2026 NFL Preseason: Friday Night Spotlights

The NFL preseason continues Friday night with three games slated: Denver at Atlanta, Tampa Bay at the New York Jets, and Miami at Washington.

The preseason isn’t about the final score. It’s about evaluating young players, new additions, and players fighting for expanded roles. For me, Friday’s slate features six players I’m particularly excited to watch.

Here’s who I’m watching — and what I’m watching for.

2026 NFL Preseason: Friday Night Spotlights – Who to Watch?

When Denver has the ball

Jonah Coleman, Running Back

Jonah Coleman is a player ready to contribute immediately in the NFL. He has the skillset to become a legitimate three-down back thanks to his vision, contact balance, and ability as a pass catcher.

Coleman has a real chance to carve out a role in the Denver backfield. The biggest question is how much opportunity will actually be available to him in the regular season, particularly with J.K. Dobbins already occupying a similar role. Yet, that’s what makes the preseason so important for Coleman.

He has an opportunity to show exactly what he can bring to the table, and I expect his combination of vision, physicality, and receiving ability to stand out. I’m not watching to see whether Coleman can make the roster, he certainly is, I’m watching to see just how difficult it will be for Denver to keep him off the field.

When Atlanta has the ball

Tua Tagovailoa, Quarterback

Tua Tagovailoa is the obvious player to watch in Atlanta.

After signing a massive contract with Miami not long ago, Tagovailoa was released amid the organizational turnover. Now, he finds himself in Atlanta competing with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting quarterback job.

The opportunity is pretty remarkable.

Tagovailoa has a talented group of weapons around him, including Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson. Meanwhile, Penix is unavailable to compete in live game action, giving Tua an opportunity to make an early impression. Penix isn’t even cleared for 11 on 11 reps in practice yet. If Tua wants to win this job, he has to take advantage of opportunities exactly like this.

I’m not expecting him to come out, play the whole game, and throw for 300 yards. That’s not what preseason football is about. I’m watching his command of the offense, his decision-making, his accuracy, and whether he looks like the quarterback capable of taking advantage of the talent Atlanta has surrounded him with. I’m watching for this because that is precisely what head coach Kevin Stefanski is going to be watching for.

For Tua, this is an opportunity to start writing a new chapter.

When Tampa Bay is on defense

Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE

I am so excited to watch Rueben Bain Jr. People got so caught up in his shorter arm length that they overthought the talent and, in my opinion, allowed him to fall far too far in the draft.

Short arms be damned — give me Rueben Bain Jr.

The talent is obvious. Bain plays with an incredible combination of physicality, bend for his size, technique, and motor, and I believe he has a chance to become a force in the NFL.

Now we get to see it translate.

The preseason doesn’t tell us everything, but it gives us our first opportunity to see Bain against NFL competition. I’m watching how quickly he wins, how he handles NFL offensive linemen, and whether the traits that made him such an exciting prospect continue to show up when the competition gets bigger, stronger and more technically refined or if NFL tackle length catches up to him.

I think Bain is going to be really good. It starts tonight.

When the Jets are on defense

David Bailey, EDGE

David Bailey, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, makes his preseason debut tonight, and I’m fascinated to see how quickly his game translates to the NFL.

His athleticism, burst and speed should translate almost immediately. Those are the kinds of traits that don’t disappear when you move up a level.

But that’s not what I’m watching for.

Instead, I’m watching what happens when his athleticism doesn’t win initially.

I have been lower on Bailey than others and certainly did not have his graded as the second-best player in this class. That makes this game an opportunity for me to check my own evaluation. I certainly saw a high-end, traits-driven pass rusher on film. I saw someone who pursued well against the run and consistently created problems with his athletic ability on backside pursuit.

But can he win in more ways than simply being the better athlete?

Can he defeat blocks when an offensive lineman gets his hands on him? Can he create pressure with power moves? Can he consistently become a positive influence against the run rather than simply chasing plays down like a linebacker?

Those questions matter.

Because if you’re going to justify being the second overall pick, being an incredible athlete isn’t enough, we know that from precious draft. At a minimum, Bailey needs to develop into a player who can consistently impact both phases of the game.

I’m excited to see how my evaluation holds up.

When Miami has the ball

Malik Willis, Quarterback

Malik Willis gets another opportunity to start in the NFL, this time in Miami under Jeff Hafley. This is a massive opportunity for Willis.

If he wants to establish himself as a legitimate starting quarterback in this league, he needs to show it — and that process starts with performances like this. The preseason is about building momentum, and Willis has an opportunity to put together a strong first impression that can carry into the regular season. That’s really what I’m watching for. Momentum.

Willis doesn’t need to be perfect. He needs to show command, play efficiently, and make the throws that are there for him. He needs to demonstrate that the talent we’ve always known exists can translate into consistent quarterback play.

For Willis, this Friday night NFL preseason game isn’t necessarily about proving that he’s arrived. It’s about starting the ripple that creates the wave. He needs to start strong.

When Washington is on defense

Sonny Styles, Linebacker

Sonny Styles was one of my favorite prospects in the entire 2026 NFL draft class — and that was before his historic combine performance. The athletic ability is impressive, but that’s not why I was so high on Styles.

Styles is an incredibly talented and disciplined football player who does so many things well. He can defend the run, he can cover thanks to his experience playing safety, and he’s a reliable, physical tackler. There’s very little about his game that I don’t like.

I believe Styles has the potential to become a foundational piece for Washington for the next decade, and Friday night is the beginning of what I expect to be a very long and successful NFL career.

The player I’m most interested in watching isn’t necessarily the athlete. It’s the football player. How quickly does Styles diagnose? How comfortable does he look communicating? How does he handle the increased speed of the NFL game?

I think we’re eventually going to look at Styles as much more than just another talented defender. I think he has the potential to become Dan Quinn’s defensive quarterback. And tonight is the first step.

Final Thoughts

The Week 1 NFL Friday preseason slate gives us six very different evaluations.

Coleman is an opportunity to see how quickly an NFL-ready running back can carve out a role. Tagovailoa is fighting for a starting job. Bain is a player I believe the league underestimated. Bailey gives me a chance to challenge my own evaluation. Willis is looking to build momentum toward a potential starting opportunity. And Styles is the beginning of what I believe could become a foundational NFL career.

That’s what makes preseason football fun for me. We’re not just watching the scoreboard. We’re watching the players.