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The six-month wait for NFL football ends tonight with the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders will square off at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at 8:00 PM ET.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17), head coach Josh McDaniels and quarterback Derek Carr (4) talk during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 24, 2022 in Henderson, Nev. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
While televised football is a sight for sore eyes, Thursday night’s game won’t exactly be Chiefs vs. Bills in the AFC Championship.
You’ll see a lot of lesser-known players trying to make the roster, while the stars play limited snaps, if at all.
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But there’s still intrigue as the NFL preseason begins.
Three USFL players will be among those competing Thursday night with quarterback Kyle Slaughter suiting up for the Jaguars and cornerback Ike Brown and wide receiver Isaiah Zuber getting their chance for the Raiders.
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Slaughter, who has spent time with the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Raiders, threw for 1,798 yards and nine touchdowns in one season with the New Orleans Breakers.
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson during training camp on July 27, 2022 at Episcopal High School in Jacksonville, Fla. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
“There’s a lot of history in this game,” Slaughter said, according to Fox Sports. “It’s an honor to be able to play in it.
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“It’s definitely great to be back,” he added, referring to Tom Benson Stadium. “It’s always nice to be in familiar territory. I’ve been able to mentally picture myself in some of the positions I’m going to be in, just in my surroundings and knowing what it feels like to be on that grass and in that stadium.”
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Kyle Slaughter (4) throws a pass during training camp on July 28, 2022 at Jacksonville Episcopal School in Jacksonville, Fla. (David Rosenbloom/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Slaughter should get plenty of opportunity to showcase his skills, as Trevor Lawrence, the NFL’s No. 1 overall pick in 2021, will not play Thursday night. Slaughter figures his recent playing time will be an asset as he tries to make the Jaguars roster.
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“I’m one of the few people that will be there that saw game action a month and a half ago,” Slaughter said. “A lot of these guys are playing their first game since a year ago this time when the preseason was the only time [play]. Or they are rookies who haven’t played at this level before.
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“So I’m sure for a lot of guys the lights are going to be a little bright and mistakes are going to be made. For others, some people rise to it.”
Zuber led the USFL in receiving touchdowns with five, and Brown had 16 tackles and two interceptions during the USFL season.
Both Jacksonville and Las Vegas enter the season with a new head coach.
Joe Morgan is a sports reporter for Fox News.
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