Detroit Lions quarterback Joshua Dobbs (6) runs in for a touchdown against Washington Commanders Joshua Josephs (48) during a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
DETROIT -- Joshua Dobbs ran for a 50-yard touchdown and the Detroit Lions held on for a 17-13 preseason win against the Washington Commanders on Saturday.
Dobbs, expected to back up quarterback Jared Goff this season, was 7 for 12 for 74 yards with an interception and a fumble. He had two carries for 53 yards.
Detroit (1-1) played a few starters, but none of its biggest stars. Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Penei Sewell sat out on offense, and Aidan Hutchinson was among the defensive absences.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels started, but he and much of the starting offense left after going three-and-out on the first series. Daniels was sacked once and threw an incompletion on his only pass attempt.
"I'm not worried about playing time -- any reps are good," Daniels said. "We know we've gotten the foundation of our offense in place, so now we can start focusing on game planning as we get closer to the first real game."
Commanders Coach Dan Quinn said Daniels was going to play one series, no matter how long it went.
"You want to thread the needle as close as you can," he said. "There are times in practice when he's taking all the reps he can, to get him a little more game ready."
Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis was impressive as the third Commanders quarterback, going 11 for 14 for 162 yards.
"It's great to put up some numbers, but it doesn't mean that much," said the former Minnesota and Rutgers starter. "I know I have a lot of work still to do."
The Commanders (1-1) kicked off to start the game, but still took a 7-0 lead after 51 seconds.
On the second snap from scrimmage, former Lion Amik Robertson sacked Dobbs at the Detroit 18, knocking the ball loose. Both teams had chances to recover, but the ball was knocked into the end zone and Joshua Josephs fell on it for a 7-0 lead.
"That's not all on (Dobbs)," Lions Coach Dan Campbell said. "We didn't pick up the protection the way we should, so he got hit."
Dobbs was intercepted on Detroit's second drive, but he faked a handoff and raced 50 yards for the tying touchdown on the third.
"I've always been a guy who tries to stay even-keeled, whether things are going good or bad," Dobbs said. "I try to react the same to a good play, like the run, exactly like I react to a bad one like the turnover on the second play. I just try to get focused on the next play and how I can improve."
BENGALS 27, BEARS 9
CINCINNATI -- With Joe Burrow, Joe Flacco and the rest of Cincinnati's starters and key backups watching in street clothes, 40-year-old journeyman Josh Johnson led the Bengals to a preseason victory over Chicago.
After directing a 14-play, 67-yard drive against Chicago's starting defense to open the game, Johnson threw a pair of touchdown passes late in the second quarter to give the Bengals (2-0) an 11-point lead and ending his night.
Johnson went 15 of 23 for 156 yards with touchdown passes of 17 yards to rookie wide receiver Colbie Young and 6 to veteran tight end Tanner Hudson, the latter coming with 23 seconds left in the first half.
Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams and the rest of the Bears' starters made their preseason debuts in cameo fashion, playing just the opening series.
Williams was 2 of 5 for 28 yards, with all three incompletions coming after Chicago (1-1) drove into the red zone only to have a holding penalty set up first-and-20 at the Bengals 27.
After the back-to-back-to-back incompletions -- the second of which was off target to a wide-open Colston Loveland inside the 10 -- Cairo Santos kicked a 45-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
Santos added field goals of 26 and 44 yards, but missed from 53. Cincinnati's Evan McPherson hit from 58 and 25 yards.
BUCCANEERS 16,
CHIEFS 15
TAMPA, Fla. -- Rookie Jalon Daniels led three second-half scoring drives to help Tampa Bay rally for a preseason victory over Kansas City.
Daniels tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Ko Kieft, Sean Tucker scored on a 1-yard run and B.T. Potter kicked a 46-yard field goal for the Bucs (2-0), who trailed 9-0 at halftime.
Harrison Butker kicked three field goals for Kansas City (0-2), including a 69-yarder on the final play of the first half. But what appeared to be a stellar performance soured when he missed an extra-point in the third quarter and then was wide right on a 43-yard field goal attempt that would have given the Chiefs the lead in the closing minutes.
Baker Mayfield, entering a contract year after leading the Bucs to the playoffs two of the past three seasons, started and played two series in his first preseason action since 2024. He was 2 of 4 for 10 yards before being replaced by backup Jack Browning late in the first quarter.
With three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes sitting out, Justin Fields opened at quarterback for the Chiefs, who have not said whether Mahomes will play in next week's preseason finale against Seattle. The two-time league MVP is coming back from a knee injury suffered last December and has been a full participant in training camp practices.
Fields departed in the second quarter, replaced by rookie Garrett Nussmeier after leading a drive that produced the first of Butker's three first-half field goals. Nussmeier's first series led to a 58-yard field goal and Butker added his 69-yarder after Tampa Bay turned the ball over on at the Kansas City 49 with 3 seconds remaining before halftime.
FALCONS 34, COLTS 6
INDIANAPOLIS -- Cooper Rush and Jack Strand picked apart the Colts' pass defense, and Atlanta cruised to a preseason win over Indianapolis.
Rush, who was signed last month, and the undrafted rookie Strand completed 16 of their first 17 throws while leading the Falcons to scores on five of their first six drives. Rush was 10 of 11 for 86 yards. Strand relieved him and finished 12 of 17 for 212 yards and a touchdown.
