All 32 clubs are hitting the field as the first full week of NFL pre‑season rolls out on Sky Sports, and there are three narratives that fans should keep an eye on as the 2026 campaign approaches. First, the name that dominates every conversation about the upcoming season is Aaron Donald, even though the former Rams defensive titan stepped away from the game more than two years ago.
Donald, widely hailed as one of the most dominant defenders in league history, has been hinting at a possible comeback to Los Angeles after the Rams bolstered their defensive line by trading for Myles Garrett, last year’s sack leader, from Cleveland. The prospect of pairing Donald with Garrett on the Rams’ front four has sparked a wave of optimism among the fan base.
The three‑time Defensive Player of the Year participated in a private workout with the Rams in August, but he has not yet confirmed whether he will lace up his cleats again. Head coach Sean McVay has been careful not to add pressure to Donald while the former star weighs his options. "He looked great, and he's still continuing to go through his process," McVay said in a recent press conference.
"No new news on that front. We've had a plan in place for a while, and the workout was one of those things. He's feeling good, but we're not at the point where we can say definitively whether he's ready to return.
He's doing great, and he looked outstanding, as I think all of us would expect." With just four weeks left until the regular season kicks off, the uncertainty surrounding Donald’s status keeps fans on edge. If he decides to return, it would be a remarkable storyline—a Hall‑of‑Fame caliber player attempting a comeback after a lengthy hiatus, potentially reshaping the Rams’ defensive identity for years to come.
The second storyline centers on the quarterback battle in Cleveland. New head coach Todd Monken has set up a clear split for the Browns’ two most talked‑about signal‑callers: Deshaun Watson will start the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, while Shedeur Sanders will take over in the second half. Monken also indicated that Sanders will get the start in the following preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills, leaving the ultimate starter for week one of the regular season undecided.
Watson and Sanders are at opposite ends of their career arcs. The 30‑year‑old veteran has endured a tumultuous run with the Browns, marked 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 assault and misconduct, which he denied and for which the league ultimately found insufficient evidence to sanction. 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, is still in the early stages of his professional journey.
After a rookie campaign in 2025 where he started seven games and posted 1,400 passing yards with seven touchdowns and ten interceptions, Sanders has shown flashes of potential but has yet to reach the statistical heights of Watson’s 2020 peak (4,823 yards, 33 TDs, 7 INTs). The Browns’ next four preseason contests will be pivotal in determining which quarterback earns the starting role for 2026 and could set the trajectory for both players’ careers. The third narrative follows veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins as he battles to retain the starting job for the Las Vegas Raiders against the backdrop of the franchise’s No. 1 overall draft pick, quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Cousins, now entering his 15th NFL season, has been the Raiders’ primary signal‑caller throughout training camp and is slated to start the season opener on September 13 against the Miami Dolphins. Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner who led Indiana to its first national championship, was drafted first overall this year and is expected to begin the season as the backup while he continues to develop in 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 as far as how he’s prepared, and then he goes out there to practice.
Things don’t happen on the paper, the playbook, exactly how they do on the field. I think he’s done a good job of adjusting." Cousins, coming off an injury‑marred season with the Atlanta Falcons where he threw for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions, still has a solid chance to remain the starter for the year. However, the long‑term direction of the Raiders appears tied to Mendoza, and this preseason will give the Indiana phenom his first taste of NFL competition. Fans can catch every moment of the four‑week preseason schedule on Sky Sports, including a marquee Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots slated for September 10.
For those who prefer streaming without a contract, options such as NOW are available, and the Sky Sports app can be downloaded for on‑the‑go viewing. The preseason may be a series of exhibition games, but the storylines it generates—Donald’s potential return, the Browns’ quarterback duel, and Cousins versus Mendoza—will set the tone for the drama and intrigue that defines the 2026 NFL season.