2025 NFL preseason, Week 2: How to watch every game, what to know for all 32 teams

• WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
• WHEN: 7 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

TITANS: Tennessee came out flat against the Bucs in the preseason opener and lost, 29-7. There was at least one positive, with QB Cam Ward leading a TD drive and TE Gunnar Helm continuing his strong camp with a pretty 16-yard catch in his preseason debut. Another rookie name to keep an eye on against the Falcons is RB Kalel Mullings. The sixth-round pick should receive plenty of chances here, with Tyjae Spears sidelined by an ankle injury. Tony Pollard is the projected starter, and Spears should have a role, but Mullings can make a claim for carries with a strong game.

FALCONS: It wouldn’t be shocking if the backup quarterbacks were to come into focus, with Raheem Morris announcing Michael Penix Jr. will not play in Friday's game. Easton Stick had some nice moments in the preseason opener against Detroit, completing 15 of his 18 passes for 149 yards and a TD in one half’s worth of work. If he can stack another strong performance here, it might make the Falcons even more comfortable trading Kirk Cousins -- if someone is biting. It’s not yet clear if Cousins will play on Friday.

• WHERE: Lumen Field (Seattle)
• WHEN: 10 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

CHIEFS: Two veterans are looking to revive their careers in Chiefs camp and they’ve made excellent pushes for roster spots. WR Tyquan Thornton, who has caught just 17 passes combined over the past two seasons, seems to be on the inside looking out. Thornton appears to have built practice chemistry with Patrick Mahomes and will have another chance to show out against the Seahawks. Another player on the ascent is TE Robert Tonyan, whose career has gone sideways since an 11-TD season in 2020. He is making a strong case for a spot and could use another showcase performance to solidify his role.

SEAHAWKS: WR Tory Horton made an impressive NFL debut last week against the Raiders and will be back for more against the Chiefs, having earned some first-team reps in practice. It’s fair to expect to see a lot of Horton and QB Jalen Milroe in this one. After a slow start in the preseason opener, Milroe also found some rhythm as a passer and ripped off a 27-yard run in the fourth quarter. Both players might factor into the Seahawks’ plans this season, so every preseason snap counts.

• WHERE: Ford Field (Detroit)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

DOLPHINS: After Tua Tagovailoa came out of last week’s game against the Bears, Miami’s second- and third-team offenses struggled to throw the ball and pass protect. QBs Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers combined to complete 10 of 27 passes and took six sacks, losing 43 yards. Outside of a few big plays, the operation was ugly. Given Tagovailoa’s injury history and the state of worry about the starting offensive line, the reserves must have a better showing in the pass game at Detroit.

LIONS: Through two preseason games, QB Hendon Hooker has completed 10 of 16 passes for 56 yards, with two fumbles, an interception and three sacks taken. This is a critical stage for Hooker, with his Detroit future possibly hanging in the balance. The Lions also have Kyle Allen as an option behind starter Jared Goff, so Hooker needs to turn it on, starting with this game. When Goff was hurt in last season’s playoff loss, the Lions turned to Teddy Bridgewater over Hooker. It appears he hasn’t fully earned their trust yet.

• WHERE: NRG Stadium (Houston)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

PANTHERS: With CB Jaycee Horn (thumb) likely to sit out, it will be a chance for some Carolina DBs to impress and earn roles. Undrafted rookie CB Corey Thornton was in coverage for one of the Browns’ TD passes last week but otherwise played well, continuing his strong summer showing. Fourth-round safety Lathan Ransom was one of a handful of standouts in the Panthers’ preseason opener and he continues to make a push for a starting role. Ransom could steal Nick Scott’s job with more strong showings.

TEXANS: C.J. Stroud and the majority of the Texans’ starters sat out the preseason opener, and the reserves struggled a bit. With the Panthers in town for joint practices this week, it’s not clear how much he or the offensive starters will play on Saturday. There will also be focus on the other side of the ball as the Texans shift gears in the secondary. C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s injury led to the team signing Jalen Mills, and with Jimmie Ward’s injury and off-field issues, Houston will use the final two games as DB auditions, preparing for whatever comes their way before cutdown day. 

