2026 NFL Preseason Week 3: One Stock Riser, Faller From Each Game

Geoff Magliocchetti August 31, 2026 Fact checked by: Matt Moreno No Comments

Many around the NFL took advantage of one last chance to impress their current coaches during the final week of preseason play.

School’s out, at least from an NFL football perspective.

The 2026 NFL preseason wrapped with a bang over the weekend, as each of the league’s 32 teams took in their final bits of game day intel that helped shaped each of their original 53-man rosters. It’ll count the next time they take the field, beginning with a Sept. 9 clash between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, the combatants in the lasted that counted (Super Bowl LX).

Chicago Bears wide receiver Zavion Thomas (81) runs after fielding a kickoff during a preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears, August 29, 2026 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Chicago Bears receiver Zavion Thomas (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Like the first two preseason portions, plenty of players of both the freshman and seasoned variety either helped or hurt their roster cases. Each game was unique, so TeamFB7 goes down the list of each exhibition to find a riser and faller in gridiron stock …

PREVIOUS STUDS & DUDS: Week 1 | Week 2

Bears 24, Titans 15

ROSE: WR Zavion Thomas

If the Bears want to be taken seriously as an offensive threat, they need to stack up big gains. Third-round pick Zavion Thomas wasted no time doing his part, taking a Tyson Bagent pass 97 yards for a score on the first unofficial play of his NFL career. It was just the start of a very busy day for Thomas, who put up 140 receiving yards on the day (catching 5 passes on 5 targets) as well at 61 more through special teams. It rendered a lost fumble long forgotten in the grand scheme of things and grants Chicago a dangerous, versatile, athletic new weapon in two-thirds of the game.

FELL: QB Will Levis

The road finally forked for Will Levis, once seen as a second-round steal and Nashville’s aerial salvation. Levis was decent enough in what became his Titans finale (14-of-22, 143 yards) but undeniably outplayed by Bagent on the other side and was responsible for no scores that could’ve overshadowed a botched handoff. The new-look Titans will go with Hendon Hooker as the backup to Cam Ward, at least until they’re confident with Mitchell Trubisky’s return from a biceps injury.

Related Stories

Bengals 30, Eagles 13

ROSE: CB Tacario Davis

Tacario Davis got off to a rough start in the preseason but took advantage of a prime opportunity with most of Cincinnati’s starters sitting. Granted primary duties on Philadelphia’s potential-packed rookie threat Makai Lemon, Davis recorded two tackles, a pass breakup, and an interception that bounced off Lemon’s hands. Lemon ended the day with but 3 receptions for as many yards, hinting that Davis will be ready to take in big assignments from the get-go.

FELL: QB Tanner McKee

Tanner McKee has been a reliable green backup since arriving as a sixth-round pick out of Stanford in 2023 but it’s safe to say he lost ground to Andy Dalton on Friday: McKee put up only 55 yards on 22 attempts and his high would-be pass to Lemon stood out in the worst ways, especially considering that Dalton led Philadelphia’s lone touchdown drive of the day. Philadelphia is carrying four throwers on its initial roster (2026 fifth-round pick Cole Payton joins Dalton, McKee, and starter Jalen Hurts) so it’ll be worth keeping an eye on the trade block in the coming days.

Bills 28, Steelers 27

ROSE: WR Skyler Bell

There’s leaving a good first impression and then there’s what Skyler Bell was able to do in his unofficial maiden NFL voyage on Thursday. The fourth-round rookie out of Wisconsin/UConn missed the opening exhibitions with a groin injury but made up for lost time with 49 yard on 7 receptions (targeted 10 times by Shane Buechele) and showcased his trademark athleticism with a 28-yard end-around score on the ground. Bell beat out Super Bowl hero Mecole Hardman Jr. for a spot on the original Buffalo roster and there could be an instant opportunity to prove himself to Josh Allen since Tyrell Shavers will begin the year on the PUP list.

