Samwise NFL Newsletter
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Detroit Lions Release CB Terrion Arnold After Felony Arrest on Kidnapping, Robbery Charges
The Detroit Lions released cornerback Terrion Arnold on Monday following his arrest on eight felony charges connected to a February robbery and kidnapping in Tampa, Florida. A judge set bond at $1 million at a hearing Monday, rejecting prosecutors’ bid to hold Arnold without bond. He posted bond Tuesday and was released from custody. Arnold faces four counts each of robbery with a firearm and kidnapping, stemming from allegations that he orchestrated an attack on three men he believed had stolen more than $250,000 worth of belongings from him at a rented Airbnb. Detroit’s decision to release Arnold carries significant financial ramifications for the club.
Sorsby, NFL and NFLPA Settle; QB Will Sit Out 2026 and Enter 2027 Draft
The NFL, NFLPA and Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby reached a settlement Tuesday, resolving all claims stemming from the league’s decision not to hold a 2026 supplemental draft. Under the agreement, Sorsby will sit out the entire 2026 season and become eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft. The league will not discipline Sorsby for prior conduct once he is drafted. Sorsby was declared ineligible for the 2025 college season by the NCAA after admitting to placing more than 40 wagers on Indiana games while a member of that team. Sorsby confirmed Tuesday he will not pursue further litigation against the league.
Sources: Pro Football Talk Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Jaguars Promote Shane Waldron to Assistant Head Coach, Heath Farwell to Associate Head Coach
The Jacksonville Jaguars elevated two members of head coach Liam Coen’s staff on Tuesday, naming passing game coordinator Shane Waldron assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Heath Farwell associate head coach. Waldron joined the Jaguars when Coen was hired last year after serving as the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator in 2025. He helped produce a franchise-record 27.9 points per game, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a career-high 38 total touchdowns. Farwell is entering his fifth season with Jacksonville. Coen said both coaches are well-deserving of the elevations and will be key figures as the team works to build a sustainable winning culture.
Sources: Pro Football Talk Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Deshaun Watson Returns to Browns Facility to Train Ahead of Camp QB Battle With Shedeur Sanders
Deshaun Watson returned to the Cleveland Browns’ facility in Berea this week to train, working with private physical therapist Billy Voltaire and personal quarterbacks coach Quincy Avery. Watson is competing with second-year signal-caller Shedeur Sanders to be Cleveland’s starting quarterback when training camp opens in late July. The Browns are currently on their pre-camp break, but Watson used the time to continue throwing with local receivers and sharpen skills developed during the spring. Head coach Todd Monken split first-team reps between Watson and Sanders throughout the spring but has declined to name a starter until both players compete in August’s preseason games.
Sources: Pro Football Talk Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Former Titans RB Chris Johnson, 40, Reveals ALS Diagnosis: ‘ALS Has Not Changed Who I Am’
Former Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson, 40, revealed Monday that he was diagnosed with ALS in 2025. Johnson disclosed the diagnosis in an interview on ABC’s Good Morning America, saying the disease has not changed who he is as a person. The illness has progressed so rapidly that Johnson now uses a speech-generating machine controlled by his eyes to communicate. Johnson played 10 NFL seasons, setting a then-single-season record by rushing for 2,006 yards in 2009. Pro Football Talk reported Tuesday that a 2021 medical study found NFL players face ALS risks nearly four times higher than the general population.
Seattle Seahawks Sale Enters New Phase as First Round of Bids Submitted; Price Expected at $9–10 Billion
The first round of bids to purchase the Seattle Seahawks was due Monday as the formal sale process for the defending Super Bowl champions enters a new phase. Among the bidders is Vinod Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems and a minority investor in the San Francisco 49ers. Other reported bidders include ArcelorMittal CEO Aditya Mittal, former Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck and Eldridge Industries CEO Todd Boehly. The Seahawks are expected to sell for between $9 billion and $10 billion, which would set a new NFL franchise price record. The estate of late owner Paul Allen is conducting the sale.
Sources: Pro Football Talk Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Kyle Pitts Signs Three-Year, $54 Million Extension With Atlanta Falcons, Becoming Third-Highest-Paid TE in NFL
The Atlanta Falcons officially signed tight end Kyle Pitts to a three-year, $54 million contract extension Monday, keeping the 24-year-old under contract through the 2028 season. The deal includes $36 million in guaranteed money and makes Pitts the third-highest-paid tight end in the NFL at $18 million annually, behind the 49ers’ George Kittle ($19.1 million) and the Cardinals’ Trey McBride ($19 million). Pitts recorded 88 receptions for 928 yards and five touchdowns in 2025, earning Second Team All-Pro honors. The Falcons had placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pitts in February before negotiating this long-term deal.
Sources: CBS Sports Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
2026 NFL Training Camps Open in Three Weeks With Key QB Battles, Preseason Kicking Off August 6
Training camps open in three weeks as the NFL begins its march toward the 2026 regular season. The Seattle Seahawks have the earliest rookie report date in the league on July 17, with veterans reporting July 24. The Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers, who meet in the Hall of Fame Game on August 6 in Canton, Ohio, open full camps July 22. All 32 teams will have their full rosters in camp by July 28. The first full preseason weekend follows on August 13, giving most clubs roughly three weeks of camp work before live game action, with key quarterback battles like the Browns’ Watson-Sanders competition drawing early attention.
AFC Divisions
AFC East
1. New England Patriots — 14–3–0
2. Buffalo Bills — 12–5–0
3. Miami Dolphins — 7–10–0
4. New York Jets — 3–14–0
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers — 10–7–0
2. Baltimore Ravens — 8–9–0
3. Cincinnati Bengals — 6–11–0
4. Cleveland Browns — 5–12–0
AFC South
1. Jacksonville Jaguars — 13–4–0
2. Houston Texans — 12–5–0
3. Indianapolis Colts — 8–9–0
4. Tennessee Titans — 3–14–0
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos — 14–3–0
2. Los Angeles Chargers — 11–6–0
3. Kansas City Chiefs — 6–11–0
4. Las Vegas Raiders — 3–14–0
NFC Divisions
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles — 11–6–0
2. Dallas Cowboys — 7–9–1
3. Washington Commanders — 5–12–0
4. New York Giants — 4–13–0
NFC North
1. Chicago Bears — 11–5–0
2. Green Bay Packers — 9–6–1
3. Minnesota Vikings — 8–8–0
4. Detroit Lions — 8–8–0
NFC South
1. Carolina Panthers — 8–9–0
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 8–9–0
3. Atlanta Falcons — 8–9–0
4. New Orleans Saints — 7–10–0
NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks — 14–3–0
2. San Francisco 49ers — 12–5–0
3. Los Angeles Rams — 11–6–0
4. Arizona Cardinals — 4–13–0
Curated by JD · samwise.agency