12 NFL Players With the Most to Prove Through 6 Weeks

Six weeks down. A dozen to go. 

Yet, dozens of NFL players are already facing considerable pressure to prove themselves as we reach the heart of the 2025 regular season. 

Some entered the campaign with that onus, while others have seen the pressure build based on early-season results and/or circumstances. 

Here are 12 who stand out in that regard.

New York Jets QB Justin Fields 

AP Photo/Kin Cheung

Justin Fields

What's wrong: On his third team in a three-year span, Fields has failed to lift the Jets to a single victory in six games. He hasn't been the only problem and has had some decent moments, but he took a ridiculous nine sacks while completing just nine of 17 passes for 45 yards in a Week 6 loss to the Broncos. He's now been sacked 14 times in the last two weeks.

Why the pressure's on: This is realistically the final shot the 26-year-old has to make it as an NFL starter. He has a two-year contract, but the Jets will almost certainly use a first-round pick on a QB if Fields doesn't turn it around in a major way soon. 

Outlook: He doesn't look remotely like a reliable franchise quarterback, and he hasn't even been a huge factor with his legs of late. Fields' ceiling might be top-end QB2 who can be used in special packages.

Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward

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Cam Ward

What's wrong: Only Ward and Joe Flacco have sub-70 passer ratings, and the rookie's 19.8 QBR is easily the worst among qualified starters. 

Why the pressure's on: Like Fields, Ward has faced a ton of literal pressure. He has been sacked a league-high 25 times, which is concerning regardless of pass protection considering the problems he's had with his internal clock. 

Outlook: Is there a curse with rookie No. 1 overall picks? Bryce Young was a mess in 2023, and things weren't much better for Caleb Williams in 2024. Ward has almost no support and was always likely to need time, though, so let's give him that (Young and Williams have both rebounded to an extent). However, the Titans need to be careful not to do too much damage this year.

Las Vegas Raiders QB Geno Smith

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Geno Smith

What's wrong: The veteran is the NFL's interception leader with 10. Only three other quarterbacks have thrown interceptions against more than five teams.

Why the pressure's on: The 35-year-old has his work cut out for him trying to prove he isn't just a bridge quarterback for a team that may target a signal-caller in the first round of next year's draft, but he's done an abysmal job for one of the league's lowest-scoring teams.

Outlook: Injuries have been a factor, but that alone doesn't get Smith off the hook. He's only been an average starter the last two-and-a-half years and is living off an aberrational standout 2022 campaign in Seattle. I doubt we will see him in a regular starting role again after 2025. 

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence 

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Trevor Lawrence

What's wrong: A permanent resident in exercises like this in recent years, Lawrence still hasn't come close to franchise quarterback status for a Jaguars team that has started strong despite the fact that he's the NFL's seventh-lowest-rated qualified passer. His receivers have let him down with a ton of drops, but he's been the least-pressured passer in the league, so it's not all about poor support.

Why the pressure's on: Lawrence's contract is becoming a full-on albatross. The Jaguars are stuck with him beyond this season, and they'll want to give him a couple full seasons in new head coach Liam Coen's system. But it's hard to envision the 26-year-old suddenly digging himself out of the hole that would be created by a fifth straight disappointing campaign to start his career.

Outlook: Quite simply, he just doesn't appear to have it. We wouldn't be surprised if this became a Deshaun Watson-type situation, with Lawrence eventually just wasting away on the roster as a sunk cost and a constant reminder of what was supposed to be. 

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray

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Kyler Murray

What's wrong: Prior to suffering a foot injury in a Week 5 debacle against Tennessee, Murray had posted an 82.3 passer rating while taking 10 sacks over the course of a three-game Arizona losing streak. 

Why the pressure's on: He continues to fail to get it done with talented young wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Now, backup Jacoby Brissett performed well in Murray's stead in Week 6. The fact that head coach Jonathan Gannon had to clarify a healthy Murray is the starter is not a great sign. 

Outlook: Moving on from the 28-year-old next year would be too cost-prohibitive for the Cards, which gives Murray some hope. That said, this could also become a Watson-like scenario, especially if Brissett continues to play well. 

New England Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson

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Rhamondre Stevenson

What's wrong: Only two qualified backs are averaging fewer yards per carry than Stevenson (3.1), who has also fumbled three times. 

Why the pressure's on: He signed a four-year, $36 million contract extension in June, which brings its own pressure. But the Pats also used a second-round draft pick on TreVeyon Henderson, who has outperformed Stevenson and been more reliable thus far in his rookie season. 