• WHERE: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

PACKERS: Matthew Golden has opened eyes all camp, earning rave reviews for his hands and YAC ability. He’s locked into a key spot. Fellow rookie WR Savion Williams (shoulder) did not play last week and could use a good showing. Mecole Hardman hasn’t looked great, and the final receiver spots appear up for grabs. And for a dash of fun, Packers kicker Mark McNamee is one to root for. He was a Gaelic football star -- a vastly different sport -- in Ireland before making his NFL debut last weekend with three kickoffs. He’s being brought in as a distance specialist, so maybe we’ll be treated to something special like Cam Little’s 70-yard boot.

COLTS: Better health would be a good start. QB Anthony Richardson suffered a dislocated finger last week. The plan was for him to play into the second quarter, but the injury knocked him out after seven snaps. Richardson is expected to play Saturday, but last week was a missed opportunity in his battle with Daniel Jones. On defense, the secondary appears to be in flux after CB Justin Walley suffered a torn ACL. He was vying for a starting role. Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents have been nursing injuries, so it will be interesting to see how the secondary snaps are divided up.

• WHERE: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

PATRIOTS: The Patriots’ rookie class figures to contribute significantly this season, especially on offense. In the preseason opener, the first-year players were mostly good, with TreVeyon Henderson stealing the show and left tackle Will Campbell finishing a few plays with authority after a mixed-bag start to camp. Interestingly, left guard Jared Wilson -- a camp star -- seemed to struggle against Washington. WR Kyle Williams likely wants to improve on his four-target, zero-catch opener, but he was getting open. Fourth-round safety Craig Woodson also has turned heads on defense and special teams. All will be under the microscope again in Minnesota.

VIKINGS: With Jordan Addison facing a three-game suspension and Rondale Moore suffering a season-ending knee injury last week, the outlooks at receiver and returner have changed. Jeshaun Jones and Lucky Jackson, both fighting for roster spots, each had nice downfield catches against Houston and could do more damage against a shorthanded Patriots secondary. Third-rounder Tai Felton caught two passes, returned two kickoffs and forced a fumble in kickoff coverage. Undrafted rookie Silas Bolden only had one opportunity on punt returns last week. The Vikings seemingly hoped Moore could handle both return roles, at least partly, but now those duties might be split up, potentially changing the roster math at cutdowns.

• WHERE: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

BROWNS: Following Shedeur Sanders’ impressive debut at Carolina, third-round QB Dillon Gabriel could have his chance to respond. Gabriel had been sidelined with a hamstring injury, but he has been cleared for practice. If he’s healthy, it seems likely that Gabriel and Sanders will receive most of the snaps on Saturday. QB Kenny Pickett (hamstring) remained sidelined early this week, though Kevin Stefanski said he'd do 7-on-7 work on Wednesday. Will Gabriel make his statement? Can Sanders match his first-game hype in this one? Joe Flacco still figures to start Week 1, but the deeper intrigue lies in the Gabriel-Sanders battle. (EDITOR'S UPDATE: Sanders injured his oblique in practice on Wednesday. This could put his availability for Saturday in question.)

EAGLES: Even after some talent-shedding, the roster looks to be mostly sewn up, with only a handful of jobs likely to be in play. But with Landon Dickerson’s injury clouding the picture, the offensive line reps will be hotly contested against the Browns. Also, CB Adoree’ Jackson might be on the outside looking in after the Eagles traded for Jakorian Bennett. This game could be big for Jackson and a few others battling for jobs.

• WHERE: Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
• WHEN: 4:05 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

49ERS: The 49ers want to establish some depth at wide receiver, given that Brandon Aiyuk is out until at least October, Demarcus Robinson could face a suspension and fourth-rounder Jordan Watkins is dealing with an ankle injury, stunting his progress. Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall are already looking at expanded roles with Deebo Samuel gone to Washington, leaving little margin for error. That could put the spotlight on 2024 fourth-rounder Jacob Cowing and 2025 seventh-rounder Junior Bergen, as they are angling for roles in the 49ers’ offense. They should have opportunities to shine here, assuming Cowing’s hamstring is healed in time.

RAIDERS: It was a quiet debut for Ashton Jeanty: three carries for -1 yard and no targets in the pass game. He was on ice before the first quarter was over. Selfishly, I’d love to see more of him. He’s the highest-drafted back to enter the league since Saquon Barkley and could have a transformative effect on the Raiders. It would also be nice to see rookie WRs Tommy Mellott, Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech featured more to help gauge what they’re capable of this season.

