Samwise NFL Newsletter
Friday, August 7, 2026
Panthers Clip Cardinals 33-30 on Final Play to Open 2026 Preseason
The 2026 NFL preseason officially opened Thursday night in Canton, Ohio, as the Carolina Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 33-30 on the final play of the Hall of Fame Game. Undrafted rookie quarterback Haynes King scored the winning touchdown on a third-and-goal play from the 5-yard line with two seconds left, diving across the goal line. King, out of Georgia Tech, finished 21-of-34 for 180 yards with two passing touchdowns and added 39 rushing yards. Cardinals rookie Carson Beck, a third-round pick, impressed in his NFL debut, completing 15-of-19 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown playing the first half-plus.
Jahmyr Gibbs Becomes NFL’s Highest-Paid Running Back with $67.5M Lions Extension
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs agreed Thursday to a three-year, $67.5 million contract extension with $51.5 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history by average annual value at $22.5 million per year. The extension keeps Gibbs under contract through the 2030 season and can escalate to $75.75 million with incentives. Gibbs, 24, had been absent from training camp while awaiting the deal. His new contract topped the three-year, $66.75 million extension Bijan Robinson signed with the Falcons days earlier. The Lions and Gibbs reached the agreement at the outset of the preseason.
Sources: Detroit News
Jonathan Taylor Signs $44M Extension with Colts as Running Back Market Resets
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor agreed Thursday to a two-year, $44 million contract extension worth up to $47 million, with $39 million guaranteed, keeping him in Indianapolis through the 2028 season. The deal marks Taylor’s second extension with the Colts following the agreement he signed in October 2023. The announcement came the same day Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs agreed to a $67.5 million deal, making Thursday the second consecutive day that a top running back reset the market. Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson had agreed to a three-year, $66.75 million deal earlier in the week. All three deals were struck as training camps opened across the league.
Sources: NBC Sports
Hall of Fame Class of 2026 to be Enshrined Saturday in Canton
Five NFL legends will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday in Canton, Ohio, when the Class of 2026 takes the stage at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The ceremony begins at noon ET and runs until 2:30 p.m., airing live on ESPN and NFL Network with Rich Eisen hosting alongside analyst Louis Riddick and Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. The five honorees are Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, and Adam Vinatieri. The enshrinement follows Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game, in which the Carolina Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 33-30 in the preseason opener.
Watson and Sanders Both Throw Interceptions in Cleveland’s Friday Camp Practice
The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition saw both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders throw interceptions in Friday’s training camp practice. Watson was intercepted by linebacker Quincy Williams over the middle of the field during team drills and picked off by safety Tyson Campbell in 7-on-7 work, marking his third interception in as many practices. Sanders threw a red zone pick to safety Myles Harden in 11-on-11 drills but connected with rookie receiver KC Concepcion in the end zone for the day’s lone passing touchdown in team periods. Watson has taken first-team reps while Sanders continues pushing for the starting role.
Sources: Bleacher Report
Buccaneers GM Says No Trade for Vita Vea Despite Hold-In and Agent Pushback
Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said Thursday the team has no plans to trade defensive tackle Vita Vea, despite the two-time Pro Bowl player declining to participate in training camp over an unresolved contract dispute. Vea, 31, is in the final year of a four-year extension signed in early 2022, with $18 million in base salary owed for 2026. His agent, Collin Roberts, told the Tampa Bay Times that he does not see it ending in anything but a trade. Multiple teams have contacted the Buccaneers about Vea’s availability, according to reports, while Tampa Bay maintains it intends to keep the veteran on the roster.
Sources: Pro Football Rumors
Kyler Murray Showing Edge Over J.J. McCarthy in Vikings Training Camp Battle
Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy are locked in one of the preseason’s most closely watched position battles after the team signed Murray in the offseason following his release from the Arizona Cardinals. Through the first week of camp in Eagan, the pair have alternated first-team snaps, with Murray leading the first-team offense in several sessions. Reports through August 6 suggest Murray has shown an edge over McCarthy in camp drills. The Vikings are using preseason competition to determine their Week 1 starter, with the regular season opener set for September 9. Minnesota’s preseason schedule begins August 15.
Sources: Star Tribune
Steelers CB Brandin Echols Exits Camp with Left Ankle Injury
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brandin Echols suffered a left ankle injury Thursday during a 7-on-7 drill at training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Echols went down awkwardly during the drill and remained on the ground for several minutes before walking to the end zone, where trainers iced and elevated his left ankle on a helmet. He watched the remainder of practice while standing. Echols had been taking on a larger defensive role with cornerbacks Ramsey and Porter both on the physically unable to perform list. The severity of the injury was not immediately clear, according to the Steelers’ August 6 training camp report.
Sources: Steelers Depot
American Conference Divisions
AFC East
1. Buffalo Bills — 0–0–0 — —
2. Miami Dolphins — 0–0–0 — —
3. New England Patriots — 0–0–0 — —
4. New York Jets — 0–0–0 — —
AFC North
1. Baltimore Ravens — 0–0–0 — —
2. Cincinnati Bengals — 0–0–0 — —
3. Cleveland Browns — 0–0–0 — —
4. Pittsburgh Steelers — 0–0–0 — —
AFC South
1. Houston Texans — 0–0–0 — —
2. Indianapolis Colts — 0–0–0 — —
3. Jacksonville Jaguars — 0–0–0 — —
4. Tennessee Titans — 0–0–0 — —
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos — 0–0–0 — —
2. Kansas City Chiefs — 0–0–0 — —
3. Las Vegas Raiders — 0–0–0 — —
4. Los Angeles Chargers — 0–0–0 — —
Preseason only — Regular season begins September 9, 2026. All records 0-0-0.
National Conference Divisions
NFC East
1. Dallas Cowboys — 0–0–0 — —
2. New York Giants — 0–0–0 — —
3. Philadelphia Eagles — 0–0–0 — —
4. Washington Commanders — 0–0–0 — —
NFC North
1. Chicago Bears — 0–0–0 — —
2. Detroit Lions — 0–0–0 — —
3. Green Bay Packers — 0–0–0 — —
4. Minnesota Vikings — 0–0–0 — —
NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons — 0–0–0 — —
2. Carolina Panthers — 0–0–0 — —
3. New Orleans Saints — 0–0–0 — —
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 0–0–0 — —
NFC West
1. Arizona Cardinals — 0–0–0 — —
2. Los Angeles Rams — 0–0–0 — —
3. San Francisco 49ers — 0–0–0 — —
4. Seattle Seahawks — 0–0–0 — —
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