2026 NFL Preseason Week 1: One Stock Riser, Faller From Each Game

Geoff Magliocchetti August 19, 2026 No Comments

Several prospects and veterans alike used — or failed to use — the opening week of the NFL preseason for its intended purpose.

Some may say that the NFL preseason is an increasingly futile exercise and the continued mass exodus of starters and stars makes it hard to fully refute that point.

Having said that, however, plenty across the league still managed to cash in … or go bust … on the preseason’s intended purpose — whether that’s making the case for continued NFL employment, adjusting one’s snap counts, or proving that prior success was no fluke.

Drew Allar #16 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

With Week 1 of the 2026 preseason in the books and part two looming, TeamFB7 finds a stock riser and faller from all 16 exhibitions …

Bears 34, Browns 10

ROSE: CB Beanie Bishop Jr.

There’s probably no use in piling on in yet another edition of the Cleveland quarterback follies, but several Bears strengthened their roster cases by exacerbating the offensive issues of they of the orange helmets. One of those was Bishop, a potential depth star from Pittsburgh who had two interceptions and tackles in the second half. Bishop had camp body written all over him, especially with a three-game suspension following him into the regular season, but factors both within and beyond his control (i.e. secondary injuries to Coby Bryant and Kyler Gordon) are opening the door to a roster spot.

FELL: OT Austin Barber

Again, the brutality of the Browns’ quarterback race speaks for itself and isn’t worth piling on. Some, namely the plethora of potential-packed freshmen (i.e. KC Concepcion), were able to soothe the blow with solid outings. The same couldn’t be said about Barber, who struggled as the swing tackle and later left the game with an injury. Having let up a noticeable sack/fumble of Deshaun Watson, Barber is now reportedly being worked at guard in Browns practice following a tough outing on the outside.

Bengals 16, Lions 14

ROSE: DE Ahmed Hassanein

Hassanein, the first player of Egyptian descent chosen in the NFL Draft, missed most of his rookie development last year with a pec injury, but the Lions kept him close by getting him back on the practice squad. The sixth-round pick rewarded that faith early by serving as a frequent backfield invader, notably notching two sacks and two further quarterback hits. It’s going to be hard for Hassanein to make an in impact in the snap counts (Detroit, after all, obtained DJ Wonnum and drafted Derrick Moore in Round 2) but it was quite the introduction to the mainstream Motor City football fan.

FELL: OT Orlando Brown Jr.

Ever since their Super Bowl LVI appearance, the Bengals have been trapped in a holding pattern that has them wasting one of the top cores in recent NFL memory, which was on display in the Thursday opener against Detroit (Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins). With the offseason focus set on upgrading the defense, the Bengals seemed fairly satisfied with the offensive line they assembled, which included a pricey two-year extension for the left anchor Brown. Unfortunately, the headline from the game was two big hits on the quarterback Burrow, one of which was a credited sack. Brown obviously has the credentials to stick with full-time headlining duties on the line, but Bengals fans can’t help but feel like they’ve heard this story before.

Bills 29, Panthers 14

ROSE: WR Keon Coleman

It was a bittersweet weekend for Coleman, who returned to Bills practice in a boot this week after enduring a sprained toe in Saturday’s game. Coleman, however, did manage to become the answer to a niche Western New York trivia question by catching the first unofficial touchdown at the new Highmark Stadium. Equally impressive was new top target DJ Moore (he of 61 yards on a trio of receptions in his first collaboration with Josh Allen), but few needed a consistent game more desperately than Coleman, whose future in red, white, and blue has been called into question as the Bills continue to renovate their receivers room.

FELL: QB Bryce Young

Young and the Panthers showed flashes of brilliance last year, namely through an effort that saw them take the mighty Rams to the brink in a surprising playoff appearance. Unfortunately, Young and Co. were unable to carry the momentum that their Carolina compatriots sowed during the Hall of Fame Game. Young regressed to a timid, rawer form while overseeing a trio of three-and-outs and taking an ill-timed sack on one manageable third down. Granted, several major blockers sat out (which also partly explains a brutal rushing day partly beautified by a late breakout for undrafted second-year man Anthony Tyus), but Saturday served as a shaky stepping stone for a group trying to take another step forward.

Broncos 27, Falcons 7

ROSE: CB Jahdae Barron

The 2025 first-rounder Brown struggled to break out in a packed secondary as a rookie, but he certainly made a name for himself in his 2026 preseason debut: he perhaps put up the defensive highlight of the week with a 97-yard pick-six and he dropped another that went down as a pass defense. Stuck behind Riley Moss (who also had an interception), Brown has to do a lot to separate himself from the sterling established veterans on the Denver defense, but Friday’s game hinted that he’s ready to break out of his situational shell.