• WHERE: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
• WHEN: 7 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

RAVENS: They’re dealing with injuries in the secondary right now. Sixth-round rookies Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam are done for the season. Will we see Jaire Alexander’s Ravens debut after he was held out last week? Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie have noted injury histories but presumably are being counted on for significant roles. The top of the CB pecking order looks set, but good showings from T.J. Tampa and Jalyn Armour-Davis could help solidify things a bit.

COWBOYS: In addition to the standoff with Micah Parsons, the Cowboys have other defensive issues. Two positions stand out as potentially concerning right now: defensive tackle and cornerback. The depth up front appears very light, so it would behoove players such as Jay Toia and Perrion Winfrey to show out against the Ravens. Cornerback also has been hurting with Trevon Diggs, Caelen Carson and Shavon Revel Jr. dealing with knee injuries. Kaiir Elam seemingly has stepped up, but others need to, as well. The Cowboys might be busy scouting other teams’ DBs if they can’t fill five corner spots on the opening 53-man roster.

• WHERE: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
• WHEN: 7 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

CHARGERS: Jim Harbaugh name-dropped six players as standouts from the Chargers’ preseason win over the Saints, most of whom are battling for roster spots. One of those players, OLB Caleb Murphy, might be making a case to be a roster lock. He played 12 defensive snaps for the Chargers last season but had made his case against New Orleans with two sacks and a forced fumble. Murphy is also earning a role on special teams, making a heck of a tackle on a punt. He could be pushing rookie fourth-rounder Kyle Kennard, who has been hurt, out of a top-four rush spot along with Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree.

RAMS: The Rams host their fellow SoFi Stadium inhabitants while the health of their starting quarterback, Matthew Stafford, remains in question. Sean McVay said early in camp that backup Jimmy Garoppolo would not play in the preseason, so it might be Stetson Bennett once again receiving the lion’s share of the snaps. Dresser Winn is the only other quarterback on the roster. Left tackle is also an area to watch in this one, with Alaric Jackson (blood clots) still out. A.J. Arcuri started there last week, with KT Leveston finishing up at that spot. In practice, the team also has rotated D.J. Humphries and Warren McClendon Jr. at the position. We’ll see how McVay handles that spot against the Chargers.

• WHERE: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)
• WHEN: 7 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

JETS: The annual crosstown matchup could be a big game for 2024 third-round WR Malachi Corley. After his one-catch performance against the Packers, Corley could use a big outing. It hasn’t been the smoothest summer for him in pursuit of a roster spot, with drops and fumbles reported in camp. He’s also exclusively been running with the reserves in practice and in the preseason opener. Corley was drafted by a different regime, but it’s never good seeing Day 2 pick on the bubble in Year 2. Xavier Gipson is another young receiver with a cloudy future who’s in need of a standout showing.

GIANTS: The Giants had to be pleased with the first performance of Jaxson Dart, who navigated the pocket well and threw with good precision vs. Buffalo last week. He now gets to flash his skills for the first time in a game setting for the home fans. But Brian Daboll said Russell Wilson and the starters needed the first series of work in last week's game and that the Giants would do it again. If Daboll goes with the defensive starters, it will be another gift for Giants fans: The home debut of Abdul Carter, who made a quick but strong impression in his first game.

• WHERE: Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh)
• WHEN: 7 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

BUCCANEERS: If Rachaad White misses any significant time with his groin injury, this could be a golden opportunity for Sean Tucker to string together back-to-back strong efforts. Last week's 13-carry, 50-yard performance was highlighted by a pretty 23-yard sideline scamper that set up his own score a few plays later. Tucker stepped up in a big win over the Saints last season (14 carries, 136 rush yards, three catches, 56 receiving yards, two total TDs), but it was his only real opportunity in 2024. He’s doing everything he can to convince the Bucs to feed him.

STEELERS: Pittsburgh’s starters mostly sat in the preseason opener at Jacksonville, so it will be interesting to see whether Mike Tomlin gives Aaron Rodgers and the first unit a little time to get their feet wet against the Bucs. One possible starter, rookie RB Kaleb Johnson, will be looking for better success in his second outing. He played a decent number of snaps (22) against the Jaguars but totaled just 20 rush yards on eight carries -- getting stuffed twice in short yardage -- and had a bad drop, too.

