All 32 franchises have hit the field as the first full week of NFL pre‑season rolls out on Sky Sports, and three particular narratives are already shaping up as must‑watch storylines ahead of the 2026 campaign. First, the name that dominates every conversation about the upcoming season is Aaron Donald, even though the former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle officially stepped away from the game more than two years ago.
Donald, widely celebrated as one of the greatest defensive players 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 in a blockbuster trade. The prospect of pairing Garrett with Donald on the Rams' front four has ignited the imaginations of fans who dream of a historic pass‑rush duo.
The three‑time Defensive Player of the Year participated in a private workout with the Rams in August, but he has not yet announced a formal return. Head coach Sean McVay has been careful to shield Donald from external pressure while the former star decides whether to lace up his cleats again.
"He looked great and he's still working through his process," McVay said in a recent press conference. "We have a plan that has been in place for a while, and the workout was one part of that. He's feeling good, but we aren't at the point where we can say definitively if he's ready to play. He performed outstandingly, just as we all expected." With only four weeks left before the regular season kicks off, the league and its supporters are left waiting to see if Donald will make a remarkable return.
His decision could reshape the Rams' defensive strategy and add another chapter to his already legendary career. The second headline‑grabbing storyline centers on the quarterback battle in Cleveland. New head coach Todd Monken has set up a clear competition between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson for the Browns' starting role.
Monken gave Watson the nod for the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, while Sanders took over in the second half. The coach then confirmed that Sanders will start the following preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills, making it evident that both quarterbacks will see action before the regular season begins. "We’re going to see both of them," Monken explained. "One will start this week and the other will start next week." Watson and Sanders are on opposite ends of their career arcs.
The 30‑year‑old veteran has endured a tumultuous stint 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 year.
In 2022 he also faced an 11‑game NFL suspension after allegations of sexual assault and misconduct by multiple massage therapists, which he denied and for which the league ultimately found insufficient evidence to uphold a personal‑conduct violation. Watson’s snap count against Chicago will be his first since October 20, 2024—a gap of 22 months. In contrast, Shedeur Sanders, the son of Hall‑of‑Famer Deion Sanders, is still early in his professional journey. After a promising rookie season in 2025 where he started seven games and threw for roughly 1,400 yards with seven touchdowns and ten interceptions, Sanders has yet to match the production of Watson’s 2020 peak, when Watson led the league with 4,823 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and just seven picks.
The Browns’ remaining preseason contests will be pivotal in determining which quarterback earns the starting job for the 2026 regular season, and they could set the long‑term trajectory for both players. The third key narrative involves the Las Vegas Raiders and the looming quarterback transition between veteran Kirk Cousins and the 2026 No.
1 overall draft pick, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Cousins, now in his 15th NFL season, has been the Raiders’ primary signal‑caller throughout training camp and is slated to start the season‑opening game against the Miami Dolphins on September 13. Mendoza, who captured the Heisman Trophy after leading Indiana to its first national championship and was selected first overall in this year’s draft, is expected to begin the season as the backup, learning the offense from the second‑team reps.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak praised Mendoza’s rapid development, noting, "He’s continuing to grow. It’s been a really impressive training camp in terms of preparation, and he’s translating that work into practice. 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 arrived 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 Cousins still has a realistic chance to retain the starting role throughout the season, the franchise’s long‑term future will likely hinge on Mendoza’s progression, and this preseason will provide his first taste of NFL competition.
Beyond these three focal points, Sky Sports will broadcast all four weeks of preseason action, culminating in a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots on September 10. Fans can stream the games without a contract through the Sky Sports app or the NOW platform, and they can stay updated via Sky Sports on WhatsApp.
As the league warms up for another year of high‑stakes football, the storylines outlined above promise intrigue, drama, and the potential for historic moments that could define the 2026 NFL season.