2026 NFL Preseason Week 1 Winners and Losers

We're in it now.

NFL football has begun—in earnest.

OK, NFL football hasn't exactly begun yet. The first week of the 2026 preseason is in the books, but we're still a few weeks out from a game that will actually matter in the standings. This weekend's slate was short on stars and long on players trying desperately just to stick on a practice squad.

Given that reality, the preseason has to be viewed through a certain lens. Oftentimes, the biggest performances this time of year are much ado about nothing. The things that really matter in the season to come can be muted. Harder to spot.

But there are still most assuredly things that happen that do matter. Position battles to be decided. Highly-drafted rookies trying to get a head-start on their first pro season. Other rookies looking to make the impression that will crack the 53.

And whether the games count or not, there are still winners and losers.

Winner: QB Drew Allar, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/David Dermer

There's only one place to start this look at the biggest winners and losers from the first week of preseason action—with the biggest star of Thursday's slate.

Not that long ago, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy was telling reporters that rookie quarterback Drew Allar didn't just have a lot to learn in the NFL—he had to be completely rebuilt from the ground up.

"Everybody teaches footwork a little differently," McCarthy said. "Everybody has a system of offense and how you tie your quarterback--particularly in the pass game--to that. So, there's a lot of work there. We were able to adjust some fundamentals that we think will help him."

Um…so far so good.

Allar was admittedly the third Steelers quarterback to enter Thursday's win over the Green Bay Packers, but he didn't waste any time making an impression—his first pass attempt of the game was a 74-yard completion.

Allar polished off that drive with a three-yard touchdown scamper. The next time the Steelers had the ball, Allar led the team on a 10-play, 89-yard drive that culminated in a five-yard touchdown pass. The drive after that, it was 10 plays, 60 yards and a four-yard score.

For the game, Allar went 10-of-13 for 153 yards, two passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and a flag firmly planted in the battle to be the No. 3 quarterback in the Steel City.

Loser: QB Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn

If the Titans are going to take a step forward as a team in 2026, then Tennessee badly needs the first overall pick in 2025 to do the same. Ward's first NFL season was uneven—although he picked up some momentum as the season wore on.

That momentum was not evident in Thursday's nightcap with the San Francisco 49ers.

While San Francisco rested their starters in the game, new Titans head coach Robert Saleh chose to play the first team for a few series—and that development from last year's stretch run was nowhere to be seen.

Despite an improved cadre of wide receivers that now includes veteran Wan'Dale Robinson and rookie fourth overall pick Carnell Tate, Ward looked, well, bad against the Niners—five completions in 12 attempts for 57 yards and a passer rating of 56.6.

Um, yeah.

While addressing the media after the 19-13 win, Saleh allowed that Ward has had better days behind center.

"It felt like his decisions were right, it just felt like he was a little sped up more than he had been in camp," Saleh said. "It's first time live bullets. It looked like his mechanics were a little more sped up than it has been, which is good because we can go correct it, which is what the preseason is for. I'm sure he'll look back at it and see that the protection was pretty good, and he could have went through his process a little bit better."

A few series are hardly cause to hit the big red panic button.

But it wasn't the start to Ward's second season that the Titans were looking for.

Winner: QB Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/David Becker

Like there was any way that we were getting through this piece without talking about the NFL debut of Fernando Mendoza for the Las Vegas Raiders. After all, he's going to save the franchise. Lead the Raiders from obscurity back into relevance.

Mendoza didn't set the world on fire, but he wasn't bad, either. Against the Arizona Cardinals, Mendoza completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards. Mendoza made a couple of nice throws, including a six-yard scoring strike to Jack Bech in the second quarter.

After the game, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak lauded Mendoza's first game action as a pro while speaking to reporters.

"I think the thing that stood out for me again is we put a lot on his plate and all the quarterbacks' plates getting ready for this preseason game, and he went out and executed the way that he does in practice," Kubiak said. "Some guys, they get to the game and things change on them. It moves fast and they freak out. He was the opposite. He was very calm, he was getting the calls in, he was seeing coverage well. I like the way that he moved in the pocket, got outside, and extended some plays. So, I think that Fernando has had a really good week of practice and the things that he did in the game are things I've seen him do in practice. He's consistent. That consistency from the position is important. I didn't see any gameday surprises just because the moment was a little bit big. He was the same guy."

