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• Jeremy Fowler

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  Jeremy Fowler

  senior NFL national reporter

  Jeremy Fowler is a senior national NFL writer for ESPN, covering the entire league including breaking news. Jeremy also contributes to SportsCenter both as a studio analyst and a sideline reporter covering for NFL games. He is an Orlando, Florida native who joined ESPN in 2014 after covering college football for CBSSports.com.

• Dan Graziano

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  Dan Graziano

  senior NFL national reporter

  Dan Graziano is a senior NFL national reporter for ESPN, covering the entire league and breaking news. Dan also contributes to Get Up, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, Sunday NFL Countdown and Fantasy Football Now. He is a New Jersey native who joined ESPN in 2011, and he is also the author of two published novels.

Oct 1, 2025, 11:10 AM ET

We’re a month into the NFL season, and insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have been making calls to sources around the league for the latest news and buzz on key situations heading into October play.

One of the biggest storylines of the week is what’s going on with the Ravens and their 1-3 start. Jeremy and Dan have intel on the sentiments in Baltimore and how much panic the Ravens are feeling. They are also diving in on the Titans’ 0-4 start and long-term ramifications of it, along with what they’re hearing on the quarterback front as the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline approaches.

That’s not all, as Jeremy and Dan will also be examining rookies who have earned themselves more playing time. It’s all here, as our reporters answer big questions and empty their notebooks heading into Week 5.

Jump to:
Potential Titans changes | Ravens’ panic meter
Rookies making a move | Will a QB be traded?
More notes on Week 5

What are you hearing on the Titans’ 0-4 start and potential changes they could make — now or in the offseason?

Fowler: There is moderate concern among the coaching staff that the front office and ownership might not be as patient as they originally believed, which could lead to change sooner rather than later. The proverbial “vibes” simply are not good right now. The front office entered the season with optimism about head coach Brian Callahan, who was a hot name on the coaching circuit in 2024. And though it wouldn’t set a win-loss goal in regard to his tenure, Titans brass wanted to see a team that’s improving. That’s hardly the case in Tennessee, where a minus-69 point differential through four games is by far the worst in the league (next closest is New Orleans at minus-55).

The overall lack of flow from week to week is only intensifying the discomfort. Callahan relinquishing playcalling duties to assistant Bo Hardegree a week ago could buy the staff a little time, but firing him a week after such a change would be counterproductive. The Titans’ bye is Week 10, which feels important. But the expectation among some around the league I’ve talked to is that the temperature is increasing, especially with owner Amy Adams Strunk’s willingness to make drastic changes in recent years.

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Graziano: It’s one thing to start 0-4 with a rookie quarterback, but it’s another to be as noncompetitive as the Titans have been. They had a second-half lead against the Broncos in Week 1, but things seem to have gotten progressively worse each week since. Sunday’s loss to Houston was a complete no-show, and to get shut out the week after making an offensive playcaller change doesn’t say much about their chances to fix this thing on the fly.

Callahan was Tennessee’s top choice as head coach following the 2023 season, and the franchise entered this season with the belief that he was the guy to shepherd Ward’s transition into the league. But there have been red flags, including some game management situations and some postgame news conferences in which Callahan seemed unaware of some of the rules governing replay challenges, etc. If the Titans can win a couple of games, I’m sure that will buy him time, but that’s a big if right now, and Callahan hasn’t helped himself with some of his gaffes.

I will say, from talking to people who follow these situations in the league, that there’s belief that this will be a desirable job if and when it comes open. Young, promising QB, new stadium on the horizon, etc. You agree?

Fowler: Agreed. This can be a good job, Dan. Cam Ward has serious potential but needs an infusion of pass-catching talent around him. A few drafts can fix that. The offensive line hasn’t come together despite significant investments. But offensive tackle JC Latham (currently injured) and guard Peter Skoronski are players to build on. The defense has held up at times.

President of football operations Chad Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi come from well-established, methodical personnel trees — the Packers and Chiefs, respectively. That should lead to build-through-the-draft patience … which I once thought would help Callahan’s case, but now I’m not so sure. As you mentioned, game management issues in multiple games this season have not helped his cause. That’s such a priority for teams now.

Graziano: Yeah, that’s another thing to watch, because Borgonzi and Brinker weren’t really in their current roles when the organization hired Callahan. (Maybe Brinker was, but he didn’t have as much clearly delineated power at the time.) It’s never a comfortable feeling working for people who didn’t hire you. And your point about the offensive line is a critical one, because the offensive line coach is Callahan’s father, Bill Callahan, who’s considered one of the best to ever do that job. I believe Bill wouldn’t stick around if Brian got fired, so you’re talking about major change in critical areas. I might look foolish in a couple of weeks (or days, who knows?), but if I’m making a prediction, I lean toward the Titans giving Callahan the rest of the year before making a decision.

Rate the level of panic in the Ravens’ building on a scale of 1-10

Graziano: I say 5, but it’s important to note that that’s a really high number in Baltimore, where there’s typically not much panic at all. This defense has had no answers for anyone but the Browns, and with Nnamdi Madubuike out for the season and a ton of other injuries (Nate Wiggins, Roquan Smith, Ar’Darius Washington, the list goes on and on) on that side of the ball, where are the answers going to come from? Add Lamar Jackson’s hamstring injury, and now you have a potential for disaster.

If Jackson misses significant time, this season could go downhill quickly. Cooper Rush is the backup, and obviously the offense will look a lot different when he starts than it does when Jackson starts. The running game hasn’t done anything since the season opener against Buffalo. There are a lot of problems for a team that was a popular preseason Super Bowl pick.

I am guessing the panic meter about the Ravens outside the building — among fans and those of us who analyze objectively — is closer to 10 right now. But the Ravens count on the strength and steadiness of coach John Harbaugh, general manager Eric DeCosta and their internal leadership structure to solve problems and get them through tough times. You can bet they’re scouring for answers, internally and externally.

