All thirty‑two clubs are hitting the field as the first full week of NFL pre‑season kicks off, broadcast live on Sky Sports. While the games themselves provide plenty of excitement, there are three overarching narratives that deserve particular attention as the league builds toward the 2026 regular season. First, the conversation across the football world continues to revolve around Aaron Donald. Even though the former Los Angeles Rams defensive titan officially stepped away from the game more than two years ago, his name still dominates headlines.
Donald, widely hailed as one of the greatest defenders in NFL history, has been quietly entertaining the idea of a comeback after the Rams bolstered their defensive line by acquiring last season’s sack leader, Myles Garrett, from the Cleveland Browns. The prospect of pairing Donald with Garrett in a fearsome front four has sparked a wave of optimism among Rams supporters. The three‑time Defensive Player of the Year participated in a workout with the Rams in August, yet he has not formally announced a return.
Head coach Sean McVay has been deliberately low‑key about the situation, emphasizing that the team does not want to add pressure while Donald evaluates his health and readiness. "He looked great, and he's still continuing to go through his process," McVay said.
"We have a plan that’s been in place for a while, and the workout was part of that. He’s feeling good, but we’re not at the point where we can say definitively whether he’s ready to play.
He performed outstandingly, as we all expected." With just four weeks remaining before the regular season opens, the NFL community remains on edge, waiting to see if Donald will make a remarkable return to the gridiron. His decision could reshape the Rams’ defensive strategy and influence the league’s power dynamics for years to come. The second storyline centers on the quarterback battle in Cleveland. New head coach Todd Monken has set up a clear, if temporary, division of duties: Deshaun Watson will start the Browns’ pre‑season opener against the Chicago Bears, while rookie Shedeur Sanders will take over in the second half.
Monken later confirmed that Sanders will receive the start in the following pre‑season matchup against the Buffalo Bills, underscoring that the ultimate starter for week one remains undecided. "We’ll see both of them," Monken explained.
"One will start this week and the other will start next week." Watson and Sanders represent opposite ends of the career spectrum. The 30‑year‑old veteran’s tenure with the Browns has been marred by injuries and off‑field controversy. Acquired in 2022 on a fully guaranteed $230 million contract, Watson suffered a season‑ending shoulder injury in 2023 and then ruptured his Achilles tendon twice in the following season.
In addition, he faced an 11‑game NFL suspension in 2022 after allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denied; the league ultimately concluded there was insufficient evidence to uphold a personal‑conduct violation. His first snaps this preseason will be his first live action since October 20, 2024—a gap of 22 months. In contrast, Shedeur Sanders, the son of Hall‑of‑Famer Deion Sanders, entered the league with considerable hype. He started seven games as a rookie in 2025, posting modest numbers—approximately 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and ten interceptions—far below the production of his predecessor.
For reference, Watson’s peak season in 2020 featured a league‑leading 4,823 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. The Browns’ upcoming four pre‑season contests will be pivotal in determining who earns the starting role for 2026 and could shape the future trajectories of both quarterbacks. The third narrative follows veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and the emergence of 2026 No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Cousins, now in his fifteenth NFL season, has been the Raiders’ primary signal‑caller throughout summer training camp and is slated to start the season opener on September 13 against the Miami Dolphins. Meanwhile, Mendoza—who captured the Heisman Trophy after leading Indiana to its first national championship—was selected first overall in this year’s draft and is expected to begin the season as the backup, learning the ropes with the second‑team offense.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak praised Mendoza’s progress, noting, "[Mendoza] is continuing to grow. It’s been a really impressive training camp in terms of preparation, and he’s translating that work onto the field. Things don’t happen on paper or in the playbook exactly as they do on the field, and I think he’s done a good job adjusting." Cousins arrives in Las Vegas after an injury‑marred stint with the Atlanta Falcons, where he posted 1,721 passing yards, ten touchdowns, and five interceptions. While he remains the likely starter for the immediate season, the franchise’s long‑term direction hinges on Mendoza’s development.
This pre‑season will likely provide Mendoza with his first taste of professional competition, offering a glimpse of the potential impact he could have once he assumes the starting role. Fans can catch every pre‑season game over the next four weeks on Sky Sports, including the season‑opening Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots on September 10. For those who prefer streaming without a contract, options such as NOW are available, and the Sky Sports app ensures easy access across devices.
As the league fine‑tunes rosters and strategies, these three storylines—Donald’s possible comeback, the Browns’ quarterback duel, and the Raiders’ veteran‑rookie dynamic—will provide compelling subplots that could influence the broader narrative of the 2026 NFL season.