New-look Commanders could pose challenge to Buccaneers

Quarterback Jayden Daniels will make his professional debut on Sunday afternoon when the visiting Washington Commanders face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the season opener for both teams.

Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, beat out veteran Marcus Mariota to land the starting job.

“We knew we would get here, but we were just excited to see how we would,” Washington coach Dan Quinn said of the rapid development he saw from Daniels. “So, seeing him hit all the spots, this is a rare competitor, and those are the things that I knew about him.”

While the Commanders didn’t show off Daniels all that much this preseason, Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles has a general idea of what the Buccaneers will be dealing with on Sunday.

“He can beat you with his legs or his arm,” Bowles said of Daniels. “He was taken that high for a reason.”

Daniels is aware that there will be challenges in his debut, and he knows that he will have to adjust on the fly.

“It’s not gonna be a finished product Week 1, but just try to get better and go out there and go through some growing pains,” Daniels said. “You’re a rookie. You’re not gonna have everything perfect.”

Quinn is also a newcomer, taking over at the helm after serving as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator from 2021-23. He will be trying to help Washington get back on track after the Commanders went just 4-13 last season.

It’s been a different story for Tampa Bay, which has won three straight NFC South titles.

Last season’s success was fueled by former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield, who completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns — all career bests.

There have been some changes for the Buccaneers, though, as Liam Coen took over as offensive coordinator for Dave Canales, who is now the coach of the Carolina Panthers. Tampa Bay also has a new center in rookie Graham Barton, a first-round draft pick out of Duke.

Barton has been taking the time to scout the Commanders’ defensive line as he prepares for his NFL debut.

“A lot of respect for what I’ve seen so far of them on tape,” Barton said. “It’s going to present a unique challenge for us, but I think we’re ready.”

The Buccaneers’ offense does still feature star wideout Mike Evans, who was tied with the Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill for the most touchdown receptions (13) in the league last season. Evans had 79 catches for 1,255 yards.

Even with Mayfield and Evans leading the way, putting up points against Washington could be tough due to Quinn’s defensive background. The Commanders also got some reinforcements this offseason, bringing in linebacker Frankie Luvu and safety Jeremy Chinn.

“They’ve got some talented players up there,” Bowles said. “I’ll probably be saying this every week. We don’t play any scrubs anymore. … It’s going to be a tough challenge. We know they’re a tough bunch.”

Bucs defensive lineman Logan Hall (foot) did not practice all week and was ruled out for the game. Defensive lineman Calijah Kancey (calf) popped up on Friday’s injury report as limited and is questionable, along with wide receiver Trey Palmer (concussion). Kicker Chase McLaughlin (abdomen/illness) was cleared to play after sitting out Wednesday.

Mariota (chest/pectoral) was ruled out for Washington, meaning Jeff Driskel will be QB2 behind Daniels. Defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newtown (foot) is doubtful.

–Field Level Media

Texans open season, division title defense at Colts

Week 1 of the NFL season is always a big deal.

From the view of second-year Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen, it’s a bigger deal when you open with a division rival.

That’s what Indianapolis does Sunday as it welcomes the defending AFC South champion Houston Texans.

“You want to win division games, you want to win a division championship. It starts in the division and you got to win at home right off the bat,” he said. “So it’ll be an extra challenge. It’s a good football team we’re playing, but I know our guys are going to be geared up and ready to roll on Sunday.”

If that’s the case, the Colts will reverse a decade-long trend. They are 0-9-1 in their last 10 season openers, which includes a 20-20 tie two years ago in Houston and a loss to start 2020 in Jacksonville, which went on to drop the next 15 games.

Last year’s season opener saw Indianapolis fall 31-21 to Jacksonville in 2023 first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson’s NFL debut. The quarterback played just three more games before a season-ending shoulder injury thrust Gardner Minshew into the job.

With Minshew now starting in Las Vegas, the Colts tossed the keys back to Richardson. The game plan is to use former NFL rushing champion Jonathan Taylor and Richardson to pound away at defenses, then let Richardson take shots downfield off play-action.

“As he showed with the limited amount of snaps that he’s had, he’s shown that he could be a dynamic playmaker and running the ball,” said Houston coach DeMeco Ryans. “Also throwing the football.”

Despite Richardson’s absence over the last 13 games, Indianapolis still pieced together a top-10 scoring offense, averaging 23.3 points per game. But its defense finished 28th at 24.4 ppg, helping to keep the Colts out of the postseason.

