Week 2 of the 2026 NFL preseason runs Thursday, August 20 through Sunday, August 23, and it’s the week that matters most for anyone who wants to see actual starters. With Week 1 done and roster cuts looming on August 30, coaches typically give their first units their heaviest snaps of the summer here — a quarter, sometimes a half — before pulling them for good in the finale. All 32 teams play, 16 games in four days.
Two games reach a national audience: No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza and the Las Vegas Raiders visit the Houston Texans on ESPN Thursday night, and FOX closes the week with the Seattle Seahawks at the Tennessee Titans on Sunday night. In between, NFL Network carries seven out-of-market games and the ESPN App streams four more, including Aaron Rodgers’ expected first appearance for Pittsburgh against the Jets on Friday. Everything else airs on the two teams’ local stations.
The full slate with kickoff times and networks is below. Take a look, then we’ll cover how to stream games outside your market and what to watch for.
NFL PRESEASON 2026
Preseason Week 2 Schedule and TV Guide
All 16 games, Thursday, Aug. 20 through Sunday, Aug. 23
NATIONAL TV
2 games
ESPN Thu, FOX Sun
NFL NETWORK
7 games
Out-of-market
ESPN APP
4 games
Unlimited plan
NEXT UP
Aug 27-29
Preseason Week 3
2026 preseason Week 2 schedule
All times Eastern; local stations carry every game in-market
| Date |
Matchup |
Kickoff (ET) |
TV / Stream |
Note |
| Thu, Aug 20 |
Raiders at Texans |
8:00 PM |
ESPN |
National — Mendoza’s first road start |
| Thu, Aug 20 |
49ers at Chargers |
10:00 PM |
NFL Network |
|
| Fri, Aug 21 |
Jets at Steelers |
7:00 PM |
NFL Network |
Rodgers expected to debut vs. former team |
| Fri, Aug 21 |
Panthers at Jaguars |
7:30 PM |
ESPN App |
Panthers’ 3rd of 4 preseason games |
| Fri, Aug 21 |
Packers at Broncos |
9:00 PM |
NFL Network |
|
| Sat, Aug 22 |
Commanders at Lions |
12:00 PM |
Local |
|
| Sat, Aug 22 |
Bills at Browns |
1:00 PM |
NFL Network |
Josh Allen vs. Watson / Shedeur Sanders |
| Sat, Aug 22 |
Falcons at Colts |
1:00 PM |
Local |
|
| Sat, Aug 22 |
Ravens at Vikings |
1:00 PM |
ESPN App |
|
| Sat, Aug 22 |
Saints at Rams |
4:00 PM |
ESPN App |
|
| Sat, Aug 22 |
Giants at Dolphins |
4:00 PM |
NFL Network |
|
| Sat, Aug 22 |
Bears at Bengals |
7:00 PM |
Local |
|
| Sat, Aug 22 |
Eagles at Patriots |
7:00 PM |
NFL Network |
|
| Sat, Aug 22 |
Chiefs at Buccaneers |
7:30 PM |
ESPN App |
|
| Sat, Aug 22 |
Cowboys at Cardinals |
10:00 PM |
NFL Network |
Cardinals’ 3rd of 4 preseason games |
| Sun, Aug 23 |
Seahawks at Titans |
8:00 PM |
FOX |
National — defending champs |
Per the NFL’s preseason schedule release, updated Aug. 18, 2026.
How to watch
TV, streaming, and blackout rules
| Where you are |
How to watch |
| In either team’s market |
Local broadcast station (free over the air) — the game is blacked out on NFL+ and NFL Network locally |
| Outside the market |
NFL Network (7 games this week) or the ESPN App with an Unlimited plan (4 games); NFL+ streams national and out-of-market games |
| National games |
ESPN Thursday; FOX Sunday. Both on YouTube TV, Fubo, Sling, and Hulu + Live TV; FOX is free with an antenna |
| Outside the U.S. |
NFL Game Pass on DAZN |
WEEK 2 NOTES
Starters play the most here
Week 2 is traditionally the dress rehearsal — expect most first-team offenses for a quarter or more, then backups the rest of the way.
No overtime
Preseason games have had no overtime since 2021; a tie at the end of regulation stays a tie, as Colts-Patriots showed in Week 1.
NFL Network lives in the ESPN App now
ESPN completed its purchase of NFL Media in 2026, and NFL Network moved into the ESPN App on July 30 — one login for both.
What to Watch For
The Thursday opener is the marquee: Fernando Mendoza’s Raiders debut against Houston is the first extended national look at the No. 1 pick after he went 10-of-16 for 97 yards and a score in Week 1. Friday brings Aaron Rodgers’ expected first snaps for the Steelers against the team he just left, and Saturday’s Bills-Browns game pairs Josh Allen with the Cleveland quarterback derby. Sunday’s FOX finale features the champion Seahawks — this year’s Hard Knocks team — in Nashville.
The Bottom Line
Preseason Week 2 is the one week where the football is closest to real: starters play meaningful snaps, two games are on national TV, and cut-day decisions are being made in every quarter. Circle Thursday (ESPN) and Sunday (FOX), use NFL Network or the ESPN App for out-of-market games, and check your local station for your team. Week 3 follows Aug. 27-29 — see our Preseason Week 3 schedule — before rosters cut to 53 on Aug. 30. For how those bubble players get paid if they stick around, read our breakdown of practice squad salaries.
