2025 NFL preseason Week 2: Takeaways, analysis

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Nathan Carter scurries to the end zone (0:29)

Nathan Carter goes 43 yards for the Falcons touchdown. (0:29)

The second week of the 2025 NFL preseason kicked off Friday as several teams prepared to give extended looks to their starters in a dress rehearsal for the regular season.

To keep you updated on how teams fared, our NFL Nation reporters summarized the games below.

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Friday's results

Seahawks 33, Chiefs 16

Seahawks: Zach Charbonnet continued to show why he'll have a bigger role in the Seahawks' backfield this season than you might expect. With Kenneth Walker III out again, Charbonnet carried five times for 45 yards on the opening drive, showing excellent vision and burst on a 15-yard touchdown run.

Walker has missed extensive chunks of time in the spring and summer after missing 11 games last year, and it's enough to wonder not only about his availability but how crisp he'll be in a new blocking scheme when he is on the field. The ever-reliable Charbonnet, meanwhile, hasn't missed a day, and his production has been validating all the glowing praise he gets from teammates and coaches. Between Charbonnet's strong offseason and Walker's availability issues, it may be more of an even split in Seattle's backfield than a typical starter-backup situation. -- Brady Henderson

Next game: vs. Green Bay Packers (4 p.m. ET, Saturday, NFL Network)

Chiefs: All four of the Chiefs' prominent rookies on defense -- tackle Omarr Norman-Lott, end Ashton Gillotte, cornerback Nohl Williams and linebacker Jeffrey Bassa -- struggled with extending playing time Friday. The Chiefs' defense gave up huge chunks of rushing yards in the first half as Norman-Lott and Gillotte weren't able to make much of an impact. Bassa, who was a star in the preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, was exploited by the Seahawks' misdirection plays. Williams showed his physicality again, but he left the game in the third quarter with a concussion. -- Nate Taylor

Next game: vs. Chicago Bears (8:20 p.m. ET, Friday)


Titans 23, Falcons 20

Titans: Rookie receiver Elic Ayomanor had what he called his worst practice of training camp Tuesday when he went up against the Falcons' defensive backs. Ayomanor bounced back with a solid practice Wednesday, and he carried that momentum over to game day.

Ayomanor caught two passes for 47 yards and is becoming a problem working the middle of the field. Fellow rookie Gunnar Helm is a playmaker, whether it's finding holes in zone or running seam routes. Helm went up and grabbed a Brandon Allen pass over two defenders for a 25-yard touchdown, finishing with four receptions for 48 yards.-- Turron Davenport

Next game: vs. Minnesota Vikings (8 p.m. ET, Friday)

Falcons: The Falcons' wide receiver corps is not making things easy for the coaching staff with a little more than a week until cut day. Against the Titans, David Sills V, Chris Blair and Dylan Drummond all had moments. Blair caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Easton Stick. Drummond has 12 catches in two preseason games.

Sills, who has been Kirk Cousins' favorite target in practice, had two catches on the first series Friday and was then removed from the game, potentially indicating that the coaches have seen enough and Sills has a 53-man roster spot already. Casey Washington didn't suit up Friday, meaning he's a lock. -- Marc Raimondi

Next game: at Dallas Cowboys (8 p.m. ET, Friday)

Saturday's games

Miami Dolphins at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET

Green Bay Packers at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET

New England Patriots at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET

Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. ET (NFL Network)

Carolina Panthers at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET

San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 p.m. ET (NFL Network)

Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys, 7 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Chargers at Los Angeles Rams, 7 p.m. ET

New York Jets at New York Giants, 7 p.m. ET (NFL Network)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Pittsburgh Steelers, 7 p.m. ET

Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos, 9:30 p.m. ET (NFL Network)

Sunday's games

Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. (NFL Network)

Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears, 8 p.m. ET

Monday's game

Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Commanders, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)