NFL 2026 Preseason Week2: 3 Winners, 3 Losers And The Battles

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - AUGUST 22: New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3)***New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (3) prays earlier the preseason NFL crippled betwixt the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins connected Saturday, August 22, 2026 astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami, FL (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Preseason Week 2 is successful the locker room, and it held a fewer surprises. What wasn’t a astonishment some the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams did not suit up their starters. And to beryllium adjacent to the shellacking the New Orleans Saints took astatine the hands of the Rams, the Saints didn't play their starters either.

And yes, erstwhile again we usage the caveat that it’s preseason, but location are men still playing to get their names connected a 53-man roster (yep, checking you out, Odell Beckham Jr.).

So, let's spot the winners, losers, and battles that surfaced successful Week 2 of the 2026 NFL preseason.

3 Winners 2026 NFL Preseason Week 2

Quarterback, Geno Smith, New York Jets

I get that the Jets’ discourtesy was playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers 2nd and 3rd defenses, but aft sitting retired past week pinch ankle issues, the expectations were debased for Smith, going against the Steelers. It is safe to opportunity he exceeded expectations.

Smith went 69 yards pinch 5 first downs connected 10 plays. He was 7-for-7, pinch a last flip to tight extremity Jelani Woods for a touchdown. It’s early, but Smith emerged from this crippled pinch a small little shadiness connected his back, which makes him a winner.

Running Back, Ameer Abdullah, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars did not play their starters; the Carolina Panthers did. Abdullah did not care. The seasoned Abdullah is fighting for a spot connected the Jaguars roster, and his preseason Week 2 capacity showed he conscionable mightiness get it.

Abdullah, going against the Panthers' starters, rushed for 45 yards connected six carries. This included putting immoderate beautiful soft moves connected Panthers’ starting cornerback Chou Smith-Wade, showing his open-field elusiveness is still there.

Abdullah vanished averaging 7.5 yards per transportation and was besides targeted 4 times for 3 receptions and 37 yards.

Defense, New York Jets

I know, I look for illustration a homer, which is beautiful ironic considering I americium a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. But the Jets defense (even against the Steelers' 2nd and 3rd offense) was thing to celebrate, moreover though it’s “only preseason”.

Let's first talk astir rookie David Bailey, who played 12 snaps and vanished pinch 2 pressures and 1 sack. And past location are the 2 sacks by precocious inked Nate Lynn, making 4 full sacks for the Jets. And past location are Andre Cisco and Samuel Womack (neither listed first connected the extent chart) who managed to haul successful an interception apiece.

In 1 preseason game, the Jets doubled their interception totals from past season, while caput coach and protect play caller Aaron Glenn blended his postulation of veterans and rookies into looking for illustration a respectable defense. That’s a win.

3 Losers 2026 NFL Preseason Week 2

Quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders

It’s difficult to explanation Mendoza a loser because, well, he is simply a rookie and he was going against the Houston Texans defense (whose 2nd squad could beryllium immoderate teams' ones), but adjacent is fair. Mendoza looked each portion of the rookie (although caput coach Klint Kubiak made it look that location is still a backmost conflict for the Week 1 starting position…yeah).

Anyway, Mendoza vanished the crippled pinch 86 yards connected 8 receptions and 15 throws. He besides had a pick-six. He was sacked once, and successful 5 bid he came distant pinch 3 points.

It decidedly wasn’t a win.

Los Angeles Chargers Offense, Mike McDaniel

The hold is still connected to spot what magic McDaniel will propulsion retired of his arsenal. The Week 2 preseason crippled against the San Francisco 49ers wasn’t it.

The Chargers vanished the crippled pinch 17 points, 8 punts, 7 penalties, and only 8 first downs.

Quarterback Justin Herbert played the opening violative series, which lasted only 3 snaps. He went 1-for-2 for 9 yards.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Speaking of constricted play that said volumes, Daniels besides only played successful 1 bid against the Detroit Lions. He went three-and-out. He was sacked once, and his 1 walk effort resulted successful an incompletion.

Keep successful mind, Daniels is going from a Kliff Kingsbury discourtesy to a David Blough offense. The accommodation play and the betterment from past season’s ankle wounded propose that location whitethorn beryllium immoderate rust that needs to beryllium shaken off.

Maybe preseason isn’t the clip for it…we’ll person to hold and see. But 3 and retired isn’t precisely saying “it’s each good”.

Quarterback Battles

There is seldom a conflict for starting position unless you are the Cleveland Browns.

Shedeur Sanders v Deshaun Watson

Although this is simply a conflict for the starting position successful Cleveland, it is clear that caput coach Todd Monken is not holding back. He besides has not announced who will beryllium the starter for the Browns successful Week 1 of the season.

In preseason Week 2, Sanders played pinch the Browns’ second-string violative statement against the Buffalo Bills. He completed his first 8 passes, finishing 9-of-11 for 74 yards and an interception.

Watson played into the 4th fourth and went 5-of-12 for 35 yards and an interception.

J.J. McCarthy v Carson Wentz

While McCarthy thought he was successful a conflict for the starting backmost position against Kyler Murray, it was a specified formality. The existent conflict is for the QB2 position successful Minnesota, and McCarthy doesn’t person the lead successful that either.

Week 2 of the preseason, McCarthy played successful 4 bid pinch the second-team offense. He vanished 5-of-10 for 81 yards, taking a sack.

Wentz vanished his time 9-of-11 for 92 yards and 2 sacks.

Anthony Richardson v Riley Leonard

The Indianapolis Colts conflict for QB2 whitethorn beryllium the astir pressing. Their starting quarterback, Daniel Jones, is coming disconnected a surgery limb and an Achilles tear. Neither backup made a powerful connection for the job. They mixed to person 1-of-11 connected their third-down chances.

Leonard played the first half and went 7-of-14 for 62 yards. Richards played the 2nd half and was 3-of-9 for 24 yards while taking 2 sacks.

Preseason

There is 1 much week of preseason games, and past the nosy really begins! But don’t disregard Week 3 of the preseason. It’s the past determinant for roster cuts; it’s clip for the caller coordinators connected some sides of the shot to commencement to make their intentions clear, and astir importantly, it is clip for each instrumentality bases to liking their claim.

Let’s get to it.

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