NFL Update: Roster Decisions, Injury Watch and Final Preseason Games Set the Stage for 2026
August 25, 2026
The NFL preseason is entering its final act, and the stakes are suddenly much higher.
With the final preseason games scheduled for August 27 through August 29 and teams required to reduce their rosters to 53 players by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 30, this week will determine jobs, depth charts and several important Week 1 roles across the league.
Quarterback decisions are beginning to become official, injuries are being closely watched, and coaches are deciding how much risk they are willing to take with starters before the games begin counting in September.
Browns Choose Deshaun Watson Over Shedeur Sanders
One of the biggest quarterback decisions of the preseason has been made in Cleveland.
The Browns announced that Deshaun Watson will start Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, beating out Shedeur Sanders for the job as Todd Monken enters his first season as Cleveland's head coach.
Watson completed 16 of 27 passes for 162 yards with no touchdowns and one interception during his first two preseason appearances. Sanders completed 15 of 22 passes for 153 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Monken said the decision was based on the complete body of work from the offseason, training camp, games and joint practices, with the staff ultimately believing Watson gives Cleveland its best opportunity to open the season successfully.
The decision immediately makes Cleveland one of the more fascinating teams to follow entering September. Watson now has the starting job, but the attention surrounding Sanders is unlikely to disappear.
Raiders Get Encouraging Ashton Jeanty Injury News
Las Vegas received a scare when running back Ashton Jeanty injured his right leg during practice Sunday.
The injury is believed to be a sprained ankle and is not currently considered a long-term issue, although there has not been a firm timetable announced for his return.
Jeanty produced 1,321 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns during his rookie season after being selected sixth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. His availability is therefore a significant piece of the Raiders' offensive outlook.
If Jeanty is unable to return immediately, rookie Mike Washington Jr. could see an expanded role.
Josh Allen Will Sit Buffalo's Preseason Finale
The Buffalo Bills have little reason to gamble with their franchise quarterback.
Head coach Joe Brady said Josh Allen will not play Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, although some Buffalo starters are expected to participate.
Across the league, that decision reflects the balancing act coaches face during the final preseason weekend. Some teams need additional game-speed evaluation. Others already know what they have and would rather protect their most important players.
Buffalo's game against Pittsburgh begins a busy three-day stretch of preseason football.
Christian McCaffrey Returns to 49ers Practice
The San Francisco 49ers received positive news when Christian McCaffrey returned to team drills Sunday.
McCaffrey had not participated in team work since August 8 while dealing with tightness, but he said the break had been part of a planned approach to ramp his workload up, reduce it and then build again ahead of the regular season.
For San Francisco, simply having McCaffrey trending toward full readiness is more important than anything he could prove in a preseason box score.
The 49ers play the Raiders on Thursday before turning their attention toward an extraordinary Week 1 assignment against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
Cam Ward Still Searching for Rhythm in Tennessee
One quarterback whose preseason performance remains under examination is Tennessee's Cam Ward.
Ward completed 8 of 12 passes for 69 yards during Tennessee's 19-16 preseason victory over Seattle, but the Titans generated only three points during his three drives.
The second-year quarterback acknowledged missed opportunities in the passing game, particularly downfield. All eight of his completions came on throws inside 10 yards, while his four attempts traveling at least 10 yards downfield were incomplete.
The encouraging part for Tennessee is that Ward protected the football better and improved from his preseason opener. The concern is that the Titans are building their offense around his development, making his progression one of the AFC's more important early-season storylines.
Roster Cuts Are About to Reshape the League
The next few days will be ruthless.
NFL clubs must reduce their rosters to a maximum of 53 players by Sunday, August 30 at 6 p.m. ET. Players who are waived will then move through the league's claiming process, followed by the formation of practice squads.
That means preseason Week 3 is not meaningless football for hundreds of players.
For established starters, it may be a tune-up. For young players, undrafted free agents and veterans fighting for backup roles, a single special-teams play, sack, interception, missed assignment or explosive offensive play could determine whether they have an NFL job next week.
NFL Preseason Week 3: Upcoming Games
The final preseason weekend runs from Thursday, August 27 through Saturday, August 29. Times below are Eastern.
Thursday, August 27
- Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills — 7:00 p.m.
- New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns — 8:00 p.m.
- San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders — 8:00 p.m.
- Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers — 10:00 p.m.
Friday, August 28
- Washington Commanders at Baltimore Ravens — 6:00 p.m.
- Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers — 7:00 p.m.
- Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins — 7:00 p.m.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars — 7:30 p.m.
- New York Giants at New York Jets — 7:30 p.m.
- New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys — 8:00 p.m.
- Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs — 8:00 p.m.
- Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles — 8:00 p.m.
- Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers — 8:00 p.m.
- Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos — 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 29
- Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts — 1:00 p.m.
- Chicago Bears at Tennessee Titans — 6:00 p.m.
Games Worth Watching
Patriots at Browns suddenly carries more intrigue following Cleveland's quarterback announcement. Watson has won the Week 1 job, but every Sanders appearance will continue to be studied closely.
49ers at Raiders puts Las Vegas back on the field only days after Jeanty's ankle injury. His status will be more important than the final score.
Saints at Cowboys gives Dallas one final opportunity to evaluate its depth before the roster deadline. For a team carrying the expectations that always follow the Cowboys, roster decisions at several positions could become bigger stories than the exhibition itself.
Seahawks at Chiefs offers an interesting final tune-up between two organizations entering the season with major expectations.
And Bears at Titans provides Tennessee one last preseason evaluation before attention shifts completely toward Cam Ward and the regular season.
Then the Real Games Begin
The preseason ends Saturday, roster decisions arrive Sunday, and then the countdown begins.
The 2026 NFL regular season opens Wednesday, September 9, when the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
Seattle defeated New England in Super Bowl LX, meaning the league will begin its 107th season with an immediate Super Bowl rematch.
One night later, the NFL heads into new territory when the San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, the league's first regular-season game played in Australia.
Opening Sunday follows with games including Buffalo at Houston, Cleveland at Jacksonville, Green Bay at Minnesota, Washington at Philadelphia and Dallas at the New York Giants. Week 1 concludes Monday night with Denver visiting Kansas City.
For now, though, the NFL's spotlight belongs to the bottom half of the roster.
The stars know September is coming.
Hundreds of other players have roughly one more game to make sure they are there when it arrives.
Sources
- NFL.com — NFL Roster Cuts Tracker
NFL roster cuts tracker: Team-by-team player moves ahead of the 2026 season - NFL.com — Browns Name Deshaun Watson Week 1 Starter
Browns name Deshaun Watson starting QB for Week 1 of 2026 season - NFL.com — Ashton Jeanty Injury Update
Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty believed to have sprained ankle - NFL.com — August 25 League News Roundup
NFL news roundup: Latest league updates from Tuesday, Aug. 25 - NFL.com — Christian McCaffrey Practice Update
Christian McCaffrey: Absence from practices was part of the plan - NFL.com — Cam Ward Preseason Update
Cam Ward's preseason struggles continue against Seahawks - NFL.com — 2026 Preseason Week 3 Schedule
Official NFL Preseason Week 3 schedule - NFL.com — 2026-27 NFL Important Dates
2026-27 National Football League important dates - NFL.com — 2026 Week 1 Schedule
Official 2026 NFL Week 1 schedule - NFL.com — Complete Week 1 Schedule Release
2026 NFL schedule release: Complete slate of Week 1 games