• WHERE: Empower Field at Mile High (Denver)
• WHEN: 9:30 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

CARDINALS: The Cardinals know they need to tighten up defensively this season, and there appear to be several battles for the final roster spots on that side of the ball. The longer BJ Ojulari remains out, the more chances Xavier Thomas has of earning a pass-rush spot. Owen Pappoe, Cody Simon and Mykal Walker could be angling for the final LB spot. Denzel Burke, Kei'Trel Clark and Elijah Jones have made pushes at cornerback. Arizona should be able to iron out some of its depth chart after this game against the Broncos.

BRONCOS: The Broncos have six running backs who have a legitimate chance to make the initial roster, and it appears that Sean Payton will use every ounce of the preseason to fine-tune that group. All six played in the preseason opener, receiving fairly balanced reps. Veteran J.K. Dobbins and rookie RJ Harvey are the only ones with (likely) guaranteed roles, so the remaining four could be jockeying for two spots on the roster. Tyler Badie and Blake Watson probably helped themselves most in the preseason opener, but Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estimé will have plenty of time to earn their keep.

• WHERE: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

JAGUARS: Every Jaguars preseason game offers the potential chance to watch Travis Hunter work. Last week, it was eight snaps on defense and 11 on offense. Hunter missed an open-field tackle that led to a first down but was solid in coverage; he also had two short catches on offense, plus one negated by penalty. It was a mere taste of what he’ll be asked to do this season, but I want to see more from Hunter against the Saints. Will the Jaguars keep letting out the leash?

SAINTS: The Tyler Shough experience was a wild one in his NFL debut. After Spencer Rattler led the offense most of the first half, Shough entered in a two-minute situation and finished the first half with a field goal. Well done. Then threw a pick-six on the first possession of the third quarter. Followed by a 54-yard touchdown pass. It was dizzying. The Saints’ QB battle has yet to be decided, and this game could carry some real weight when it comes to Kellen Moore’s final decision. Can Shough be more consistent against the Jaguars? Or can Rattler (or Jake Haener) tilt the battle with a good outing?

• WHERE: Soldier Field (Chicago)
• WHEN: 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX Deportes, NFL+*)

BILLS: James Cook’s hold-in is over -- the Pro Bowl back received a four-year, $48 million extension. Now, it will be interesting to see if Sean McDermott will give the starters any reps at Chicago. The two teams will meet for a joint practice on Friday, so that remains to be seen. But two veterans who likely will receive some work are Joey Bosa and Tre’Davious White. The Bills signed Bosa and brought back White to patch some holes in their defense. Bosa was better than White in their brief appearances last week, with White allowing five catches. If healthy, both are in line to start in Week 1.

BEARS: Bears fans want to see what Ben Johnson’s offense will look like -- or a taste of it, anyway. The reports from camp have suggested an up-and-down affair as the players adjust to Johnson’s exacting demands. New toys will be on display in TE Colston Loveland, who has been a camp standout, and WR Luther Burden III, who has been coming on. Will Caleb Williams suit up for this one? How will the left tackle battle shake out? There are unanswered questions for Johnson’s offense heading into the Bills game. (EDITOR'S UPDATE: Johnson said on Wednesday that Williams and the rest of the starters will play on Sunday night.)

• WHERE: Northwest Stadium (Landover, Md.)
• WHEN: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, NFL+*)

BENGALS: The starters are again expected to receive a cameo in this game, and though Joe Burrow downplayed his team’s performance in the first preseason contest, the Bengals offense scored touchdowns on its only two drives with Burrow on the field, with the marches spanning 71 and 65 yards. But the bigger drama will come with the reserves trying to make the roster. Is WR Jermaine Burton clearly in the team’s picture now? If he’s healthy (following an undisclosed injury), it would behoove Burton to put some quality tape out there following a lost rookie season. It’s not clear what the club’s trust level is now with the 2024 third-rounder.

COMMANDERS: The first preseason game had plenty of ugly for Washington, but it was not without its positives. CB Trey Amos has been one of camp’s bright spots, and he stood tall in his NFL debut. Another strong performance against Cincinnati could secure a major role, even starting, for the rookie second-rounder. The rest of this game should be about identifying depth roles at some thinner positions (including wide receiver, because of injury and Terry McLaurin's hold-in) and prepping young standouts such as Amos and first-round OT Josh Conerly Jr. for Week 1 duty.