2026 NFL Preseason, Week 3: What We Learned from Friday's games

Around The NFL breaks down what you need to know from all of Friday's action from Week 3 of the 2026 NFL preseason season. Catch up on each game's biggest takeaways using the links below:

• Baltimore Ravens 41, Washington Commanders 3
• Carolina Panthers 16, Houston Texans 13
• Atlanta Falcons 17, Miami Dolphins 12
• Jacksonville Jaguars 19, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0
• New York Giants 23, New York Jets 6
• New Orleans Saints 27, Dallas Cowboys 24
• Seattle Seahawks 9, Kansas City Chiefs 9
• Cincinnati Bengals 30, Philadelphia Eagles 13
• Green Bay Packers 42, Arizona Cardinals 38
• Denver Broncos 34, Minnesota Vikings 6

• Ravens' depth chart taking shape? Chris Moore made a strong case Friday to be included on the initial 53-man roster. The journeyman 33-year-old hauled in three passes from Tyler Huntley for 54 yards, including a highlight-reel diving TD grab, on the Ravens' first drive. Moore looked at ease on the outside, playing just two drives alongside fellow down-chart WRs Devontez Walker and LaJohntay Wester, who is an asset in the return game and made an impressive adjustment on a TD catch Friday night. Missing from the opening lineup was fourth-rounder Elijah Sarratt. The ex-Hoosier was a non-factor on offense against Washington and served as the Ravens' second returner. What's his role on this roster? Baltimore's WR depth is set at the top. Zay Flowers just got paid, and Ja'Kobi Lane was the breakout star of camp. Both wideouts sat out Friday, as did Rashod Bateman, whose in-season availability may be in jeopardy due to a June arrest. ... Baltimore's center battle continued into the final week of the preseason. Jovaughn Gwyn started again, playing two drives before ceding the half to Ethan Pocic. Both had nondescript games, though Pocic's holding penalty on a long catch-and-run pushed Baltimore out of field-goal range on one drive. It's looking like Gwyn's job in place of the injured Danny Pinter for Week 1, unless there's a Labor Day development. ... A lingering issue: Tyler Loop missed two field goals from over 50 yards against Washington, his third miss from at least 49 this summer. Not a good omen for the kicker whose 44-yard miss in Week 18 ended Baltimore's 2025 season.

-- Jeremy Bergman

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• Rain makes for a messy, backup-laden finale. An unrelenting downpour greeted the Panthers and Texans on Friday night in Charlotte, making for a sloppy contest. Three of the four quarterbacks (Davis Mills, Kyle Trask, Brett Rypien) to take snaps in the first half each threw an interception. The only signal-caller who exited cleanly, Kenny Pickett, overshot his intended target three times, including once on fourth down. Both teams combined to go 3 for 15 on third down in the first half. On the bright side, AJ Dillon saw nine touches for 32 yards, putting out a small chunk of decent tape that could attract interest elsewhere. Otherwise, it was a forgettable night all around.

-- Nick Shook

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• Tagovailoa enjoys minor improvement. Tua Tagovailoa's preseason finale represented a bit of progress even if the stats don't tell the whole story. The first drive saw Tagovailoa complete a couple of passes, but the big gainer came via a tight end screen to Kyle Pitts, a short throw that Pitts took 37 yards to set up Atlanta's first scoring opportunity. He finished 7-of-8 passing for 95 yards but also turned it over once when he fumbled a snap. It's better than earlier outings, but Kevin Stefanski and OC Tommy Rees also kept things simple and minimized risk. Overall, Tagovailoa didn't do much to convince anyone he should be the Falcons' starter unless Michael Penix Jr. can't play.
• Bell is the focus in Miami. The talk of Dolphins camp has revolved around the blossoming of third-year edge rusher Chop Robinson and the surprisingly quick emergence of rookie Chris Bell. Though it's only preseason football, Miami's offensive priority was clear Friday night: Get the ball to Bell. Through three possessions, Bell led the Dolphins in targets with five. He was often the first target backup Cam Miller looked for immediately after the snap, and while he only finished with two catches, it was easy to recognize why Miami values the rookie and how he'll be a priority in their passing game all season long. All that's left is to advance to the regular season and let Bell get to work with quarterback Malik Willis.