FELL: OT Broderick Jones

The fact that Broderick Jones, the 14th pick from the 2023 draft, was playing deep into preseason didn’t bode well for his chances at Steel City longevity. Brutal bookends defined Jones’ offseason: he watched the Steelers draft Max Iheanachor in the opening round of this year’s draft and he never re-established himself on the line after last year’s neck injury. One last tough showing against the Bills forced Pittsburgh to pull the plug on Jones, who was chosen in the vicinity of Christian Gonzalez, Jack Campbell, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He’s now the Dallas Cowboys’ problem, as the Steelers got back two mid-tier draft picks in a trade shortly after Thursday’s game.

Broncos 34, Vikings 6

ROSE: FB Adam Prentice

Adam Prentice did not make Denver’s initial 53-man roster but Friday offered a preview of what he could contribute in the Rockies, partly paving the way to a 101-yard day on the ground and scoring the first touchdown of a Bronco rout. Provided he’s not picked up, Prentice could make moves if he remains in the Denver system. Head coach Sean Payton has been one of the offensive geniuses to use a fullback to his advantage: Prentice was one of them during his final season in New Orleans, carrying on a lineage that also features Mike Karney and Heath Evans.

FELL: RB Zavier Scott

It was clearly a bit of a white flag wave for the Vikings, who have worked through the stages of J.J. McCarthy-related grief while reeling from the immediate loss of Jamal Adams. One of the biggest casualties by the end is Zavier Scott, last summer’s hero who perhaps saw his fate sealed with a three-carry night as the Vikings turned Aaron Jones/Jordan Mason spell duties over to sixth-round newcomer Demond Claiborne.

Browns 37, Patriots 13

ROSE: QB Dillon Gabriel

Putting aside the axiom that having three … in the Browns’ cursed case, four … quarterbacks on your opening day roster hints that really have none, Dillon Gabriel at least bought himself some time with a sterling showing in the preseason closer (12 of 15, 186 yards). The second-year man played the entire first half and threw 3 touchdown passes, two going to local hero Luke Floriea. This being the Browns, Gabriel’s roster residency is a bittersweet phenomenon, as he was placed on injured reserve with a back injury shortly after the cutdown to 53. Nonetheless, it’s something of a happy ending for Gabriel’s preseason considering he was mostly an afterthought in the quarterback battle between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson.

FELL: LB Gabe Jacas

Thursday’s biggest winner in Foxborough might’ve be Christian Gonzalez in absentia: the struggles of New England’s defense depth stars could be all the leverage that the All-Pro defender needs in his ongoing contract cold war, as they gave up 379 yards to the Browns’ understudies. The struggles in the secondary (which saw Mike Brown and Kindle Vildor lose their roster spots) were bad enough but a pass rush led by second-round rookie Gabe Jacas failed to generate much pressure. Jacas, who struggled to showcase his physicality during the preseason output, faces a larger spotlight thanks to Harold Landry‘s early entry on the PUP list. He’s one of several New England rookies set to enter the fray after several depth stars left during the offseason.

Chiefs 9, Seahawks 9

ROSE: RB/KR Brashard Smith

Kansas City didn’t showcase Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III against his original employers but may have treated the world to something special in Brashard Smith, the latest athletic talent that could serve as a red diamond in the rough. With the Chiefs turning rushing duties away from Walker and Emari Demercado and over to Smith and Emmett Johnson, the latter broke loose for a 129-yard day between the ground and return games. He took one kick 57 yards and averaged 4.5 on 16 carries on an otherwise dreary day for offenses. The Chiefs took note of the seventh-round pick’s progress: he and the fifth-round rookie Johnson are set to serve as Walker’s spell options come Week 1 if the original 53-man roster remains in tact for Week 1.

FELL: CB Noah Igbinoghene

The continued emergence of Nehemiah Pritchett spelled the end for Noah Igbinoghene, whose failed third down work partly led to his release when it was time to cut down to 53 men. As if his defensive shortcomings weren’t glaring enough in an offensively-challenge exhibition, the Seahawks traded for secondary depth in the form of former Los Angeles Charger Avery Smith, likely spelling the end of the line for Igbinoghene.

49ers 18, Raiders 12

ROSE: RB Mike Washington Jr. 