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Fowler: I’ll go 6. It’s worth remembering in times like this that Jackson has a .717 career winning percentage as a starter. That’s a Tom Brady-like figure. Assuming Jackson does not miss significant time, the Ravens have a path to a backdoor playoff spot.

All three losses are to elite teams with championship hopes. It’s not like the Ravens are blowing leads to winless teams. The offense is still trying to find its rhythm with personnel groupings — when to play big people for the run game (such as two or three tight ends) vs. playing through receivers and the passing game more often. There’s enough talent on offense to make it work regardless. But this defense is galaxies away from the once-proud unit that charged Super Bowl runs. It’s currently serving as a confidence builder for struggling offenses to get right. And losing Madubuike for the year is a crushing blow. That’s a premier player on a defensive front that’s struggling to generate a pass rush.

Graziano: Like you, I also look at who their losses are against. The Bills, Lions and Chiefs are among the best teams in the league, sure, but the Ravens were supposed to be, too. And in the case of Buffalo and Kansas City, those are losses that could really come back to bite the Ravens late in the season when we’re sorting out playoff seeding and tiebreakers. At 1-3, Baltimore is probably hoping it has that problem, but assuming the Ravens come back from this and make the run we all expected, these early-season losses could put them behind the eight ball come playoff seeding time. Sunday’s game against the Texans is another that could potentially have implications for tiebreakers and seeding if the Ravens play their way back into contention.

When I was at their training camp, I was talking to Harbaugh about the coming season and he was stressing how important it was to get off to a fast start — how they started 0-2 last season and ended up having to play a playoff game in Buffalo in January instead of playing the Bills at home. I’m sure Harbaugh is as perplexed as the rest of us are about why September went so poorly.

Fowler: The Ravens’ schedule will ease up. Only one of their next seven opponents (Rams, Week 6) has a winning record. The AFC North is winnable. But it appears they’ll have to win shootouts. On defense, the Ravens need more from pass rusher Odafe Oweh, a former first-round pick, and corner Jaire Alexander, who hasn’t played since Week 1. Otherwise, my preseason Super Bowl pick looks bleak.

Harbaugh made an unconventional defensive coordinator hire in Zach Orr, a former Ravens linebacker who quickly worked his way up the ranks, in February 2024 to replace Mike Macdonald. Orr was able to help steady a struggling Ravens defense late last season, but this is two consecutive years of suboptimal results for long stretches.

Which rookie has made a case for more playing time after a strong start?

Fowler: He’s already getting more time, but Giants running back Cam Skattebo is proving a capable option out of the backfield with Tyrone Tracy Jr. sidelined by injury. Skattebo’s recent impact has been undeniable. His ability to knife through tackles and create additional yards will be crucial for a streaky (that’s putting it nicely) New York passing offense. He averaged nearly six yards per touch thus far.

Another emerging offensive option is Seahawks receiver Tory Horton, who is making the most of his limited role. He’s averaging just under 27 snaps but has six catches on 10 targets for 74 yards and two touchdowns, including an impressive over-the-shoulder grab in the end zone in Week 3. While Cooper Kupp seems entrenched as Seattle’s WR2, Horton is giving the Seahawks something to think about after producing three total touchdowns (including a 95-yard kickoff return). Looks like GM John Schneider got a fifth-round gem.

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1:11

Eric Karabell: Acquire Cam Skattebo if you can

Eric Karabell explains why Cam Skattebo is a definite top-20 fantasy running back for the rest of the season.

Graziano: Woody Marks looks like a more exciting running back than Nick Chubb in Houston, where the Texans are looking for any answer they can find on offense. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Marks get a little more run. Chiefs rookie running back Brashard Smith has seen more involvement in the offense in recent weeks and I’m told to expect that to continue.

And my guy Harold Fannin Jr., who we pointed out in Week 1 as a rookie to watch, has worked his way into the pass catcher rotation in Cleveland even with David Njoku ahead of him on the Browns’ tight end depth chart. The Browns love using Fannin in a lot of different roles, and I think that usage will only expand.

Fowler: Cleveland is really excited about Fannin’s future — and that of running back Quinshon Judkins and wide receiver Isaiah Bond. On defense, Carolina edge rusher Nic Scourton has made a quick impression. The Panthers wanted to utilize more young players on defense after a sluggish start, and Scourton, a second-round pick in April, has played 100 snaps over the past two weeks, producing a pass deflection and several quarterback pressures. He has a high motor, plays with power and has a nifty spin move in his arsenal. The youth movement is on for Carolina, which is also giving third-round edge rusher Princely Umanmielen extended snaps.

Graziano: Edge rusher Ashton Gillotte is a player who really excites the Chiefs. He got his hand on a field goal attempt in the Week 3 victory over the Giants and has seen his snap count rise each week as the team continues to trust him more. I would not be surprised to see Kansas City continue to use Gillotte more as the season goes on as they rely more and more on their defense while the offense gets its act together.

True or false: A quarterback will be traded before the deadline.

Graziano: True. Now, it could be someone such as Carson Wentz or Kenny Pickett, which wouldn’t exactly make headlines, but I think you’re asking if it could be someone such as Kirk Cousins or Russell Wilson or one of the Cleveland rookies (Dillon Gabriel was named the Browns starter Wednesday morning). Anything’s possible. It doesn’t feel like Wilson has a real role in New York, where rookie Jaxson Dart is now the starter and Jameis Winston is signed through 2026 to be his backup. Wilson’s trade value is also likely very low right now, so the Giants might wait until someone gets desperate to ship him out.

