert (Jeff Davis) did not record any stats.
· Giants center J.C. Hassenauer (Alabama) is on injured reserve and is not eligible to play.
· Lions cornerback Tae Hayes (Decatur) made one tackle on defense, recorded one tackle on special teams and broke up one pass.
· Lions defensive tackle Brodric Martin (Northridge, North Alabama) made one tackle in his pro debut.
· Giants safety Bobby McCain (Oxford) made five tackles.
· Giants safety Xavier McKinney (Alabama) did not play.
· Giants offensive tackle Evan Neal (Alabama) did not play.
· Giants defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Central-Phenix City) did not play.
· Ross Pierschbacher (Alabama) started at center for the Lions.
· Giants cornerback Aaron Robinson (Alabama) did not play.
· Giants defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson (Alabama) did not play.
· Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (Auburn) did not play.
· Saivion Smith (Alabama) started at defensive back for the Lions. Smith made three tackles. Smith played for the first time since leaving Detroit’s game against the New England Patriots on Oct. 9 strapped to a backboard. He had surgery on Nov. 8 to correct a bulging disk.
· Starling Thomas V (Ramsay, UAB) started at cornerback for the Lions.
· Jameson Williams (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Lions. Williams caught two passes for 18 yards.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens scores a touchdown during an NFL preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.(AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17
· Montravius Adams (Auburn) started at defensive tackle for the Steelers.
· Steelers linebacker Kwon Alexander (Oxford) made two tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.
· K.J. Britt (Oxford, Auburn) started at linebacker for the Buccaneers. Britt made four tackles and broke up one pass.
· Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis (Auburn) did not play.
· Cornerback Jamel Dean (Auburn) did not play.
· Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) did not play.
· Najee Harris (Alabama) started at running back for the Steelers. Harris had a reception that netted minus-1 yard.
· Keenan Isaac (Midfield, Alabama State) started at cornerback for the Buccaneers. Isaac made two tackles.
· George Pickens (Hoover) started at wide receiver for the Steelers. Pickens caught a 33-yard pass for the opening points of the game with 7:39 left in the first quarter.
· Nolan Turner (Vestavia Hills) started at safety for the Buccaneers. Turner made three tackles and registered a quarterback hit.
· Levi Wallace (Alabama) started at cornerback for the Steelers.

Cleveland Browns tight end Miller Forristall celebrates after a first-down reception during an NFL preseason game against the Washington Commanders on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Cleveland.(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Washington Commanders 17, Cleveland Browns 15
· Jonathan Allen (Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders.
· Browns linebacker Cam Bright (Park Crossing) did not record any stats in his pro debut.
· Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (Alabama) did not play.
· Browns linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (Auburn High) made one tackle, registered one quarterback hit and broke up one pass in his pro debut.
· Browns running back Jerome Ford (Alabama) did not play. Ford sustained a hip injury at practice on Monday.
· Browns tight end Miller Forristall (Alabama) caught four passes for 66 yards, including a 27-yarder.
· Commanders running back Derrick Gore (Alabama) ran four times for 8 yards and caught four passes for 4 yards.
· Commanders defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis (Alabama) did not record any stats.
· Daron Payne (Shades Valley, Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders.
· Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama) made three tackles.
· Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Alabama) started at running back for the Commanders. Robinson ran for 16 yards on three carries and had a reception that netted mus-2 yards.
· Browns wide receiver Anthony Schwartz (Auburn) did not record a reception on three targets.
· Commanders offensive tackle Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville) did not record any stats.
· Za’Darius Smith (Greenville) started at defensive end for the Browns.
· Dalvin Tomlinson (Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Browns.
· Browns wide receiver Austin Watkins (UAB) had six receptions for 71 yards to lead Cleveland. Watkins had a 19-yard reception on fourth-and-6 on the snap before the two-minute warning to keep the Browns’ final touchdown drive going.
· Browns wide receiver Jalen Wayne (Spanish Fort, South Alabama) did not record any stats.
· Jedrick Wills Jr. (Alabama) started at left offensive tackle for the Browns.
· Browns defensive end Alex Wright (Elba, UAB) did not play. Wright had arthroscopic knee surgery on Tuesday after getting hurt at practice.

Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham passes during an NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Arizona Cardinals 18, Denver Broncos 17
· Broncos outside linebacker Christopher Allen (Alabama) registered a quarterback hit.
· Kareem Jackson (Alabama) started at safety for the Broncos.
· Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Broncos. Jeudy caught two passes for 40 yards and one touchdown.
· Christian Matthew (Samford) started at cornerback for the Cardinals. Matthew made one tackle.
· Cardinals inside linebacker Owen Pappoe (Auburn) made three tackles in his first pro game.
· Broncos outside linebacker Drew Sanders (Alabama) made two tackles.
· Cardinals offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons (Selma) did not record any stats.
· Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) made two tackles.
· Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham (Auburn) completed 5-of-15 passes for 50 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and ran two times for 19 yards.
· Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (Alabama) did not play.
· Broncos wide receiver Montrell Washington (Samford) returned two kickoffs for 29 yards.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.