Beyond its headline-stealing quarterback battle (where Kirk Cousins has prevailed over struggling top pick Fernando Mendoza for the time being), the centerpiece of the Raiders’ offensive discussion has to be life after Ashton Jeanty. Las Vegas has been tight-lipped about the practice injury that befell the second-year man but Mike Washington Jr. has done everything in his power to soothe concerns to the tune of 168 yards in the exhibition trio, including 49 on eight tries against San Francisco. Jeanty’s injury might not be as bad as originally projected (the fact the Raiders released veteran Dare Ogunbowale is rather telling) but the fourth-round rookie hints at an intriguing reserve burst that the franchise has been lacking since its descent upon Sin City.

FELL: QB Fernando Mendoza

In the words of Master Yoda, much to learn, you still have. Mendoza recovered well enough after throwing a pick-six the prior week against the Texans but he struggled to maintain any consistency when he was granted second half snaps against the Niners. He was 7 of 14 for 57 yards and took two sacks while throwing another interception, attempting to force a high pass to Jalen Nailor. Mendoza, to his credit, did get a decent 7-yard scramble off when the pocket collapsed but it’s clear that he has some kinks to shake off before he is granted full-time duties.

Falcons 17, Dolphins 12

ROSE: TE Kyle Pitts

Tua Tagovailoa‘s return to South Beach lived up to its awkward hype: amidst a rude welcome back from Dolphins fans that may not have another reason to get loud again this season, Tagovailoa actually put up a solid statline, completing all but one of his eight passes for 95 yards, while leading a drive that ended with a Brain Robinson Jr. touchdown. Headlines, however, belonged to his fumble so it’s worth analyzing the progress of Kyle Pitts, who has carried on the momentum he established in the latter stages of last season. If anything, Pitts has generated at least something of a chemistry with Tagovailoa, catching all three of his targets for 59 yards on Friday. If Atlanta has landed a third major playmaker, it might be enough to overcome the uncertainty under center.

FELL: WR Theo Wease Jr.

Miami can use all the help it can get on the offensive front, evidenced by the flurry of postgame quarterback activity, one that has them now working with Kyle McCord as the understudy to Malik Willis. There was some hope that Theo Wease Jr., an undrafted entrant that eventually made his way to last year’s practice squad and active roster, could be one of the offensive breakouts and he had a golden opportunity on Friday. Alas, a dropped would-be touchdown pass essentially sealed his fate and led to his release. Third-round man Chris Bell is perhaps the top breakout man on the fledgling Miami offense but he went through some growing pains to the tune of 2 catches on 5 targets.

Giants 23, Jets 6

ROSE: RB Tyrone Tracy

Friday figured to be the end of the line for Tyrone Tracy, who struggled in pass protection and had to deal with the return of Najee Harris, who made his blue debut in the annual “Snoopy Bowl” against the Jets. But Tracy saved the best for last and made a solid case to retain his duties as RB2 behind Cam Skattebo, putting up 37 yards on 4 carries, one of which went for a score. Things were nearly derailed when he took a hard hit later on but he cleared concussion protocol and figures to be a solid open field option to contrast Skattebo’s more burly game.

FELL: DE Joseph Ossai

It was a pretty ugly day for the Jets as a whole after a solid preseason but a good bit of that could be excused by the fact they rested pretty much all of their starters. That perhaps made it all the more bizarre that they let a marquee defensive signing like Joseph Ossai, who spent a good bit of camp on the PUP list, partake in the yearly pleasantries with the Giants. New York broke the golden rule of preseason when Ossai was forced to leave due to a foot injury and was officially labeled as questionable to return. It feels rough punishing Ossai for the crime of getting hurt while playing the violent game of football but one has to wonder what he was doing out there in the first place.

Jaguars 19, Buccaneers 0

ROSE: LB Jack Pyburn

It wasn’t enough to land entry on the Buccaneers’ initial crew of 53 but Jack Pyburn showed exactly why he’s being pursued by pro and collegiate programs alike with two more sacks, giving him a preseason-best four in the exhibition slate. While it was nice to see him recognized for his on-field contributions rather than a potentially toxic legacy off of it, the question now becomes whether he’ll get a job or go back to school. Tampa Bay would reportedly love to keep him aboard as a practice squad project but he remains interested in working with LSU, provided he gets the legal support amidst the SEC’s attempt to outlaw pro participants. 

