2026 NFL Week 1 Preseason Recap: 3 Winners, 3 Losers And A Trend

The 2026 NFL preseason kicked off with notable Week 1 performances. Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa struggled in his debut, fueling the quarterback competition. Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa also disappointed, dropping a pass that led to an interception and recording no receptions. Titans QB Cam Ward completed just 5 of 12 passes against 49ers backups. Conversely, Commanders undrafted RB Robert Henry Jr. impressed with 75 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Cowboys undrafted WR Camden Brown delivered two highlight-reel touchdowns, while 49ers WR De’Zhaun Stribling caught seven passes for 63 yards against Titans starters. Meanwhile, Joe Burrow took more snaps under center, and a significant QB battle is emerging in Cleveland between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders.

It’s the first week of the 2026 NFL preseason; I get it. It’s early yet. Some teams didn’t start their starters, some teams played their starters against backups, and some teams just went all out. So, yes, it is hard to judge just what is relevant and what isn’t, but that’s the fun in analysis, right?

So, after the first week of preseason games, here are three winners, three losers, and a couple of trends that stood out.

Tagovailoa is looking to make a fresh start after being summarily dismissed by the Miami Dolphins. New head coach Kevin Stefanski is looking to make a statement in Atlanta, and one of his first steps after acquiring Tagovailoa was to announce that there is a quarterback competition between last year’s starter, Michael Penix Jr., who is currently recovering from a torn ACL, and Tagovailoa.

Penix has not been cleared to take hits. So, for preseason game one, it was the Tagovailoa show. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite ready for prime time.

Tagovailoa only played on two drives. And it was against the Denver Broncos defense. A defense that played most of its starters. A defense that got pressure on 60% of Tagovailoa’s dropbacks. Yes, wide receiver Drake London only played two snaps. And running back Bijan Robinson did not play at all. But still, Tagovailoa’s first drive went three-and-out, including an awkward fumble on second down out of the shotgun snap. Then it was punt…punt… punt…punt…punt. Not a great start, but hey, it was only the first preseason game with a new team and a new scheme.

TeSlaa is the heir apparent to a starting position in the Lions wide receiver room. Things have not gone as planned. After a poor training camp, the Week 1 preseason game was his chance to shine.

First, TeSlaa was playing with the backups; that is both good and bad. Good: if he is truly a WR3, it will give him a chance to shine against what is assumed to be an easier challenge. But then again, he is playing with the backups and not the starters. Well, maybe there is a reason.

TeSlaa was targeted three times and recorded zero receptions on 11 routes run. His first target went through his hands, off his helmet, into the waiting hands of an opposing defensive back for an interception. It didn’t get better. Three targets and zero receptions on 11 routes is not how a WR3 on a potent offense is made.

Ward is entering his second year with new, improved weapons, a new head coach, and a new offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll. All this new may take some time, as exhibited by his play in Week 1. Ward’s final stat line read 5-of-12 for 57 yards, one rush attempt for two yards.

It looked more painful than that. After a solid first drive (that, truth be told, was due to the running backs), Ward was off-target out of the pocket; his attempts at hero ball were mistakes, and according to Next Gen Stats, he only attempted two passes for more than seven air yards.

And to make matters slightly worse, this was against the San Francisco 49ers backups.

Again, this is a lot of new for the second-year quarterback, but against the backups, you are hoping for a little better.

Undrafted free agent Henry made a strong case to jump into the Commanders' running back rotation. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry. Early on, he broke off a 15-yard run, showing off his strength, and then doubled down by beating defenders to the outside on his touchdown run.

On 12 carries, he finished with 75 yards and a touchdown.

Kaytron Allen had the bulk of the workload in the running back room with 23 carries for 85 yards and one touchdown. But Henry’s 12 carries and 6.3 yards per carry isn’t nothing.

Undrafted free agent Brown may be moving up the Cowboys' crowded wide receiver room. The hype from the Cowboys camp for once may not be just the hot Texas air blowing through the land.

It’s not just the two touchdowns he had in his Week 1 preseason game; it’s how he amassed his 62 yards, two touchdowns on three receptions. The first was his contested catch in the end zone. The second was the one-handed catch on the2-yard fade also in the end zone. The catches are highlight-reel worthy. But what is more impressive is that they are following training camp hype, so maybe he’s not just the hot Texas air.

The Niners wide receiver worries might have just been lightened a little. Second-year receiver Stribling played against most of the Titans' defensive starters, and he was good. He was the second most targeted Niner; he ran 15 routes, and he finished with eight targets, seven receptions for 63 yards, against the defense run by the Niners' former defensive coordinator.

I know it was only one game. But it was one good game.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was under center! He took seven of his thirteen snaps under center. Is it a trend?

Now, what they are hoping isn’t a trend is left tackle Orlando Brown getting his quarterback smoked. Brown gave up a quick pressure that resulted in Burrow feeling the wrath.

In the ever-so-crowded Cleveland Browns quarterback room, Shedeur Sanders is expected to start and play with the starters in Week 2. Deshaun Watson started in Week 1 and finished with 11-for-15, for 126 yards, zero touchdowns, zero interceptions, one sack, one fumble, three rushing attempts for four yards, and a 98.2 quarterback rating. This is a real quarterback competition; the question is, will it matter?

All analyses are valid here. You have a different view? Come let me know on Twitter @gladysLtyler or come talk to me and my co-host @FFadjacent Friday nights on the “In No Particular Order” podcast, starting August 28th at 9 pm Eastern, 7 pm Mountain, and 3 pm Hawaii time!