With the preseason schedule cut down from four games to three, coaches are even more strategic about when they want to deploy starters, if they are going to use them at all. We saw a handful of big names play in Week 1 and should see more of them play in Week 2, but that is never a guarantee. Sometimes it depends on the location of the game. Other times, it depends on how practice goes, especially the joint practices against the Week 2 preseason opponents.
Compiled from various beat writer accounts on social media and the outlets that they write for, here are some quick notes on the quarterback situations for the Week 2 preseason games. This will be updated as the week goes along and you can follow this NFL Beat Writers list I put together on X. In some cases, I gave my opinions based on my read of the team’s situation or what happened last preseason.
Keep an eye on the NFL Preseason Betting Splits, as some action and line movement will be good indicators of news that has broken.
Update as of 2:30 p.m. PT on 8/17.
Thursday, August 20
Raiders vs. Texans – 8 p.m. ET
Klint Kubiak continues to rotate all three QBs with the first-team offense in practice, leading me to believe that we see all three of them on Thursday. We probably won’t see Kirk Cousins for long, given that Kubiak is still committed to him as the starter. This could be an extended look at Fernando Mendoza against a really stout defensive team, but I think Aidan O’Connell plays a lot here, as more Mendoza in Week 3 at home makes a ton of sense.
Houston mustered just 98 net passing yards with Davis Mills and Graham Mertz last week. CJ Stroud played in the Texans’ second preseason game last year and was 6-of-8 for 44 yards and a touchdown. I’m guessing he gets a series or two in the final preseason home game and won’t play next week.
49ers vs. Chargers – 10 p.m. ET
Neither Brock Purdy nor Mac Jones played in Week 1 for the 49ers. Kurtis Rourke has been battling a chest injury with some breathing complications, so we’ll have to monitor him as the week goes along. It may just be a heavy diet of Adrian Martinez, who was 16-of-30 passing in the Week 1 loss to the Titans. I can’t imagine we see Purdy, but a series or two for Jones, especially if Rourke can’t go, wouldn’t be shocking.
There are a lot of offensive line questions for the Chargers. As of Monday, I would guess we’re not going to see Justin Herbert, as Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei will see all the work.
Friday, August 21
Jets vs. Steelers – 7 p.m. ET
Aaron Glenn did not put Geno Smith out there last week, as he’s been nursing an ankle injury. As of Monday, Smith was a full practice participant, but with a limp. With Cade Klubnik, Brady Cook, and Bailey Zappe all in the hunt for the backup role, it only makes sense to see all of them again.
Mike McCarthy said that he doesn’t envision DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. playing, so that leads me to believe that Aaron Rodgers won’t either. We should see a balanced rotation again with Drew Allar, Mason Rudolph, and Will Howard, given that all held their own last week. Allar actually looked quite good and that may be something McCarthy looks to build upon.
Panthers vs. Jaguars – 7:30 p.m. ET
Hall of Fame Game hero Haynes King won’t play here, as the Panthers divvy up playing time between Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett, and Kyle Trask. It looked like Dave Canales was really just working on rhythm and timing last week. The Bills had 245 passing yards on 26 completions. The Panthers had 140 on 25 completed tosses, as Pickett was 16-of-19 for just 92 yards.
Liam Coen told reporters on Monday that “starters will get a couple of drives potentially”, so I think we will see Trevor Lawrence out there in front of the home crowd. I can’t imagine we’ll see a lot of him. Nick Mullens won’t play this week, so there are important reps ahead for Carter Bradley and Joey Aguilar in terms of a possible practice squad spot.
Packers vs. Broncos – 9 p.m. ET
Not much early in the week on this one, though I would expect to see Jordan Love play a little bit at home. Tyrod Taylor will play some again and Kyle McCord will once again get the chance to show something and make the practice squad.
Bo Nix is expected to play after not playing last week, with Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger in reserve. I can’t imagine Nix is out there a lot, but Sean Payton made it a point to say that the starters would get some run.
Saturday, August 22
Commanders vs. Lions – Noon ET
Dan Campbell doesn’t play his starters in the preseason, so Jared Goff and others should be observers on Saturday. Joshua Dobbs should play a lot more this week after Luke Altmyer had 22 of the 30 pass attempts last week. Dobbs was recently added to the roster and will need the reps with Teddy Bridgewater’s retirement.
The Commanders won’t have Marcus Mariota this week, so any action for Jayden Daniels will be followed up by Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis. Hartman was on the field for all three of the Commanders’ first-half scoring drives last week.
Bills vs. Browns – 1 p.m. ET
Don’t expect to see Josh Allen play here for the Bills, but expect Shedeur Sanders to get the start for the Browns. First-year head coach Todd Monken previously said that Sanders would start Week 2 after Deshaun Watson started Week 1. I would anticipate that we see both of them, though, and Monken also said “most” starters would play. That said, Monken also said that he and Bills first-year head coach Joe Brady would agree to sit most starters if the joint practices go well.
Allen threw eight passes and had 111 yards on six completions against the Panthers, but it will be Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele for most, if not all, of Week 2.
Falcons vs. Colts – 1 p.m. ET
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said that the starters will not play this week, meaning Tua Tagoavailoa will be sidelined. Michael Penix Jr. is still working his way back from injury and is expected to take part in 7-on-7 drills in joint practices, but not play in the game. Jack Strand was taking first-team reps over Cooper Rush early in the week, so it seems like he has a good chance to start.
