NFL Football 8 Hours

Last updated: September 12, 2026, 2:34 PM ET

Quarterback Carousel

The Falcons will turn to backup Cooper Rush for Sunday's opener against the Steelers after ruling starter Tua Tagovailoa out with an oblique injury. Atlanta's decision reshuffles the NFC South picture before a single snap has been taken, and Rush now inherits an offense built around Tagovailoa's timing and anticipation.

Contract Extensions

The Raiders locked up tight end Michael Mayer on a multiyear extension worth $45M after Brock Bowers was sidelined, ensuring Derek Carr's successor has a reliable target over the middle. In Chicago, the Bears reached agreement with running back D'Andre Swift on a three-year, $33.75M extension that includes $27.5M guaranteed, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Green Bay followed suit, with the Packers signing tight end Tucker Kraft to a four-year extension worth up to $92M. And in San Francisco, the 49ers rewarded coach Kyle Shanahan with a multiyear extension after he compiled an 83-67 record across 10 seasons.

Injury Report

Chicago's Rome Odunze said he expects to play Sunday at Carolina despite a calf injury that left him questionable on the final injury report. Dallas took a harder hit, as Malik Davis is scheduled for hip surgery Saturday and will land on injured reserve after getting hurt in Friday's practice. Fantasy managers should track the updated Week 1 inactives for late-breaking status changes on Jeanty, Love, Odunze and others before kickoff.

Week 1 Preview

Fourteen games remain on the Week 1 slate, headlined by Josh Allen vs. C.J. Stroud and Jayden Daniels vs. Jalen Hurts, with picks, predictions and watchability ratings for every matchup. Our staff assembled 15 bold predictions covering upset picks, fantasy sleepers and projected stat lines, including whether DeVonta Smith finds the end zone and whether the Jets finally intercept a pass. For lineup decisions, our fantasy football preview advises starting the Bucs and sitting Mahomes among more than a dozen borderline calls.

Player Spotlight

Washington offensive coordinator David Blough said Jayden Daniels just completed his best NFL camp, and the Commanders are expecting a genuine star turn in 2026. In Philadelphia, Saquon Barkley is embracing a heavy under-center, wide-zone scheme that is largely new to him as he tries to recapture his 2024 dominance. And with the Raiders, veteran Kirk Cousins is approaching Year 15 as a mentor to a young core while working under coordinator Klint Kubiak.

Coaching & Schemes

The Chargers' title hopes may hinge on the partnership between OC Mike McDaniel and coach Jim Harbaugh, a football marriage both men describe as mutually dependent: "We need each other." In Denver, the Broncos' defense is aiming to top the NFL in sacks for a second straight year after setting franchise records in back-to-back seasons, including a league-leading 68 last year.

Draft & Records

Oregon's Dante Moore is the runaway top vote-getter among 25 NFL scouts and executives polled by ESPN as the projected QB1 for the 2027 draft, signaling a deep quarterback crop. Looking further ahead, our analysts identified six NFL records that could fall in 2026, including the league's rushing mark, the longest field goal and the single-season tight end receiving yardage record.

9/11 Anniversary

Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, Hall of Famers and franchise greats including Michael Strahan and Vinny Testaverde recounted the emotional moments they experienced in the aftermath, offering a window into how the league and its players processed a national tragedy.