NFL Preseason Week 1 Slate Preview 8/12

Aug 12th 2023

Sosa Kremenjas

We've arrived at the first official week of the preseason. Saturday's slate consists of six games as we continue to work our way 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 Saturday.

All depth charts are sourced from Ourlads.

UPDATES:

  • The Titans will start second-year QB Malik Willis on Saturday. We can expect to see a lot of Willis and rookie Will Levis.

  • Colts LB Shaq Leonard will play in this game though he'll be on a pitch count.

  • It seems like the hope is the Bears' starters will play one series if it ends up being a "clean operation". Possibly a second series if the first doesn't go all that well. WR Chase Claypool doesn't look like he'll play.

  • None of the Cowboy's star players are expected to play, per Todd Archer.

Indianapolis Colts News & Injuries:

OUT: RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle); RB Zack Moss (arm); WR Ethan Fernea (undisclosed); TE Will Mallory (foot); QUESTIONABLE: RB Deon Jackson (undisclosed); WR Zavier Scott (undisclosed); TE Andrew Ogletree (knee); TE Jelani Woods (hamstring); TE Mo Alie-Cox (ankle); DT DeForest Buckner (foot); LB Shaq Leonard (back)

  • Rookie QB Anthony Richardson will start this game for the Colts. He'll get the first shot to win the No. 1 QB job.

  • According to Kevin Bowen of 1075 The Fan, the Colts are planning to play their starters around a quarter, although the staff will have a case-by-case plan for each player.

  • Stephen Holder of ESPN expects RB Evan Hull to get a good amount of work in this game.

Buffalo Bills News & Injuries:

OUT: QB Josh Allen (rest); RB Nyheim Hines (knee); WR Stefon Diggs (rest); EDGE Von Miller (knee); QUESTIONABLE: RB Damien Harris (knee); FB Reggie Gilliam (groin); WR Bryan Thompson (concussion); WR Isaiah Coulter (knee)

  • Most of the starters are set to play a quarter, according to head coach Sean McDermott. QB Josh Allen and WR Stefon Diggs are among the veteran players that won't play.

  • McDermott also mentioned getting some of the younger players snaps:

“Most of the starters will play,” McDermott said. “They will play, give or take, a quarter depending on who it is and the situation in the game. Overall, we want to get them to where they need to go, but also take a good look at some of the younger players.”

Tennessee Titans News & Injuries:

OUT: Ryan Tannehill (rest); QUESTIONABLE: EDGE Harold Landry (knee)

  • The Titans have been very hush-hush on their playing time plans. Head coach Mike Vrabel did say they would play some of their starters in this game but refused to say who would start at QB.

Chicago Bears News & Injuries:

QUESTIONABLE: QB Nathan Peterman (undisclosed); RB Roschon Johnson (undisclosed); RB D'Onta Foreman (undisclosed); RB Travis Homer (undisclosed); WR Dante Pettis (undisclosed); WR Chase Claypool (hamstring); WR Equanimeous St. Brown (ankle); LB Tremaine Edmunds (undisclosed)

  • QB Justin Fields will play in this game, and so will selected starters. Head coach Matt Eberflus said they'd play "here and there" but also mentioned some guys could play 7-10 plays, and others could get 12-15 snaps.

New York Jets News & Injuries:

OUT: QB Aaron Rodgers (rest); RB Breece Hall (knee); QUESTIONABLE: WR Garrett Wilson (ankle); RT Mekhi Becton (knee); EDGE Carl Lawson (back); CB Sauce Gardner (quad); PROBABLE: WR Jason Brownlee (neck)

  • It shouldn't come as a surprise but Aaron Rodgers won't play in this game. Head coach Robert Saleh was noncommittal with the remaining starters.

  • Backup QB Zach Wilson will start in this game and will share snaps with Tim Boyle.

Carolina Panthers News & Injuries:

OUT: WR Damiere Byrd (hamstring); DOUBTFUL: RB Miles Sanders (groin); QUESTIONABLE: WR Laviska Shenault (undisclosed)

  • No. 1 overall pick QB Bryce Young will start this game for the Panthers. No surprise after he was named the No. 1 QB by head coach Frank Reich earlier in the offseason.

  • The Panthers are expected to play their starters, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

  • RB Miles Sanders is unlikely to play in this game after tweaking his groin in practice.

  • There's a chance veteran QB Andy Dalton won't play at all in the preseason. It's fair to assume we'll see a lot of Matt Corral.

Jacksonville Jaguars News & Injuries:

OUT: WR Jaylon Moore (undisclosed); QUESTIONABLE: WR Jamal Agnew (back); TE Sammis Reyes (concussion); CB Tyson Campbell (concussion)

  • The starters will play a series or two on Saturday, according to head coach Doug Pederson. It remains to be seen if that means all starters or not, but the Jaguars have yet to specify.

Dallas Cowboys News & Injuries:

DOUBTFUL: QB Dak Prescott (rest); RB Ronald Jones (groin); QUESTIONABLE: RB Tony Pollard (leg); PROBABLE: TE Luke Schoonmaker (foot); DT Mazi Smith (knee)

  • The Cowboys were leaning towards not playing QB Dak Prescott at all in the preseason. It's fair to assume he's not going to appear in this game.

  • RB Ronald Jones is not expected to play in this game after injuring his groin in practice.

  • TE Luke Schoonmaker is expected to play. As is first-round pick DT Mazi Smith.

Philadephia Eagles News & Injuries:

DOUBTFUL: WR Deon Cain (ankle); WR Charleston Rambo (undisclosed); QUESTIONABLE: WR Devon Allen (undisclosed); CB James Bradberry (groin)

  • The Eagles haven't made a decision yet as it pertains to their starters or their playing time on Saturday. Zach Berman of The Athletic doesn't expect to see many of the top players.

Baltimore Ravens News & Injuries:

OUT: QB Lamar Jackson (rest); RB J.K. Dobbins (undisclosed); WR Odell Beckham Jr. (rest); WR Makai Polk (undisclosed); WR Rashod Bateman (foot); TE Mark Andrews (rest)

  • Baltimore won't play any of their established starters this week. That includes QB Lamar Jackson and others. Head coach John Harbaugh did say some of the younger starters would suit up.

  • There's a "possibility" that rookie WR Zay Flowers plays this week, though it isn't set in stone it appears.

Los Angeles Chargers News & Injuries:

OUT: WR Jalen Guyton (undisclosed); QUESTIONABLE: RB Tyler Hoosman (undisclosed); WR Josh Palmer (undisclosed); WR Darrius Shepherd (undisclosed); WR John Hightower (undisclosed); CB J.C. Jackson (knee)

  • Daniel Popper of The Athletic highlighted RBs Isaiah Spiller and Joshua Kelley as players to watch in this game.

  • Not much is known about the Chargers' plans in this upcoming game, other than head coach Brandon Staley mentioning that Easton Stick would play a lot and that Max Duggan would also get out there.

Los Angeles Rams News & Injuries:

OUT: TE Hunter Long (groin); QUESTIONABLE: WR Cooper Kupp (hamstring); TE Davis Allen (hamstring)

  • The Rams have historically not played any of their starters under head coach Sean McVay. Not much has been said on their preseason plans but it's fair to assume no presumed entrenched starters will be showing up in this one.