NFL Preseason Week 1 Slate Preview 8-11

Aug 11th 2023

Sosa Kremenjas

We've arrived at the first official week of the preseason. Friday's slate consists of six games as we trudge through preseason Week 1.

Let's dive into the news, notes, depth charts, historical playing time, and notable injuries for all four teams heading into Friday.

All depth charts are sourced from Ourlads.

UPDATES:

  • Logan Thomas won't play for the Commanders tonight, according to Nicki Jhabvala.

  • Steelers QB Kenny Pickett will play one series, according to Gerry Dulac.

  • The full list of Dolphins players who won't play tonight:

  • The full list of Buccaneers players who won't play tonight:

  • The full list of Browns players who won't play tonight:

  • QB Tyrod Taylor is expected to start for the Giants tonight, though it doesn't appear he'll get a lot of playing time.

  • Nine Packers won't play in this game, including: CB Jaire Alexander, RB Lew Nichols, EDGE Rashan Gary, LT David Bakhtiari, TE Josiah Deguara, WR Grant DuBose

Green Bay Packers News & Injuries:

DOUBTFUL: EDGE Rashan Gary (knee); CB Eric Stokes (foot, knee); QUESTIONABLE: RB Lew Nichols (undisclosed); TE Tucker Kraft (quad); PROBABLE: WR Grant DuBose (undisclosed); FB Josiah Deguara (calf)

  • As of now, QB Jordan Love said the plan was for him to get a couple of series against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1.

  • Head coach Matt LaFleur said he hasn't totally solidified whether the starters would play this week but is leaning in that direction. There was also this tidbit from The Athletic:

[Jordan] Love said the plan is for him to play a couple series in Friday night’s preseason opener here in Cincinnati, but added that his gameday workload would be determined based on how Wednesday’s joint practice went. Head coach Matt LaFleur said Monday that the team has talked about not only Love, but “quite frankly playing everybody in this game,” save for a “select few.”

  • With Love likely to start, we can expect the starting offensive line out there to accommodate him, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

  • Last week, LaFleur expected to have a featured back in each preseason game to determine the depth chart behind Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. These candidates might get an entire full half to work each week.

Cincinnati Bengals News & Injuries:

OUT: QB Joe Burrow (calf); LT La'El Collins (knee); DOUBTFUL: RB Trayveon Williams (ankle); TE Mitchell Wilcox (undisclosed); CB Chidobe Awuzie (knee); QUESTIONABLE: WR Charlie Jones (shoulder)

  • A high number of starters won't play in this game, according to head coach Zac Taylor.

  • Two remaining QBs — presumably Trevor Siemian and Jake Browning — will split reps in Week 1. No starter was officially named.

  • Taylor seems more interested in getting starters some preseason reps in Weeks 2 and 3.

New York Giants News & Injuries:

OUT: WR Wan'Dale Robinson (knee); WR Jeff Smith (knee); QUESTIONABLE: WR Sterling Shepard (knee); RT Evan Neal (concussion); PROBABLE: WR Parris Campbell (knee); TE Lawrence Cager (undisclosed)

  • The Giants have yet to come out and confirm anything as a team, but Dan Duggan of The Athletic predicts the team will likely hold out their "top players" this week.

Detroit Lions News & Injuries:

OUT: QB Hendon Hooker (knee); TE Shane Zylstra (knee); WR Tom Kennedy (undisclosed); PROBABLE: WR Jameson Williams (leg); WR Trinity Benson (leg); WR Denzel Mims (ankle)

  • Head coach Dan Campbell implied that the joint practices against the Giants would be sufficient and that he won't play most of his top players in Week 1, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic.

  • It isn't known in which game, but Campbell also mentioned last week the team would "douse" Jameson Williams with a ton of preseason game reps. He's a player to circle.

Atlanta Falcons News & Injuries:

OUT: TE Feleipe Franks (undisclosed); WR Chris Blair (undisclosed); CB Jeff Okudah (ankle); QUESTIONABLE: TE Kyle Pitts (knee); TE Jonnu Smith (undisclosed)

  • Not much is known about the Falcons' plans in Week 1 of the preseason as head coach Arthur Smith was undecided on whether he'd play his starters or not. QB Desmond Ridder is in favor of playing.

Miami Dolphins News & Injuries:

OUT: CB Jalen Ramsey (knee); TE Tanner Conner (undisclosed); DOUBTFUL: WR Braylon Sanders (knee); LT Terron Armstead (hip); QUESTIONABLE: RB Jeff Wilson Jr. (undisclosed); RB Raheem Mostert (undisclosed); FB Alec Ingold (undisclosed); WR Jaylen Waddle (right side); PROBABLE: RB De'Von Achane (undisclosed); WR Erik Ezukanma (undisclosed)

  • Head coach Mike McDaniel hasn't said much other than he hasn't decided whether QB Tua Tagovailoa and the starters would play on Friday.

Pittsburgh Steelers News & Injuries:

OUT: RB Alfonzo Graham (undisclosed); DOUBTFUL: FB John Lovett (undisclosed)

  • All of the Steelers' healthy players will play "at this juncture", according to head coach Mike Tomlin. There aren't many injured players which suggests basically the entire starting unit could get some snaps.

  • And yes, QB Kenny Pickett will start this game. It's fair to assume almost everyone else on the offense will start alongside Pickett.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers News & Injuries:

OUT: DT Calijah Kancey (calf); DOUBTFUL: C Ryan Jensen (knee); QUESTIONABLE: EDGE Shaq Barrett (Achilles)

  • QB Baker Mayfield is slated to start in preseason Week 1 while Kyle Trask is set to start at QB in Week 2. The two QBs have rotated with the first-team offense throughout training camp.

  • Head coach Todd Bowles wouldn't commit to starters playing across the board and said the coaches are still deciding how to play Friday in terms of personnel.

  • ESPN's Jenna Laine highlighted Trask, WR Deven Thompkins, and TE David Wells as surprise performers at camp and players to focus on going into the preseason.

Washington Commanders News & Injuries:

OUT: TE Armani Rogers (Achilles); TE Logan Thomas (calf); PROBABLE: CB Emmanuel Forbes (groin)

  • It probably shouldn't come as a surprise but former fifth-round pick QB Sam Howell will start this game for the Commanders.

  • With Howell expected to start, it's probably fair to assume some if not the majority of the Commanders' starting offense will trot out there with him. Head coach Ron Rivera hasn't yet shared his playing time plans.

Cleveland Browns News & Injuries:

OUT: RB Jerome Ford (hamstring); WR Daylen Baldwin (hamstring); WR Michael Woods (Achilles); DOUBTFUL: WR Marquise Goodwin (blood clots); QUESTIONABLE: WR Jakeem Grant (Achilles); WR Jaelon Darden (leg); TE Harrison Bryant (undisclosed)

  • QB Deshaun Watson will start on Friday but he doesn't know how long he'll play.

  • Head coach Kevin Stefanski said the majority of their starters will play. He also suggested Watson could play 1-2 series:

Stefanski said almost all of the regulars will play in Friday’s game and that Watson playing one or two (or possibly more) drives will depend on how the game goes. He added that all four quarterbacks are scheduled to play Friday.

Denver Broncos News & Injuries:

OUT: WR Tim Patrick (Achilles); WR K.J. Hamler (pec, heart); RT Mike McGlinchey (knee); QUESTIONABLE: RB Javonte Williams (knee); WR Brandon Johnson (ankle); TE Chris Manhertz (undisclosed); S Justin Simmons (groin)

  • Head coach Sean Payton said QB Russell Wilson and the starters would play in Week 1 of the preseason. The head coach also mentioned the starters would play roughly 15-18 snaps.

  • Starting RB Javonte Williams hopes to play in Week 1 though the team has yet to discuss the plan with him. It appears Williams has a much better shot of suiting up in Week 2.

  • It shouldn't come as a surprise but all of the top tight ends will play in this game, despite Adam Trautman being listed as the starter on the depth chart.

Arizona Cardinals News & Injuries:

OUT: QB Kyler Murray (knee); RB Marlon Mack (Achilles); TE Zach Ertz (knee); QUESTIONABLE: TE Trey McBride (undisclosed); PROBABLE: RB Keaontay Ingram (abdomen); WR Marquise Brown (undisclosed)

  • Veteran QB Colt McCoy will play in Week 1, according to rookie head coach Jonathan Gannon. The head man didn't specify if McCoy would start and in which order we'd see his QBs but it's probably fair to expect McCoy to get the first shot in this game.