Samwise NFL Newsletter
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Purdy Throws Three TDs as 49ers Dominate Rams 27-7 in Historic First NFL Australia Game
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes to lead a 27-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the first regular-season NFL game played in Australia on Thursday. Purdy connected with Demarcus Robinson for 39 yards, Mike Evans for five yards, and Deebo Samuel for 15 yards in front of 100,021 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford was held to 15 of 25 for 155 yards as San Francisco’s defense dominated. Kyren Williams scored the NFL’s first Australian touchdown for the Rams on a five-yard rush, but the 49ers answered with 24 unanswered points to close out the historic victory.
Sources: NBC Sports
Darnold Suffers Hip Strain on Opening Drive as Drew Lock Rallies Seahawks to 13-10 Kickoff Win
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold exited the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game on the opening drive after being sacked, suffering a hip muscle strain. Backup Drew Lock rallied the team from a 10-0 deficit, completing 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown — including a 45-yard strike to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on fourth-and-one — as Seattle beat New England 13-10. Coach Mike Macdonald said Darnold’s hip is intact with no fractures detected, and the injury is described as muscular. Darnold is expected to miss Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals, though further absences are considered unlikely given the encouraging early diagnosis.
Mahomes Set to Start Monday Night Return as Chiefs Host Broncos in AFC West Showdown
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is set to start Monday night’s Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos, his first game action since suffering a torn ACL and LCL in December. Head coach Andy Reid confirmed there is a “very good chance” Mahomes starts after the two-time MVP missed the final stretch of last season. Kansas City finished 6-11 and missed the playoffs in 2025 without their franchise quarterback. The Chiefs added running back Kenneth Walker III in the offseason, while Denver acquired wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from Miami to bolster the supporting cast around quarterback Bo Nix in the primetime AFC West clash at Arrowhead Stadium.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
A.J. Brown Suffers High-Ankle Sprain in Kickoff Game, Could Miss Three to Six Games
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown suffered a high-ankle sprain in the NFL Kickoff Game against the Seattle Seahawks on September 9 and could miss three to six games, according to reports. Brown exited in the third quarter and did not return as New England fell 13-10 in the season opener at Lumen Field. The injury is a significant blow to the Patriots’ receiving corps as the team heads into its Week 1 Sunday matchup against the Buffalo Bills. New England will need to lean on other pass catchers while Brown works through the recovery process.
Sources: Washington Times
Tua Tagovailoa Ruled Out for Falcons Week 1 Opener vs. Steelers with Oblique Injury
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been ruled out for Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers after suffering an oblique injury during practice. Tagovailoa, who signed with Atlanta in the offseason after departing Miami, will miss the season opener with backup Cooper Rush taking all first-team reps in his absence and set to start Sunday in Pittsburgh. The injury comes just as the regular season is getting underway, putting Rush in the spotlight for the Falcons’ opener. The Steelers are hosting the game as Atlanta begins the 2026 season with their new quarterback sidelined.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Raiders Lose Brock Bowers to Meniscus Procedure, Tight End Out for Week 1 vs. Dolphins
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers is out for Week 1 after undergoing a meniscus trim procedure and is expected to miss a game or two, per NFL Network. Bowers had been dealing with a knee issue during training camp that was not fully diagnosed until last week. The Raiders’ top offensive weapon will not be available when Las Vegas faces the Miami Dolphins in their Sunday opener. The procedure was performed in Dallas, and while Bowers is expected to avoid a lengthy absence, the knee will limit his availability in the early weeks of the 2026 season.
Derrick Henry Gets Emotional About Super Bowl Dreams Heading Into Third Ravens Season
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry delivered an emotional statement about his Super Bowl ambitions heading into his third season with the team, saying he is “tired of being at home on the couch watching” the championship game. Speaking on The Lounge podcast, Henry said his primary motivation is winning a title alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson. “It would be crazy for me to say I played with Lamar Jackson and we didn’t win no championships,” Henry said. Speaking with Rich Eisen, Henry became visibly emotional when discussing what a Super Bowl would mean, saying: “It means everything. I might cry the rest of the year if that happens.”
Breece Hall Cleared From Injury Report, Set to Play Jets Week 1 vs. Titans
New York Jets running back Breece Hall has been cleared to play in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans after recovering from a groin injury that had raised concerns about his availability for the season opener. Hall practiced fully on Friday, September 11, and was removed from the injury report entirely ahead of Sunday’s road game in Tennessee. Coach Aaron Glenn confirmed Hall would be ready for the regular season despite the camp setback. The Jets had been managing Hall’s workload during the preseason following the groin issue, with Braelon Allen filling in as the lead back during his absence.
AFC Standings (Week 1)
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC East | |||
| Buffalo Bills | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New York Jets | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New England Patriots | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| AFC North | |||
| Baltimore Ravens | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cleveland Browns | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AFC South | |||
| Houston Texans | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tennessee Titans | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AFC West | |||
| Kansas City Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Denver Broncos | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NFC Standings (Week 1)
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFC East | |||
| Dallas Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New York Giants | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington Commanders | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NFC North | |||
| Detroit Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chicago Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NFC South | |||
| Atlanta Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New Orleans Saints | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carolina Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NFC West | |||
| Seattle Seahawks | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency