While Bobo was the fourth WR on the depth chart, he was used very accurately by the Seahawks and was poised to break out after receiving a two-year, $5.5 million contract. Seattle didn’t want him gone, but now he is injured.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that head coach Mike Macdonald said Jake Bobo suffered a “serious” knee injury. This could mean ACL, LCL, PCL, MCL or meniscus. The tests will show the extend of the injury, but it’s bad news.

Seahawks WR depth chart

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is clearly the best wideout on the team and arguably the best in the NFL. He just led the league in receiving yards. JSN is the main man and the undoubted star on the WR depth chart.

Then, veteran Cooper Kupp and special teams ace Rashid Shaheed follow suit. Bobo could be seen as the natural replacement for Kupp and let Shaheed be the vertical threat. Now, it seems like the three wideouts will remain the same.

The Seahawks offense has a lot to prove

It’s weird to think that the reigning champions have something to prove, but the Seahawks do. They lost offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III.

Hence, rookie Jadarian Price will have to prove he can takeover in the running game. Also, Sam Darnold has to keep his level without Kubiak running the playcalling duties. It’s sort of a ‘prove it‘ year for many on the offense.

Per Anthony Rivardo of Fireside Giants, the injury of Houston’s Jayden Higgins opened the door for a trade. “The Texans should trade for Darius Slayton. They need help at WR. Maybe they could ship a DT or CB the Giants’ way. Just an idea.”

Rivardo might be on to something. Higgins was the Texans’ WR2, and Slayton is better than what the Texans are signing. According to Ari Meirov, the Texans have signed Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones. Slayton is a better option than those two.

The NY Giants could use a DT/CB

As Rivardo points out, the Texans could give a defensive piece back to the Giants. Given that the Giants need one, but also the Texans have a loaded, elite defense, which means that even a third string on the Texans could be very good and useful for the Giants.

The current Giants’ DTs are Darius Alexander and sixth-round rookie Bobby Jamison-Travis. Meanwhile they have cornerbacks Greg Newsome II and Paulson Adebo. They could really get some help in any of those roles.

The Texans have veteran, and injury prone WRs

Nico Collins is an absolute stud, and he manages to stay relatively healthy. Howeve, the rest of the Texans wideouts are incredibly shaky in terms of availability.

Jayden Higgins is out for the year, Tank Dell has had an absolute nightmare of a career in terms of wild injuries. Then, the veteran signings of Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones lower the team’s ceiling. The Texans should consider Slayton seriously.

Per the Broncos PR team, Bo Nix will make his preseason debut vs Packers. As expected, Sean Payton said Nix will play around 14 snaps against Green Bay. “It’s always a blast to play at home,” Nix said on Tuesday’s press conference.

Friday’s game is the first time quarterback Bo Nix will hear play calls from new offensive coordinator Davis Webb during a live match scenario. Hence, even if just for 14 snaps, this could be a sign of things to come, for good or bad.

Is Jordan Love playing for Packers vs Broncos?

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said earlier this week the plan is for the starters, including quarterback Jordan Love, to play Friday night against the Broncos. It is clear that the starters won’t play much, but they’re also changing stuff in the coaching staff. For instance, Sean Mannion left his QB coach role to become the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia.

As for Love, the playcaller is still LaFleur, so he should be in a known environment in that regard. Still, preseason is to get into competing rhythm, not to go all out. The main goal here is to leave healthy.

Nix and Love need to show they can lift the ceiling

Both the Broncos and Packers know they have upside quarterbacks on their rosters. However, they are not regarded as top-tier, elite signal-callers. It’s now up to both Nix and Love to guide the rosters to the promised land.

In the case of Nix, he has a stacked roster to join him. Meanwhile, Love has a bit lesser receiving corp, but the Packers are still regarded as an NFC contender, and Love is tasked with guiding them all the way.

Al Nassr is beating Al Riyadh handedly and Cristiano Ronaldo was not about to go scoreless. The Portuguese ace received a pass inside the box, and he turned quickly to dance around his defender and then smash it home with his left foot.

Ronaldo, who revealed his retirement timeline is near, is still seeking the never-recorded 1,000-goal career. Now, he is just 23 goals away, something that he is bound to get at one point during the season. This was his first game after the 2026 World Cup and his wedding.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s average throws approximate timeline to reach 1,000 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo averages roughly 35 goals per season across all competitions since joining Al Nassr. Hence, he should be on pace to not only reach, but surpass the thousand-goal treshold this very season.

The Saudi Pro League helps Ronaldo as Al Nassr are the reigning champions thanks to their offensive prowess. Hence, they create a lot of scoring opportunities, which the Portuguese Ace could easily bag, as shown by his goal vs Al Riyadh.

Ronaldo’s scoring ability comes from versatility

Cristiano Ronaldo has all the tools to get goals. Not only is he physically imposing despite being 41 years old, but also he has some features or skills that help him massively. For instance, his knack and instinct for goal are incredible.

He can score with the left, the right, with a header, from outside of the box, with penalties… Ronaldo has so many ways of scoring that if he is within range, he is likely to find the back of the net.

Per Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, starters will get some action. Trevor Lawrence and others will get “a couple drives, potentially” against the Panthers. While that might be less than a quarter, at least Lawrence and company will get a football feel out of the game.

“You set a schedule, and timing and circumstances, things change and you have to pivot a little bit… I think we need a little bit more padded work against each other, good on good,” Coen said.

Will Bryce Young play for Panthers vs Jaguars?

It’s expected that Bryce Young plays for the Panthers vs Jaguars on a snap count as well, alongside other starters. Dave Canales saw Young and Offensive Rookie of the Year wideout Tet McMillan shine vs Jaguars in joint practice, so he might want to keep that momentum rolling.

It also looks like the offense might be taking another approach. As McMillan said, “We gotta stop trying to be cute.” And that is true, the Panthers don’t have a reputation for being an aggressive offense, though a change of pace could serve them well.

Both quarterbacks have pressure on their shoulders

Trevor Lawrence has had two great years in the NFL and a lot of bad ones. The Jags know both the highs and lows of Lawrence, and still plaid him. However, Lawrence needs to prove that he can sustain the level he showed last year in a consistent basis.

Meanwhile, Bryce Young is playing to remain as the Panthers QB1, as he is in his fourth year, but if he wants to get a huge extension, he must deliver and guide the Panthers into the NFL playoffs once again.

McVay spoke to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times on Donald’s future. “I would love to be able to have all this stuff figured out but… I know he’s feeling good, and I think he will continue to work out, and I’m hopeful that we’ll have some answers on that sooner than later,” McVay said.

Hence, more workouts are yet to come, but it all trends in a positive direction as Donald is feeling good. If Donald is back with the team, the Rams might actually have the most stacked team in recent NFL memory.

The Rams defense would arguably be NFL’s best with Donald

While the Rams have a great defense, rarely is it put on the list of the best in the NFL. The Houston Texans and the Seattle Seahawks are the main ones. However, the Rams might not even need Donald to look both of those units in the eye. And, if Donald returns, it might be the definitive factor for the Rams defense to be the best in the league.

A potential lineup with Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett would absolutely compete with Houston’s defensive line. Meanwhile, the duo of Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie could easily be a top CB duo that competes with Seattle’s secondary. The Rams might be on the verge of historic levels of talent.

Donald could be lured by a lowkey factor

While they were both in the organization together, Aaron Donald has never played with Chris Shula as a defensive coordinator. Shula was upgraded to the DC role in 2024, just when Donald retired.

However, in 2022 and 2023, Shula served as the pass rush coordinator/ linebackers coach, directly working with Donald up-front during Donald’s final NFL season. Now that he has a whole defensive scheme, Donald could be tempted to see how far Shula has come.

According to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, the Giants “won” the joint practice at every level, including the veteran wideouts. “Even during 1-on-1 drills early in practice, the Dolphins CBs couldn’t cover the Giants WRs. First two plays: Dart hit Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin for deep ball TDs… Odell Beckham Jr. put his defender in a blender and was open by 5 yards.”

Calvin Austin III also looked good and him going for a deep touchdown while playing primarily from the slot is actually impressive. However, the takeaway here is Mooney doing what he does best, and that OBJ is still running crisp routes despite his age and inactivity.

Malachi Fields also shone

Raanan also reported that “Malachi Fields made a tough, contested catch downfield.” Fields has been showing the Giants he should be the team’s WR2 behind Malik Nabers this season. Hence, it seems like the Giants offense is coming into its own.

Mooney, who has been quiet this training camp, might be ramping up his actions. The Giants added Najee Harris and the running back signing ended up impacting the receiving corp. Hence, no one is safe until delivering the goods.

Mooney and OBJ are in career-saving years

Odell Beckham Jr. and Darnell Mooney could perfectly be trying to salvage their NFL careers. In the case of Mooney, he was a certified WR2 for most of his career with really good years. However, in three of his last four years he hasn’t reached 500 yards.

As for Beckham, he has not appeared in an NFL game since 2024 and injuries hurt him bad. He hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season since 2019 and is not viewed as a top-tier weapon anymore. At 33 years old, this is his last chance at being relevant on an offense.

Per Jordan Raanan of ESPN, “Harris looks pretty good physically having just signed and coming off a torn Achilles.” That is music to Giants’ ears as the first preseason game showed Tyrone Tracy letting a defender put a clean hit on Jaxson Dart that forced a blue tent visit, much to the QB’s puzzled expression.

He is physically imposing and a much better blocker, and Harris also gave an injury update to be aware of his status. Harris is arguably a very good running back, as he had four straight 1,000-yard seasons before suffering the ruptured Achilles. If he comes back near the top of his game, the Giants could actually have a very decent weapon altogether for this offense.

Where does Harris fit on the NY Giants RB depth chart?

If Harris is at his best, he could fight with Cam Skattebo to be the Giants’ best running back. After all, Skattebo is regarded as the top one on the depth chart, but all reports indicate a committee.

Skattebo could be the more explosive, powerful back, while Harris brings a more detailed, yet physical style with lots of flair and power. Skattebo looks like a train, while Harris is more calculated, yet still hard to bring down.

Najee Harris is a tough guy to bring down

Raanan stated how big and strong Harris looked. When looking at his numbers, it’s confirmation that Harris is, indeed, a huge back. Harris has more rushing yards after contact than before contact.

Also, he usually doesn’t let people through. Najee Harris is considered a solid and reliable pass blocker. Standing at 6-foot-1 and over 240 pounds, his large size, physical strength, and willingness to engage defenders make him an asset in max-protection and passing downs.

According to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, “Coach John Harbaugh said the other day they were going to back off him [Nabers] in this setting.” This is all a part of the Giants’ rehab plan for the wideout.

After all, joint practices are more intense and fast-paced than practices or drills. Nabers is the Giants best wideout and he is on track to feature in Week 1. Hence, they are erring in the side of caution with him.

Dolphins defense could be very physical

The Miami Dolphins don’t have much expectations in the 2026 NFL season. However, one thing they must do is play physical, especially on defense. Their new head coach is former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.

Jeff Hafley’s defenses are built on high-intensity physicality, aggressive trench play, and a fearless mindset designed to swarm the opposing players. Hence, putting Malik Nabers against that kind of scheme could’ve ended in absolute tragedy and it’s not even an NFL game.

The Giants had issues in practice with Dolphins

In hindsight, it might be for good that Nabers didn’t practice. Giants’ rookie Francis Mauigoa struggled in his return to Miami for joint practice, for instance. As Harbaugh said, joint practice outside of the facilities “are not a controlled environment,” so it would be a massive blow to see something happen to the star wideout.

Per the Chargers’ website, Justin Herbert will start vs 49ers, confirmed by head coach Jim Harbaugh. “Starters are going to play a series then they’re going to come out. The backups will play the rest of the game,” Harbaugh said on Tuesday morning.

This will be the second straight year that Herbert makes an appearance in the preseason for the Chargers. Herbert was a 2020 rookie, but there was no preseason that year due to COVID-19. Then, he sat from 2021 to 2023, and missed the 2024 preseason with a plantar fascia injury.

Will Brock Purdy play for 49ers vs Chargers?

After joint practice against the Chargers, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that a chunk of first stringers will play during their Week 2 preseason game. That includes quarterback Brock Purdy, who will get snaps vs. Chargers.

Per Savanah Tujague of Yahoo! Sports, Purdy should see “anywhere from one to two series to direct the huddle and test his timing in game conditions.” While players like Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evans, and Christian Kirk are still sidelined, it’s expected that Deebo Samuel and other starters join Purdy in the cameo.

Purdy and Herbert had very different joint practices

Purdy got picked and the offense was having lots of issues during the 49ers joint practice with the Chargers. From turnovers to miscommunications, it wasn’t great for the signal-caller.

Meanwhile, Justin Herbert torched the 49ers defense left, right, up, and down the field. It seems like the Chargers offense was firing at all cylinders, while the 49ers attacking force was to gears behind.

As preseason action ramps up, some head coaches send their best to play at least a couple of drives. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, “Texans quarterback CJ Stroud set to play a few series tonight vs. Raiders along with first-team offensive line… Twenty to 25 plays, roughly.”

Hence, Stroud, whose stock in the NFL has plummeted after a very promising rookie year, needs to look at least good to not raise concerns. The Texans have exercised the fifth-year option for Stroud, which would imply a potential extension is coming, however, nothing is set in stone.

Will Fernando Mendoza play for the Raiders vs Texans?

Fernando Mendoza was the number one overall pick in the NFL Draft, but he is behind veteran Kirk Cousins on the depth chart. Hence, the Raiders will deploy their rookie so he can get some added snaps in his resume.

After the joint practice with Houston, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said Mendoza will get a lot of reps in the game vs Texans. Hence, it’s another opportunity for Mendoza to show his team he can take over if Cousins slips.

Why are Stroud and Mendoza so highly-watched?

Stroud has lots of eyeballs on him because his dip in form after the rookie season has been dramatic. Given that Houston has the best defense in the NFL, the team feels like it’s a quarterback away from contention. However, Stroud’s recent years show that he might not be the QB the Texans can rely on.

As for Mendoza, his College Football career was so great, that it granted him a National Championship and the first overall pick. That alone will put pressure on him. Add the fact that he is on a team desperate for good QB play, and the expectations grow even more.

According to Chad Graff of The Athletic, the Patriots’ backfield will be a 50-50 split between both Stevenson and Henderson. This could come as a shock for many given expectations.

Stevenson is a much older back while Henderson is absolutely explosive. However, those two factors are not the end-all, be-all of running backs. Hence, a 50-50 split will bring the best of both.

Stevenson’s advantages over Henderson

Stevenson is a way better blocker than TreVeyon Henderson and that might be his main advantage over the sophomore. He also has better vision and efficiency between the tackles.

Rhamondre Stevenson could get a lot of short-yardage opportunities near the endzone as well. He is a bit more used in those situations. Also, it seems like the coaching staff trust him in high-leverage games.

Henderson’s advantages over Stevenson

Henderson is way faster, more explosive, and have huge upside to get big plays going for the Patriots. He provides the Pats with a higher ceiling and long-touchdowns potential.

