With the Hall of Fame Game now wrapped up, the NFL pre-season moves into its first full weekend of action.
While the summer’s action is always difficult to judge with teams often wrapping their stars up in cotton wool, there is still plenty to keep an eye on heading into the new campaign.
From the top-drafted rookies to unsettled quarterback competitions, the coming days will offer an early glimpse of players and battles that could shape the 2025 season, as we look towards Super Bowl LX.
Here are five of the most intriguing storylines to follow this weekend.
5. Sanders Set For Prime-Time Start
Cleveland Browns @ Carolina Panthers
Friday, 7pm ET – Bank of America Stadium
Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will lead the Cleveland Browns in their pre-season opener against the Carolina Panthers under the Friday night lights.
Selected in the fifth round – despite anticipation that he could be the No.1 pick – Sanders has drawn worldwide attention since his standout days at Colorado.
Now, injuries to Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Pickett have cleared the path for his first taste of starting duties.
While he hasn’t had many reps with the first team in camp, this is his opportunity to make an early impression and begin his path to redemption.
However, it is worth considering that pre-season performances can mislead expectations, but a strong weekend could push Sanders ahead of Gabriel in the depth chart, even if regular-season snaps remain unlikely.
4. The J.J. McCarthy Era Finally Begins
Houston Texans @ Minnesota Vikings
Saturday, 4pm ET – U.S. Bank Stadium
Vikings fans have waited a year to see their 2024 first-round pick in action.
J.J. McCarthy’s rookie campaign ended before it began due to a torn meniscus, leaving Sam Darnold to guide Minnesota to the play-offs.
Now healthy, McCarthy inherits a team built to compete immediately.
Minnesota has bolstered its interior offensive line, pairing it with elite weapons in Justin Jefferson and, after a short suspension, Jordan Addison.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell will scheme to set McCarthy up for success, but the spotlight is unavoidably bright.
For a first-year starter, expectations are high. If McCarthy plays to his potential, this Vikings roster is capable of a deep postseason run.
3. Cameron Ward’s First Outing with the Titans
Tennessee Titans @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saturday, 7:30pm ET – Raymond James Stadium
The No.1 overall pick in the 2025 draft hasn’t attracted as much pre-season hype as you might expect, but that’s about to change.
Cameron Ward is set to make his first on-field appearance for Tennessee.
Head coach Brian Callahan has acknowledged the adjustment period for his new quarterback during camp, and with Ward locked in as the starter, his pre-season workload could be carefully managed to limit injury risk.
Still, every snap will be valuable as the rookie begins translating his college playmaking to the pro game.
2. Sorting Out the Giants’ QB Depth
New York Giants @ Buffalo Bills
Saturday, 1pm ET – Highmark Stadium
Russell Wilson’s arrival in New York has given Brian Daboll a proven leader, but the picture behind him is still developing.
Veteran Jameis Winston should get plenty of pre-season snaps to reinforce his hold on the backup role, but rookie Jaxson Dart – taken 25th overall in the draft – could challenge him with a strong showing.
A solid performance from Dart could fast-track his path to being Wilson’s eventual successor, making this a quietly important position battle in the Giants’ summer plans.
1. A Fresh Start For Mac Jones
Denver Broncos @ San Francisco 49ers
Saturday, 8:30pm ET – Levi’s Stadium
It wasn’t that long ago that Mac Jones was widely linked to the San Francisco 49ers as the potential No.3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
At the time, his reputation for quick decision-making seemed like an ideal fit for Kyle Shanahan’s system.
Instead, the 49ers opted for a quarterback with more mobility, leaving Jones to begin his career in New England before a brief stint in Jacksonville – and eventually arriving in San Francisco this off-season.
Now, Jones finds himself in one of the most valuable backup roles in football. History suggests Shanahan’s No.2 quarterbacks don’t just sit idle: Nick Mullens, C.J. Beathard, Brock Purdy, and Sam Darnold have all started games in recent years, with Purdy and Darnold earning major contract extensions this past offseason.
In a league where quarterback play can decline sharply outside the top tier, Jones’ combination of physical tools, prior starting experience, and the benefit of working under an elite offensive coach could make him one of the NFL’s more intriguing depth options.
