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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

We did not see Aaron Rodgers suit up in the preseason, but reports from camp have been positive about his fit in Arthur Smith's offense. Rodgers is in a good place mentally and healthier than he was in 2024, now another year removed from his 2023 Achilles injury. While Rodgers told Pat McAfee in June that he was "pretty sure this is my last season," he has since hinted that if things go well, he would be open to continuing in 2026 and beyond. "I think we're gonna do some special things this year. Looking forward to it," DK Metcalf said on Cam Heyward's podcast before smiling at Rodgers. "And you know, maybe we can run it back." Rodgers smiled and replied, "Maybe." Behind Rodgers, the depth chart is clear. Mason Rudolph will be the backup, and the team is expected to keep rookie Will Howard on the 53-man roster despite his training camp injury. That leaves Skylar Thompson as the odd man out, though his strong preseason, which he capped off by completing 11-of-13 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown against Carolina in Week 3, likely earned him a spot on another team's opening day roster. He should be a hot commodity for QB-needy teams after cutdowns.

Preseason Updates: Running Backs

Jaylen Warren is set to open the season as the starter, but the key question is how long he can hold off rookie Kaleb Johnson. Warren made his preseason debut in Week 3 with a six-yard run that was negated by a penalty and then a 12-yard catch that ended in a fumble. His ability to get open, catch in stride, and explode upfield was impressive, but the fumble was a troubling reminder of a long-standing issue. "The guy works so hard at it," Mark Kaboly of The Athletic noted. "He carries around the water-filled ball all the time, high and tight. He always has that ball in his hands, even while standing on the sidelines. He's very conscious of his shortcomings there." Warren has fumbled once every 68 touches in his NFL career. Kaboly added, "I could see him getting benched, yeah. I could see him having a key fumble, coming out, Kaleb Johnson coming in, and Kaleb Johnson making that jump where he's taking over, we're going to go with him until something else happens." Johnson has shown steady improvement, rushing five times for 24 yards in his latest outing, and continues to close the gap. While Warren should hold the lead role for now, Johnson looks like the long-term future. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Steelers would have considered drafting a running back in the first round if the board had fallen a certain way. He emphasized, "That's how determined [the Steelers] were to find a replacement for Najee Harris and get a back to pair in tandem with Jaylen Warren. Just as important, Warren is an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season who, like Harris, is just as unlikely to be re-signed." While most of the attention is on Warren and Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell should not be overlooked. In the preseason finale, Warren handled early downs, Gainwell worked as the third-down back with the starters, and Johnson was the RB3.