Also, Henderson is better at ball security. Stevenson has struggled with fumbles throughout his career, while Henderson has proven to be a much better ball carrier. Hence, they complement each other, ending it all in a projected 50-50 split.

Per Jordan Raanan of ESPN, “The NFL says the evaluation of Jaxson Dart was a ‘standard medical timeout’… There are multiple independent neurologists and medical trainers looking for impact and injury behavior on replay, which could lead to a player being checked.“

While it is true that when Dart fell to the ground he was slow to get up, the play didn’t end with Dart’s head being hit. What the doctors might have thought was that the ricochet of the fall might have caused some damage on the Giants signal-caller.

Dart’s history with concussions might have played a part in all of this

The fact that Jaxson Dart was checked for concussions in five different occasions last season is clearly something the doctors take into consideration. Hence, that’s why precautions might have been taken with Dart, despite the NFL saying it was a standard procedure.

Considering Dart plays in a huge market like New York, and is one of the NFL’s youngest stars, it’s in the organization’s best interest to assure he is healthy. It might not make Dart happy, but it is what it is.

Dart is not the only QB constantly on concussion watch

Dart is the one with the headlines right now, but he is not the first one. Famously, Tua Tagovailoa has four documented concussions. Three of them were in the NFL and two of them were relatively close from each other.

Tagovailoa is also an injury prone quarterback. Dart hasn’t gotten to that point. However, he plays in a way where he doesn’t take much care of his body. He must evolve a bit and take care of himself.

That is a huge sign of progression as there are three weeks to go before the 2026 NFL regular season starts. Delane was the sixth overall pick in the draft, so the expectations for him are huge.

Delane is highly regarded as the best cornerback in this rookie class and being under star defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the sky is the limit. At first, he was able to avoid the PUP list, but now he seems ready to go.

Delane has huge shoes to fill

The Chiefs lost both starting cornerbacks in Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Coincidentally, both went to the Rams, but that left a big hole on the Chiefs roster, one that Delane is trusted to fill.

Alongside Delane, Nohl Williams is expected to take the other starting cornerback role. Williams is a second-year player and had seven passes defended with 48 combined tackles last year. He shows promise as he allowed just a 52.5 completion percentage when targeted last season.

The Chiefs have a habit with CBs

Since 2020, the Chiefs have parted ways with several star or key starting cornerbacks. Whether in free agency or via trade, it’s a part of a recurring strategy to manage salary cap space rather than pay top-of-market prices. As of now, it’s worked wonderful for them, though. These are the ones who have left:

• Trent McDuffie
• Jaylen Watson
• L’Jarius Sneed
• Charvarius Ward

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Harris visited the Giants. Harris saw his career come down as he suffered a scary incident the last fourth of July where his eyesight was compromised, and also had a ruptured Achilles injury.

Now, Harris went from a prospect of an RB1 to a depth piece, but could still be useful as he is a tough blocker and a great back after initial contact. However, Harris would have to compete with plenty of backs on the Giants roster.

Harris has plenty of names to beat on the Giants roster

The Giants have Cam Skattebo, Devin Singletary, Tyrone Tracy, Eric Gray, Damon Bankston, and Turbo Miller on the roster. Now, Miller is injured, and Gray and Bankston are not on Harris’ level, on paper.

His main competition would be both Singletary and Tracy. Now, Harris is a much better blocker than Tracy, who made John Harbaugh rant on the play where Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart went to the blue tent. As for Singletary, he is a much more physical back, but Singletary is very reliable.

Harris’ career stats

Before suffering the Achilles tear and then the eye injury, Harris was as reliable as a running back could be. During his first four seasons, Harris didn’t miss a game and surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in every single season.

He is also a great pass-catcher and barring the 2022 season, he had more yards after contact that that yards before contact. Hence, he is very resilient. Now, it’s time to see if he can earn a role on the Giants.

Jesse Morse is a Sports Doctor who has more than 200,000 followers on social media and is known for his accurate assessments on NFL injuries. Hence, he usually gives clarity on possible outcomes, and he did just that with Hall.

Head coach Aaron Glenn brought calm to the Jets fans. However, per Morse, there are three possible groin injuries Hall could’ve had:

1. Groin ‘Tweak’ – Couple of days to recover
2. Groin/Adductor Strain Grade 1 – Two weeks to recover
3. Groin/Adductor Strain Grade 2 – Approximately six weeks to recover

Morse stated another risky factor in Hall’s injury

Given that reports say it’s not a serious injury, most would be inclined to think it’s either a tweak or a grade 1 injury. However, per Morse, “Groin strains are like calf strain, poor healing/blood supply, and notorious to easy reinjury.”

Hall has a history of injuries, as most running backs do. However, the fact that a groin is prone to be reinjured is an alarm for the Jets to really take care of their star. He needs to be at a 100% if the Jets want to have a difference-maker on offense.

Jets RB depth chart

Breece Hall is clearly the best running back on the Jets but he is not the only one who’s hurt right now. Isaiah Davis is also injured. Still, once the season rolls around, this should be the team’s depth chart:

• Breece Hall
• Braelon Allen
• Isaiah Davis
• Kene Nwangwu
• Chip Trayanum
• Sam Scott

Per Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Kraft revealed the role the Packers will give him in the first few weeks. “They’re going to take into account my rep range probably until halfway through the season, and then they’re going to just pat me on the ass and send me out there and send me to the wolves,” Kraft said.

However, this doesn’t mean he will be on a snap count. In fact, he later added “Well our job right now is to build my rep range so I’m capable of that [not being on a rep count] Week 1.“

Tucker Kraft rose to tight end’s top tier last season

Before getting injured, Tucker Kraft was having a career year last season. The Packers relied on him heavily. On eight games, he had 32 catches for 489 yards and six touchdowns. Then, his ACL tear happened.

Kraft will enter his fourth year in the NFL, and at 26 years old, he is still young enough to recover properly and go on a roll. Kraft is 6’5″, 259 lbs and surprisingly fast too. He is a key weapon for the Packers when healthy.

Packers updated TE depth chart

If the Packers want to ease Kraft into action, they’ll have to lean into the rest of the tight ends available on their roster. Hence, who are these options for the Packers to trust?

• Tucker Kraft
• Josh Whyle
• Luke Musgrave
• Drake Dabney
• McCallan Castles
• Messiah Swinson
• Thomas Yassmin

Head coach John Harbaugh said it was a groin injury for Turbo Miller, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. However, the reporter also stated that, after the Vikings game, Miller said it was a lower abdomen injury. That game also saw Jaxson Dart going into the blue tent, which left him puzzled.

Regardless of where the injury is, Raanan also said Miller is likely to miss time, as the running back was in serious pain after game. Miller has been with the Giants since 2024, though most of this time, he’s been on the practice squad.

The Giants shouldn’t be too concerned in the RB department

The Giants have Cam Skattebo as their main running back, followed by Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary, and Eric Gray. Hence, while it’s unfortunate that Miller got injured, the Giants are really well covered in the position.

Also, undrafted free agent Damon Bankston and fullback Patrick Ricard are on the roster. Whether it’s running the football or pass protection, the Giants are in good position to thrive.

Harbaugh’s teams’ running stats

Harbaugh has been a head coach for 18 years. Given that he emphasizes a lot in the running game, it’s not surprising to see how well his teams usually rank in the rushing offense department.

Out of 18 years, his rushing offense has been a top 10 unit 12 times, and two additional times they’ve been ranked 11th. Hence, Harbaugh lives to run the ball and his teams have always been consistently good at it.

Per Jordan Raanan of ESPN, Harbaugh was livid. “There’s no way he should have been hit there. I mean, it just shouldn’t have happened. That was a basic protection.” Running back Tyrone Tracy caught a stray as he was the one whiffing his blocking assignment.

