MINNEAPOLIS — Jameis Winston produced mixed results at best in his first NFL action for Tampa Bay, while Teddy Bridgewater had Minnesota’s passing attack in prime form to spark the Vikings in a 26-16 exhibition victory over the Buccaneers on Saturday night.
MINNEAPOLIS — Jameis Winston produced mixed results at best in his first NFL action for Tampa Bay, while Teddy Bridgewater had Minnesota’s passing attack in prime form to spark the Vikings in a 26-16 exhibition victory over the Buccaneers on Saturday night.
Winston, the first pick in the draft out of Florida State, played the whole first half and finished 9 for 19 for 131 yards. He had a pass intercepted by Antone Exum, mishandled two snaps that led to a total of 19 lost yards and threw several passes well off target.
The majority of Winston’s completions came in the second quarter when the Vikings had their backups in on defense. The brighter side for Winston and the Buccaneers included a 40-yard completion to Vincent Jackson with Vikings rookie cornerback Trae Waynes in coverage and an 8-yard touchdown run after the pocket collapsed around him on third down.
Bridgewater went 7 for 8 for 86 yards and backup Shaun Hill finished 8 for 9 for 104 yards and touchdown passes to Cordarrelle Patterson and Adam Thielen, and seven Vikings receivers had two catches apiece in the first half.
The biggest problem that emerged for the Vikings was right tackle Phil Loadholt, who limped off the field after the second play from scrimmage with a significant injury to his lower left leg. Loadholt was replaced by T.J. Clemmings, who was the team’s fourth-round draft pick.
CHIEFS 34, CARDINALS 19
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona’s Carson Palmer was flawless in a brief appearance, Kansas City backup Chase Daniel threw for three touchdowns and the Chiefs beat the Cardinals.
Palmer, in his first game since tearing an ACL last Nov. 9, was 4 for 4 for 77 yards, directing a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to start the game before sitting down for the night. Palmer threw over the middle to Andre Ellington on a 57-play to highlight the seven-play, 80-yard scoring drive.
Arizona’s Tyrann Mathieu intercepted Alex Smith’s pass on the Chiefs’ first possession to set up a field goal to put Arizona up 10-0. The Kansas City reserves scored the next 31 points.
Daniel was 17 for 29 for 189 yards in less than two quarters of play.
TEXANS 23, 49ERS 10
HOUSTON — Brian Hoyer threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Cecil Shorts III on Houston’s first drive against San Francisco.
Competing with Ryan Mallett for the starting job, Hoyer also connected with DeAndre Hopkins for a 2-point conversion to give the Texans an 8-0 lead. Hoyer finished 2 for 4 for 67 yards.
Mallett completed his first eight passes and was 10 of 11 for 90 yards, but the Texans didn’t score on any of his four possessions.
Colin Kaepernick failed to move the offense on his only drive, going 1 for 3 for 14 yards. The 49ers led 10-8 at halftime after Blaine Gabbert’s touchdown pass and Phil Dawson’s field goal.
Jaelen Strong, a rookie third-round pick, caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Tom Savage to give Houston a 15-10 lead early in the third quarter.