Pro Football Hall of Fame Game 2016: Packers vs. Colts TV Info, Top Storylines

The Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts are the most well-represented franchises this weekend in Canton, Ohio, where both teams will give legends gold jackets and collide on the field in the 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

As usual, the game itself will take a backseat to the enshrinement ceremony. There, Green Bay will send quarterback Brett Favre to the hall, and the Colts will send the duo of head coach Tony Dungy and wide receiver Marvin Harrison.

From the sound of it, the game itself won't see much action from either team's starting quarterback, if any. While it's not the best in terms of viewer experience, the game is a fifth exhibition 30 other teams in the league don't get, meaning extra chances for the two coaching staffs to sort out their depth charts.

Here's everything to know about the long-awaited return of the NFL.

2016 Hall of Fame Game: How to Watch

Date: Sunday, Aug. 7

Location: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio

Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Stream: WatchESPN, NFL Game Pass

Top Storylines

The Status of the Quarterbacks

Fans expecting an epic showdown between Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers will have to wait for these two teams to collide in Week 9, provided both remain healthy. And, of course, that isn't a sure thing.

According to ESPN's Jason Wilde, it doesn't sound like Rodgers will suit up for Sunday's exhibition after sitting out Thursday's practice. It's the same story for backup Brett Hundley, who has an ankle injury.

This is a big blow for Hundley, a high-upside pick by the Packers in the fifth round of the 2015 draft out of UCLA. More in-game reps would be nothing but a good thing for all involved, but it sounds like the duties will go to the duo of Joe Callahan and Marquise Williams instead.

There isn't anything as close to official on Luck, but one of the league's most abused passers from a year ago doesn't figure to stick in the game long. USA Today's Tom Pelissero passed along an update on the situation:

On one hand, Luck needs to get some reps in with a new-look offensive line after last year's unit left him so battered he could only play in seven games. On the other, Indianapolis' first-round pick, center Ryan Kelly, is too hurt to play Sunday, per Kevin Bowen of Colts.com:

Translation: Luck might get a full series before he calls it a night, if that.

The most important position in football will be treated as such in a fifth preseason game where the winner doesn't matter.

Green Bay's Wideout Depth

Even though it appears the Packers will only have undrafted free agents under center Sunday, the contest will give them a chance to figure out what in the world is going on with their wide receiver depth chart. 

Wideout was a mess last year. A preseason injury claimed Jordy Nelson's season before Rodgers went on to complete a mediocre 60.7 percent of his passes for 3,821 yards—the worst numbers of his career in those categories when tallying a full 16 games.

James Jones, the surprise return, wound up leading the team in receiving with 890 yards and eight scores. Randall Cobb had a down year, despite getting 29 more targets than anyone else on the team, going for 829 yards and six scores, not to mention a miserable 10.5 yards-per-catch average, the worst of his career.

Davante Adams, a guy the Packers have waited on to assume a starting gig as a third wideout, scored once and totaled 483 yards.

For his part, Adams has had a few encouraging days of camp so far, one illustrated best by ESPN's Rob Demovsky:

Adams has a long way to go, though, especially with guys like Jared Abbrederis and Ty Montgomery breathing down his neck on the depth chart.

Regardless of the new names under center, whoever rises to the occasion will put himself at an advantage and help put the coaching staff somewhat at ease. 

Indianapolis' Defense

David Richard/Associated Press

The Colts didn't do much to alter the defense over the offseason. 

Odd, really, because the unit gave up at least 25 points in a game seven times last year and notched all of 35 sacks.

The Colts have decided to keep the crew together and lean on experience and progression as a unit to take the next step under the guidance of new defensive coordinator Ted Monachino.

Linebacker Robert Mathis spoke with ESPN's Mike Wells about how the consistency should turn into progress.

"Guys are making big strides," Mathis said. "We’re improving by leaps and bounds. I feel real good about what we have. It’s a lot of team defense. It’s not relying on one, two or three guys. It’s all 11 guys responsible for every position. Anything [Monachino] calls, everybody has to know what’s going on."

In theory, the Colts want Mathis providing plenty of pressure off the edge with guys such as Sio Moore and Nate Irving providing a push from inside. All the while, elite corner Vontae Davis can do his job on the outside, flanked by new addition Patrick Robinson at the other corner spot.

It sounds good on paper, but Sunday will provide the first test. Said test doesn't sound like much against third- and fourth-string quarterbacks, but it's a start to building the cohesiveness necessary to improve.

Stats are courtesy of NFL.com and accurate as of Monday. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.