The 2021 NFL preseason is officially underway following last Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game. The preseason begins in earnest this week with a full 16-game slate starting Thursday and wrapping up Sunday.
This first game will likely see most healthy starters getting some playing time, but there will be limitations. Most starting QBs will not get more than a couple series, with rookies and other young players a potential exception. Last week, Ben Roethlisberger and Ezekiel Elliott did not play in the Hall of Fame Game, but we can probably expect them back.
Fantasy football draft season has begun, but doesn’t really get crazy until the second or third weekend of the preseason. That gives folks this first week to start assessing who is worth moving up or down your fantasy rankings. And of course, injuries will start to impact rankings.
Here, we’ll be tracking any commentary or information about which starters we can expect to see in Week 1 of the NFL preseason.
Arizona Cardinals
DeAndre Hopkins also in street clothes, standing with injured WRs A.J. Green and Antoine Wesley.
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) August 14, 2021
Atlanta Falcons
A bit of a roll call here for you: Matt Ryan, AJ Terrell, Hayden Hurst, Calvin Ridley, Jake Matthews, Erik Harris, Duron Harmon, Russell Gage, Grady Jarrett and Foye Oluokun, among other prominent Falcons, not dressing out for Friday night's preseason game against Tennessee.
— Scott Bair (@ScottBairNFL) August 13, 2021
Baltimore Ravens
TBD
Buffalo Bills
#Bills QB Josh Allen will not play against the Lions on Friday, HC Sean McDermott announces.
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) August 11, 2021
Carolina Panthers
TBD
Chicago Bears
Matt Nagy said Justin Fields on Saturday:
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) August 12, 2021
• Will take over for Andy Dalton in the first quarter.
• Will play past halftime and maybe into the fourth quarter
Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow, Hopkins, Ogunjobi, F. Johnson, all not expected to play for the Bengals Saturday in Tampa.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) August 12, 2021
Cleveland Browns
Case Keenum will start at QB on Saturday. Kyle Lauletta will take over when Keenum's night is over.
— Andrew Gribble (@Andrew_Gribble) August 12, 2021
UPDATE: Stefanski says we will rest 'majority of the starters' in the first preseason game.
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 12, 2021
» https://t.co/VQSRtDlcK5 pic.twitter.com/iAQMQ5ITip
Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb is in uniform and expected to make his preseason debut tonight vs. Cardinals. He returned some punts pregame while ST coordinator John Fassel drilled ball security, throwing right hooks when wearing a black boxing glove. pic.twitter.com/cGgdVeU2FY
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) August 14, 2021
Denver Broncos
Fangio said Lock starts preseason game vs Vikings; Bridgewater starts vs Seattle. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) August 10, 2021
#Broncos Fangio said look for Drew and Teddy to play more than one quarter in their starts because there is only 3 preseason games. He said they will play more than third stringer Brett Rypien. #Denver7
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) August 10, 2021
Detroit Lions
Looks like Tyrell Williams and Jermar Jefferson are playing tonight. Don't see D'Andre Swift, Quintez Cephus, Damion Ratley or Chad Hansen. Breshad Perriman's dressed and out here but not doing anything in warmups.
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurkeNFL) August 13, 2021
Green Bay Packers
TBD
Houston Texans
Texans’ GM Nick Caserio said on SportsRadio 610 in Houston this morning that he does not expect Deshaun Watson to travel to Green Bay this weekend. So Watson unofficially out for Houston’s preseason opener.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 10, 2021
Indianapolis Colts
Frank Reich says the Colts will sit a “fair amount” of starters on Sunday.
— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) August 13, 2021
Jacob Eason to start. Play a quarter to a quarter and a half.
Will then flip that with Sam Ehlinger starting next Saturday in the second preseason game.
Jacksonville Jaguars
#Jaguars will play both Gardner Minshew and 1st overall pick Trevor Lawrence on Saturday.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 12, 2021
Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs coach Andy Reid says the plan for Saturday’s preseason game is starters will play the first quarter; second team the second quarters; third team the third quarter; fourth team the final quarter.
