NFL Preseason Week 2: Quarterback Questions, Comebacks and Roster Battles Take Center Stage

The second full week of the 2026 NFL preseason is in the books, and with only one exhibition weekend remaining, the league is quickly moving from experimentation to decision time.

Wins and losses remain secondary in August. What matters now is whether starting units look ready, whether young quarterbacks are progressing, and which players are making it increasingly difficult for coaches to leave them off the final roster. Week 2 provided plenty of each, from an impressive return for Geno Smith in New York to more uncertainty in Cleveland and Tennessee, while several rookies and backups forced their way into the conversation. The weekend concluded Sunday night with Tennessee defeating Seattle, 19-16. (NFL)

Geno Smith Gives the Jets Exactly What They Wanted

If the New York Jets wanted reassurance from their veteran quarterback, they received it almost immediately.

Geno Smith played only one possession against Pittsburgh, but he was nearly flawless. Smith completed all seven of his passes to six different receivers and engineered a 10-play, 69-yard touchdown drive in New York’s 17-0 victory. With the Jets struggling to generate anything on the ground, Smith accounted for 65 of the 69 yards himself before finishing the possession with a touchdown pass to Jelani Woods. (NFL)

It was only one preseason series, but this is exactly what New York needed to see. Smith looked decisive, distributed the football quickly and appeared comfortable operating the offense. There will be much bigger tests beginning in September, but for a franchise looking for stability at quarterback, Friday was an encouraging step.

Cleveland’s Quarterback Battle Is Getting Interesting

One of the most intriguing competitions in the league remains unresolved in Cleveland.

Shedeur Sanders received the start against Buffalo and immediately strengthened his case. Sanders completed his first eight passes and finished 9-of-11 for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Cleveland moved the football much more effectively with Sanders directing the offense despite him working with a collection of backups. (NFL)

Deshaun Watson had a considerably rougher afternoon. Watson completed just 5-of-12 passes for 34 yards with an interception, and Cleveland failed to score during his four possessions. The Browns went three-and-out on each of Watson’s first two series as Buffalo eventually pulled away for a 31-7 victory. (NFL)

Head coach Todd Monken has resisted making the decision based on one preseason performance, but the pressure surrounding this competition isn’t going away. Sanders has created a legitimate conversation, and another strong showing could make Cleveland’s decision significantly more difficult.

The No. 1 Pick Gets His First Dose of Adversity

Fernando Mendoza’s second preseason appearance looked much different than his first.

The No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft completed 8-of-15 passes for 86 yards during Las Vegas’ 22-20 victory over Houston, but he also threw an interception that linebacker Wade Woodaz returned 80 yards for a touchdown. More concerning was the pressure Mendoza absorbed. Houston pressured him on 37.5 percent of his dropbacks and hit him five times despite using defensive reserves. (NFL)

There were still flashes. Mendoza delivered several quality throws and continued competing despite the pressure, but this was the kind of night virtually every rookie quarterback experiences at some point. Raiders coach Klint Kubiak has emphasized that Mendoza needs repetitions, and the final preseason game should provide another important evaluation.

For Las Vegas, the question isn’t simply whether Mendoza is talented enough. It’s how quickly the Raiders believe their franchise quarterback can handle everything that comes with starting in the NFL.

Cam Ward and the Titans Have Work to Do

Tennessee technically finished Sunday night with a victory. The performance of the starting offense was far less encouraging.

Cam Ward completed 8-of-12 passes for 69 yards against Seattle, but the Titans generated only three points during his three possessions. All eight of Ward’s completions came on throws shorter than 10 air yards, while all four of his attempts farther downfield were incomplete. (NFL Fantasy)

Through two preseason appearances, Ward is 13-of-24 for 126 yards with no touchdown passes. Tennessee’s first-team offense has generated only 10 points on his six drives. (NFL)

Nobody should overreact to preseason statistics, especially with a new offensive system being installed, but this is one situation worth monitoring. Ward possesses plenty of natural ability, but Tennessee needs to begin creating more explosive plays before the regular season arrives.

Bo Nix’s Return Might Have Been Denver’s Biggest Win

The scoreboard said Green Bay 33, Denver 13. The Broncos could still leave Friday feeling considerably better about their quarterback situation.

Bo Nix returned from the broken ankle that ended his previous season and immediately showed signs that the injury had not taken away his confidence. Nix connected with new Broncos receiver Jaylen Waddle for 35 yards and, two plays later, found RJ Harvey for a 21-yard touchdown. (NFL)

Nix played just two series, but getting him through live action healthy and productive was considerably more important than the final score.

The potential Nix-Waddle combination is especially intriguing. Their timing remains a work in progress after Nix missed much of the offseason and Waddle lost some training-camp time, but Denver added Waddle for exactly the type of explosive play he produced Friday.

