Lamar Jackson avoids a serious injury
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said that quarterback Lamar Jackson was able to avoid a serious injury after X-rays showed no damage was done to his foot during yesterday’s practice, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. Despite this news, Jackson was still held out of today’s practice.
“He’s going to be good,” Harbaugh said. “It was a big relief. I told the guys, ‘Prayers do get answered.’ I was praying.”
The Bucs activate two stars
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced that All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs and wide receiver Chris Godwin are being activated off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, meaning they will both open the season on the 53-man roster but are not expected to play right away. Had they started the year on the PUP list, both players would’ve been forced to miss Tampa Bay’s first four regular-season games.
While speaking to reporters, Todd Bowles said that Godwin has “got to get in football shape,” even though he “won’t play early on.” Bowles added that Wirfs needs to approach his injury rehabilitation in “the same way.”
An update on Indy’s QB situation
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that quarterback Anthony Richardson will not play in the team’s final preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to NFL.com. This announcement comes just two days after Daniel Jones was named the Colts’ starting quarterback for the 2025-26 regular season.
The Saints, Browns, Chargers, and Seahawks make quarterback decisions
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore said that Spencer Rattler will be the starting quarterback for the team’s preseason finale on Saturday against the Denver Broncos, with rookie QB Tyler Shough lined up to play after him. Moore also said that he will decide on the Week One starter after this weekend’s game.
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that quarterback Joe Flacco will start the team’s last preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. Also, rookie Dillon Gabriel will be the second-stringer behind Flacco. As long as he doesn’t face any injury setbacks, Shedeur Sanders will be the third QB available in the game.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that quarterback Trey Lance will start this weekend against the San Francisco 49ers. He will eventually be replaced by Taylor Heinicke.
Not only will rookie quarterback Jalen Milroe get the start for the Seattle Seahawks, but head coach Mike Macdonald said the third-round draft pick will play the whole game against the Green Bay Packers.
Miami will play its starters, Tampa won’t
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is planning to play the team’s starters in their preseason finale on Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The same could not be said for the Buccaneers, who will not be playing any starters this weekend, said Todd Bowles.
A frenzy of trades
Following the Jets’ acquisition of Jowon Briggs, Gang Green also traded sixth-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027 to the Minnesota Vikings for defensive tackle Harrison Phillips and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Yesterday, the Denver Broncos announced that they had traded wide receiver Devaughn Vele to the New Orleans Saints for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
The Kansas City Chiefs are trading former second-round pick and wide receiver Skyy Moore, as well as a 2027 seventh-round pick, to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2027 sixth-round pick, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo, and Tom Pelissero.
Josh Allen will sit out the last preseason game
Buffalo Bills starting quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen will not play in the Bills’ third preseason game against the Buccaneers. This is the first time in Allen’s eight-year career that he hasn’t played in any of the Bills’ preseason games.
Notable injuries and injury updates
Baltimore Ravens
Carolina Panthers
- Starting tight end Tommy Tremble was activated off the PUP list.
Cleveland Browns
- Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward missed practice and is still considered day-to-day as he deals with a shoulder issue.
Detroit Lions
- Offensive lineman Graham Glasgow is being evaluated for a lower leg injury after leaving practice early.
Green Bay Packers
- All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney, who has been dealing with a calf injury, practiced for the first time since August 6th.
Indianapolis Colts
- Former Pro Bowl defensive lineman DeForest Buckner has missed the last few days of practice due to a back injury.
- Wideout Josh Downs was once again sidelined during practice as he battles a hamstring issue.
- Safety Nick Cross, who has a hip injury, participated in individual drills on Wednesday.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Travis Hunter, the number-two overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, once again missed practice due to an upper-body injury. However, head coach Liam Coen said that Hunter would have participated if it were the regular season.
Los Angeles Chargers
- Wide receiver and 2025 second-round draft pick Tre Harris was unable to participate in team drills today because of an undisclosed injury.
Los Angeles Rams
- Matthew Stafford has been a full participant at practice this week, and head coach Sean McVay said that he “looked like the stud we know.”
Miami Dolphins
- Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, the 13th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
- Cornerback Kendall Sheffield will be out for at most a week as he deals with a soft-tissue injury.
New Orleans Saints
- Offensive tackle and 2024 first-round draft pick Taliese Fuaga was held out of practice with a knee issue.
San Francisco 49ers
- Wideout Russell Gage Jr. could miss seven to ten days with an MCL sprain.
Washington Commanders
- Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota plans to be available for the regular-season opener on September 7th, even though he has been dealing with Achilles tendonitis.
