NFL Football 24 Hours

Last updated: August 26, 2026, 2:44 AM ET

Training Camp & Injuries

The NFL's injury report took center stage Tuesday. Giants wide receiver Calvin Austin III, who signed after four seasons in Pittsburgh, suffered a "serious" injury to his right knee during a route at practice. The Seahawks placed rookie safety Bud Clark and offensive lineman Mason Richman on season-ending injured reserve after both went down in Sunday's preseason game against the Titans. Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase said he's "fine" after an injury scare at practice in which he appeared to hurt his left knee. Raiders coach Klint Kubiak stayed vague on Ashton Jeanty's injury, saying only the second-year back is "on the mend" when asked if he'd start the season on injured reserve.

Quarterback Watch

Patrick Mahomes said he's feeling "great" and remains on track to start Week 1 after a summer of steady progress. The Browns named Deshaun Watson their QB1, but the franchise's quarterback quandary persists as the 30-year-old faces enormous pressure to perform. Panthers coach Dave Canales reiterated Carolina's commitment to Bryce Young for the 2026 season but deferred extension talk to the front office. In Denver, the key to Bo Nix's Year 3 growth lies in slowing down his dropbacks and refining his footwork to unlock more big plays, per the coaching staff.

Roster Moves & Transactions

The Giants are trading offensive lineman Josh Ezeudu to the Chiefs for a 2028 seventh-round pick, sources confirmed. Washington is signing veteran tackle D.J. Humphries after losing Laremy Tunsil to a torn triceps on Aug. 5, a source told ESPN. The Bears remain locked in a left tackle competition with just 19 days until their season opener at Carolina. Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez called his contract talks "frustrating" with the regular-season opener against the Dolphins on Sept. 9 approaching.

Coaching & Front Office

Ravens defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is drawing praise for his "pumps belief into players" approach, with the 43-year-old's competitive drive and cool demeanor expected to elevate Baltimore to championship contention. Jets coach Aaron Glenn and quarterback Geno Smith showed notable changes during camp, with rookie linebacker David Bailey emerging as a high-end promise. Jets camp also brought updates on safety Sadiq's injury and the kicking competition, where Sanders won the job, per camp intel. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer reflected on undrafted rookie offensive lineman Shiyazh Pete's viral postgame speech, with Pete, a Navajo Nation member, saying the fan reaction was overwhelming.

Off-Field News & Tributes

The sports world paid tribute to Dolly Parton after the legendary singer-songwriter from Tennessee died Tuesday at age 80. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye granted a Make-A-Wish for 16-year-old Skylar, a Massachusetts teen diagnosed with a brain tumor, at Gillette Stadium on Friday. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said owner Jed York's recent arrest for attempting to engage in prostitution has "no effect" on the team's goals. The NFL unveiled the second iteration of its Rivalries uniform series, with eight new teams including AFC South and NFC North designs.

Health & Research

A new study published Tuesday by the British Medical Journal found that at least 25% of NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE, adding to the growing body of research on the sport's long-term risks.

Fantasy & Projections

ESPN's Fantasy Football Hall of Fame inducted its first two players, celebrating the best performers since the game launched in 1995. For fantasy drafters, several late-round rookies could emerge as steals in 2026 and beyond, especially in deeper leagues. NFL Nation reporters projected all 32 teams' 53-man rosters, one week from the cut-down deadline at 6 p.m. ET Sunday.

Season Outlook

Bill Barnwell's annual improvement list has the Chiefs leading the pack of five teams most likely to rebound after disappointing 2025 campaigns, alongside the Giants, Jets, Lions and Ravens. Conversely, Barnwell identifies five teams set to decline this season, including the Broncos, Bears, Panthers, Jaguars and Patriots, who may struggle to meet expectations.