Training camp officially starts this week and what happens over the next couple of weeks will play a big role in how a lot of preseason storylines play out. 

There are all kinds of topics and talking points to keep up with as the next few weeks pass, but these five are certainly near the top of the list -if not at the top of the list- when it comes to what we're paying attention to up until September.

Top-5 NFL Preseason Storylines to Monitor

Will Brock Purdy get back on the field before September?

The San Francisco 49ers continue to provide positive updates on Purdy’s recovery, but there’s still no guarantee he’ll be ready for training camp, let alone the preseason. 

There's another question in play, as well. If Purdy is healthy enough to participate in training camp, will the 49ers even play him during the preseason? Putting him on the field makes sense because he obviously hasn't been throwing much during the offseason. Allowing Purdy to shake the rust off, so to speak, would go a long way toward ramping him up for the season. I'm sure the 49ers would also like to see him in live action before putting him in a game that actually means something. 

Will the injury risk be worth it, though? The 49ers have to more figure out with Trey Lance and Sam Darnold, so it'd make sense to let them duke it out in August. 

And, while I'm not giving in to the PTSD that comes with the recent slew of QB injuries – it would be an awful development for the 49ers to lose their top QB before the regular season starts. 

What happens with Purdy and the 49ers over the next few weeks will provide some big clues as to what happens in the long run.

How will the rookie QBs perform?

Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and Anthony Richardson were the first three quarterbacks taken off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft and all three QBs are entering new eras with their respective teams. Only Will Levis, who was drafted in the second round, goes to a situation where the head coach is the same guy as last year.

All four quarterbacks, including Levis, should see extensive time in the preseason. No one is going to seal their fate after three meaningless games, but their performances will certainly fuel plenty of headlines and talking points that revolve around how much success the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, and Tennessee Titans can have with these guys.

And then, the quartet will either come out and prove them right or they'll prove them wrong over the coming years. 

Such is NFL life.

The NFL’s new kickoff rule

One of the bigger talking points/controversies of the 2023 offseason is the NFL’s decision that allows kick returners to call fair catch during a kickoff and subsequently start at their opponent’s 25-yard-line. 

The preseason will be a good time for special teams coordinators and return units to test the new strategies they've came up with/implemented during the offseason. 

Who knows? We could see some really interesting stuff play out while special teams units navigate the new territory.

How long will Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs holdout?

Neither player signed their franchise tag by the time Monday’s deadline rolled around, which now means they can hold out all the way up until the Tuesday after Week 10. Or, during the entire season, if they desire to do so.

Both have been pretty steadfast in their adamance toward the situation. Usually, this stuff is resolved before training camp. But as we saw with Jessie Bates and the Cincinnati Bengals last year, it can last into the preseason. And to a greater extent, they can hold out for the entire season like Le'Veon Bell did in 2018.

These guys are key assets on their respective offenses, so both units will certainly take a step back if neither play in 2023. Add in the facts the New York Giants are trying to build off their playoff run and the Las Vegas Raiders are simply trying to stay above water and it's easy to see why this situation is one to monitor.

Who will replace Tom Brady in Tampa Bay?

Tom Brady is officially retired and this time it’s for good. Now, it’s up to either Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask to carry on the golden standard Brady both brought to and established in Tampa Bay.

As we know, Mayfield has had a rough go over the last couple of seasons, but he's finally healthy and enjoying a full offseason with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So far, reports have centered around Mayfield's leadership and moxie, which are two key traits for NFL QBs. 

Trask doesn't have Mayfield's personality – he's more of a lead-by-example guy. Add that in with his lack of overall experience and it seems like this is Mayfield's job to lose. 

Regardless, the Buccaneers have repeatedly said this is a true quarterback competition under new offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who used the same approach with Geno Smith and Drew Lock, last year. That obviously worked very well for both the Seattle Seahawks and Smith, but there's no guarantee we will see the same results in Tampa Bay.

Either way, unless Mayfield just completely blows everyone away and Trask absolutely tanks, this competition should extend into the preseason with the hope that both guys will bring the best out in each other. And in return, the Bucs' QB transition won't be as bumpy as it currently projects to be. 

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There are honorable mentions such as Jimmy Garoppolo's health, Russell Wilson's/Deshaun Watson's attempted rebounds, the Washington Commanders' new era of ownership, and DeAndre Hopkins' role on the Titans' offense. One could honestly give a storyline for each team, because that's simply how the NFL works.

The key takeaway, however, is we are able to have this conversation because the start of the 2023 season is closer than it's ever been. And that in itself is enough to talk about. 

Feautred image via Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports