Training camps are rolling, and the first week already has plenty of moving parts across the NFL. Quarterback battles are taking shape, a few big names are sitting out, and extension talks are creeping into the spotlight before the pads really start popping.
The most watched quarterback competition right now belongs to the Minnesota Vikings, where Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy are sharing the spotlight. As The Athletic’s Alec Lewis recently put it, “Early on,” practices will feature a 50-50 rep split, but that will change as practices morph into more realistic situations.
Atlanta is dealing with a different kind of quarterback situation. The Falcons have only two healthy options at the moment - recently signed Cooper Rush and rookie undrafted free agent Jack Strand - with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Tua Tagovailoa (back) out to open camp. ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reported that Penix may “have another four weeks” in his ACL recovery, while Tagovailoa’s issue appears less serious and could put him back in position to run the first-team offense soon.
Cleveland’s camp has its own uneasy feel, with head coach Todd Monken weighing Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders in what the source described as the year’s most depressing competition. And in Las Vegas, there doesn’t seem to be much of a competition at all. Veteran Kirk Cousins is set to open camp as QB1, which puts No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza on the path to beginning his NFL career as a backup.
There’s also some early concern in Philadelphia, where the Eagles put Jonathan Greenard on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Wednesday because of a pectoral issue. Philadelphia landed the six-year veteran during the 2026 NFL Draft from the Vikings in exchange for 2026 and 2027 third-round picks, then signed him to a four-year, $100M extension. General manager Howie Roseman downplayed the setback, saying, “One of the things we know about Greenard is he is going to be ready to play.”
Still, the Eagles may have reason to keep an eye on the edge-rusher market. Greenard posted 24.5 sacks from 2023-24, but last season he managed only three sacks in 12 games after undergoing December season-ending shoulder surgery.
Philadelphia also added Arnold Ebiketie and AJ Epenesa in free agency, and the two combined for 4.5 sacks in 2025. With Greenard sidelined, both should get more run in camp and will need to show enough for the Eagles to feel good about the pass rush.
In Tampa Bay, Vita Vea’s situation is worth watching closely. The 31-year-old requested a trade before camp and is holding in until either a deal or a contract extension comes together. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the New England Patriots are one possible destination, and Vea would fit alongside Milton Williams to give them a strong interior pairing.
The Buccaneers could also use the request to their advantage. If the market gets hot enough - and injuries always seem to create urgency somewhere - Tampa Bay may be able to push the price higher and land a big return.
San Francisco’s camp has its own unusual wrinkle: Kyle Shanahan is absent while he recovers from injuries suffered in a serious car accident, including a concussion and fractures to three ribs, his left hand and nose. Brock Purdy said, “It’s been weird,” but also credited the staff, adding, “But I will say I think the assistant coaches have done a good job with stepping up.”
Assistant head coach/offensive line coach Chris Foerster is serving as interim coach, while offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak has taken over play-calling duties. John Lynch said the team is not expecting Shanahan to miss regular-season games, though he noted, “That’s not what we’re anticipating,” but “just like we talked about with players ... he’s got to meet certain markers.”
The 49ers’ roster makeup could help them weather the absence for now. Per Spotrac, they have the second-oldest training-camp roster, which gives them the kind of veteran presence that can keep things steady while Shanahan is out.
And then there’s the money question. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs and Falcons running back Bijan Robinson did not take part in Wednesday’s practices as both pursue rookie extensions. Saquon Barkley currently sits atop the running back market on a per-year basis at $20.6M, and Gibbs and Robinson both have a case to push that number higher.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave is another extension-eligible name to watch after a career-best 2025 season. Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football noted that Olave also was not part of team drills on Wednesday. Falcons receiver Drake London, another member of the 2022 draft class, already got his deal done earlier this offseason on a four-year contract worth $35.3M annually, and something in the $34M-$36M range could be enough to get Olave back on the field.
In Other News...
Falcons Just Got The Michael Penix Jr. Update They Feared
Michael Penix Jr. is headed into training camp with his timeline still lagging behind the rest of the Falcons quarterback room, a frustrating reality for a player trying to establish himself after another major knee setback. Penix said his latest ACL issue is the third of his career in seven years, and the team is already bracing for him to miss the kind of full-speed work that usually matters most when jobs are being sorted out in camp.
Kevin Stefanski confirmed Penix will not be ready when camp opens, which leaves Atlanta in a familiar but uncomfortable spot at the most important position on the field. With Penix unable to take part in full contact right away, the Falcons are trending toward starting the season with Tua Tagovailoa under center, and the longer this delay runs, the harder it becomes for Penix to force his way into the picture early. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Camp Has A Quarterback Problem Fans Feared Most
The Falcons quarterback room has been thinned to a point few teams ever want to reach in camp. Tua Tagovailoa is dealing with a back injury, Michael Penix Jr. is still working back from ACL surgery and not yet fit for team drills, and the result has been a scramble for reps that has put the spotlight on depth rather than development.
Atlanta has already moved to patch things together by releasing Trevor Siemian because of a non-football injury and bringing in Cooper Rush, while undrafted Jack Strand has been taking first-team snaps. For a team that expected camp to be about sorting out roles, the bigger question now is simply how long it can keep the offense moving before the quarterback picture settles down. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Rookie Absence Just Opened A Door Fans Werent Expecting
The Falcons defensive tackle picture got a little more interesting this spring when the team added undrafted rookie Carlos Allen Jr. and then watched a separate rookie, sixth-round pick Anterio Thompson, get slowed before camp even really began. Thompsons absence during rookie minicamp and OTAs has already changed the way the interior line reps are being distributed, and it has created a cleaner opening for a player who arrived without draft-day fanfare but with a chance to make noise.
Allen Jr. now heads into training camp with a real opportunity to press for a roster spot, which is more than most undrafted linemen can say at this stage. Atlanta already has bodies in the defensive tackle rotation, but the combination of Thompsons delay and Allen Jr.s production in college gives the Falcons another name to watch as they sort out who can help them up front. [Read more 🡒]