NFL preseason spotlight: Browns and Falcons set starting QBs, Bears coach Ben Johnson talks big in exhibition goals

The preseason is still early, but the first quarterback clarity is already shaping practice-to-game priorities for three teams with prominent roles to play in August. The Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons both announced their preseason starting quarterbacks, turning the next set of exhibitions into more than just routine reps. For the coaching staffs, it is a chance to evaluate how the offensive identity holds up when the first unit is actually on the field together, and how quickly the backups can adjust if the quarterback change happens sooner than planned.

For Cleveland, the decision to designate a preseason starter provides a clean runway for the team’s early-season evaluation. With the quarterback named for preseason, the Browns can focus on specific first-team sequences, including how the play-calling rhythm looks against live opponent looks and how the offensive line communicates protections with the first quarterback cadence in place. The preseason starter announcement also functions as a measuring stick for receivers and backs who want to build rapport with the quarterback running the first-group offense.

Atlanta’s preseason quarterback designation carries a similar message. The Falcons’ announcement of their preseason starting quarterback indicates that the coaching staff is prepared to prioritize structured offensive timing in these games, not just situational scrambling or alternating looks. In a preseason that can sometimes become chaotic, an early starter keeps the first unit’s reps consistent, which matters when teams want to see which routes develop quickly, which formations fit personnel strengths, and whether the passing game can sustain drives rather than relying on isolated explosive plays.

Chicago enters the next exhibition slate with a different emphasis, at least publicly. Bears head coach Ben Johnson outlined what were described as bold goals, particularly in relation to scoring. That kind of messaging does not replace in-game execution, but it does indicate how Johnson wants his team to measure progress. When coaches talk about scoring targets before preseason games, the focus typically shifts to red-zone efficiency, sustained drive structure, and the ability to translate early offensive momentum into points even when opponents are also adjusting personnel and game plans.

There is also a roster-building angle to the preseason starting-quarterback announcements for Cleveland and Atlanta. Preseason starters tend to draw the most continuity across the offensive unit, which can reveal matchup advantages and personnel fit. Meanwhile, the Bears’ scoring emphasis under Johnson suggests that Chicago’s staff is watching how quickly the offense can generate third-down effectiveness and how consistently it can produce points, even when the lineup rotates. Those are the details that often influence how teams interpret what they have seen once regular-season games begin to matter most.

What to watch next is how long each preseason starter remains in games, and whether the offense surrounding that quarterback looks coordinated for longer stretches than the typical early-preseason opening phases. For Chicago, attention should center on whether the coaching-stated scoring approach shows up as sustained output, especially in the later portions of drives and inside the red zone. Those are the indicators that preseason evaluation is actually aligning with the priorities coaches are publicly stating, rather than getting diluted by the usual turnover of personnel.