NFL Preseason 2026 Week 1: Schedule, Key Matchups, and What to Watch as Football Returns

The 2026 NFL preseason has kicked off, and for football fans who have been waiting since February for the return of the sport, the exhibition games could not come soon enough. Week 1 of the preseason is always a mix of excitement and caution, with starters seeing limited action, backups fighting for roster spots, and rookies getting their first taste of NFL game speed. But the 2026 preseason has more compelling storylines than most, and the Week 1 slate featured several matchups that were worth watching closely.

The most significant storyline of the preseason is the collection of quarterback battles that remain unresolved. While the Minnesota Vikings made their decision by naming Kyler Murray the starter over J.J. McCarthy, several other teams are using the preseason as the final audition for their starting quarterback position. The preseason games are the most important data point in these competitions, and the Week 1 performances will go a long way toward determining who will be under center in Week 1 of the regular season.

In Cleveland, the battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders has been the most talked-about quarterback competition in the NFL. Sanders, the rookie and son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, has been pushing Watson for the starting job throughout training camp, and the preseason games are his opportunity to prove that he is ready. The Browns have a roster that is built to win now, with a strong defense and talented skill position players, and the quarterback decision will be the most important factor in determining whether the Browns can compete in the AFC North. Watson has the experience and the contract, but Sanders has the poise and the accuracy, and the competition is genuinely open.

In Atlanta, the battle between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa is another competition that has drawn national attention. Both quarterbacks have different skill sets, and the Falcons are looking for the quarterback who can best maximize the talent on the roster. Penix Jr. brings arm talent and mobility, while Tagovailoa brings accuracy and experience. The preseason games will be critical in determining who gets the nod, and the Week 1 performance will be the first real test.

The Las Vegas Raiders have their own quarterback controversy, with veteran Kirk Cousins competing against the first overall pick in the draft, Fernando Mendoza. Cousins represents the safe, win-now option, while Mendoza represents the future. The Raiders are weighing the desire to compete immediately against the need to develop their young quarterback, and the preseason will provide the data that will inform the decision.

The Pittsburgh Steelers opened their preseason schedule against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night at Acrisure Stadium, and the game provided the first opportunity to see the Steelers in a game setting. The Steelers have been having a productive training camp, with the offensive line beginning to gel and the defense showing the kind of physicality that has been the hallmark of Steelers football. The quarterback rotation and the performance of the young receivers were among the things to watch in the preseason opener.

Across the league, the preseason is also about position battles beyond quarterback. Rookies are getting their first opportunity to show that they belong, and undrafted free agents are fighting for roster spots. The preseason is the only time that the bottom of the roster gets meaningful game action, and the competition for the final 53 spots is as intense as any battle on the field. Special teams play is also under the microscope, as the kicking, punting, and return units are being evaluated with the same scrutiny as the offensive and defensive units.

The training camp injury bug has already taken a toll, with several players suffering season-ending injuries. The San Francisco 49ers lost wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, the Carolina Panthers lost rookie Chris Brazzell and edge rusher Nic Scourton, and the New Orleans Saints suffered a significant loss as well. Injuries are an unavoidable part of football, but the concentration of season-ending injuries in training camp is a reminder of the physical toll that the sport takes on the human body.

For fans, the preseason is a preview of what is to come. The schemes, the personnel packages, and the play-calling tendencies that are on display in the preseason games provide a glimpse of what teams have been working on throughout the offseason. While the starters see limited action, the preseason is the first opportunity to see how the pieces fit together, and for the discerning fan, there is plenty to learn.

The 2026 NFL regular season is just weeks away, and the preseason is the final checkpoint before the games start to count. For the teams with resolved quarterback situations, the preseason is about fine-tuning and staying healthy. For the teams with open competitions, the preseason is about making the most important decision of the year. Either way, football is back, and that is reason enough to watch.