News & Injuries

NFL playing-time plans continue to develop as teams prepare for their preseason finales. Several decisions changed Wednesday afternoon, including confirmed rest plans for New Orleans and Tampa Bay and a major reversal in Denver.

Plans that have not been officially announced remain subject to change. Here is the latest starter and quarterback information available.

STEELERS AT BILLS

Buffalo will play some starters, but Josh Allen will sit. Kyle Allen is expected to start at quarterback, with Shane Buechele also scheduled to play. The exact workload split has not been announced.

Pittsburgh is expected to protect Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. Will Howard and Drew Allar should handle the quarterback work as the Steelers continue evaluating their young passers.

49ERS AT RAIDERS

San Francisco is expected to play very few established starters because of its quick turnaround before Week 1. Kyle Shanahan indicated that only a small number of starters could participate.

Las Vegas continues to evaluate Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza. Cousins recently received all the first-team practice reps, but the Raiders have not announced their finale rotation or officially closed the quarterback competition.

PATRIOTS AT BROWNS

Both teams have confirmed that their established starters will sit.

Cleveland will rest Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Dillon Gabriel will start, with Taylen Green following him.

New England will protect Drake Maye and its first-team players. Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton are positioned to handle the quarterback work.

RAMS AT CHARGERS

Justin Herbert and most Chargers starters will play approximately six to nine snaps. Derwin James and Khalil Mack are not expected to participate.

The Rams will protect their established starters. The backup competition between Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson remains open, while Matthew Caldwell is confirmed to make his preseason debut. The exact three-quarterback rotation has not been announced.

FALCONS AT DOLPHINS

Atlanta has confirmed that its starters will play, although Michael Penix Jr. will sit after completing only three full-team practices.

The Falcons’ quarterback order will be Tua Tagovailoa, Cooper Rush and Jack Strand. The individual workloads remain unannounced.

Miami has not confirmed its starter plan. Jeff Hafley has increased the first team’s practice workload and said injuries have caused him to go back and forth on using the starters. Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller will probably play.

SAINTS AT COWBOYS

New Orleans has confirmed that most starters will sit. Kellen Moore said this was his preferred plan because the Saints received enough quality work during their three joint practices. Last year’s heavier preseason usage was connected to an unresolved quarterback competition that New Orleans does not have this season.

Dallas will also protect its established starters, including Dak Prescott. Joe Milton and Sam Howell will receive the meaningful quarterback work as their QB2 competition continues. The starter and exact rotation remain unannounced, although Milton currently has the stronger performance signal.

SEAHAWKS AT CHIEFS

Seattle is not expected to play its established starters or important rotational players, although Mike Macdonald has not formally announced the complete plan.

Kansas City will rest Patrick Mahomes. Garrett Nussmeier will start, and he could play the entire game because Chris Oladokun remains in concussion protocol.

Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III will also sit with a swollen ankle. Andy Reid said the injury resulted from his cleat and is not considered serious. Josh Simmons will not play either.

BUCCANEERS AT JAGUARS

Neither team will use its starters.

Todd Bowles confirmed Wednesday that Tampa Bay’s starters will sit after completing their joint-practice workload against Jacksonville.

The Jaguars had already announced that Trevor Lawrence and their established starters would not play. This game will primarily feature backups and roster-bubble players on both sides.

GIANTS AT JETS

The Giants have not officially announced their complete quarterback plan. Jaxson Dart is expected to be protected, while Jameis Winston could receive a reduced workload. Brandon Allen and Jake Haener are positioned for the bulk of the quarterback snaps.

The Jets have not announced whether Geno Smith will play. Cade Klubnik currently has the strongest signal in the QB2 competition, with Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook also competing for evaluation opportunities.

VIKINGS AT BRONCOS

Denver has backed away from its earlier plan to play the starters into the third quarter. Sean Payton now says Bo Nix probably will not play, creating a strong indication that most important starters will sit.

Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger should handle Denver’s quarterback work.

Minnesota has not announced its rotation. J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz have split second-team practice reps, while Max Brosmer has also received situational work.

COMMANDERS AT RAVENS

Washington has not confirmed whether Jayden Daniels or its first-team offense will play. Marcus Mariota remains unavailable with a sprained MCL.

Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis are expected to rotate at quarterback. Kaliakmanis has recently gained ground in the QB3 competition.