For the Colts, Riley Leonard will get the start and Anthony Richardson will be the backup. That was the plan heading into last week, as Leonard relieved Richardson, so they’ll flip the script this week. Daniel Jones will not play at all in the preseason.
Ravens vs. Vikings – 1 p.m. ET
Jesse Minter told reporters early in the week that a “similar” group of players would play here. We’ll see if that means Joe Fagnano gets the bulk of the QB reps or not, as Tyler Huntley had seven pass attempts, Austin Reed had two (and a nice rushing TD), and Fagnano had 28.
Carson Wentz led the Vikings in pass attempts in Week 1, but all four QBs played. Kyler Murray had three passes and J.J. McCarthy had seven. My guess is that we see more McCarthy this week, while Wentz gets showcased for maybe getting on a roster somewhere else and Max Brosmer draws the short straw again.
Saints vs. Rams – 4 p.m. ET
Tyler Shough didn’t play last week for the Saints, as Spencer Rattler, Zach Wilson, and Hunter Dekkers ranged from 11 pass attempts to 16. With Shough entrenched as the starter, he might get some reps this week and next, but the Rattler/Wilson QB2 battle is one that needs to be solved.
Unless Sean McVay has a massive change of heart, we won’t see Matthew Stafford or many players of consequence this week. Ty Simpson shined last week in extended duty with 25 pass attempts, while Stetson Bennett IV only had six. I’d have to think it’s more balanced this week, since Bennett is vying for the backup spot and McVay may prefer a slightly more experienced QB2.
Giants vs. Dolphins – 4 p.m. ET
The Giants signed Jake Haener this week. Brandon Allen has been terrible in the preseason and Joe Webb retired, so Haener is another body, but one who could feature prominently this week despite not being very deep into the playbook. With some major offensive line issues, I’m not sure we’ll see Jaxson Dart this week as things currently stand.
Miami might be light at QB this week. Quinn Ewers didn’t practice on Monday, as Malik Willis looked good on the day. Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski may be in line for the vast majority (or all) of the work on Saturday.
Bears vs. Bengals – 7 p.m. ET
In something of a surprise last week, Joe Burrow played two series for the Bengals, accumulating 13 snaps. Burrow was hit a couple of times, so, while I’d expect him to play again, I think a similar workload is possible. Joe Flacco may get a little time again as well, but plan for Josh Johnson and Sean Clifford to see most of the snaps here.
As far as the Bears go, maybe we see a little bit of Caleb Williams, but “little bit” is the key phrase there. It should be Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum for the majority again. They were 22-of-32 for 320 yards and 3 TD against the Browns last week.
Eagles vs. Patriots – 7 p.m. ET
No updates early in the week for this Saturday night tilt, but neither Jalen Hurts nor Drake Maye played last week and we may be an underdog to see either one this week. Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton are a pretty formidable duo, even though they combined for just 55 yards on 16 pass attempts last week, as Cole Payton led the team with 37 passing yards against the Ravens.
The Patriots exclusively used Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton in their tie against the Colts. With Maye having some nice practice reps, I’d plan on him playing very little or not at all.
Chiefs vs. Buccaneers – 7:30 p.m. ET
Andy Reid told reporters “the more reps they get, the better” about Justin Fields and Garrett Nussmeier. Patrick Mahomes is coming back from a major injury, so expect these two to be featured prominently. Chris Oladokun did not play last week and maybe he won’t play this week either, as the Chiefs need to figure out if Nussmeier will be a factor.
Todd Bowles said that the starters will play this week and that includes QB Baker Mayfield. We’ll see how long Mayfield is out there. Emeka Egbuka will not be, so Mayfield will be developing some chemistry with others for however long he’s on the field. Jalon Daniels really, really impressed last week and looked a lot better than Connor Bazelak and I’m guessing he’ll get the chance to do that again. Jake Browning was hurt last week in practice, so he didn’t play in Week 1. If he’s healthy, plan on him playing a good portion of the first half in my opinion.
Cowboys vs. Cardinals – 10 p.m. ET
One of the main roster battles for the Cowboys is between Joe Milton and Sam Howell for the backup QB role. Dak Prescott won’t play here and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Milton for a half and Howell for a half. Howell started last week. Given how the two have alternated in practice, my guess is Milton starts.
We don’t know exactly who will play QB, but we know Jeremiyah Love won’t be out there. We’ll see if Mike LaFleur thinks twice about putting anybody at risk, but he used Jacoby Brissett for a little bit last week, Gardner Minshew for a little bit more, and Kedon Slovis mopped up. Remember, this is Arizona’s third preseason game after playing the Hall of Fame Game.
Sunday, August 23
Seahawks vs. Titans – 8 p.m. ET
Mitch Trubisky was hurt on Monday in practice, so his status is up in the air as we look ahead to Sunday. Cam Ward didn’t look great in the first preseason game and I’d expect Robert Saleh to roll the dice and get him some work at home here. I would also expect a lot of Will Levis, who will get a lot of work this week with Trubisky banged up.
I would guess that the Seahawks use Drew Lock a bit and Jalen Milroe a lot here. Maybe Sam Darnold gets a series or two, if that.
