Donald, Duck! The Loaded Rams, Plus Raiders and Falcons QB Battles

Summary of Donald, Duck! The Loaded Rams, Plus Raiders and Falcons QB Battles

by ESPN, Omaha Productions, Mina Kimes

1h 2m•September 1, 2026
Listen to Episode

Overview of Donald, Duck! The Loaded Rams, Plus Raiders and Falcons QB Battles

This episode breaks down several of the biggest NFL preseason and roster-decision storylines, led by the impact of Aaron Donald’s return on the Rams’ defense, the uncertain quarterback situations in Las Vegas and Atlanta, and the fallout from two significant commissioner’s exempt list placements. The conversation also touches on a few notable preseason tape takeaways, including Justin Herbert in a new motion-heavy offense, Anthony Richardson’s growth, and the continued messiness of Cleveland’s quarterback picture.

Aaron Donald’s Return and the Rams’ Defensive Ceiling

Why Donald changes everything

  • The hosts frame Donald’s return as a “math problem” for offenses.
  • Even if he is not quite the same player he was before retirement, he can still be an elite disruptive force at age 35.
  • With Donald back alongside other strong front-seven pieces, offenses are forced into impossible protection choices:
    • Double Donald or Kobie Turner?
    • Double Myles Garrett?
    • Leave someone else one-on-one and hope for the best?

How offenses can try to attack the Rams

  • Win on first down: avoid getting into obvious passing downs.
  • Use quick game: get the ball out fast before pressure hits.
  • Play more 12/13 personnel: force the Rams to match with linebackers and less favorable personnel.
  • Attack the offensive line, not the defense: the panel repeatedly says the real answer against the Rams is protecting Matthew Stafford, not out-scheming the defense.

Biggest Rams vulnerabilities

  • Off-ball linebacker play is the clearest weak spot relative to the rest of the roster.
  • Special teams may be the easiest way to steal a win against them; that’s the most realistic path to upsetting them.
  • Off-field discipline/availability remains a watch item:
    • Alaric Jackson’s status could matter more to Stafford’s protection than people realize.
    • Puka Nacua’s situation is mentioned, though the report is that he is unlikely to be suspended.

Big-picture outlook

  • ESPN’s internal projections reportedly have the Rams as a top contender.
  • The discussion compares them to “superteam” builds of the past, while noting that cornerback performance and health always create volatility.

Raiders: A Veteran Starter With a Clear Ceiling

Why the veteran option feels limited

  • The Raiders’ likely starter is discussed as a diminished veteran with:
    • very low air yards per attempt,
    • reduced arm strength,
    • reluctance to challenge downfield.
  • The concern is that he can keep the offense afloat, but may not elevate it.

Why a rookie switch feels inevitable

  • The hosts expect the rookie to take over at some point during the season.
  • Their reasoning:
    • The Raiders do not look like a true contender this year.
    • Development time matters more than squeezing a few low-ceiling veteran starts.
    • If the running game and protection don’t hold up, the team will probably move on quickly.

What the rookie showed in preseason

  • Mixed results, but with encouraging traits:
    • arm talent,
    • decisiveness on some throws,
    • ability to work through reads.
  • Main issue: sack avoidance / pressure awareness.
  • The panel emphasizes that this is coachable, but still a concern.

Skill-position notes

  • The Raiders’ backfield and tight ends drew the most optimism.
  • There’s real interest in:
    • a promising young running back,
    • a strong second tight end behind Brock Bowers,
    • a tight-end-centric offense if the line holds.
  • The receiver room, however, still lacks a trustworthy contested-catch option.

Falcons QB Battle: Cousins vs. Penix

Why the decision is so tricky

  • The conversation centers on Atlanta deciding between the veteran and Michael Penix Jr.
  • The hosts note that the veteran’s preseason tape was underwhelming:
    • low downfield aggression,
    • limited arm,
    • a clear cap on what the offense can be.

The core question for Atlanta

  • The key issue is not just “who is better right now?”
  • It’s whether Atlanta planned to build a truly vertical offense or a highly conservative, low-ADOT attack.
  • If the plan is to stay shallow and rely on timing throws, the veteran can start.
  • If the team wants real field-stretching potential, Penix becomes more attractive.

What Atlanta needs from Penix

  • Health, first and foremost.
  • Better consistency, especially:
    • throwing over the middle,
    • operating under center,
    • handling NFL structure and timing.
  • The hosts suggest Penix is likely part of the plan at some point this season, even if he is not the Week 1 starter.

Important caution

  • The undrafted quarterback option is viewed as fun preseason story material, but not a serious long-term answer.

Commissioner’s Exempt List Fallout: Jacobs and Cooper

Josh Jacobs / Packers

  • Jacobs was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list amid a domestic violence case.
  • The panel stresses that:
    • the timeline is uncertain,
    • the NFL can discipline before the legal process ends,
    • the length of any absence is impossible to predict.
  • Football impact:
    • Green Bay may have to rely on Marshawn Lloyd and Caleb Johnson.
    • Matt LaFleur may need to become less run-heavy.
    • The offense may be forced to lean more on Jordan Love and the passing game.

Jonathan Cooper / Broncos

  • Cooper’s situation is described as especially serious, with multiple incidents and upgraded charges.
  • Football impact:
    • Denver’s front seven remains excellent, but edge depth gets thinner.
    • Jonah Ellis is the likely next-man-up candidate.
    • The Broncos may blitz more, especially early in the season.
  • The hosts view Denver as still elite, but with less margin for injury.

Other Preseason Notes Worth Watching

Justin Herbert in a new, motion-heavy offense

  • The panel gets a first look at a new offense built around:
    • lots of motion,
    • heavy personnel,
    • play-action,
    • run-game manipulation.
  • Herbert’s first couple of drives included:
    • a play-action look,
    • a quick early fumble,
    • a deep TD to Quentin Johnston.
  • The big question is whether the scheme can:
    • mask interior offensive line issues,
    • create intermediate passing opportunities,
    • generate explosives without relying only on the deep ball.

Preseason quarterbacks who stood out

  • Anthony Richardson looked improved:
    • quicker decisions,
    • better accuracy,
    • more settled pocket play.
  • Dylan Gabriel looked like a functional backup:
    • quick processing,
    • reasonable distribution,
    • but the Browns’ quarterback strategy remains baffling overall.

A few league-wide notes

  • Several teams are keeping multiple quarterbacks, reflecting how unusual current roster construction has become.
  • The Browns’ handling of their quarterback room is criticized as one of the league’s ongoing organizational messes.

Main Takeaways

  • Aaron Donald’s return makes the Rams’ defense extremely hard to game plan for, even if he is no longer at peak form.
  • The best way to attack the Rams is through offensive line play, quick passing, and forcing them into difficult personnel decisions.
  • In Las Vegas, the veteran QB looks limited and the rookie appears likely to take over before long.
  • In Atlanta, the team has to decide whether it wants a safe, short-range offense or to commit to the upside of Penix.
  • Josh Jacobs and Jonathan Cooper’s exempt-list situations could meaningfully alter the Packers’ and Broncos’ early-season identities.
  • The most encouraging preseason quarterback tape came from Anthony Richardson, while Cleveland’s QB plan remains deeply uncertain.