1 Player With the Most to Prove on Every NFL Team Entering Week 2

We're only one game into Week 2, which means it's still very early in the NFL regular season. However, some players are already facing high-pressure situations before the calendar even turns to October.

Now, starters and high draft picks are rarely on the hot seat the same way that coaches are this early in the season—and a few coaches are dealing with remarkably warm seats—but that doesn't mean many of them don't have something to prove.

In fact, as we enter the season's second Sunday, every NFL franchise has at least one player who must meet lofty expectations, rebound from poor performances, or answer critical preseason questions that have yet to be answered.

Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Arizona Cardinals might just be better than most expected this season. The Cardinals certainly looked threatening during last Sunday's 26-14 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, a team that has made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

Arizona's offense, which racked up 393 yards in Week 1, was particularly impressive. However, wide receiver Marvin Harrison was not. The fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft impressed as a rookie but regressed in 2025 and was held to just one 33-yard catch in Week 1.

In the coming weeks, Harrison must prove that he can perform up to his draft stats. If he can't, his future in Arizona will become rather murky.

The Cardinals have a star tight end in Trey McBride, they just signed wideout Michael Wilson to a three-year, $75 million extension, and they just used the third overall pick on running back Jeremiyah Love . Harrison will be extension-eligible in the offseason, but Arizona can't pay everyone, and he could eventually be the odd man out.

To be clear, we won't actually see Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in Week 2. The 26-year-old is working his way back from a torn ACL and is out for another week, though he is trending in the right direction.

"We're working," Penix said, per Daniel Flick of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . "I'm close."

However, there aren't many players with more to prove entering Week 2. The 2024 first-round pick didn't play particularly well last season before the knee injury, and he may be running out of opportunities. A loaded 2027 draft class looms large, and the Falcons have three other quarterbacks on the current roster.

Atlanta was set to start Tua Tagovailoa in Week 1 before he suffered an oblique injury. Cooper Rush got the start instead, and the Falcons also have undrafted rookie Jack Strand in the QB room. If Penix wants to cement himself as a franchise signal-caller, he must get healthy, claim the starting gig, and never relinquish it.

Replacing a legitimate star is a challenge that usually comes with pressure. Baltimore Ravens center Jovaughn Gwyn, who is replacing Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum, is learning that firsthand.

Linderbaum had become a fixture of the Ravens' interior offensive line. Gwyn joined Baltimore on a one-year, $1.2 million contract this offseason.

While Gwyn performed well in the run game in Week 1, he drew a critical holding call that negated a touchdown. He also struggled in pass protection and was ranked last among pass blockers by Pro Football Focus . The 2023 seventh-round pick has shown promise but is not yet close to proving he can replace Linderbaum long-term.

2026 NFL Trade Block Big Board Entering Week 2 🏈

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman has fallen short of expectations since he was taken 33rd overall in 2024—to the point that franchise owner Terry Pegula felt the need to blame Coleman's selection on then-recently fired head coach Sean McDermott back in January.

Coleman very much looked like a difference-maker on Thursday night, tallying six receptions for 63 yards against the Detroit Lions. However, he has just 1,024 yards in 28 regular-season games and desperately needs to prove that he can perform at a high level consistently.

The Bills may need Coleman to prove himself immediately. Prized trade acquisition D.J. Moore exited Thursday's game with a shoulder injury and did not return, though ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Moore "has a chance" to play in Week 3.

The Carolina Panthers added a pair of marquee defenders in free agency, signing edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd. Phillips, who recorded a sack and three quarterback pressures, was pretty solid in Week 1. Lloyd was less impressive.

While the former Jacksonville Jaguars star did record a whopping 13 tackles, he had one missed tackle and struggled mightily in coverage. He allowed six catches on seven targets for 58 yards, and Pro Football Focus graded him 65th overall among linebackers.

Carolina needs Lloyd to be a legitimate game-changer if its defense is going to be better than it was against the Bears in Week 1. Lloyd needs to prove that he's worth the three-year, $42 million contract he signed in free agency a few months ago.

The Chicago Bears offense was spectacular in Week 1, racking up 59 points and eventually pulling away from the Panthers. However, Chicago's defense, which surrendered 37 points, left plenty to be desired.

One of the week's worst performers was cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. In coverage, he allowed four completions on five targets for 77 yards, two touchdowns, and a perfect 158.3 passer rating.

Stevenson was a mostly reliable starter last season, and he needs to prove he can return to that form as soon as possible. The Bears need him to perform better, obviously, but the 26-year-old Stevenson is also in a contract year and is playing for a 2027 free-agent contract.

New Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence was more impactful in Week 1 than the raw numbers would suggest. He didn't record a tackle or sack, but he did log a quarterback hit , pushed into the backfield on multiple occasions, and allowed other defenders to make plays by commanding attention.

Still, Lawrence needs to prove that he can be a true game-wrecker for the Bengals, and he needs to do it consistently this season. Cincinnati is betting heavily on a return trip to the playoffs in 2026, and it traded the 10th overall pick in the draft to add Lawrence.

Fair or not, Lawrence is being asked to change the fortunes of a franchise that has been quite bad defensively in recent years.

The 28-year-old is signed through 2028 and should have several good years ahead of him, but he doesn't quite offer the long-term value of a high-upside rookie. If Lawrence is merely good, while a rookie like Caleb Downs or Francis Mauigoa becomes an instant star, it'll be hard to look back on the trade as a big win for the Bengals.

Deshaun Watson has been an absolute flop since the Cleveland Browns acquired him in a 2022 trade. He was booed at home by fans during the preseason, and there's a very real chance that if he doesn't play well and deliver an upset win in Week 2, Watson will be out of the starting lineup by Week 3.

The 31-year-old may not be able to mentally handle another unwelcoming home crowd.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, "The pressure is getting to him. The criticism is getting to him. He is just tired of taking the heat all over the place."

Cleveland will probably be finished with Watson when his contract expires at the end of the season. However, he's going to have to show some signs of promise if he's going to play elsewhere in 2027 and beyond, and he may have to do it this week.

The Dallas Cowboys won't have promising linebacker DeMarvion Overshown in Week 2 because the Texas product is injured. Again.

A 2023 third-round pick, Overshown missed his rookie year with a torn ACL but flashed a ton of potential as a 12-game starter during his inaugural season. He recorded 90 tackles and five sacks in 2024, but he also suffered a second season-ending knee injury in Week 14. He returned for six games last season but then missed the final two contests with a concussion.

Overshown started in Week 1 but suffered a hamstring injury and is set to miss "one to two weeks," according to head coach Brian Schottenheimer (h/t Tommy Yarrish of the team's official website).

Playing in a contract year, Overshown needs to prove that he can get on the field, stay there, and play at the level he did two years ago.

You could reasonably say that every Denver Broncos player has a lot to prove entering Week 2. The Broncos were the best team in the AFC during the 2025 regular season but looked to be entirely outclassed against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night.

While nobody played particularly well for Denver in Week 1, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was arguably the biggest disappointment. The Broncos acquired Waddle in a pre-draft trade with the Miami Dolphins that cost a first-round pick and more.

Adding Waddle was supposed to boost quarterback Bo Nix, unlock Denver's passing attack, and aid new offensive play-caller Davis Webb. After catching just one pass for two yards in his Denver debut, Waddle has a long way to go to prove that trading for him was worth it.

The Lions defense has looked atrocious through its first two games of the season, and most players on the unit should be looking to prove that they can be better. However, starting cornerback Rock Ya-Sin may have to prove himself just to hang onto his job.

Ya-Sin has been a liability more often than not this season and has allowed an opposing passer rating of 115.4 in coverage. On Thursday, he was also flagged for a costly holding penalty that negated a would-be interception in the red zone.

Last season, Ya-Sin was much more dependable in a part-time role and allowed an opposing passer rating of just 74.7. However, Detroit has been scrambling to fill voids in the secondary due to injuries and the release of Terrion Arnold. If Ya-Sin can't prove that he can return to his 2025 form, the Lions will need to look elsewhere for cornerback help.

As a unit, the Green Bay Packers offensive line was a major issue against the Minnesota Vikings last week. Jordan Love was sacked four times, was pressured repeatedly, and was forced into two critical fourth-quarter turnovers.

While left tackle Jordan Morgan can't bear all of the blame for his unit's poor performance, he certainly didn't help. The 2024 first-round pick struggled in pass protection throughout the game and was graded 57th among tackles in pass blocking by Pro Football Focus .

Morgan was already under a fair amount of pressure when the season began, as he's being asked to replace former starter Rasheed Walker. Entering Week 2, he'll be under immense pressure to prove that he's up to the challenge of starting on the left side.

Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. may feel like an odd choice, as the two-time All-Pro has long been one of the Houston Texans' top defenders. However, the 25-year-old is also expected to be one of the very best defensive backs in the game.

Last offseason, Stingley signed a three-year, $90 million extension that made him the league's highest-paid defensive back at the time.

However, Stingley didn't perform like a top-tier corner during Houston's Week 1 loss to Buffalo. He recorded four tackles and a forced fumble, but he also allowed four completions for 68 yards and an opposing passer rating of 90.2 .

