Ain't nothing like the real thing, and NFL teams know it. While the NFL preseason offers teams valuable on-field time to evaluate their rosters, fine-tune execution and work out the general rust of the offseason, those who sit at the top of the depth chart don't get the luxury of getting back into game action just yet. This week, some notable non-starters are, in fact, starting. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson will get the nod this week as the passer is still searching for the next step in his NFL career. While he may remain with Indy, The New York Jets plan to start their team, including No. 2 overall pick David Bailey, Here's a list of notable players
Arizona Cardinals Head coach Mike LaFleur said Tuesday that the starters will play in Thursday's preseason game against the Raiders. "They're going to play. So we'll have our guys out there. How much? It's not going to be much. Could be one drive, max of two [drives] for those main guys. But yeah, they'll be playing, and they know that," LaFleur told reporters Aug. 11. Notably, quarterback Jacoby Brissett will play. Not playing: QB Carson Beck Playing: RB Jeremiyah Love Atlanta Falcons Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Wednesday, Aug. 12, that starters will play one series in Friday's preseason opener against the Broncos. QB Tua Tagovailoa will start the game. "It's all part of the plan for getting guys ready," Stefanski said. Baltimore Ravens
Playing: TBD Not playing: QB Lamar Jackson
Buffalo Bills
Head coach Joe Brady told reporters Thursday, Aug. 13, that the healthy starters, including QB Josh Allen, will be in the lineup for Saturday's preseason opener against the Panthers. He added they will play in a limited capacity.
Carolina Panthers TBD
Not playing: RB Chuba Hubbard
Chicago Bears QB Tyson Bagent will start for the Chicago Bears in Saturday's preseason opener against the Browns, head coach Ben Johnson said.
Not playing: QB Caleb Williams
Cincinnati Bengals Head coach Zac Taylor said Aug, 11 most starters, including Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins will play in the preseason opener against the Lions on Thursday. Starters will play on a limited basis, Taylor added.
Not Playing: S Dax Hill, S Bryan Cook
Cleveland Browns Head coach Todd Monken announced that veteran QB Deshaun Watson will start Saturday's preseason opener against the Bears, and that all quarterbacks will see the field at certain points. He added that Shedeur Sanders will start the Browns' second preseason game against the Bills on Saturday, Aug. 22.
Playing: QB Deshaun Watson, QB Shedeur Sanders
Dallas Cowboys
Playing: TBD Not playing: TBD
Denver Broncos Head coach Sean Payton announced Wednesday, Aug. 12, QB Jarrett Stidham will start Friday's preseason game against the Falcons. He added that Bo Nix will not play this week but he expects him to play in preseason Weeks 2 and 3.
Not playing: QB Bo Nix
Detroit Lions Head coach Dan Campbell announced that starters will not play in the Lions preseason opener against the Bengals. Green Bay Packers Earlier this week, head coach Matt LaFleur said he thinks there's "a ton of value" in playing his starters (in the preseason)
Playing: QB Jordan Love
Houston Texans Head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters he will hold out several starters in Thursday's preseason opener against the Chargers. QB Davis Mills is expected to start.
Not expected to play: QB C.J. Stroud, RB David Montgomery, WR Nico Collins, DE Will Anderson Jr.
Indianapolis Colts Head coach Shane Steichen announced that QB Anthony Richardson Sr. will start Thursday's preseason opener against the Patriots. QB Riley Leonard will also see some action. Steichen added that the rest of the starters will likely not play.
Not playing: QB Daniel Jones
Jacksonville Jaguars
Playing: TBD Not playing: TBD
Kansas City Chiefs Quarterbacks Justin Fields, Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun will play in the Chiefs preseason opener Saturday against the Rams, per head coach Andy Reid.
Not playing: QB Patrick Mahomes
Las Vegas Raiders Head coach Klint Kubiak told reporters Tuesday, Aug. 11 that the starters will play significant snaps in Thursday's preseason opener against the Cardinals.
Playing: QB Fernando Mendoza, QB Kirk Cousins, RB Aston Jeanty
Los Angeles Chargers
Playing: QB Trey Lance, QB DJ Uiagalelei
Los Angeles Rams Head coach Sean McVay announced that QB Stetson Bennett will start in Saturday's preseason opener against the Chiefs and added No. 13 overall pick Ty Simpson will also see his first live game action.
Not playing: DE Myles Garrett, QB Matthew Stafford, WR Davante Adams, WR Puka Nacua
Miami Dolphins
Playing: TBD Not playing: TBD
Minnesota Vikings TBD
Playing: QB J.J. McCarthy
New England Patriots QB Drake Maye and the rest of the starters not expected to play. QB Tommy DeVito is likely to start.
Not playing: QB Drake Maye, WR A.J. Brown
New Orleans Saints QB Spencer Rattler will start Saturday's preseason opener against the Jaguars, head coach Kellen Moore announced Thursday, Aug. 13. The starters will mostly not play in Saturday's matchup. New York Giants TBD
Playing: WR Odell Beckham Jr. Not playing:
New York Jets Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said Tuesday that starters will play throughout the preseason, including Week 1 vs. the Buccaneers. That means quarterback Geno Smith, running back Breece Hall, wide receiver Garrett Wilson and tight end Mason Taylor will play. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq will not play as he recovers from offseason core surgery. Philadelphia Eagles
Playing: Not playing:
Pittsburgh Steelers Head coach Mike McCarthy said he'll split the team into three groups. Three QBs expected to play are Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar.
Playing: QB Drew Allar, QB Mason Rudolph, QB Will Howard Not expected to play: QB Aaron Rodgers, WR DK Metcalf, DE T.J. Watt
San Francisco 49ers Head coach Kyle Shanahan said few starters will play in Thursday's preseason game against the Titans. "We have, but we haven't told any of the players yet," Shanahan said. "There won't be many starters playing. We'll see, with injuries today and stuff—and that doesn't mean none. But we've got to balance that out." Not expected to play: QB Brock Purdy, LT Trent Williams, DE Nick Bosa, RB Christian McCaffrey, WR Mike Evans, TE George Kittle Seattle Seahawks
Playing: TBD Not playing: TBD
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Playing: TBD Not playing: TBD
Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans will play "everyone" in the team's preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 13, Robert Saleh said on Aug. 11. Washington Commanders
Not playing: TBD Playing: TBD
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will starters play Week 1 of NFL preseason? Here's what every team is doing