Cousins’ situation in Atlanta, as the veteran backup behind Michael Penix Jr., is one we’ve frequently discussed. He could get dealt, but Atlanta is not desperate to deal him and is still asking for a relatively high price. The Falcons believe he has value as a reliable backup in case something should happen to Penix. And having been on the sideline for Sunday’s game against Washington, I can tell you Cousins is one of the prominent voices in Penix’s ear between possessions. He’s been helpful in Penix’s development and, along with offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and quarterbacks coach D.J. Williams, is a helpful extra set of eyes and ears that benefits Penix.

Fowler: Man, Pickett getting dealt for the third time in a calendar year would be tough on his real estate portfolio. Do I believe a quarterback will be traded? Yes, so my answer is true. A quarterback with a marquee name, I’m not so sure. Wilson would be the most sensible candidate. Cleveland had some level of interest in Wilson before he signed with the Giants, and his $2 million base salary makes him very tradable.

But it’s uncertain where Cleveland will be from a roster-building standpoint three or four weeks from now. Wilson would be a low-cost play if the Browns aren’t satisfied with Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders. And Cleveland explored the Cousins situation before ultimately signing Joe Flacco, trading for Pickett and drafting two passers.

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0:37

Rex Ryan wants Shedeur to start for the Browns

Rex Ryan questions why the Browns have not started Shedeur Sanders at quarterback.

Outside of that, there’s not a clear-cut need for teams, barring injury. One intriguing option is Anthony Richardson Sr., who is stuck behind Daniel Jones in Indianapolis. My sense is Richardson would be open to joining a premier playcaller such as Sean McVay as a developmental player so he can reset for 2026.

Graziano: Richardson is an interesting one. I remember a couple of teams wondering whether Indy would be open to moving him during free agency. So far, they’ve insisted they aren’t, but you’re right. If Jones keeps playing well and leads them to their first division title in more than a decade, who’s to say the Colts don’t decide he’s their future at quarterback and sign him to an extension?

In general, acquiring a starting QB at the trade deadline is tough, because in most cases it’s a guy who must learn a new offense on the fly. By the time he’s up to speed, it could be too late for him to save the season. That’s why someone like Richardson, whom teams might view for development in the long term, makes more sense. But there are situations that come up where a team with high hopes finds itself with a sudden need and might be willing to take the risks involved with bringing in someone from outside its system, right?

Fowler: That question reminds me that quarterback needs can change in a hurry — especially after what the Bengals just showed Monday night. Got to wonder if Cincinnati evaluates quarterback options if the downward spiral deepens. After Monday night’s lifeless outing, Cincinnati now has gained fewer than 200 offensive yards in three of its first four games. The last team to do that was the 2009 Raiders, who rolled out a combination of JaMarcus Russell, Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye at quarterback.

The Bengals still believe in Jake Browning, who was far from the only culprit in Denver on Monday, but Cincinnati has too much skill position talent to accept the status quo. At some point, it could need reinforcements at the game’s most important position. It might be worth calling recently retired Derek Carr to check on how his shoulder injury is healing.

What else are you hearing this week?

Graziano’s notes:

• Tyreek Hill’s contract with the Dolphins is structured in a way that he might actually benefit from being released before the end of the season. I was looking at his contract to get a sense of his future with Miami now that his season has ended due to the gruesome knee injury he sustained Monday night against the Jets. Hill is owed $36 million for 2026, none of which is guaranteed, even against injury. If Hill is still on the roster as of 4 p.m. ET on the third day of the 2026 league year (March 13, 2026), then $11 million of his 2026 salary becomes fully guaranteed and his $5 million roster bonus vests. So odds are that the Dolphins would release Hill prior to March 13 to avoid owing him $16 million next year, unless the two sides agree to rework the contract before then.

Hill’s 2025 compensation — combined salary and bonuses — comes to $25.85 million, and all of that is guaranteed; he’ll get every penny of it. But Hill’s 2025 contract also includes $1.8 million in per-game active roster bonuses — $105,882.36 for each game for which he’s a member of the 48-man active roster. That money is conditionally guaranteed, meaning if the team releases him, he’d get the full $1.8 million. But the way the conditional guarantee works is if he’s on the 53-man roster but not active on game day, he does not get the $105,882.36 for that week.

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1:01

Orlvosky: Tyreek Hill’s injury was tough to watch

Dan Orlovsky explains what he was feeling after Tyreek Hill’s season-ending injury during “Monday Night Football.”

The Dolphins have played four games, and Hill was active for all four, so he has already pocketed $423,529.44. If the Dolphins were to cut him this week, he’d get the remaining $1,376,470.56. But if they keep him on the roster the rest of the season and he isn’t active on game days, he won’t get any of that $1,376,470.56. So as weird as it sounds, Hill would make more money if the Dolphins release him before the end of the season than he would if they waited until March to cut him.

• Having covered Washington’s game in Atlanta this past Sunday and talking to Commanders people, I came away believing quarterback Jayden Daniels has a decent chance to be activated and play this week in Los Angeles against the Chargers. Daniels (knee) was a limited practice participant last week after not practicing at all the week before, and from what I was told, he was close to being cleared to play in Atlanta. The team doctors decided on Friday it was best to hold him out. Keep an eye on whether he logs any full practices this week, which would be a strong indication he’s good to go Sunday. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin sounded like he could need another week or two to heal from his quad injury, but the Commanders will know more as the practice week goes along.

• With McLaurin out, the Commanders leaned heavily on Deebo Samuel in Week 4, which isn’t a surprise. What might have been a surprise, though, was the extent to which they used Samuel as an outside receiver, instead of just in the slot or in the backfield the way they usually do. What makes them more comfortable doing that is what they’ve seen from fourth-round rookie wide receiver Jaylin Lane in the slot. So Washington used him there a bit and moved Samuel around more than usual. Once McLaurin and Noah Brown (groin) are back, I’d expect Samuel’s usage to revert to the original plan.