That unit will get an immediate test in Week 1.

Houston loaded up for a championship run behind second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud. He led the Texans to a surprise division title last year, showing not only talent but poise belying his youth.

Now Stroud has more veteran weapons around him. Houston added wide receiver Stefon Diggs and a workhorse running back in Joe Mixon who can also catch the ball. The Texans aim to do with Stroud what the Buffalo Bills have done with quarterback Josh Allen — build the talent base around him and force their way to the front of the queue in the AFC.

Diggs is looking forward to a fresh start with Houston after his time ran out with the Bills. Diggs’ production fell off sharply in the final two-thirds of 2023, even though he finished with 107 catches, and he freely admits that he was in the “worst mental space” since he jumped into the NFL.

“If I’m not in a good space, obviously that’s not the best for me,” he said. “That’s when things had to start shaking out.”

The Colts ruled out wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) for the season opener. Kicker Matt Gay is questionable due to a hernia; undrafted rookie Spencer Shrader would step in if Gay is unavailable Sunday. Houston ruled out just one player, cornerback M.J. Stewart (knee).

The Colts own a 32-11-1 lead in the all-time series, but the Texans have won the last two matchups at Lucas Oil Stadium, including a 23-19 verdict in January that clinched a playoff berth.

–Field Level Media

QBs Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson test new digs with Falcons, Steelers

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — When the Atlanta Falcons host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular-season opener Sunday, veteran quarterbacks eager to make a statement with their new teams are center stage.

For Atlanta, all eyes will be on the revamped offense led by 36-year-old quarterback Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract in March to leave Minnesota.

The four-time Pro Bowler threw for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns in eight games with the Vikings in 2023 before tearing his Achilles. Cousins replaces Desmond Ridder in Atlanta.

The offseason additions have the Falcons in the conversation in the NFC South as they vie for their first winning season and postseason appearance since 2017.

“I’m very aware of the perception right now that our offense is going to be really great,” Cousins said. “We’ve got all these great players, but that’s only perception. It’s our job to make it reality. Until we go on the field and do it, I don’t feel any assurance on that.”

Sunday marks the start of a new era on the Atlanta sideline. Raheem Morris was named Falcons head coach in January. Morris was previously Atlanta’s interim coach for the final 11 games of 2020, going 4-7, as well as leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 17-31 record from 2009-11.

Morris, 48, was hired following three seasons as the Rams defensive coordinator. Assuming the role as head coach for the first time since the end of the 2020 season, Morris hasn’t let the moment get to him but knows what’s coming Sunday.

“My jitters usually don’t hit until right before the national anthem,” Morris said. “I don’t know if it’s the emotion of the anthem or what, but a grayness hits you and you’re ready to go play. In the preparation of it all, you build so much confidence in your process that you feel really calm about how you want to go about your business.”

Morris will face off against a former colleague in Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. The two were defensive assistants together in Tampa from 2002-05 and remain friends.

Tomlin and the Steelers will roll out a new-look offense headed up by former Falcons coach Arthur Smith and a new quarterback.

Russell Wilson, who was released by the Denver Broncos, was named the starter last week over Justin Fields, who as acquired from the Bears.

Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks, won the starting job in the offseason and appears ready to lead Pittsburgh in a competitive AFC North.

“I’m super excited to be here,” Wilson said. “Obviously, I came here to help us win. That’s the focus. I think the best part is how hard we’ve worked from OTA’s to Latrobe (training camp). We’ve got a great season ahead of us.”

Wilson is nursing a calf injury and was listed as questionable on Friday.

After a legendary Seahawks career, Wilson spent a pair of tumultuous seasons in Denver, where he was benched for the last two weeks of 2023 as a way for the Broncos to “preserve financial flexibility.” Wilson then signed a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum with Pittsburgh.

Morris noted that linebacker Nate Landman (quad) and tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring) were both limited Wednesday. But both players practiced in full Friday and are good to go for the contest.

Steelers starting left guard Isaac Seumalo is out for the opener after leaving an Aug. 28 practice with a pectoral injury. Center Nate Herbig will miss the season with a torn rotator cuff.

Receiver Roman Wilson (ankle) and defensive tackle Logan Lee (calf) also will sit out.

The all-time series between the Falcons and Steelers has been largely one-sided, with Pittsburgh holding a 15-2-1 edge. Atlanta’s last win was on Oct. 22, 2006.