To be fair to Harbaugh, he is right. The fact is that the play was basic protection. Tracy, who is fighting to be an important piece on the roster, didn’t make himself any favors by botching that play. That play puzzled Jaxson Dart, as he had to be in a blue tent after the game.

Harbaugh is very intentional with pass protection duties

Harbaugh always runs a run-heavy scheme but that doesn’t mean he ignores fully the pass protection aspect of the game. In fact, he emphasizes on it. A prove of that is that he brought arguably the best blocking fullback in the NFL, Pat Ricard, to the team.

During the press conference on Saturday, Harbaugh also stated “My feelings in that moment was, we need to block better.” Hence, it’s imperative for the players, especially backs, to practice their blocking drills at full intensity. The Giants can’t afford getting Jaxson Dart getting injured.

Who are the best blockers in the NY Giants RB room?

The undisputed premier blocker in the New York Giants’ backfield is newly acquired fullback Patrick Ricard, who is a big presence at 6-foot-3, 300-pounds. Veteran Devin Singletary handles the top duties in pass protection when no full back is on the field.

Cam Skattebo is also a very physical blocker. This leaves Tracy as the last man in the blocking department. Seeing how he whiffed his assignment on that play, he is the one who has the most to learn in protection.

Per Jordan Raanan of ESPN, “Jaxson Dart says he respects what the NFL is doing and trying to protect players but he’s ‘puzzled’ that every time he gets hit he gets called into the blue tent and given a concussion test.“

Dart received a big hit after running back Tyrone Tracy whiffed his blocking duties. After getting back up gingerly, he was taken into the blue tent and checked for a concussion. However, he told coach John Harbaugh that he got the wind knocked out of him and nothing more.

Dart’s history with concussions

Jaxson Dart has a notable history of frequent concussion evaluations tied to his physical, contact-heavy playing style. During his 2025 rookie season with the Giants, he was diagnosed with one official concussion but was pulled and sent to the medical tent for concussion checks five separate times.

Dart must be taken care of

The blue tent trip during his preseason game is not particularly a great example, as he just got the wind knocked out of him. However, for a quarterback that didn’t even play the full season to get five trips for concussions is big alarm.

Dart has the talent to be a franchise quarterback. He has all the tools. Arm, size, athleticism, physicality and dual-threat abilities. However, without availability, then nothing matters. Hence, the Giants must take care of him.

Despite losing 34-10, Monken said Deshaun Watson “functioned at a high level” against the Bears. Monken also added “It was so cool to watch him play. I get all of the frustration by fans, himself (with the past), but for him to come back and work like he did is an unbelievable credit to him.”

While nothing definitive has happened regarding the battle between Watson and Sanders, it seems like Monken is clearly leaning towards the veteran right now. Maturity might be a factor, as Sanders stood by his decision despite throwing an ugly interception.

Watson’s advantages over Sanders

Watson has more experience operating a pro offense, he processes faster than Sanders and executes the playbook in a better way. That being said, it’s not like Watson is a top-tier quarterback in the NFL by any means, though he was about eight years ago.

Durability is a concern for Watson as he has dealt with plenty of heavy injuries throughout his career. Also, Watson is still very turnover prone. The fact is that these two quarterbacks could easily interchange positions throughout the season.

The Browns QB room ranks among the worst in NFL

Per CBS Sports‘ Jordan Dajani, the Cleveland Browns have the worst quarterback situation in the NFL for the upcoming 2026 season. Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Taylen Green are not convincing anyone of their ceiling.

Andy Reid called Emmett Johnson “one of the positives coming out of” the Chiefs’ game vs. Rams. Johnson was not expected to be a key part of the Chiefs roster, but a strong preseason could be just what he needs to get more snaps.

Johnson had 12 carries for 59 yards and three receptions for an additional 10 yards. Per Jesse Newell of The Athletic, Johnson “has been running with the fourth-string offense most of training camp.” This will surely help his stock within the Chiefs‘ building.

Johnson still has ways to go on Chiefs RB depth chart

Given that he’s been playing with fourth-string players, that would indicate Emmett Johnson is behind Kenneth Walker III, Emari Demercado, and Brashard Smith. Now, he might have leapfrogged Smith.

However, Walker III is firmly established as RB1 as he is coming off a Super Bowl MVP performance. Demercado is a more experienced back, but Johnson has more upside. Hence, he could keep climbing into an RB2 slot.

The Chiefs owe Mahomes a good running back

The best numbers a running back has had during Mahomes era was in 2023 when Isiah Pacheco had 935 rushing yards. Kareem Hunt, in 2018, had 1202 scrimmage yards. However, it’s still incredible to see the Chiefs haven’t provided Mahomes with a top-tier back.

The Browns played their first preseason game against the Chicago Bears. New head coach Todd Monken saw it as an opportunity to have both quarterbacks in action. They both got reps.

While none of them had an immediate out-of-this-world performance. Deshaun Watson looked a bit better than Shedeur Sanders. However, both had turnovers, just from different kinds.

Watson vs Sanders

Needless to say, both have ways to go as the Bears beat the Browns 34-10. Deshaun Watson started the game and completed 11/15 passes for 126 yards and a 98.2 passer rating. He had a fumble that cost the Browns a possession.

Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders completed 6/11 passes for just 79 yards and a gross interception for a 39.6 passer rating. While both have ways to go to become fearsome quarterbacks, it is clear that Deshaun Watson had a better performance.

Dillon Gabriel also played vs Bears

Gabriel is the third wheel on the Browns QB roster. The former Oregon signal-caller also played in the game. Gabriel had a modest 5/8 line for 23 yards and one interception as well.

The Browns have plenty of issues regarding the quarterback. They have controversial figures playing well below a starting level. Hence, head coach Todd Monken should really emphasize the offense to be simplified for the QB.

Ravens’ head coach Jesse Minter confirmed that Lamar Jackson won’t play vs. the Eagles. “Some established players (are) not playing in this first game,” Minter added. Hence, most starters are likely to sit this game out.

The Ravens will have Tyler Huntley, Joe Fagnano and Austin Reed as the available signal-callers for this game. Huntley should be the one given the most snaps as he is the premium backup of the team.

Is Jalen Hurts playing for Eagles vs Ravens?

While head coach Nick Sirianni has kept his lineup choices private, it is likely that Jalen Hurts won’t play vs Ravens. Hurts is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback that has nothing to prove, so risking him would be unwise.

The QBs could be Andy Dalton, a veteran, reliable backup, or Tanner McKee. It is also likely that both share snaps to see who the first backup is. Names like Saquon Barkley should also rest this game.

Ravens and Eagles have both huge expectations for 2026 NFL season

Both the Ravens and Eagles have to prove doubters wrong in 2026. The Ravens need to show that the head coaching change was the last piece needed to become a Super Bowl-winning team with Lamar Jackson at the helm.

As for the Eagles, while they went to the playoffs, they got bounced out quickly and were surrounded by controversy all season long. Now, they changed offensive coordinators and shipped AJ Brown, so they must prove all these changes will solve their issues.

Curtis Crabtree of Fox 13 reported that Mike Macdonald said “Sam’s not going to play” vs. the Cowboys. Not only that, but Macdonald also confirmed who will start. “Drew [Lock] will start the game, and then Jalen will come in, and they’ll rotate to some degree.” Sam Darnold is now a valuable asset.

Not only Darnold, but newly-drafted rookie Jadarian Price won’t play so the running back room will also rotate. Hence, plenty of the Seattle Seahawks who won the Super Bowl will rest.

Is Dak Prescott playing for Cowboys vs Seahawks?