Outlook: What's most concerning is it seems they're also phasing him out of the passing game. I get the feeling this will be an evenly split committee soon, and it wouldn't be a surprise if Stevenson is essentially the backup by 2026. 

Seattle Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet

AP Photo/Ben VanHouten

Zach Charbonnet

What's wrong: Meanwhile, Charbonnet ranks dead-last with a ridiculous 2.6 yards per carry for a Seattle team that is clearly shifting its focus to Kenneth Walker III in the offensive backfield. 

Why the pressure's on: Walker has simply been better in a contract year, which could lead to him getting the cash Charbonnet might have been hoping to land ahead of the final year of his rookie deal. This is a battle between two second-round picks wrapping up entry-level contracts, and Charbonnet could be costing himself a lot of money.

Outlook: At this point, it's only a matter of time before Walker starts outsnapping his teammate. It's surprising that shift hasn't already happened, but the Seahawks can't mess around as they're a legit playoff contender. 

Arizona Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

AP Photo/Zach Bolinger

Marvin Harrison Jr.

What's wrong: With 35 percent of his sophomore campaign done, the 2024 No. 4 overall pick has scored just twice. He has just six catches for 130 yards in back-to-back losses for a team that is free-falling despite high expectations. 

Why the pressure's on: Harrison is expected to become a superstar, but he could fall short of 1,000 yards for the second consecutive year. If he and Murray and/or Brissett don't start vibing soon, questions will be asked about the Ohio State product being a top-five pick. 

Outlook: In his defense, the support hasn't been there. Harrison only recently turned 23 and has what it takes, but environment matters. He has a great career ahead of him, but it might be delayed by Arizona's issues. 

Pittsburgh Steelers OT Broderick Jones

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Broderick Jones

What's wrong: The third-year left tackle ranks 55th among 59 qualified players at his position in terms of pass-blocking grades, per Pro Football Focus. He's now surrendered 15 sacks since the start of 2024. Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger tore him apart last month. 

Why the pressure's on: At this point, it's hard to imagine the Steelers exercising Jones' fifth-year option for 2027 next offseason. In other words, the 2023 first-round pick is costing himself a lot of money. What's more, his inconsistent play could cost the team dearly in its bid for playoff success in 2025. 

Outlook: I just don't see it at all with Jones. He's the weak line within this offensive line, which is never ideal when you're on an old man's blind side. The Steelers drafting Troy Fautanu was a sign. Unless he wakes up soon, Jones might be relegated to a swing tackle job by 2026. 

Cincinnati Bengals OT Amarius Mims

AP Photo/Matt Ludtke

Amarius Mims

What's wrong: In the same category as above, Mims ranks 48th among 59 qualifiers. He struggled a fair bit as a rookie first-round pick in 2024 and hasn't improved while also missing time due to two different injuries in 2025. 

Why the pressure's on: The Bengals may be getting fed up with the state of the offense, and its inability to protect the franchise quarterback. A big shakeup could be coming, especially if they decide to move on from head coach Zac Taylor and start as fresh as possible on offense. 

Outlook: Mims was a big investment as a top-20 pick, and he just turned 23. They won't dump him after two years, but he's had so many issues with injuries and performance that Cincinnati might have to start looking elsewhere if things don't take a turn soon. 

Green Bay Packers edge Lukas Van Ness

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Lukas Van Ness

What's wrong: Like Jones (who was taken one pick after him), Van Ness is a mid-first-round pick from 2023 hoping to get his fifth-year option exercised come the spring. However, he's been dealing with injuries this year while veterans Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary hog the majority of the pass-rushing snaps. 

Why the pressure's on: His snaps are still up overall, but he only registered his first full sack of the season in Week 6 before suffering a foot injury. Van Ness, 24, needs to find a way to take advantage of situational pass-rushing scenarios with offenses focused on Parsons. First, though, he needs to get and stay healthy. 

Outlook: The window is closing fast. If he's stuck in a contract year for a contender with multiple superior pass-rushing options in 2026, Van Ness could become forgotten quickly.

New England Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez

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Christian Gonzalez

What's wrong: There's no denying Gonzalez's talent, and he was exceptional during a standout sophomore campaign in 2024. But the 2023 No. 17 overall pick missed the vast majority of his rookie season due to a shoulder injury, battled through multiple injuries last year and was out for much of August and September as a result of a hamstring issue that is still hampering him.

Why the pressure's on: The Patriots don't have the talent to make a surprise run this year without him, and the chances of his fifth-year option being picked up are diminishing by the week. 

Outlook: He's at serious risk of becoming a one-year wonder from 2024. However, Gonzalez is also only 23, so we're not giving up on him yet. The next 11 games are critical.