Back to the Preseason Updates Landing Page.
One of the best and most comprehensive features we offer every year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Every week this month, Bob Henry, Jason Wood, Clayton Gray, and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. It's 32-plus pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you'll find. It's probably worth the Footballguys Premium Subscription by itself.
Updates from Week 4
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts has had a solid summer, with stretches of crisp execution balanced by moments of uneven play as he adjusts to Kevin Patullo's changes to the offense. The chemistry with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith is intact, and the expectation is that once the new wrinkles become second nature, the unit will be as dangerous as ever. Behind him, Tanner McKee looked like one of the league's best backup quarterbacks before a broken finger halted his momentum. It is a setback, but not a long-term concern. He remains positioned as the clear No. 2 once he is healthy. The front office's trade for Sam Howell reflected both the need for short-term stability and frustration with Dorian Thompson-Robinson, whose poor preseason performance left the staff unwilling to trust him even in a temporary role. Rookie Kyle McCord showed flashes but was released at final cuts, with the team hoping to bring him back on the practice squad if he clears waivers. The structure of the room is straightforward: Hurts as the centerpiece, McKee as the trusted understudy, and Howell as insurance.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Saquon Barkley has been managed carefully throughout camp, but there is no question about his centrality to the offense. Will Shipley has been one of the summer's risers, earning consistent praise for his hands and after-the-catch ability, while also showing the toughness to handle rotational carries. A.J. Dillon, back from a lost 2024 season, has not been explosive but provides the downhill presence this backfield otherwise lacks, particularly in short-yardage situations. Ben VanSumeren has solidified himself as a fullback and special teams mainstay, though the decision to carry him means Montrell Johnson Jr. and ShunDerrick Powell are most likely headed to the practice squad. The only real disagreement across beat-writer roster projections was whether three tailbacks plus VanSumeren provides enough depth, but the consensus view is that Barkley and Shipley can handle volume with Dillon as a situational hammer.
