Samwise NFL Newsletter
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Eagles Right Tackle Lane Johnson Retires, Citing Mental Health
Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson announced his retirement on Tuesday after the team unexpectedly scratched him from Sunday’s lineup, citing “personal reasons.” In a statement on social media, Johnson wrote that he had “given it my all for 14 years” but that his personal and family priorities had changed. “Right now, it is critical that I focus on my mental health,” he wrote. Johnson, 36, is a six-time Pro Bowler, a two-time first-team All-Pro and a two-time Super Bowl champion. He started 171 career regular-season games and 15 in the postseason. The Eagles are 122-63-1 with him since drafting him in 2013 and 18-30 without him.
Sources: ProFootballTalk
Lamar Jackson Unlikely to Face Falcons with ‘Rarer Type’ of Ankle Sprain
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson appears unlikely to play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons because of a “rarer type of ankle sprain,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported. Rapoport described the injury as “unconventional” and not necessarily a low- or high-ankle sprain. Jackson sat out the entire second half of Baltimore’s 24-18 win over the Tennessee Titans. Backup Tyler Huntley now appears to be trending toward the Week 5 start. The Ravens are expected to take a week-by-week approach with Jackson, who is not believed to be at risk of a long-term absence but could sit out more than one game, depending on his rehab.
Sources: CBS Sports
Referees Union to Challenge Suspensions of Adrian Hill and Jeff Seeman
The NFL Referees Association said Tuesday it will challenge the severity of the league’s suspensions of two game officials following incidents this past weekend. Referee Adrian Hill was suspended one game for his interaction with Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson, and line judge Jeff Seeman was suspended two games for comments he made to Cardinals tight end Trey McBride. In a statement, the union called the suspensions “excessive and inconsistent with past precedent” and said it will meet with the NFL Officiating Department and with NFL Players Association leadership. NFLRA executive director Scott Green said, “Accountability matters, but that should not result in discipline that is excessive.”
Sources: ProFootballTalk
Winless Chargers Could Shop Khalil Mack Before Trade Deadline
The Los Angeles Chargers have started 0-4 for the first time since 2017 and are just the third team in NFL history to start 0-4 after back-to-back 11-win seasons, CBS Sports reported. Los Angeles went 11-6 in each of the past two seasons under Jim Harbaugh. The offense ranks fourth-worst in scoring at 16.8 points per game, and Justin Herbert is completing a career-low 59.7% of his passes with four touchdowns and six interceptions. CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani wrote that the slow start could force the Chargers to move expiring contracts before the Nov. 10 deadline, naming 35-year-old pass rusher Khalil Mack as a candidate.
Sources: CBS Sports
Jim Harbaugh Calls Question on Herbert’s Protection ‘More Like an Insult’
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh bristled at his Monday press conference when ESPN reporter Kris Rhim asked why the team has not been able to better protect quarterback Justin Herbert amid its 0-4 start. Harbaugh had praised Herbert for continuing to play tough after taking hard hits on Sunday. Rhim noted that Harbaugh’s charge on arriving was to get Herbert protected. “Yeah, that just sounds more like an insult than it does a question,” Harbaugh replied, before calling Herbert “an amazing inspiration” whom he has never seen flinch. When Rhim said he did not think the question had been answered, Harbaugh responded, “I think I did.”
Sources: ProFootballTalk
Seahawks Decide Not to Sign Joe Mixon After Physical
The Seattle Seahawks decided not to sign two-time Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon after he took a physical on Tuesday, according to a report cited by CBS Sports. Seattle had hosted Mixon for a workout on Monday and considered adding him to its practice squad. The defending Super Bowl champions, now 3-1, have a depth issue at running back: Zach Charbonnet is not ready after tearing his ACL in January, and first-round rookie Jadarian Price went on injured reserve with a chest injury. Mixon, now 30, missed the entire 2025 season with a foot injury. In 2024, he ran for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Houston Texans.
Sources: CBS Sports
Ravens Tight End Durham Smythe Out for Season with Torn Achilles
Baltimore Ravens tight end Durham Smythe suffered a torn Achilles on Sunday and is out for the season, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. An MRI confirmed the injury. In his first season with the Ravens, Smythe had started all four games, playing 50 percent of the offensive snaps and 28 percent of the special teams snaps. Used mainly as a blocking tight end, he had caught one pass for 4 yards. Smythe spent last season in Chicago under Declan Doyle, who is now Baltimore’s offensive coordinator. A fourth-round pick in 2018, Smythe has appeared in 133 games with 80 starts for the Dolphins, Bears and Ravens.
Sources: ProFootballTalk
Giants Returner Braxton Berrios Needs Season-Ending Surgery
New York Giants kick returner Braxton Berrios announced on Instagram that he needs surgery to fix his foot/ankle injury, ending his season. “Two of my last three seasons ended this way, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t miserable right now,” Berrios wrote. He added that it felt as though everything he had poured into the last nine months was “gone in the blink of an eye,” before closing with, “Time to rebuild.” The Giants had signed Berrios to the active roster after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. Berrios averaged 2.5 yards on four punts and 27.6 yards on five kickoffs. Charlie Jones replaced him against the Cardinals.
Sources: ProFootballTalk
AFC Standings
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC East | |||
| Buffalo Bills | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| New England Patriots | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| New York Jets | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| AFC North | |||
| Cleveland Browns | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| AFC South | |||
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Tennessee Titans | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Houston Texans | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| AFC West | |||
| Kansas City Chiefs | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Denver Broncos | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 0 | 4 | 0 |
NFC Standings
| Team | W | L | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFC East | |||
| New York Giants | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Washington Commanders | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| NFC North | |||
| Minnesota Vikings | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Chicago Bears | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Detroit Lions | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Green Bay Packers | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| NFC South | |||
| Carolina Panthers | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| NFC West | |||
| San Francisco 49ers | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1 | 3 | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency