It’s Week 1 of the NFL season, a time for optimism. After all, every team is undefeated.
But the reality is even the best teams have concerns as they prepare for the regular season to kick off this week. It could be depth at a position, a young player stepping into a starting role or overall health.
We don’t mean to bring you down, but we asked The Athletic’s NFL beat reporters to identify the biggest concern for all 32 teams.
Depth
GM Monti Ossentfort has spent his first 20 months rebuilding the roster. He’s made solid moves, upgrading the talent around quarterback Kyler Murray and drafting young defensive talent. Depth, however, remains a concern. Arizona will be tested from the start, losing outside linebacker BJ Ojulari (ACL) for the season and defensive lineman and first-round pick Darius Robinson for at least four games because of a calf issue. In addition, Arizona’s preseason performance did not inspire confidence. It’s not so much that the Cardinals lost all three games (big deal), it’s that their second- and third-teamers got outplayed. This team could make a jump, but it needs to stay healthy. — Doug Haller
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Pass rush
The Falcons traded for Matthew Judon during training camp to address what has been their most pressing need of the last decade, but, the reality is Judon is 32 and coming off a biceps tear that cost him 13 games last season. He’s still the Falcons’ best pass-rushing option as no one else on the roster has had more than 7 1/2 sacks in a single season. What would really help the Falcons is if third-year outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie could take another step this year. The Penn State product was 20th in the league last year in pressure rate (17.2 percent) among players with more than 100 pass rush snaps, but he finished with only six sacks. — Josh Kendall
Offensive line play
The Ravens lost three veteran starters up front with guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson departing in free agency and right tackle Morgan Moses getting traded. Their replacements are three first-year starters: right guard Daniel Faalele, a converted tackle; left guard Andrew Vorhees, who missed his rookie season last year rehabbing a knee injury; and right tackle Roger Rosengarten, a rookie second-round pick. It’s telling that center Tyler Linderbaum missed a chunk of camp with a neck injury and oft-injured left tackle Ronnie Stanley struggled last year and neither is among the team’s biggest concerns up front. There’s a lot of uncertainty for a group that needs to play well in front of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. — Jeff Zrebiec
Safety
The Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer duo spoiled the Bills for seven years. It was a set-and-forget safety tandem, as they took on so much for the defense and were two of their best players. Now both are gone, and the Bills could take a massive step back. Starting strong safety Taylor Rapp struggled last year in spot starts. Free safety remains up in the air between rookie Cole Bishop, veteran Mike Edwards and Damar Hamlin — a usual strong safety. Plus, Bishop and Edwards barely practiced this summer while in their first year in the Bills’ system. — Joe Buscaglia
Outside linebacker
Asked if he was concerned about the No. 2 cornerback spot after the Panthers traded for Mike Jackson and claimed three other corners, Dave Canales said: “Not now.” But the Panthers still have a hole at edge rusher, specifically the side opposite Jadeveon Clowney. Free-agent acquisition D.J. Wonnum (quad) will miss at least the first four games while starting on PUP. And none of the healthy guys competing for OLB2 — DJ Johnson, K’Lavon Chaisson and Eku Leota — has seized the job. The Panthers claimed rookie Jamie Sheriff from Seattle, but the undrafted free agent is viewed as more of a project than a plug-and-play guy. — Joseph Person
Protecting rookie QB Caleb Williams will be a top priority for the Bears this season. (David Banks / USA Today)
Offensive line
Winter, construction and worries about the Bears’ offensive line. Those are our Chicago constants, even after an offseason upgrading the offense. With a rookie quarterback in Caleb Williams, the O-line’s performance is so critical. Can left tackle Braxton Jones and left guard Teven Jenkins stay healthy? How will Coleman Shelton fare at center? And right guard Nate Davis, can he finally be reliable? This group does have potential if everything comes together, and Jenkins could be one of the best if he avoids injury, but the line’s durability issues and lack of Pro Bowl talent makes it, again, the top question entering the season. — Kevin Fishbain
Run defense
DJ Reader changed the match for Lou Anarumo’s defense up front. He absorbed double teams at one of the highest rates in football and constantly cleared space for linebackers to make plays around him. He’s gone now and the club never really replaced him as the big-body nose tackle on early downs. Sheldon Rankins and BJ Hill are both adequate at stopping the run, but neither has the size to execute nearly the same way. They drafted McKinnley Jackson in the third round, but he’s injured. Second-rounder Kris Jenkins is a smaller body adjusting to life in the NFL. And they were generally awful stopping the run last year even with Reader. — Paul Dehner
Can they stay healthy?
If the Browns get good quarterback play and stay relatively healthy, they’ll have a chance to become a real AFC contender. The two are tied together, but not just because Deshaun Watson is coming back from shoulder surgery. Watson has been just OK over his 12 games in two seasons with the Browns, and he hasn’t taken a live snap since last November. The Browns have 13 players age 30 or older, and they’re still getting offensive tackles Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson back from knee injuries. This a talented roster with a high ceiling, but it needs efficiency and availability from Watson. — Zac Jackson
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Running game
The Cowboys recently signed four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook to their practice squad. Their biggest offseason addition at the position was bringing back Ezekiel Elliott. Will those two be enough to replace Tony Pollard? Rico Dowdle, 26, should be that favorite to lead the team in rushing. He’ll have a bigger role this year and probably has more upside than the other two 29-year-olds. Others who could get some of the workload are Deuce Vaughn and fullback Hunter Luepke. Dallas believes running back-by-committee can work. But there are reasons to believe it could be a significant issue, especially with rookies starting at center and left tackle. — Jon Machota
How the Broncos guide Bo Nix through inevitable adversity
Optimism swelled around Nix, the 12th pick in the NFL Draft, during an impressive two-game stint in the preseason. He looks like a strong fit to run Sean Payton’s offense. But it would be naive to believe it will all be smooth sailing from the time Nix takes his first snap at rowdy Lumen Field in Seattle on Sept. 8. The Broncos are a relatively young team, and the roadblocks won’t only be experienced by the quarterback. But it’s important that Denver has a plan for guiding Nix through his inevitable struggles. Payton will need to show the patience and savvy necessary to keep Nix’s arrow on an upward trajectory, even when there are dips in his path. — Nick Kosmider
Depth at edge and WR
The Lions have built a well-rounded roster with few obvious holes. If you’re going to nitpick, though, depth at wide receiver and edge would be the place to start. Jameson Williams will be stepping into a starting role for the first time in his career, and while he looked ready for the spotlight in camp, we’ll need to see him produce in games. WR3 was a revolving door, and the Lions are turning to a pair of 30-year-olds in Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson to provide serviceable production. Last year, the team struggled to generate a pass rush opposite Aidan Hutchinson and are now relying on the oft-injured Marcus Davenport to play a starter’s workload in 2024. — Colton Pouncy
In 12 games last season, Jameson Williams caught 24 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns. (Eric Seals / USA Today)
Kicker
Mason Crosby was the Packers’ kicker for 16 seasons from 2007 through 2022. The player they intended to be his replacement, 2023 sixth-round pick Anders Carlson, is already gone. After Carlson’s rocky rookie season and underwhelming training camp, the Packers released both Carlson and his challenger, veteran Greg Joseph. Their Week 1 kicker will be undrafted rookie Brayden Narveson, whom they claimed off waivers from the Titans on Wednesday. Narveson made 6 of 7 field goals during preseason games, including a 59-yarder and a game-winner against the Seahawks as time expired, but can he kick in the elements at Lambeau Field? — Matt Schneidman
Offensive line health
The Texans battled injuries along their offensive line all last season, starting 11 linemen. Only right guard Shaq Mason started all 17 games. Offensive line coach Chris Strasser did a great job of plugging in pieces, but the Texans are hoping he doesn’t have to do that this year. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil remains one of the best at his position but had offseason knee surgery. He has played a full slate of games just once in his career. Keeping quarterback C.J. Stroud upright, and paving the way for a more consistent run game led by offseason acquisition Joe Mixon, tops the Texans’ priority list. — Mike Jones
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Can the secondary hold up?