A few preseason drives don't make Mendoza a superstar.

But given all the hype surrounding him, Mendoza acquitted himself well.

Loser: Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Line

AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

Bengals QB Joe Burrow

Much has been made of the defense in Cincinnati, whether it's the Bengals' struggles in that regard last year or the sizable offseason investment in it.

But if Thursday's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions is any indication, the team's offensive line may be the bigger issue in 2026.

Two years ago, only three quarterbacks were sacked more times than Burrow—the third time in his career that he was dropped at least 40 times. The Bengals rolled their starters out there against the Lions' backups—and Burrow was dropped on his second pass attempt of the game.

While talking to the media after the game, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor tried to put the poor performance in perspective.

"It's never fun — that's not what we wanted to happen," Taylor said. "But again, we'll continue to improve. I think they've been good. They've been tested every single day from our defensive line. And, again, I think the competition is making everybody better on both sides of the ball."

Burrow was sacked by a player who has never been active for an NFL game. Per Underdog, Burrow was pressured on a whopping 28.6 percent of his dropbacks against Detroit. By (with all due respect) an assemblage of scrubs.

By weight of comparison, two years ago Burrow was pressured on 31.2 percent of his dropbacks.

So, hey! Things are getting better!

Winner: RB Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/David Becker

Fernando Mendoza wasn't the only highly-drafted rookie who was an action Thursday—three of the first four picks in April's draft were on the field.

It was a forgettable night for fourth overall pick Carnell Tate, who didn't catch any of his three targets against the San Francisco 49ers. But the player drafted just before Tate was busy against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Arizona Cardinals fed running back Jeremiyah Love early and often Thursday, and while his night started slowly by the second quarter Love was hurdling his way into the hearts of fans and fantasy managers alike.

By the end of the first half, Love had touched the ball 14 times, tallying 72 total yards in the process.

Those 14 touches in one half of a meaningless game seem rather a lot, especially after it was revealed Love tweaked his ankle in the game and will be out next week.

But while talking to reporters Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said the plan was to get Love involved in the offense both on the ground and through the air.

"Well, if you have a back that can run routes out of the backfield, you typically have favorable matchups," LaFleur said. "There's obviously certain linebackers that are really good at covering guys. If you got a guy that you feel is pretty dynamic, that can obviously be a pretty big weapon for you."

It looks like Love is going to be a big part of the offense in Arizona this year.

And that said offense might actually be pretty good in 2026.

Loser: PK Andy Borregales, New England Patriots

AP Photo

Training camp can be especially important for kickers. There are more than a few teams who don't yet know who their kicker will be in 2026. The New England Patriots weren't presumed to be one of those teams after Andy Borregales hit on 27 field goal tries last year.

After how Borregales looked in Thursday's preseason tie with the Indianapolis Colts, his job security could be a whole lot shakier.

It's not just that Borregales missed the potential game-winner from 49 yards out, although that is unfortunate.

He also missed from 55 and 56 yards, going just two-for-five on his own field.

In his postgame presser, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel made it clear that a 40 percent hit rate isn't getting it done once games start to count.

"We're expected to make them. That's pro football," Vrabel said. "They're banging them in from 60 yards. They got two kickers on the roster, so Andy knows that we have to make those field goals."

It won't be a huge surprise if the Patriots have two kickers too before their next exhibition game—Borregales finished outside the top-20 kickers in field goal accuracy last year as well.

Winner: WR De'Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn

When the San Francisco 49ers made wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling the first pick of the second day of this year's draft, there were some mumbles and shrugs. But Stribling has impressed throughout OTAs and camp, and when Ricky Pearsall had season-ending knee surgery it opened a path to real snaps for the youngster.

With San Fran's veterans taking the preseason opener off, Stribling got a chance to show what he can do in game action. The 6'2", 207-pounder wasn't just a big part of the 49ers offense in the first half.

He was the offense.

While speaking to the media after the game, Stribling said it felt good to carry practice success over to a game situation—even if it's a game that doesn't count.

"I felt great out there," Stribling said. "It felt like I was really clicking with the offense, hearing in the huddle, lining up on the field. So, I'm very grateful I had the opportunities and the passes that I did. The physicality and the speed, the whole tempo of everything, getting out there for the first time and getting used to it, it was real fun."