• One more Commanders note, for you fantasy managers wondering about the running backs: They’re very happy at the moment using a committee with Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jeremy McNichols and rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt. But they do view Croskey-Merrit as the most capable one of the three to emerge as an all-around threat out of the backfield. And as he gains more experience, I would expect his role to increase. If you have him on your fantasy roster, I’d hold on, because there’s a chance he could be the lead back there over the second half of the season.

• I asked some Chiefs people about the way the offense looked with Xavier Worthy back from his shoulder injury. One response I got: “That’s the way it was supposed to look in Brazil before play 3 lol.”

It was the third play in the season opener against the Chargers in Brazil on which Worthy collided with Travis Kelce and dislocated his shoulder, and a Chiefs offense that had practiced all offseason with Worthy and the suspended Rashee Rice as its top two wide receivers looked lost for the rest of that game and in Weeks 2 and 3 while Worthy sat out to heal. With Worthy back, the offense sprang to life (against an admittedly undermanned Ravens defense), and Kansas City’s expectation is that it will get even better in Week 7 when Rice returns from his six-game personal conduct policy suspension.

• The Browns debated whether to switch from Joe Flacco to Dillon Gabriel this week, in part because it’s an odd week with the game against the Vikings in London. But they ultimately decided to make the move. You’ll remember of course that the Browns also have fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders and might want to get a look at him in a starting role before the end of the season, too. With Gabriel as the next man up, it’ll be interesting to see if they elevate Sanders to the No. 2 spot (he has been the inactive/emergency third QB on game days so far) or if they hold onto Flacco as the game day backup. That’ll tell us a lot about where Cleveland thinks Sanders is in his development and what his chances are of seeing some starts this season. For now, Sanders remains the No. 3 behind Gabriel and Flacco.

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• The Falcons go into their bye feeling worlds better about their offense than they did a week ago. They lost 30-0 to Carolina in Week 3, then dropped 34 points and 435 yards of offense on the Commanders in Sunday’s 34-27 home win. That represented quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s career high in passing yards (313) and running back Bijan Robinson’s career high in scrimmage yards (181). The morning of the game, I saw Falcons QBs coach D.J. Williams on the field and asked how Penix was doing after the shutout. “He’s fine,” Williams told me. “He’s great. He doesn’t ride the wave, the highs and lows. That’s one of the things we love about him.”

The Falcons never considered sitting Penix down for Kirk Cousins, as bad as things looked in Weeks 2 and 3. Falcons coach Raheem Morris said after the Week 4 game that the way Penix showed up at the facility last Monday — focused and determined to make up for the Week 3 performance — left no doubt in Morris’ mind that Penix could and would handle this. And his teammates felt the same way. “Mike’s fantastic, and you see it in the leader he has shown himself to be and the competitor that he is,” Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom told me. “There’s nothing but 100 percent love and confidence in Mike here.”

• The Steelers are 3-1 and out in front in an AFC North whose other three teams are having all kinds of problems. They squeaked out wins in Week 1 and Week 3 with some serious turnover help from the Jets and Patriots, respectively, but the offense racked up a season-high 313 yards in Week 4 (after averaging 247 in its first three games). That unit is showing steady improvement around veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers knew coming into the season that the offense would be a work in progress, but they’re happy with the way their young O-line is building confidence week by week, and they’ll continue to move No. 1 wide receiver DK Metcalf around the formation to maximize his playmaking ability.

Starting running back Jaylen Warren was a surprise inactive Sunday morning due to a knee injury that just didn’t feel quite right in pregame warmups. But they’re hopeful he’ll be fine in Week 6 after the bye. In the meantime, they got to deploy Kenneth Gainwell, who has been impressing them since the spring with his ability to contribute in multiple ways. The team also believes rookie Kaleb Johnson will contribute before season’s end, but as of now, they’re fine if the backfield is led by Warren (when healthy) and Gainwell.

Fowler’s notes:

• Despite a 4-0 start, the Eagles are forced to answer for a cryptic tweet from receiver A.J. Brown, which brings their 31st-ranked passing offense into focus. First, to get this out of the way: Brown’s contract comes with a dead cap hit of nearly $90 million. That’s tough to trade, even for an aggressive front office such as Philadelphia — though not impossible if designated as a post-June 1 trade. Some execs I spoke to this week don’t expect Philadelphia to trade Brown in-season but said that it could be something to entertain in the offseason. It’s sort of the worst-kept secret inside the league that Brown’s love-hate relationship with Philly’s passing game bubbles to the surface from time to time. He’s a true competitor and wants to be great. With that comes emotion and inevitable frustration.

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1:19

Paolantonio: Eagles need to get creative with getting A.J. Brown the ball

Sal Paolantonio and Domonique Foxworth discuss what needs to change with the Eagles’ offense amid potential unhappiness from star wide receiver A.J. Brown.

Philly could lean on an elite offensive line to carry the load in the run game. This unit isn’t as dominant with Landon Dickerson playing hurt and Tyler Steen replacing Mekhi Becton, who got more consistent push up front last season. The impression I’ve gotten from talking to multiple NFL coaches who know Philadelphia well is that teams are forcing Jalen Hurts to throw against zone-heavy defense. Attacking a zone window is not considered a strong point for Hurts, who struggles at times targeting the middle of the field. Dallas played nearly 90% zone coverage in Week 1, and Tampa Bay utilized zone 54.8% of the time on Sunday. Hurts struggled in both games.

Add in the lack of a Hurts-Brown deep-ball connection through four games, and Brown’s emotions appear to be boiling over. So the core issue seems to be the reality and limitations of the passing attack as a whole. Maybe a few early-game connections this Sunday against Denver will assuage things. After all, Brown is a top-five receiver who ranked outside the top 40 in targets last season and still managed a 1,000-yard season. That will be infinitely more difficult this year.