It’s obvious the Colts’ season hinges on quarterback Anthony Richardson’s health and availability. But assuming he plays a full campaign, another glaring concern is Indianapolis’ inexperienced secondary. Colts GM Chris Ballard has been adamant that young players — including second-year cornerbacks JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones, as well as third-year safety Nick Cross — need to play to get better. The Colts could’ve added a veteran at either position in free agency but opted against it. Now, a playoff berth likely rests on how quickly the youngsters can grow up and hold their own. — James Boyd
Will they survive the early gauntlet?
Coach Doug Pederson knows it’s important to do a better job of protecting QB Trevor Lawrence, so you can’t rule out the offensive line. I’m also not sure if they’ve got enough reserve pass rushers, but I think new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s aggressive nature will stir up added pressure. So I’ll maintain my greatest concern is the early stretch against the Dolphins, Browns, Bills and Texans (with all but the Cleveland game on the road). If the Jaguars show up as the team that limped down the stretch in 2023, they’ll be 0-4. But I think the Jaguars will turn it back around and contend for a playoff spot. — Jeff Howe
Did the Chiefs get the left tackle spot right with Kingsley Suamataia?
The Chiefs, led by coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach, have pretty much rebuilt the team’s offense, putting together a potentially powerful spaceship for quarterback Patrick Mahomes to operate. Mahomes appears to have plenty of skill-position weapons with tight end Travis Kelce, receivers Marquise Brown, Rashee Rice and rookie Xavier Worthy and running backs Isiah Pacheco, Carson Steele and Samaje Perine. The biggest concern is with second-round pick Suamataia and his pass blocking. In limited snaps in the preseason, Suamataia earned an 82.8 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest of any rookie tackle. The preseason, though, is not the regular season. — Nate Taylor
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Quarterback
Gardner Minshew was named the starter after an uninspiring competition with Aidan O’Connell. The coaching staff favored the veteran’s experience and mobility, but his play throughout training camp and the preseason was lackluster. He was inaccurate, his timing was poor and he put the ball into harm’s way far too frequently. Perhaps he’ll improve as he grows more comfortable with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s system and develops stronger chemistry with his teammates, but it’s hard to feel good about him given what we’ve seen. — Tashan Reed
Justin Herbert’s foot
To this point, Herbert has returned from his plantar fascia injury with no issues. Herbert was in a walking boot for two weeks in early August. He missed close to three weeks of practice. He returned Aug. 19. That week, he looked like himself in training camp. He was accurate. He was moving well, including making throws on the run. Still, this is a fickle injury. There will always be a risk of aggravation because of the nature of the plantar fascia, which is the arch ligament. Without Herbert, the Chargers have very little chance of staying competitive, even after upgrading at backup quarterback by trading for Taylor Heinicke. — Daniel Popper
Can the Rams get their offensive line healthy after offseason investment?
The Rams spent big on their interior offensive line, extending guard Kevin Dotson and signing guard Jonah Jackson in free agency. They also tendered left tackle Alaric Jackson and moved guard Steve Avila to center to accommodate the arrival of Jonah Jackson. Heading into the season, Avila is back at left guard to help protect the left side of their line, which is missing Alaric Jackson due to a suspension. That means Jonah Jackson is filling in at center after missing most of camp with a shoulder injury. Right tackle Rob Havenstein has yet to practice as he returns from an ankle injury (he could do so this week). The Rams’ season is predicated on keeping 36-year-old quarterback Matthew Stafford upright. Everything is fine, right? — Jourdan Rodrigue
Mike McDaniel has gotten the Dolphins to the playoffs in both his seasons as the team’s head coach, but both ended in wild-card losses. (Kim Klement Neitzel / USA Today)
Is this team built to win in December and January?
