We have made it. Football (collegiate or NFL) will be played every weekend until Super Bowl LXI on Valentine's Day in 2027.
Week 1 of the preseason begins Thursday, August 13th, and will span through Sunday of the same week.
While the preseason is a dumbed-down version of regular season football, it's a chance for solidified players to get familiar with game speed and a chance for fringe players to impress their coaches in hopes of landing on the final 53-man roster at the end of the preseason.
There are also still plenty of storylines to watch for fans to watch for. Rookies, quarterback battles, and stars coming back from injuries are all things to keep an eye on. Typically, teams play most of their starters early in the preseason, so there will be lots of stars on the field this week.
Last week saw Arizona Cardinals' rookie QB Carson Beck put on a show in the standalone Hall-of-Fame game where he completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. With reports of Jacoby Brissett struggling a bit in camp, Beck's upcoming preseason performances could make Brissett's starting leash shorter and shorter.
Let's get into games and storylines to watch around the league for the first week of preseason:
1. Arizona Cardinals vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Date: Thursday, Aug. 13
Time: 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT
Two rookie quarterbacks will get significant run in a battle that pits the aforementioned Beck against the No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
These two quarterbacks faced off in the national championship game where, of course, Mendoza and Indiana got the best of Beck and Miami, but the NFL is much different landscape. Both of the college stars will start on the bench in the season opener, but a brilliant showing in preseason could push each respective team to want to go with their young prospect.
Mendoza will be behind the veteran Kirk Cousins to start the year, though he could quickly become the starter if the Raiders get off to a poor start.
2. Cleveland Browns vs. Chicago Bears
Date: Saturday, Aug. 15
Time: 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT
Another QB battle is happening in Cleveland where Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders are vying for the QB1 spot. Neither Watson nor Sanders have separated themselves in training camp, so these preseason games will be crucial.
"We're going to see both of [Watson and Sanders in preseason]," head coach Todd Monken said. "One will start this week and one will start next week. They will each play about a half, and I'd like to see them handle a two-minute situation."
While Sanders is thought of as the quarterback of the future, Watson is still on a massive five-year, $230 million contract and Cleveland still hasn't received anything in return with his poor play. This could be the final chance for the Browns to get any production from the guy they essentially traded Will Anderson Jr. for.
On the other side, the Chicago Bears offense is hoping to be the "highest-scoring offense ever," according to head coach Ben Johnson. Getting a good look at Caleb Williams' accuracy, feel in the pocket, and process on a down-to-down basis is key to that coming to fruition.
3. Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Giants
Date: Saturday, Aug. 15
Time: 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT
Kyler Murray was named QB1 for the Minnesota Vikings this week, but there's still plenty to watch for in this matchup.
Most importantly is how J.J. McCarthy looks. He has not been good in his career so far and is on a fast-track towards becoming a bust, but the talent that made him the No. 10 overall pick is still in there. Sure, he hasn't shown that he can throw with any touch, has poor pocket presence, average mobility, and is generally inaccurate, but he certainly has a strong arm and playmaking skills to maybe turn into something.
The Giants will be intriguing to watch as well. Jaxson Dart is looking to cement himself as the Giants QB moving forward, and John Harbaugh is trying to light a spark in a franchise that has been dark for more than a decade.
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