All 32 clubs are back in action as the first full week of NFL pre‑season unfolds on Sky Sports, and there are three narrative threads that deserve a close eye as the league gears up for the 2026 campaign. First, the name that dominates every conversation about the upcoming season is Aaron Donald, even though the former Rams defensive tackle officially stepped away from the game more than two years ago. Donald, who is widely hailed as one of the all‑time greats on defense, has been quietly entertaining the idea of a comeback after the Rams bolstered their front line by acquiring last season's sack leader, Myles Garrett, from the Cleveland Browns. The trade sparked speculation that the two could form a fearsome interior duo that would make the Rams' defensive front one of the most intimidating units in the league.
The three‑time Defensive Player of the Year participated in a workout with the Rams in August, but he has not yet announced a definitive return. Head coach Sean McVay has been careful to keep the pressure off Donald while the former star works through his own decision‑making process. "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 whether he's ready to play or not.
But he's doing great, and he looked outstanding, as I think all of us would expect." With only four weeks left until the regular season tip‑off, fans remain on tenterhooks, wondering whether Donald will stage a remarkable return that could reshape the Rams' defensive outlook for years to come. The second storyline centers on the quarterback battle in Cleveland, a contest that has already taken on a high‑profile feel. New head coach Todd Monken has taken an unconventional approach by giving Deshaun Watson his first pre‑season start against the Chicago Bears, then handing the reins to Shedeur Sanders for the second half.
Monken later confirmed that Sanders will start the following pre‑season matchup against the Buffalo Bills, making it clear that the coaching staff intends to evaluate both quarterbacks thoroughly before deciding who will take the reins in Week 1. "We're going to see both of them," Monken explained. "One's going to start this week and one's going to start next week." Watson and Sanders are at opposite ends of their career arcs. The 30‑year‑old veteran has endured a tumultuous stint with the Browns, marked by injuries, a fully guaranteed $230 million contract, and off‑field controversy.
After a shoulder injury ended his 2023 season and two Achilles ruptures sidelined him in 2024, Watson has not taken a snap in a regular‑season game since October 20, 2024—a 22‑month hiatus. In contrast, Shedeur Sanders, the son of Hall‑of‑Famer Deion Sanders, showed flashes of promise during his rookie year in 2025, starting seven games and posting 1,400 passing yards with seven touchdowns and ten interceptions. While those numbers lag behind Watson’s 2020 peak—when he threw for 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns and only seven picks—the young quarterback still has ample room to develop. The Browns’ next four pre‑season contests will be pivotal in determining who earns the starting job for 2026 and could set the trajectory for both players' future in the league.
The third narrative follows veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who faces a unique challenge to retain his starting role with the Las Vegas Raiders. Cousins, now in his 15th NFL season, has been the primary signal‑caller throughout training camp and is slated to lead the Raiders when they open the season on September 13 against the Miami Dolphins.
However, the franchise’s future may soon rest in the hands of No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman‑winning quarterback from Indiana who guided the Hoosiers to their first national championship. Although Mendoza is expected to begin the year as the backup, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak praised his rapid progress, noting that the transition from college to the professional game is “not on paper, not in the playbook, exactly how they do on the field.” Cousins arrives in Las Vegas after an injury‑marred stint with the Atlanta Falcons, where he threw for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.
While he still has a solid chance to start the season, the organization’s long‑term plan clearly involves grooming Mendoza for a starring role, and this pre‑season will provide the Indiana prodigy with his first taste of NFL action. Beyond these three focal points, the pre‑season schedule offers fans a chance to see all 32 teams in live action, with Sky Sports broadcasting every game. Viewers can stream the matches without a contract, download the Sky Sports app for mobile access, or even follow updates via WhatsApp.
The coverage culminates in a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots on September 10, setting the stage for the regular season’s opening week. In summary, the 2026 NFL pre‑season promises drama on multiple fronts: the possible return of a defensive legend in Aaron Donald, a high‑stakes quarterback duel in Cleveland between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, and a veteran‑vs‑rookie showdown in Las Vegas as Kirk Cousins battles rookie phenom Fernando Mendoza for the Raiders’ future. As the teams fine‑tune their rosters and strategies over the next four weeks, fans should keep an eye on these storylines, which could shape the narrative of the entire season.