☀️ It’s August. The NFL Hall of Fame Game is this Thursday, and the regular season is a little over a month away. If you’re preparing and/or looking forward to fantasy football, be sure to check out our 2026 draft guide on Amazon ($19.99) or as a free PDF for Fantasy Consigliere members ($14.99/month or $99/year)—which gives you player and scouting insights pro organizations use, translating seamlessly to fantasy football analysis.
💰 Camp extensions
Market-setter: After a hold-in to begin camp, the Falcons signed RB Bijan Robinson to a three-year, $75 million extension that passes the previous average value for his position (Saquon Barkley’s $20.6M) comfortably. This should also set the table for Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs to get paid and end his own hold-in.
The Eagles signed DL Jalen Carter to a record-breaking four-year, $152 million extension to make him the highest-paid interior DL in league history.
Saints WR Chris Olave signed a four-year, $132 million extension with the club—making him the latest Ohio State WR (joining Terry McLaurin, Garrett Wilson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba) to get a massive extension in the past year.
The Browns locked up two key pieces in the secondary, signing CB Denzel Ward to a two-year deal making him the highest-paid player at his position and extending S Grant Delpit on a three-year deal.
Big guys on the offensive line were also rewarded, with the Vikings agreeing to a deal with OT Brian O’Neill and the Falcons locking up G Matthew Bergeron—both on four-year deals.
Someone who doesn’t have a new contract is Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield, who says he feels “disrespected” by Tampa’s offers—with the Bucs organization said to be not happy themselves with the way Mayfield spoke about the situation.
👀 Signings, reunions, and the name to watch
Aaron Donald watch: The move that’s feeling like a foregone conclusion at this point is the former superstar Donald returning to the Rams. HC Sean McVay says if there’s an arrow on the decision “it’s trending upwards.” They won’t know until they end their away-from-home camp and return to the team facility on August 8.
Two reunions are already happening, with former 49ers All-Pro WR Deebo Samuel rejoining the team after one year in Washington. GM John Lynch says they’ll use Deebo all over the place, including at KR.
And the Texans signed their former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney, who turned down more money elsewhere to join a scary EDGE rotation headlined by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
More signings: The Lions added former All-Pro LB Devin White, and the Steelers signed S Rayshawn Jenkins while releasing S Darnell Savage.
Also, the Saints and versatile TE Taysom Hill announced that they will be parting ways. Broncos HC Sean Payton has already said there’s some interest in the team adding Hill.
🤕 Injury updates
This time of year sadly also brings plenty of injury updates. 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall is out for the season with a knee injury that requires surgery. Saints DL Bryan Bresee is out for the year with a torn ACL. And Panthers rookie WR Chris Brazell II is done for the year with an LCL tear.
Bears S Coby Bryant is set to miss eight-plus weeks with a leg injury suffered in practice.
Eagles EDGE Jonathan Greenard was placed on the PUP list with a pec injury suffered while lifting weights, but he’s not expected to miss much time.
Bengals EDGE Shemar Stewart will miss several weeks with a serious hyperextended knee, but Bengals HC Zac Taylor says they are fortunate it wasn’t worse.
As for good injury news across the league:
Ravens DL Nnamdi Madubuike passed his physical after missing most of last season due to a neck injury.
Giants WR Malik Nabers is practicing and looking really good coming off his knee injury last season.
Packers TE Tucker Kraft is back from his season-ending knee injury and says his doctor told him he’s “never seen a knee rehabilitation like mine.”
📺 CBS sidelines Tony Romo
CBS Sports put lead analyst Tony Romo on leave “until further notice” following a recent arrest for OWI in Wisconsin.
This sounds like something that will almost certainly extend to the start of the season, with CBS already announcing that J.J. Watt will join Jim Nantz in the booth while Romo is out.
There’s been talk that CBS has been looking for a way out of Romo’s massive contract, with his announcing style becoming more controversial in recent years.
However, there’s speculation that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will do what he can to ensure one of the league’s top partners in CBS doesn't move on from Romo for good.
Romo’s future at CBS Sports seems genuinely up in the air. Frankly, Watt performing well to start the season might make it an easier decision for the network.
📝 More to note around the NFL
Packers legend Ahman Green announced that he has early-onset Parkinson’s disease.
NFL retirements from the past week: Saints WR and 2024 Patriots second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk, 12-year DL Johnathan Hankins, former first-round and Pro Bowl OL Andrus Peat, and veteran CB Akhello Witherspoon.
Name change: Packers OT Zach Tom is now going by Zach Bako-Bewele.
Bears QB Caleb Williams lost 10-15 pounds this offseason and is faster.
Bengals TE Erick All Jr. comically (and fortunately he was OK) said he knew he was ready coming off his knee injury after he was hit by a vehicle on the sidewalk in Greece this offseason.
Legendary LB Luke Kuechly is the lead analyst for the NFL on Netflix, joining Noah Eagle in the booth.
NFL Top 100 latest: We’re into the top 50 players, including Bengals QB Joe Burrow.
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers unleashed on Dr. Anthony Fauci and media coverage while on The Pat McAfee Show.
Other Sports Updates
⚾️ The MLB trade deadline was headlined by the Dodgers getting even more powerful by adding back-to-back Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal from the Tigers.
🏒 Sharks star Macklin Celebrini signed the biggest contract in NHL history.
⚽️ FIFA pulled back its highly questionable proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup after major backlash.
🇺🇸 The USMNT extended HC Mauricio Pochettino through 2030.