If the Texans hope to be title contenders this season, they need their defense to perform like the top-ranked unit it was a year ago. For that to happen, they need Stingley to do a better job of locking things down on the back end.

The Indianapolis Colts defense looked totally outmatched against the Ravens in Week 1. Baltimore racked up 506 total yards and 41 points en route to one of the most lopsided victories of the opening slate.

Plenty of players deserve blame for Indy's defensive meltdown. However, cornerback Justin Walley was particularly disappointing. The 2025 third-round pick made his first career start and surrendered six catches for 109 yards and a 118.7 opposing passer rating.

Walley missed his entire rookie season after suffering a torn ACL in training camp. The Minnesota product will undoubtedly earn more opportunities because of his draft status, but if he doesn't rebound quickly, his time as a 2026 starter could be rather brief.

During the 2025 draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars made an aggressive trade up to land cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter. The Jags gave up the fifth and 36th picks in 2025, their 2027 first-rounder, and more to snag Hunter at No. 2.

The collegiate two-way superstar was expected to fill a similar role in Jacksonville. However, he was mostly just OK as a rookie before suffering a season-ending LCL injury. He finished his inaugural campaign with 298 receiving yards and 15 tackles in seven games.

Hunter wasn't particularly impactful in Week 1, either. He logged four offensive snaps and 29 defensive snaps, and he finished with an eight-yard catch and a tackle.

Yes, Hunter is contributing on both sides of the ball. However, he hasn't come close to proving that he can be a quality two-way NFL player or that he's worth Jacksonville's hefty investment.

Last offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs used a first-round pick on Josh Simmons, hoping that he would fill the longstanding need for a starting left tackle.

Unfortunately, Simmons missed nine games during his rookie season due to a personal absence and a wrist injury. He wasn't particularly great when he was on the field, either, which left him with plenty to prove heading into Year 2.

Simmons wasn't a part of Kansas City's dominant Week 1 victory, as he was ruled out with a back injury. Undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson got the start in Simmons' stead, and while Benson wasn't great (ranked 54th among tackles by PFF ), he wasn't any more of a liability than Simmons has been when healthy.

If Simmons hopes to lock down a starting job with the Chiefs, he has to get back on the field and prove that he is more than a replacement-level player.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins was mostly good in his Las Vegas Raiders debut. However, while he threw three touchdown passes and helped deliver the win, he also struggled to push the ball deep (5.3 yards per attempt) and tossed a pair of picks.

While Cousins' performance was enough against a Miami Dolphins team that might be the worst in the league, Cousins has to be better moving forward for a couple of reasons. For starters, the Raiders aren't likely to win games against playoff-caliber opponents if their QB can't threaten vertically and take better care of the football.

Secondly, Cousins is acting as a placeholder for No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza .

The Raiders won't want to turn the page to Mendoza before the Indiana product is fully ready. Cousins has to prove that he's still an above-average starter in order to keep the rookie on the bench.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has certainly performed like a franchise quarterback in the past. The two-time Pro Bowler even earned an MVP vote last season and earned some lofty praise from his head coach before the start of this season.

Jim Harbaugh told The White House with Michael Irvin (h/t Michael Davis Smith of ProFootballTalk) that he believes that Herbert will one day be known as an all-time great.

However, Herbert was also one of the biggest flops of Week 1. His numbers weren't atrocious (17-of-27 for 209 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), but he played inefficiently down the stretch, threw a costly fourth-quarter interception, and lost by double digits to the week's biggest underdog.

Herbert has to be better moving forward for a variety of reasons—to give Los Angeles a legitimate shot at a title, to show a partnership with Mike McDaniel can work, and to prove that he belongs in the same conversation with quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes.

We're still not 100 percent certain that Aaron Donald will make his 2026 debut on Monday night, but the Los Angeles Rams are hoping to see him on the field.

"Hopefully he's feeling good enough and if he says he's ready to go, then we'll be excited to see him," head coach Sean McVay said, per ESPN's Sarah Barshop .

Under normal circumstances, a 35-year-old defensive tackle wouldn't face lofty expectations coming out of a two-year retirement. However, Donald's situation is not normal. He's arguably the best defender of the NFL's modern era, and he was widely viewed as the final piece of Los Angeles' Super Bowl puzzle.

Just as importantly, the Rams need Donald to step in and make an impact. Their defense looked terrible against the rival San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, and prized trade acquisition and pass-rusher Myles Garrett just went to injured reserve with a knee injury.

