Football Icons Disregard Conventional Norms as Elite Quarterbacks Gear Up for First Exhibition Matches in the NFL Preseason
The 2025 NFL preseason is underway, and while the league continues to prioritize player safety and preparation, some notable starting quarterbacks are taking the field in the preseason opener.
In a departure from the usual trend of limiting starter play, first-year Raiders coach Pete Carroll might play his starters in the preseason opener against the Seahawks. This approach aligns with the Cardinals' coach, Jonathan Gannon, who plans to play the starters in the Cardinals' preseason opener, a shift from his previous strategy.
One of the standout performances in Week 1 came from Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals. Burrow, who was efficient with 9 completions on 10 attempts and two touchdowns, showcased his readiness for the upcoming season. Other quarterbacks who played in the opening week include Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals, and the first overall pick in the April draft, Cam Ward, who made his debut with the Tennessee Titans.
The preseason games are primarily focused on preparation and evaluating depth players, with the NFL eliminating overtime in preseason to reduce injury risk. The emphasis remains on depth-chart battles and evaluating rookies and new players, with some starters likely used sparingly to stay sharp without undue risk.
The Colts, for instance, have a quarterback competition between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones. Richardson will start the Colts' preseason opener against the Ravens, playing about a quarter and a half, while Jones will start the following week against the Packers, playing about a half a quarter.
Jordan Love, another notable quarterback, has expressed his expectation to play in the preseason. The Eagles, on the other hand, typically do not play their starters in the first preseason games.
Notable quarterbacks like Burrow, Lawrence, Murray, and Ward have set the tone for the preseason, demonstrating that while the NFL often limits starter exposure, key players at quarterback may still appear in the opener for early evaluation and rhythm-building.
As the preseason continues, fans can expect to see more starters taking the field, including Justin Fields, who wants to play for the Jets in their preseason opener, and Aaron Rodgers, who has not ruled out the possibility of playing in the Green Bay Packers' preseason opener.
The old complaint of season ticket holders about stars skipping games may be less true this year, as more starters are expected to participate in the preseason games. The preseason games started on Thursday and will continue through Sunday, providing fans with an exciting start to the 2025 NFL season.
After the shift in strategy shown by coaches Pete Carroll and Jonathan Gannon, more starters might play in the NFL's preseason games, as observed with notable quarterbacks like Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Kyler Murray, and the first overall pick Cam Ward. Furthermore, just like Burrow, Lawrence, and Murray, other quarterbacks such as Justin Fields and Aaron Rodgers may also take the field during the preseason games, disproving the old complaint of stars skipping games.
