Live Updates and Highlights from Friday's Week 1 NFL Preseason Games

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles announced on Tuesday that several starters, including quarterback Baker Mayfield, would be held out of Friday's preseason opener.

However, being inactive didn't prevent Mayfield from engaging with fans pregame, including one seen rocking a Mayfield Lake Travis High School jersey.

Mayfield had been hoping to receive a new contract from the Buccaneers this offseason. However, a new deal didn't materialize, and the quarterback publicly stated that he felt "disrespected a little bit" by Tampa's offer.

If Mayfield holds any ill feelings toward the Buccaneers organization entering the season, it's clear that they aren't spilling over to the Bucs' faithful.

The New York Jets will open their preseason against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night, but projected starting quarterback Geno Smith won't be in the lineup. According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the Jets will keep the 35-year-old out of the lineup due to foot soreness.

Smith was acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders in an offseason trade and is expected to be New York's Week 1 starter. Instead of getting their first look at Smith, though, fans should get an extended look at rookie fourth-rounder Cade Klubnik.

While Klubnik is listed with the second team on the Jets' initial depth chart, the Jets have made it clear that the rookie won't be handed the backup job.

"You're a rookie quarterback, you're going to take your lumps, but I'm happy with the whole quarterback room," offensive coordinator Frank Reich said, per ESPN's Rich Cimini. "All those guys that are kind of competing for the No. 2 spot are doing a good job."

Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook are the other members of New York's quarterback room.

Fans hoping to see the return of a healthy Jayden Daniels in 2026 will have to wait. The Washington Commanders announced late Friday afternoon that the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year won't play against the Miami Dolphins.

Other projected starters, including Terry McLaurin, Laremy Tunsil, Nick Allegretti, Chigoziem Okonkwo, Stefon Diggs, K'Lavon Chaisson, and Odafe Oweh, are expected to sit as well.

Daniels and the Commanders are both looking to bounce-back from a disappointing and injury-hampered 2025 campaign. The previous season, Washington advanced to the NFC title game, but last year, Daniels, McLaurin, and several other significant contributors missed time due to injury.

Theoretically, keeping starters out of their first exhibition game will help the Commanders ensure that their best players make it to Week 1 at or near 100 percent.

Ahead of Friday's preseason opener against the Denver Broncos, the Atlanta Falcons listed 2025 first-round pick James Pearce Jr. as a third-stringer on their initial depth chart.

It seemed to be an indication that the Falcons knew a suspension was looming. Pearce has faced potential league discipline since his February arrest that followed a domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend and WNBA player, Rickea Jackson.

On Friday, Atlanta announced that the NFL has suspended Pearce for eight games for violation of the league's personal conduct policy.

Pearce will be eligible to participate in preseason games and other team-related activities until August 30. He'll be eligible to return for Atlanta's Week 9 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. His eight-game absence could be a significant issue for the Falcons' defense, which has also lost edge-rusher Jalon Walker to a season-ending ACL tear.