NFL teams face key roster and coaching questions as training camps open for 2026 season
All 32 clubs enter summer camps with unresolved quarterback battles, defensive overhauls and coaching changes that could shape the upcoming season.
Training camps have begun across the NFL, with each franchise looking to resolve roster uncertainties before the 2026 regular season. The Arizona Cardinals will decide among Jacoby Brissett, Carson Beck and Gardner Minshew II for the starting quarterback role under new head coach Mike LaFleur. In Atlanta, the Falcons' competition pits Michael Penix Jr., who is recovering from knee surgery, against Tua Tagovailoa, whose accuracy has been highlighted by coach Kevin Stefanski.
Baltimore’s defense will be overseen by former Chargers coordinator Jesse Minter, who praised quarterback Lamar Jackson as the league's top player and aims to improve a pass defense that ranked near the bottom of the AFC last year. Buffalo’s offense will be guided by head coach Joe Brady, who hopes to lessen quarterback Josh Allen’s workload after a trade for wide receiver DJ Moore.
The Dallas Cowboys hired 34-year-old Christian Parker as defensive coordinator, tasking him with upgrading a unit that finished 30th in total defense, while the Denver Broncos shifted play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Davis Webb after head coach Sean Payton stepped back.
Quarterback contests also dominate other clubs: the Cleveland Browns are weighing Deshaun Watson against rookie Shedeur Sanders; the Minnesota Vikings list Kyler Murray as the favorite over J.J. McCarthy; and the Kansas City Chiefs target a Week 1 return for Patrick Mahomes after a season-ending knee injury.
Defensive changes include the Ravens’ focus on improving pass rush under Minter, the Cowboys’ acquisition of Rashan Gary and the Los Angeles Chargers’ hiring of Mike McDaniel to revamp their offense with a quicker passing approach for Justin Herbert. Injuries remain a concern for several teams, notably the Green Bay Packers, whose star pass rusher Micah Parsons expects a mid-October return after ACL and meniscus surgery.
Off-field moves such as the Detroit Lions releasing cornerback Terrion Arnold and the New York Giants adding former Ravens personnel under head coach John Harbaugh illustrate the broader roster reshaping underway. As camps progress, each franchise hopes its decisions will translate into competitive performance when the season opens.