New York Giants running back Eric Gray rushed for two touchdowns in the second quarter, one of them on a 48-yard burst, in a 14-3 win over the visiting Detroit Lions on Thursday in each team’s first preseason game.
Gray, a fifth-round draft pick in 2023, added a 1-yard score among his 98 yards from scrimmage. Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito completed 8 of 15 passes for 92 yards.
Lions quarterback Nate Sudfeld went 13 of 24 passing for 96 yards. Detroit’s points came on Jake Bates’ 53-yard field goal late in the first quarter.
Lions QB Hendon Hooker, a third-round pick in 2023 who missed last season recovering from a torn ACL sustained while at Tennessee, came on to start the third quarter. He finished with a team-high 34 yards rushing and led a sustained drive, but he left late in the third due to a concussion, Lions coach Dan Campbell confirmed after the game.
Patriots 17, Panthers 3
Bailey Zappe threw for 120 yards and Joe Milton III added 54 yards passing and a touchdown as host New England began its preseason by defeating Carolina.
Kevin Harris’ rushing touchdown in the second quarter was the only scoring of the first half. Patriots kicker Joey Slye added a 42-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, and JaQuae Jackson snagged Milton’s pass for a 38-yard touchdown with nine minutes to play. Kayshon Boutte garnered 53 yards on three catches. Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, completed two of his three passes for 19 yards in his one series.
Jack Plummer went 11 of 21 passing for 86 yards for the Panthers. Their only points came on Harrison Mevis’ 41-yard field goal with 7:06 left in the game. Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, did not play.
