NFL News & Preseason Week 3 Preview: QB Battles, Roster Decisions and Players to Watch
Monday, August 24, 2026
The NFL preseason has reached the point where every snap carries a little more weight.
Preseason Week 3 begins Thursday, August 27, and it represents the final game action for teams before the league's roster reduction deadline on Sunday, August 30. Clubs must trim their rosters to 53 players by 6 p.m. ET that day.
That means this week's games aren't simply exhibitions. They're final auditions.
Quarterback competitions are still unfolding, rookies are pushing veterans for playing time, injuries are forcing teams to rethink depth charts, and players fighting for the final handful of roster spots have one last opportunity to put something undeniable on tape.
Here's the latest from around the NFL and what to watch this week.
Browns' QB Battle Remains One of the NFL's Biggest Stories
Cleveland still has one of the most fascinating quarterback situations in football.
Head coach Todd Monken is evaluating Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders as the Browns determine who gives them the best chance to open the season as the starter.
Through preseason action, Watson has completed 59.3% of his passes for 162 yards with one interception, while Sanders has completed 68.2% for 153 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Monken said the decision will be based on the entire body of work from training camp and preseason rather than one performance.
That makes Thursday's Patriots-Browns matchup one of the games worth circling.
Who to watch: Shedeur Sanders
Sanders has a chance to make one more argument before Cleveland settles its quarterback hierarchy.
For preseason football, that's about as close as it gets to real stakes.
Michael Penix Jr. Cleared to Return in Atlanta
The Falcons received encouraging news heading into the final week of preseason.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been medically cleared for full team practice following his recovery from the ACL injury he suffered last November.
Penix now enters a quarterback competition involving veteran Tua Tagovailoa, whom Atlanta added during the offseason.
Atlanta's situation becomes particularly interesting because the Falcons close the preseason against Tagovailoa's former team, the Miami Dolphins, Friday night.
Who to watch: Michael Penix Jr.
Even if Atlanta limits his game snaps, Penix's movement, confidence and progression throughout the week will be important.
Atlanta needs clarity at quarterback before Week 1.
George Kittle Takes Major Step Toward Return
San Francisco received some good news of its own.
The 49ers activated seven-time Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle from the physically unable to perform list as he continues recovering from the torn Achilles he suffered in January.
The timing matters.
Had Kittle remained on the PUP list beyond roster cutdowns, he would have been unavailable until at least Week 5.
Instead, a possible Week 1 return remains on the table as San Francisco prepares for its season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
San Francisco plays Las Vegas Thursday in the preseason finale.
Who to watch: George Kittle's recovery
Whether Kittle actually sees preseason action is less important than how he progresses in practice.
For the 49ers, simply having one of the NFL's premier tight ends moving closer to opening day is a significant development.
Chargers Lose Tyler Biadasz for the Season
The Los Angeles Chargers received much worse injury news.
Center Tyler Biadasz has been placed on season-ending injured reserve after suffering a major knee injury during a joint practice with San Francisco.
Biadasz had signed a three-year, $30 million contract during the offseason and was expected to become a major piece of the Chargers' offensive-line rebuild.
The team will now have to replace him before Justin Herbert takes meaningful regular-season snaps.
Who to watch: Jake Slaughter
Rookie second-round center Jake Slaughter stepped into the lineup following the injury.
That makes the Chargers' preseason finale against the Rams particularly important.
How Slaughter handles protections, communication and interior pressure could tell us plenty about Los Angeles' contingency plan.
Seattle Suffers Costly Injuries Despite Strong Start Against Tennessee
The Seahawks jumped ahead of Tennessee on Sunday night but couldn't hold the lead.
The Titans rallied from a 16-3 first-quarter deficit and defeated Seattle 19-16.
Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward completed 8 of 12 passes for 69 yards, while Joey Slye converted four field goals.
Seattle received a strong first-half performance from Drew Lock, while running back Jacardia Wright delivered an explosive 69-yard touchdown run.
But injuries overshadowed the result.
Seattle rookie safety Bud Clark suffered a broken ankle, while offensive lineman Mason Richman also sustained a potentially long-term injury.
Seattle now faces Kansas City Friday night.
Who to watch: Seattle's depth
The defending champions aren't just evaluating starters.
They're evaluating who can survive a 17-game season when injuries hit.
This week's matchup against Kansas City will provide another look at Seattle's defensive and offensive-line depth.
Rookie Quarterbacks Continue Making Noise
One of the most interesting themes of the 2026 preseason has been the new generation of quarterbacks.
NFL.com's preseason analysis highlighted several young passers who have created early buzz:
Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders
The No. 1 overall pick has shown why Las Vegas invested so heavily in him.
Ty Simpson, Los Angeles Rams
Simpson has looked comfortable operating the offense behind veteran Matthew Stafford.
Carson Beck, Arizona Cardinals
Beck impressed during the Hall of Fame Game before dealing with a minor rib injury.
Drew Allar, Pittsburgh Steelers
Allar has flashed the physical ability that made him one of the more intriguing quarterback prospects in the draft.
These quarterbacks aren't all entering camp under the same circumstances, but the final preseason game provides another opportunity to accelerate their development.
Cowboys Get Another Look at Joe Milton III
Dallas produced one of the strongest Week 2 preseason performances, beating Arizona 34-13.
Quarterback Joe Milton III helped lead the Cowboys' offense during the victory.
Dallas closes the preseason against New Orleans Friday night.
Who to watch: Joe Milton III
Milton's arm strength has never been the question.
The bigger evaluation is whether he can consistently process defenses, make the correct reads and protect the football.
If those pieces continue developing, Dallas could have an intriguing quarterback option behind its starter.
NFL Preseason Week 3 Schedule
All times below are Central Time. The league's official Week 3 preseason schedule runs from Thursday, August 27 through Saturday, August 29.
Thursday, August 27
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
6:00 p.m. CT
Watch: Drew Allar and Pittsburgh's quarterback development.
New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns
7:00 p.m. CT
Watch: Cleveland's Watson-Sanders quarterback competition.
National TV: Prime Video
San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders
7:00 p.m. CT
Watch: Raiders rookie QB Fernando Mendoza and San Francisco's roster depth.
Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers
9:00 p.m. CT
Watch: Chargers rookie center Jake Slaughter and the reshuffled offensive line.
Friday, August 28
Washington Commanders at Baltimore Ravens
5:00 p.m. CT
Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins
6:00 p.m. CT
Watch: Atlanta's quarterback room following Michael Penix Jr.'s return.
Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers
6:00 p.m. CT
New York Giants at New York Jets
6:30 p.m. CT
Watch: Final roster battles in the annual New York matchup.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars
6:30 p.m. CT
New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys
7:00 p.m. CT
Watch: Joe Milton III and players battling for Dallas' final offensive roster spots.
Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers
7:00 p.m. CT
Watch: Carson Beck if the rookie quarterback is cleared to play.
Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs
7:00 p.m. CT
Watch: Seattle's depth following several significant injuries.
Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles
7:00 p.m. CT
National TV: CBS
Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos
8:00 p.m. CT
Saturday, August 29
Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts
12:00 p.m. CT
Chicago Bears at Tennessee Titans
5:00 p.m. CT
Watch: Tennessee's depth around Cam Ward and the Bears' final roster decisions.
Five Games Worth Watching Most
If you're not watching all 16 preseason games, these are five that carry especially interesting storylines.
1. Patriots at Browns
The obvious draw is Cleveland's quarterback situation.
Shedeur Sanders vs. Deshaun Watson could be one of the final meaningful evaluations before Monken makes his Week 1 decision.
2. 49ers at Raiders
Fernando Mendoza is one of the most important young quarterbacks to track this preseason.
Across the field, San Francisco is getting healthier, with Kittle's return from the PUP list providing a major boost heading toward the regular season.
3. Falcons at Dolphins
This matchup has a built-in storyline.
Tua Tagovailoa is now in Atlanta, Michael Penix Jr. is healthy enough to compete again, and Atlanta happens to be facing Miami.
Preseason occasionally writes its own television script.
4. Saints at Cowboys
Dallas gets one last opportunity to evaluate quarterback Joe Milton III and the bottom of a roster that will soon have to be reduced to 53 players.
Milton's preseason progress makes him one of the more interesting Cowboys to follow.
5. Seahawks at Chiefs
Seattle is dealing with injuries, while Kansas City provides another difficult environment for players trying to secure jobs.
This game should reveal more about Seattle's depth immediately before roster cuts.
The Bigger Story: Cut Day Is Coming
The scoreboard is secondary this week.
For hundreds of NFL players, these games could determine whether they have a job next Monday.
NFL teams must reduce their rosters to 53 players by Sunday, August 30 at 6 p.m. ET.
Every special-teams tackle matters.
Every missed assignment matters.
Every third-down conversion matters.
And for younger quarterbacks, offensive linemen, defensive backs, receivers and running backs trying to climb the depth chart, one impressive night can change an entire career.
That's what makes the final preseason weekend compelling.
The games don't count.
The performances absolutely do.
Sources and Full Links
NFL.com — Official 2026 Preseason Week 3 Schedule
https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2026/by-week/preseason-week-3
NFL.com — 2026-27 NFL Important Dates and Roster Deadline
https://www.nfl.com/news/2026-27-national-football-league-important-dates
NFL.com — 2026 NFL Preseason Week 2: 10 Things to Watch
https://www.nfl.com/news/2026-nfl-preseason-week-2-10-things-to-watch
ESPN — 2026 NFL Preseason Week 2 Takeaways and Analysis
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49664649/2026-nfl-preseason-week-2-takeaways-analysis-roster-questions
Reuters — Browns Continue Deshaun Watson vs. Shedeur Sanders QB Decision
https://www.reuters.com/sports/browns-coach-deshaun-watsons-comments-wont-affect-qb-decision--flm-2026-08-24/
Reuters — Michael Penix Jr. Cleared to Compete With Tua Tagovailoa
https://www.reuters.com/sports/falcons-qb-michael-penix-jr-fully-cleared-will-compete-with-tua-tagovailoa--flm-2026-08-23/
Reuters — 49ers Activate George Kittle From PUP List
https://www.reuters.com/sports/49ers-activate-te-george-kittle-achilles-off-pup-list--flm-2026-08-23/
Reuters — Chargers Lose Tyler Biadasz for the Season
https://www.reuters.com/sports/chargers-put-c-tyler-biadasz-season-ending-ir--flm-2026-08-23/
Reuters — Titans Rally to Beat Seahawks 19-16
https://www.reuters.com/sports/nfl/titans-rally-early-deficit-beat-seahawks-preseason-action--flm-2026-08-24/
Reuters — NFL Preseason Roundup
https://www.reuters.com/sports/nfl-preseason-roundup-jack-strand-shines-falcons-rout-colts--flm-2026-08-23/