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer also stated that no Cowboys starters will be playing vs Seahawks. Meaning, Dak Prescott won’t see any action in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL Preseason.

Joe Milton III and Sam Howell are going to be splitting reps throughout the majority of the preseason. Milton and Howell are both known for their strong arms, so the offense will be explosive.

Both offenses have to prove stuff

Seattle lost its offensive coordinator and their best running back. Hence, the team needs to prove the offense won’t suffer any setbacks. Of course, during preseason, most starters won’t be playing, so it will have to wait until regular season.

As for Dallas, when Prescott plays, paired with weapons like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens should be as explosive as ever. After all, they are arguably the best 1-2 punch in the NFL. The offense, however, must prove it can go all the way.

After Thursday’s joint practice, head coach Liam Coen confirmed that Trevor Lawrence will not play vs. Saints as they open their preseason schedule. Not only Lawrence, but many Jaguars’ starters will sit out this game.

Hence, Nick Mullens is likely to start against the Saints, with Carter Bradley and Joey Aguilar also seeing some snaps too. Pretty much anyone but Lawrence can see action under center.

Is Tyler Shough playing for Saints vs Jaguars?

Tyler Shough earned his spot as the Saints’ QB1 last year, ending it hot. Hence, he will also be rested vs. Jaguars. The Saints are likely to deploy Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson to play against Jacksonville.

Rattler was a short-term starter before Shough took the job from him. As for Zach Wilson, he was a former second overall pick whose career didn’t pan out as planned. Now, he is looking for redemption.

Liam Coen has a tough task for the Jaguars in 2026

Coen had a great first season as the Jaguars’ head coach. However, he now has to keep Lawrence in good form, make Travis Hunter a worthy second overall pick, rescue Brian Thomas Jr. as a top wideout, keep developing WR Parker Washington and keep the winning ways all at once.

Since Sean McVay was appointed as the Rams head coach, the Rams have not played their starters during preseason games. That won’t be changing in 2026, as McVay always prefers caution as opposed to rhythm. Given that Matthew Stafford is not precisely young, it seems like a good decision.

Per Sports Illustrated, no starter should see snaps, but also key rotational pieces will sit out. In fact, two running backs, four tight ends, and three wideouts won’t play a part vs. the Chiefs. For that matter, Patrick Mahomes won’t play vs Rams either.

Myles Garrett won’t play either

If offensive starters won’t suit up, then defensive stars won’t do it either. Hence, Myles Garrett’s Rams debut will have to wait. Alongside Garrett, newly-acquired cornerbacks like Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson are also not debuting yet.

Given that the Rams are a Super Bowl contender and a definite ‘boom-or-bust‘ team, what they don’t need is unnecessary injuries hampering the team. McVay knows that, hence the incredible precaution for these preseason games.

Aaron Donald’s decision is still in the air

The Rams are also awaiting on legend Aaron Donald’s decision. If Donald comes back, the Rams would arguably have the most stacked team in the NFL by a mile. Hence, making the Super Bowl not only a real possibility, but also a must-win trophy. Anything less would be a failure.

The last time Donald was on the gridiron, he racked up eight sacks, 53 combined tackles, 23 QB hits, and an first-team All-Pro selection. He was such a dominant force in the interior of the trenches, that he wrecked gameplans.

The reason is simple. Ben Johnson, the Bears head coach, has opted to rest Caleb Williams and multiple other starters for this game vs. Browns. Johnson’s approach is to prioritize practice volume and health for the stars of the team. As for the Browns, will Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders play vs. Bears?

Hence, Tyson Bagent is likely to start vs. Browns, though veterans like Case Keenum could also see some snaps. The Bears also have rookie Miller Moss, who could try to impress after going undrafted.

Caleb Williams’ spot on the Bears is secured

In the Browns’ case, Watson and Sanders are battling it out to see who’s the starter come regular season. For the Bears, this is not the case as Williams is firmly established as the QB1 of the team.

In 2025, Williams had 3,942 passing yards, alongside 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. However, his big debt is to improve his completion percentage, which was only a 58.1% last year. Williams also helped in the running game, adding 388 yards and three touchdowns with his legs.

Bears’ preseason schedule

The Bears will face three AFC opponents during their preseason and two of them will be away from home. After a Soldier Field debut, they’ll travel to Cincinnati and then to Tennessee to finish their preseason endeavors.

Per Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, Chisholm is really frustrated. “If I knew, I would already have fixed the problem. Even when I think I’m getting going hitting, it’s still an out.” Chisholm literally doesn’t know what to do to solve this rough patch.

Aaron Boone even warned Jazz Chisholm for missed opportunities. The sun is coming down on the second baseman. Hence, he either steps up his level or his days as part of the Bronx Bombers could be on a countdown.

Chisholm’s 2026 MLB stats

Jazz Chisholm Jr. is having a tough 2026 season with the New York Yankees, marked by a significant drop in his offensive numbers and a recent slump in production. So, what are his numbers in 2026?

• Batting Average: Down to .216
• On-Base Percentage (OBP): .296
• Slugging Percentage (SLG): .391
• OPS: .687 (down over .120 points from his previous form)
• Home Runs & RBI: 17 home runs and 48 RBIs through 112 games

Who can replace Jazz Chisholm?

Luis Garcia Jr. is the primary option to replace Jazz Chisholm Jr. Following his acquisition in a trade, Garcia can step in at second base or rotate through the infield and designated hitter spots as Chisholm heads toward unrestricted free agency.

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Sato is the top hitter in the NPB by OPS (1.026) and the Yankees are very interested in him. Sato is highly expected to try his luck in the MLB after the 2026 season and is 27 years old. He is posting a line of .317 AVG | .404 OBP | .622 SLG% | 205 wRC+ right now.

Sato is not an elite prospect. He is a superstar and a finished product waiting to prove his worth in the Majors. Right now, big markets are waiting on him as the two Big Apple teams and Los Angeles are monitoring him.

Are the NY Mets, Dodgers competition for Yankees?

The New York Mets are a money-loaded team with no success whatsoever. They see Sato as one of the guys who could help them turn their fortunes. The Yankees should have leverage over their city rivals to land Sato.

However, the Dodgers are the end-all, be-all of the MLB. Also, they have a lot of Japanese superstars like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki that could help sway Sato’s desire.

Who would Sato replace?

If the New York Yankees were to sign the Japanese infielder/slugger, Sato would be positioned to replace Ryan McMahon at third base or provide an option at other corner infield and designated hitter spots.

A potential acquisition of Sato could also impact corner outfield or bench depth depending on how the Yankees structure their alignment. What is for sure, the team that lands Sato will get an upgrade.

According to JP Finlay of NBC Sports, it’s highly unlikely that Jayden Daniels will play vs Miami Dolphins. This comes after a very hectic 36 hours for Daniels. Jayden Daniels is in the middle of a controversy where he feels disrespected by LSU. However, per Finlay, that controversy has nothing to do with Daniels not playing.

On the flip side, Malik Willis will actually play for the Dolphins vs. Commanders. Jayden Daniels is coming off a very bad sophomore year where he didn’t play well and suffered a lot of injuries as well.

Jayden Daniels’ preseason stats

Given that 2024 was his rookie year, Daniels did manage to log some preseason stats. However, after a stellar rookie season, he was pretty much rested throughout the 2025 season by the Commanders and he is scheduled to play a minimal role this year.

Commanders’ preseason schedule

The Commanders will be on the road quite a lot during the 2026 NFL Preseason. Facing two AFC teams, the Commanders will face the Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens. The only NFC foe will be the Detroit Lions.

During Wednesday’s presser, Miami Dolphins’ new head coach Jeff Hafley confirmed Malik Willis will play vs Commanders. This might prove to be the best decision as Willis has been a backup throughout his whole career. These reps could be very valuable for Willis.