I know, I know. You’ve heard this one 100 times. I get it. But until the Mike McDaniel Dolphins prove they won’t annually fade down the stretch, it’s going to be the predominant narrative that haunts this team. Entering the 2024 season, the Dolphins are 4-10 under McDaniel in those winter months, including 0-2 in the postseason. So as much fun as another hot start would be, every NFL analyst under the sun is going to hang a caveat on their praise of Miami this season that will sound something like this: “Another great win for the Dolphins, but can they get it done when the games matter most?” — Jim Ayello
Turnovers by the quarterback
Thirty-nine NFL quarterbacks have thrown at least 1,000 passes in the last five years. Sam Darnold ranks last among them in passer rating and EPA per dropback. How much of this was a byproduct of his environment? Talk to people in New York and Carolina, and you’ll hear stories that make you wonder how many quarterbacks spent their first five NFL seasons in worse situations. Only Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick have amassed a higher interception-per-attempt rate than Darnold among starters since 2018. Darnold has also fumbled 38 times in 56 games. The 2023 Vikings’ season was clouded by quarterback turnovers. If the bug bites them again, it’ll be tough sledding against a difficult schedule. — Alec Lewis
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Offensive competence
The Patriots aren’t expecting to have an above-average offense. They’re realistic about their personnel with a receiver group and offensive-line unit that both rank among the league’s worst. But a year ago, they paired a bad roster with offensive dysfunction and it ruined the season. The expectation now is simply to be competent. Avoid silly penalties (like the 10(!) flags on the offensive line in the final preseason game). Don’t turn the ball over. Run it well (and a lot). That didn’t really happen in training camp as they learned a new scheme. So the concern now is whether they can put that behind them and become, say, the league’s 20th-best offense. That would be a step forward. — Chad Graff
Offensive line stability
The Saints join a few teams listed above with concerns about their front five. Start with 2022 first-round pick Trevor Penning at right tackle. He was benched last season and did himself no real favors this offseason to curb the anxiety of Saints fans, and probably the decision-makers inside the building. Left guard will also possess a new starter with Lucas Patrick looking to be the guy there, which also leaves a bit to be desired. At least there’s optimism at left tackle with 2024 first-round pick Taliese Fuaga rightfully starting. Center Erik McCoy and right guard Cesar Ruiz can’t block everybody. — Larry Holder
The secondary
The Giants took a step toward fortifying their biggest weakness by re-signing veteran cornerback Adoree’ Jackson on Friday. But the fact that the Giants were compelled to bring back Jackson, who had been on the market for eight months, a week before the start of the season illustrates their desperation. The Giants clearly don’t have confidence in young corners Cor’Dale Flott and Nick McCloud, who had been competing for the No. 2 job throughout camp. And there’s no guarantee that 2023 first-round pick Deonte Banks is ready to be a No. 1 corner. Add in rookie starters at slot corner (third-round pick Dru Phillips) and safety (second-rounder Tyler Nubin), and there are a lot of questions at a position that can wreck a season. — Dan Duggan
Haason Reddick’s holdout
The Jets traded for Reddick, one of the NFL’s most prolific sack artists, after letting Bryce Huff walk in free agency and then proceeded to trade John Franklin-Myers for peanuts. Then, Reddick didn’t show up for anything besides his intro news conference and now the Jets likely will roll into the season with a lot of unproven players filling in for him: namely Micheal Clemons, 2023 first-round pick Will McDonald and journeyman Takk McKinley. The Jets’ defense can still be stellar without Reddick, but their pass rush is missing a huge piece — and if McDonald isn’t ready to step up as a complement for Jermaine Johnson and Quinnen Williams, it could be an issue. — Zack Rosenblatt
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The state of the defense
As much as the staleness of Philadelphia’s offensive system last year contributed to the team’s sudden collapse in 2023, its defense was even more disastrous. The Eagles surrendered the NFL’s second-most passing yards. They ranked 13th in the league in quarterback pressure percentage after ranking second the previous season. During their 1-5 stretch, they owned the league’s second-lowest EPA per play (-0.14), according to TruMedia. The organization went to the source of its coveted system by hiring DC Vic Fangio and dedicated a portion of free agency and the first two picks of the draft to supplying the secondary. Will the Eagles reclaim their identity as a defense to be feared? — Brooks Kubena
Do they have enough quality depth at WR?
