Preseason is finally here! Wade and Ryan break down Highmark Stadium controversy, the Vikings’ QB shake-up, and more on Preseasonal.
NFL fans, wipe away those tears — the wait is over. The NFL is officially back, and Wade and Ryan are kicking off preseason the only way they know how: equal parts hot takes, dodgy stadium gossip, and genuine excitement that the games finally, finally count for something (even if that something is technically nothing). This week’s episode of Preseasonal is a proper start-of-season sprawl, covering everything from stadium controversies to quarterback benchings to a very sad goodbye to a London barbecue joint.
Highmark Stadium Already Causing a Stir
Buffalo’s shiny new $2.2 billion home has barely opened its doors and fans are already up in arms over sightline complaints — some seats reportedly have barriers blocking the view. Wade and Ryan don’t fully let the Bills off the hook, but they reckon it’s a bit overblown given how few seats are actually affected. There’s also a fun tangent about the stadium being modelled on Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, right down to sharing a “great venue, rough neighbourhood” reputation. Whether Highmark serves beer and wings the way American venues usually do remains a genuine mystery — apparently nobody’s spotted a chicken wing in the building yet, and with no beer allowed inside (much like NFL games in London), fans might be in for a dry, hungry season.
The Vikings Just Benched Their Former First-Round QB
Big preseason news out of Minnesota: Kyler Murray has officially won the Vikings’ starting quarterback job over JJ McCarthy, a decision that’s sent shockwaves through fantasy circles. Wade and Ryan dig into whether Minnesota made the right call, why Kevin O’Connell is staking his reputation on it, and whether McCarthy — who’s shown flashes but hasn’t been able to stay healthy or hold the job — has a real path back to QB1. Spoiler: they’re not totally sold Murray is the long-term answer, but they get why the Vikings pulled the trigger given the offense he now has to learn from scratch.
Kirk Cousins vs. Maxx Crosby: Handbags in Vegas
Preseason drama doesn’t get much juicier than teammates having to be physically separated at practice. Wade and Ryan debate the Kirk Cousins–Maxx Crosby scuffle in Raiders camp, whether Crosby’s trade rumours are more pageantry than substance, and who they’d actually put their money on in a fight (there’s a strong case for “angrier and also younger”). They also chew over whether Crosby genuinely wants out of Vegas, or whether this is all a calculated play to boost his value ahead of a possible deadline deal.
The Injury Report Nobody Wants to Read
Preseason always brings a wave of bad news, and this year’s no exception. The guys run through the fallout: a Bears safety facing four to six months out after knee surgery, Washington’s left tackle with a torn tricep, and San Francisco’s rough run continuing with Ricky Pearsall’s season-ending news. There’s also a genuinely surprising retirement from Teddy Bridgewater, and a very funny “is this a Hollywood script” moment involving Derek Carr taking a coaching job at UCLA — with Wade and Ryan only half-joking about a sequel where Carr suits up for one last collegiate run himself.
Show Me the Money: Contract Season Chaos
The running back market has properly exploded, and Wade and Ryan break down the new contracts reshaping the position — including a blockbuster deal for a top rusher that instantly reshuffles the “highest paid” conversation. On the defensive side, Dallas made a major statement re-signing a star defensive lineman to a nine-figure deal, and the guys debate whether it fixes the Cowboys’ very real run-defense problems from last season. Plus: why Hunter Henry’s re-signing in New England might be one of the most underrated moves of the offseason, especially with the Patriots’ receiver room looking thin behind AJ Brown.
A Sad Goodbye, and a Cheap Ticket Tip for London
It’s not all X’s and O’s — there’s a genuinely touching moment about Josh Allen’s reputation as one of the nicest guys in the NFL, a proper laugh about ESPN pundits gambling with everyone’s fantasy money, and some sad news for London NFL fans: beloved barbecue spot Bodean’s has closed its doors for good, ending an era for anyone who used to catch games there over a plate of ribs. On a brighter note, Wade flags that college football is heading to Wembley on 19th September (Arizona State vs. Kansas), with tickets going for as little as £10 — a proper bargain if you fancy a day out, even if the game itself is a bit of an afterthought to the price.
Preseason Is Officially Here — Don’t Miss a Single Episode
With games kicking off Thursday and running right through the weekend, this is the perfect time to get caught up before the real action starts. Wade and Ryan will be back next week with more reaction, more debate, and more of the chaos that makes preseason so much fun to follow from this side of the Atlantic.
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