The 2026 NFL season is unofficially roaring back to life, with rookies already hitting camp around the league! While your Seahawks rookies report today, July 17, and the veterans are right behind them on July 24, the biggest news across the NFL isn’t about the fresh faces seizing starting jobs. Nope, the shocking word from around the league? Don’t expect *any* rookie quarterback to be under center for Week 1. This prediction just landed like a gut punch for fans dreaming of immediate rookie magic.
No Rookie QB Fireworks, Yet. Seriously?
Yeah, you read that right. If you were hoping to see a bunch of first-year signal-callers tearing it up from the jump, hold your horses, 12s. The top rookie QBs are all looking at a seat on the bench to start the season. Take the Las Vegas Raiders’ No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, for example. The dude isn’t expected to be QB1 coming out of training camp. The Raiders went and signed veteran Kirk Cousins as a placeholder, and they’ve been taking a super patient approach with Mendoza, having him mostly with the second and third teams during OTAs and minicamp, according to ESPN’s Ryan McFadden. He might get on the field later this season, but a Week 1 start? Not happening.
And it’s not just Mendoza. Fellow first-round pick Ty Simpson isn’t expected to see the field this season at all, stuck behind the Rams’ Matthew Stafford. Same goes for Carson Beck with the Arizona Cardinals, who’s unlikely to beat out Jacoby Brissett in camp. Cade Klubnik with the New York Jets? He’s got Geno Smith ahead of him. The bottom line from the experts: zero rookie quarterbacks will start Week 1. It’s a brutal reality check for the hype trains, but it means veterans are holding strong for now.
The Emerald City Kicks Off Their Grind
While we’re tracking all that rookie drama across the league, the real focus for us is right here in the Emerald City! Your Seattle Seahawks rookies officially report for training camp today, July 17. The rest of the veteran squad isn’t far behind, with everyone set to be in camp by July 24. This is it, folks, the unofficial start of our season! The coming weeks are absolutely packed with intrigue and drama. We know the preseason stats and exhibition games aren’t the be-all and end-all, but the position battles? The starting jobs up for grabs? That’s what matters as every team, including our Hawks, starts to figure out who’s ready to make an impact. The Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers will officially kick off the preseason with the Hall of Fame Game on August 6, but for our Seahawks, the grind has already begun.
These training camp weeks are everything. They’re where the roster takes shape, where the chemistry builds, and where the guys earn their spots. Every rep, every drill, every scrimmage matters. What happens over the next few weeks sets the tone for the entire season. Get ready, 12s, it’s going to be a wild ride!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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