NFL Football 3 Days

Last updated: August 15, 2026, 2:34 PM ET

Seahawks Secure Witherspoon With Record Deal, Lawrence Confirms Retirement

The Seattle Seahawks have made a significant move to retain a key defensive player, agreeing to a four-year, $132 million extension with Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon. This deal makes Witherspoon one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league. In other Seahawks news, veteran outside linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence confirmed that his upcoming 13th NFL season will be his last. The team also added to its roster by offering a contract to Terrion Arnold, with coach Mike Macdonald citing overwhelmingly positive reviews as a factor in the decision, despite Arnold facing felony charges.

Injury Updates and Suspensions Across the League

Several teams are dealing with key player injuries and suspensions. Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love will miss approximately a week with a sore ankle. Similarly, Jets quarterback Geno Smith is day-to-day with an ankle injury that kept him out of the preseason opener. The Cardinals also suffered a blow with second-round pick Chase Bisontis, who tore his MCL and faces a potential season-ending injury. Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. received an eight-game suspension from the NFL for violating the personal conduct policy. Bills defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis will miss the first three games of the season due to a substance abuse policy violation. Commanders defensive end/linebacker Dorance Armstrong is suspended for the season opener for a personal conduct policy violation. The Saints will be without rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson for an unspecified amount of time due to a hamstring issue. The Colts' special teams coordinator, Brian Mason, tore multiple knee ligaments on the sideline.

Quarterback Performances and Team Culture

In preseason action, Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa expressed frustration with his team's performance in a preseason loss to the Broncos. However, reports from Falcons training camp suggest Tagovailoa is "coming on strong" in other sessions, while Michael Penix Jr. is sidelined. Steelers rookie quarterbacks Drew Allar and Will Howard showed promise in a preseason win against the Packers. Raiders rookie QB Fernando Mendoza threw for a touchdown in his debut. Meanwhile, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski named Deshaun Watson as the starter for their preseason opener. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix will sit out the preseason opener as he continues to recover from ankle surgeries. Coach Klint Kubiak is instilling a sense of urgency and a no-nonsense culture with the Raiders. In Washington, coach Dan Quinn is working to re-energize the Commanders through competition.

Contract Extensions and Personnel Moves

The Steelers have signed defensive tackle Keeanu Benton to a four-year, $72 million extension, making him the highest-paid defensive lineman in franchise history. Linebacker Elandon Roberts is returning to the Steelers on a one-year deal. The Panthers have added veteran tight end Darren Waller on a one-year contract.

Fantasy Football and Broadcast News

As draft season approaches, ESPN has released its comprehensive 2026 fantasy football cheat sheets and draft guide, featuring rankings, mock drafts, and analysis. Eric Karabell has highlighted undervalued players like Derrick Henry and Patrick Mahomes who could be steals in drafts. Matt Bowen offers his QB tiers for fantasy managers. Mike Clay provides strategy tips for various league types in his playbook. In broadcast news, ESPN analyst Troy Aikman will have some restrictions on his "Monday Night Football" lead-ups, similar to Tom Brady's situation.

College Talent and League History

Scouts will be keeping a close eye on Miami and Texas as two of the twelve colleges stacked with NFL draft talent for 2027. In a notable auction, a Joe Montana Super Bowl XXIV jersey fetched a record $1.5 million.

Miscellaneous NFL News

The Chicago Bears will not be changing their name if they relocate to Indiana, according to chairman George H. McCaskey. Former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is participating in research to study CTE in living individuals. Former NFLPA lawyer Heather McPhee has settled a federal lawsuit against the union. The Jonas Brothers will perform at the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia between the 49ers and Rams. Former sideline reporter Michele Tafoya won the Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota. The NFLPA is facing a lawsuit from a former employee against the Rams, with a judge ruling against the team's arbitration rules.