2026 NFL Preseason TV Schedule: How To Watch Week 2 And Week 3 Games Live

As the 2026 NFL preseason enters its critical mid-August stretch, football fans across the country are tuning in to monitor quarterback battles, rookie debuts, and positional depth charts. With Week 2 games currently underway as of August 15, 2026, navigating national and local television broadcasts requires a clear, up-to-date roadmap.

Major broadcast partners—including NFL Network, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video—are delivering extensive coverage ahead of the league's final 53-man roster deadline. Below is the essential national TV schedule for the remainder of the 2026 preseason slate.

Broadcast Networks and Local Market Viewing Options

National television rights for the 2026 NFL preseason rely on a mix of exclusive primetime games and local market syndication. NFL Network serves as the primary hub, broadcasting dozens of live out-of-market games across the three-week window, alongside re-airings of every single preseason contest.

For local viewers, home-market broadcasts are carried on regional network affiliates (ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC). However, fans living outside their team’s designated market must rely on national broadcasts or specialized digital subscriptions. Note that local blackout policies still apply when a game is broadcast nationally on standard cable or network television.

• NFL Network: Broadcasts live out-of-market games throughout August.
• Over-the-Air Networks (CBS, FOX, NBC): Select marquee weekend games broadcast nationally in primetime.
• ESPN & Prime Video: Feature dedicated single-game primetime broadcasts with full national distribution.

Streaming Guide: How to Watch Preseason Games Without Cable

Cord-cutters have multiple options to stream the 2026 NFL preseason live. The league’s flagship streaming service, NFL+, offers live local and primetime preseason games on mobile devices, along with live out-of-market preseason audio and full game replays immediately after the final whistle.

Top-tier live TV streaming platforms also provide full access to network channels and NFL Network without requiring a long-term satellite or cable contract:

• Fubo & YouTube TV: Include local CBS, FOX, and NBC channels, along with ESPN and NFL Network in basic packages.
• Hulu + Live TV: Provides access to all major broadcast networks and ESPN channels.
• Paramount+ & Peacock: Stream local CBS and NBC games live, respectively.
• Amazon Prime Video: Holds exclusive streaming rights for select primetime national broadcasts.

Final Roster Cutdowns and Week 3 Schedule Outlook

Preseason Week 3 represents the final opportunity for fringe players to earn a spot on the initial 53-man roster. The NFL mandates a single mandatory cut deadline in late August, forcing teams to trim their rosters from 90 players down to 53 in one swift move following the conclusion of Week 3 action on August 23, 2026.

Coaches typically sit established starters during the final preseason slate to avoid key injuries, shifting the national TV spotlight onto rookie backups and high-stakes positional duals. Key storylines for the final broadcast window include starting quarterback competitions in several re-tooling franchises and secondary depth battles across contending rosters.

Following the conclusion of the August 23 broadcasts, teams will have 48 hours to complete final roster cutdowns before shifting total focus toward the 2026 NFL Regular Season Kickoff in early September.