3 players to watch in Thursday's preseason action

Week 2 of the NFL preseason kicks off Thursday night with a number of starters set to make their exhibition debuts. Position battles are ramping up and rosters are being revised as we inch closer to regular-season football.

Here are three players to watch Thursday:

Jay Cutler, QB, Dolphins

There's plenty to watch in regard to Cutler. Pulled out of retirement to replace Ryan Tannehill as the team's starter, the veteran joked about not having to be in the best "cardiovascular shape" in his first remarks to the Miami media. Thursday's game will be our first glimpse at Cutler's fitness level as he has been tabbed to start against the Baltimore Ravens.

It will be Cutler's first game action since Nov. 20 and therefore will also offer an indication on how he has recovered from offseason shoulder surgery and the rapport he has developed with receivers.

Ronald Darby, CB, Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills orchestrated a trade last week, and now they'll meet in preseason action. Jordan Matthews - the receiver the Eagles sent to Buffalo - will not suit up due to a chip fracture in his sternum, but Darby - the player the Bills moved to Philly - is expected to.

Since being traded, Darby has had to dismiss the rumor that he was unhappy in Buffalo. Still, if he feels some type of way after being dealt, he can get some measure of revenge against his former team Thursday night. Surely he wouldn't have believed he'd get such an opportunity so quickly.

Watch out for what may be Alshon Jeffery's Eagles debut as well.

Blake Bortles, QB, Jaguars

Things haven't been so hot for Bortles during training camp. Daily reports indicate the struggles that plagued him during the 2016 season have continued. One needs only to watch receiver Allen Robinson's response to being overthrown during a joint practice against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to see that.

The quarterback has increased his reps in an attempt to fine tune his mechanics, and while head coach Doug Marrone has suggested Bortles may be tired, Marrone may also be growing tired with Bortles inaccuracy.

"There are some throws that I’ll think, 'Hey, that’s a good throw,' and then I’ll be like, 'That’s a horses--- throw,'" Marrone said recently.

We'll see every one of Bortles' throws, horses--- or otherwise, Thursday night.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)