Samwise NFL Newsletter
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Harrison Smith Returns to Vikings on One-Year, $12.25M Deal for 15th Season
Harrison Smith is coming back to Minnesota. The veteran safety agreed to a one-year deal worth $12.25 million with the Vikings, keeping him in purple for a remarkable 15th NFL season. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the agreement on Saturday. Smith, 37, has spent his entire career with Minnesota since the team selected him in the first round of the 2012 draft. One of the greatest safeties of his generation and a perennial Pro Bowl selection, Smith gives the Vikings a proven, veteran anchor in the secondary as the 2026 season opens. Minnesota is betting that his experience and football IQ remain elite even at an advanced age.
Sources: Pro Football Rumors
Falcons Name Tua Tagovailoa QB1; Penix Listed as Injured on Official Depth Chart
The Atlanta Falcons released their official pre-opener depth chart and it tells a clear story: Tua Tagovailoa is the starter, and Michael Penix Jr. is not an option. The chart lists Penix under the injured designation rather than as backup, a reflection of the ACL surgery recovery that has kept him sidelined since last season. Tagovailoa, who signed with Atlanta after parting ways with the Miami Dolphins in the off-season, now has a fresh start with a team that has surrounded him with offensive weapons. The depth chart formality removes any remaining public ambiguity about who opens the season under center for Atlanta.
Sources: Pro Football Talk / NBC Sports
NFL Kickoff Game: Seahawks Host Patriots in Super Bowl LX Rematch Wednesday Night
The 2026 NFL regular season opens Wednesday night with a rematch of Super Bowl LX: the Seattle Seahawks welcome the New England Patriots to Lumen Field. Seattle won the championship game 29-13 and enters Wednesday as a 3.5-point home favourite, looking to assert early dominance. The Kickoff Game carries the traditional pageantry of the NFL season opener and draws massive national viewership. Both teams made notable off-season personnel changes, adding intrigue to an already compelling matchup. A Seahawks win would signal continuity from their championship run; a Patriots upset would announce New England as early contenders in the AFC and set the tone for the entire conference.
Sources: NBC Sports
NFL Goes to Australia: 49ers vs. Rams at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Netflix Thursday
The NFL makes history Thursday when the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams kick off the league’s first-ever regular-season game on Australian soil. The matchup is set for Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 10, broadcast exclusively on Netflix. The NFL chose an NFC West rivalry game for the landmark occasion, pairing two franchises with passionate global fanbases. Aaron Donald, who came out of retirement to rejoin the Rams for 2026, is expected to start against the 49ers, his longtime rivals. The game is expected to draw a massive Australian audience and deepens the NFL’s push into international markets following the success of its London and Frankfurt series.
Puka Nacua Returns to Rams Practice Sunday, On Track for Melbourne Opener Thursday
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua returned to full practice Sunday, easing concerns about his availability for the team’s Week 1 matchup against the 49ers in Melbourne. Nacua had been sidelined with a psoas muscle injury, and his status for the historic Australia game had been uncertain. His participation Sunday is a strong indicator he will suit up for Thursday’s Netflix broadcast. The second-year receiver had a standout rookie campaign and is one of the Rams’ most important offensive weapons in the passing game. Head coach Sean McVay confirmed Nacua’s involvement in practice and expressed confidence the receiver will be ready to go for the opener.
Sources: Turf Show Times
TreVeyon Henderson Expected to Play Week 1 Despite Missing Practice Since August 24
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson has not practiced since rolling an ankle on August 24, but the team is optimistic he will be ready for Wednesday’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. A source described the injury as not serious, suggesting the absence is precautionary. Henderson enters 2026 as the Patriots’ primary ball-carrier after a promising debut season and is a key piece of the team’s offensive identity under the new coaching staff. New England is monitoring his progress through the short week, but the expectation remains that he suits up at Lumen Field. His availability would be a significant boost to the Patriots’ running game against Seattle.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Packers Hit Pause on Micah Parsons Return; Linebacker Now Targeting Week 6 vs. Cowboys
The Green Bay Packers’ timeline for Micah Parsons has shifted. Originally expected to return after four games on the physically unable to perform list, a new concern has pushed his target window to Week 6, when Green Bay faces the Dallas Cowboys. Parsons has circled that matchup against his former team as a motivating milestone. Team officials have not detailed the setback, describing it as a separate issue from the original knee injury. Parsons, who signed a landmark contract with Green Bay in the off-season, is the centerpiece of the Packers’ defensive scheme, and his extended absence puts added pressure on the unit’s depth heading into the early weeks.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Bills vs. Texans: AFC Heavyweight Clash Headlines Week 1’s Most Anticipated Matchup
When the Buffalo Bills travel to NRG Stadium to face the Houston Texans on Sunday, Week 1 of 2026 will deliver one of its marquee showdowns. Both franchises enter the season as legitimate AFC title contenders, with Josh Allen and C.J. Stroud leading dynamic offenses on opposite sidelines. Houston’s defense made significant strides last season and will face an early test against Buffalo’s high-powered attack. The Bills have consistently been among the AFC’s best but are still chasing their first Super Bowl title. For the Texans, a home win over a marquee opponent would send an immediate message to the rest of the conference that 2026 is Houston’s year to take the next step.
AFC Standings
Season begins Wed. Sept. 9 — all teams 0-0
| Division / Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|
| AFC East | ||
| Buffalo Bills | 0 | 0 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0 | 0 |
| New England Patriots | 0 | 0 |
| New York Jets | 0 | 0 |
| AFC North | ||
| Baltimore Ravens | 0 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0 | 0 |
| Cleveland Browns | 0 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0 | 0 |
| AFC South | ||
| Houston Texans | 0 | 0 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0 | 0 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 0 | 0 |
| Tennessee Titans | 0 | 0 |
| AFC West | ||
| Kansas City Chiefs | 0 | 0 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 0 | 0 |
| Denver Broncos | 0 | 0 |
NFC Standings
Season begins Wed. Sept. 9 — all teams 0-0
| Division / Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|
| NFC East | ||
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0 | 0 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 0 | 0 |
| New York Giants | 0 | 0 |
| Washington Commanders | 0 | 0 |
| NFC North | ||
| Detroit Lions | 0 | 0 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0 | 0 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0 | 0 |
| Chicago Bears | 0 | 0 |
| NFC South | ||
| Atlanta Falcons | 0 | 0 |
| New Orleans Saints | 0 | 0 |
| Carolina Panthers | 0 | 0 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 | 0 |
| NFC West | ||
| Seattle Seahawks | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 0 | 0 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 0 | 0 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 0 | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency