NFL Nation
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Week 2 of the 2026 NFL preseason kicked off Thursday, giving us extra perception into place battles and the push to make 53-man rosters earlier than the cut-down deadline Aug. 30. Action started with two video games Thursday earlier than Friday’s three video games, with extreme climate rolling by means of Jacksonville late within the fourth quarter — inflicting league and staff officers to finish the sport due to lightning on the two-minute warning. Things will proceed with 10 video games Saturday earlier than the primary Sunday night game of this preseason to wrap issues up.
What are the largest questions for the groups after every sport? What have we discovered about how the depth charts are shaping up? And what options might current themselves based mostly on preseason play in Week 2?
Our NFL Nation reporters picked out what it’s worthwhile to find out about large roster choices and extra coming off Week 2 of the preseason.
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Friday’s outcomes
Jets: Who’s the No. 2 quarterback? Rookie Cade Klubnik might’ve erased any doubt with one other robust sport, but it surely was a middling efficiency — 5 drives, no factors and solely 4 performs in Pittsburgh territory. Klubnik (10-for-14, 75 yards) obtained a style of actual soccer, because the Steelers performed a lot of their starters for 2 sequence. The group most likely will select Klubnik as Geno Smith‘s backup. If the Jets discover outdoors choices, now can be the time.
In different battles, incumbent security Andre Cisco, battling Dane Belton for the beginning job, helped his probabilities with an interception, but it surely got here with the second-team protection. Belton obtained the beginning and made 4 tackles. Rookie Omar Cooper Jr. and Isaiah Williams are locked in a detailed battle for the WR3 place. Cooper obtained the beginning this week, however had just one catch for 9 yards. Williams had a fumble that was recovered by the Jets. — Rich Cimini
Next sport: vs New York Giants (Aug. 28, 7:30 p.m. ET)
Steelers: Which place will get lowered to accommodate 4 quarterbacks? Mason Rudolph seemingly solidified his spot as QB2 with out enjoying a snap as Will Howard struggled, and rookie Drew Allar failed to duplicate his explosive preseason debut. Unless the Steelers attempt to sneak Howard by means of on the observe squad, it appears increasingly doubtless that they will maintain 4 quarterbacks, and that may imply numbers must be lowered some other place on the roster. Two potential teams to look at are the offensive linemen and safeties due to the place flexibility of veterans reminiscent of Brock Hoffman and Jalen Ramsey. — Brooke Pryor
Next sport: at Buffalo Bills (Aug. 28, 7 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Panthers: Is there a second starting-caliber inside linebacker on the roster? Carolina did not play Devin Lloyd, so Trevin Wallace and Claudin Cherelus each began Friday. Neither defender has gained a bonus of their place battle this summer time, and the depth behind Lloyd may very well be upgraded earlier than Week 1.
Similar to tight finish, it would not be shocking to see the Panthers seek for a veteran free agent linebacker earlier than or after the cut-down deadline subsequent week. — Mike Kaye
Next sport: vs. Houston Texans (Aug. 28, 7 p.m. ET)
Jaguars: What will they do at operating again? LeQuint Allen Jr. is out for the remainder of camp due to a comfortable tissue damage. If that lingers into the common season, the Jaguars will want somebody behind Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten. That’ll be both veteran Ameer Abdullah, who ran for 45 yards and had three catches for 37 yards in opposition to the Panthers, or undrafted rookie J’Mari Taylor. Taylor, who ran for 78 yards and a landing in Week 1, had little success Friday (3 yards, 4 carries). Both have had their moments in camp, so it’d come all the way down to which participant the Jaguars consider they will danger including to the observe squad. — Michael DiRocco
Next sport: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Aug. 28, 7:30 p.m. ET)
Packers: Do they must discover a solution to maintain 4 operating backs? Even if Josh Jacobs‘ legal issues do not result in a suspension by the NFL, the Packers may need to maintain 4 operating backs as a result of Pierre Strong Jr. may very well be their best choice as a kickoff returner. He ripped off a 68-yard return within the first half and confirmed he can deal with some carries, too. He rushed for 37 yards on eight carries (a 4.6-yard common), together with positive factors of 12 and seven yards on consecutive performs. Behind Jacobs, the Packers will maintain MarShawn Lloyd, they usually like Chris Brooks as a third-down again due to his go blocking. If Jacobs will get formally charged and/or suspended earlier than the opener, they may nearly actually maintain Strong.
