2024 NFL Preseason, Week 1: One thing to watch for on each of the 32 teams

• WHERE: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

BRONCOS: The clear and obvious choice here is Bo Nix. Not that there aren’t interesting battles and plotlines all over this rebuilding team, but the QB debate comes first. Sean Payton really seems to like what he's seeing from Nix and isn't exactly holding that back publicly. Maybe Payton is intentionally letting us know, bit by bit, that his rookie might have the inside track to starting -- perhaps as soon as Week 1 -- over Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. We already know the hope for Michael Penix Jr. is to sit all year in Atlanta, and it sounds as if Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy have work to do to crack their respective lineups. So it would be impressive if the sixth QB drafted this spring is possibly the third starter from the rookie class. But it’s not set in stone yet, so let’s see what Nix can do Sunday against the Colts.

COLTS: It’s not yet clear if Shane Steichen plans to play his starters Sunday against the Broncos, but there’s plenty left to sort out even if they don’t get much (or any) run. It appears Alec Pierce is keeping rookie WR Adonai Mitchell at arm’s distance for the third starting receiver spot, but that race doesn’t feel settled yet and both could see plenty of snaps if Josh Downs' ankle injury lingers into the season. There’s also the question of how the tight end reps will be sorted out and who will emerge there. One other player I had high hopes for coming out of college and who now appears to be settling in is Trey Sermon. A good preseason could lock up the RB2 role behind Jonathan Taylor.

UPDATE: Steichen told reporters on Friday that most Colts starters will play for a series or two against against the Broncos.

• WHERE: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
• WHEN: 4:30 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

COWBOYS: I’d like to see a running back step up, preferably one of the younger options. The rookie offensive linemen, especially Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe, are two to watch. There are jobs to be won at wide receiver and tight end, too. But it’s also an absolutely crucial preseason for Trey Lance to change the trajectory of his career. Right now, it sounds like he’s running a clear third behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush in the QB pecking order. I know Lance entered the NFL as a young, highly unproven prospect with time on his side, but he’s turning 25 next spring -- shortly after what could be a franchise-altering free agency period if Prescott isn’t re-signed. The Cowboys have to use this time to learn what they have in Lance, and he has to show more than he has thus far in his career.

RAMS: Injuries are starting to sink their teeth into a few positions, depth-wise. First, it was cornerback: Derion Kendrick is already out for the season with a torn ACL and Darious Williams (hamstring) is week-to-week. Then the offensive line was hit, with presumed starters Alaric Jackson (ankle), Rob Havenstein (ankle) and Jonah Jackson (shoulder) all likely to be out at least a week. Finally, the WR room received a blow, with 2023 rookie sensation Puka Nacua expected to miss multiple weeks with a knee injury. All three positions suddenly have some fascinating battles. Allow me to promote rookie wideout Jordan Whittington, a personal fave, as a player you might want to keep an eye on versus the Cowboys on Sunday afternoon. He’s a late bloomer but exactly the kind of project the Rams seemingly love.

• WHERE: Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
• WHEN: 7 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

PANTHERS: There are a lot of things I’ll be curious about in Dave Canales’ head-coaching debut, but I have to be honest about where my mind is at. Look, I try to shield you, dear readers, of any potential biases I might have, but I implore you to invest time watching Harrison Mevis via my alma mater, Mizzou. He has some pretty long odds to beat out steady Eddy Piñeiro, who has hit on 89% of his field-goal tries in his NFL career and has been even better (90.6%) with Carolina. But Mevis, even after a rough 2022 season, bounced back in a big way last year for the Tigers, delivering several big kicks, including his famed 61-yarder as time expired to beat Kansas State. If Mevis isn’t kicking for the Panthers this season, some other team might call on his services.

PATRIOTS: Look, I’m ready to see Drake Maye, warts and all, just to know what we’re working with here. Can he play fast but not hurried? Make adjustments? Reset his feet when pressure hits? All the physical traits are there for him to be good. The Alex Van Pelt offense is an entirely different language compared to what he ran in college, so Maye is allowed some missteps. I also want to see some of those young pass catchers. WRs Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker are starting to make their moves to carve out roles in this offense, but also keep an eye on TE Jaheim Bell, a seventh-rounder who has had some flashes in camp when he hasn’t been injured.

