Samwise NFL Newsletter
Friday, September 4, 2026
NFL Heads to Melbourne, Australia for First-Ever Regular Season Game
The NFL will stage its first-ever regular season game in Australia on September 10, when the San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Kickoff is set for 5:35 p.m. PT Thursday — Friday morning local time in Melbourne — with the Rams designated as the home team and the 49ers traveling as the visiting team. The game streams exclusively on Netflix, with Noah Eagle on play-by-play and 2026 Hall of Fame inductee Luke Kuechly making his broadcast analyst debut. The 49ers departed for the journey ahead of the historic matchup, which marks a significant milestone in the NFL’s international expansion efforts.
Bears Stars Rome Odunze, D’Andre Swift Exit Practice with Apparent Injuries
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze and running back D’Andre Swift both left Thursday’s practice early with apparent injuries, raising concern just days before the 2026 NFL season opens. Odunze, who appeared to sustain a right-leg injury, initially tried to remain in practice during an install period before trainers pulled him out. Swift appeared to sustain an injury to his midsection and was seen in significant discomfort. Head coach Ben Johnson is not scheduled to speak with media again until next week, meaning the severity of either injury may remain unknown until Wednesday’s first official injury report. Reports indicate both players reportedly avoided the worst.
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times
Arizona Cardinals Lock Up WR Michael Wilson With Three-Year, $75M Extension
The Arizona Cardinals and receiver Michael Wilson have agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $75 million, with $47 million guaranteed and a maximum value of $78 million. The deal ties Wilson to Arizona through the 2029 season. Wilson, a 2023 third-round pick, broke out in 2025 with his first 1,000-yard season, catching 78 passes for seven touchdowns on a career-high 126 targets. He enters the 2026 season as the Cardinals’ most reliable receiver outside of tight end Trey McBride. The extension reflects the organization’s confidence in Wilson as a foundational piece of the offense moving forward.
Sources: Pro Football Rumors
NFL Plans Powerful 9/11 Tributes, $1M Donation for Week 1 Games
The NFL will honor the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks with a series of tributes across all Week 1 games, which run from September 9 through September 14. All stadiums will feature “Never Forget” end zone stencils, and pregame officials will use special commemorative coins for the opening toss, which will later be auctioned to benefit charitable partners. The NFL Foundation, alongside the New York Giants, Jets, and Washington Commanders, has pledged a joint $1 million donation to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. The foundation is also donating $250,000 to 9/11 Day, the nonprofit behind the National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Will Levis Clears Waivers, New York Jets Work Out Former Titans QB
Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis went unclaimed on waivers after being released as the team cut its roster to 53 players, becoming a free agent. Levis, a 2023 second-round pick, missed the entire 2025 season following shoulder surgery, and the Titans moved in a new direction by selecting Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft. No team placed a waiver claim on Levis, according to multiple reports. The New York Jets subsequently worked out Levis alongside quarterback Jack Plummer on September 3, with a potential practice squad spot available for the former Kentucky standout.
Sources: NBC Sports
Patriots Visit Seahawks in Super Bowl LX Rematch to Open 2026 NFL Season
The 2026 NFL regular season opens Wednesday, September 9, at 8:20 p.m. ET when the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field, broadcast on NBC and Peacock. The game is a rematch of Super Bowl LX, in which Seattle defeated New England 29-13 on February 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. The Seahawks enter as 3.5-point favorites. It marks the first Wednesday season opener since 2012, with the league shifting the schedule to accommodate the international slate including the 49ers-Rams Melbourne game later in the week. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, the reigning AP Coach of the Year, coaches his first game since an eventful offseason.
Sources: Yahoo Sports
Rams Enter 2026 as Super Bowl LXI Favorites With Donald and Garrett Headlining Defense
The Los Angeles Rams enter the 2026 NFL season as Super Bowl LXI favorites at +550 odds. The Rams boast 2025 NFL MVP Matthew Stafford at quarterback and one of the league’s most formidable defensive fronts, anchored by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who came out of retirement to sign a one-year, $20 million deal. Cornerback Trent McDuffie, a two-time Super Bowl winner, also joined the defense. Wide receiver Puka Nacua returned to practice after missing time with a groin injury and is expected to play in the Melbourne game against the 49ers on September 10.
Sources: Sports Illustrated
George Kittle on Track for Week 1 Return From Achilles Injury in Australia
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is trending toward a return for the team’s season opener against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia on September 10, after tearing his Achilles tendon during the team’s playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles in January. Kittle visited surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles and received an encouraging update, with his recovery described as ahead of schedule. He is expected to be removed from the physically unable to perform list before Week 1, and said there is “a chance” he could be available for the Melbourne game. Kittle has reportedly hit every benchmark the team set for his rehabilitation.
Sources: CBS Sports
AFC Standings
Regular season begins September 9 — all teams 0–0–0
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC East | |||
| Buffalo Bills | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New England Patriots | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New York Jets | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AFC North | |||
| Baltimore Ravens | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cleveland Browns | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AFC South | |||
| Houston Texans | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tennessee Titans | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AFC West | |||
| Kansas City Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Denver Broncos | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NFC Standings
Week 1 kicks off September 9 in Seattle
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFC East | |||
| Dallas Cowboys | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New York Giants | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington Commanders | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NFC North | |||
| Detroit Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chicago Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NFC South | |||
| New Orleans Saints | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carolina Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NFC West | |||
| Seattle Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency