News
8/8/24
6 min read
NFL Preseason 2024: Which Teams Plan To Play Starters In Week 1?
2024 NFL preseason actions begin tonight. One of the most frequent questions fans have during the preseason is whether their team's starters will take the field at all.
Well, we've got you covered. We'll outline which team's best players will take the field this weekend and which ones won't.
The "unofficial depth charts" that NFL teams are putting out, and everyone reacts to, are kinda worthless and mean nothing.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 7, 2024
Let's explain this... https://t.co/ojt1Xga4ol pic.twitter.com/PZXWAFCgak
All listed times are Eastern Standard Time.
Starters Playing in 2024 Preseason Week 1
Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants
Date/Time: Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
TV: Local Broadcast
LIONS: Dan Campbell said Jared Goff and other established players won’t be seen on the field on Thursday night. We should get to see our first look at Hendon Hooker in this one.
GIANTS: Daniel Jones and the New York Giants starters are not expected to play.
Carolina Panthers vs. New England Patriots
Date/Time: Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
TV: NFL Network
PANTHERS: Dave Canales said Bryce Young will not play, and backup Andy Dalton will also be out due to a quad injury. Rookie Jack Plummer and Jake Luton will get most of the quarterback action.
PATRIOTS: Jerod Mayo plans to play all four of his quarterbacks. Jacoby Brissett will get the start followed by No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye. Fellow rookies Joe Milton and Bailey Zappe will get the rest of the game.
>> READ MORE: Every Team's Most Intriguing Preseason Player
Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins
Date/Time: Friday, 7:00 p.m.
TV: NFL+, Local Broadcast
FALCONS: Raheem Morris said we “won’t see much, if any,” of Kirk Cousins in this game. No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix will get most of the action.
DOLPHINS: Mike McDaniel didn’t make an official announcement, but Tua Tagovailoa has not played in the first preseason game of McDaniel's first two seasons in Miami, so that trend will likely continue. McDaniel did admit that the backup job is "neck and neck" between Skylar Thompson and Mike White.
Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Date/Time: Friday, 7:00 p.m.
TV: NFL Network, Local Broadcast
TEXANS: DeMeco Ryans said C.J. Stroud and the rest of their available starters are expected to play. "I truly believe that a guy needs to get reps in a preseason game," Ryans said.
STEELERS: Russell Wilson has been dealing with a calf injury, and the Steelers have been very cautious with him. As a result, he won’t play in this game, and Justin Fields will get the start. Wilson is still the team’s QB1, but Mike Tomlin acknowledged it is a competition.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Baltimore Ravens
Date/Time: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
TV: NFL+, Local Broadcast
EAGLES: Nick Sirrianni did not answer when asked if starters would play, opting to say, “We’ll see.”
RAVENS: John Harbaugh said Lamar Jackson will not play. Veteran journeyman Josh Johnson is expected to get most of the playing time.
Washington Commanders vs. New York Jets
Date/Time: Saturday, 12:00 p.m.
TV: NFL+, Local Broadcast
COMMANDERS: No. 2 overall pick QB Jayden Daniels will get the start.
JETS: Robert Saleh said Aaron Rodgers is unlikely to play in the preseason.
Chicago Bears vs. Buffalo Bills
Date/Time: Saturday, 1:00 p.m.
TV: NFL Network, Local Broadcast
BEARS: The Bears have not made an official announcement yet, but the expectation is that No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams will make his debut in this game.
BILLS: Sean McDermott said Josh Allen will start and play roughly one quarter.
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings
Date/Time: Saturday, 4:00 p.m.
TV: NFL Network, Local Broadcast
RAIDERS: The Raiders have a true quarterback competition between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew. Antonio Pierce did not reveal who would start, but he did say that the one who doesn’t start this week will get the start in preseason Week 2.
VIKINGS: Kevin O’Connell said Sam Darnold will start before the team then turns to rookie J.J. McCarthy.
>> READ MORE: Predicting Every QB Battle Winner
Green Bay Packers vs. Cleveland Browns
Date/Time: Saturday, 4:25 p.m.
TV: NFL+, Local Broadcast
PACKERS: Matt LaFleur said Jordan Love and some other starters are expected to play. “I think there’s a lot of value in getting your mind right to play a football game,” LaFleur said.
BROWNS: Deshaun Watson will not play in this game, and the Browns are expected to start Jameis Winston.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Date/Time: Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
TV: NFL Network, Local Broadcast
CHIEFS: The Chiefs will play Patrick Mahomes and the rest of their available starters. Carson Wentz will then take over.
JAGUARS: Doug Pederson said Trevor Lawrence will start.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Date/Time: Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
TV: NFL+, Local Broadcast
BUCCANEERS: Todd Bowles said most of his starters, including Baker Mayfield, will not play. Kyle Trask will get the start.
BENGALS: Zac Taylor said the plan is for Joe Burrow to play his first game after his season-ending wrist injury from a year ago.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Tennessee Titans
Date/Time: Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
TV: NFL+, Local Broadcast
49ERS: Kyle Shanahan said he won’t have any key starters on the field.
TITANS: Brian Callahan said most of his available starters, including Will Levis, will play "a series or two" in this game.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Date/Time: Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
TV: NFL+, Local Broadcast
SEAHAWKS: Mike Macdonald said Geno Smith will not see any snaps and Sam Howell is likely to get the start.
CHARGERS: Justin Herbert was recently diagnosed with a plantar fascia injury and will not play at all in the preseason.
New Orleans Saints vs. Arizona Cardinals
Date/Time: Saturday, 8:00 p.m.
TV: NFL+, Local Broadcast
SAINTS: Dennis Allen declined to answer if Derek Carr and other starters will make an appearance.
CARDINALS: Head coach Jonathan Gannon said Kyler Murray will not play in the preseason.
Denver Broncos vs. Indianapolis Colts
Date/Time: Sunday, 1:00 p.m.
TV: NFL Network, Local Broadcast
BRONCOS: No announcement yet
COLTS: Shane Steichen said Anthony Richardson and the starters “will play a series or two” in Sunday’s preseason opener.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams
Date/Time: Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
TV: NFL Network, Local Broadcast
COWBOYS: The Cowboys will not play Dak Prescott or any of their key offensive starters.
RAMS: The Rams have never played key starters in the preseason under head coach Sean McVay.
