The 2026 NFL exhibition calendar continues with Preseason Week 2, giving coaching staffs another key evaluation window before the roster crunch arrives in Week 3.
With mandatory 53-man roster cutdowns not due until Sunday, August 30, teams are using this week to test roster-bubble players and finalize evaluation reports on starting units and backup candidates.
Week 2 kicks off with a lighter, two-game Thursday night schedule, a more staggered slate than the bigger four-game Thursday that will open Week 3. Featuring a mix of national broadcasts and local affiliate coverage, Thursday night opens a four-day, 16-game slate that runs through Sunday.
NFL Games Today: Is There a Thursday Night Football Preseason Game Tonight?
Yes, there are two NFL preseason games scheduled for tonight, Thursday, August 20, as part of Preseason Week 2.
Headlining tonight’s slate is the Las Vegas Raiders visiting the Houston Texans at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The night closes out with the San Francisco 49ers visiting the Los Angeles Chargers at 10:00 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
Full 2026 NFL Preseason Week 2 Schedule, Dates & Streaming Details
The 2026 NFL Preseason Week 2 slate runs from Thursday, August 20, through Sunday, August 23, featuring 16 total exhibition contests over four days.
National television coverage for Week 2 includes broadcasts on ESPN, FOX, and NFL Network, while regional markets carry games via local network affiliates. Fans can stream games live across NFL+, Peacock, Paramount+, FuboTV, and YouTube TV.
Thursday, August 20
Las Vegas Raiders at Houston Texans, 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Chargers, 10:00 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Friday, August 21
New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers, 7:00 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars, 7:30 p.m. ET (Local TV)
Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos, 9:00 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
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Saturday, August 22
Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions, 12:00 p.m. ET (Local TV)
Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Atlanta Falcons at Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. ET (Local TV)
Baltimore Ravens at Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m. ET (Local TV)
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams, 4:00 p.m. ET (Local TV)
New York Giants at Miami Dolphins, 4:00 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals, 7:00 p.m. ET (Local TV)
Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots, 7:00 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7:30 p.m. ET (Local TV)
Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals, 10:00 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
Sunday, August 23
Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans, 8:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
Preseason Week 2 gives coaches a critical look at roster-bubble players before the pressure ramps up in Week 3, the preseason finale.
After this week’s games wrap up, teams turn to Preseason Week 3 (August 27-29), the final tune-up before rosters must be trimmed from 90 players to 53 by Sunday, August 30, at 6:00 p.m. ET.
Following the waiver claims window on Monday, August 31, teams will establish 17-player practice squads before shifting focus to Regular Season Week 1, which officially kicks off on Wednesday, September 9.
