With the Corridor of Fame Recreation now wrapped up, the NFL pre-season strikes into its first full weekend of action.
Whereas the summer time’s motion is all the time tough to guage with groups typically wrapping their stars up in cotton wool, there’s nonetheless lots to control heading into the brand new marketing campaign.
From the top-drafted rookies to unsettled quarterback competitions, the approaching days will provide an early glimpse of gamers and battles that would form the 2025 season, as we glance in the direction of Tremendous Bowl LX.
Listed below are 5 of essentially the most intriguing storylines to comply with this weekend.
5. Sanders Set For Prime-Time Begin
Cleveland Browns @ Carolina Panthers
Friday, 7pm ET – Financial institution of America Stadium
Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will lead the Cleveland Browns of their pre-season opener towards the Carolina Panthers underneath the Friday night time lights.
Chosen within the fifth spherical – regardless of anticipation that he may very well be the No.1 choose – Sanders has drawn worldwide consideration since his standout days at Colorado.
Now, accidents to Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett have cleared the trail for his first style of beginning duties.
Whereas he hasn’t had many reps with the primary crew in camp, that is his alternative to make an early impression and start his path to redemption.
Nonetheless, it’s value contemplating that pre-season performances can mislead expectations, however a robust weekend might push Sanders forward of Gabriel within the depth chart, even when regular-season snaps stay unlikely.
4. The J.J. McCarthy Period Lastly Begins
Houston Texans @ Minnesota Vikings
Saturday, 4pm ET – U.S. Financial institution Stadium
Vikings followers have waited a yr to see their 2024 first-round choose in motion.
J.J. McCarthy’s rookie marketing campaign ended earlier than it started as a consequence of a torn meniscus, leaving Sam Darnold to information Minnesota to the play-offs.
Now wholesome, McCarthy inherits a crew constructed to compete instantly.
Minnesota has bolstered its inside offensive line, pairing it with elite weapons in Justin Jefferson and, after a brief suspension, Jordan Addison.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell will scheme to set McCarthy up for achievement, however the highlight is unavoidably vibrant.
For a first-year starter, expectations are excessive. If McCarthy performs to his potential, this Vikings roster is able to a deep postseason run.
3. Cameron Ward’s First Outing with the Titans
Tennessee Titans @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saturday, 7:30pm ET – Raymond James Stadium
The No.1 general choose within the 2025 draft hasn’t attracted as a lot pre-season hype as you would possibly count on, however that’s about to vary.
Cameron Ward is about to make his first on-field look for Tennessee.
Head coach Brian Callahan has acknowledged the adjustment interval for his new quarterback throughout camp, and with Ward locked in because the starter, his pre-season workload may very well be fastidiously managed to restrict damage danger.
Nonetheless, each snap can be useful because the rookie begins translating his school playmaking to the professional recreation.
2. Sorting Out the Giants’ QB Depth
New York Giants @ Buffalo Payments
Saturday, 1pm ET – Highmark Stadium
Russell Wilson’s arrival in New York has given Brian Daboll a confirmed chief, however the image behind him remains to be creating.
Veteran Jameis Winston ought to get loads of pre-season snaps to bolster his maintain on the backup position, however rookie Jaxson Dart – taken twenty fifth general within the draft – might problem him with a robust displaying.
A strong efficiency from Dart might fast-track his path to being Wilson’s eventual successor, making this a quietly necessary place battle within the Giants’ summer time plans.
1. A Contemporary Begin For Mac Jones
Denver Broncos @ San Francisco 49ers
Saturday, 8:30pm ET – Levi’s Stadium
It wasn’t that way back that Mac Jones was broadly linked to the San Francisco 49ers because the potential No.3 general choose within the 2021 NFL Draft.
On the time, his fame for fast decision-making appeared like a really perfect match for Kyle Shanahan’s system.
As a substitute, the 49ers opted for a quarterback with extra mobility, leaving Jones to start his profession in New England earlier than a quick stint in Jacksonville – and ultimately arriving in San Francisco this low season.
Now, Jones finds himself in some of the useful backup roles in soccer. Historical past suggests Shanahan’s No.2 quarterbacks don’t simply sit idle: Nick Mullens, C.J. Beathard, Brock Purdy, and Sam Darnold have all began video games lately, with Purdy and Darnold incomes main contract extensions this previous offseason.
In a league the place quarterback play can decline sharply outdoors the highest tier, Jones’ mixture of bodily instruments, prior beginning expertise, and the good thing about working underneath an elite offensive coach might make him one of many NFL’s extra intriguing depth choices.