Baltimore is expected to protect Lamar Jackson. Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano should receive the meaningful quarterback work, although the complete rotation remains unannounced.

TEXANS AT PANTHERS

Both teams have confirmed that their starters will sit.

Carolina gave its first-team players approximately 75 percent of the joint-practice snaps and determined that was enough work. Bryce Young will sit, leaving Kenny Pickett and Kyle Trask to handle the quarterback snaps. Haynes King is also out with a hamstring injury.

Houston will rest C.J. Stroud and all established starters. The game will be devoted to backup and roster evaluation.

PACKERS AT CARDINALS

Green Bay has confirmed that its starters will not play. Jordan Love and the first team received their primary workload during Wednesday’s joint practice with Arizona.

Arizona has not announced whether Carson Beck will play. Beck has been dealing with lingering rib soreness, leaving the Cardinals’ quarterback rotation unsettled.

BENGALS AT EAGLES

Cincinnati will rest Joe Burrow and its established starters.

Philadelphia has not announced its complete starter plan. The Eagles’ primary evaluation remains the QB2 competition between Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee. McKee has recently received the stronger practice signal, but Nick Sirianni says the competition remains open.

LIONS AT COLTS

Indianapolis will play several starters for approximately eight to 12 snaps, but Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor will sit.

Anthony Richardson will start and play the first quarter. Riley Leonard will handle the second quarter. Shane Steichen said the rotation does not represent a decision in the Colts’ backup-quarterback competition.

Detroit continues evaluating Josh Dobbs and Luke Altmyer for the backup job behind Jared Goff. Both should receive another opportunity, but Altmyer has recently received the second-team practice reps and currently has the stronger depth-chart signal.

BEARS AT TITANS

Tennessee has one of the heaviest confirmed starter workloads of the weekend. Robert Saleh said the Titans’ starters are scheduled to play more than 30 snaps. Cam Ward and the first-team offense should receive substantial work.

Chicago has not announced its plan. The Bears gave their starters a heavy practice workload Tuesday and participated in a joint practice with Tennessee on Thursday. That creates a strong possibility that Caleb Williams and other established starters will sit or play limited snaps.

The most significant evening developments are New Orleans and Tampa Bay confirming that their starters will sit, Denver reversing its earlier aggressive starter plan and Kansas City ruling out several important players. Tennessee remains the team with the heaviest confirmed starter workload entering Saturday.

8/26 MARKET UPDATE — Money has moved Green Bay from approximately a 1.5-point underdog to a 1.5-point favorite against Arizona, while the total has dropped from 37.5 to 35.5.

The Packers reportedly had the stronger showing during Wednesday’s joint practice. Green Bay generated consistent pressure against Arizona’s offense, while the Cardinals struggled at times with protection, dropped passes and penalties.

The under also appears connected to expected playing-time decisions. Green Bay’s established starters are expected to sit after receiving their primary workload in the joint practice. Arizona could also rest most of its starters, while rookie quarterback Carson Beck remains uncertain because of a rib injury.

Green Bay’s roster depth, Arizona’s quarterback uncertainty and the possibility of both teams resting their first units appear to be driving the market movement.

NFL teams are taking dramatically different approaches to this week’s preseason games. Some coaches plan to use key starters, while others are protecting established players and focusing on backups and roster competitions.

Playing-time plans remain subject to change, but here is the latest confirmed information and reporting available.

STEELERS AT BILLS

Buffalo coach Joe Brady confirmed that Josh Allen will not play. Some Bills starters will see action, but the complete list and individual workloads have not been announced. Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele should handle the quarterback work.

Pittsburgh is expected to continue evaluating Will Howard and Drew Allar. Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph are expected to sit, although the exact split between Howard and Allar remains uncertain.

PATRIOTS AT BROWNS

Neither team plans to use its established starters.

Cleveland confirmed that Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders will not play. Dillon Gabriel will start, with Taylen Green following him. The game will provide Cleveland with another evaluation of its developmental quarterbacks.

New England also plans to rest Drake Maye and its established starters. Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton should handle the quarterback work.

49ERS AT RAIDERS

Kyle Shanahan indicated that very few San Francisco starters will play. The 49ers have a quick turnaround before their regular-season opener and are also managing several injuries throughout the roster.

Las Vegas has not completely revealed its quarterback rotation. Kirk Cousins has recently received the first-team practice work, but Fernando Mendoza still needs evaluation snaps. The Raiders continue to publicly leave the quarterback competition open.

