All 32 clubs are hitting the field as the first full week of NFL pre‑season rolls out live on Sky Sports, and there are three narratives that deserve special attention 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 Rams legend stepped away from the game more than two years ago.
Donald, universally acknowledged as one of the greatest defensive talents ever to play the sport, has been hinting at a possible comeback after the Rams bolstered their defensive line by acquiring last season’s sack leader Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns. The pairing of Donald and Garrett has fans imagining a fearsome front‑four that could dominate the league. 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 deliberately low‑key about the situation, emphasizing that the team wants to keep any external pressure off Donald while he works through his personal decision‑making process. "He looked great and is 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 feels good, but we’re not at a point where we can say definitively whether he’s ready to return. He performed outstandingly, as we expected." With just four weeks left before the regular season kicks off, the uncertainty surrounding Donald’s status keeps fans on the edge of their seats. A return would be nothing short of historic, and the Rams are clearly preparing for both possibilities. The second 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. Monken later confirmed that Sanders will start the following preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills, making it evident that the coaching staff intends to evaluate both players thoroughly before the regular‑season opener. Watson and Sanders represent opposite ends of the career spectrum.
The 30‑year‑old Watson entered Cleveland in 2022 on a fully guaranteed $230 million contract, but his tenure has been marred by injuries and off‑field controversy. He missed the 2023 season with a season‑ending shoulder injury and then suffered two Achilles ruptures in successive years. In 2022, he faced an 11‑game NFL suspension after allegations of sexual assault and misconduct by multiple massage therapists; Watson denied the claims, and the league ultimately found insufficient evidence to sanction him under the personal‑conduct policy. His first snaps this preseason will be his first live action since October 20, 2024 – a gap of 22 months.
Sanders, the son of Hall‑of‑Famer Deion Sanders, showed flashes of promise during his rookie season in 2025, starting seven games and posting 1,400 passing yards, seven touchdowns and ten interceptions. Those numbers pale in comparison to Watson’s 2020 peak, when he led the NFL with 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.
The Browns’ next four preseason games will be pivotal in deciding who earns the starting badge for 2026, and the outcome could shape the long‑term trajectories of both quarterbacks. The third narrative involves the Las Vegas Raiders’ quarterback situation. Veteran Kirk Cousins, now in his 15th NFL season, faces a unique challenge: maintaining his starting role while the franchise’s No. 1 overall draft pick, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, looms as the future face of the offense.
Cousins 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 selected first overall in this year’s draft. Although he is expected to begin the season as the backup, he has been working closely with the second‑team offense and receiving praise from head coach Klint Kubiak for his rapid adaptation to the professional level. "He’s continuing to grow," Kubiak said.
"It’s been an impressive camp in terms of preparation, and he’s translating that effort onto the field. Things don’t happen on paper exactly as they do in a game, and I think he’s done a good job adjusting." Cousins arrives in Las Vegas after an injury‑limited stint with the Atlanta Falcons, where he threw for 1,721 yards, ten touchdowns and five interceptions. While he has a solid chance to retain the starting job throughout the season, the Raiders’ long‑term plan clearly hinges on Mendoza’s development, and this preseason will provide the Indiana prodigy with his first taste of NFL competition.
Fans can catch every moment of the four‑week preseason on Sky Sports, culminating in the regular‑season kickoff with a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots on September 10. For those who prefer streaming without a contract, the NOW platform offers contract‑free access to NFL action and 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‑vs‑rookie showdown—promise to set the tone for an electrifying 2026 NFL season.