We are officially in the final week of the preseason and AFC rosters are starting to take greater shape with each joint practice and preseason rep. Naturally, winners and losers will be involved as this process continues.

So, with that being said, let’s go ahead and dive in and discuss who showed up and who didn’t over the weekend.

Baltimore Ravens

Winner: EDGE Ethan Burke
Loser: OT Gerad Lichtenhan
The take: Burke was everywhere against the Vikings. He recorded a sack, a TFL, two batted passes and created the Ravens’ first turnover of the preseason. Burke is fighting for a job in a deep room, but another performance like this could certainly keep him on the 53-man roster.

Licthenhan is getting hit with way too many penalties through the preseason and it’s due to a lack of technique and execution. I mean, three holding penalties in one game is enough to nuke just about anyone’s chance of making the 53.

Buffalo Bills

Winner: QB Kyle Allen
Loser: WR Mecole Hardman Jr.
The take: Allen (not Josh) is really quieting concerns through the first two preseason games. He finished 10-of-12 for 128 yards and a touchdown against the Browns, bringing his two week statline up to 24-of-28 for 226 yards and said TD.

At this point, special teams are what will save Hardman’s job and he’s not even performing, there.

Cincinnati Bengals

Winner: DT Landon Robinson
Loser: T Jalen Rivers
The take: Cincinnati has a good problem to have at defensive tackle as Robinson, the second of two seventh-round picks from this year’s draft, is having a great preseason. He posted 1.5 sacks against the Bears and had four pressures as well. I would’ve thought he was already on the roster before this week, but stacking quality games like he’s done should only solidify him more..

This was a big week for whom the Bengals hope will be their backup swing tackle. Rivers was moved from guard back to tackle (the opposite of what he did this time last year) and got every chance to prove himself for the role Saturday night. He underwhelmed with a crucial pre-snap penalty and was the shakiest of the second-string linemen in pass protection. He may still make the team, but his roster security took a definite hit, regardless.

Cleveland Browns

Winner: WR Luke Floriea
Loser: CB Tre Avery
The take: The Northeast Ohio native stuck around on the practice squad last year and at the very least he’s destined for it this season. Floriea caught a touchdown pass from Shedeur Sanders on Saturday against the Bills, and their connection continues to stand out. Floriea is in the mix for the final wide receiver spot in Cleveland.

The Browns lack defensive back depth, and their top reserve behind Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell is Avery. Saturday was a day to forget for the reserve cornerback, as Buffalo was coming his way often with the ball, and was often successful. Cleveland needs to add at cornerback and Avery isn’t the guy to rely on as a top backup option on the outside.

Denver Broncos

Winner: QB Bo Nix
Loser: QB Jarrett Stidham
The take: In his first action returning from his ankle injury, Nix looked sharp. He went 6-of-9 passing for 76 yards and a touchdown. It wasn’t just the third-year QB that looked sharp, but the entire offensive operation looked great. A positive sign for the reigning AFC West champions. 

On the flip side, Stidham did not have such an easy time operating the offense. He went 9-of-15 passing for 82 yards and an ugly interception. He’s in a not-so-tight battle with Sam Ehlinger, but things might have closened. Ehlinger might now earn an opportunity to go with the second team offense in preseason Week 3.

Houston Texans

Winner: RB Woody Marks
Loser: Texans’ OL additions
The take: The Texans added David Montgomery over the offseason and appear to have a solid 1-2 punch thanks to Marks. He made solid plays in both the running and passing game, leaving the arrow pointing up in a big way.

Another offseason, another round of change for the Texans offensive line. The team brought in Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith, among others, to fortify the front five and both Teller and Smith underperformed against the Raiders. Teller even came in with the 2s – he didn’t play with the 1s. That’s pretty concerning considering he signed a two-year, $16 million deal back in March.

Indianapolis Colts

Winner: WR Coleman Owen
Loser: CB Mekhi Blackmon
The take: It’s tough to find a bright spot in a 34-6 loss, but Owen should explosiveness in both the passing game and the punt return game with a 39-yard catch and 17-yard punt return. The yardage totals led the Colts for each respective stat line.

Blackmon’s preseason struggles continued against the Falcons. Not only is he getting hit with penalties far too often, but he’s allowed six receptions for 74 yards on seven targets, so far. QBs average a 110.7 rating when targeting him, per Pro Football Focus.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Winner: RB Ameer Abdullah
Loser: QB Carter Bradley
The take: The back end of the Jaguars’ RB room is unsettled, and Abdullah made a strong argument for a roster spot against the Panthers. He drew the start and led the team with 45 yards on six carries, looking particularly impressive on a pair of runs of 13 and 23 yards in the first half. A rare bright spot in a dismal first half for Jacksonville’s offense.

The sound Bradley hears after Friday night are the footsteps of UDFA rookie Joey Aguilar, who has created a true battle for QB3. Bradley was just 6/13 for 51 yards passing with a bad interception across his body, while Aguilar was 9/10 for 130 yards and a touchdown. Bradley needs to do better in the preseason finale against the Bucs to avoid getting leapt – and perhaps sent out of town.

