NFL Preseason Roundup: Young Quarterbacks Make Their Cases as Roster Decisions Loom

Jack Strand, Joe Milton III and Joe Fagnano strengthened their roster bids, while Buffalo, Los Angeles and New York delivered commanding victories Saturday.

By Staff Report | August 23, 2026

With the NFL’s roster deadline rapidly approaching, Saturday’s 10-game preseason schedule offered players another opportunity to earn jobs, climb depth charts and influence position battles.

Undrafted quarterback Jack Strand produced one of the day’s biggest performances for Atlanta, Joe Milton III energized Dallas’ offense and Joe Fagnano continued his impressive summer for Baltimore. The Rams and Giants posted dominant defensive efforts, while Tampa Bay and New England prevailed in tightly contested finishes.

Lions 17, Commanders 13

DETROIT — Joshua Dobbs endured a turbulent opening before breaking loose for a 50-yard touchdown run that helped Detroit defeat Washington.

Dobbs lost a fumble that rookie linebacker Joshua Josephs recovered in the end zone and later threw an interception. His long scoring run, however, shifted the game in Detroit’s favor. Trayveon Williams added a rushing touchdown, while rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer completed 9 of 13 passes for 86 yards.

Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared for one series, throwing one incomplete pass and taking a sack. Rookie kicker Drew Stevens converted both of his field-goal attempts for the Commanders. Reuters

Star of the Game: Joshua Dobbs, Lions

Bills 31, Browns 7

CLEVELAND — Rookie wide receiver Ja’Mori Maclin turned a short reception into a 71-yard touchdown and finished with 108 receiving yards as Buffalo overwhelmed Cleveland.

Kyle Allen completed 10 of 12 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown, while Shane Buechele added 111 yards and another score. The Bills pulled away by outscoring the Browns 17-0 after halftime.

Shedeur Sanders completed 9 of 11 passes for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Cleveland. Deshaun Watson struggled, going 5 of 12 for 36 yards with an interception. Luke Floriea’s first-quarter touchdown was the Browns’ only score. Reuters

Star of the Game: Ja’Mori Maclin, Bills

Falcons 34, Colts 6

INDIANAPOLIS — Undrafted rookie Jack Strand delivered a breakthrough performance, passing for 212 yards and accounting for two touchdowns as Atlanta routed Indianapolis.

Strand completed 12 of 17 passes, including a 13-yard touchdown to Cash Jones, and added a 16-yard scoring run. Starter Cooper Rush was nearly flawless, completing 10 of 11 attempts for 86 yards. Tyler Goodson and Nathan Carter also rushed for touchdowns.

Atlanta amassed 461 yards while limiting Indianapolis to 164. The Colts converted only 1 of 11 third downs and received all six of their points from Spencer Shrader field goals. Reuters

Star of the Game: Jack Strand, Falcons

Ravens 13, Vikings 3

MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Fagnano continued to make the most of his preseason opportunity, throwing the game’s only touchdown as Baltimore shut down Minnesota.

The undrafted rookie completed 15 of 20 passes for 123 yards, connecting with LaJohntay Wester for the go-ahead score in the third quarter. Tyler Loop supplied two field goals, while Baltimore’s defense collected five sacks and forced two turnovers.

J.J. McCarthy completed 5 of 10 passes for 81 yards for Minnesota, including a 50-yard connection with Tai Felton, but the Vikings failed to reach the end zone. Carson Wentz finished 9 of 11 for 92 yards in relief. Reuters

Star of the Game: Joe Fagnano, Ravens

Rams 34, Saints 0

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Stetson Bennett IV rushed for two touchdowns and Los Angeles’ defense produced a pair of goal-line takeaways in a shutout of New Orleans.

Bennett passed for 181 yards and scored on runs of 1 and 8 yards. Safety Alex Cook supplied the biggest defensive highlight, returning an interception 100 yards for a touchdown. Payton Zdroik recovered another Saints turnover at the Rams’ 2-yard line, and Jarquez Hunter capped the scoring with a 12-yard run.

