Samwise NFL Newsletter
Monday, August 24, 2026
Seahawks Lose Rookie Safety Bud Clark to Broken Ankle, OL Richman to Long-Term Injury in Preseason Loss
The Seattle Seahawks suffered two significant long-term injuries during Sunday night’s preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans. Safety Bud Clark, the 64th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, broke his right ankle on the team’s very first defensive snap and was carted off with an air cast on his leg before the game’s first series concluded. Separately, second-year offensive lineman Mason Richman, who started at left guard, exited on the opening drive with what coach Mike Macdonald described as a major, long-term injury. Macdonald confirmed both players are expected to miss multiple months, dealing a heavy blow to the team’s secondary and offensive line depth.
Sources: ESPN, NBC Sports
Browns Name Deshaun Watson Starting Quarterback for Week 1 Over Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns have named veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson their Week 1 starter over rookie Shedeur Sanders for the September 13 season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Watson, who missed all of 2025 recovering from two Achilles injuries, outperformed Sanders in the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears, completing 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards with a 98.2 passer rating while Watson’s offense accounted for all 10 of Cleveland’s points. Sanders, a fifth-round pick in 2025, completed 6 of 11 passes for 79 yards with an interception in the same game and falls short of the starting job for now.
Ashton Jeanty Believed to Have Sprained Ankle After Scary Practice Exit for Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty exited Sunday’s practice after suffering an apparent right leg injury, creating immediate concern for the second-year back selected fifth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Jeanty went down after diving for a catch and landing awkwardly on his right leg during team drills, and was unable to put weight on his leg as he left the field. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Jeanty is believed to have sprained his ankle rather than sustained a more serious structural injury. If Jeanty misses time, rookie Mike Washington, who has impressed during the preseason, would step into the starting role for Las Vegas.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, Bleacher Report
Chargers Lose Starting Center Tyler Biadasz to Season-Ending Knee Injury
The Los Angeles Chargers placed starting center Tyler Biadasz on season-ending injured reserve Sunday after he suffered significant damage to his ACL and left knee during a joint training camp practice with the San Francisco 49ers. Defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez fell into Biadasz’s leg during an 11-on-11 drill, causing the severe injury. Biadasz, 28, had signed a three-year, $30 million contract with Los Angeles in March following his release from the Washington Commanders and was the centerpiece of the team’s interior offensive line overhaul. Second-round pick Jake Slaughter is expected to step into the starting center role.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, NBC Sports
Texans WR Jayden Higgins Tears ACL, Will Miss Entire 2026 Season
Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins will miss the entire 2026 NFL season after tearing his ACL during a joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders on August 20. Higgins fell while running a route in the end zone during red zone drills and left the field under his own power before the diagnosis was confirmed. The 23-year-old was selected by Houston in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, playing in 17 games last season and recording 41 catches for 525 yards and six touchdowns. He had been listed alongside Nico Collins and Xavier Hutchinson as a starting wide receiver on Houston’s first unofficial depth chart.
Sources: CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports
49ers Stars Return: George Kittle Activated Off PUP List, McCaffrey Back in Team Drills
The San Francisco 49ers received a significant boost Sunday when tight end George Kittle was activated off the physically unable to perform list and running back Christian McCaffrey returned to team drills for the first time since August 10. Kittle, who tore his right Achilles in January, was cleared by the team’s medical staff in the most significant step yet in his recovery, ensuring he will definitely play in the season’s first four weeks. McCaffrey had been sidelined with lower-body tightness before being cleared for carries in the team period. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said having both players back provided a noticeable boost to the offense.
Sources: ESPN, Fox Sports
Geno Smith Leads Perfect Opening Drive as Jets Blank Steelers 17-0 in Preseason Week 2
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith delivered a flawless preseason performance Friday night, completing all seven of his throws including a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jelani Woods as the Jets defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-0 in preseason Week 2. Smith, 35, showed precision and mobility in the pocket before head coach Aaron Glenn pulled him after the perfect opening drive, satisfied with what he had seen from his veteran signal-caller. Rookie Cade Klubnik took over for the remainder of the game, completing 10 of 14 passes for 75 yards across five drives but failing to score and generating only four plays in Steelers territory.
Sources: CBS Sports
Bo Nix Makes Successful Return in Broncos Preseason Week 2 After January Ankle Injury
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix returned to game action in preseason Week 2 on Friday, playing for the first time since breaking his ankle in the AFC divisional-round victory over the Buffalo Bills in January. Nix received limited snaps as the team managed his workload on a restricted count ahead of Denver’s regular season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. The second-year quarterback is expected to be fully healthy by the time the regular season begins, and the Broncos are taking a cautious approach with his return to ensure no setbacks occur before the Week 1 divisional matchup with Kansas City.
Sources: CBS Sports, ESPN
49ers WR Ricky Pearsall Out for 2026 Season After Rare PCL Surgery
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall underwent rare posterior cruciate ligament surgery and will miss the entire 2026 NFL season, the team confirmed. Pearsall began experiencing persistent swelling in his right knee during the first week of training camp, aggravating a PCL injury originally sustained during the 2025 season. Most isolated PCL injuries heal without surgery, making Pearsall’s procedure medically unusual. His recovery timeline of approximately nine months means he is targeting a return for 2027 offseason activities, including organized team activities. The loss further depletes San Francisco’s receiving corps, with the team already adjusting as it prepares for its 2026 season opener.
Sources: CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports
Browns Place DE Alex Wright on Season-Ending IR with Ruptured Achilles, Sign Derek Barnett
The Cleveland Browns placed starting defensive end Alex Wright on season-ending injured reserve Sunday after he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during a joint practice against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday. Wright was carted off the field during a one-on-one drill against Bills offensive tackle Spencer Brown. To add pass-rush depth, Cleveland signed veteran defensive end Derek Barnett to a one-year deal worth up to $5.5 million. Barnett, 30, was originally a first-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2017 NFL Draft and has also played for the Houston Texans. He joins the Browns as they prepare for their September 13 season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Sources: ESPN, Pro Football Rumors
American Football Conference
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. Kansas City Chiefs — 0–0–0
2. Denver Broncos — 0–0–0
3. Las Vegas Raiders — 0–0–0
4. Los Angeles Chargers — 0–0–0
National Football Conference
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles — 0–0–0
2. Dallas Cowboys — 0–0–0
3. New York Giants — 0–0–0
4. Washington Commanders — 0–0–0
NFC North
1. Detroit Lions — 0–0–0
2. Green Bay Packers — 0–0–0
3. Minnesota Vikings — 0–0–0
4. Chicago Bears — 0–0–0
NFC South
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 0–0–0
2. Atlanta Falcons — 0–0–0
3. Carolina Panthers — 0–0–0
4. New Orleans Saints — 0–0–0
NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers — 0–0–0
2. Los Angeles Rams — 0–0–0
3. Seattle Seahawks — 0–0–0
4. Arizona Cardinals — 0–0–0
Preseason only — 2026 regular season begins September 9. All teams 0–0 heading into Week 1.
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