Around The NFL breaks down what you need to know from all of Saturday's action from Week 3 of the 2026 NFL preseason. Catch up on each game's biggest takeaways using the links below:
- Pair of important Colts make short but sweet appearances. Keenan Allen signed with Indianapolis on Aug. 19, and on Saturday he surprisingly got a little run ahead of his 14th NFL season. Wearing No. 10 instead of his usual 13, Allen made an immediate impact, coming across the field to catch a 24-yard rope from Anthony Richardson as Lions cornerback Roger McCreary closed in. The reception got the Colts to midfield in a hurry. Five players later, they closed their opening drive with a field goal. Allen, who played just four snaps, looks locked in and ready to make an impact for Indy alongside fellow wideouts Alec Pierce, who returned to practice this week, and Josh Downs. Sauce Gardner logged his first four snaps of the preseason and made a catch, as well. Gardner was in coverage on Lions wide receiver Lucky Jackson when quarterback Luke Altmyer made an ill-advised attempt to sneak one past him to nearby tight end Thomas Gordon Gardner plucked it from the air for the interception on his final play of the day. The two-time All-Pro appeared in only four games for the Colts after being traded to Indianapolis midway through last season. He'll look to carry this momentum into what is hopefully a healthier regular season for the soon-to-be 25-year-old.
- Rakestraw still struggles in coverage. There was good and bad from the Lions' 2024 second-round pick in Detroit's preseason finale. Rakestraw, who played only eight games as a rookie due to injuries, missed all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery and has already been banged up a few times this August, is still working to find his footing as a cover man in the NFL. He played the entire first half against the Colts and allowed three receptions for 44 yards on five targets. On a particularly bad sequence, Rakestraw got burnt by Anthony Gould for a 25-yard fourth-down catch into the red zone and then gave up a 14-yard gain to wideout Deion Burks on the very next play. Rakestraw did show off his physicality with six tackles and made a diving interception of a bad throw under duress by Riley Leonard, so there will still be some positive tape. However, the overall numbers are not promising as Rakestraw seeks his place somewhere down the CB depth chart. He allowed 11 receptions for 151 yards on 15 targets, with two passes defensed and the INT across the entire preseason.
- Play of the preseason? Chicago might have delivered the score of August on its first offensive play in the league's final preseason game. Pinned back at their own 3-yard line, the Bears fearlessly elected to attack through the air. Stepping up into a crowded pocket, Tyson Bagent flung one deep down the sideline to a wide-open Zavion Thomas, who had sent Titans cornerback Keydrain Calligan out of his shoes on a double move. It was off to the races from there -- right where the third-round rookie with a 4.28 40-yard dash wants to be. Thomas beat the only other defender with a chance, safety Jerrick Reed II, to the end zone for a 97-yard score. Bagent's throw had an air distance of 41.3 yards, and Thomas hit a max speed of 21.99 mph on the play, per Next Gen Stats. Bagent eventually finished 16 of 17 for 208 yards, two TDs and a sterling 156.9 passer rating, while Thomas amassed 140 yards on five catches and added an electric 39-yard punt return. Starters or reserves, it apparently doesn't matter who lines up in Ben Johnson's offense -- there will be fireworks.
- What's next for Levis? Cam Ward and Mitchell Trubisky sat out Tennessee's third preseason game, making it pretty clear where Will Levis stands. Levis had a chance to make a statement on Saturday, either to the Titans or onlooking teams, but his performance was pretty much par for the course for his career so far. Levis went 14 of 22 for 143 yards in a half of football. He frequently showed off his powerful arm but also displayed tremendous touch connecting with tight end Kylen Granson for a 28-yard gain on a fourth-and-2 in the first quarter. Levis also led a fairly flawless 74-yard two-minute drill that ended in three points, although he delivered a perfect deep strike to Tyren Montgomery earlier in the drive that should've been a 41-yard touchdown but instead went right through the receiver's hands. A second-round QB in his fourth year should have some success against backups, though. On the flip side, Levis only managed nine points over five drives, fumbled a WR handoff to Chimere Dike, went 1 of 6 on third downs and should've been picked off twice. If the Titans keep three signal-callers, he's a safe bet to stay. Otherwise, they could potentially look to the trade market, as the Dolphins did Saturday with Quinn Ewers. ... For those keeping track of the Carnell Tate preseason catch counter, it ends how it started -- at zero. However, the rookie only played three snaps Saturday, and he did get his fingertips on a deep throw from Levis that would have been a remarkable reception.