Fair or not, the Rams need Donald to prove that he's still the same Pro Bowl-caliber player he was before he walked away for the first time.

The Dolphins aren't expected to win many games in 2026, but they do have a chance to evaluate promising players who could be a big part of the future. The most important player to evaluate is quarterback Malik Willis, who signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal in free agency.

If Willis can show that he's an above-average starter, Miami will have options in a 2027 draft class that is expected to be deep at quarterback.

Of course, properly evaluating any quarterback requires a functional supporting cast. For the Dolphins, that means identifying a No. 1 receiver. They might just have one in rookie third-round pick Caleb Douglas .

Douglas was impressive in Week 1, catching five of seven targets for 94 yards, though he operated against a suspect Raiders defense. He'll need to prove that he can replicate his Week 1 success against the Chargers on Sunday if he hopes to establish himself as Miami's go-to pass-catcher.

The Minnesota Vikings surprised a lot of folks when they used the 18th overall pick on Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks . While Banks flashed real NFL potential in college, he was also limited to just three games in 2025 by a foot injury.

Banks suffered another foot fracture in February at the scouting combine.

A concerning injury history doesn't guarantee that Banks won't be a terrific contributor for Minnesota. However, he'll have to prove that he can stay healthy and fill a prominent role in the defensive front.

Banks did suit up for Minnesota's opener, but he played just 24 percent of the defensive snaps and finished without a tackle.

Quarterback Drake Maye deserves a dishonorable mention here after struggling in the 2025 playoffs and throwing three interceptions in the 2026 season opener. However, New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs has even more to prove entering Week 2.

Doubs was a marquee free-agent pickup for the Patriots and signed a four-year, $68 million contract . He was supposed to be a dependable, chain-moving target for Maye but was anything but in his 2026 debut. Doubs failed to catch any of his three targets, was targeted on one of Maye's interceptions, and had a key fourth-quarter drop.

The Patriots desperately need Doubs to prove that he's more reliable than he showed in Week 1 because they recently placed No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

The New Orleans Saints used the 14th pick in the 2024 draft on offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga with the hope that he would help solidify the offensive line. While the Oregon State product has started all 31 games in which he has appeared, he hasn't been a high-end player.

Last season, Fuaga was decidedly average, though he battled knee, ankle, and back injuries and was ultimately limited to 13 games. He wasn't much better against the Lions in Week 1. He allowed a sack and was graded 63rd in pass blocking among tackles by Pro Football Focus .

New Orleans is likely to go as far as second-year quarterback Tyler Shough can take the team this season. The Saints need Fuaga to be better at protecting their quarterback. Fuaga needs to prove that he can be consistently better, too, because he'll be extension-eligible in the offseason.

Back in 2023, the New York Giants used a first-round pick on Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks. While he was a regular starter as a rookie, he was benched toward the end of his second season and only made six starts in 2025.

Though the Giants declined the fifth-year option on Banks' contract, the arrival of new head coach John Harbaugh gave the corner a fresh opportunity to prove himself. While he got the start against the Cowboys in Week 1, Banks wasn't great.

The 25-year-old did log a pair of batted passes, but he also allowed four receptions and surrendered a touchdown. Overall, he allowed an opposing passer rating of 103.0 in coverage.

The Giants need to see more from Banks if they're going to keep him in a starting role, and he has to be better if he has any hope of cashing in during 2027 free agency.

The New York Jets had their pick of prospects not named Fernando Mendoza with the second pick in April's draft, and they opted for Texas Tech edge-rusher David Bailey . This means that, for the foreseeable future, Bailey will be compared to other top rookies in the 2026 class.

Through one full week, Bailey has made the Jets look like geniuses for their selection. He recorded four tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, and two quarterback pressures in his NFL debut.

Of course, it's worth noting that Bailey's performance came against an inexperienced quarterback and a bad Tennessee Titans offensive line. If he's going to prove that he was the best non-quarterback available in his draft class, Bailey will have to maintain his high level of play against more formidable opponents. He'll get a prime opportunity against the Packers on Sunday.

The Philadelphia Eagles got the win in Week 1, but they learned during the game that Landon Dickerson's knee ailment was something that he shouldn't be playing through. Earlier this week, they placed the standout guard on short-term injured reserve.

While Philly hasn't publicly announced who will replace Dickerson in the starting lineup, 2025 fifth-round pick Drew Kendall is the likeliest candidate. He appeared in seven games with one start as a rookie and is preparing himself to start in Week 2.

"Just feel ready and staying ready for when my name is called. I'm not sure what's going to happen," Kendall said, per Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

This will be a massive opportunity for Kendall, who can cement his status as a key reserve if he plays well. It'll also be a big challenge, and the Eagles need Kendall to prove that he's up to the challenge.