One query that seems to be answered is whether or not rookie kicker Trey Smack can deal with the job. Despite some shaky days in observe — he has 9 missed kicks on the Ray Nitschke observe discipline this summer time — he has been profitable within the preseason video games. After going 3-for-3 final week (together with a 58-yarder and never together with one other 58-yarder that was worn out by a penalty), he made discipline objectives of 51, 59, 43 and 38 yards in opposition to the Broncos to remain good in two video games. — Rob Demovsky
Next sport: vs. Arizona Cardinals (Aug. 28, 8 p.m. ET)
Broncos: What will they resolve to do at security? In an try so as to add some expertise behind beginning safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones, the Broncos signed veteran security Taylor Rapp this week. Rapp’s arrival signifies that the Broncos need to bolster the depth chart on protection. Among the reserve safeties, Devon Key — an All-Pro particular groups choice final season — has been probably the most constant in sport/observe snaps on protection. Two of the opposite backups — JL Skinner and Tycen Anderson — venture as largely particular groups gamers and have not been practically as constant. And a few of the protection’s points that occurred when Jones was out of the lineup final season are nonetheless recent within the coaches’ minds. The Broncos have troublesome choices behind the starters at inside linebacker and the offensive line as properly. — Jeff Legwold
Next sport: vs. Minnesota Vikings (Aug. 28, 9 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Thursday’s outcomes
49ers: What is the state of the receiver and guard depth charts? The battle for receiver roster spots has been arduous to decipher, however Jacob Cowing helped his trigger considerably Thursday evening attributable to his particular groups contributions. Cowing returned a punt 83 yards for a rating and is probably the most dependable punt return possibility on the roster. That ought to assist him land on the preliminary 53-man roster, even when it means saying goodbye to a extra confirmed veteran.
Elsewhere, it is nonetheless unclear whether or not the Niners have a starting-caliber left guard, with rookie Carver Willis getting the beginning in opposition to the Chargers. Willis, Connor Colby and Robert Jones have been competing for that spot, however none of them has executed sufficient to separate from the others. Austen Pleasants additionally entered the combo Thursday, creating extra questions on the place. — Nick Wagoner
Next sport: at Las Vegas Raiders (Aug. 27, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN Unlimited)
Chargers: Is Jake Slaughter able to be the beginning middle? The greatest information of the week for the Chargers was the damage to middle Tyler Biadasz, who suffered an ACL injury to his left knee Tuesday and is out indefinitely.
Slaughter, a second-round rookie, will doubtless start the season because the Chargers’ beginning middle, the place he performed all his faculty snaps. He obtained his first shot at that job Thursday evening, enjoying 9 snaps. He allowed zero pressures, based on NFL Next Gen Stats. — Kris Rhim
Next sport: vs. Los Angeles Rams (Aug. 27, 10 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Raiders: How a lot confidence do the Raiders have of their secondary? Las Vegas’ secondary has potential, however will that result in success in 2026? Second-year cornerback Darien Porter remains to be studying the place after spending most of his faculty profession as a large receiver. He began 10 video games as a rookie, however he has much more rising to do. Fourth-round rookie nook Jermod McCoy hasn’t performed soccer in additional than a yr due to a knee damage, so it would take time earlier than he appears like his true self. Fifth-round rookie nook Hezekiah Masses can also be studying. Second-round security Treydan Stukes has the most effective probability of creating a optimistic affect as a rookie, however the Raiders are taking his growth slowly as a result of they’re asking him to play deep security and nickel.
The Raiders have struggled in protection in two preseason video games. Cardinals quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II mixed for 16 straight completions within the first half final week, and Texans backup Davis Mills accomplished 11 of 15 passes for 93 yards within the first half Thursday evening. The Raiders’ younger secondary may very well be fairly good in a season or two, however asking it to repair final season’s pass-coverage points instantly is likely to be too tall a process. — Ryan McFadden
Next sport: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Aug. 27, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN Unlimited)
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Jacob Cowing activates the jets for an 83-yard punt return TD for 49ers
Texans: What will Houston’s offensive line finally seem like? Houston’s beginning tackles Thursday had been Trent Brown and Aireontae Ersery. First-round decide Keylan Rutledge began at left guard as an alternative of middle, the place he has performed for many of coaching camp, and Evan Brown took first-team snaps as an alternative. Ed Ingram began at proper guard, leaving two free agent signees (proper deal with Braden Smith and guard Wyatt Teller) operating with the second unit.
The Texans signed Smith to a two-year, $20 million deal and Teller to a two-year, $16 million contract, with the expectation that each would begin and increase the staff’s steadily problematic offensive line. So how will Houston resolve which linemen to start out Week 1? And do the Texans need $36 million value of offseason signings on their backup unit? — DJ Bien-Aime
Next sport: at Carolina Panthers (Aug. 28, 7 p.m. ET)
Saturday’s video games
Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions, noon ET
Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET
Atlanta Falcons at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET
Baltimore Ravens at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams, 4 p.m. ET
New York Giants at Miami Dolphins, 4 p.m. ET
Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals, 7 p.m. ET
Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots, 7 p.m. ET
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7:30 p.m. ET
Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals, 10 p.m. ET