- At least two more teams still need to figure out a starting quarterback: The Browns will decide between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, while the Falcons will pick between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr.
- Preseason darlings can become impactful during the regular season: Rookies like R.J. Mickens and Jahdae Walker turned strong early showings into real contributions late in the 2025 campaign.
- Last Chance! The PFF Early Bird Sale Ends Aug. 17: Save 33% and get PFF+ for just $79.99, our lowest price of the year.
Believe it or not, football is back. Last week’s Hall of Fame Game marked the official onset of the 2026 season, with organized action happening in 24 of the next 25 weeks.
If last Thursday’s thriller is any indication, the 2026 preseason will be compelling throughout. It’s true that defenses may not be entirely up to snuff, and that games won’t regularly feature the league’s best players. But following an offseason that has been filled with all sorts of twists and turns, even this year’s mid-August slate feels that much more exciting.
Below are five key elements to watch as every team finally returns to play this week.
Lingering quarterback battles
Although the Vikings put the kibosh on their quarterback duel by naming Kyler Murray the starter, multiple other teams still need to decide on primary passers for at least Week 1 — if not longer.
The Browns are in the strongest spotlight as Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders duke it out to be Todd Monken’s first option. Watson missed all of 2024 with an Achilles tear, while Sanders finished with the worst PFF passing grade (42.3) among the 38 quarterbacks with at least 200 dropbacks as a rookie. No matter who wins the initial job, it feels like the door will be open for the other to still get reps, especially if Cleveland struggles.
Likewise, the Falcons need to determine their QB1 in Kevin Stefanski’s first season. The current favorite appears to be ex-Dolphin Tua Tagovailoa, who led qualifiers with a 5.4% turnover-worthy play rate during a cataclysmic 2025 season. Meanwhile, former first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. has yet to be fully cleared for contact, although a good (and healthy) preseason could merit additional opportunity.
In addition to work in camp practices, preseason games against actual opponents figure to loom large for both the Browns and Falcons. Likewise, although the Cardinals and Raiders have essentially committed to Jacoby Brissett and Kirk Cousins, respectively, good showings for rookies Carson Beck and Fernando Mendoza may very well provide them the chance to start earlier than expected.
Old faces in new places
If it felt hard to keep up with all of the moves this offseason, you’re not alone. The last six months have brought drastic change in terms of where some of the NFL’s best suit up, and we’ll get to see many of those debuts at long last.
On the trade market, veterans like Myles Garrett, Dexter Lawrence, A.J. Brown, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Waddle all figure to play at least a smattering of snaps for their new teams in the preseason. It won’t feel the same as in Week 1, but even seeing such stars don nascent colors is something to recognize.
The same principle applies to free agency. Big-ticket players that will play for newfound franchises include the Ravens’ Trey Hendrickson, Chiefs’ Kenneth Walker III, Dolphins’ Malik Willis, 49ers’ Mike Evans and Raiders’ Tyler Linderbaum.
To reiterate, these standouts are all likely to play no more than 30 or so snaps, a far cry from what early September will showcase. At the same time, this small sample can still offer a window into how game-changers might be deployed differently by their new squads — such as a different route tree, new run concepts or even a distinct defensive alignment.
Players stepping up in light of injury
With training camp comes an unfortunate inevitability: Players suffering serious injuries. That’s already been the case in the onset of a young camp this summer. One consequence is getting a first look at those who will be called upon to replace veterans.
The Commanders endured a massive blow when tackle Laremy Tunsil suffered a torn triceps, leaving Washington without the fifth-most-valuable tackle by PFF Wins Above Replacement for possibly all of 2026. The team could opt to sign a veteran like Taylor Decker, but the early indication is that Brandon Coleman will assume starting duties. After sporting a 64.6 overall PFF grade last year, how Coleman fares in August could be telling.
The NFC South has also been especially gutted, with players such as Taylor Moton, Jalon Walker, Nic Scourton and Bryan Bresee out for weeks or the entire campaign. Those losses have swiftly propelled youngsters like Monroe Freeling, Christen Miller, Harold Perkins Jr. and Princely Umanmielen into elevated roles. How they perform during the preseason could decide whether or not such teams make additions or roll the dice on their upside.
Other position groups to watch in light of injuries are Bears safeties without Coby Bryant, Lions centers down Cade Mays and 49ers receivers.
Schematic shifts
Not only did a myriad of players change teams, but so too did coaches. The preseason will give fans and analysts alike an appetizer of what they might expect to see once the calendar turns to September.
This offseason, a whopping 10 teams welcomed in new head coaches. Matchups in mid-to-late August could indicate wholesale changes from veterans in different spots like Mike McCarthy and John Harbaugh. Meanwhile, rising leaders like the Ravens’ Jesse Minter and Raiders’ Klint Kubiak will also set the tone for what they hope to get out of preseason, including how long they play starters.
Many of the same tenets also apply to coordinators now in adjusted colors. For instance, the Chargers’ offense should rise from 18th to near the top of the list in motion rate with Mike McDaniel now calling the shots, potentially as soon as the preseason. First-time coordinators Christian Parker and Jim Leonhard will also begin to lay the foundation for their units in Dallas and Buffalo, including maybe establishing a coverage or blitzing backbone.
The preseason is often decried due to very vanilla schemes and play styles, and rightfully so. Yet there’s always information to be learned, and reading the tea leaves this early could be at least some harbinger of what we’ll watch stylistically in the regular season.
Unsung players carving out a role
While the preseason can be laden with criticism, one of its main purposes is affording a platform for underrated players to shine. Year over year, low- and/or undrafted players earn chances because of what they achieve across those three weeks.
The Hall of Fame Game was already a step in that direction. Consider Panthers quarterback Haynes King, who produced a 75.1 overall PFF grade and scored the game-winning touchdown in the waning seconds. The undrafted free agent certainly opened some eyes, and his chances of making a roster — whether Carolina’s or another — have likely increased.
Year after year, rookies carve out meaningful snaps during the regular season by dominating in the preseason. A season ago, the Chargers’ R.J. Mickens and Steelers’ Yahya Black played their way into starting lineups despite being selected in the fifth round or later, rendering themselves tough to ignore by dominating in August. Likewise, Bears undrafted wideout Jahdae Walker reached the 53-man roster after posting an 87.0 PFF receiving grade in the preseason — and that faith was rewarded by scoring two touchdowns in Chicago’s final three games.
It’s true that the preseason is fundamentally considered a tune-up for starters, but its real value lies in letting under-the-radar players make headlines. At least a handful of names on roster bubbles will sway staffs with their preseason play, and that accomplishment is always something to celebrate. In fact, those players should be remembered down the line — because they could turn out to be an important part of a team’s season.
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