While the Titans aren't exactly a daunting Week 2 opponent, Philly has the Bears, Rams, and Jaguars up next on the schedule.

DK Metcalf had an underwhelming Week 1, catching just four of 10 targets for 40 yards. However, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn't appear to be concerned.

"I'm not worried about DK at all, man," Rodgers said, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic.

Still, Metcalf needs to prove that his poor performance last Sunday was a fluke for a couple of reasons. For one, the Steelers need a dependable perimeter target opposite Michael Pittman Jr. if they're going to field a playoff-caliber offense this season.

Secondly, Pittman is threatening to take over as Pittsburgh's No. 1 receiver, which would leave Metcalf's future in Pittsburgh uncertain. He's under contract through 2029, but the Steelers could save $26.5 million in 2027 cap space by releasing Metcalf with a post-June 1 designation in the spring.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is 32 years old and is coming off a torn Achilles that he suffered in January. Therefore, the fact that he was even on the field for San Francisco's opener was impressive.

However, Kittle didn't have a massive impact on the 49ers' 27-20 win. He obviously commanded some defensive attention, but he caught just two of five targets for 12 yards.

Kittle needs to prove that he can get back to pre-injury form quickly because injuries are already becoming an issue for the 49ers' receiving corps. Ricky Pearsall is out for the year with a PCL injury, and San Francisco recently placed tight end Jake Tonges and promising rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling on injured reserve.

According to head coach Kyle Shanahan (h/t Matt Barrows of The Athletic), Stribling (ankle) is expected to miss around 10 weeks, but Tonges (MCL) is done for the season.

The Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl LX with quarterback Sam Darnold and planned to compete with the 2018 first-rounder again in 2026. However, Darnold was knocked out of Week 1 with what is now being described as a glue injury.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler , Darnold is expected to miss roughly four weeks with the injury.

For the foreseeable future, Seattle will have to rely on backup quarterback Drew Lock. He played well enough to defeat the Patriots in Week 1, and he'll have to continue playing well if the Seahawks are going to successfully navigate a long stretch without their starter. His teammates believe he will.

"We all have faith in Drew," defensive lineman Leonard Williams said, per Ari Horton of the team's official website.

If the Seahawks are going to stay near the top of the loaded NFC West, Lock will have to prove that Seattle's faith in him isn't unfounded.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield deserves consideration here. He signed a three-year, $165 million extension just before the start of the season and then proceeded to fumble three times in Week 1.

However, Mayfield largely played well aside from the giveaways. Rookie first-round pick Pueben Bain Jr. was largely invisible. The 15th pick in April's draft played 64 percent of the defensive snaps but finished with just one tackle, no sacks, and no QB pressures.

Bain was arguably college football's most disruptive defender in 2025 but fell in the draft due to concerns about arm length. He needs to prove that such concerns were unwarranted, and he needs to play much, much better to prove the Bucs right for stopping his slide in the middle of Round 1.

As a rookie last season, Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward didn't play up to his draft status as the No. 1 pick in the draft. Of course, the Miami product was saddled with one of the worst supporting casts in the league.

The Titans worked to upgrade their offense in the offseason, adding the likes of center Austin Schlottmann, receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, and rookie wideout Carnell Tate . Unfortunately, Ward (80.2 QB rating) looked a lot like he did as a rookie in Week 1.

Naturally, Tennessee isn't going to simply give up on its young quarterback.

"We're fully committed to Cam because we believe in him," Saleh told ESPN's Turron Davenport . "You've got to let these young men grow."

However, Ward has to start showing tangible growth. Otherwise, the Titans may have to consider sitting him, as the Panthers did with Bryce Young during his sophomore campaign.

Washington Commanders: WR Terry McLaurin

This may seem like an odd choice, as Terry McLaurin has essentially been the Commanders' No. 1 receiver for the past eight seasons. However, he's also 31 years old and is coming off a game in which he was pretty much invisible.

Against the Eagles in Week 1, McLaurin caught just two of four targets for 14 yards. He had less of an impact than recent addition Stefon Diggs, rookie Antonio Williams , and even tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo.

McLaurin needs to prove that he can still be an elite difference maker because A.) Washington needs to support quarterback Jayden Daniels and B.) another disappointing campaign could leave McLaurin as a 2027 cap casualty.

Last season, injuries limited McLaurin to 10 games and 582 receiving yards. Next spring, the Commanders could save $25.5 million in cap space by releasing him with a post-June 1 designation.

*Contract and cap information via Spotrac . Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.