Kansas City Chiefs

Winner: WR Jalen Royals
Loser: TE Jared Wiley
The take: Royals put together the best game of his young career in preseason Week 2. He had six receptions on six targets for 51 yards. His 17-yard reception was also the longest of the day for Kansas City. He showcased strong hands, physicality, and YAC ability. It’s exactly the type of thing they need from him in 2026.

Sometimes it’s just not your day. That was the case for Wiley in preseason Week 2 vs. the Bucs. He caught 2-of-4 passes for 15 yards. He also had two back-breaking penalties. One came on special teams, and ultimately led to a missed PAT from Harrison Butker. Then there was a holding penalty in the fourth quarter that ultimately stalled out a comeback attempt. Wiley can’t have another day like that with the tight end competition so close.

Las Vegas Raiders

Winner: RB Mike Washington Jr.
Loser: OL Jordan Meredith
The take: Washington Jr. continues to show that he can be a legitimate 1B to Ashton Jeanty. He keeps having big play after big play, and it’s obvious he has some star potential. His 33-yard run against the Texans was making something out of nothing..

Last week Meredith was destroyed on the interior and was even thrown to the ground on a play or two. Against the Houston Texans, it was pretty much the same thing. It’s becoming increasingly harder to see him making this 53-man roster.

Los Angeles Chargers

Winner: LB Junior Colson
Loser: P JK Scott
The take: There weren’t many highlight plays to speak of in preseason Week 2. However, the former Michigan Wolverine had one. The third-year linebacker had a 16-yard interception return for a TD. It has Chargers fans dreaming of a breakout season for the 23-year-old.

What’s worse than surrendering a punt return touchdown? Being the last line of defense and not even giving it a good old college try on your tackle. That’s exactly what happened with Scott on 49ers WR Jacob Cowing’s 83-yard punt return TD. Embarrasing, but at least it wasn’t the regular season.

Miami Dolphins

Winner: WR Kevin Coleman Jr.
Loser: WR Tutu Atwell
The take: The Miami Dolphins’ ‘other’ rookie wide receiver made an explosive catch in a quiet offensive showing against the New York Giants on Saturday night. Reps are there for the taking at receiver in Miami and Coleman Jr. had popped in the spring before his training camp was interrupted by injury. He was back in the fray and splashed.

Two more drops on Saturday night for Atwell, who has struggled with his performance in training camp and now in the preseason. Miami has $1.2 million in salary guaranteed to Atwell but with another underwhelming night, he’s very much on the roster bubble.

New England Patriots

Winner: WR Kyle Williams
Loser: LB Chad Muma
The take: Williams caught a 69-yard touchdown against the Eagles and caught another five-yard pass to lead the team with 74 receiving yards on the night. The big play firmly put Williams on the radar for one of the final WR spots.

Muma not only missed a couple tackles early-on, he got dinged up a couple of times, leaving his status for this week in jeopardy. The Patriots have a lot of questions at linebackers, so a bounce back could help his roster status, but he’s gotta make that happen before we can have that conversation.

New York Jets

Winner: QB Geno Smith
Loser: K Cade York
The take: Smith played really well against the Steelers after a poor practice showing against the Buccaneers in Week 1. The offense will only go as far as he can take it, so it’s encouraging to see him have the day he had.

Look, you don’t ever want to get too critical over a 59-yard miss, but that’s just how tight the competition is between York and Jason Sanders. He has to hit everything and every miss will result in another negative hit.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Winner: QB Mason Rudolph
Loser: QB Howard
The take: The Pittsburgh Steelers played so bad on Friday night that it’s hard to label anyone as a “winner” (look no further than the score) so we’re going to give that to Mason Rudolph. Despite not taking a snap, the efforts of the offense but more specifically Will Howard and Drew Allar, solidified him as the Steelers backup quarterback spot. He was steady throughout camp and Week 1 of the preseason and the Steelers know what they have in Rudolph. Friday proved that those behind him, aren’t ready to overtake him.

Speaking of Howard, this was his last chance to seize the opportunity as he earned the start, and it ended with him tossing two bad interceptions. The worst part was that one was a total miss read, the other was a throw that needed more velocity, something that has been a concern of his.

It doesn’t necessarily mean his time in Pittsburgh is over, but the Steelers can’t feel comfortable with him as their backup after that showing.

Tennessee Titans

Winner: LB Anthony Hill Jr.
Loser: WR Carnell Tate
The take: The rookie 2nd round pick snagged his first NFL (preseason) interception in Week 2, showing off his movement skills after reading the QB’s eyes. He also led the defense with 5 total tackles. He’s raw and may need more time than fans would like for Robert Saleh to trust him as the starting Mike LB, but his ability to create havoc is obvious. It’s just a matter of time for the young man.

Tate being a loser here probably comes as a surprise if you’ve followed the headlines from his summer in Nashville. But he’s experienced his first NFL “slump” in the past week, and he’s yet to find his first preseason catch. The young budding star has simply been quiet for a bit. Am I panicked? No, he’s shown me more than enough already. But there’s no denying he’s taken a step back from the spotlight recently.