Spencer Rattler threw for 141 yards but was intercepted, while Zach Wilson finished with 55 yards and another pick for New Orleans. Saints scoring summary

Star of the Game: Stetson Bennett IV, Rams

Giants 26, Dolphins 3

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Jameis Winston passed for 150 yards and ran for a touchdown as the Giants controlled Miami from beginning to end.

Winston directed an 83-yard opening drive and finished it with a 12-yard scoring run. Devin Singletary later scored from 13 yards, helping New York build a 20-3 halftime advantage. Brandon Allen added 101 passing yards in relief.

The Giants held a staggering 390-102 advantage in total offense and recorded 26 first downs to Miami’s three. The Dolphins’ only points came on Riley Patterson’s 53-yard field goal. Cam Miller completed 6 of 11 passes for 60 yards. Reuters

Star of the Game: Jameis Winston, Giants

Bengals 27, Bears 9

CINCINNATI — Forty-year-old quarterback Josh Johnson threw two touchdown passes as Cincinnati kept Chicago out of the end zone.

Johnson completed 15 of 23 attempts for 156 yards. Colbie Young caught three passes for 48 yards and a touchdown, while Dohnte Meyers also strengthened his roster bid. Evan McPherson converted both of his field goals, including a 58-yarder, and made all three extra points.

Chicago moved the ball for 322 total yards but managed only three Cairo Santos field goals. The Bears committed no turnovers, yet repeatedly stalled before reaching the end zone. Cincinnati improved to 2-0 in the preseason. FOX Sports box score

Star of the Game: Josh Johnson, Bengals

Patriots 24, Eagles 21

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Rookie quarterback Behren Morton engineered a fourth-quarter touchdown drive that lifted New England past Philadelphia.

Tommy DeVito provided the Patriots’ biggest early play, finding Kyle Williams for a 69-yard touchdown. Morton later directed an 11-play, 73-yard march and connected with Nick DeGennaro for the decisive score. Quintayvious Hutchins sealed the victory with a strip-sack on Philadelphia’s final possession.

The game began with a frightening injury to Eagles running back Ja’Quinden Jackson on the opening kickoff. Philadelphia later reported that Jackson had movement and strength in all his extremities before he was transported to a hospital for further evaluation. Eagles game recap

Star of the Game: Behren Morton, Patriots

Buccaneers 16, Chiefs 15

TAMPA, Fla. — Rookie Jalon Daniels led three second-half scoring drives as Tampa Bay rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to edge Kansas City.

Daniels threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Ko Kieft, while Sean Tucker scored on a 1-yard run. B.T. Potter’s 46-yard field goal completed the comeback.

Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker made field goals from 45, 58 and 69 yards, but his impressive performance ended with a missed extra point and a missed 43-yard attempt late in the fourth quarter. Justin Fields completed 9 of 12 passes for 64 yards, and Emmett Johnson scored the Chiefs’ only touchdown. Buccaneers game center

Star of the Game: Jalon Daniels, Buccaneers

Cowboys 34, Cardinals 13

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Joe Milton III threw two first-half touchdown passes and strengthened his bid to become Dak Prescott’s primary backup as Dallas rolled past Arizona.

Milton connected with Malik Davis for an 8-yard score before hitting Jonathan Mingo for a 53-yard touchdown that gave Dallas a 14-0 advantage. Sam Howell also saw action in the Cowboys’ quarterback competition but was intercepted by Isaiah Oliver in the end zone.

Dallas entered halftime with a 21-0 lead and never allowed Arizona to mount a serious comeback. The Cowboys improved to 2-0, while the Cardinals fell to 1-2. ESPN game recap

Star of the Game: Joe Milton III, Cowboys

Saturday’s results and schedule were cross-checked against the official NFL Week 2 schedule.

Friday’s results: https://natalkradio.us/nfl-recap-and-previews-august-22-2026/