Jayden Daniels playing status vs Dolphins is also confirmed. However, Daniels and Willis face very different situations. Daniels’ focus is to stay healthy and keep his level up. Meanwhile, Willis needs to prove he is QB1 caliber.

Malik Willis’ preseason stats

Given that he’s been a backup for the majority of his career, Willis has been an active preseason performer. Hence, he is used to get plenty of reps in preseason as part of the Tennessee Titans and Green Bay Packers.

Dolphins’ preseason schedule

Miami will face three NFC teams during the 2026 NFL Preseason. Two of those games will be at home, so at least the Dolphins get to save traveling time. Now, it’s up to them to prove they have what it takes to be a competitive team in the NFL.

Head coach Aaron Glenn and Geno Smith himself confirmed his appearance for the game against the Buccaneers. “Just to get out there and just play ball, feel the real live game atmosphere, being in the huddle with my guys, having the clock run down, being in front of the fans back in MetLife,” Smith said.

Baker Mayfield won’t be playing vs Jets, but the Buccaneers will still want to win the game. Still, it’s unlikely that Smith will play the whole game. In fact, he is likely to play just a couple of offensive series, or a quarter at most.

Geno Smith’s preseason stats

Smith is a veteran in the NFL with more than a decade of experience. Sometimes, he’s been a starter, other times, he’s been a backup. Hence, his preseason appearances have been very irregular.

Jets’ preseason schedule

Two of the Jets’ three preseason games will be played at home. However, one of them is against the Giants, who also play in MetLife Stadium. Two of the opponents are from the NFC, with only the Pittsburgh Steelers being an AFC foe.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Tuesday that Baker Mayfield won’t be playing vs Jets on Friday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. As for Geno Smith, his playing status vs Buccaneers has also been revealed.

Backup QBs Connor Bazelak and Jalon Daniels will take the majority of the snaps. Jake Browning is dealing with an injury, so he’ll be sidelined for the team’s preseason opener.

Baker Mayfield’s preseason stats

Mayfield’s career has gone from first overall pick to backup to star. Hence, his NFL preseason outings have varied a lot depending on how his team view him. He sat entirely during 2019, 2025, and 2026’s preseasons (2020 didn’t have a preseason due to COVID-19).

Buccaneers’ preseason schedule

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers features three AFC opponents, with two of them being away games. The Jets are the first of the opponents and given that this game is in MetLife Stadium, their main mission is to avoid any injuries.

Per Connor Hughes of SNY, Nabers sported a red, non-contact jersey as he participated in a walkthrough period that Giants coaches used to install plays. That is a particular condition of training. However, it aids Nabers, as he is not getting any tackles.

Hughes also said Nabers is en rout to play in Week 1. “Everything points towards him being back for the start of the season.” However, the Giants will ease him into action as opposed as getting him to go at full gear in training camp.

Nabers is a special talent for the NY Giants

Malik Nabers is one of those wideouts that makes his QB’s life easier. Nabers brings elite separation and speed, yards after catch ability, and able to handle a massive target share.

Hence, Jaxson Dart is likely to use him a bunch, and coach John Harbaugh is also bound to design many plays to exploit his talents. Nabers is coming off a knee surgery, but he is still young and has recovered properly.

Giants offense is poised to shine

Guided by a young core of players on their rookie contracts and an experienced, elite coach like John Harbaugh, the offense should work to perfection. The units are all strengthened in depth by serviceable veterans as well.

Hence, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy shouldn’t really have any excuse to not be able to move the chains with this unit. The Giants will be one of the most-seen teams in football given the hype they’ve created, so the pressure is on for them to live up to expectations.

Per Yahoo! Sports, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans admitted starters won’t suit up, meaning CJ Stroud won’t play vs. Chargers in their preseason opener. On the opposing side, Justin Herbert’s status vs Texans has also been revealed.

Stroud is getting ready to play in the regular season, where he’ll have to earn a new contract. After his rookie year, CJ Stroud looked as the future of the NFL, but after that, he’s been declining heavily. This means the Texans haven’t offered a new contract right now.

CJ Stroud’s preseason stats

Stroud’s preseason numbers have been inconsistent throughout the years. However, he’s also been very limited, giving that he is the QB1 of the team. The Texans won’t risk having him there for an extended period of time and then get him injured.

The Texans have high hopes for the 2026 NFL season

Scoring on the Texans is an absolute nightmare. Houston had an elite, borderline historic defense last season. The unit remains pretty much the same for this year. Hence, they know they are capable of going far.

On offense, the Texans still have Nico Collins as the WR1 and Tank Dell is returning to join Jayden Higgins as well. Also, they added running back David Montgomery to the mix. If Stroud is able to pull back time and play like he did as a rookie, he could realistically guide the Texans all the way to a Lombardi.

Per Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Brock Purdy won’t be playing for the 49ers vs Titans. Given how injury prone the 49ers have been lately, it’s not shocking that the team is opting to rest their franchise quaterback. There were also questions on if Cam Ward will play vs 49ers.

Mac Jones, Kurtis Rourke and Adrian Martinez are the team’s available quarterbacks against Tennessee. Given that Jones is clearly the backup, it wouldn’t be shocking that Rourke and Martinez get the most snaps in this game.

Purdy’s preseason numbers have been declining

Usually, when numbers decline, those are red flags. However, when it’s on preseason, it means you’re more relevant to the team, hence you see less snaps. Given that Purdy was Mr. Irrelevant at first and is now the 49ers franchise QB, his snaps in preseason ended up getting smaller and smaller.

Will Shanahan be on the sidelines vs Titans?

Reports of The New York Times state that Kyle Shanahan will be on the sidelines despite him being still on the recovery end of a car crash a few weeks ago. While the starters won’t play, the head coach will be there.

Jim Harbaugh spoke to the press and announced that Justin Herbert will not play vs. Texans in the 2026 NFL Preseason opener. Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei will play approximately one half of football each. As for the Texans, there’s certainty on whether CJ Stroud will play vs. Chargers.

Herbert is undoubtedly the QB1 of the team, and Harbaugh is not one to risk him in meaningless preseason games. Hence, it’s time for the Chargers backups to shine against a Texans team that will likely also rest plenty of their starting defense.

Herbert’s preseason stats are very limited

Herbert has never played much in the NFL preseason. He logged the only preseason statistics of his career during 2025 against the Los Angeles Rams. He finished that single opening series going 2-of-5 for 46 yards and a sack, leading a 9-play, 51-yard field-goal drive.

Herbert did not play any preseason snaps in his first five NFL seasons. Hence, it seems like the pattern will remain, at least for now. Therefore, fans will have to wait to see how Mike McDonald, Jim Harbaugh, and Justin Herbert all work alongside each other.

Harbaugh tends to rest starters in preseason

Jim Harbaugh usually employs a very cautious, structured plan that rests key starters and top veterans for the majority of the preseason. Rather than playing first-team units heavily, he scales their game action up minimally over the course of the schedule.

Via his legal team, Daniels’ cease-and-desist letter demands LSU stops using the QB’s name, image, and likeness (NIL). Reports also state that Daniels feels “disrespected” that he is not talked about in the same breath as Joe Burrow, another LSU legend.

This all comes from the fact that LSU gave the No. 5 jersey to cornerback DJ Pickett. Daniels used that jersey number at LSU, and this prompted an ill-feeling from Daniels’ side.

Jayden Daniels vs Joe Burrow LSU stats

For Daniels to be saying he should be in the same breath as Burrow is a bit rich. While both won a Heisman Trophy, their legacies are not even close. LSU didn’t win with Jayden Daniels at the helm. They ended the regular season 9-3 and didn’t even qualify to the College Football Playoff.