-- Nick Shook

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• Jags UDFA defensive end continues push for roster spot. Bryan Thomas Jr., Jacksonville’s undrafted rookie out of South Carolina, is so under the radar that Google can only think to redirect searches toward Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. The defensive end has steadily been making a name for himself this preseason, though. Thomas entered Friday night with seven tackles, five pressures and a sack across his previous two contests. He added another four tackles, four pressures and 2.5 sacks against the Buccaneers. On his first sack, Thomas burst past offensive lineman Elijah Klein around the edge to take down Jalon Daniels and end Tampa Bay’s drive toward the end of the first half. He swam past Klein on the inside on another QB takedown a quarter later, and his half sack in the final frame was all hustle. The Jags rested a large portion of starters for much of the preseason, affording opportunities to players like Thomas. He’s made the most of it, but will there be room in Jacksonville for two BTJs?
• Daniels doesn’t grab QB2 opportunity. Tampa Bay had an unexpected backup quarterback competition on its hands this August after Jalon Daniels played himself into the conversation. The undrafted free agent impressed in his two previous appearances, going a combined 19 of 29 for 182 yards and a touchdown, plus another rushing score with 28 yards on 10 carries. He was given the start in the Buccaneers’ preseason finale, a legitimate chance to prove he deserves to be the guy behind Baker Mayfield. For the first time, Daniels didn’t look nearly up to the task. He saw multiple drives end on third-down drops, but Daniels wasn’t doing himself any favors, either. Over the course of seven drives, he threw for 57 yards on 8-of-15 passing. His only possession that didn’t end in a punt was cut short because he fumbled a snap under center. Jake Browning similarly delivered a clunker -- he went 2 of 4 for 2 yards over three possessions, a couple of which were sabotaged by penalties -- but he could still potentially get the nod as the veteran in the room.

-- Bobby Kownack

• Veterans battle for roster spots on Giants offense. Odell Beckham, on the fringe of the roster, was under the spotlight Friday night. OBJ was bodied on an early Jameis Winston interception but responded with three strong catches (53 yards) that moved the chains. Once a human highlight reel, Beckham nearly contributed again when he got free on a second-quarter deep shot, but his version of the helmet catch was not to be, in part thanks to a Winston overthrow. Elsewhere on the depth chart, a fumble by Braxton Berrios deep in the red zone may have harmed his candidacy, though he projects as New York's returner with Calvin Austin injured. OBJ put his best foot forward Friday and throughout the summer. Will John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen reward the vet with a roster spot? ... At running back, summer acquisition Najee Harris and Tyrone Tracy Jr. went snap for snap at the start of the game. Harris ran hard (39 yards on 11 carries), while Tracy found burst (9.3 YPC) and the end zone. Unfortunately, Tracy went to the locker room to be evaluated for a head injury in the second quarter. He was cleared but did not return, bringing an early end to his rough preseason. Behind Cam Skattebo, there should be an odd man out in New York's RB room between Harris, Tracy and Devin Singletary. Who will it be come cutdown day?
• Minor turbulence for Jets. After a shutout of Pittsburgh the week prior, the Jets flew through some dirty air on Friday night. Getting another preseason start, rookie QB Cade Klubnik (6-of-13, 59 yards) didn't do much to enhance his QB2 candidacy. His underthrow of big target Jelani Woods on an interception was an unfortunate error. Klubnik's mobility made up for breakdowns in play, but against Giants backups, he didn't necessarily look ready for prime time. ... Joseph Ossai saw his first preseason action since signing a $36 million deal in the offseason but had to leave with a foot injury. A notable free-agent acquisition, Ossai is critical to improving New York's pass rush but has not been available much this offseason. ... Jason Sanders, who won the place-kicking job this week over Cade York, missed an extra points and a 54-yard field goal. Whoops.

-- Jeremy Bergman

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• Saints offense humming as regular season approaches. Kellen Moore's crew found an impressive rhythm in Arlington on Friday night, expressing schematic creativity by relying on an assortment of athletes who figure to play a notable (if not larger) role in 2026. Rookie Barion Brown took a jet sweep around the right end for a touchdown, backup quarterback Spencer Rattler kept a read option and won the race to the pylon for a score, Kendre Miller ran hard in perhaps his final chance to win a roster spot, and Audric Estimé ripped off a 33-yarder to set up Rattler's touchdown just before half. Plenty of offenses keep things generally monotonous in the preseason, but Moore's unit adopted an aggressive approach that earned advantages on the edge, produced points and exposed a few potentially important contributors prior to the start of the regular season. When it comes to tune-ups, New Orleans' offense handled this one properly.

-- Nick Shook

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• Armstrong makes strong case for roster spot. Kansas City's long quest for a difference-making talent at receiver may have finally uncovered an intriguing prospect. Andrew Armstrong emerged as a camp standout, showed grit as a run blocker early in the preseason, and flashed excellent ball skills Friday night, hauling in five passes for 54 yards. He also produced the highlight of the night, reversing out of an in-facing hitch and diving against his momentum to make an outstretched grab for a gain of 7 yards. With the Chiefs seeking a larger, talented target at receiver to mix with the likes of Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice, Armstrong represents a fascinating prospect with potential to become the solution. He delivered a firm closing argument Friday.

