Samwise NFL Newsletter
Thursday, August 27, 2026
NFL Owners Unanimously Approve $9.6 Billion Sale of Seattle Seahawks to Khosla Family
The NFL's 32 team owners voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve the sale of the Seattle Seahawks to a group led by venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and his wife Neeru, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced. The deal, valued at $9.612 billion, is a record for an NFL franchise, surpassing the $6.05 billion paid for the Washington Commanders in 2023. Under the approved ownership structure, Neeru Khosla will serve as the controlling owner. The sale transfers the franchise from the Paul G. Allen Estate after 29 years of family ownership and is expected to be finalized within the next week.
NFL and NFLPA Announce New Three-Strike Safety Suspension Rule for 2026 Season
The NFL and NFLPA announced a new discipline system Wednesday targeting five emphasized on-field safety violations: hip-drop tackles, horse-collar tackles, launching, hits on defenseless players, and blindside blocks. Under the updated accountability framework, any player who commits three of these violations in a single season will receive a one-game suspension. Players who commit only one violation will have 50 percent of their fine returned at season's end. Teams with excessive violations face increased financial penalties, and coaches will be required to join players approaching the suspension threshold in meetings with the league.
Sources: CBS Sports
Falcons Keep QB Competition Open as Penix Sits Preseason Finale, Tua to Start
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will not play in Friday's preseason finale against the Miami Dolphins, leaving the team's Week 1 starter undecided. Penix, who required surgery after tearing his ACL for the third time last season, was medically cleared last Saturday but has participated in only three full-team practice sessions. Tua Tagovailoa, who signed with Atlanta after being released by Miami, will start Friday's game. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said he is best served keeping it day to day, declining to name a starter before the regular season begins.
Sources: News/Talk 1130 WISN
Kirk Cousins Holds Clear Edge Over Fernando Mendoza in Las Vegas Raiders QB Competition
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has not named a starting quarterback for Week 1, but Kirk Cousins holds a clear edge over No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza after training camp and preseason action. Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner from Indiana, signed a four-year fully guaranteed rookie contract worth $57.27 million and went 8-for-15 for 86 yards with an interception against Houston in the Week 2 preseason. Kubiak assessed Mendoza as an improving player but noted there is plenty to clean up and plenty to get better at as the Raiders approach the regular season.
Sources: CBS Sports
NFL Teams Face 53-Man Roster Deadline Sunday with Major Cut Decisions Looming
NFL teams must reduce their rosters to 53 players by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 30, with an estimated 1,184 players set to lose roster spots across the league. Preseason Week 3 games this weekend represent the final major audition for bubble players. Among those facing uncertain futures are Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis, Buffalo Bills edge rusher Mike Danna and wide receiver Mecole Hardman, and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Andy Dalton, with Tanner McKee outperforming him through training camp. The waiver wire following Sunday's deadline is expected to produce significant movement.
Sources: Bleacher Report
Final Preseason Tune-Up Opens Thursday as Roster Cuts Loom Sunday
The NFL's final preseason weekend begins Thursday, August 27, with 16 games spread across three days, giving coaches their last extended look at bubble players before Sunday's 53-man cutdown deadline. Thursday's four-game slate includes a Steelers-Bills matchup in Buffalo and an intriguing 49ers-Raiders game in Las Vegas that showcases both teams' offseason changes. Coaches will balance giving backup players meaningful reps while protecting starters ahead of the regular season. All teams must finalize their 53-man rosters by 6 p.m. ET on August 30, with the 2026 regular season set to begin September 9.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Giants WR Calvin Austin III Suffers Torn ACL in Practice, Out for 2026 Season
New York Giants wide receiver Calvin Austin III will miss the entire 2026 season after suffering a torn ACL in Tuesday's practice, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. Austin, who signed with the Giants after three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, went down during a 1-on-1 drill and was carted off the field with a right knee injury. During his Pittsburgh tenure, he caught 84 passes for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns. The injury leaves New York's receiving corps shorthanded heading into the regular season, with the 53-man roster cutdown deadline arriving on August 30.
Buccaneers Rookie Rueben Bain Jr. Avoids Serious Injury, AC Sprain Expected to Clear for Week 1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. suffered an AC joint sprain during Tuesday's joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars but is expected to be ready for Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to ESPN and Pro Football Talk. Bain, a first-round pick selected 15th overall out of the University of Miami in the 2026 NFL Draft, sustained the injury during the session. The team does not believe the injury is serious, providing relief for a Buccaneers defense counting on the rookie to contribute immediately. Tampa Bay opens the regular season in Cincinnati on September 13.
Sources: Pro Football Talk
AFC Divisions
Regular season begins September 9, 2026
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. Las Vegas Raiders — 0–0–0
3. Los Angeles Chargers — 0–0–0
4. Denver Broncos — 0–0–0
NFC Divisions
Preseason Week 3 underway
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
Every newsletter preserved and searchable
Curated by JD · samwise.agency