Football is back on our televisions. It came Thursday night in the form of the NFL Hall of Fame Game, where the Browns defeated the Jets 21-16.
The story revolving around the contest is never about the football itself. The 2023 Hall of Fame class was celebrated, including Wisconsin legend Joe Thomas, while the cameras were mostly fixated on new Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
For the college football superfans like myself, the contest also presents an opportunity to see former college stars try to make a name for themselves at the next level. Some of those players Thursday included former UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, former Oregon and USC running back Travis Dye and former Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann.
The latter had a big night in his first NFL preseason start. ProFootballFocus graded 21 pass block snaps which included zero pressures allowed and a 82.9 Pass Block Grade.
Jets C Joe Tippmann in the Hall of Fame Game:
✈️ 21 Pass Block Snaps
✈️ ZERO Pressures Allowed
✈️ 82.9 Pass Block Grade pic.twitter.com/093S8hWoOk— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 4, 2023
The Jets second-round pick is projected to start at center in Rodgers’ first year in New York. Following the lead of former Cowboys center Travis Frederick and current Cowboys center Tyler Biadasz, Tippmann figures to be a tremendous NFL lineman for some time.