NFL Preseason Week 2: What to Watch in All 16 Games

NFL Preseason Week 2: What to Watch in All 16 Games originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The first regular-season game of the 2025 NFL season kicks off three weeks from Thursday, as the Philadelphia Eagles begin defense of their Super Bowl title at home vs. the Dallas Cowboys (will Micah Parsons be playing? We’ll see…)

In the meantime, all 32 teams have two more preseason games to see what they’ve got. Here’s a look at the 16 games on the preseason Week 2 schedule, with an eye toward what we’ll be watching.

Friday, Aug. 15

Tennessee Titans at Atlanta Falcons
7 pm ET, NFL Network

All eyes are on No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward for the Titans. Ward was fine in his debut last week, completing five of eight attempts for 67 tards. The more reps he gets, the better he’ll be. And fantasy managers will be eager to see Ward develop a rapport with veteran Calvin Ridley.

The Falcons still need to work on their defense, and the front line has shown improvement. Keep an eye on rookie edge rusher James Pearce, who has impressed in preseason.

Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks
10 pm ET, NFL Network

Kansas City expects receiver Rashee Rice to be suspended at least three games following his reckless driving case, so the Chiefs need to see how fast rookie Jalen Royals can be worked into the lineup. Royals has been praised as a fast learner in camp, but he’s got more to prove in Andy Reid’s system.

Seahawks rookie receiver Tory Horton has been impressive in training camp, and he backed that up with three receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown last week in a preseason tie vs. the Raiders. If Horton can stay hot, he’s got a chance to supplant veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantlng as Seattle’s WR3 behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp.

Saturday, Aug. 16

Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys
7 pm ET

Keaton Mitchell’s outstanding preseason debut last week isn’t going to translate into fewer carries for starter Derrick Henry … but it could make Mitchell a more useful backup/change of pace than veteran Justice Hill. So what we may see in this game is a genuine battle for playing time between Mitchell and Hill.

The Cowboys are excited to see rookie running back Jaydon Blue in action. Blue missed the preseason opener with a heel injury but is expected to play here. The Dallas backfield is a work in progress, and Blue has a chance to make an impression.

Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos
9:30 pm ET, NFL Network

Rookie cornerback Will Johnson has been one of the stars of training camp for the Cardinals. The second-round pick has been a revelation, so it could be fun to see how he does against Sean Payton’s passing attack.

The Broncos have an elite WR1 in Courtland Sutton, but the cast of receivers beyond Sutton are just average. For that reason, Payton will want to see more from rookie receiver Pat Bryant, who’s been playing well. Bryant caught both of his targets for 21 yards in the preseason debut.

Miami Dolphins at Detroit Lions
1 pm ET

The offensive line has been problematic for Miami for years, and that weakness continued last week when the Dolphins allowed six sacks against the Bears. That unit is under the most scrutiny.

It’s pretty clear that Kyle Allen is the Lions’ No. 2 quarterback, so the question is: What will become of 2023 third-round pick Hendon Hooker? For a team that’s a solid Super Bowl contender, the Lions would love to see Hooker step up and draw the attention of teams that might be interested in trading for a QB prospect with upside.

Carolina Panthers at Houston Texans
1 pm ET

First-round pick Tetairoa McMillan immediately improves the Panthers’ receiving corps. McMillian caught two passes for 43 yards last week in his preseason debut. Carolina head coach Dave Canales would like to see more. Another receiver fighting to be a contributor is Jalen Coker, an undrafted rookie last year who ended up catching 32 passes. Coker caught a TD last week and has been determined to make the roster.

Green Bay Packers at Indianapolis Colts
1 pm ET

Preseason results often are meaningless, but the Packers clearly have marching orders following a 30-10 loss to the New York Jets. Green Bay allowed four sacks and a lot of pressure in that game. The offensive line is a major focus this week.

For the Colts, the QB battle between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones continues. Richardson seems fine following the pinky injury he suffered last week. But the pressure is squarely on Richardson to convince head coach Shane Steichen that he has what it takes to lead this offense.

Los Angeles Chargers at Los Angeles Rams
7 pm ET

The Chargers have dominated in two preseason games and their offensive starters have yet to see the field. The biggest issue for this team is to see how veteran backup offensive tackle Trey Pipkins looks stepping in for Rashawn Slater, who’s out for the season.

There is no storyline in Rams camp right now bigger than the lingering concern over quarterback Matthew Stafford’s bad back. For now, the team is saying he’s just resting the back. But how long before it morphs into a regular-season concern? Until that question is answered, veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo needs to get more comfortable with the first-team offense. Just in case…

San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders
4 pm ET, NFL Network

A pair of unheralded rookies have stood out in camp and have a chance to make the 49ers: undrafted defensive lineman Sebastian Valdez and seventh-round receiver Junior Bergen received praise after last week’s preseason debut. Especially with the receiving corps thin until Brandon Aiyuk’s mid-season return from a knee injury, Bergen has a chance to make a splash.  