FELL: QB Tua Tagovailoa

Get well soon, Michael Penix Jr.: whatever value the preseason has left is burdened on the shoulders of Tagovailoa, a would-be franchise savior who’s now fighting for his NFL life. While almost every bit of name-brand Atlanta talent struggled on Friday, Tagovailoa’s output was particularly brutal, putting up 22 yards on five pass attempts while fumbling a shotgun snap without contact on his second play. Competing with Penix is supposed to provide Tagovailoa a chance to reclaim the narrative on his NFL career, but Atlanta might have bigger problems if he’s forced to take over in the early going.

Buccaneers 24, Jets 16

ROSE: EDGE David Bailey

Like many a green metropolitan decision, the drafting of Bailey raised eyebrows questioning his top-end upside to return full value on the No. 2 overall selection. But in his unofficial NFL debut, Bailey was able to show why he was so coveted. As if to truly start putting the V in MVP, Bailey’s mere presence had the Bucs doubling him up, opening up opportunities for others on the defense.

FELL: LB Chris Braswell

Tampa Bay knows how important depth can be and it can make or break a season … too often it has been the latter. That’s probably the best place where Braswell, a second-round pick from 2024, can contribute during his remaining time in pewter, but he failed to pick up a single tackle or even a pressure despite playing a good bit of the game on the edge. With Tampa Bay well stocked in that department after making a flurry of moves on the outside (headlined by the drafting of Rueben Bain Jr.), it may be time for Braswell to walk the plank.

Cardinals 27, Raiders 14

ROSE: WR Jalen Brooks

After making himself the talk of the Hall of Fame Game, rookie quarterback Carson Beck was held out with injury, but Jeremiyah Love‘s anticipated debut (countering that of fellow high draftee Fernando Mendoza on the other side) provided its own intrigue. Meanwhile, the veteran Brooks kept the Canton momentum rolling by catching all six of his targets and scoring a touchdown pass off a toss from Gardner Minshew. Brooks’ route-running and agility has paid dividends before and after the catch, and he’s creating quite the conundrum in the Cardinals’ receiving room to the tune of 151 yards in the preseason to date.

FELL: CB Jermod McCoy

It was a rude welcome back for the rookie McCoy, who was envisioned to be a first-round pick by professional and amateur general managers alike before a torn ACL wiped him out for the entire 2025 season. Arizona’s QBs picked on him throughout the evening, as he was the defender on two touchdowns. McCoy still has plenty of time to make things right and it’s not like he was guarding undrafted rookies out there. There’s only room to go up as he pushes through what’s sure to be an awkward rookie campaign.

Chargers 27, Texans 7

ROSE: IOL Jake Slaughter

If Slaughter keeps up the momentum he displayed in his unofficial debut on Thursday, he’ll go a long way toward combating one of the great hypotheticals of the Justin Herbert era — namely questioning the protection around him. Slaughter, a second-round rookie choice out of Florida, kept busy against the Texans, rotating on the interior at both center and guard. He helped keep things clean and allowed the Chargers to establish a run game with 104 yards and two scores. The timing of the Slaughter revelation perhaps couldn’t be better: earlier this week, scheduled starting center Tyler Biadasz was carted off the practice field during a joint session with the 49ers.

FELL: QB Trey Lance

In a game that truly embraced the modern nature of the preseason by resting almost every bit of name-brand talent, backup quarterbacks perhaps basked in the largest spotlight. That was true in the wrong way for Lance, who probably lost ground in the race to back up Herbert after DJ Uiagalelei put up some solid numbers. Lance was able to find some space on the ground (27 yards on three carries) but also threw a red zone interception that likely caused consternation in the postgame film study.

Colts 13, Patriots 13

ROSE: WR Kyle Williams

The fact that Williams, a day two pick from 2025, was dressed on a night where the Patriots’ primary offensive weapons (including touted newcomer A.J. Brown) were holstered probably offers an uncomfortable commentary on where he stands in the hierarchy. He didn’t help himself early with an offensive pass interference penalty but recovered to nab a pair of receptions for 37 yards, including a touchdown from 12 yards away. Williams also had a chance to show off his athleticism in a new field, working as a gunner on the punt unit.

FELL: K Andy Borrregales

Borregales is perhaps fortunate that there’s no “camp leg” working with him, as he hit only two of five field goal attempts in the only tie of the opening weekend. In his defense, none of the misses were exactly chip shots (56, 55, 49), but modern special teams expectations require a little more. The last was the 49-yarder in the closing seconds that head coach Mike Vrabel “expect(ed)” to make. Borregales pretty much has his job locked up, but another performance like the one on Thursday could have the Pats looking at a potential auditioner.

