NFL OTAs Day 1: Brissett absent, Rodgers impresses, Ravens D 'obnoxious'

Eight teams got back to work on Monday, including the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tennessee Titans.

From that group, there's an absent starting quarterback wanting a raise, a big-name receiver raving about his new, future Hall of Fame quarterback, and a first-time head coach telling his defense to be "obnoxious."

Here are the main talking points from Day 1 of NFL OTAs.

QB Brissett absent in Arizona

The biggest story of the day involved someone with no OTA highlights to speak of.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett, the man charged with leading the Cardinals' offense in 2026, was absent while he pushes for a new contract.

We don't know what figure would make Brissett happy, but it's hard not to agree with his motivation.

Firstly, Brissett started 12 games last season when Kyler Murray went down, impressing with 3,366 passing yards and 23 touchdowns on a struggling team.

Secondly, his current contract pays him only $4.88 million in 2026, with only $1.5 million guaranteed.

With Murray now released and Brissett projected as the starter, he wants to be paid like one.

Coach Mike LaFleur doesn't seem overly concerned about the standoff, reminding reporters that the sessions aren't mandatory.

Gardner Minshew is taking more reps in Brissett's absence, alongside third-round rookie Carson Beck and second-year QB Kedon Slovis.

Rodgers is back, and Pittman loves it

Aaron Rodgers was on the Steelers' practice field Monday, taking first-team reps in Mike McCarthy's offense after signing a one-year deal worth up to $25 million.

Michael Pittman Jr., who joined Pittsburgh in a trade from the Colts earlier this year, took in every moment of the time spent with his new quarterback.

"Even in the first day, he made a couple of great throws, and I was like, wow, I'm really playing with Aaron, so it's great," Pittman said.

"I get to play with another Hall of Fame quarterback, because I got to play with Philip Rivers. I'm going to say he's going to make it. This is my second, so it's great."

While the second part of that statement may raise eyebrows for some, the important takeaway is that he's already building a rapport with Rodgers.

And that chemistry will be key if Pittman is to deliver a return on the three-year $59 million extension he signed not long ago.

Minter sets the tone in Baltimore

Jesse Minter's first OTA practice as Ravens head coach ended with the entire squad, coaches included, holding a plank for two minutes in the scorching heat.

That tells you something about the culture he's trying to build, complete with a defense he wants to be the "loudest, most crazy, obnoxious, communicative unit in the history of football."

It sounds like they're off to a strong start. The Ravens' official website reports that "Ravens practice is loud, both from coaches and players," noting that Roquan Smith and the secondary were "barking orders."

This Ravens defense has the pieces to bounce back in a serious way, with Smith joined by new arrival Trey Hendrickson, swelling the star power on a unit not lacking in that department already.

And if that defense achieves its potential under the talented and fired-up defensive mind of Minter, it would have huge ramifications in the race for the AFC North, and possibly beyond.