Meanwhile, Burrow had arguably the best College Football season ever for a quarterback, guided the Tigers to an undefeated 15-0 season while throwing for 5,671 yards, 60 passing touchdowns, just six interceptions on 76.3% completion, and of course, the National Championship title. That’s why Burrow’s No.9 jersey is retired. He brought accolades to him, but also to the program.

Does Daniels have a chance at winning this?

There are two ways of seeing this: first, in actual court. Second, in the eye of the public. In actual court, there is a way that Daniels’ arguments hold, as his contract states LSU was only authorized to use his NIL for 180 days after his final college game. Publicly, this has not been well-received. Daniels’ priority should be bouncing back from a sophomore slump.

However, this all stems from giving the No.5 jersey to another player. That can’t be changed with the cease-and-desist letter. Legally, a university owns its jersey numbers, team uniforms, and intellectual property. Hence, if they decide to not retire the jersey, they can assign it to any player they choose, in this case, DJ Pickett.

Jordan Love spoke on Tuesday and it seems like the QB will play vs Steelers even if it’s limited snaps. “Me and Matt [LaFleur] have talked, and I think the plan is to play some limited role this week and see how it goes going forward,” Love said.

LaFleur also stated that for him, it’s important that his players are always ready to roll. He said it’s important to be “mentally ready to go play a game, whether it’s one play, whether it’s three plays, 10 plays, the whole game.“

Love should be very cautious vs Steelers

Last year, Jordan Love played in preseason vs the New York Jets and it was not good. He suffered an injury on the ulnar collateral ligament of his thumb. Thankfully for him, it was on the left hand (non-throwing) and he was able to recover in time for a Week 1 appearance.

Still, those are the risks of playing your franchise quarterback in preseason. Love is aware of this. “The main thing is to stay healthy, obviously,” Love said. “Avoid taking hits. If you get into a scramble situation, definitely not take any hits outside the pocket, anything like that.”

Is Aaron Rodgers playing today vs Packers?

Aaron Rodgers sent a strong message to Mike McCarthy about what preseason football means to him. While it would be poetic to see McCarthy and Rodgers playing against the very team in which they won the Super Bowl together, it’s unlikely.

As for now, it’s been labeled as a game-time decision, but Rodgers is not one to play during preseason. The last time Rodgers played a preseason game was in 2023 when he was with the Jets. He played two offensive series, completing 5/8 passes for 47 yards and throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson.

Per Dan Duggan of The Athletic, Mauigoa was check for a potential head/neck injury, but he even finished the practice. Harbaugh said he is fine. Mauigoa needs to be healthy as he is a key piece on the Giants offensive line.

Harbaugh also stated that it’s a hand/finger injury for Carter. However, same as Mauigoa, “He’s fine.” Carter could reportedly be back in practice on Tuesday’s session. Carter is arguably the best pass rusher on the team.

Harbaugh knows football is won in the trenches

Harbaugh is an old school coach. He knows the offensive and defensive lines win football games. Hence, he should be ecstatic that his franchise tackles and star pass rusher are both dealing with some minor inconveniences and not serious injuries.

For Mauigoa, he has to protect Jaxson Dart with his life. Dart is a bit of a wild man and he is eager to improvise. Hence, Mauigoa needs to stay put for plenty of time while Dart does his job. As for Carter, he started just six games and had four sacks. There’s more to be expected from him.

Are Mauigoa and Carter starters?

Mauigoa is expected to start for the Giants right from the get-go. After all, he is a top 10 pick that send Dexter Lawrence from the Giants to the Bengals, who are impressed with him.

As for Carter, given that the base that the Giants use is a 3-4 formation, he should be able to slide in as the right outside linebacker. However, he’ll have to battle Kayvon Thibodeaux for that spot.

Joe Goodberry of the Locked On Bengals podcast spoke to Ari Meirov about Lawrence’s impact. “He [Dexter Lawrence] has been the best player in camp. He has been absolutely destroying them… He really looks like he’s back to the 2022/2023 dominant player.”

That is frightening news for the rest of the NFL. The Bengals always had huge offensive firepower, but lacked defense. Now, Lawrence could be the one piece that puts them over the hump. Fully healthy and in form, Lawrence can be a Defensive Player of the Year contender.

Why the Giants could miss Lawrence?

Lawrence was disgruntled and asked to be traded. Now, the Giants received a top 10 pick in the NFL Draft which is a great price. They used it to select Offensive Tackle Francis Mauigoa. However, they could still miss Dexter Lawrence quite a lot.

The Giants’ revamped defensive front faces a steep drop-off in interior pressure and run-stopping capability following his departure. Also, pass rusher Brian Burns said the defense “ain’t the Giants without No. 97,” making note of how important Lawrence’s interior pressure was for the G-Men.

Why Lawrence could solve all Bengals’ defensive woes?

Lawrence will be anchoring the interior defensive line with elite run-stopping power and constant pass rush. His massive 340-pound presence eats up multiple blockers, fixing a glaring rush defense weakness that struggled heavily last season.

According to The Giants Wire, Austin said it was “Jaxson Dart‘s swagger and John Harbaugh’s presence” what made him put the Giants as a priority when he was a free agent. Now, Austin has to compete for a starting slot.

Dart does have a vibe around him that brings security to the wideouts. He showed he could be a very complete QB during his rookie season. As for Harbaugh, he is well-respected and one of the best head coaches in the NFL, bar none.

Calvin Austin III is a reliable slot weapon

Dart has Isaiah Likely as his safety net, but Austin is a very reliable wide receiver when lined up in the slot. He has blazing speed and good yards after catch abilities. However, he did have some drops during his Steelers stint.

Austin is also a very good special teams participant as a kick returner. He has great elusiveness and field vision to create plays and put his team, in this case the Giants, in good field position to start their drives.

Slot WRs are likely to see reduced roles

Given that Harbaugh would rather have a tight end in the slot, as he prioritizes physical players that can also exploit the run game, provide downfield blocking, and be big presences, a guy like Austin is likely to see a reduced role.

Michael Pittman was traded in to be one of the main weapons for a returning Aaron Rodgers. However, he exited Saturday’s practice with a leg injury, and missed Monday practice altogether.

According to Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Mike McCarthy confirmed Pittman suffered a leg injury, though he didn’t specify when the wideout will be fit again. Hence, Aaron Rodgers is using rookie Germie Bernard as one of the main targets right now. McCarthy is tasked with bringing the Steelers to relevance. Meanwhile, former head coach Mike Tomlin sent a subtle shot to the Steelers.

Pittman is not the only WR missing time

DK Metcalf is entering his second year as part of the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, he was not spotted in the final half of Saturday’s practice, nor was he seen on Monday. While no injury has been disclosed, it’s still curious to see him missing time.

Metcalf and Pittman should be the best two receivers on the Steelers. Hence, not having both could have a little setback on the offense progression. Still, it’s a golden opportunity for rookie Germie Bernard to get the spotlight.

Steelers updated WR depth chart for 2026 NFL season

Mike McCarthy might not be regarded as an innovator. However, his offenses usually look good and his record as a head coach is pretty good too. Now, his offensive mind must use the following wideouts to have a great passing game with Aaron Rodgers throwing the football:

• DK Metcalf
• Michael Pittman Jr.
• Germie Bernard
• Roman Wilson
• Kaden Wetjen
• Ben Skowronek
• Levi Wentz
• Brandon Smith
• Max Hurleman
• Jakobie Keeney-James
• Joaquin Davis

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, head coach Dan Campbell confirmed the MCL sprain injury, but also expects Pacheco to be able to play in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. Still, Pacheco, who has a history of leg injuries, should be taking good care if he wants to be available.

