The 2025 NFL preseason kicked off with the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame Sport. It was a largely one-sided affair between the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions, with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance among the many most notable gamers to headline the competition. Now comes the enjoyable half: the primary full slate of exhibition motion, which begins Thursday.
Loads of contenders, just like the reigning Super Bowl foes within the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, are anticipated to relaxation most, if not all, of their finest expertise upfront of the common season. Nonetheless loads of others are set to accentuate summer time roster battles, and/or attempt to foster staff chemistry within the lead-up to September.
So which NFL teams want this preseason probably the most? Which golf equipment may particularly stand to get key gamers and place competitions into reside recreation settings? Listed below are eight groups that match the invoice, together with a minimum of one Tremendous Bowl hopeful, in addition to key questions that every staff hopes to have answered within the coming weeks of play:
Key questions:
- Will Michael Penix Jr. construct sufficient momentum to realize reliable inner and exterior belief because the Falcons’ new full-time beginning quarterback?
- How will Kirk Cousins‘ ongoing presence as Penix’s backup play out in preseason motion, and the way would possibly his efficiency change what’s left of his commerce market?
- Does Raheem Morris’ protection, which now contains a pair of rookie edge rushers in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., have sufficient expertise to make a large leap?
Key questions:
Key questions:
Key questions:
- Can Anthony Richardson keep upright and showcase improved accuracy as a passer for coach Shane Steichen, reclaiming his job as the highest quarterback?
- Alternatively, can Daniel Jones earn a brand new lease on a first-team gig by outdoing Richardson as a extra environment friendly operator of the preseason offense?
- How will new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo kind out a secondary at present battling accidents to Charvarius Ward, Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents?
Key questions:
- Can Trevor Lawrence, who’s out to rebound from a turnover-marred begin to his profession, regular himself in his first reside motion underneath new coach Liam Coen?
- How a lot chemistry, if any, can Lawrence construct with new huge receiver Travis Hunter throughout exhibition motion and/or carry into the true schedule?
- Will Tank Bigsby proceed to push Travis Etienne Jr., who’s coming into a contract 12 months, for the correct to function Coen’s high multipurpose ball service?
Key questions:
- Is J.J. McCarthy, the brand new beginning quarterback, able to shifting the chains towards a reside move rush after an offseason program dominated by the Vikings protection?
- Can coach Kevin O’Connell discover purpose to belief his backup state of affairs underneath heart, with each Sam Howell and Brett Rypien producing blended outcomes this summer time?
- Which of the membership’s new cornerbacks, together with Jeff Okudah and Isaiah Rodgers, will emerge as a transparent Day 1 starter for defensive coordinator Brian Flores?
Key questions:
- Which younger quarterback will new coach Kellen Moore truly gravitate towards within the rotation: rookie Tyler Shough or holdovers Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener?
- How will new left sort out Kelvin Banks Jr. maintain up in all areas of safety, serving because the anticipated cornerstone of New Orleans’ current and future entrance?
- Can new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley settle the again finish of the Saints’ secondary with new veteran safeties Justin Reid and Julian Blackmon?
Key questions:
- Will Aaron Rodgers truly need, or be granted, reliable preseason taking part in time? As a result of the clock is ticking on the 41-year-old adapting to a different new program.
- Can a downfield risk emerge reverse DK Metcalf out huge, guaranteeing Rodgers has somebody aside from younger Roman Wilson to focus on on deep photographs?
- How will Mike Tomlin’s new-look secondary shake out with Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay added to a defensive again group now lacking security Minkah Fitzpatrick?