NFL Football 24 Hours

Last updated: August 13, 2026, 12:32 PM ET

Quarterback Competitions and Preseason Plans

Deshaun Watson will start the Browns' preseason opener Saturday in Chicago, the team announced, with Shedeur Sanders slated to start the second exhibition game. Across the NFC North, J.J. McCarthy said the Vikings' decision to name Kyler Murray the winner of their quarterback competition was "out of my control," though he expressed a desire to remain in Minnesota. The Broncos have opted to sit Bo Nix for their preseason opener Friday as he continues recovering from two ankle surgeries, with the team expecting him to play in the final two warmup games. Meanwhile, a deeper look at the 2026 season suggests this year will determine whether he can become Denver's long-term franchise quarterback after two winning seasons.

Injury Updates and Personnel Moves

49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall underwent right knee surgery and now faces a roughly nine-month recovery before he can return to the field, posting that his "road back starts now." Buccaneers wideout Emeka Egbuka limped off during a joint practice with the Jets on Wednesday with a minor toe injury and did not return. The Panthers added to their tight end room by bringing in veteran Darren Waller on a one-year deal, while Pittsburgh re-signed linebacker Elandon Roberts to a one-year contract after he played for the Steelers in 2023–2024. Panthers coach Dave Canales said running back Jonathon Brooks is "ready to rock" and will play in Saturday's preseason road test against the Bills.

Camp Battles, Culture, and Team Goals

Packers second-round rookie Brandon Cisse has shined in camp, potentially stealing the starting cornerback spot from presumptive left-side starter Keisean Nixon. Raiders offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is instilling a "no nonsense" culture of urgency that players and coaches praise as "like a machine." Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has re-energized Washington after a 5–12 season with spelling bees, basketball shootouts, and coaching changes designed to sharpen the team's edge. Bears offensive coordinator Ben Johnson set a bold goal: he wants Chicago to be "the highest-scoring offense ever" this season, not merely win the Super Bowl. Chiefs star Travis Kelce said he believes he can still "play at a high level" in what could be his final NFL season, adding that he also aims to be more accountable as a locker room leader.

Notable Storylines and Off-Field News

Joe Montana's Super Bowl XXIV jersey fetched a record $1.5 million at auction, surpassing the previous record held by Tom Brady's final-game jersey that sold in November 2023. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels said he felt "profoundly disrespected" after LSU allowed cornerback DJ Pickett to wear his No. 5, and he informed the school it can no longer use his name, image, and likeness. Former Jets star Aaron Rodgers discussed the possibility of a post-retirement return to Lambeau Field, saying "it has to be an invite," as he had hoped the Steelers' preseason opener against the Packers would be played in Green Bay. The Jonas Brothers will perform at the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia, which features the 49ers and Rams. Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya won the Republican Senate primary in Minnesota and will compete for an open U.S. Senate seat. Former quarterback Matt Hasselbeck spent two days undergoing scans and tests to help research CTE in living former players, hoping to advance understanding of how collisions affected his brain.

Fantasy Football, Draft Prep, and Training Camp Buzz

For fantasy managers, Mike Clay's Playbook offers a guide to winning in nontraditional league formats. The 2026 Fantasy Draft Guide provides rankings, mock drafts, and analysis. Recent camp buzz includes more volume expected for Bengals running back Chase Brown and Seahawks wideout Denzel Boston turning heads, as detailed in Fantasy football buzz from Cameron Wolfe's trip to Ohio. A broader Training camp buzz notebook updates news from the 49ers, Bengals, Bills, Browns, Cowboys, Eagles, Jets, Raiders, Ravens, Seahawks, and Steelers. On the lighter side, a look at NFL rookies' first paychecks reveals that players like Jeremiyah Love, Drew Allar, and Carnell Tate have spent their new money on exotic pets, family houses, and Lego sets. The Falcons training camp sees quarterback Tua Tagovailoa coming on strong while Michael Penix Jr. is sidelined.