The 2021 NFL preseason kicked off on Thursday night with the Pittsburgh Steelers defeating the Dallas Cowboys 16-3 in the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. While the year's first contest was short on star power, many projected starters and key role players are likely to make their way into lineups as the preseason progresses.
Many of these players are going to have a lot to prove between now and the start of the regular season.
Obviously, it's what a player does after Week 1 that really matters. However, some players will spend the next few weeks battling for starting jobs, to justify contracts or to showcase their health.