• The Ravens will be cautious with Lamar Jackson, knowing it’s very difficult for an explosive runner to play through a hamstring injury without proper healing. As one team source put it, “The type of player that he is and the amount of running that he does says that he will probably want to feel really good before he returns.” The sentiment I’m hearing out of Baltimore is the Ravens will see how Jackson responds during the week before making any sweeping determinations about his injury outlook. But playing this week doesn’t look like the safest bet. The Ravens have a Week 7 bye, so if Jackson isn’t at full strength over the next few weeks, perhaps Baltimore holds him out until Week 8. The game plan changes with Cooper Rush, who is not as mobile (no one is, to be fair).

• Mobility and decision-making are the primary reasons that the Browns named Gabriel the starter for Week 5 and sent Flacco to the bench. The Browns like how Gabriel operates Kevin Stefanski’s play-action-heavy offense. And they have had problems with the offensive line due to injuries. Gabriel’s ability to move better than Flacco will help. The Browns have a stout defense and need to limit turnovers offensively, which Flacco (six interceptions) struggled to do. But his receivers didn’t help him much, either, so Gabriel won’t be walking into a perfect situation. Cleveland is really high on rookie playmakers Quinshon Judkins, Harold Fannin Jr. and Isaiah Bond. This is a chance for the rookies to coalesce together on offense.

• The table is set for Carson Wentz to get a third consecutive start for Minnesota. J.J. McCarthy is recovering from an ankle injury, and with Minnesota in the second leg of a two-week European swing, the Vikings could use the Week 6 bye to let McCarthy reacclimate and prepare for Philadelphia in Week 7. Let’s see what the injury report brings — perhaps McCarthy’s injury improves quickly this week. But that’s my early read on the situation.

• As for Daniels in Washington, he’s getting closer, as Dan mentioned. I was told that if all goes well in practice, he should be in a good position to play Sunday vs. the Chargers. He has been progressing nicely and pushed to play last week, but doctors didn’t clear him.

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• Romeo Doubs has emerged as the Packers’ No. 1 receiving option in a contract year. The trade rumors surrounding Doubs, who has four touchdowns through four games, never made much sense. That conversation was understandable last season, when the team suspended Doubs for one game for missing practices for personal reasons. But the Packers have shown no interest in trading him, and my sense is they have more interest in potentially extending him.

The sides have had cursory talks, keeping in contact about the future. Doubs staying in Green Bay beyond 2025 is at least a possibility. But getting a bargain deal for an emerging receiver without a 1,000-yard season — think Buffalo’s four-year, $53-million pact with Khalil Shakir — is getting increasingly harder. Doubs is building a case as the No. 1 free agent option. Mike Evans, Jakobi Meyers and Jauan Jennings are in the class but aren’t entering their second contract like Doubs, who is 25. Youth always pays. Indianapolis’ Alec Pierce will also be in the free agent mix as a potent vertical threat.

• Travon Walker’s presence looms large for Jacksonville’s meeting with the Chiefs. He saw a specialist this week over his wrist injury suffered Sunday. I’m told Walker’s injury won’t be season-ending, but it could jeopardize his status Monday in what is suddenly a marquee showdown for teams coming off back-to-back wins.

• The league will be reviewing Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit on Cam Ward on Sunday for a potential fine or discipline. Al-Shaair is a repeat offender, but this feels more like an instance worthy of a fine than a suspension.

• Pretty incredible stat on Puka Nacua, via ESPN Research: He’s the first NFL player to record at least 500 receiving yards in his first four games in two different seasons. Nacua did so in 2023 (501) and this year (503). The Rams are thrilled with how the presence of Davante Adams as the prototypical X receiver has opened things up for the rest of the offense, Nacua included.

• When I asked about the Giants making a move to add a receiver via trade or free agency, the response I got was, “There are no replacements for Malik Nabers. You can’t replace that guy.” Very true. So the Giants seem inclined to roll with what they have at this point.

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• Jeremy Fowler

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  Jeremy Fowler

  senior NFL national reporter

  Jeremy Fowler is a senior national NFL writer for ESPN, covering the entire league including breaking news. Jeremy also contributes to SportsCenter both as a studio analyst and a sideline reporter covering for NFL games. He is an Orlando, Florida native who joined ESPN in 2014 after covering college football for CBSSports.com.

• Dan Graziano

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  Dan Graziano

  senior NFL national reporter

  Dan Graziano is a senior NFL national reporter for ESPN, covering the entire league and breaking news. Dan also contributes to Get Up, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, Sunday NFL Countdown and Fantasy Football Now. He is a New Jersey native who joined ESPN in 2011, and he is also the author of two published novels.

Sep 4, 2025, 06:10 AM ET

Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season is finally here, and league insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano are breaking down the biggest questions, latest news and notable buzz heading into the season opener.

The top story of the past week was the Cowboys trading star edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Packers last Thursday. Now that the dust has settled a bit, where does that leave Dallas? Jeremy and Dan checked in with sources around the league.

But they have more ahead of Week 1. Our insiders also made picks for under-the-radar teams that could make the playoffs, predicted which players could break out in Week 1, pointed out coaching situations that need fast starts and even gave some fantasy football advice based on what they are hearing. It’s all here, as Dan and Jeremy answer big questions and empty their reporting notebooks with the latest heading into Week 1.

Jump to:
Post-Parsons Cowboys | Playoff sleepers
Breakout candidates | Coaching situations
Fantasy intel | More notes for Week 1

What are people in the league saying about the ceiling for this Parsons-less Dallas team in 2025?

Graziano: I think the offense is expected to be good as long as quarterback Dak Prescott stays healthy. The addition of wide receiver George Pickens makes the Cowboys potentially explosive in the passing game, and while their running back room might be uninspiring, they’ll run effectively if the offensive line performs.

There’s obviously curiosity about whether the Cowboys can generate a consistent pass rush post-Parsons, but Dallas coaches would point out that they had already begun building their defense without him in training camp, as he didn’t participate. The Cowboys believe their defense is in a good place in terms of learning the scheme. There’s skepticism around the league, but I don’t think anyone is writing them off completely. When Prescott has been healthy, they’ve generally been a playoff team.

