Overview
- The Minnesota Vikings announced Kyler Murray will start the regular season, a decision that pushes J.J. McCarthy down the depth chart after McCarthy’s uneven second‑unit outing in the preseason opener.
- Minnesota beat the New York Giants 13–10 but lost Jamal Adams to an apparent right‑knee injury that saw him carted off and creates an immediate hole in safety/linebacker versatility.
- The Baltimore Ravens rested most projected starters and used extended snaps to showcase rookies and backups, with undrafted QB Joe Fagnano completing 22 of 28 for 223 yards and emerging as the frontrunner for the No. 3 quarterback role after Skylar Thompson was placed on injured reserve.
- Ravens special teams drew scrutiny when kicker Tyler Loop missed a 49‑yard attempt but made a 42‑yarder, and other teams’ Week‑1 action highlighted execution problems for reserves, such as Seattle’s coaching concern over fundamentals after a 17–7 loss to Dallas.
- Week 1 underscored preseason’s purpose as an evaluation tool: teams are protecting starters and using game reps to sort final rosters, so rookie performances, turnovers and injuries now carry outsized weight in upcoming cut decisions and practice‑squad battles.