RAMS AT CHARGERS

Justin Herbert will start for the Chargers and is expected to play approximately six to nine snaps. Most of the Chargers’ starting unit is also expected to participate briefly, although Derwin James and Khalil Mack are not expected to play.

The Rams will continue Sean McVay’s usual preseason approach and protect their established starters. Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson are competing for the backup quarterback position and should receive most of the offensive work.

FALCONS AT DOLPHINS

Atlanta has confirmed that its starters will play. The Falcons are treating the week more like a regular-season game week, but the exact quarterback order and individual workloads remain unsettled.

Miami coach Jeff Hafley has gone back and forth on whether his starters will play. The Dolphins have increased their first-team workload during practice, which could lead to some established players being limited or held out.

Hafley said Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller will probably play. Rookie receiver Chris Bell is also expected to make his preseason debut if he continues progressing without a setback.

BUCCANEERS AT JAGUARS

Jacksonville has confirmed that its starters will not play. Trevor Lawrence and the established first-team offense are expected to sit, making this primarily an evaluation game for the Jaguars’ backups.

Tampa Bay completed joint-practice work with Jacksonville, and the expectation is that most Buccaneers starters and key regulars will sit. Todd Bowles has not officially announced the complete playing-time plan.

PACKERS AT CARDINALS

Green Bay’s starters will not play. Matt LaFleur will use the game for backup and roster evaluation after giving the first team its important workload during the joint practice with Arizona.

Arizona quarterback Carson Beck remains a player to monitor because of lingering rib soreness. Mike LaFleur had not committed to playing Beck, leaving the Cardinals’ quarterback rotation unsettled.

BENGALS AT EAGLES

Cincinnati’s established starters will not play. Joe Burrow and the first-team offense are not expected to see additional preseason action.

Philadelphia has not provided a complete starter plan. The Eagles still have an important backup-quarterback evaluation between Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee, who have split work behind Jalen Hurts.

VIKINGS AT BRONCOS

Denver could provide one of the heaviest starter workloads of the week. Sean Payton said he wants the starters to play into the third quarter, although the plan remains subject to change.

Bo Nix has also said he wants the additional work. If Denver follows through with the extended starter plan, it would create a significant playing-time difference compared with teams resting their first units.

Minnesota has not officially announced its quarterback rotation. J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer have continued receiving evaluation work behind Kyler Murray.

COMMANDERS AT RAVENS

Washington increased the workload for Jayden Daniels and the first-team offense during practice, but Dan Quinn has not confirmed whether Daniels will play.

With Marcus Mariota unavailable, Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis are competing for the available backup-quarterback snaps.

Baltimore is expected to protect Lamar Jackson. Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano should receive the meaningful quarterback work, although the complete rotation has not been announced.

TEXANS AT PANTHERS

Carolina planned to give its starters a full workload during Wednesday’s joint practice with Houston. Dave Canales said that if the Panthers received enough quality work in that session, the starters would likely sit. A decision is expected after the practice is evaluated.

Houston’s plan also remains unsettled. With the Texans participating in the joint practice, C.J. Stroud and other established starters could be held out or used only briefly.

LIONS AT COLTS

Indianapolis starters will play approximately eight to 12 snaps, but Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor will sit.

Anthony Richardson will start and play the first quarter. Riley Leonard will handle the second quarter, providing another evaluation point in the Colts’ backup-quarterback competition.

Detroit’s primary focus remains its backup battle between Josh Dobbs and Luke Altmyer. Both quarterbacks are expected to receive another opportunity before the Lions decide who will back up Jared Goff.

BEARS AT TITANS

Tennessee has one of the clearest and most aggressive playing-time plans of the week. Robert Saleh said the Titans’ starters are scheduled to play more than 30 snaps against Chicago. Cam Ward and the first-team offense are expected to receive substantial work.

Chicago has already given its starters a heavy practice workload and will also participate in a joint practice with Tennessee. That creates a strong possibility that Caleb Williams and other established starters will sit or play limited snaps, but Ben Johnson has not confirmed the plan.

The biggest takeaway entering this week’s games is that the playing-time differences could be significant. Tennessee, Denver, Atlanta and the Chargers are preparing to use important starters, while teams such as Cleveland, New England, Jacksonville, Green Bay, Cincinnati and San Francisco are taking a much more cautious approach.