FELL: QB Jalon Daniels

Another undrafted free agent that managed to forge an NFL roster spot for himself, Jalon Daniels struggled in what was his most exclusive opportunity to date. He amassed 57 yards on 15 attempts and tallied just 9 yards on 4 rushing attempts while he was taken down for a loss on three occasions. To be fair, he wasn’t helped by several drops but he also endured one himself in the form of a lost fumble. It’s great to see the longtime Kansas thrower make something for himself but it shows just how much the Buccaneers have come to rely upon their captain Baker Mayfield in recent seasons.

Lions 25, Colts 16

ROSE: DT Skyler Gill-Howard

There’s a Texas Tech front-seven man that wrecked havoc on backfields during the preseason … also, David Bailey‘s playing for the New York Jets. Lubbock has plenty of be proud of this preseason, as Skyler Gill-Howard‘s persistence finally paid off against the Colts. Shown to be capable of raising the pressure without any mainstream recognition over the first couple of weeks, the sixth-round pick was finally credited with a sack, his prior attempts wiped out by penalties and throwaways. Stuck behind an interior picture led by Alim McNeil and Tylek Williams, it’ll be hard for Gill-Howard to make an immediate impact but he’s an intriguing project in Kelvin Sheppard’s sets.

FELL: LB CJ Allen 

Among 2026 day two picks, CJ Allen doesn’t have much leeway as his contemporaries considering that he’s the Colts’ top choice after they sent their opening pick east to land Sauce Gardner in a win-now gambit they’re hoping to salvage with the defender’s extension. Allen also had plenty to prove after he spent most of his preparation for his first camp on the PUP list. Alas, he had no solo tackles in his debut preseason finale, raising big questions about his Week 1 readiness. 

Packers 42, Cardinals 38

ROSE: QB Kyle McCord

Granted the bittersweet gift of getting to play a whole NFL preseason game, Kyle McCord took better advantage better than most in recent memory to the tune of four Packer touchdown passes and a victory in a rare summer shootout. Set to backup Jordan Love and Tyrod Taylor, McCord’s late breakout was noticed by Miami Dolphins brass, who brought him aboard as a backup to Malik Willis. All due to respect to what Willis could eventually become in South Beach, but McCord played himself into a greater opportunity to play in the fall, which makes him one of the few apparently capable of using the preseason for one of its intended purposes. 

FELL: QB Kedon Slovis

The same, unfortunately, could not be said about Kedon Slovis, who struggled in his last two games after gaining at least something of a cult following during the thrilling Hall of Fame Game opener against Carolina three weeks ago. Slovis can’t fully be faulted for his 2 interceptions but the fact that Gardner Minshew kept up a general sense of consistency in his Friday cameo (7 of 9, no turnovers compared to 21 of 35 for Slovis) doesn’t bode well for his bid to stay on the Cardinals roster, especially with injured rookie Carson Beck waiting in the literal wings.

Panthers 16, Texans 13

ROSE: LB Trevis Gipson

It was a solid on the front seven for the Panthers, who limited the Texans to 81 rushing yards while allowing Miles Davis to punch in their game-winning score at the end. Trevis Gipson stood among the defensive standouts with strong early play, perhaps playing his way onto a roster spot with consistent pressure alongside Thomas Incoom, who also earned a spot on Carolina’s original 53. Elijah Garcia further added to the pressure with 3 tackles, a sack, and two further quarterback hits but was not included among the final group.

FELL: WR John Metchie III

Any long-term drama in this game likely stemmed in the Panthers’ ongoing receivers’ battle, which was likely going to bid farewell to some intriguing names. John Metchie III wound up prevailing over Ja’seem Reed and David Moore, but it was certainly a struggle: he caught one of three targets (for five yards) on Friday and was also charged with a noticeable false start. Metchie proved he can be a solid depth catcher during a post-deadline tour with the New York Jets last season but Friday’s outing could hint that he’s on relatively thin ice, especially if the Panthers become enamored with anyone on the waiver wire.

