“Just soreness, tendinitis,” Shanahan said during his press conference. “It’s a pretty normal thing with ACLs. Talking to our guys, they say it happens with about 90 percent of the [time]. So, it’s a normal thing. We’ve got to be smart here week to week, but no concerns about it being any more than that.”

With Mykel Williams on the PUP list, it will be key for Shanahan to have Bosa available from Day 1 of next season. To achieve that, caution regarding his recovery is a top priority.

Nick Bosa’s lengthy layoff

Nick Bosa suffered a serious knee injury during a September 21, 2025 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, ultimately undergoing surgery on September 26 to repair a torn ACL. The setback derailed his campaign and underscored his recent durability challenges, as the 28-year-old star has not posted a double-digit sack season since 2023—the last time he managed to appear in all 17 regular season games.

In fact, Bosa has played in just 17 total games over the past two seasons combined, recording 11 sacks during that stretch as he works to regain his status as one of the NFL‘s premier edge rushers.

San Francisco’s upcoming games

Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers will kick off their 2026 preseason action at home on Thursday, August 13, hosting the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Following their opener, the 49ers hit the road for back-to-back exhibition road tests against AFC West opponents, traveling to face the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Thursday, August 20, before closing out their preseason slate against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Thursday, August 27.

The 49ers must avoid more injuries

The 49ers saw their 2025 season severely impacted by major injuries to several of their foundational stars. Fred Warner suffered a season-ending fractured and dislocated ankle against Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while George Kittle was sidelined early with a hamstring strain before suffering a torn Achilles in the postseason.

Additionally, Christian McCaffrey dealt with persistent calf and leg issues that limited his effectiveness, leaving San Francisco without its key playmakers for crucial stretches of the year.

“I wouldn’t anticipate seeing Drake out there on Thursday,” the head coach said. “But that’s all subject to change. That’s kind of what my mindset is right now sitting here today. Really, it’s just important that we get the work in, get things accomplished that we’re looking to get accomplished. But that can always change, but I wouldn’t anticipate that happening right now.”

Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton are the other two options Vrabel has on the depth chart behind his top player. It will be a matter of seeing who ultimately takes the first snaps at Gillette Stadium against the Colts.

There’s no need to risk Maye

Given his breakout 2025 campaign, there is simply no reason for the New England Patriots to risk Drake Maye’s health in exhibition action ahead of the 2026 season. Maye proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is the franchise cornerstone after completing 72% of his passes for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions during the 2025 regular season.

Furthermore, his league-leading 8.9 yards per attempt and stellar 113.5 passer rating reflected the dramatic progress he made as a passer, demonstrating complete mastery of the offense. Exposing a proved MVP-caliber quarterback to unnecessary physical hits and potential injury in meaningless games offers virtually zero developmental upside, making his physical preservation for Week 1 the organization’s highest priority.

Preseason games for the Patriots

The New England Patriots will kick off their three-game 2026 preseason schedule at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, August 13, when they host the Indianapolis Colts. They will stay in Foxborough for their second exhibition matchup on Saturday, August 22, taking on the Philadelphia Eagles. Mike Vrabel‘s team will then wrap up its preseason slate on the road on Thursday, August 27, traveling to face the Cleveland Browns.

More on DeVito and Morton

Tommy DeVito, who originally joined New England after being claimed off waivers from the New York Giants in August 2025, stepped into the primary backup role after signing an off-season extension. Meanwhile, Behren Morton arrives as a 2026 seventh-round draft pick out of Texas Tech, where he threw for 8,986 yards and 71 touchdowns across 42 collegiate games, giving the Patriots a promising developmental option to compete for snaps throughout the preseason.

“I did. I clapped. I applauded,” Harbaugh said to the press. “I applauded when he did that. It was great. Critical situation drill. We were trying to get a third or fourth down, but mostly third down, like anywhere from three to five in a drive in a game where the offense can win the game in the fourth quarter with a conversion.

“So, play calls and execution to get that first down, that was what that was. So, we had a great play. He came open. He ran around the corner, got the first down, slid inbounds, kept the clock running. All those things were well done.”

These types of strategies will not only improve Dart’s game but also help protect his health even further. Continuing to improve as training progresses will be key for the G-Men’s main leader.

Dart, a risk-taking player

During his rookie season with Giants, Jaxson Dart was evaluated for a concussion four times (including the preseason). Notably, a Week 6 evaluation against the Philadelphia Eagles drew an NFL/NFLPA review after head coach Brian Daboll briefly poked his head into the medical tent during the exam.

Later in the season, Dart suffered a confirmed concussion during a Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears on November 9, 2025. That injury forced him into the multi-step concussion protocol and kept him sidelined for two games against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions before he fully cleared the protocol prior to Week 13.

John Harbaugh’s first challenges

Under new head coach John Harbaugh, who was hired in January 2026, the New York Giants will play three preseason games to prepare for the upcoming campaign. Their exhibition slate kicks off on Saturday, August 15, hosting the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium.

The Giants then hit the road for their remaining two matchups, traveling to face the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, August 22, before closing out the preseason against their cross-town rivals, the New York Jets, at MetLife Stadium on Friday, August 28.

“I’m excited,” the quarterback said to the press. “I think preseason’s always a great time to get back out there and get your feet wet a little bit and see defenses in a live situation before the first [regular-season] game.”

Will No. 10 be on the field against the Atlanta Falcons? Payton keeps it a mystery: “We haven’t gone through the role yet,” the head coach said, via Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette. “I’ll let you know when we go through the roles.”

What preseason games do the Broncos have?

The Denver Broncos’ 2026 NFL preseason lineup kicks off on Friday, August 14, with a road game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Following their opener, the Broncos return to Empower Field at Mile High for two consecutive home games to close out their tune-up slate: hosting the Green Bay Packers on Friday, August 21, and taking on the Minnesota Vikings on Friday, August 28.

Denver wants to improve on its 2025 campaign

Heading into the 2026 season, the Broncos will look to build upon a remarkable 2025 campaign where they finished 14–3 to win the AFC West. While Denver boasted an elite defense that allowed just 18.3 points per game (3rd in the NFL), the team seeks greater efficiency from an offense that averaged 23.6 points (14th in the league) and produced 5,825 total yards.

Starting quarterback Bo Nix delivered a strong effort, throwing for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions with an 87.8 passer rating (along with 356 rushing yards and 5 rushing scores), but the offense stalled at the worst possible moment.

After defeating the Buffalo Bills 33–30 in the Divisional Round, Denver’s Super Bowl pursuit came to an agonizing end with a 10–7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, making offensive consistency and finishing drives in the postseason the top priority for 2026.

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.

“He’s a little sore, but he’s doing fine, so we’ll just kind of manage him as we go,” the Offensive Coordinator said during his press conference. Overworking certain players during this stage of the 2026 training camp could be detrimental, and there is no need to take that risk.

“Christian always kind of has his rep count in any camp,” Kubiak also added. “You guys are aware of the adjustments we’ve made to our schedule to kind of keep them from having too many off days.

“But in terms of his rep load, we’re right on track with where we want to be. And, he’s a veteran player, so you have to monitor him and get him ready for the first week.” San Francisco will make its debut against the Los Angeles Rams on September 10 in Australia.

Injuries, 49ers’ Achilles’ heel

The San Francisco 49ers suffered a brutal wave of injuries throughout their 2025 campaign, losing key starters on both sides of the ball for extended stretches. George Kittle missed six regular-season games with soft-tissue and ankle injuries before tragically tearing his Achilles tendon in the playoffs, while star linebacker Fred Warner played through a severe injury that ultimately sidelined him late in the year.

To make matters worse heading into the offseason, Kyle Shanahan confirmed that wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will undergo knee surgery to repair a meniscus tear sustained in the regular-season finale, capping off a nightmare medical stretch for the franchise.

San Francisco’s important backfield

It is clear that coach Shanahan has Christian McCaffrey as his main presence in the backfield in the Bay Area. Beyond him, this team’s depth chart promises to be an important source of help for Brock Purdy.

• Jordan James
• Kaelon Black
• Isaac Guerendo
• Khalil Herbert
• Patrick Taylor Jr.
• Sincere McCormick

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.

“I’m sure we can make a way,” Lamb said via Yahoo Sports. “I know it’s going to be a little crazy, but I know we can make a way for this one. “Listen, this is my advocation, @ Jerry, can you please figure out a way? Let’s figure it out. I don’t care what needs to happen. Let’s figure it out and it’s going to get you a couple more championships.”

Many times, people believe that having several stars on a roster could hurt the chemistry inside the locker room. Lamb, an experienced player, prefers to put individual ego aside in order to strengthen the team as a whole.

“I don’t have no ego here, I want to win,” the experienced wide receiver said. “I don’t understand the narrative or X, Y, Z, but it is what it is.” Will Jones finally satisfy Lamb’s desire to continue playing alongside Pickens for a longer time with the Cowboys?

What is Pickens’ contract situation?

George Pickens enters the 2026 season playing under a fully guaranteed, one-year $27.3 million franchise tag after the Dallas Cowboys and his representation failed to reach a multi-year extension prior to the July 15 deadline. Under league rules, contract negotiations cannot resume until after Dallas concludes its regular season in January 2027.

Coming off a career-best 2025 campaign where he tallied 93 receptions for 1,429 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns alongside CeeDee Lamb, Pickens can secure a lucrative long-term future in Dallas by maintaining elite WR1/WR2 productivity while continuing to display total maturity within Brian Schottenheimer’s team.

If he sustains this level of play without off-field distractions in 2026, he will either force Dallas to hand him a top-tier multi-year deal in 2027 or potentially utilize a second franchise tag estimated at $32.8 million.

Lamb is having a strong training camp

The Cowboys’ 2026 training camp is producing good results, especially on offense. Lamb is building a strong connection with Dak Prescott, something that has fans excited ahead of their Week 1 debut against the New York Giants.

“It’s demoralizing for the defense,” he said. “They were mad, hyped and all that. You know how defensive guys be. But as for us man, we just got to connect, fight through the fire and air it out.”