Fowler: People inside the league are not as down on Dallas as fans and media seem to be right now. The loss of Parsons hurts, but the Cowboys have been a sneaky good drafting team over the past decade and have three former Day 2 edge rusher picks — Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland and Donovan Ezeiruaku — ready to go. The roster has talent. And the Pickens addition received attention around the league. Evaluators know how good he can be in 2025 in a contract year with a proven quarterback. Despite all that, Philadelphia and Washington are considered a cut above in the division, which seems right.

Graziano: And that’s fair. But it has been 21 years since a team repeated as NFC East champion, so that takes Philly out of the mix! And if Washington takes a step back, who knows? This could be one of those NFC East seasons where you don’t need 12 or 13 wins to take the title, which sets up well for the Cowboys.

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Why Stephen A. is still baffled Jerry Jones let Micah Parsons leave

Stephen A. Smith details why the Micah Parsons trade was an egregious deal.

Fowler: Dallas’ schedule is manageable, too. If the Cowboys can somehow get past Philly on Thursday night, winnable games await in Weeks 2 and 3 (Giants at home, Bears on the road). Then it’s the Packers at home for the Parsons reunion.

Who’s your pick for an under-the-radar team that will make the playoffs?

Fowler: New England Patriots. Mike Vrabel’s presence has already paid off. Quarterback Drake Maye is poised for a Year 2 jump. The defensive tackle duo of Christian Barmore and Milton Williams has a chance to be special. Two of their AFC East rivals (Dolphins and Jets) appear to be in transition. Running back TreVeyon Henderson has the explosiveness to break off big runs. And Josh McDaniels is a proven playcaller.

Offensive line and wide receiver remain concerns, but New England has made efforts to address both spots. The Patriots haven’t produced a 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019. For this to work, someone — paging Stefon Diggs — needs to break that streak. A wild-card spot feels attainable.

Graziano: Arizona Cardinals. The NFC West teams could finish the season in any order and it wouldn’t surprise me. Arizona is in Year 3 with Jonathan Gannon as head coach and Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator, and the fact that they didn’t change any offensive personnel in the offseason indicates they believe they’re on track there. Quarterback Kyler Murray is another year removed from his knee injury and has one more offseason working in Petzing’s system. So if it doesn’t hum this season, you must wonder how long ownership will stick with the plan.

Defensively, they made some aggressive additions, signing away edge rusher Josh Sweat from the Super Bowl champs, using a second-round pick on cornerback Will Johnson (who slipped in the draft because of injury concerns) and bringing back the ageless Calais Campbell. It’s time for Arizona to show it can move beyond being a team that hovers around .500 and fades in December.

Which player is going to come out of nowhere in Week 1 — and make an impact all season?

Graziano: It could be Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten. I don’t know how the Jaguars’ running back room will shake out, and I’m not sure they do yet, either. Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby are the incumbents, but the Jags drafted Tuten in the fourth round and LeQuint Allen Jr., who profiles as a third-down back, in the seventh. The veterans might get the first shot, but the new front office and coaching staff drafted Tuten and Allen and have plans for them.

Tuten is the most explosive of the group — a “home run hitter” in the Jaguars’ eyes. If he’s able to pick up the offense and acclimate to the NFL quickly, that explosiveness could lead to greater opportunities sooner rather than later.

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Fowler: Great pick. I’ll go with 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. The 49ers’ receiver room has been decimated by injury, with Brandon Aiyuk still recovering from last season’s knee injury and Jauan Jennings (calf) potentially needing time to ramp up after recently returning to the lineup. And word out of San Francisco is that Pearsall is poised for a Year 2 jump. The 49ers have been a top-five passing offense during Brock Purdy’s two full seasons as starting quarterback, so chances at chunk yardage will be there. Kyle Shanahan will make it so.

Another player to watch is rookie Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt. He might be Washington’s RB4 right now, but every time I asked somebody there about their backfield plans, Croskey-Merritt was mentioned early and often. The Commanders are very high on him.

Graziano: I’m also curious to see what the Browns have planned for third-round rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. A ludicrously productive tight end in college, Fannin was used in a variety of ways at Bowling Green and the Browns say they believe they can deploy him all over the formation. He’s likely to team with David Njoku in the two-TE formations coach Kevin Stefanski loves to use. Fannin probably will stay on the field if he shows he can handle blocking responsibilities. And if he can consistently get open, that probably will earn him more targets from Joe Flacco or whomever else ends up playing QB for the Browns this season.

Fowler: Here’s a deep-cut sleeper for you … Cardinals edge rusher Jordan Burch. His name came up a few times when I’ve asked scouts for Rookie of the Year candidates, so don’t be surprised if the third-round pick makes an early impact. Arizona has some sneaky-good talent, so it’s up to some of the recent draft picks to flash greatness.

Which head coach most needs a strong start in September?

Fowler: The Giants’ Brian Daboll. Any coach with a 19-33-1 record through three seasons could use early momentum. Ownership has been patient with the Giants’ rebuild, and this was Daboll’s first offseason with a high-pedigree rookie quarterback to develop. The early returns on Jaxson Dart are very good, so I’m not labeling September some sort of win-this-month-or-else scenario.

But the schedule is tough. The first four opponents — Commanders, Cowboys, Chiefs and Chargers — won a combined 45 games last season. Setting a tone against that gauntlet would be useful. The Giants’ roster has improved, and the team has a defensive line good enough to dictate terms of victory.

Graziano: Hot-seat talk in early September is dicey, so I’ll start with the disclaimer that I have no inside information to make me think these guys are in any immediate trouble. But given the Bengals’ aspirations and their history of poor September starts under Zac Taylor, he could use a strong start if only for his own sanity.

