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...
Bucs Camp Depth Already Takes A Hit In Two Key Battles
Training camp depth has already taken a small but meaningful hit for Tampa Bay, with cornerback Chase Lucas and defensive tackle Haggai Ndubuisi both landing on the Active/Physically Unable To Perform List. The moves do not remove either player from the picture entirely, since both still count toward the 90-man roster and can be activated before the 53-man deadline after the preseason, but they do interrupt two roster battles the Bucs were hoping to sort out early.
Lucas had been part of a cornerback group that did not have much margin for error, while Ndubuisi was among the linemen trying to carve out a role in a crowded competition. The Buccaneers also waived safety JaQurious Conley with a non-football injury designation, another reminder that the back end of the roster is already being tested before the first preseason snaps have even started. [Read more 🡒]
CeeDee Lamb Just Added To The Emeka Egbuka Hype In Tampa
Emeka Egbuka is heading into a bigger spotlight in Tampa Bay, and the early buzz around him is not just about opportunity. With Mike Evans gone, the Buccaneers are preparing for Egbuka to take on a larger role in the offense after a rookie season that flashed real promise, with 938 receiving yards and six touchdowns before his production tailed off later in the year.
CeeDee Lamb added to the intrigue by giving Egbukas first-down celebration a strong endorsement, the kind of small but telling praise that tends to travel in receiver circles. For Tampa Bay, it is another reminder that Egbuka already has some league-wide respect, even as the next step is still about proving he can carry that momentum through a full season. [Read more 🡒]
Tristan Wirfs Just Got The Kind Of NFL Respect Bucs Fans Hate
Tristan Wirfs has become one of the leagues clearest success stories at left tackle, the kind of player Tampa Bay can point to as proof that a position switch does not have to mean a step back. He handled the move from right tackle to left tackle at a high level, earned All-Pro honors at both spots and backed it up with elite PFF grades in both pass protection and the run game last season.
So the surprise for Buccaneers fans is not that Wirfs made the NFL Top 100 list, but where he landed on it. At No. 52, he was recognized, just not in the way his production might suggest, and that only adds to the sense that he is still being treated like a player on the rise rather than the most accomplished name on Tampa Bays roster. For a young offensive line looking for a veteran anchor, Wirfs is already the standard, even if the rest of the league has not quite caught up. [Read more 🡒]