-- Nick Shook

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• Lemon drop mars debut. First-round pick Makai Lemon saw his first preseason action after missing most of training camp with a hamstring injury. He was targeted right away by Tanner McKee, getting free on an out route for an easy 3-yard gain. A deep shot to Lemon two plays later was deflected by the defender. Then, on his fourth target, Lemon couldn't corral a dart from McKee on a slant, the ball deflecting off his hands for an interception. After Lemon saw 17 offensive snaps (three catches on five targets for 3 yards), Philly oddly tossed him back out there for a third-quarter punt return. The former Trojan played half of snaps out wide and half in the slot, perhaps providing a glimpse at the versatility he'll provide Jalen Hurts alongside DeVonta Smith in the starting offense. For a player who thrived in college at playing in the middle of the field, Lemon's big drop and little gains were letdowns, but any action is better than no action. 
• Meyers shines again. One of the stories of Bengals camp has been Dohnte Meyers, a 26-year-old former CFLer who's been turning heads. On Friday night, he did it in prime time. Meyers caught three passes against Philly, all of which came with great separation and went for first downs. He leaves the preseason with a team-best 11 receptions for 121 yards. Behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Joe Burrow may have himself another inside man.

-- Jeremy Bergman

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• Dennis-Sutton dangerous in first preseason action. Packers fourth-round pass rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton made an early splash in his lone preseason appearance. Seven plays into his debut, Dennis-Sutton split Cardinals offensive linemen Jayden Williams and Matt Pryor on a stunt, was much too explosive for Pryor to pick up and quickly closed the gap to throw Gardner Minshew to the ground and set up a third-and-20, slowing an Arizona drive that had been moving at that point. Dennis-Sutton was too early anticipating the snap on the very next play, incurring an offside penalty, but that’s life as a rookie. He got close a few more times throughout the night, disrupting multiple plays with four pressures. While he’s a little late to the game in terms of cracking the starting edge rotation after missing time due to a heat-related illness, it was a good initial showing, and Green Bay will need all hands on deck as it looks to sustain a pass rush amid Micah Parsons’ absence to begin the season. … Will Sheppard and J. Michael Sturdivant, undrafted free agents from 2025 and ’26, respectively, made compelling cases for the 53-man roster. Sheppard collected three receptions for 26 yards and a score, but more impressively sent Lambeau Field into a frenzy with an 81-yard punt-return touchdown. Sturdivant tallied 112 yards and a TD on six catches. It would potentially take Green Bay keeping seven wide receivers for either to make the roster, but the two hopefuls certainly gave the team something to think about.
• Minshew deserves firm grip on backup gig. Carson Beck was all the rage after his performance in the Hall of Fame Game, but the third-round rookie hasn’t played since. Gardner Minshew has, and he’s displayed the goods that make him one of the more valuable backup quarterbacks in the league. His latest such display took place on Friday against the Packers. Minshew played two drives, a 66-yard march for a field goal and an 85-yard sprint that he capped off with a 41-yard touchdown strike to Simi Fehoko. He was done for the night after that with 126 yards and a sterling 155.8 passer rating on 7-of-9 passing. If the Cardinals need to turn to a QB behind Jacoby Brissett this season, who they select will likely depend heavily on context. Minshew, the gutsy vet with 47 career starts, would give them the most consistency should an injury arise early, but there’s a possibility Arizona will be in a situation where it wants to see what it has in Beck at some point late in the season.

-- Bobby Kownack

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• Broncos have some tough decisions. Denver’s three running back spots are a lock: J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman. If the Broncos keep a fourth ball-carrier, who will it be? There’s fullback Adam Prentice, who plunged past the goal line for a 1-yard score versus Minnesota, his second of the preseason. Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin have both played roles in Sean Payton’s offenses before, and they did some good things on Friday. Badie had an impressively shifty run for 10 yards, finishing with 24 on six carries, while McLaughlin was characteristically useful in the passing game. McLaughlin blazed through the middle of Minnesota’s defense on a 20-yard TD reception and finished with 35 yards on six catches. Even Cody Schrader had a big night, racking up 132 yards and a score on 19 touches. There’s also the quarterback question. Jarrett Stidham was treated as the victor of the backup job, leading two scoring drives before giving way to Sam Ehlinger. Will the Broncos keep three there or try to sneak Ehlinger on the practice squad? The 27-year-old played the remainder of the game and put a ton on tape that will interest other suitors. He led a nice 65-yard two-minute TD drill before half, later had a highlight-reel touchdown pass that required buying time for over 6.5 seconds and scrambling 28.1 yards, per Next Gen Stats, and bought time again on the next drive before tossing an 88-yard TD on a terribly blown coverage by the Vikings. He finished an impressive 15 of 20 for 233 yards, three scores and an interception. 

-- Bobby Kownack

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