–Jack Batten, Field Level Media

Cowboys back Dak Prescott, begin season with rugged Browns

Cleveland crumpled quarterbacks on the regular last season, but the Browns couldn’t keep theirs healthy.

The Cowboys had the MVP runner-up under center, but Dallas was destroyed by an up-and-comer in another playoff disappointment.

Retooled and driven to get back to the postseason, the Cowboys travel to Cleveland for a Week 1 matchup destined to be determined by quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Deshaun Watson.

Prescott and the Cowboys went 12-5 last season, won the NFC East and hosted a playoff game. Because Prescott lost for a fifth time in the postseason and has just two career playoff wins, the national narrative since a home-field drubbing at the hands of the Green Bay Packers ended Dallas’ 2023 season has been something other than Pro-Dak.

Dallas wide receiver Brandin Cooks took up defense of Prescott on Wednesday as the Cowboys step into the challenge of solving Cleveland’s toothy defense with defensive end Myles Garrett front and center.

“The guy shows up every year, year in and year out. Putting up numbers, leading his team,” Cooks said of Prescott. “He can’t do it all by himself. A lot of those great quarterbacks that I’ve been with, Tom (Brady) and Drew (Brees), don’t get me wrong, they won a lot of games, won a lot of Super Bowls, but they had a lot of help around them as well, right?

“Us players around (Prescott) also got to step up. So when we hear that disrespect, I take that personally, and as his teammates, we should take that personally.”

Prescott and the Cowboys have been mired in a standoff over his contract status since last season ended. He’s in the final year of a four-year, $160 million deal and cannot be retained with the franchise tag.

It’s not as simple as “paying Dak,” according to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Jones is lighter in the wallet after coming to the table to deliver a four-year, $136 million extension to get record-setting receiver CeeDee Lamb in the fold for Week 1 after a training camp holdout. And a bigger payday could be around the corner for pass rusher Micah Parsons by this time next year.

Lamb, 25, earned All-Pro first-team honors and set franchise records in 2023 with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards. He’ll be locking up with Browns cornerback Denzel Ward in a popcorn-worthy matchup to focus on this week. Lamb said he’s rooting for Prescott to stay with the Cowboys.

“I have no doubt that they’re gonna get a deal done. We all know that I want Dak here. Jerry wants Dak here, too, so let’s just get this under control and kill the speculation,” Lamb said.

Watson has his own battle to fight. The Browns went to the playoffs on the revived arm of Joe Flacco following a season-ending shoulder injury that Watson sustained.

With 12 total starts since the end of the 2020 season, Watson said he’s recovered from that injury and is prepared to prove his value. That’s a serious ask considering he’s in the middle of a five-year, $230 million contract that the team fully guaranteed when he was acquired from the Houston Texans.

“Regardless (of) if you won MVP or if you didn’t play last year, it’s a new year,” Watson said Wednesday. “In this league, if you’re focusing on last year, then you’re going to get left behind.”

The Browns are leaving former All-Pro running back Nick Chubb behind — at least for the first four games of the campaign — after a devastating knee injury in Week 2 last season. Jerome Ford, who teamed with Kareem Hunt to take Chubb’s workload in 2023, is the lead back facing the Cowboys to start the 2024 season.

Meanwhile, Ezekiel Elliott is back for Dallas and is listed first on the depth chart. Elliott, drafted in the first round in 2016, the year Prescott was picked in the fourth round, reunited with Dallas after spending last season as a backup with the New England Patriots.

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy reiterated that there is a committee approach at running back that will include Rico Dowdle. And for anyone reacting to the Week 1 depth chart, McCarthy had another message for them and the team entering the season opener.

“I have plans for 21 games,” he said of the long view of a season that would culminate with the Super Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Bills bring wild-card WR corps into opener with Cardinals, Marvin Harrison Jr.

Knocking on the championship door but unable to break through, the Buffalo Bills are determined to design another route to the Super Bowl.

The Bills begin their quest of reaching the postseason for the seventh time in eight seasons when they battle the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at Orchard Park, N.Y.

Buffalo (11-6 last season) had its Super Bowl hopes dashed by the Kansas City Chiefs for the third time in the past four seasons in January. After losing to the Chiefs in the 2020 AFC Championship Game, the Bills have been eliminated in the divisional round the past three seasons.

Due to cap constraints and uneven results, the Bills underwent revamping in the spring. Among the departures are receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, center Mitch Morse, cornerback Tre’Davious White and safety Jordan Poyer.

The trade of Diggs to the Houston Texas certainly was the signature move as the club parted ways with a talented player who was a distraction at times. But not having a bona fide go-to wideout isn’t an issue to star quarterback Josh Allen.

“Yeah, we’ve got a lot of new guys, new faces, and just trying to spread the wealth,” Allen said Wednesday. “I think the term we’ve been using is ‘Everybody eats’ and it’s going to take all 11 guys on the field at any given time to make a play go. That’s our mindset. It doesn’t really matter who gets the ball or when they get it. We’re going to be happy for whatever we’re doing out there and just try to make the best play possible.”

Khalil Shakir, who caught two touchdowns in the postseason, and newcomer Curtis Samuel (62 catches for Washington last season) figure to be the top targets. Veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling and second-round draft pick Keon Coleman also are part of the mix.

Familiarity is in short supply. Shakir is the lone receiver who has caught a pass from Allen in an official game.

“I feel like teams don’t even know what we’re gonna do,” Samuel said. “And I feel like that’s a great thing. We got so many weapons, so many different guys that could do a lot of a lot of different things. I feel like that makes us scary.”

The Cardinals (4-13) are hoping to have an explosive tandem with No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. on board to catch throws from quarterback Kyler Murray. Harrison played just three snaps in the preseason without a ball thrown his way so Sunday is the day Arizona’s new present is formally unwrapped.

“I know what type of talent he is and I know what he’s capable of,” said Murray, “but we have to go out there and do it.”

Murray is looking forward to this season now that his serious knee injury is behind him. He tore the ACL in his right knee against the New England Patriots during a Monday night affair on Dec. 12, 2022.

He returned to game action exactly 11 months later and passed for 1,799 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games last season.

“Football has been on my mind this whole offseason,” Murray said. “It always is but last year, being hurt and having to rehab and stuff like that, (I tried) not to get too far away from the game mentally. I have had this on my mind for a long time, what I want to accomplish, what I want this team to accomplish, so it doesn’t feel brand new.”

The Cardinals have played in just one postseason game during Murray’s previous five NFL seasons — a wild-card round loss to the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season.

Receiver Xavier Weaver (oblique) sat out Wednesday’s practice for the Cardinals. Defensive end Javon Solomon (oblique) missed practice for the Bills.

–Field Level Media

Panthers, Saints determined to revive offenses, playoff hopes

Making offensive improvements was a focal point for both the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers this offseason.

New Orleans and Carolina begin the proving grounds march when they meet Sunday afternoon in the season opener.

Carolina hired new coach Dave Canales back in January in the hopes that he would help second-year quarterback Bryce Young develop. Canales was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator in 2023, guiding signal-caller Baker Mayfield to the best season of his career.

“We want to establish the run, put up the run, but obviously we’re going to look to push the ball down the field,” Young said. “I think for us, it’s trying to create as efficient of an operation as possible.”

Carolina went 2-15 last season as Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, struggled with the transition from college to the NFL while operating behind an offensive line that tied for the second-most sacks allowed (65) in the league and couldn’t gain traction in the ground game.

To take some pressure off of Young, the Panthers went to the bank to bring in the brawn, signing veteran guards — Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis — in free agency.

“I have all the confidence in the world in my offensive line,” Young said. “I have a ton of confidence in the scheme we have.”

Carolina also tried to surround Young with a stronger receiving corps, using the final pick of the first round to draft Xavier Legette out of South Carolina. The Panthers also traded for Diontae Johnson, who spent his first five NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Saints have a better idea of what they have at quarterback. Veteran Derek Carr is entering is 11th NFL season and second with New Orleans. But the Saints fought similar issues with protection and establishing the running game last season.

Carr started all 17 games for the Saints last season, going 9-8 while throwing for 3,878 yards and 25 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. New Orleans peaked late, winning four of its final five games.

The Saints will try to carry that late-season momentum over to the current campaign, and they will now have Klint Kubiak as offensive coordinator. Kubiak was the 49ers’ passing game coordinator in 2023 — his lone season with San Francisco — after serving as an assistant with the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings.

Kubiak had a hand in working Niners star Christian McCaffrey into San Francisco’s passing game last year, and New Orleans is hoping that versatile running back Alvin Kamara can be utilized in a similar fashion.

