Every team uses the preseason differently in this era.
It used to be standard across the league that starters would play a series or two in the first preseason game, a little more in the second, a half or a little more in the third and then they would completely sit in the fourth. We don't even have a fourth preseason game anymore. And some teams don't play their starters at all in August games.
Week 2 of the preseason is a mixed bag. Some teams that played starters in the opener won't this week, because they got extra work in joint practices during the week. The Miami Dolphins are a good example; their starters played last week but coach Mike McDaniel said starters would sit for the game this week after joint practices against the Detroit Lions. Whether starters play this week, or in the preseason at all, varies from team to team.
Some teams still have quarterback situations to sort out though, and that influences decisions on preseason lineups. Here are the key quarterback situations to look for in the preseason's second week:
Caleb Williams/Ben Johnson era debuts
We didn't get to see Williams in the Bears' preseason opener. Johnson decided to sit most of his starters. But Johnson said the starters including Williams will play on Sunday night. And plenty of viewers to the Fox broadcast will want to see it.
Johnson was supposed to fix all that was wrong with Williams from last season, and he might, but the reports from Bears camp have been lukewarm at best. There have been plenty of mistakes by the offense, and Williams has been up and down. Camp reports, or even the results of preseason games, can be misleading. Johnson, who was hired by the Bears this offseason after tremendous seasons as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, is a respected offensive mind. Williams, the top pick of last year's draft, has obvious talent. But if Williams struggles on Sunday night in prime time, there will be some concern.
Cam Ward, take 2
The No. 1 overall pick of the NFL Draft has been overshadowed practically since the end of the college season, but he's still the rookie who is most likely to have the biggest impact on this season. Ward played two series in the Tennessee Titans' opener, and that's the plan for the second game too, coach Brian Callahan said.
Ward played well last week. remaining focused for his second series even though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had more than 14 minutes of possession in the first quarter. Ward completed 5-of-8 passes for 67 yards. Every rep he can get before the season is valuable, especially considering his first regular-season game is a very tough test against a strong Denver Broncos defense.
Browns QB dilemma
Shedeur Sanders' injury will keep him out of this week's preseason game, and makes a weird Browns quarterback situation even tougher to figure out. The only thing that seems firm is that Joe Flacco will start Week 1, even if coach Kevin Stefanski is being coy about his decision. Flacco seems unlikely to play this preseason. Beyond Flacco, it's a mystery. Kenny Pickett seems to be second in line, but he missed most of camp and the first preseason game with a hamstring injury. Pickett is back to practicing on a limited basis but is not expected to play Saturday. That means a big opportunity for rookie Dillon Gabriel, the third-round pick who has been entirely overshadowed by Sanders. He seems likely to get the start and perhaps play into the second half, as Sanders did last week.
It has appeared this week that Pickett and Gabriel have remained ahead of Sanders on the depth chart even after Sanders played well last week. Pickett could either solidify his spot or lose some ground depending on his performance Saturday. It seems now like the Browns will keep four quarterbacks, but perhaps that can change too. The Browns have two more preseason games to figure it all out.
Jaxson Dart makes a move
Dart, the Giants' first-round rookie quarterback, is unlikely to start in Week 1 or even in September. But if he keeps playing really well in the preseason, he could make the decision a lot tougher on the Giants.
Dart looked good last week at Buffalo, and this week he gets to play at MetLife Stadium against the Jets. If Dart plays as well in front of Giants fans as he did last week, the speculation that he could be the QB1 for the season opener will increase. That possibility makes Jets-Giants one of the more intriguing games of the week.
"I can't wait," Dart said, via the team's site. "It's going to be a lot of fun. I hope that the fans come out, and they're super passionate."
Colts keep evaluating Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson
Jones will start Saturday afternoon's preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, but it will probably be much more important for Richardson. Jones will start but Richardson will get the majority of the work, Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen told Kay Adams on the "Up and Adams" show. Richardson's start last week didn't go well, with him missing a read that led to a sack, which resulted in a dislocated right pinkie finger. The competition revolves around Richardson. If he plays well, the Colts would be happy to give him the job. If he doesn't, it might go to Jones by default. He is under a lot of pressure to play well this week in what should be extended action.
Saints close to picking QB1
Saints coach Kellen Moore said "we're close" to picking a starting quarterback for Week 1 when asked on the "Up and Adams" show. He also said all three quarterbacks — Spencer Rattler, rookie Tyler Shough and Jake Haener — will play against the Jaguars and how they fare will "be a big part" in choosing a regular season starter. It seems like it's a two-man race between Rattler and Shough. Rattler got the start last week but Shough outplayed him. Shough, the team's second-round pick, is probably the better player but Rattler has experience. It's one of the truly unsettled quarterback competitions in the NFL, and a big part of the competition will play out Sunday afternoon on NFL Network.
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