Commanders 20, Dolphins 7

ROSE: WR Malik Washington

The Dolphins might be working through the deep rigors of a rebuild, but that doesn’t mean they’re not going to have a little fun with it. Washington appears to be embracing such a situation as the undisputed top slot option and the de facto elder stateman in a rapidly-shifting South Beach locker room. Forming a strong rapport with the similarly-named Malik Willis during camp, Washington bore the first fruits of the duo’s labor, hauling in three receptions for 15 yards on the opening drive that yielded a touchdown. Miami’s going to need any source of consistency it can get this season. Washington feels like a strong one as things get underway.

FELL: OL Chris Paul

Any excitement that capital football fans had over their team returning to action was almost immediately negated when left tackle Laremy Tunsil endured a torn triceps injury at practice. His replacement, Brandon Coleman, was serviceable enough in limited action on the outside, but Paul struggled to find footing at left guard. How he recovers will be one of the major subplots of the Commanders’ remaining summer. Friday’s game was a family affair, as Paul’s brother Patrick suited up for the Dolphins on the other side.

Cowboys 17, Seahawks 7

ROSE: EDGE James Houston

The show was stolen by undrafted rookie Camden Brown (he of a pair of “SportsCenter”-worthy touchdown catches), but the Cowboys are likely most impressed by what happened defensively: Next Gen Stats charged the Dallas defense with no missed tackles in Saturday’s win and Houston got the pressure up on the Seattle backfield, picking up three tackles, a sack and one further quarterback hit. Houston’s timing perhaps couldn’t be better, as the sudden signing of Von Miller likely brought about a collective gulp from the incumbents on the front seven.

FELL: CB Shemar Jean-Charles

A late notable signing also affected Saturday’s hosts and the defending Super Bowl champs: Seattle has yet to yet to make the addition of the embattled cornerback Terrion Arnold official. But even if that falls through, it was a make-or-break day for several Seahawk secondary depth stars, including Jean-Charles. While some (Jalan Gaines, Tyrice Knight) took advantage, others like Jean-Charles and Michael Dansby struggled, letting up the late first half Dallas touchdown and taking a crucial penalty. Dansby could have some leeway as a seventh-round rookie, but Jean-Charles could be fighting for an NFL job after spending all of last year on the Seattle practice squad. To make matters worse, he was placed on injured reserve in this week’s aftermath.

Jaguars 24, Saints 20

ROSE: LB Yasir Abdullah

A Duval elder statesman fighting for a roster spot, Abdullah has made his primary impact on special teams. He took advantage of an extended defensive showcase on Saturday. He kept the momentum rolling in his usual spot with a big ST tackle but also picked up a strip sack of Spencer Rattler in the comeback victory. Abdullah broke as his top competitor for the spot, 2025 sixth-round pick Jalen McLeod, continues to deal with injuries.

FELL: QB Spencer Rattler

At this time last year, Rattler was closing in on Week 1 starter duties. It’s been quite the fall from relative grace since then, as Tyler Shough’s hold on the starting job and Zach Wilson’s strong Saints debut have him teetering on the brink of roster oblivion. The Big Easy has been anything but for Rattler, who struggled to help his continued case on Saturday: the third-year man endured two sacks and a lost fumble while Wilson helped the Saints put up a two-touchdown halftime lead.

Rams 20, Chiefs 12

ROSE: QB Ty Simpson

In his first unofficial NFL action, the first-rounder Simpson lit up the stat sheet for 190 yards and two scores, both going to undrafted rookie Dean Connors. The brief work out of Stetson Bennett (4-of-6, 38 yards) signals how the Rams view their situation beyond Matthew Stafford, but Simpson certainly gave LA something to think about.

FELL: OT Ethan Driskell

Even on a relatively quiet day, it’s hard to quarrel with what the Chiefs’ reserve offense was able to accomplish, particularly a solid day on the ground for fifth-round pick Emmett Johnson. But Kansas City learned about offensive depth the hard way last year and that extends to an offensive line that’s losing a staple in Jawaan Taylor. It’s tough to pick on Driskell, a third-year man and practice squad mainstay, but any player charged with three penalties is going to draw the worst kind of attention. He was far from alone, however, as Saturday’s line (co-starring recurring veterans like Mike Caliendo, C.J. Hanson, and Hunter Nourzad) incurred nine of the dozen penalties charged to the Chiefs.