• WHERE: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)
• WHEN: 7 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

LIONS: The Lions’ first-team offense has no obvious weaknesses, and we’ll have plenty of time to see how the first-team defense looks over the course of the preseason. But I really am curious to see how the reserves look, starting with QB Henden Hooker. Jared Goff hasn’t missed a start since the end of the 2021 season, so the worry might be low, but Hooker’s development is a fascinating element for the long term. There also has been some training-camp hype for RB Jermar Jefferson (a favorite of mine when he was drafted back in 2021) and TE Shane Zylstra, who was developing into a red-zone threat in 2022 before missing all of last season with a knee injury.

GIANTS: The disappointment with Evan Neal -- currently on the physically unable to perform list -- continues, and it’s at the point where we don’t know when to expect to see him next. That has pushed Jermaine Eluemunor into the starting role at right tackle. Considering he signed for a fairly modest salary this offseason, that wasn’t the expectation. But now it’s approaching reality that Eluemunor will be the Week 1 starter for a unit that absolutely has to be better this season. The Giants and Daniel Jones are counting on it. Eluemunor has always struck me as a solid player, but he and the rest of the Giants’ starters not named Andrew Thomas were all sub-par last season. Thursday’s game against the Lions -- after a scrappy first day of joint practices between them -- should be a fun test, assuming Brian Daboll wants to give his starters some reps.

• WHERE: Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh)
• WHEN: 7 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

TEXANS: Not many veterans of note played in last week’s game against the Bears, but there are still a lot of roles to be sorted out on defense. Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson are likely in a battle for the third cornerback spot, assuming rookie Kamari Lassiter is on his way to earning a starting job. With Denico Autry suspended the first six regular-season games, the defensive line is certainly an area where jobs can be won. The same likely plays at linebacker and in the secondary, even with more depth at those spots. The defense needs to remain on an upward trajectory, and I suspect the depth here really matters for DeMeco Ryans’ club. 

STEELERS: With Russell Wilson returning from a calf injury that cost him nearly a week’s worth of practice, he won't play in Friday’s preseason opener. Head coach Mike Tomlin said Justin Fields will start and probably see a couple of drives before he exits. The former Bear undoubtedly knows he has to continue stacking good performances in order to have a chance to wrest away the starting job. Fields appears to have some strong fan support, and I thought it was interesting to hear new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith call Fields a “dangerous football player with the ball in his hands” who “allows you to get creative” and “adds a different element” to the Steelers’ offense. This battle is just heating up.

• WHERE: M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore)
• WHEN: 7:30 p.m. ET ( NFL+*)

EAGLES: Don’t look now, but former Jets OL Mekhi Becton might be making a push for the Eagles’ starting right guard job. Becton’s talent makes him intriguing, but his past conditioning issues have me slightly leery, even with all the positive reports lately while his main competition, Tyler Steen, recovers from an ankle injury. Becton hasn’t taken any game snaps at guard in the NFL, and I am not aware of him playing there in college, either. I’ll also have eyes peeled on that secondary, where rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are gunning for starting roles.

RAVENS: It’s a lonely lot, those who tune in to preseason games craving some offensive line action. But there are literally dozens of us out there, you might be surprised to learn. So even if Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and many of the big dogs don't play, we potentially have a few possible starters making their preseason debuts in 2024 second-rounder Roger Rosengarten and 2023 seventh-rounder Andrew Vorhees (who missed all of his rookie year), for whom this game has actual meaning. The Ravens have had a few successful rookie OL starters in recent years, including Ronnie Stanley, Orlando Brown Jr. and Tyler Linderbaum, but they might need to count on multiple first-time OL starters this year.

