The final week of the NFL’s preseason is here as teams from around the league get one last chance to gear up for kick off in 2026.
While most starters will be watching from the sidelines to avoid injury, this week also serves as the last chance for players around the league to make their case for the 53-man roster ahead of cut downs on Sunday.
TSN will carry three games on Friday, with each contest getting underway at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
Here is a look at each matchup and where to find them on the network.
Seahawks vs. Chiefs
The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks travel to Arrowhead to close out the preseason against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Watch the Seahawks battle the Chiefs LIVE at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on TSN2, TSN.ca, and the TSN App.
Second-year quarterback Jalen Milroe is expected to play all four quarters under centre for Seattle, and is in need of a good showing after struggling for much of the preseason.
The Alabama product entered camp in a battle with Drew Lock to serve as the Seahawks’ backup for Sam Darnold, but now appears set for the third spot on the depth chart with Lock being rested for Friday’s game.
Milroe has completed 11 of his 19 passing attempts for 88 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions over the first two preseason games, failing to lead a scoring drive in 11 attempts.
The 2025 third-round pick will be going up against Kansas City’s third-stringers on defence, and will get valuable in-game reps ahead of his sophomore season.
Patrick Mahomes will also sit out as he nears his return from season-ending knee surgery in December, and will give way to rookie quarterback Garret Nussmeier against Seattle.
Justin Fields appears to have locked up his spot as Mahomes’ backup for the upcoming year, but Nussmeier has a chance to strengthen his case in the final week of the preseason.
The rookie seventh-rounder was in line to share snaps with Chris Oladokun, but could now play the entire game after Oladokun was placed in concussion protocol.
Nussmeier has thrown for 172 yards with a 61 per cent completion rate in his two appearances this preseason.
Head coach Andy Reid also told reporters that Fields “will need to keep his arm loose” in case of injury.
Bengals vs. Eagles
The Cincinnati Bengals look to wrap up an undefeated preseason as they take to the road for a meeting against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Bengals opened the preseason with a narrow 16-14 win over the Detroit Lions before taking down the Chicago Bears 27-9 last week.
Joe Burrow will sit for the second straight game after previously playing two series in the Cincinnati’s preseason opener.
Earlier in camp, the Bengals quarterback spoke of playing this season with urgency after failing to make the playoffs in each of the past three seasons.
“I’ve tried to instill an urgency in the room, a palpable pressure — because we have guys playing and coaching for their jobs this year, and that’s how I’m looking at it,” he said. “I’m playing for my job this year.”
Burrow missed significant time last season with a turf toe injury, leading to the Bengals finishing the year with a 6-11 record.
Since then, they’ve overhauled their defence with the additions of Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, and Bryan Cook in an effort to get back to the Super Bowl after falling to the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.
The Eagles have gone 0-2 to open the preseason while resting the vast majority of their starters on both sides of the ball.
This week however, one of the team’s expected starters is expected to make his first appearance with the team as rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon ramps back up following a hamstring injury.
The first-rounder out of USC appears to be ready to roll against Cincinnati after participating in following weekly walkthroughs as he gets set to make his NFL debut in two weeks’ time.
Lemon, a 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner as the top receiver in collegiate football, could find an immediate role on the offence awaiting after Philadelphia shipped out disgruntled pass catcher A.J. Brown earlier in the off-season.
In 12 games for the Trojans last season, the 22-year-old receiver hauled in 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in his junior year.
Cardinals vs. Packers on TSN Premium
The Arizona Cardinals head up to Lambeau Field for a meeting against the Green Bay Packers in the first edition of the LaFleur Bowl.
Brothers Mike and Matt LaFleur meet for the first time as NFL head coaches in Week 3 of the preseason. They are just the fourth brother duo in league history to be named head coaches.
Mike was hired as Arizona’s head coach this offseason after serving as Sean McVay’s offensive coordinator with the Rams, while Matt is heading into his eighth season on the Packers’ sideline after taking over for Mike McCarthy in 2019.
Like most games in the final week of the preseason, both coaches will be resting their starters for this contest.
Gardner Minshew and Kedon Slovis will split time under centre for the Cardinals while Jacoby Brissett sets his eyes on Week 1 of the regular season. Rookie quarterback Carson Beck will also not play as he continues to work his way back from a rib injury sustained in the Hall of Fame Game earlier this month.
Veteran signal caller Tyrod Taylor is set to get the start for Green Bay, with Kyle McCord expected to take over at some point during the game.
Taylor and McCord are entrenched in a battle for the backup role behind Jordan Love, but reports out of camp indicate Taylor has the leg-up heading into the last week of the preseason.
A good showing against the Cardinals would all but lock up the job for Taylor, who is now on his eight team in the NFL.