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Fowler: For sure, a fast start would take the pressure off in Cincy. I’d also argue that Colts coach Shane Steichen fits the mold. Picking Daniel Jones over Anthony Richardson Sr. at quarterback was a bold move, considering the franchise’s investment in Richardson as the No. 4 pick in 2023. But Steichen believes Jones gives the Colts the best chance to win. Proving that to be correct early would ease tension.

Graziano: One more. This team gives coaches a lot of runway, but the Cowboys’ hiring of Brian Schottenheimer was widely criticized outside of the building. It was well-received inside the building, where Schottenheimer is well-liked and respected. People are excited to see him get his chance. But to the extent that the Cowboys care about outside opinions, a Thursday night upset in Philadelphia and a fast start would go a long way toward making the Schottenheimer move look good.

What is one thing you heard this preseason that could help fantasy managers win their leagues?

Graziano: I’m drafting Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka everywhere I can. The Bucs loved him before picking in the first round in April, and they’ve grown to covet him even more since. They believe he can play any of the wide receiver positions in their offense, which is a good thing because Chris Godwin Jr. still isn’t back from last year’s gruesome season-ending injury and Jalen McMillan is out for a while because of a neck injury.

Expect the Bucs to use Egbuka in the slot and on the outside as needed. Given how mature and polished a player they already believe him to be, he could get a ton of targets in one of the league’s top offenses and hold onto a starting role even when Tampa’s receiver corps is back to full strength.

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Will Emeka Egbuka be a top-25 fantasy WR this season?

Daniel Dopp breaks down Emeka Egbuka’s chances of becoming a top-25 fantasy WR.

Fowler: Rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden should get a lot of targets, too. The Packers’ first-round pick has greatly impressed coaches so far. “Phenomenal,” one Packers source told me of Golden’s presence. “Makes a wow play every day.” Golden is listed as a starter already and the Packers aren’t hiding their affection for him. It’s not like one of those situations where you hear, “Oh, he’s a rookie, he’s coming along.” It’s, “No, this guy can play.” The Packers will utilize two-TE sets often and Romeo Doubs is still a prime option, but Golden’s talent looks undeniable.

Also, Panthers receiver Xavier Legette, a first-rounder from 2024, will be a factor in Carolina. Teammate Jaycee Horn told me Legette reminds him of A.J. Brown with his combination of physicality and speed.

What else are you hearing this week?

Graziano’s notes:

• Based on everything I’ve been told this week, I would be shocked if Parsons doesn’t play in some fashion for the Packers against the Lions on Sunday. It’s too soon for Parsons to know the entire defense, and he probably isn’t in football shape yet since he didn’t practice in training camp. But the Packers should be able to draw up a play package that maximizes Parsons’ impact as an edge rusher in key situations, then continue ramping him up during the early weeks of the season.

• The Chiefs are very excited by how rookie left tackle Josh Simmons has performed this summer. One person I spoke to mentioned Simmons’ ability to recover mid-play when he’s beaten off the snap. Coaches say he doesn’t make the same mistake twice, and though some growing pains should be expected, the Chiefs have a high degree of trust in their first-round pick’s ability to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side. With 2024 second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia moving inside to left guard, the Chiefs consider themselves more solid on the offensive line than they were last season, when they ended up having to play veteran guard Joe Thuney at left tackle during the postseason and were exposed against the Eagles in the Super Bowl.

• One unresolved under-the-radar contract situation to watch is that of Steelers veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward. Heyward adjusted his contract last year, and as a result his 2025 salary of $13.25 million is about half of what the top defensive tackles in the league earn. He has been practicing but also made it clear he wants a raise. This could get resolved before Sunday’s opener, and the relationship between the team and their 14-year veteran mainstay is strong enough that it’s hard to imagine him sitting out the game. But as with any player, his leverage only increases if he forces the team to confront life without him — especially with rookie first-rounder Derrick Harmon set to sit out Sunday’s game because of an injury. The Steelers probably could resolve this by adding some cash and reachable incentives. Until then, it’s worth keeping an eye on.

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1:05

J.J. Watt to McAfee: Anticipation is building around Steelers

J.J. Watt tells Pat McAfee there’s growing anticipation around the Steelers’ offense and Aaron Rodgers.

• If both offensive coordinators have their way, the Steelers-Jets game could be over in less than 2½ hours. Both teams want to run the ball and keep the other team’s offense off the field. The Steelers are putting an offense together around a young line and a 41-year-old quarterback in Aaron Rodgers who signed in June. It could take some time for it to come together. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith probably will design a conservative game plan against the tough Jets defense to put Rodgers in do-no-harm situations in an attempt to steal a road win.

• As for the Jets, my understanding is that the offense plans to employ a run-heavy, keep-away style leaning on running backs Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, along with quarterback Justin Fields’ running ability. The Jets hope to get early leads and lean on their strengths. At some point, Fields will have to make plays from the pocket in big third-down spots. If his ability to do that surpasses expectations, the Jets could maybe expand their offense from there. But in the meantime, expect them to run, run and run some more.

• We mentioned above that the Cardinals’ offense remains mostly intact from what it was entering last season. The one new guy is right guard Isaiah Adams, who started the final five games of last season. But there was one key departure that people around the league noticed — offensive line coach Klayton Adams, who was hired as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator. Adams had a significant role in the design and implementation of the Cardinals’ run game the past two seasons; only the Ravens and Eagles have rushed for more yards in that span than Arizona. It also thinks highly of new offensive line coach Justin Frye, who held the same role for Ohio State last season, but this is Frye’s first NFL job after 18 years as a college assistant. The Cardinals did retain assistant offensive line coach Chris Cook, who came in with Gannon and Petzing in 2023, so there’s some continuity. But working with Jeff Saturday for the past half-decade or so has drilled into my mind the importance of the offensive line coach, so I have half an eye on this situation.