When the Steelers traded former Pro Bowl receiver Diontae Johnson, they shook up the locker room dynamics and added a cornerback (Donte Jackson) who should step into a starting role. However, the move also created a massive question mark at receiver that was never solved. That the Steelers were interested in a player (Brandon Aiyuk) who would have cost more than T.J. Watt to employ tells you the team itself must be concerned about receiver depth. That room right now features George Pickens and a lot of questions. Veteran Van Jefferson, third-year receiver Calvin Austin and rookie Roman Wilson will try to answer that looming void. — Mike DeFabo
Center
The 49ers have already seen issues at this position help derail a season in 2020 when injuries forced them to their fourth-string option at center. Depth has been better in recent years, but it’s precarious again entering 2024. Starter Jake Brendel has been managing knee tendinitis, and the only other lineman with considerable NFL experience at center, Jon Feliciano, is on injured reserve. The 49ers are having to put a lot of faith into third-year man Nick Zakelj as the next in line behind Brendel at a spot that’s highly important to coach Kyle Shanahan as it allows the quarterback to “play fast.” Any trouble at this position — the 49ers had issues with low snaps in training camp — can quickly destabilize the offense. — David Lombardi
Seattle Seahawks
Offensive line
Seattle has high-end talent at its skill positions; the running back and receiver rooms in particular are among the best in the league. But that was true last year as well and the Seahawks still underachieved on that side of the ball, largely because of incompetence up front. Will left tackle Charles Cross have a bounce-back year? Is Connor Williams the answer at center? How long will right tackle Abe Lucas’ recovery from knee surgery take? What will Seattle get from Laken Tomlinson at left guard? The answers to these questions will be critical to Seattle’s success in 2024. — Michael-Shawn Dugar
Offensive scheme
The Bucs never anticipated being as effective as they were last season after Tom Brady’s retirement. A good share of the credit went to offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who has since become the head coach of the Panthers. In his place is Liam Coen, who is making significant changes, including more looks, more deception, more motion and more QB freedom at the line. At the very least, the Bucs are likely to go through a learning curve. They have to hope Coen has more success than he did in his one previous season as an NFL offensive coordinator when the Rams finished last in offense and had a 5-12 record. — Dan Pompei
Tennessee Titans
Outside linebacker
The Titans have a very good one in Harold Landry, and one year removed from an ACL rehab, he should be primed for a productive season. There’s a significant drop-off after him. Arden Key is back for a second season and, while it’s good news for the Titans that Key won his appeal on a PED suspension, he’s a journeyman who offers sporadic pass-rush bursts. Veteran Rashad Weaver had a quiet camp. Caleb Murphy is a second-year project. The best development of camp was the emergence of seventh-round pick Jaylen Harrell — he will be a factor. The Titans need Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat to make the outside guys look better with interior dominance. — Joe Rexrode
Helping Jayden Daniels
The heralded first-round quarterback has looked the part in training camp and in the locker room. Does Daniels have enough receiving targets after Terry McLaurin and Austin Ekeler? Trading this summer’s version of Jahan Dotson didn’t hurt the WR room as much as some assume, but the remaining non-McLaurin options lack significant upside. The best red zone target, Zach Ertz, hasn’t remained healthy since 2021. Are the tackle options steady enough? Hard saying yes over 17 games based on the veteran options. Will the questionable cornerbacks lead to thrusting Daniels into weekly shootouts? Yes, these are multiple concerns, but they connect at the player Washington hopes can lead them out of the NFL desert. — Ben Standig
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos: Todd Rosenberg, Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