Ravens 24, Eagles 7

ROSE: TE Matthew Hibner

There’s no longer a Harbaugh presence in Baltimore but one of his former disciples continues to leave an impact. Baltimore’s tight end room led by Mark Andrews took a hit after losing both Charlie Kolar and Isaiah Likely, but the Ravens restocked in the draft with Hibner. The fourth-round choice was more of a blocker and specialist while at Michigan but managed to find some receiving work at SMU before putting up a sterling showing at the NFL Scouting Combine. Hibner made an impact on a day otherwise dominated by fellow rookie Ja’Kobi Lane, amassing 61 yards while catching all five of his targets. He’ll likely have to put up similar numbers to earn further snaps from Andrews and Durham Smythe, but that’s the kind of production the Raven offense wants to see.

FELL: WR Darius Cooper

Cooper was last year’s green preseason darling as an undrafted rookie out of Tarleton State earning a regular roster spot. He’s continued that momentum in training camp, landing particular praise from franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts. With the Eagles’ starters sitting on Saturday, Cooper had a chance to shine in the debut for new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion but caught only two balls for 21 yards on five targets, which included a dropped third down. It was part of an overall dour opener for Mannion, who had to watch Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee unite for 55 yards in the battle to be Hurts’ understudy.

Steelers 28, Packers 9

ROSE: QB Drew Allar

Will Howard and Mason Rudolph each posted respectable numbers in lieu of Aaron Rodgers, but it was hard to top the show posted by Allar, who never looked back after uniting with fellow rookie Kaden Wetjen for a 74-yard tally on his first unofficial professional pass. Just over half of Allar’s final output of 153 yards came on that pass but he also found Wetjen and another freshman in Riley Nowakowski for touchdown passes. No one’s expecting the search for Rodgers’ successor to conclude this summer, but it’s hard to say that Allar didn’t create an early edge.

FELL: LT Troy Fautanu

Protecting the blind side of Rodgers will be paramount in his final season and that involved moving Fautanu moving back to his collegiate position of left tackle. Unfortunately, it was far from a happy return for Fautanu, who had his hands full with Lukas Van Ness and took two penalties, one of which negated a Pittsburgh touchdown. The healthy reckless abandon that young quarterbacks like Allar and Howard provide won’t be around this season so Fautanu will have recapture his college spark if he’s going to re-establish his new yet familiar residency.

Titans 19, 49ers 13

ROSE: WR De’Zhaun Stribling

Amidst a myriad of injuries down by the Bay, Stribling justified his relatively early draft slot at the top of the second round with seven catches on eight targets, amassing 63 yards to steal the show from fellow freshman catcher Carnell Tate. A bulk of that tally came on a 32-yard deep ball that saw him survive coverage from Cor’Dale Flott, but strong hand-catching, agility after the grab, and knowing where he was on the field added to a healthy debut. With the Niners’ daily injury reports resembling starting lineups, Stribling made an early impression and can help soothe the blow as the red-and-gold seeks to make its mark against the jam-packed NFC West.

FELL: CB Alontae Taylor

One can readily voice his or her concerns about the Titans’ Cam Ward-led offense, but at least the top unit managed to start things off with a 95-yard scoring drive despite a blank box score for Tate. On a night where Tennessee starters’ play was relatively plentiful, the new look secondary struggled, allowing San Francisco quarterbacks 28 completions total and 141 yards in the first half alone. The chief disappointment between Flott and Taylor goes to the latter because he’s a little more expensive, but it’s clear that Robert Saleh has a little bit to work left in his return to the top headset.

Vikings 13, Giants 10

ROSE: WR Odell Beckham Jr.

No one in their right mind is expecting Beckham to be the long-sought boost that the Giants’ offense has been looking for, nor is he supposed to be the final piece in the Jaxson Dart puzzle. Having said that, Beckham looked brisk and kept pace in what probably stands as his first consistent action since 2023. Beckham was mostly stationed with the Giants’ backups and had a relatively pedestrian six yards on two receptions, but his route-running and athleticism made an impression even if he wasn’t targeted. Reunions between teams and franchise fan favorites could either exacerbate a bad situation or provide some form of spark. The early returns on Beckham hint it could provide the latter.

FELL: QB J.J. McCarthy

McCarthy’s stat line (4-of-7, 34 yards) is far from brutal in a conventional sense. The fact of the matter is, however, that he needed something to really wow the Vikings (or another potential employer) after learning he’d be a backup at best in purple. McCarthy was the second quarterback to enter during Saturday’s game after a Kyler Murray cameo and looked indecisive and unsure in the pocket, leading two three-and-outs and a 10-play drive where half his yardage came on a 17-yard toss to Myles Price. To make matters worse for McCarthy, Carson Wentz had a serviceable day as the third passing entrant, placing the young QB’s status as the Minnesota backup equally in doubt.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags

Leave a Reply

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


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