Mike Evans has been nicked up already this summer. Christian Kirk has a lengthy injury history. So does tight end George Kittle, who is coming of a torn Achilles. Deebo Samuel just got back to San Francisco.

If Stribling continues to impress, he's going to have a chance to make a real dent as a rookie.

Loser: Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Mike Stewart

Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa

It was a rough weekend for the Atlanta Falcons.

First, the team received news that edge-rusher James Pearce Jr. will be suspended for the first eight games of the 2026 season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. With fellow second-year pro Jalon Walker already out for the year with an ACL tear, a Falcons pass rush that led the NFC in sacks last year is reeling before the season even starts.

Then Friday's preseason game with the Denver Broncos started—and the whole team started reeling.

Tua Tagovailoa made his Atlanta debut in the game, and it did little to settle the quarterback competition for the Falcons—Tagovailoa completed just 3-of-5 passes for 22 yards. It was a performance that was, um, yeah.

While speaking to reporters after the game, Tagovailoa acknowledged that he didn't play very well.

"Definitely not up to standard, not even up to par. Start with the first drive, second play, just being able to catch the snap. Little things like that," Tagovailoa said. "What we put out there is not a reflection of the hard work that we've put in the first two weeks of training camp, and it does no justice to the work our coaches have implemented. It starts with me. I've got to be better with that."

It wasn't just Tagovailoa—the Falcons averaged 2.6 yards per carry on the ground, were out-gained 359-192 and committed nine penalties. Broncos head coach Sean Payton poured salt on the wound too when asked at halftime about the sparse crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

"There's a lot of people dressed up as empty seats today," Payton said.

Just…ouch.

Winner: Fringe CB for Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Buccaneers CB Damarion Williams

For some players, training camp and the preseason is about working out the kinks and preparing for the season to come. But for fringe guys, the exhibition slate is a chance to show that they belong. A chance to make a case for making the 53-man roster in 2026.

A couple of fringe cornerbacks got their Perry Mason on Friday night.

Rookie Ayden Garnes is an undrafted rookie who needs to take advantage of every rep he gets. The youngster did that against the Jets, returning a Bailey Zappe interception for a touchdown.

However, while speaking to reporters after the 24-16 win, Tampa head coach Todd Bowles told reporters that Garnes still has things to work on if he's going to make the team.

"We knew he could cover," Bowles said. "Missing tackles is what we were worried about; he missed one early."

Damarion Williams had no such issue making stops.

A fourth round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2022, Williams hasn't seen regular-season game action since 2023. That the 28-year-old played as much as he did shows that there's still work to be done. But Williams was all over the place for Tampa, finishing the contest with a team-high 12 total tackles (eight solo), a sack and a pass defensed.

Loser: QB Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

The quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders has dominated the headlines in Cleveland this offseason—so much so that while speaking to the media recently Sanders sounded like a man who was sick and tired of talking about it.

"I answered this question a thousand times," Sanders said. We focus on ourselves and what we do, and what we need to do to get better each and every day. So, that's just something y'all think about and y'all care about."

Sanders apologized for those remarks, but after Saturday's blowout loss to the Bears in Chicago Sanders may owe folks another apology—for how he played.

Watson drew the start against the Bears and played relatively well, completing 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards. Sanders came in after halftime and…did not play well.

That, folks, is a terrible throw.

Yes, the supporting cast around him matters. But playing against reserve defenders (and then some), Sanders completed just six of 11 throws for 79 yards and that pick.

Earlier this week, Browns head coach Todd Monken told reporters that the battle to start at Jacksonville in Week 1 was still far from settled.

"As long as we're still sharing reps, it's a competition," Monken said. "They've been great, and I think they've both improved — I've always said that about Shedeur. But even over the last week or so, Deshaun has played better. He's looked better, he's made better decisions. I think some of that grows, like all of us, as they have success. Their confidence grows with the success they have every day."

It may be closer to settled now.

Winner: Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Bills QB Josh Allen

The Buffalo Bills christened their new stadium in style Saturday, handling the Carolina Panthers 29-14.

And if what we saw from Buffalo's starters in the game was any indication, maybe this is the year Buffalo finally gets over the hump and back to the Super Bowl.

Buffalo offense looked a lot like Buffalo's offense, scoring on consecutive drives in the first quarter to take an early 10-0 lead. Josh Allen finished six of eight for 111 yards and a score, while wide receiver DJ Moore shined in his Bills debut, catching three of four targets for 61 yards.