“I think that’s what Klint is here for, I think that’s what the rest of those guys are here for,” Kamara said. “That’s what’s expected, an increase in production. When you look at what they’ve been able to produce, it’s exciting. … Hopefully, we’ll do the same here.”

New Orleans, like Carolina, is hoping for improved play from its offensive line, which will likely feature three new starters.

Trevor Penning, a first-round draft choice in 2022 who has often looked overmatched during his time in the NFL, was moved from left tackle to right tackle. Taliese Fuaga was drafted out of Oregon State in the first round of this year’s draft to start at left tackle, and Lucas Patrick will likely start at left guard after being signed as a free agent.

Defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (calf) and linebackers Jaylan Ford (hamstring) and D’Marco Jackson (calf) didn’t practice for the Saints on Wednesday. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore was limited due to a hip ailment.

Panthers tight ends Ian Thomas (calf) and Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back) were held out of Wednesday’s practice. Running back Miles Sanders was limited with a finger injury.

–Field Level Media

Mike Macdonald debuts, Seahawks host Broncos, rookie Bo Nix

Two years ago, the Denver Broncos opened their season in Seattle with quarterback Russell Wilson making his debut in orange and blue after 10 seasons with the Seahawks.

The Broncos return to Lumen Field on Sunday for their 2024 opener, this time with rookie Bo Nix, their first-round pick out of Oregon, calling the signals.

Nix will become the 14th player to start at the position for the Broncos since Peyton Manning retired after winning the Super Bowl following the 2015 season.

And he’ll be the first rookie QB to start for Denver since John Elway in 1983.

“There’s a lot of pressure on (Bo’s) shoulders,” Broncos veteran offensive lineman Mike McGlinchey said. “Everyone wants him to succeed greatly here, but it doesn’t mean that he has to press and do something special every single day. He just has to do his job.”

While the Broncos are still paying Wilson ($85 million in dead money on the salary cap starting with a $53 million bill for 2024, then $32 million next year), the plan is to be playing Nix.

Nix started 61 games in college at Auburn and Oregon, an NCAA record for a quarterback. He was 23 of 30 for 205 yards and two touchdowns in two preseason appearances, leading the Broncos to scores on six of seven possessions.

That’s why he not only got the starting nod from coach Sean Payton, but was also named one of the Broncos’ captains by his teammates. He’ll be the first rookie captain for the franchise since Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little in 1967.

“It’s a privilege, an honor to be with this group,” Nix said. ” … I don’t take it lightly. I know it’s a big deal, hasn’t happened often, but I don’t take it for granted. I’ve got to come to work every single day and just prove you can be the captain.”

Despite some impressive performances, Nix has never defeated an opponent from Seattle, going 0-3 against the University of Washington in his two seasons with the Ducks.

“It’s going to be loud,” Payton said of the crowd Sunday at Lumen Field. “I would imagine there will be some similarities to when Oregon goes to Washington and they’re playing in front of however many thousand people.”

The Seahawks will also have a new look under Mike Macdonald, 37, as they go from the oldest coach in the NFL (Pete Carroll, age 72), to the youngest.

Macdonald coordinated Baltimore’s defense last season when it led the league in sacks (60) and fewest points allowed (16.5 per game) and was tied for first in takeaways (31, with the New York Giants). He’s been praised — and cursed — by peers for confounding even the most advanced minds in the game. It’s one of the things that drew Seahawks general manager John Schneider to Macdonald.

“We’re always trying to push the envelope. We want people chasing us,” Macdonald said. “So to kind of get to the mentality of we’re not copying anybody, it’s going to be our style of play, it’s going to be our team, our way of doing things, never satisfied with where we’re at, no complacency. Kind of a relentless pursuit of creating the vision that we want to create. I think that kind of paints a nice picture.”

The Seahawks overhauled their system on the offensive side of the ball, too. New coordinator Ryan Grubb helped guide the University of Washington to the national title game last season, and decided he belonged in the Pacific Northwest after initially packing to join head coach Kalen DeBoer in a move to replace Nick Saban at Alabama.

“I know we kept it pretty vanilla during the preseason on both sides of the ball,” Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf said. “But Grubb is known for his explosive plays down the field, so just looking forward to him opening up a playbook just so we can exploit defenses and push the ball down the field.”

The Broncos didn’t list anyone on their injury report Wednesday. The Seahawks only expect to be without linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (knee) and tight end Pharaoh Brown (foot) on Sunday.

–Field Level Media