At long last, football is back.
Well, sort of.
NFL training camps begin this week, offering windows into where the league’s most intriguing rookies, quarterback battles and contract disputes stand.
Different teams report on different days, but here are some of the top storylines.
ALL ABOUT AARON
Aaron Rodgers is set to ramp up his workload with the Pittsburgh Steelers, whom he signed with in early June following months of speculation about his future.
Rodgers joined the Steelers after they completed organized team activities (OTAs), and he did not take any reps during mandatory minicamp.
All of that set the stage for Wednesday, when Rodgers, 41, and his teammates are scheduled to report to training camp.
“This was a decision that was best for my soul, and I felt like being here with coach [Mike Tomlin] and the guys they got here and the opportunity here was the best for me,” Rodgers said last month of returning for a 21st season. “I’m excited to be here.”
The Jets released Rodgers in March after a disappointing two-year tenure, during which the four-time NFL MVP suffered a season-ending Achilles tear four snaps into his team debut in 2023, then went just 5-12 last season.
Rodgers completed 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2024.
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MORE SHEDEUR
Shedeur Sanders did not take first-team snaps during OTAs or minicamp, yet the high-profile rookie quarterback remains the most talked-about player of the Cleveland Browns offseason.
That’s because the sports world wants to see how Sanders, the confident son of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, fares after falling to the fifth round of the NFL Draft in an unprecedented slide.
Sanders landed in an optimal situation, considering Cleveland’s starting quarterback job is up for grabs and that the other candidates are 40-year-old Joe Flacco, journeyman Kenny Pickett and third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel.
The Browns are scheduled to begin camp on Thursday.
INDIANA JONES
The other main QB battle is in Indianapolis, where former Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is in a two-man fight for the starting job.
The Colts signed Jones to a one-year, $14 million contract in the offseason to push third-year quarterback Anthony Richardson, who has struggled with injury and inconsistency since being drafted No. 4 overall.
A nagging shoulder issue prevented Richardson from partaking in minicamp, but he has said he expects to be ready for training camp.
Jones, meanwhile, seeks career redemption after being released by the Giants last November and spending most of the remainder of the season on the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad.
The 28-year-old Jones went 24-44-1 in six seasons as the Giants starter, including 2-8 last year.
Colts veterans are set to report to training camp on Tuesday.
CONTRACT CONUNDRUMS
What’s the NFL offseason without a few contract disputes?
Dallas’ Micah Parsons, Washington’s Terry McLaurin, Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson and Buffalo’s James Cook are among the stars seeking new deals.
Parsons, who could become the next pass rusher to reset the position’s robust market, attended minicamp last month and was expected to report to the Cowboys’ training camp in Oxnard, Calif., on Monday.
He is fresh off of his fourth consecutive season with at least 12 sacks.
Cook, too, participated in Bills minicamp this spring after the running back totaled 18 touchdowns last season. Buffalo players were not scheduled to report to training camp until Tuesday.
McLaurin, meanwhile, did not attend the Commanders’ offseason workouts and said last week that he hadn’t decided about whether to hold out of training camp.
“I’ve been pretty frustrated, I’m not going to lie,” the wide receiver said. “Everything that has transpired up to this point has been disappointing and frustrating. I want to continue my career here.”
The Commanders report on Tuesday.
Also set to report on Tuesday are the Bengals’ veterans, but it’s unclear if Hendrickson will be among them.
Hendrickson led the NFL last season with 17.5 sacks — 3.5 more than anyone else — but the Bengals prioritized extensions for receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this offseason.
The 30-year-old Hendrickson has said he won’t play on his current deal, which has one year remaining at $16 million.
Also hanging over Cincinnati is the status of rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart, this year’s only first-rounder who is yet to sign. Stewart did not report to camp with his fellow rookies over the weekend.
SAM THE MAN
This week offers another look at Sam Darnold, the marquee quarterback to change teams in the offseason.
Seattle signed Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract, hoping the one-time Jets draft pick can build on a breakout 2024 season in which he passed for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns and led Minnesota to a 14-3 record.
The signing of Darnold headlined a busy offseason for the Seahawks, who overhauled their receiver group by trading away DK Metcalf, releasing Tyler Lockett and Noah Fant, and signing Cooper Kupp.
Also of interest will be the training camp performance of J.J. McCarthy, who is set to replace Darnold as the Vikings’ starting quarterback.
McCarthy, whom Minnesota drafted No. 10 overall last year, missed his rookie season due to a knee injury that required two surgeries.