There are no NFL preseason games scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. Fans who watched the first full weekend of exhibition play will need to wait until the next set of preseason matchups begins on Thursday, Aug. 20.
- No NFL preseason games are scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026.
- Preseason Week 2 begins Thursday, Aug. 20, with national telecasts on ESPN and NFL Network.
- Saturday, Aug. 22 is expected to be the busiest day of Week 2 with as many as 10 preseason games.
Lead: what’s on (and off) today
Multiple national sports outlets reporting on the 2026 NFL preseason — including Yahoo Sports and Heavy — state that Sunday, Aug. 16 has no league preseason games on the TV schedule. The first wave of Week 1 preseason games took place Aug. 13–15, and Week 2 is set to start Thursday, Aug. 20, running through Sunday, Aug. 23.
Confirmed Week 2 national windows and notable matchups
Reporting from Yahoo and other schedules compiled by national outlets lists two nationally televised games on Thursday, Aug. 20: Las Vegas at Houston (8 p.m. ET) and San Francisco at Los Angeles Chargers (10 p.m. ET). Several outlets note Saturday, Aug. 22 is the busiest day of Week 2 with as many as 10 preseason games on the schedule, while Friday, Aug. 21 will feature three games and Sunday, Aug. 23 will include a single matchup.
Why these preseason windows matter
- National Thursday and Saturday windows give starters and top rookies a chance to get meaningful, limited snaps in front of larger audiences.
- Teams use Week 2 to continue evaluating depth charts and to give prospects moments to stand out before final roster cuts.
Context: what Week 1 showed and storylines to watch in Week 2
League and team coverage of Week 1 emphasised evaluation rather than outcomes. NFL.com flagged several roster battles and health questions that could influence decisions coming out of Week 2 — for example quarterback competitions, backup evaluations and where rookies may force their way onto 53-man rosters. Fox Sports, CBS Sports and other reporting highlighted which Week 1 games were carried nationally and reminded fans that most local markets rely on affiliates or NFL+ to view out-of-market preseason contests.
Specific storylines to monitor next week, based on preseason reporting and league previews, include:
- Quarterback competitions and playing-time management as teams balance evaluation against injury risk.
- Rookie performances: preseason snaps remain one of the few public chances for new draftees and undrafted free agents to make an immediate impression.
- Injury reports and how early losses could reshape depth charts — teams often respond quickly to significant setbacks in August.
How to watch Week 2 preseason games
Outlets covering the schedule say national broadcasts will appear on ESPN, NFL Network and other national windows for selected games; remaining matchups are generally available on local broadcast affiliates or via the NFL+ subscription service, subject to market blackouts and platform restrictions. Viewers should check local listings for market-specific broadcast assignments.
Quick timeline: preseason through Week 2 (sourced from national schedules)
- Aug. 6 — Pro Football Hall of Fame Game (some teams played an extra preseason game).
- Aug. 13–15 — Preseason Week 1: full slate of 16 games across three days (national windows on NFL Network and other outlets).
- Aug. 16 — No preseason games scheduled (Sunday off).
- Aug. 20–23 — Preseason Week 2: next set of exhibition games, including national Thursday doubleheader and a busy Saturday of contests.
Unresolved items and what to check before kickoff
While national schedules and reporting agree there are no preseason games on Aug. 16, local team broadcasts, streaming availability, and last-minute schedule adjustments can change viewing options. Fans should confirm kickoff times and channels for Week 2 through their team’s official site or local listings.
“There are no NFL football games on TV for today, Sunday, August 16.” — Heavy (reporting on the national preseason schedule)
Orbital Affairs will update this story if local broadcast notices or the league issues scheduling changes ahead of Week 2. For now, the next opportunity for live preseason football begins Thursday, Aug. 20.
