2025 NFL preseason Week 2: Takeaways, analysis

NFL NationAug 16, 2025, 04:35 PM ET
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The second week of the 2025 NFL preseason kicked off Friday as several teams prepared to give extended looks to their starters in a dress rehearsal for the regular season.

To keep you updated on how teams fared, our NFL Nation reporters summarized the games below.

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Saturday’s results

Texans: In what is likely the last we’ve seen of the Texans starting defense in preseason, Houston allowed only one first down through three series. That unit is primed to continue from where they finished in 2024 as a top 10 group in total defense. On the opening play, cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. intercepted Panthers quarterback Bryce Young off a scramble drill. The play was nullified because of a defensive holding call but Houston just kept overwhelming the Panthers starting offense as they held Young to zero completions and a sack. — DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (7 p.m. ET, Thursday, NFL Network)

Panthers: A lot of work to be done. It was puzzling that Panthers’ coach Dave Canales didn’t give quarterback Bryce Young and the starters a third series. Young got only six plays, going 0-for-2 with a sack. He also had an interception negated by defensive holding. Young got a lot of good work in the joint practice on Thursday and looked solid. But after this effort Canales has to consider giving the starters one more look in Thursday’s preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Besides being outscored 7-0 they were outgained 68-2 in yards. Not exactly a confidence booster. — David Newton

Next game: at Detroit Lions (1 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Browns: Dillon Gabriel’s preseason debut was a mixed bag that leaves the Browns with continued questions at quarterback. The third-round pick completed eight of his first nine passes and led scoring drives on three of his five possessions in the first half. Gabriel, though, also threw a pick-six on what was a bad decision to force a pass and was later credited with a fumble on a botched handoff. Injuries have led Joe Flacco to be the likely starter for Week 1, but who could serve as the backup remains up in the air, too, entering the preseason finale. — Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: vs. Los Angeles Rams (1 p.m. ET, Saturday)

Eagles: Rookie safety Andrew Mukuba made his case for why he should be in the starting lineup.

The second-round pick out of Texas had an interception return for a touchdown and a fumble recovery in the first half. The pick-six was off rookie QB Dillon Gabriel. Mukuba jumped in front of receiver Diontae Johnson to snag the pass and raced 75 yards down the right side for the score. Generating takeaways is nothing new for Mukuba, who led the SEC with five interceptions in 2024.

Mukuba got off to a hot start this summer before being slowed by a shoulder injury. Now back in action, he has resumed his competition with third-year player Sydney Brown for the starting spot opposite Reed Blankenship. It’s been pretty even to this point, but a performance like this could certainly move the needle in Mukuba’s favor. — Tim McManus

Next game: at New York Jets (7:30 p.m. ET, Friday)

Patriots: Undrafted free-agent WR Efton Chism III (Eastern Washington) might have solidified his spot on the roster with six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown in the first half. The TD was a 12-yard catch-and-run, on third-and-9, in which he evaded and/or broke tackles from six defenders.

The Patriots project to have Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas as their starting receivers, with Mack Hollins and 2025 third-round pick Kyle Williams also locks as complementary options. So Chism has essentially forced the team’s hand to keep six receivers, and maybe even a seventh.

“Everybody is here for a reason, and he’s certainly made the most of his opportunities,” head coach Mike Vrabel said at halftime on the WBZ-TV broadcast. “His play strength really shows up.” — Mike Reiss

Next game: at New York Giants (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET, Prime Video)

Vikings: The Vikings sat all of their starters and more than a dozen key backups for Saturday’s game, having prioritized the two days of joint practices with the Patriots over preseason playing time. That left two personnel groups to monitor: the backup quarterbacks and kick/punt returners.

Presumptive No. 2 quarterback Sam Howell had a shaky outing, completing only one of five passes for 13 yards with an interception. Rookie Max Brosmer played the entire second half and performed well enough, completing 15 of 26 passes for 156 yards, to make the backup competition interesting for the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, the return game offered two interesting takeaways: rookie receiver Tai Felton took the first punt and kickoff returns, and rookie receiver Myles Price ripped off an 81-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter. Felton fair-caught the only punt he saw, and he fumbled at the end of a 21-yard kickoff return. In other words, it’s more than fair to say that the Vikings haven’t demonstrated they have a regular-season kickoff or punt returner on their roster. — Kevin Seifert

Next game: at Tennessee Titans (Friday, 8 p.m. ET, CBS)

Packers: Penalties slowed down the Packers early; rookie second-round tackle Anthony Belton had five (FIVE!) by himself in the first half. But at least they got to see what second-year running back MarShawn Lloyd might be able to do after missing most of his rookie year because of injuries and illness. The 2024 third-round pick made the biggest play from scrimmage in the first half with a 33-yard catch on a wheel route from Malik Willis.

With Josh Jacobs and most of the first-stringers sitting, Lloyd started and played 11 snaps. He had six carries for 15 yards and was targeted four times with the one catch. The Packers like Lloyd’s explosiveness as a backup for Jacobs, but he needs to stay healthy. He’s already missed time this summer (groin) and while he appeared to get shaken up on his catch and did not play another snap, he seemed to be OK on the sideline. — Rob Demovsky

Next game: vs. Seattle Seahawks (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, NFL Network)

Colts: QB Anthony Richardson Sr. saw his most extensive preseason action yet after sustaining a dislocated finger in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens. He did little to hurt his bid to become the starting quarterback in his ongoing battle with Daniel Jones. Richardson completed 6 of 11 attempts for 73 yards, but his numbers were undermined by penalties. He started 5 of 6 for 64 yards, leading a methodical 90-yard touchdown drive with crisp passes before offensive penalties derailed his next two possessions (including a negated 38-yard completion). Daniel Jones started the game and led a field goal drive, completing 7 of 11 attempts for 101 yards overall. — Stephen Holder

Next game: at Cincinnati Bengals (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

Dolphins: This might be a quarterback battle, after all — backup quarterback, that is. Zach Wilson put together a solid start in the Dolphins’ second preseason game, completing 15 of 23 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. But he looked hesitant to throw at times and missed a couple would-be touchdowns, including a deep pass to a wide-open Dee Eskridge that he underthrew.

The rookie Quinn Ewers was markedly improved from his debut, completing 11 of 16 passes with a pair of touchdowns to fellow rookie Theo Wease, Jr. Miami signed Wilson to be its backup quarterback this season, and the team will likely keep three passers, but Wilson has not run away with the job and Ewers is steadily improving as he learns this offense. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, NFL Network)

Lions: Lions RB Sione Vaki made his preseason debut, contributing on offense and special teams. Vaki exited practice early after suffering a hamstring injury on July 21, which sidelined him for a period, but he returned to practice this week prior to suiting up against Miami. Vaki displayed his versatility, forcing a fumble on a punt return, which the Dolphins recovered. He also gained 30 rushing yards from five carries during the first half.

Despite playing in a loaded Lions backfield, Lions head coach Dan Campbell says he could expand his role due to his athleticism and ability to play multiple roles. Detroit picked Vaki in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft out of Utah and he appeared in 16 games as a rookie. — Eric Woodyard

Next game: vs. Houston Texans (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

Friday’s results

Seahawks: Zach Charbonnet continued to show why he’ll have a bigger role in the Seahawks’ backfield this season than you might expect. With Kenneth Walker III out again, Charbonnet carried five times for 45 yards on the opening drive, showing excellent vision and burst on a 15-yard touchdown run.

Walker has missed extensive chunks of time in the spring and summer after missing 11 games last year, and it’s enough to wonder not only about his availability but how crisp he’ll be in a new blocking scheme when he is on the field. The ever-reliable Charbonnet, meanwhile, hasn’t missed a day, and his production has been validating all the glowing praise he gets from teammates and coaches. Between Charbonnet’s strong offseason and Walker’s availability issues, it may be more of an even split in Seattle’s backfield than a typical starter-backup situation. — Brady Henderson

Next game: vs. Green Bay Packers (4 p.m. ET, Saturday, NFL Network)

Chiefs: All four of the Chiefs’ prominent rookies on defense — tackle Omarr Norman-Lott, end Ashton Gillotte, cornerback Nohl Williams and linebacker Jeffrey Bassa — struggled with extending playing time Friday. The Chiefs’ defense gave up huge chunks of rushing yards in the first half as Norman-Lott and Gillotte weren’t able to make much of an impact. Bassa, who was a star in the preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, was exploited by the Seahawks’ misdirection plays. Williams showed his physicality again, but he left the game in the third quarter with a concussion. — Nate Taylor

Next game: vs. Chicago Bears (8:20 p.m. ET, Friday)

Titans: Rookie receiver Elic Ayomanor had what he called his worst practice of training camp Tuesday when he went up against the Falcons’ defensive backs. Ayomanor bounced back with a solid practice Wednesday, and he carried that momentum over to game day.

Ayomanor caught two passes for 47 yards and is becoming a problem working the middle of the field. Fellow rookie Gunnar Helm is a playmaker, whether it’s finding holes in zone or running seam routes. Helm went up and grabbed a Brandon Allen pass over two defenders for a 25-yard touchdown, finishing with four receptions for 48 yards.— Turron Davenport

Next game: vs. Minnesota Vikings (8 p.m. ET, Friday)

Falcons: The Falcons’ wide receiver corps is not making things easy for the coaching staff with a little more than a week until cut day. Against the Titans, David Sills V, Chris Blair and Dylan Drummond all had moments. Blair caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Easton Stick. Drummond has 12 catches in two preseason games.

Sills, who has been Kirk Cousins’ favorite target in practice, had two catches on the first series Friday and was then removed from the game, potentially indicating that the coaches have seen enough and Sills has a 53-man roster spot already. Casey Washington didn’t suit up Friday, meaning he’s a lock. — Marc Raimondi

Next game: at Dallas Cowboys (8 p.m. ET, Friday)