Samwise NFL Newsletter
Friday, June 26, 2026
Lions CB Terrion Arnold Ordered Held Without Bail After Court Appearance
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold appeared in a Hillsborough County, Florida courtroom Thursday via video feed and was ordered held without bail through a pretrial detention hearing scheduled for Monday, June 29. Arnold, 23, faces eight felony counts — four for armed robbery and four for kidnapping — stemming from an alleged February incident in Tampa. Prosecutors will argue at Monday’s hearing that Arnold should remain in custody through trial. Authorities allege Arnold orchestrated a plot to detain and pistol-whip three people he believed had stolen from him. His attorney, R. Timothy Jansen, told the court Arnold “absolutely denies these allegations.” The charges carry a potential life sentence.
Sorsby’s Attorney Calls NFL Supplemental Draft Denial Unlawful, Threatens Legal Action
Attorney Jeffrey Kessler, representing Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, has declared the NFL’s decision not to hold a 2026 supplemental draft a violation of the CBA and the law, and said the matter will be pursued immediately with the NFLPA. The NFL’s June 23 letter to Sorsby cited unspecified game-integrity concerns and acknowledged that Sorsby’s petition had been submitted without supporting documentation after prior litigation efforts were abandoned. Sorsby’s gambling history — which included thousands of bets totaling at least $90,000 while enrolled as a student-athlete at Indiana, Cincinnati, and Texas Tech — contributed to the denial. Sorsby remains eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Sources: NBC Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Sanders Narrows Gap on Watson in Browns Quarterback Battle After Mandatory Minicamp
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken said no starting quarterback will be named after mandatory minicamp, with both Deshaun Watson and rookie Shedeur Sanders splitting first-team reps throughout the week. The two quarterbacks each received a full day running the first-team offense, then divided reps on the final day Wednesday. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Sanders had a strong enough spring that he “closed the gap some” in the competition with Watson, who entered the offseason as the nominal favorite. Head coach Monken said both quarterbacks can start and play winning football. The Browns’ quarterback battle is expected to extend through training camp, which opens in late July.
Sources: CBS Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Tua Tagovailoa Emerges as Falcons QB1 With Strong Final Minicamp Session
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa solidified his status as the frontrunner to start in 2026 after a standout final day of mandatory minicamp Wednesday. With Michael Penix Jr. still not cleared for 11-on-11 work seven months removed from left ACL surgery, Tagovailoa took all first-team reps and made three completions including a touchdown pass to running back Bijan Robinson. Falcons quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt acknowledged the imbalance, saying it is tough to hold a competition when both players are not competing at the same physical level. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Tagovailoa will receive first-team reps heading into training camp.
Final Wave of NFL Mandatory Minicamps Concludes as Teams Enter Summer Break
The final wave of NFL mandatory minicamps concluded Thursday, sending all 32 teams into a summer break before training camps open in late July. The Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams canceled their minicamps, while the Arizona Cardinals held camp after quarterback Jacoby Brissett — who had skipped all voluntary workouts seeking a contract improvement — reported Monday to avoid a $107,911 fine. Brissett is under contract at $4.88 million in base salary. NFL.com reported the final week of camps produced important early looks at rookie integration, quarterback battles, and scheme installations ahead of the regular season.
Texans OC Caley Says Stroud Is “Locked In” for 2026 Bounce-Back Season
Houston Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley said Friday that quarterback C.J. Stroud enters 2026 with a fresh and focused mindset following last season’s divisional-round exit. Caley acknowledged that Stroud threw four interceptions in Houston’s playoff loss to the New England Patriots, but said it would be unfair to judge his quarterback solely on that performance. He described Stroud as engaged and fully committed to the team’s offensive preparations. The Texans finished 12–5 in the 2025 regular season and won the AFC South before falling in the postseason. Houston enters training camp with Stroud under center and renewed aspirations for a deeper postseason run.
Sources: NBC Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Mayock Blasts NFL Network for Booking Star Names Over Knowledgeable Analysts at the Draft
Former NFL Network lead draft analyst Mike Mayock said this week that the network repeatedly prioritized booking high-profile former players based on name recognition rather than preparation or draft expertise. Speaking on The Ross Tucker Football Podcast, Mayock recalled raising the issue with producers multiple times, only to be told the marquee guests brought credibility. He said it used to drive him crazy when a big-name guest could not name three prospects entering the draft. Mayock served as NFL Network’s top draft voice from 2004 before departing in December 2018 to become general manager of the Oakland Raiders.
Sources: NBC Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Broncos, Steelers Complete Roster Transactions as Pre-Camp Housekeeping Continues
The Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers each announced roster transactions Thursday as teams continue shaping their rosters ahead of late-July training camps. Denver waived wide receiver Mike Woods off injured reserve with an injury settlement. Pittsburgh signed defensive back Ahmari Harvey to add depth to the secondary. Both moves reflect the kind of routine pre-camp housekeeping that accelerates across the league in late June. The Broncos enter camp with quarterback Bo Nix, who participated in 7-on-7 drills at mandatory minicamp this week and downplayed concerns about an ankle injury, according to CBS Sports.
Sources: NBC Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
American Conference
2025 Final Regular Season Standings
AFC East
1. New England Patriots — 14–3
2. Buffalo Bills — 12–5
3. Miami Dolphins — 7–10
4. New York Jets — 3–14
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers — 10–7
2. Baltimore Ravens — 8–9
3. Cincinnati Bengals — 6–11
4. Cleveland Browns — 5–12
AFC South
1. Jacksonville Jaguars — 13–4
2. Houston Texans — 12–5
3. Indianapolis Colts — 8–9
4. Tennessee Titans — 3–14
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos — 14–3
2. Los Angeles Chargers — 11–6
3. Kansas City Chiefs — 6–11
4. Las Vegas Raiders — 3–14
National Conference
2025 Final Regular Season Standings
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles — 11–6
2. Dallas Cowboys — 7–9–1
3. Washington Commanders — 5–12
4. New York Giants — 4–13
NFC North
1. Chicago Bears — 11–6
2. Green Bay Packers — 9–7–1
3. Minnesota Vikings — 9–8
4. Detroit Lions — 9–8
NFC South
1. Carolina Panthers — 8–9
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 8–9
3. Atlanta Falcons — 8–9
4. New Orleans Saints — 6–11
NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks — 14–3
2. Los Angeles Rams — 12–5
3. San Francisco 49ers — 12–5
4. Arizona Cardinals — 3–14
Curated by JD · samwise.agency