Preseason stats are mostly meaningless, but three carries for minus-1 yard is not what you want to see from one of the most highly touted rookie running backs in years. Don’t expect Ashton Jeanty to see much more action in this game, but no doubt Raiders fans — not to mention fantasy managers — would like to see a small measure of productivity.

New England Patriots at Minnesota Vikings
1 pm ET

After a spectacular preseason debut that included a 100-yard kickoff return, rookie running back Tre’Veyon Henderson has Patriots fans re-energized. And another big game here could send Henderson flying up the fantasy draft ladder even more than the trajectory he’s already on.

J.J. McCarthy looked good in his preseason debut, but the second-year pro coming off knee surgery needs more reps in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

New York Jets at New York Giants
7 pm ET, NFL Network

The Jets played with intensity in last week’s big win over the Packers — likely a sign that rookie head coach Aaron Glenn wants to keep his team fired up. Playing the rival Giants, it’s easy to think Glenn will have his team fired up again. And perhaps that’s a hint at the kind of energy Glenn will bring when the games count.

Rookie QB Jaxson Dart looked good in his first NFL action last week. It’s doubtful head coach Brian Daboll would take the starting QB job away from veteran Russell Wilson, but Dart’s performance this week might speed up the timetable for when he eventually becomes the starter.

Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles
1 pm ET, NFL Network

Even after his promising preseason debut last week, Browns QB Shedeur Sanders remains fourth on the unofficial depth chart. Still, there’s no question the team wants to see more of what he can do. They’d love to see fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel in action, but Gabrial’s lingering hamstring injury gives Sanders more opportunity.

The defending champs got some good news this week when it was determined Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson’s meniscus injury was not serious and that he might be ready for the regular-season opener. Still, the injury is worth keeping an eye on, and the Eagles need to use this game to see what they’ve got behind Dickerson.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Pittsburgh Steelers
7 pm ET

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said many of his starters will see action this week. Rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka isn’t currently listed as a starter, but he’ll continue to see action and try to prove he can be a valuable weapon for Baker Mayfield.

Don’t expect to see Aaron Rodgers for Pittsburgh. With that in mind, while Mason Rudolph is entrenched as the Steelers backup QB, it will be good for Pittsburgh to see what they have in rookie QB Will Howard, the sixth-round pick out of Ohio State.

Sunday, Aug. 17

Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears
8 pm ET, FOX

Buffalo’s receiving corps doesn’t have an alpha dog, so there’s opportunity for an unheralded player to make a mark. That player in preseason has been Tyrell Shavers, an undrafted player who has spent the last two years on the Bills’ practice squad. Shavers got noticed when he caught a 58-yard pass from Mitchell Trubisky against the Giants last week. Expect Shavers to get a few more targets.

Will this be our first look at Caleb Williams in the Ben Johnson offense? Williams didn’t play in the Bears’ preseason opener last week, so the jury’s still out on how last year’s No. 1 overall pick will handle the new offense.

Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints
1 pm ET, NFL Network

For Jacksonville, all eyes continue to be on No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter and how he is used on both offense and defense.

Saints rookie head coach Kellen Moore was pleased with Tyler Shough’s NFL debut last week. The second-round draft pick completed 15 of 22 passes for 165 with one touchdown and a pick-six. The QB battle is still up for grabs with Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener in the mix, but Shough will get every chance to win the starting job.

Monday, Aug. 18

Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Commanders
8 pm ET, ESPN

Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase didn’t get off to a hot start last week so much as they just picked up where they left off at the end of last season. The Bengals’ offense featured the usual suspects… although it was Tanner Hudson who scored two touchdowns. Hudson is currently among five tight ends listed as third-string on the Bengals’ depth chart behind Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample. One of the other third-stringers is former first-round pick Noah Fant, a cap casualty with the Seahawks who just recently signed with the Bengals. Fant caught 48 passes for 500 yards last year; if he can make an impression here, he could prove to be a sneaky weapon for Cincy.

Dan Quinn was not happy with the Commanders’ sloppy loss to the Patriots last week. Quinn will be focused on getting his team more disciplined after committing 15 penalties last week. The offense will be checking out rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, a seventh-round pick who’s looked good and might have a chance to make this roster.

Related: The All-22: Shedeur Sanders Made the Right Kind of Loud Statement In His First NFL Start

Related: Anthony Richardson Didn't Understand His Protection, and That Got Him in Trouble

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.