All 32 clubs are taking the field as the first full week of NFL pre‑season kicks off on Sky Sports, and there are three narratives that deserve close attention as the league heads toward the 2026 campaign. First, the name that dominates every conversation is Aaron Donald.
Even though the former Rams defensive titan officially stepped away from the game more than two years ago, his potential return continues to capture the imagination of fans. Donald, widely hailed as one of the greatest defenders in league history, has been linked to 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 in a fearsome front four has sparked considerable excitement. The three‑time Defensive Player of the Year participated in a workout with the Rams this August, yet no formal announcement has been made.
Head coach Sean McVay has deliberately kept the pressure off Donald while the decision is being weighed. "He looked great, and he's still continuing to go through his process," McVay told reporters. "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 a point where we can say definitively whether he's ready to return. He's doing great and looked outstanding, as we all would expect." With just four weeks remaining until the regular season begins, the league and its supporters are left hanging as Donald deliberates whether to stage a remarkable comeback.
His eventual choice could reshape the Rams’ defensive identity and influence the broader balance of power in the NFC West. The second storyline centers on the quarterback battle in Cleveland. New head coach Todd Monken has set up a clear, albeit temporary, hierarchy for the Browns’ preseason: Deshaun Watson will start the opening game against the Chicago Bears, while rookie Shedeur Sanders will take over for the second half. Monken later confirmed that Sanders will receive the start in the following preseason contest against the Buffalo Bills, indicating that the ultimate decision for the week‑one starter remains fluid.
Watson and Sanders are at opposite ends of their career arcs. Watson, now 30, has endured a tumultuous tenure with the Browns. Acquired in 2022 on a fully guaranteed $230 million contract, his time in Cleveland has been marred by a season‑ending shoulder injury in 2023 and two consecutive Achilles ruptures the next year.
Off the field, Watson faced an 11‑game NFL suspension in 2022 after allegations of sexual assault and misconduct by multiple massage therapists; he denied the claims, and the league later concluded there was insufficient evidence to uphold a personal‑conduct violation. His upcoming snaps against Chicago 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 high expectations after a promising rookie season in 2025 where he started seven games. However, his numbers—approximately 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and ten interceptions—fell short of the elite standards set by Watson’s 2020 peak (4,823 yards, 33 TDs, seven INTs). The Browns’ remaining preseason matchups will be crucial in determining which quarterback earns the starting role for the 2026 regular season, and the decision could set the trajectory for both players’ futures. The third narrative involves the quarterback situation in Las Vegas.
Veteran Kirk Cousins, now in his 15th NFL season, faces a formidable challenge from the franchise’s No. 1 overall draft pick, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Cousins has been the Raiders’ starter throughout training camp and is slated to lead the offense when the team opens on September 13 against the Miami Dolphins. Mendoza, a Heisman Trophy winner who guided Indiana to its first national championship, is expected to begin the season as the backup, learning the professional game from 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 arrives in Las Vegas after an injury‑laden campaign with the Atlanta Falcons, where he posted 1,721 passing yards, ten touchdowns, and five interceptions.
While he has a solid chance to retain the starting job for the season, the long‑term outlook for the Raiders hinges on Mendoza’s development. This preseason will give the Indiana phenom his first taste of NFL competition and could foreshadow a quarterback transition in the near future. Fans can catch every pre‑season game live on Sky Sports, including the opening week’s marquee matchup: a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots on September 10.
For those who prefer streaming, the league is also available contract‑free via NOW, offering a convenient way to stay up to date on all the action as the teams fine‑tune their rosters and strategies ahead of the regular season.