NFL Preseason Week 1 – Who’s Playing & Sitting?

• Week 1 of NFL preseason features 16 games, beginning August 7th
• Joe Burrow and the Bengals break from tradition, while Lamar Jackson sits
• Read below for complete list of starters playing and resting, plus betting implications

The 2025 NFL preseason gets underway Thursday, August 7th, with the Indianapolis Colts visiting the Baltimore Ravens. Week 1 features 16 games across four days, and while most teams are sitting their stars, a few notable exceptions will see the field.

Breaking from the norm, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and receiver Ja’Marr Chase will play “several series” in their opener against Philadelphia. On the flip side, teams like Baltimore and Atlanta won’t risk their franchise quarterbacks in meaningless games.

Here’s everything you need to know about who’s suiting up and who’s watching from the sidelines in Week 1.

NFL Preseason Week 1 Players Expected to Play

The betting lines reflect these personnel decisions, with Cincinnati installed as 6-point favorites (-258 ML) over Philadelphia despite being on the road. The Bengals’ decision to play starters has moved the line significantly from its opening number in the NFL Preseason Week 1 odds.

Joe Burrow Preseason Plan Bengals

The biggest shock of Week 1 comes from Cincinnati, where head coach Zac Taylor is going against the grain by playing his starters. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase will play “several series” against the Eagles, with Taylor believing this will prevent another slow start after the Bengals missed the playoffs in 2024.

“We need to hit the ground running this year,” Taylor told reporters. The Bengals plan to give starters even more time in their second preseason game against Washington, making them must-watch television for football-starved fans.

Meanwhile in Tennessee, rookie quarterback Cam Ward gets the full preseason treatment. The first overall pick will start Saturday’s game against Tampa Bay and play in all three exhibition contests. With the Titans coming off an offensive disaster in 2024, new coach Brian Callahan wants Ward as prepared as possible for Week 1.

The Titans’ commitment to playing Ward has them installed as 4.5-point favorites over the Buccaneers, who will rest Baker Mayfield and most offensive starters.

Rookie Quarterbacks Playing in Preseason

Cleveland’s Shedeur Sanders lands an unexpected opportunity Friday against Carolina. With Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel both dealing with hamstring injuries and Joe Flacco getting the night off, the fifth-round pick from Colorado will make his NFL debut as the Browns’ starter.

The quarterback shuffle in Cleveland has flipped the betting line completely, with Carolina now favored by 6 points behind QB Bryce Young. Although the Panthers have not officially stated how much of Week 1 Young will participate, he and most of the healthy starters from Carolina will be on the field to face Cleveland.

Other rookie signal-callers worth watching include Riley Leonard (Colts) and Jalen Milroe (Seahawks), both expected to see extended action in their matchups.

NFL Preseason Week 1 Players Sitting Out

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NFL Contract Drama and Hold-Outs

The headlines this week belong to Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, who’s officially requested a trade after contract talks went nowhere. Jerry Jones hasn’t spoken to Parsons since the trade request and doesn’t sound confident the All-Pro will be ready for Week 1. The Cowboys are still 2.5-point favorites over the Rams despite the circus.

Buffalo’s James Cook joins the hold-in parade, sitting out practices while seeking a new deal after Kyren Williams’ three-year, $33 million extension. The Bills enter as slight underdogs (+1.5) against the Giants in their Saturday morning matchup.

Washington’s Terry McLaurin ended his four-day holdout but remains on the PUP list with an ankle injury. The Commanders are significant underdogs (+6.5) at New England, where new coach Mike Vrabel plans to play all healthy players.

Joint Practices Replace Game Reps

More teams than ever are choosing joint practices over preseason games. Baltimore’s John Harbaugh confirmed Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry will sit Thursday even though both participated in joint practices with Indianapolis earlier this week.

“The joint practices supplement the preseason games for us,” explained Rams coach Sean McVay, whose team hosts Dallas on Saturday. “We get more reps for our starters in a controlled setting.”

This thinking has caught on league-wide, with teams choosing controlled practice settings over the chaos of live games. The Ravens’ decision has them as 6-point underdogs against the Colts, who will play Anthony Richardson for about a quarter and a half.

Preseason Week 1 Betting Angles and Line Movement

The biggest line swings this week revolve around quarterback decisions. New England opened as 4-point favorites but jumped to -6.5 after Washington confirmed Jayden Daniels won’t play. The Cleveland-Carolina line did a complete 180 once Shedeur Sanders was named the Browns’ starter.

The over/under totals stay conservative across the board, ranging from 32.5 to 38.5 points. Chiefs-Cardinals has the highest total at 38.5, while several games sit at 32.5, showing what to expect from vanilla play-calling and backup quarterbacks.

Professional bettors have hammered games where one team plays starters against backups. Cincinnati (-6) and Tennessee (-4.5) have taken some of the most action so far.

These Week 1 exhibition games will provide the first real look at teams before the regular season starts September 4th. Sure, most stars are watching from the sideline, but the preseason still matters for roster spots, rookie development, and building the depth that separates contenders from pretenders.