NFL Preseason Kicks Off: Rookies Shine, Contract Dramas Unfold, and Rule Changes Spark Debate in Training Camps

The 2025 NFL preseason has kicked off with games starting Thursday, giving football fans their first real look at major offseason moves, rookie debuts, and the early shape of training camp battles. According to ESPN, standout newcomers like Ravens rookie LaJohntay Wester made noise immediately with an 87-yard punt return touchdown, bringing needed spark to Baltimore’s special teams after last year’s underperformance. This kind of breakout moment has listeners and coaches alike re-evaluating depth charts and fantasy predictions.

For those closely following training camps, ESPN’s latest coverage reveals heavy attention on contract drama and hold-ins: star players like Terry McLaurin, Trey Hendrickson, and Micah Parsons are present at camp but not suiting up, voicing displeasure with their current contracts without resorting to holdouts. The Commanders, for example, are missing McLaurin’s big-play ability as he and the team work through his trade request and compensation dispute. In Chicago, a hotly contested battle for left tackle is brewing between veteran Braxton Jones and rookie Ozzy Trapilo, a storyline set to run deep into August as coaches weigh athleticism against raw power on the line.

Quarterback competitions are providing the kind of intrigue die-hard listeners crave. CBS Sports highlights the spotlight on Colts and Giants QB rotations, Titans rookie Cameron Ward’s much-awaited debut after being the first overall pick, and the Minnesota Vikings closely monitoring J.J. McCarthy’s return from injury after missing last season. Meanwhile, the Ravens—according to NFL.com’s latest power rankings—are looking to extend their dominance in the AFC North, leaning heavily on MVP hopeful Lamar Jackson and new running back Derrick Henry, though their special teams remain an unresolved concern.

Listeners may have heard rumors about NFL referees being empowered to eject players for kneeling during the national anthem—AOL and USA TODAY confirm those reports are completely false. The supposed “anthem ejections” originated from satire and have no basis in league policy; no credible outlets have reported new disciplinary measures tied to protests. The NFL reversed its original 2018 anthem kneeling ban back in 2020 and maintains its stance on players’ freedom to protest, even as some political and social tensions continue off the field.

A new rule change generating buzz is the NFL’s surprise ban on the use of smelling salts during games, as reported by Times of India. The league cited U.S. Food and Drug Administration concerns, noting salts may mask concussion symptoms and are not approved as energy boosters. Players like George Kittle, who admitted to using them frequently to jolt themselves awake before key plays, have publicly lamented the change, but the NFL’s medical team and outside experts say safety must take priority, especially with ongoing worries about long-term brain health.

Off the field, Andscape provides context for the NFL’s ongoing efforts toward diversity and inclusion. The league continues to struggle with representation in key coaching and front-office roles, and while the Rooney Rule has seen improvements, real progress remains slow, especially as broader political efforts challenge or roll back DEI initiatives across the country.

Lastly, The National Football Show and other talk-driven programs are buzzing about player signings, lingering injuries, and trades. For example, the Eagles are facing tough decisions with injury-prone players as they eye another Super Bowl run, while analysts debate which teams are best set for a postseason surge.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s essential NFL update. Don’t forget to subscribe to stay ahead of every key move, and stay with us all season long. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The twenty twenty five NFL preseason has kicked off with
games starting Thursday, giving football fans their first real look
at major offseason moves, rookie debuts, and the early shape
of training camp battles. According to ESPN, stand out newcomers
like Raven's rookie Lejonte Wester, made noise immediately with an

(00:20):
eighty seven yard punt return touchdown, bringing needed spark to
Baltimore's special teams after last year's underperformance. This kind of
breakout moment has listeners and coaches alike reevaluating depth charts
and fantasy predictions for those closely following training camps, ESPN's
latest coverage reveals heavy attention on contract drama and hold ends.

(00:43):
Star players like Terry McLaurin, Trey Hendrickson, and Micah Parsons
are present at camp but not suiting up, voicing displeasure
with their current contracts without resorting to holdouts. The commanders,
for example, are missing mccorran's big playability as he and
the team work through his trade request and compensation dispute.
In Chicago, a hotly contested battle for left tackle is

(01:06):
brewing between veteran Braxton Jones and rookie Azzi Trapilo, a
storyline set to run deep into August as coaches weigh
athleticism against raw power on the line. Quarterback competitions are
providing the kind of intrigue Diehard Listener's Crave CBS Sports
highlights the spotlight on Colts and Giants, QB rotations, Titans

(01:28):
rookie Cameron Wards much our way to debut after being
the first overall pick in the Minnesota Vikings closely monitoring
JJ McCarthy's return from injury after missing last season. Meanwhile,
the Ravens, according to NFL dot COM's latest power rankings,
are looking to extend their dominance in the AFC North,
leaning heavily on MVP hopeful Lamar Jackson and new running

(01:52):
back Derrick Henry, though their special teams remain an unresolved concern.
Listeners may have heard rumors about NFL referee being empowered
to eject players for kneeling during the national anthem. AOL
and USA today confirm those reports are completely false. The
supposed anthem ejections originated from satire and have no basis

(02:14):
in lead policy. No credible outlets have reported new disciplinary
measures tied to protests. The NFL reversed its original twenty
eighteen anthem mealing ban back in twenty twenty, and maintains
its stance on players freedom to protests, even as some
political and social tensions continue off the field. A new
rule change generating buzz is the NFL's surprise ban on

(02:36):
the use of smelling salts during games. As reported by
Times of India. The league cited US Food and Drug
Administration concerns, noting salts may mask concussion symptoms and are
not approved as energy boosters. Players like George Kittle, who
admitted to using them frequently to jolt themselves awake before
key plays, have publicly lamented the change, but the NFL's

(02:59):
medical team and outside experts say safety must take priority,
especially with ongoing worries about long term brain health off
the field. Andscape provides context for the NFL's ongoing efforts
toward diversity and inclusion. In this part, the chances are
formed to safety problems from nonprofit The league continues to

(03:20):
struggle with representation in key coaching and front hyphen office roles,
and while the Rooney Rule has seen improvements, real progress
remains slow, especially as broader political efforts challenge or roll
back DEI initiatives across the country. Lastly, the National Football
Show and other talk driven programs are buzzing about player signings,

(03:41):
lingering injuries, and trades. For example, the Eagles are facing
tough decisions with injury prone players as they eye another
Super Bowl run, while analytics debate which teams are best
set for a postseason surge. Thanks for tuning into this
week's essential NFL update. Don't forget to subscribe to s
ahead of every key move and stay with us all

(04:02):
season long. This has been a Quiet Please production. For
more check out Quiet Please dot a I