While addressing the media after the game. Allen talked up what Moore brings to Western New York after coming over from the Chicago Bears in an offseason trade.

"It's gonna be awesome to do that every single game," Allen said. "To get him involved early and often. When everything is firing we can be 2 dimensional."

The defense wasn't about to be outdone. Granted, it came against a Panthers team that was short its top running back, both starting tackles and both starting guards, but in three drives from Carolina's "starters," the team gained all of 11 yards and not a single first down.

Buffalo's early-season schedule is rough—at Houston and then home against the Lions, Chargers and Patriots.

But the team that dominated early on Saturday looks like it can hang with anyone.

Loser: RB Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

The general assumption for most of the summer was that if healthy, Cam Skattebo would be the lead back for the New York Giants. But while appearing on the Giants Huddle podcast, the team's all-time leading rusher (Tiki Barber) said that he expects Tyrone Tracy to be a big part of the offense in 2026—especially as a receiver.

"We have good screen players like Tyrone Tracy is so elusive and slippery and space," Barber said. "Using him in a screen game because he's got great hands, obviously, I think is one of the underutilized things from the last couple of years with him, and you know that's going to come back because Matt Nagy has proven he can do that or, as a play designer, I don't know if he didn't call the plays there, but as a play designer I think he's got every intangible that you need to make the screen game so important, and I mean Giant fans scream for it all the time, 'screen now!' I think we'll see it, and I can't wait for it."

That's not going to be the case, however, if Tracy keeps completely whiffing on blitz pickups and getting his quarterback clobbered.

Ole!

Now, one play isn't going to get Tracy relegated to the Phantom Zone. But Skattebo is a more punishing runner. Devin Singletary is a capable veteran who can catch the ball out of the backfield and one of the league's best pass-blocking backs.

I hope Tracy has comfortable shoes.

At New York's next practice, he may be running laps for a while.

Winner: QB Ty Simpson, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

More than a few eyebrows went skyward back in April when the Rams used a top-15 pick on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. After all, the team has the league's reigning MVP in Matthew Stafford.

Ahead of his first game action in the NFL, Simpson told reporters that Stafford's advice was simple.

"I told him I was excited. It's a great opportunity for me to play," Simpson said. "The best advice that he gave me was, 'Just go let it rip. It's nothing that you haven't done before. Just go out there and play with the rules, see the play clock, understand what your problems are, and go let it rip.

It appears that Simpson took that advice to heart.

It came against a Kansas City Chiefs team that started no one of note. And Simpson wasn't exactly pushing the ball down the field. But in a week where Pittsburgh's Drew Allar and Fernando Mendoza of the Raiders both impressed in their professional debuts, Simpson may have had the best performance of the lot—just four incompletions in 25 attempts, 190 passing yards, two scores and a passer rating of 125.

To be crystal clear, the Rams only want Simpson on the field in the regular season in mop-up-duty in blowout wins. But the team saw enough in Simpson this offseason to make a pick aimed squarely at the future.

First time out at least, they appear to have hit the target.

Winner: WR Ja'Kobi Lane, Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Nick Wass

We'll close out this look at the biggest winners and losers of the preseason's first week with back-to-back winners.

Let's hear it for the power of positive thinking.

Of course, that has been the thing about rookie wideout Ja'Kobi Lane of the Baltimore Ravens—just about every report regarding him from the moment the Ravens took him in the third round of April's draft has been positive.

As The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec wrote, Lane has been one of the biggest standouts of training camp for the Ravens.

"His daily acrobatic catches and chunk plays have been the talk of training camp and, at least for now, silenced the talk that the Ravens need to go out and add a veteran receiver to join Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman," he said. "A rookie third-round pick, Lane's roster spot was secure. However, it's looking more and more like he's going to be on the field a lot for the Ravens when the regular season begins. He's authoring one of the more impressive training camps for a Ravens rookie in recent memory."

Well, Lane didn't leave us hanging once practice turned to preseason.

Lane caught all three of his targets in the game for 38 yards and that score, drawing rave reviews from Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during a sideline interview.

"Man, his aggressiveness to go get the ball," Jackson said. "He's attacking the ball. Big hands, tough receiver. That's what we need. We need that. It's amazing. The sky is the limit for him."

Fantasy drafters may want to jot Lane's name down.

Just saying.