Every NFL team has played at least one preseason game now, so it’s time to take stock and spotlight the biggest emerging storylines across the league. Here’s the latest on every AFC North team.
Starting with the Hall of Fame Game and continuing with a full slate of preseason games last Thursday through Saturday, NFL fans got their first taste of live action since the Super Bowl.
And if third-string quarterbacks balling out is what gets one revved up for the season, then the start of preseason play delivered in a big way.
While most of the league’s stars are mere spectators this time of year, there is still plenty to evaluate and learn from these games — and also the continuing developments from training camps.
As we go division by division, let’s dive into the top performances and most compelling storylines from every AFC North team.
Baltimore Ravens
Week 1 Preseason Result: 24-7 W over Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday
Top Performers: Rookie wide receivers Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt
We loved what the Ravens did in the draft to address their needs at wide receiver behind WR1 Zay Flowers, landing two mid-round prospects with great potential to outplay their draft stock in Ja’Kobi Lane (the third-rounder from USC) and Elijah Sarratt (the fourth-rounder from national champion Indiana).
And both delivered in their unofficial NFL debuts last week.
Sarratt led Baltimore with 6 catches for 66 yards (albeit with a lost fumble) while Lane flashed with 3 catches for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Emerging Training Camp Storyline: The Aforementioned Ja’Kobi Lane Hype Train
Again, this comes as no surprise to anyone who watched Lane at USC. The only thing that held him back in college was maturity issues that led to some internal discipline from the coaching staff, but when he was unleashed on the field he was often incredible with his 6-foot-4 frame and long wingspan making him a treacherous matchup for defensive backs.
As a sophomore in 2024, Lane had a modest 43 catches for 525 yards but with 12 touchdowns. Last season, he had 49 catches for 745 yards and 4 TDs in 11 games.
Honestly, it never felt like he reached his full potential (or even close) with the Trojans. But he might just do it in the NFL with the Ravens now.
The feedback from the preseason on Lane has been relentlessly positive and encouraging — and should be taken seriously because he is that kind of talent.
Cincinnati Bengals
Week 1 Preseason Result: 16-14 W over Detroit Lions on Thursday
Top Performer: Wide receiver Colbie Young
The Bengals played their starters briefly in the preseason opener, but Colbie Young, a fourth-round rookie out of Georgia, made the strongest impression in an extended look.
He did have an intended target knocked away but came back on the same series with 2 catches for 28 yards, showing sharp route running to create separation underneath.
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins remain the stars at wide receiver, but Young should be able to carve out a role for himself as a rookie with Andrei Iosivas the only other experienced NFL wideout on the roster.
Emerging Training Camp Storyline: Strong early impressions from EDGE Cashius Howell
The reason we’ve poured some cold water on the hype for an improved Bengals defense is that the unit didn’t really get any better beyond the upgrades at defensive tackle with Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen.
The pass rush was of special concern with Trey Hendrickson signing a mega free agent deal with the Ravens and Joseph Ossai leaving for the Jets. The Bengals pinned their hopes on replacing those productive veterans (yes, Hendrickson missed most of last season due to injury) one of the most egregious over-pays in free agency in Boye Mafe (2 sacks as a rotational pass rusher for the Seahawks last year), a delayed breakout from 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart (11 tackles and 1 sack in 8 games as a rookie, missed most of this camp with a hyperextended knee) and 2026 second-round pick Cashius Howell.
Howell was an All-American at Texas A&M, but he fell to the end of the edge rusher draft rush as the No. 41 overall pick due to concerns about his arm length as measured at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Well, the true evaluation is still to come once the real games start, but by all accounts out of camp Howell (No. 55 in the clip below) has consistently impressed this preseason, providing some relief and optimism for that Bengals pass rush unit.
Cleveland Browns
Week 1 Preseason Result: 34-10 L at Chicago Bears on Saturday
Top Performer: Quarterback Deshaun Watson
As the Browns’ quarterback competition — the battle to be chosen as the lesser of two bad options — rages on, the veteran Deshaun Watson scored the ever-tenuous edge over second-year QB Shedeur Sanders in the preseason opener.
While Sanders sailed an interception over the head of his intended target while finishing 6-of-11 passing for 79 yards, Watson completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards and 0 INTs while leading two scoring drives, although 43 of those yards came on a check down to running back Dylan Sampson.
Watson, who started the game and played six series (the entire first half), also lost a fumble, though.
Browns coach Todd Monken seemed overjoyed by the results, nonetheless.
“It was awesome,” Monken said. “It was so cool to watch him play. I get all of the frustration by fans, himself. But for him to come back and work like he did is an unbelievable credit to him. And then to go out there, he was having fun today. And that is so cool. I thought he really functioned at a high level. Certainly we don’t want to be taking timeouts. We sure as heck can’t take delay of games, OK? But it was fun watching him play and watching us put the next step forward and see where we’re at.”
Emerging Training Camp Storyline: The bleak QB battle that won’t end
Ultimately, Cleveland’s QB “battle” will have no true winner — just a decision as to who will start the season opener.
There’s little confidence around the league that either Watson or Sanders will make much impact for the Browns.
Sanders is set to start the Browns’ second preseason game Saturday against the Bills, but he could be doing so without the first-team offense. Monken was undecided still on whether he’d rest his starters.
Either way, it’s been a slog of a competition without an overwhelming leader.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 1 Preseason Result: 28-9 W over Green Bay Packers on Thursday
Top Performer: Quarterback Drew Allar
Once touted as a potential future first-round pick, Drew Allar‘s Penn State career never found its expected next level and he slipped to the Steelers in the third round (No. 76 overall) in the draft.
But with starting QB Aaron Rodgers in his final season and no clear-cut successor in place, Allar and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard have a year to jockey for position in the background and convince the Steelers to stay in-house at the position for 2027.
Allar got his first chance to showcase himself under a real spotlight last week in the preseason opener, and he seized the opportunity. Coming in after Mason Rudolph and Howard took their turns leading the offense, Allar completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs plus a rushing TD. (Rudolph was 10 of 11 for 93 yards, 0 TDs and 0 INTs; Howard was 7 of 9 for 86 yards, 0 TDs and 0 INTs while leading a touchdown drive).
Howard is set to start the second preseason game Friday vs. the Jets with Allar working in behind him, as Rudolph and Rodgers sit.
Emerging Training Camp Storyline: The Steelers reshuffled offensive line
The Steelers have broken camp in Latrobe and headed back to Pittsburgh for the remaining of the preseason, but they take with them some mild concerns about their new starting offensive line.
Pittsburgh has reworked its offensive line with Troy Fautanu moving from right tackle to left tackle (which he played in college at Washington), replacing Broderick Jones, who is active again (but likely looking at a reserve role) after a lengthy recovery from the neck injury that ended his season in Week 12 last year.
Fautanu, a first-round pick in 2024, had some struggles in the preseason opener.
Dylan Cook, who was undrafted out of Montana in 2022 and spent a year on the Buccaneers’ practice squad before finding his way to Pittsburgh, is battling Jones at right tackle after filling in for him late last season on the left side.
Mason McCormick, the Steelers’ starting right guard last season, is now at left guard. Spencer Anderson, a reserve last season, is trying to hold off Brock Hoffman (a cheap free agent pickup from the Cowboys on a one-year deal) and third-round rookie Gennings Dunker, who impressed in the preseason opener.
Center Zach Frazier is the one constant from last season.
All the while, first-round draft pick Max Iheanachor looks set to open the season as a reserve at right tackle.
It’s absolutely fair to wonder how that unit is going to look when the games matter in a few weeks.
