The NFL preseason gets underway in full on Thursday and there is no shortage of storylines.
The first Thursday of gridiron Advent is officially upon the football-loving public.
After a more-than-acceptable appetizer in Canton, the NFL returns in full from a technical standpoint this week: Thursday marks the first official week of the 2026 preseason, one that features all 32 teams in action through Friday night.
Football is back 🥹 pic.twitter.com/ieytRwSdUP
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 13, 2026
While some of the stars may be missing, there’s plenty worth lighting the metaphorical wreath for …
Top Storylines to Watch In Week 1 Of The Preseason
The Plan in The Pitt
The Aaron Rodgers retirement tour preshow gets underway on Thursday and the special guests couldn’t be more appropriate: while it’s a shame that it won’t be staged at the humid tundra of Lambeau Field, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback will line up across his original NFL employers from Green Bay … likely on the sidelines.
Thursday also marks the start of Pittsburgh’s Mike McCarthy era after a reunion of cheesy minds on the Steeler sidelines.
A focus on the past should allow the discussions about the Steelers’ potential future to commence in relative peace. Auditions for the role of Rodgers’ successor begin with what could’ve been a solid “Big Noon Kickoff” showdown, as third round Penn State-based entrant Drew Allar faces off against Will Howard, an Ohio State product who arrived last year.
With veteran tosser Mason Rudolph also in the mix, Allar and Howard have a lot on the line at such a young age. No questions about the future will be answered on Thursday but Yinzer clarity could at least be partly obtained. Allar is currently expected to get first half snaps.
Earn Your Stripes
Cincinnati Bengals fans have worked through the summer with the uncomfortable knowledge that their squad is currently nursing one of the nine active NFL playoff droughts that stand at at least three seasons.
That should be downright impossible considering their offensive talent but a kitty litter output on defense led to a massive renovation project headlined by the trade of a top 10 pick in exchange for New York Giants interior threat Dexter Lawrence.
In the Bengals’ first two drives of their preseason opener last year:
— Underdog (@Underdog) August 13, 2026
Joe Burrow: 9-of-10 passing, 123 yards, 2 TDs
Ja’Marr Chase: 4 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD
Pub stomping for absolutely no reason 😭https://t.co/TfBDbcgaa9 https://t.co/08WJzHtAYl pic.twitter.com/cL87CC9uDS
Lawrence, as well as hinted-at offensive stars Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, are expected to get at least some time when the Bengals face the Detroit Lions on Thursday. But what the Bengals’ newly acquired defensive stars accomplish should be equally noteworthy, especially with Detroit keeping their primary men (including injured import Isiah Pacheco).
That effort could be headlined by day two draft picks Cashius Howell and Tacario Davis, while another trade yield, Kyle Dugger, should also get some time.
Raising Arizona
Any legitimate preseason hype was going to undoubtedly encircle the Las Vegas Raiders’ hosting of the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday. The world no doubt hopes to be wowed by the antics of top pick Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to get sizable snaps for the silver and black as his battle with Kirk Cousins rages on. On the other side, however, are the Cardinals, fresh off partaking in a Hall of Fame Game that was more entertaining than it had any right to be.
FERNANDO MENDOZA.
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) August 13, 2026
JEREMIYAH LOVE.
CARNELL TATE.
THE ROOKIES ARE OUT TONIGHT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/nkIQtRaysy
The effort of new quarterback Carson Beck was inspiring enough (even as he deals with an injury from last Thursday’s festivities that will keep him out of the trip to Vegas) and it’ll be interesting to see what fellow rookie Reggie Virgil can do for an encore. Taking flight, however, is Mendoza’s fellow early green room departure Jeremiyah Love, who was one of millions that watched the Cardinals’ clash with Carolina. With many questions surrounding his early call from the commissioner, Love can start to silence his critics in a way his Raider counterpart Ashton Jeanty was never able to do last year.
Last Chance Q
That’s life as a potential passing prophet in the NFL: you’re literally riding high in April but you’re shot down in May, even if it comes down the road. Alas, coaching staffs are nowhere near as patient as Frank Sinatra, as several of the would-be saviors have discovered in recent seasons.
The Indianapolis Colts’ Thursday clash with the reigning AFC champions in New England is partly headlined by the starting duties turned over to Anthony Richardson. It’s likely the last high-profile chance that the fourth pick from the 2023 draft has to reclaim the narrative on his NFL career, one that has featured just two thrown passes over the last couple of seasons. Indianapolis has already declined the Florida alum’s fifth-year option, though no one can say he won’t be afforded one last ride considering the caution around Daniel Jones.
If anyone in the league can sympathize with Richardson, it’s likely Minnesota Vikings companion J.J. McCarthy. Last year’s Week 1 hero and 2024’s 10th overall pick recently learned that he’ll be the backup to Kyler Murray and his situation is even more desperate considering that Minnesota also carries veteran Carson Wentz on its roster. McCarthy’s de facto NFL audition gets underway on Saturday when the Vikings face the new-look New York Giants in New Jersey.
One can make a similar case that Tua Tagovailoa is working through the same situation with the Atlanta Falcons (who host Denver on Friday night) but at least he has a hopeful chance for starting duties as Michael Penix Jr. continues to work his way back.
The Drew Scary Show
Being forced to endure Cleveland Browns football, especially the brand that doesn’t event count toward their inflated loss accumulation, sounds like a football fate worse than death. The team’s cursed quarterback battle (headlined by Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson) is the latest addition to those vibes of gridiron dread.
If anything, though, it should be fun to see how any of the cursed Cleveland catch-seekers work with a new look weapons stash, one headlined by the antics of KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston.
Deshaun Watson is QB1 for the Browns preseason opener.
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) August 12, 2026
Shedeur Sanders will start week 2 against the Bills. pic.twitter.com/5SGxJp06il
The battle to remain stationed in the Browns’ receivers’ room possibly stands as one of the more underrated position battles on the ledgers: some talented names, including veteran Cedric Tillman and/or former divisional foe Tylan Wallace, could miss the final roster cut depending on how some of the young guns shake out. The first test lands on Saturday when the Browns face the Chicago Bears
Cleveland is also set to debut another first rounder pick in blocking hopeful Spencer Fano. The Utah alum and most recent 9th overall pick won’t be the only one with a blank box score that draws attention, as a pall was cast over the Washington Commanders’ Friday fracas with the Miami Dolphins when Laremy Tunsil went down with a season-ending injury in camp earlier this week. Interior man Brandon Coleman is set to move over in Tunsil’s place.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
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