• With no sense of when Joe Mixon might return from his injury, the Texans are piecing things together at running back. They kept five backs — Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale, British Brooks and fourth-round rookie Woody Marks. Chubb seems to be the starter for now, but he hasn’t shown the same explosiveness post-injury that he had earlier in his career, which could open the door for Pierce or Marks to take on a larger role. It’ll be interesting to see how many of these guys are active on game days, since Brooks and Pierce are too valuable on special teams to be inactive. But until someone steps up and shows more than they have so far, expect the Texans to use the run game to set up a passing game they believe will be more dynamic in C.J. Stroud’s third year than it was in a disappointing 2024 that led to the firing of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

Fowler’s notes:

• Week 1 can create urgency for contract extensions that teams or players slow-played over the past four months. That happened in Tampa Bay on Tuesday, when the Bucs reached agreement on a four-year, $90 million extension with right tackle Luke Goedeke. The Bucs identified Goedeke as a player they’d like to keep long term, and a recent comp — the Packers’ Zach Tom at four years, $88 million — informed the right tackle market. With Goedeke extended, here are a handful of candidates I’m keeping my eye on: Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, Cowboys guard Tyler Smith, Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor, Rams safety Quentin Lake and Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers.

  Hutchinson will capitalize on the ballooning pass-rush market, and the Lions have begun discussions with him. Dallas wants to allocate some of the money saved by the Parsons trade for Smith, arguably the league’s best guard. Taylor and Lake are ascending defensive backs their teams value beyond this season. There’s a chance Las Vegas and Meyers, the Raiders’ de facto No. 1 receiver coming off a 1,000-yard season despite uneven quarterback play, could come to an agreement despite Meyers recently asking for a trade. And while cornerback Trent McDuffie and the Chiefs won’t reach a new deal by Week 1, via our Nate Taylor, McDuffie is the type of cornerstone player Kansas City would like to keep. This one has challenges — McDuffie is considered small as an outside corner — but many league evaluators consider him a top-five cornerback, and players of that caliber usually get paid.

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• The Anthony Richardson situation is one I will watch closely throughout the season. Richardson’s agent, Deiric Jackson — who publicly questioned trust in the Colts to our Stephen Holder after Richardson lost the QB battle to Jones — met in person last week with Colts general manager Chris Ballard to clear the air. Jackson called the meeting “very constructive,” and just a chance for sides to “let feelings be known.” Though a trade was not requested, the topic was broached in this meeting. Ballard reinforced that Indy has no plans to trade Richardson and still believes in the quarterback.

  Richardson isn’t making any waves — he will remain professional, backing up Jones and maintaining his readiness. But part of his camp’s frustration is that all parties acknowledge patience would be required when Richardson was drafted. He entered the league with one year as a full-time high school starter and one year as a starter at Florida. He has admitted publicly that his leadership and maturity were not up to par in 2024, which contributed to his in-season benching. But despite that, Richardson is 8-7 as an NFL starter, including two fourth-quarter comebacks late last season. He also worked on improving his regimen, leadership, mechanics, diet and ability to layer short-to-intermediate throws, resulting in improvement in camp that ultimately wasn’t enough to win the job. But the Colts know Richardson has a chance to play this season. This situation feels far from settled — and raises questions about how franchises fail young quarterbacks along the way.

• A few notes from the Parsons fallout. One team that inquired about Parsons’ availability but ultimately didn’t pursue aggressively was Carolina. The Panthers made a call but did not formally offer a trade package to Dallas. Carolina would have made sense because the Cowboys were looking for a premier defensive tackle, which Carolina has in Derrick Brown. … In our reporting, multiple team execs believed that Parsons was intrigued by several teams in the process, including the Ravens and Chiefs. This was moot — the Cowboys were focused on getting the best deal they could. And the Chiefs were never in it. But it’s noteworthy nonetheless. … Also, don’t be surprised if Green Bay eventually moves former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness inside in certain packages as Parsons gets acclimated. Van Ness’ frame (6-foot-5, 272 pounds) gives him some positional flexibility.

• Chargers running back Najee Harris (eye) has jumped right back into the fray upon returning from his injury. He has practiced fully since returning to the lineup and was cleared for contact this past Friday. The Chargers have been pleased with his progress and the Chiefs have prepared with the assumption Harris will be in the lineup Friday. Rookie Omarion Hampton has impressed this camp, and I’m expecting enough carries to go around for both in Greg Roman’s offense.

• Regarding the Chiefs, don’t be surprised if familiar faces Isiah Pacheco and JuJu Smith-Schuster are factors in Brazil. Pacheco looks healthy and is running hard. And with Rashee Rice suspended for six games, the Chiefs trust Smith-Schuster in their three-receiver sets. Not sure how many targets he’ll get, but he’ll be a factor. And Mahomes looks ready to fire off some explosive plays. He is coming off one of his better camps, playing “fast, fun and free” as one team source said, and getting back to creatively trying difficult plays that only he can make. Perhaps that’s an experimental practice thing, but Kansas City believes Mahomes is close to hitting those explosive plays on a regular basis again.

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• Now that we’re past the preseason, watch for the Bears to flash some creativity to maximize quarterback Caleb Williams. My sense from people in Chicago is that while head coach Ben Johnson would coach Williams relentlessly on the basics throughout camp, they would eventually play to Williams’ strengths, utilizing his mobility and off-platform throwing as an off-script playmaker. Bears fans could see more of that in the regular season.

• Expect the Bengals’ offense to be ultra-aggressive to start Sunday’s game against the Browns. Despite a maligned defense, Taylor has challenged his offense to get off to faster starts so that the defense can aggressively pursue the quarterback while holding a lead. Quarterback Joe Burrow has taken to that sentiment, setting the tone with one of his best — and healthiest — training camps. Cincinnati also believes its defense will be better than fans and media do. The Bengals have worked on shoring up tackling issues and playing more as a unit.

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