NFL Preseason Week 2: Team of the Week & Player Awards

Athan Kaliakmanis was masterful: The rookie quarterback dazzled against the Lions with a 92.7 PFF passing grade.

Kindle Vildor put together a lockdown performance: The Patriots veteran produced a 95.6 PFF coverage grade across 11 coverage snaps.

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The second week of the 2026 NFL preseason offered more context all around, from rookies establishing themselves as key contributors to veterans seeking to secure a roster spot. Below are PFF’s best performers at every position from the week, along with breakdowns for select honors.

Offense

QB: Athan Kaliakmanis, Washington Commanders
HB: Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas Raiders
WR: Ja'Mori Maclin, Buffalo Bills
WR: John Metchie III, Carolina Panthers
TE: Moliki Matavao, New Orleans Saints
Flex: WR Trebor Pena, Jacksonville Jaguars
LT: Diego Pounds, Baltimore Ravens
LG: Bill Murray, Los Angeles Rams
C: Andre James, Tennessee Titans
RG: Austin Barber, Cleveland Brown s
RT: Albert Reese IV, Carolina Panthers

Defense

EDGE: Eku Leota, Arizona Cardinals
EDGE: Kai mon Rucker, Baltimore Ravens
DI: Jonathan Ford, Green Bay Packers
DI: James Thompson Jr., San Francisco 49ers
LB: Anthony Hill Jr., Tennessee Titans
LB: Nick Niemann, Green Bay Packers
CB: Kindle Vildor, New England Patriots
CB: Jaylon Jones, Indianapolis Colts
S: Andre Cisco, New York Jets
S: DeShon Elliott, Pittsburgh Steelers
Flex: CB Nyzier Fourqurean, Los Angeles Rams

Special Teams

Quarterback, Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week: QB Athan Kaliakmanis, Washington Commanders

The seventh-round rookie out of Rutgers had a strong second game of the preseason, going 11-for-14 for 162 yards on the road against the Detroit Lions. He finished the game with a pair of big-time throws and no turnover-worthy plays

Defensive Player of the Week: CB Kindle Vildor, New England Patriots

Vildor was targeted three times from 11 snaps in coverage this week, allowing just one reception for six yards and coming away with a pass breakup. He finished the game with a 95.6 PFF coverage grade.

Offensive Line of the Week: New York Giants

The Giants’ offensive line surrendered four pressures in this game, but none of them came from the five players who started it. J.C. Davis played 81 snaps at left tackle and didn’t give up a pressure from 46 pass-blocking snaps.