Pacheco comes to replace David Montgomery. Both are more rustic, strong, go-for-contact backs. Meanwhile, Gibbs is more an agile, explosive, high-octane runner with homerun ability.

Pacheco’s injury history

A seventh-rounder who overcame the odds and won a Super Bowl being an intrinsical part of the Chiefs roster saw how his career came, once again, to a halt due to very gruesome injuries. These are the injuries he’s suffered, mainly on the legs:

• Fractured Fibula (2024): Missed 10 games after breaking a bone in his lower leg early in the 2024 season, though he returned in time for the team’s playoff stretch.
• MCL Sprain (2025): Missed four games during his final year with the Kansas City Chiefs due to a right knee sprain.
• MCL Sprain (2026): Suffered a minor knee injury in August 2026 training camp with the Lions, missing practices but tracking to play in the opener.

Pacheco needs a bounce back year

In his first two seasons, Pacheco ran for 830 and 935 yards respectively. However, then injuries came to plague him. In 2024, Pacheco only played eight games and ran for 310 yards. Then, last season he ran for 462. Hence, his decline has been steep.

At 27-years-old, there is still chance for Pacheco to recover and be a valuable piece. However, being on the Lions with Gibbs on the depth chart, his shot at being RB1 rely on his health and Gibbs‘. If Gibbs isn’t injured, he won’t be RB1 anytime soon.

According to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com, Smith has been sidelined for almost a week and will remain on the sidelines to begin the third week of camp. That is despite the team believing the injury is nothing to really worry about.

The premise is simple, Smith is poised to be the Eagles’ WR1 following AJ Brown‘s departure. Hence, they want him to be as healthy as possible before even trying to force him and risk a bigger injury.

Smith isn’t the only WR sidelined for the Eagles

Makai Lemon is a highly-touted rookie, but he has been sidelined with a hamstring injury as well. However, Lemon’s injury might be more severe than Smith’s, at least according to the reports.

Per Jimmy Kempski of The Philly Voice, Lemon’s status is really up in the air. “It’s fair at this point to doubt that he will start, at least early in the season,” Kempski said. Hence, as of now, new WR Dontayvion Wicks is the one making waves.

Eagles WR depth chart for the 2026 NFL season

Missing AJ Brown is a huge thing. Brown is a top 10 WR in the NFL. However, DeVonta Smith is so good, he could easily be any team’s WR1 as well, and that’s what the Eagles are banking on. This is their full WR depth chart:

• DeVonta Smith
• Makai Lemon
• Dontayvion Wicks
• Hollywood Brown
• Elijah Moore
• Johnny Wilson
• Quez Watkins
• Darius Cooper
• Britain Covey
• Samori Toure
• Danny Gray
• Erik Ezukanma

Per Campbell, who spoke on the Lions’ press conference, Jahmyr Gibbs has “only scratched the surface” on what he can do, and they’re prepared to “push him” this season.

That statement, paired to the fact that the Lions let David Montgomery go, and Gibbs is up there as one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL, makes the Lions intentions clear as day. Gibbs will be the workhorse of this offense.

Jahmyr Gibbs was stellar in 2025

Gibbs was an incredible player in the 2025 NFL season. In 2025, Gibbs had 1839 scrimmage yards and 18 total touchdowns. He was a Pro Bowler and one of the most unstoppable forces in the league.

And that was sharing snaps with Montgomery. Yes, Gibbs was the most prominent back on the roster, but Montgomery was still stealing snaps out of him. Now, he is all alone in the Lions’ backfield.

Gibbs is a very complete running back

Not only does Gibbs have a very complete skill set, but he is excels at every single area. Gibbs has agility, blazing long speed and incredible release. He is a weapon in the passing game as well, and has huge jukes and spins to go around the NFL defenders.

According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Josh Dobbs inked a one-year, $1.425 million deal with $475 thousand fully guaranteed. That is a strong commitment. Still, it’s less than what Bridgewater made. He was one of the potential replacements for the Lions as Bridgewater retired.

The now-retired QB had inked a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Detroit Lions in March 2026, which included $1.59 million guaranteed. However, Bridgewater was a more well-regarded QB than the ‘Passtronaut‘.

Josh Dobbs’ profile

Standing at 6’3″ and 220 lbs, Dobbs is a 31-year-old quarterback who has been regarded as a valuable backup in the NFL. Dobbs, whose ‘Passtronaut‘ nickname comes from his degree as an Aerospace Engineer, has played for the Steelers, Titans, Cardinals, Vikings, 49ers, and Patriots.

Dobbs has 3,346 passing yards for 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions on 62.8 completion percentage and a 78.3 passer rating. Where Dobbs enjoyed his best football was in 2023, where he started 12 games for Arizona and Minnesota.

Dobbs is likely not seeing the field much though

The Detroit Lions have a solid QB1 in Jared Goff, who is a borderline top 10 quarterback in the NFL. Hence, unless he is injured, the likelihood of Dobbs taking the field is very dim.

Still, as a veteran, Dobbs is a very serviceable and smart quarterback. So, if he indeed needs to be under center, he will surely know the playbook at a good rate. Dobbs have been around a long time in this league.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, it “seems like Deshaun Watson has the leg up” after stringing a couple of days with first-team reps. Before that, Watson and Sanders were rotating days with the first-team offense.

As Rapoport states, Watson strung together a few great practices after getting off to a slow start and should be finally separating himself from Sanders in the eyes of Todd Monken’s coaching staff.

Deshaun Watson vs Shedeur Sanders

Watson is a veteran who got off to an electric start, but his career came crashing downs due to off-field issues and gruesome injuries. The last that we saw from Watson wasn’t as great. He is on a redemption tour.

Sanders is a sophomore who got a lot of hype during his College Football days and then slipped heavily in the NFL Draft. Some blamed this on his attitude and personality while others thought it was his weak strength of schedule when playing for Colorado.

Watson should look better with the new weapons at his disposal

If Deshaun Watson ends up as the QB1 as it’s been reported, he’ll have a plethora of ‘prove-it‘ weapons. Between veterans who need to show they still have gas in the tank and highly-touted rookies, these are the Browns’ best weapons:

Wide Receivers:

• KC Concepcion
• Jerry Jeudy
• Denzel Boston
• Cedric Tillman

Tight End:

• Harold Fannin Jr.

Josh Downs is dealing with a groin injury while Alec Pierce is still recovering from an ankle surgery after getting a huge contract, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Add that to the fact that they traded Michael Pittman Jr, and the WR room is very thin right now.

Pittman was the best all-rounder wideout but he is now on the Steelers. Downs is a great slot receiver but if he is not practicing, he is not ready to break out. Lastly, Pierce is the most expensive wideout on the roster but he hasn’t recovered from an ankle surgery on March.

Who are the Colts WRs that Daniel Jones is practicing with now?

Right now, Daniel Jones is practicing with Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Laquon Treadwell as his main options. These are serviceable receivers, but not even close to the Pittman-Pierce-Downs core he had.

As for now, the actual primary target is tight end Tyler Warren, who is poised to solidify himself as one of the best tight ends in the NFL this season. During his rookie season, Warren had 76 receptions for 817 yards and four touchdowns.

How a healthy Colts offense should look in 2026

Shane Steichen is a great head coach and offensive mind so he will make the most of what he has. Still, he hopes to have everyone healthy in the first few weeks of the 2026 season:

• QB – Daniel Jones
• RB – Jonathan Taylor
• SWR – Josh Downs
• LWR – Alec Pierce
• RWR – Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
• TE – Tyler Warren