Rams 20, Chargers 18

ROSE: QB Ty Simpson

Barring medical disaster under center, Thursday was probably the last we’ll see of Ty Simpson in any form of meaningful play until at least next summer. While his final tally (18 of 23, 119 yards) probably didn’t benefit anyone crazy enough to play preseason fantasy football, Simpson reasonably held his own against the Chargers starters, notably turning a chaotic rollout Brennan Presley into a touchdown. Simpson kept things simple in his unofficial debut trio (his longest throw being 24 yards) but he completed over 78% of his throws and was one of four qualified throwers to post a triple-digit passer rating. Whether it’s enough to beat out Stetson Bennett for the role of Matthew Stafford‘s spell option remains to be seen, but Simpson at least created some form of residency in the minds of Rams brass.

FELL: WR Tyler Scott

Tyler Scott, retained from last year’s blue-and-yellow practice squad, faced an uphill battle to make the Rams’ roster as it was. His situation only got a little more dire when LA opted to bring back Tutu Atwell in a trade with Miami. The fourth-round pick from the 2023 draft was targeted four times on Thursday but failed to haul in a reception, essentially sealing his fate as he attempts to land regular season snaps for the first time since 2024. Scott was not on the Rams’ initial 53-man roster, left behind in favor of 2025 seventh-rounder Konata Mumpfield and more recent sixth-rounder CJ Daniels.

Ravens 41, Commanders 3

ROSE: QB Joe Fagnano

Joe Fagnano brought about a happy ending to one of the preseason’s most intriguing stories, as the 25-year-old rookie carried over the momentum from a seven-year college career well enough to make the Ravens’ original 2026 roster. The Maine/UConn alum capped off the day with 162 yards on 19 of 27, finding Cornelius Johnson for a score from 20 yards away while also punching one in at the cusp of the goal line. Fagnano will probably serve in an emergency passer’s capacity (especially after Tyler Huntley posted a perfect passer rating in his lone series) to start his pro tour but it’s still nice to see niche preseason stories succeed in an era where the gridiron prelude is often viewed as a waste of time.

FELL: OT Trent Scott

It feels futile to continue harping upon it, but the Commanders found little, if any, clarity for life after Laremy Tunsil. Trent Scott might’ve had a lasting edge as a tenured member of the Washington offense but he got beat several times during second half action, his situation becoming all the more dire the deeper he played into the game. It proved to be the end of the line for both Scott and Julian Good-Jones, who missed out of a chance to take over at center for an injured Nick Allegretti. Washington’s blocking struggles were perfectly personified in the worst ways by Sam Hartman getting sacked three times while Kaytron Allen and Robert Henry Jr. averaged less than 3 yards a carry on a combined 13 tries.

Saints 27, Cowboys 24

ROSE: WR Barion Brown

The Saints have been a trendy pick to win the woebegone NFC after last year’s strong finish, even with a relative lack of established weaponry beyond Chris Olave and Jordyn Tyson injured. Barion Brown, a sixth-round pick out of LSU, made up for time lost with his own injury-related absence from last week with a jet sweep touchdown in the first half to cap off his summer. Brown fell in the draft due to perceived concerns about his size and catching but his athleticism after the carry or grab should open up New Orleans’ big-play ability.

FELL: CB Caelen Carson

This preseason was overall an improvement for the Dallas defense but it was nonetheless a struggle for the second-year man Caelen Carson, a third-year man that fell behind newcomer Cobie Durant. Like many Dallas defenders of recent years gone by, Carson fell victim to the penalty flag at inopportune occasions, such as a red zone infraction that immediately preceded Brown’s touchdown. Carson was charged with four penalties in total this preseason but was a part of the Cowboys’ initial 53-man roster. It’s worth wondering, however, whether Dallas will look for further secondary help on the waiver wire, especially since they’ve already been proactive through moves like the trade for Jones.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags

Editor's Pick
COLUMN: Cleveland Browns Left Paying The Final Balance Due On The Worst Trade In NFL HistoryCOLUMN: Cleveland Browns Left Paying The Final Balance Due On The Worst Trade In NFL History

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.