Atlanta -- which struggled in joint practices against the Colts this week with starter Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback -- outgained Indianapolis 464 yards to 161 while rushing for 164 yards.
Meanwhile, the Colts still have questions at backup quarterback.
Riley Leonard played the first half and went 7 of 14 with 62 yards while facing heavy pressure, though he did lead the Colts to their only points -- two field goals.
"I thought he did some good things, definitely some things we can improve on," Coach Shane Steichen said at halftime. "We've got be better on third down, got to be better on first and second down."
GIANTS 26, DOLPHINS 3
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Jameis Winston threw for 150 yards and ran for a touchdown while playing the first half, and the New York Giants beat Miami.
Devin Singletary rushed for 40 yards on eight carries and scored a touchdown, while Dominic Zvada and Ben Sauls each kicked two field goals for the Giants (1-1).
Both teams primarily used backups in this preseason matchup after starters had extensive work during a joint practice at the Dolphins' training facility on Thursday.
Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart participated in pregame drills but didn't play. Dolphins starter Malik Willis was in street clothes.
New York outgained Miami 390 yards to 102.
The Dolphins (0-2) started Cam Miller at quarterback after Quinn Ewers, who is second on the depth chart, sat out because of a groin injury he sustained in Miami's preseason opener against Washington. Miller played the first half, completing 6 of 11 passes for 60 yards. He was sacked twice.
RAMS 34, SAINTS 0
INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Stetson Bennett passed for 181 yards and rushed for two TDs while leading the Rams to a 20-point halftime lead, and Los Angeles cruised to a preseason victory over New Orleans.
Bennett went 19 of 31 while playing the entire first half for the Rams (2-0) before rookie Ty Simpson finished up.
Bennett is the Rams' presumptive backup to NFL MVP Matthew Stafford this season despite never playing in a regular-season game, but the former University of Georgia star turned in another in his history of strong preseason performances during his four seasons on the LA roster. He dived to the pylon for the Rams' first touchdown against New Orleans, and he scored again on a scramble in the second quarter while leading four substantial scoring drives.
The Saints (0-2) stirred up their own quarterback competition with Zach Wilson and Spencer Rattler playing one half apiece at SoFi Stadium, but neither prospective backup to Tyler Shough stood out during a rough overall outing for New Orleans.
Rattler moved the offense better than Wilson while facing the bottom of the Rams' defensive depth chart in the second half, but the Saints also made two goal-line turnovers, with Rattler throwing an interception that was returned for a 100-yard touchdown by safety Alex Cook.
The Saints even attempted a 39-yard field goal in the final minute to avoid the shutout, but Tanner Brown missed it.
PATRIOTS 24, EAGLES 21
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots backup quarterback Tommy DeVito tossed a 69-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Williams and New England beat Philadelphia in a preseason game in which Eagles running back Ja'Quinden Jackson was taken off the field in an ambulance.
Jackson was injured on the opening kickoff after tackling New England's Lan Larison. The Eagles announced that Jackson had strength and movement in his extremities and had been taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
Eagles third-string quarterback Tanner McKee threw two touchdown passes, including a go-ahead 20-yard toss to Carson Steele with 3:39 to play. Patriots third-stringer Behren Morton responded by leading a 73-yard drive, capped by a 37-yard TD pass to Nick DeGennaro.
Projected starters for both teams sat out after participating in two days of joint practices earlier in the week.
DeVito played the first half, going 8 of 15 for 151 yards while also running for 44 yards. Larison had a 2-yard TD run.
Eagles backup quarterback Andy Dalton went 3 of 10 for 44 yards in three series of work. He connected on passes of 25 and 13 yards to Darius Cooper that led to a 1-yard TD run by Will Shipley.
McKee also had a 14-yard TD pass to Britain Covey.
RAVENS 13, VIKINGS 3
MINNEAPOLIS -- J.J. McCarthy had an erratic start for the Minnesota Vikings, completing 5 of 10 passes for 81 yards in a exhibition-game loss to Baltimore, after undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano threw a touchdown pass to LaJohntay Wester for the Ravens.
McCarthy played four series with the second-team offense before yielding to 11th-year veteran Carson Wentz, leaving the picture unclear about who will be the No. 2 quarterback behind Kyler Murray in the regular season.
The 10th overall pick in the 2024 draft, who missed his rookie year while recovering from knee surgery and was limited by 10 starts last season because of multiple injuries, misfired to open receivers multiple times. After a 50-yard completion to Tai Felton midway through the first quarter, McCarthy threw too hard into the end zone twice for incompletions that forced a turnover on downs from the 1-yard line.
Tyler Loop made two field goals for the Ravens, who also rested the majority of their starting lineup after two days of joint practices with the Vikings.
Washington Commanders wide receiver Antonio Williams (14) makes a catch against Detroit Lions cornerback Keith Abney II (28) during a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Antonio Williams (14) makes a catch against Detroit Lions cornerback Keith Abney II (28) during a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Washington Commanders Joshua Josephs (48) scores against Detroit Lions Foster Sarell during a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Washington Commanders Joshua Josephs (48) scores against Detroit Lions Foster Sarell during a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions quarterback Luke Altmyer (2) runs the ball against Washington Commanders Car'lin Vigers (37) during a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions quarterback Luke Altmyer (2) runs the ball against Washington Commanders Car'lin Vigers (37) during a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)