• WHERE: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.)
• WHEN: 7 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

FALCONS: My editors might hate it, but I am tempted to write “watch Michael Penix Jr.” for each Falcons preseason entry. Look, if we’re not going to see the guy all season, which sounds like the plan if Kirk Cousins is healthy, then why wouldn’t I want to watch arguably the most controversial pick of the 2024 NFL Draft? I think Penix can play, and he should see a ton of preseason reps. It would be cool if head coach Raheem Morris gave Penix some time with the first-team offense, but I also want to see intriguing sixth-rounder Casey Washington, who is sort of similar to Amon-Ra St. Brown, style-wise, even if Washington isn’t yet that good.

DOLPHINS: We’ve not yet seen presumed WR3 Odell Beckham practice, so in my mind, there’s an opportunity for a few receivers to make a run at that spot. You might know about returners Braxton Berrios and River Cracraft, two respectable slot options, and you might even have a place in your heart for 2022 fourth-rounder Erik Ezukanma, who has more rush attempts (five) than targets (two) in his career to date. But please keep attuned to what 2024 sixth-rounder Malik Washington does in camp, as well as in the preseason. Washington’s burst and shiftiness could give him a shot at the No. 3 role, as well as perhaps on kick returns. 

• WHERE: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)
• WHEN: 12 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

COMMANDERS: I’m as excited as I’ve been for this franchise in some time now, whether or not Jayden Daniels sees extended time Saturday against the Jets (we know he'll get the start). Watching Daniels at work will be a big reason to tune in, but who he lines up with and for how long also will be telling. Daniels is competing with Marcus Mariota, who is the presumed backup, but don’t forget about Sam Hartman. I was not a massive Hartman fan coming out, but I also believe he has solid-backup potential. 

JETS: My concern over the Jets seemingly working through some things offensively still lingers, but with Aaron Rodgers likely to sit out the preseason, my focus must be directed at other players. Two rookies stand out: First-rounder Olu Fashanu isn’t guaranteed to start immediately, but that doesn’t mean his preseason performances aren’t as important. The Jets know they need him on ready-alert given all their OL issues in recent years. Another first-year player I’m excited to watch is WR Malachi Corley. Rodgers and rookie receivers have rarely had great chemistry, but Corley is showing off his skills early in camp. I compared Corley to "Deebo Samuel Sr. Lite" before the draft, and it wouldn’t stun me if he earned a role with continued progress.

• WHERE: Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, N.Y.)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET ( NFL Network, NFL+*)

BEARS: This one’s easy. Caleb Williams sat out the Bears’ victory in the Hall Of Fame Game last week, but it seems like there's a decent chance we'll see Williams make his debut in Buffalo, and it could come with a few snaps for other new Bears, including fellow rookie Rome Odunze. I doubt we’ll see too much of Williams, as the stated plan is to give Williams roughly 45 to 55 total snaps across the remaining three preseason games. The reports from Bears camp on Williams have been mixed, but there have been clear highlights, including a quickly blossoming connection with Odunze.

UPDATE: Head coach Matt Eberflus announced on Thursday that Williams will play in Saturday's game against the Bills.

BILLS: We might not learn too much about the Bills’ wide receiver room strictly from the preseason opener, but it could be a good barometer for how this group is coming along from the bottom up. There are plenty of candidates to focus on at the position. If there’s been a noisemaker in camp, it has been second-year WR Tyrell Shavers. He’s earned praise from Sean McDermott and has received increased work with Josh Allen and the first-team offense in recent days. A year ago, Shavers was having a good camp and beat a Colts linebacker for a 22-yard TD in the preseason opener. Yet, he was left on the practice squad for the duration of the season. This year could be a different story; it appears he’s making a legitimate run at a roster spot, perhaps ahead of some bigger-name wideouts, including Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

• WHERE: Cleveland Browns Stadium (Cleveland)
• WHEN: 4:25 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

PACKERS: Special teams have been an area of contention for, ahem, some time now in Green Bay. The Packers know they need to be better in that area overall, and they’re currently in the middle of what appears to be a highly contested kicker battle. Anders Carlson endured a challenging rookie season in which he seemed to lose confidence and consistency down the stretch, and now he might be behind veteran Greg Joseph for the job. There’s also the new kickoff rules to consider, and I’d be shocked if wily special-teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia didn’t come up with ways to use them to Green Bay's benefit somehow. The Packers have an ace returner in Keisean Nixon, who sounds excited about the altered format.

