All 32 clubs are back on the field as the first full week of NFL pre‑season kicks off on Sky Sports, and there are three narratives that deserve special attention as the league gears up for 2026. First, the name that dominates every conversation about the upcoming season is Aaron Donald, even though the former Rams defensive titan hung up his cleats more than two years ago. Donald, widely hailed as one of the most dominant defenders in league 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 Garrett with Donald on the Rams’ front four has ignited the imagination of fans who picture a historic pass‑rush tandem. The three‑time Defensive Player of the Year participated in a private workout with the Rams in August, but no official announcement has been made. Head coach Sean McVay has been deliberately low‑key about the situation, stressing that the team does not want to add pressure to Donald while he decides his future.
"He looked great and he’s still going 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 whether he’s ready to return. He performed outstandingly, which is exactly what we expected." With just four weeks remaining before the regular season begins, the league and the Rams’ fan base are left hanging as Donald weighs the possibility of one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent memory.
The second storyline centers on the quarterback battle in Cleveland. New head coach Todd Monken has turned the pre‑season into a live audition for two very different signal‑callers: veteran Deshaun Watson and rookie Shedeur Sanders, the son of Hall‑of‑Famer Deion Sanders.
Monken gave Watson the start in the Browns’ opening pre‑season game against the Chicago Bears, then handed the reins to Sanders for the second half. He later confirmed that Sanders will start the following pre‑season matchup against the Buffalo Bills, making it clear that both quarterbacks will see ample playing time before the final decision is made.
Watson, now 30, has endured a turbulent stretch with the Browns. He was signed to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract in 2022, but injuries have plagued his tenure—a season‑ending shoulder injury in 2023 followed by two Achilles ruptures the next year. Off‑field controversy also shadowed his career; in 2022 the NFL suspended him for 11 games after allegations of sexual assault and misconduct surfaced.
Watson denied the claims, and an NFL investigation concluded there was insufficient evidence to uphold a violation of the league’s personal‑conduct policy. His first snaps this year will come against Chicago, marking his first on‑field action since October 20, 2024—a 22‑month gap. Sanders, meanwhile, entered the league with considerable hype thanks to his famous father. He started seven games as a rookie in 2025, posting 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns and ten interceptions—numbers that pale in comparison to Watson’s 2020 peak when he led the NFL with 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns and only seven picks.
The Browns’ next four pre‑season contests will be decisive not only for the 2026 starting role but also for the longer‑term trajectories of both quarterbacks. The third narrative involves the Las Vegas Raiders and the uneasy coexistence of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins with the franchise’s No. 1 overall draft pick, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Cousins, now in his 15th NFL season, has been the Raiders’ starter throughout training camp and is slated to lead the team in its season opener against the Miami Dolphins on September 13.
Mendoza, the 2026 Heisman Trophy winner who guided Indiana to its first national championship, is expected to begin the year as the backup, learning the professional game from the second‑team offense. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak praised Mendoza’s progress, noting that the rookie’s preparation has been impressive and that he is adapting well to the speed and complexity of the NFL.
"Things don’t happen on paper the way they do on the field," Kubiak said. "He’s done a good job of adjusting." Cousins arrives in Las Vegas after a season with the Atlanta Falcons that was marred by injuries but still produced respectable numbers—1,721 passing yards, ten touchdowns and five interceptions. While Cousins is likely to retain the starting job for the 2026 campaign, the long‑term outlook for the Raiders hinges on Mendoza’s development, and this pre‑season will provide his first taste of professional competition. Fans can catch every pre‑season game over the next four weeks on Sky Sports, culminating in a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots on September 10.
For those who prefer streaming, the league’s NOW platform offers contract‑free access to live NFL action and a host of other sports. The pre‑season may be a series of exhibition games, but the storylines it generates—Donald’s potential return, the Browns’ quarterback duel, and the Raiders’ veteran‑rookie dynamic—promise to shape the narrative of the 2026 NFL season long before the regular‑season kickoff.