— Herbie Teope (@HerbieTeope) August 12, 2021
Las Vegas Raiders
TBD
Los Angeles Chargers
QB Chase Daniel will start Saturday vs. Rams at SoFi. Easton Stick will play second, via HC Brandon Staley #Chargers
— Gilbert Manzano (@GManzano24) August 12, 2021
#Chargers coach Brandon Staley says QB Justin Herbert WILL NOT PLAY in any preseason games.
— Fernando Ramirez (@RealFRamirez) August 12, 2021
#Chargers coach Brandon Staley says “all rookies will play in the preseason.”
— Fernando Ramirez (@RealFRamirez) August 12, 2021
Los Angeles Rams
Sean McVay: "Zero chance" Matthew Stafford will ever take preseason snap for Ramshttps://t.co/0uVN4cd1Xg pic.twitter.com/nBaDBs3oLi
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) August 6, 2021
Sean McVay says backup QB John Wolford will not play in the preseason.
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) August 11, 2021
Miami Dolphins
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa will play his first ever NFL preseason Saturday.
— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) August 11, 2021
Minnesota Vikings
Vikings' top draft picks Christian Darrisaw and Kellen Mond likely won't play in Saturday's preseason opener vs Denver, per Mike Zimmer.
— Andrew Krammer (@Andrew_Krammer) August 11, 2021
Darrisaw has yet to ramp up past individual drills in practices. Mond just returned from a COVID case and 10-day quarantine.
New England Patriots
Lots to look forward to tonight: Cam/Mac expected to play...Mac retires No. 50 in place of new number (stay tuned)...revamped front-7 with free-agent import Matt Judon fired up for debut ("every time I step on the field it's a gift")...can rookie K Quinn Nordin maintain momentum?
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 12, 2021
New Orleans Saints
Sean Payton said Saints QBs Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston will both play in each of the first two preseason games and they’ll “flip” them. Didn’t specify who is starting Saturday.
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) August 12, 2021
New York Giants
Daniel Jones will not play in Saturday’s preseason game vs Jets. #giants
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) August 12, 2021
Kadarius Toney on the side for today’s walkthrough. Pretty safe bet that he won’t play Saturday based on his light workload to this point.
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) August 12, 2021
New York Jets
Saleh said that Wilson and the starters will play “about a quarter” on Saturday. #Jets
— Andy Vasquez (@andy_vasquez) August 12, 2021
#Jets HC Robert Saleh says Elijah Moore is being evaluated for a quad. There’s a chance he doesn’t play on Saturday. He’s getting an MRI
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) August 12, 2021
Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts will play, but “one of the things we have to our advantage is that no one knows what we’re running.” So obviously not revealing playbook. #Eagles
— Martin Frank (@Mfranknfl) August 10, 2021
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tomlin says the QB division of labor will be the same as vs Dallas:
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 10, 2021
Rudolph will start, Haskins enters late 1st half, Dobbs finishes the game. No Ben.
Tomlin said he has no plans to hold Najee Harris back at all in this game.
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) August 10, 2021
San Francisco 49ers
Shanahan says that Jalen Hurd and Dee Ford won't play Saturday against the Chiefs.
— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) August 12, 2021
He anticipates that Trey Lance will play about 30 snaps. Don't expect Lance to play behind the first-team OL, though. Shanahan said all of the starters will come off the field with Jimmy G. #49ers
Seattle Seahawks
TBD
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucs coach Bruce Arians said Tom Brady will start Saturday’s game unless the field is sloppy from rain from TS Fred. C Robert Hainesy won’t play.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) August 12, 2021
Arians says everyone will play in the first preseason game, including Tom Brady.
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) August 9, 2021
Tennessee Titans
#Titans' Vrabel: Darrynton Evans will start the game, get some carries, hopefully get some good pass protecion assignments ... Says he's been doing "good" at camp, because he's been able to be out there every day.
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) August 11, 2021
Ryan Tannehill won’t play Friday, Vrabel said.
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) August 11, 2021
Washington Football Team
"Oh, we're going to play our guys on Thursday," Ron Rivera said regarding his better players. He said they'll play enough. He wants to see command, wants to see some success, too, from Ryan Fitzpatrick as QB1
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) August 8, 2021