BROWNS: In recent years, Kevin Stefanski has focused on giving a lot of playing time to younger players in the preseason opener. A year ago, Dorian Thompson-Robinson was an intriguing rookie who ended up starting three games for a playoff team. This year, DTR might be fighting for his spot on the team. The Browns signed Jameis Winston this offseason, with the assumption being that he’ll back up Deshaun Watson. What that means for Thompson-Robinson is anyone’s guess, but a strong preseason performance, backing up what has been a solid camp so far, can go a long way toward solidifying a spot for him -- if, that is, the Browns intend to keep three QBs.

• WHERE: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis)
• WHEN: 4 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

RAIDERS: No need to reach here. This one is all about the quarterbacks. There will be ample time to shine a spotlight on young standout performers such as Dylan Laube and DJ Glaze, but for now, the focus is squarely on the competition between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. The word out of Raiders camp appears to be that neither QB has completely separated himself from the other, but with Minshew reportedly outplaying O’Connell in the team’s first full-contact session Saturday night, the veteran could be making his move. How they fare against the Vikings will be another big step toward the team making a call on who the Week 1 starter will be.

VIKINGS: After taking some early lumps, J.J. McCarthy might be ready to make his move. He has a few weeks of practice and three preseason games to raise the bar. The Vikings insulated themselves properly by signing Sam Darnold, and there has been no indication that Darnold is close to relinquishing the starting gig. But McCarthy pushing him more consistently would be a good thing. It gives the Vikings options on when they want to make a switch. With head coach Kevin O’Connell indicating McCarthy will receive some first-team work in the coming days and weeks, it’ll be fun to see what the rookie QB can put on tape in his preseason debut.

• WHERE: Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tenn.)
• WHEN: 7 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

49ERS: While we await news on the Brandon Aiyuk front, Ricky Pearsall has reentered the spotlight. After an on-ramp period early in camp when he was still on the non-football injury list, Pearsall has started to make his presence felt. If I were the 49ers, assuming Pearsall has no health worries, I’d give him every rep possible in the preseason, starting with Saturday’s game in Nashville. Not that the 49ers needed more offensive weaponry, but undrafted RB Cody Schrader has earned some high praise from vets such as Kyle Juszczyk and appears to be a perfect fit in the outside-zone run scheme. Now, can anyone tell me how the SEC’s leading rusher went undrafted this spring?

TITANS: The injury to DeAndre Hopkins was news no Titans fan wanted to hear, but there’s a possible silver lining here. His absence for the remainder of the preseason certainly opens the door for Treylon Burks -- remember him? -- to regain his footing on the team. There’s another receiver in Titans camp who is opening eyes, too. Mason Kinsey, who turns 26 in a few weeks, has spent most of his career on practice squads after being undrafted in 2020 out of Division-III Berry College, but he could make a strong push for the opening roster. He’s sort of this year’s Michael Bandy -- the preseason hero we need.

• WHERE: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
• WHEN: 7:05 p.m. ET ( NFL+*)

SEAHAWKS: First-round DT Byron Murphy II shouldn’t yet be measured for his Pro Football Hall of Fame bust, but new head coach Mike Macdonald was having trouble hiding his praise for the interior disruptor. “He's a force in there, I think the guys see it,” Macdonald recently said. “I'm pleased with his effort. The guy brings it every day.” The Seahawks are likely to count on Murphy extensively this season, even if he’s not a de facto starter. He was a top-10 overall player on my final pre-draft board, and I think he has a chance to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Watching him go against what looks like a good Chargers offensive line will be enjoyable. 

CHARGERS: Justin Herbert’s plantar fascia injury has thrust Easton Stick back into a starting role -- at least for now -- after he took over for Herbert down the stretch last season. The Chargers were 0-4 in Stick’s starts last season, but that’s a whole different story. Jim Harbaugh and his staff are giving a full-steam-ahead message, even with Stick now at QB. Let’s put the Herbert questions to the side for a bit. If he misses any time, it’s Stick or bust. It might be a stretch to say Stick played poorly last season, but Harbaugh certainly will preach taking fewer sacks and improving the ball control after Stick fumbled five times (losing four) and threw a pick-six in his starting stint. Let’s see what Stick does against the Seahawks and then gauge our level of concern after that.