Jayden Daniels Finally Gets Back on the Field

Washington fans had waited roughly eight months to see Jayden Daniels take another game snap.

They got three.

Daniels returned against Detroit after a 2025 season affected by knee, hamstring and elbow injuries. His first two offensive snaps included an incompletion under pressure and a sack, and Washington ended his appearance with a third-and-long handoff. (NFL)

There wasn’t enough action to evaluate Daniels or Washington’s new offense, but simply seeing him back in uniform was significant. The larger mystery now moves into the regular season. Daniels played at an elite level during his 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign, but after an injury-filled sophomore season, his health and ability to rediscover that form will be one of the league’s most important early-season storylines.

Joe Milton Makes His Move in Dallas

One backup quarterback competition might have shifted dramatically Saturday night.

Joe Milton III delivered arguably one of the best quarterback performances of the weekend in Dallas’ 34-13 victory over Arizona. Milton completed 9-of-13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score. His night included a 53-yard touchdown strike to Jonathan Mingo and a 70-yard completion to Camden Brown that helped set up another score. (NFL)

Sam Howell, meanwhile, finished 7-of-10 for 65 yards with an interception.

Dak Prescott’s position obviously isn’t in question, but having a reliable backup quarterback can become enormously important over a 17-game regular season. Milton’s athleticism and arm talent have always been intriguing. Performances like this are how that potential turns into an actual role.

Giants Win Big, but Their Backfield Battle Gets Complicated

The Giants cruised past Miami, 26-3, but one of the more important developments involved the competition behind Cam Skattebo.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. rushed six times for 26 yards but lost a fumble near the goal line. Devin Singletary was more productive, finishing with 40 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. The Giants also recently added veteran Najee Harris, making the numbers increasingly crowded. (NFL)

Tracy has begun receiving kickoff-team work as well, a development that could indicate New York wants him to provide additional value as roster decisions approach.

For preseason football, these are the battles that often matter more than the scoreboard. A fumble, a missed block or a strong special-teams performance can determine whether a player remains on the roster.

San Francisco’s Young Weapons Keep Making Noise

The 49ers might be uncovering some important offensive depth.

De’Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco’s top selection in the 2026 draft, caught four passes for 46 yards on five targets against the Chargers after producing seven receptions for 63 yards in his preseason debut. Jacob Cowing added one of the weekend’s biggest highlights with an 83-yard punt-return touchdown during San Francisco’s 41-17 victory. (NFL)

Those performances matter even more considering San Francisco’s questions at receiver and tight end. Stribling’s early chemistry with Brock Purdy could become particularly valuable once the games begin to count.

A Quarterback Who Can Punt? New England Finds an August Favorite

Every preseason produces at least one unexpected story.

New England might have found theirs in seventh-round rookie quarterback Behren Morton.

Morton entered Saturday’s game against Philadelphia initially as a punter, booming multiple punts before eventually taking over at quarterback. He then completed 13-of-17 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown, including a 37-yard game-winning scoring pass with under a minute remaining as New England defeated Philadelphia, 24-21. (NFL)

Nobody should expect the Patriots to reinvent football by turning their quarterback into a permanent punter, but versatility is valuable when roster spots become scarce. Morton certainly gave New England’s coaching staff something to remember.

Injuries Remain the Worst Part of August

Every preseason discussion eventually returns to the same concern: staying healthy.

Houston already suffered a significant blow when wide receiver Jayden Higgins tore his ACL during practice and was placed on injured reserve, ending his 2026 season. The Texans subsequently moved to reinforce the position by bringing in veteran receivers. (NFL)

That is why many established starters receive limited—or no—preseason snaps. Coaches want enough live football to prepare their players without exposing essential pieces to unnecessary risk.

One Week Left Before the Games Start Feeling Real

The NFL’s third and final scheduled preseason week runs from August 27 through August 30, beginning Thursday with several games before a packed Friday and Saturday slate. (NFL Football Operations)

By this point, the priorities have changed.

Teams already know who most of their starters are. Now they are looking for depth, special-teams contributors, developmental prospects and answers to the handful of legitimate competitions still unresolved.

For some players, the final preseason game will barely matter.

For others, it could determine their NFL future.

And across a league where several quarterback situations remain unsettled, one more weekend could still change quite a bit before the 2026 regular season arrives.

CrossTalk Take: Forget the preseason standings. The real scoreboard right now is opportunity. Geno Smith and Bo Nix gave their teams reasons for optimism. Shedeur Sanders made Cleveland’s decision more complicated. Fernando Mendoza received an important rookie lesson. Cam Ward still has questions to answer. And players such as Joe Milton, De’Zhaun Stribling and Behren Morton reminded everyone why August football still matters.

The next week isn’t about trophies.

It’s about jobs.