• WHERE: EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Fla.)
• WHEN: 7 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

CHIEFS: Rookie Kingsley Suamataia hasn’t been named the starting left tackle, but it feels like it’s trending in that direction. Wanya Morris took first-team reps early in camp after starting four games down the stretch last season, but Morris injured his shoulder in camp and Suamataia has seemingly taken the reins since. How he fares against a quick-twitch Jaguars pass rush in his first preseason game could tell us a lot about how prepared the rookie might be to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side during the regular season.

JAGUARS: I talked to two special-teams coaches this offseason to get a read on the draft’s kicker and punter talent. It wasn’t considered the strongest draft class for the specialists in 2024, but both coaches singled out Cam Little as perhaps the most gifted kicker in terms of leg talent, so it was interesting that Little was the third of three kickers drafted this spring (all went in a 10-pick span in Round 6). But Little’s strong camp already has pushed veteran Riley Patterson out, so I can’t wait to see Little kick in a game. Another big camp story has been the play of RB Tank Bigsby. He flamed out after a tough start as a rookie a year ago but he's received a lot of praise in his quest to reclaim the RB2 role behind Travis Etienne.

• WHERE: Paycor Stadium (Cincinnati)
• WHEN: 7 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

BUCCANEERS: Two positions stand out to me, for opposite reasons. On the positive side, wide receiver looks like a loaded group, top to bottom. We might not see Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (or much of them) in the preseason opener. But it will be another chance for third-round WR Jalen McMillan to impress and make a push for the WR3 job, as well as for undrafted rookie Kameron Johnson to stake his claim for a roster spot. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the pass rush. With Randy Gregory still staying away from camp and with Yaya Diaby banged up, this first game will be a great chance for young players such as Chris Braswell, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Markees Watts and Jose Ramirez to step up at that spot.

BENGALS: Head coach Zac Taylor said starters, including Joe Burrow, should get reps in the preseason opener. I’ll be curious to see if Amarius Mims is out there early with the first-team offense. He could be a Day 1 rookie starter and has been a big story in camp. Another buzzy player early in camp has been WR Andrei Iosivas, who finished last season on a high note with a two-TD game against Cleveland in Week 18. The high-flying former Ivy League star was buried on the depth chart as a rookie, but he seemingly has grabbed the Tyler Boyd role and run with it in camp. Fantasy folks, stay sharp!

• WHERE: State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Ariz.)
• WHEN: 8 p.m. ET ( NFL+*)

SAINTS: The simple answer is I want to see what new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak brings to the table, but we also know that preseason game plans can be pretty garden-variety. So let’s go a layer deeper and focus on the QB2 battle between 2023 fourth-rounder Jake Haener, who was expected to miss only one practice after undergoing a skin cancer procedure on Monday, and 2024 fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler. This is a tight battle so far that should stretch up until cutdown day, so the Saints’ QBs will have three preseason games to show their stuff. But this first one will be fun, especially as it pertains to Rattler. He’s received more work in recent days and appears to have responded well. Let’s see if Rattler can open more eyes Saturday in Arizona.

CARDINALS: Marvin Harrison Jr. recently said he not only wanted to play in the NFL preseason but also that college football should have preseason games. Quite the tangential argument there! And probably one for another forum. But I selfishly want to see him play in August. Not necessarily because I think that, say, 17 preseason snaps will be the difference between a Hall of Fame career and a less successful one. But mostly because I need fantasy intel this time of month. Plus, I enjoy watching freakishly good athletes do what they do best, but that’s just me. August is amuse bouche month -- you know, the little bite of food you unexpectedly get to start a fancy meal, and the waiter makes it seem like the chef just had a little time to kill and wants his customers to walk away happy in spite of the $300 bill. So let me have my little bite and enjoy it, please.