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NFL Hall of Fame Making Big Changes to Selection Process
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has made sweeping changes to its selection process that include a significant reduction in the number of selectors and the elimination of the separate Seniors category, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN. The board of selectors will be reduced from 50 to 28, as 25 members of the selection committee will be voting members, plus three alternates. There will no longer be at least one selector in each of the home markets of the 32 NFL teams. All players will now be considered in one pool rather than split into either "modern era" or "seniors." The Hall of Fame's class and voting procedures were scrutinized particularly heavily after former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was not selected in his first year of eligibility. "The Hall continually reviews its bylaws to ensure the selection process reflects the highest standards of integrity and the magnitude of election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame," Hall of Fame president and CEO Jim Porter said. "There is no more important task at the Hall of Fame than the election of each new class."
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Legwold
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Legwold
Seahawks Release Trevon Diggs, Hope to Bring Him Back on Practice Squad
The Seattle Seahawks have released veteran cornerback Trevon Diggs. However, general manager John Schneider told Gregg Bell of The Seattle Times that he hopes to re-sign Diggs to the practice squad. Schneider noted that Diggs continues to acclimate to the Seahawks' defense, and he added that the players and coaching staff "love him." Before he signed his contract less than two weeks ago, Diggs had not worn full pads since January. Across nine games with Dallas and Green Bay last year, he logged 27 tackles, including one tackle for loss. Diggs has declined significantly since the early portion of his career, when he made back-to-back Pro Bowls. In fact, in 2021, he was named a First Team All-Pro with an NFL-leading 11 interceptions. Assuming he does return to the Seahawks as a practice squad player, he'll be a candidate for elevation to the 53-man roster once the regular season gets underway. He might not be a defensive starter for the reigning Super Bowl champions, but he'll at least offer a solid veteran presence.
Source: Gregg Bell
Source: Gregg Bell
Nnamdi Madubuike Avoids Injured Reserve
Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) appears on the team's initial 53-man roster, which means that he was not placed on injured reserve. As a result, he'll be eligible to play in the Ravens' first four games this season, although it remains uncertain whether he'll be available for Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts. The former Pro Bowler continues to work his way back from a very serious cervical neck injury that he suffered during Baltimore's second game last season. Prior to that, though, he had played every game for three consecutive seasons from 2022 through 2024. Between 2023 and 2024, he amassed 99 tackles, 19.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He ranked as a top-12 defensive tackle in IDP leagues during both of those seasons.
Source: Jamison Hensley
Source: Jamison Hensley
Joey Porter Jr. Activated From PUP List
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (back) has been activated from the PUP list and is officially on the team's initial 53-man roster. Porter missed all of training camp, and prior to suffering the injury, he had been seeking a new contract. It's unclear whether those talks will continue into the regular season, but the good news is that it doesn't seem like Porter has any plans to let his contract status impact his availability. He should be on the field for the Steelers' season opener against the Falcons on September 13, lining up alongside fellow projected starting cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Jalen Ramsey.
Source: Pittsburgh Steelers
Source: Pittsburgh Steelers
Micah Parsons Placed on PUP List, Out Four Games
Green Bay Packers linebacker Micah Parsons (knee) has been moved to the reserve/PUP list, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. As a result, Parsons will miss the first four games of the regular season, although it has been widely reported that he's targeting Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys for his return, barring a setback. Parsons is working his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 15 of the 2025 season, just a couple of months after being traded from Dallas to Green Bay. Across 14 games last year, he amassed 41 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Now 27, Parsons will offer a major boost to the Packers' defense in a competitive NFC North once he's healthy enough to play. Brenton Cox and Barryn Sorrell are early candidates to earn more defensive snaps in his absence.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Aaron Donald Returns to the Rams on a One-Year Deal
The Los Angeles Rams have signed defensive tackle Aaron Donald to a one-year deal worth $20 million, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The deal could pay him up to $30 million with potential incentives. Donald is coming out of retirement and will return to the team where he played 10 seasons from 2014 to 2023. During his first stint in Los Angeles, he tallied 111 sacks and 24 forced fumbles. He made the Pro Bowl in all 10 seasons, was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014, won three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and was an eight-time First Team All-Pro. One of the greatest defensive players of this century, Donald will join forces with fellow superstar Myles Garrett, who was traded from the Browns to the Rams this past offseason. All of a sudden, the Rams D/ST is back to being the #1 unit in fantasy football.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Seahawks Officially Sign Terrion Arnold
The Seattle Seahawks have officially signed cornerback Terrion Arnold, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The former first-round pick was released by the Detroit Lions late in June after he was arrested and faced eight felony charges, including robbery and kidnapping. Arnold will now be placed on the commissioner's exempt list, which means he will be unable to practice or play with the team. As a result, Arnold is not expected to be part of the Seahawks' 53-man roster when the team has to drop to that number on Sunday. If Arnold gets to play, it would be a major addition to the reigning Super Bowl Champions' defensive secondary and create one of the best cornerback duos in the league alongside Devon Witherspoon. It would allow Mike Macdonald to get more creative on defense and make it a nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators to scheme receivers open.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Travis Hunter Going Undrafted in Some Fantasy Leagues
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter has been used "almost exclusively" on defense over the last two weeks, according to John Shipley of The Prowler Podcast. This is consistent with reporting we've seen throughout the entire offseason that indicated Hunter would primarily be used at cornerback in 2026. There was a brief window during training camp where Hunter had been splitting wide receiver reps with Brian Thomas Jr., but it sounds like he's shifting his focus to defense as the regular season gets closer. At this point, managers should not expect Hunter to have any consistent playing time on offense as long as Thomas, Parker Washington, and Jakobi Meyers are healthy. Hunter has fallen to WR81 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings, making him borderline undraftable in most leagues. Speaking of his draft stock, the Colorado product currently has an ADP of 178, which makes him a late 15th-round pick in fantasy football. He's going undrafted in many 10-team leagues, and plenty of 12-team formats, too.
Source: John Shipley
Source: John Shipley
Players Leaving for NCAA Can't Return to NFL in 2026 Season
The NFL informed its clubs on Wednesday that any player who returns to the college ranks will be prohibited from signing with an NFL team this season, according to ESPN. The league also reminded teams of the rule that any player signed to an NFL contract who is subsequently cut is a free agent. Those players can sign with another NFL team, join the CFL, or return to college. Any player cut by an NFL team who returns to the college ranks in 2026 will still be considered a free agent and therefore not subject to a future draft. Two NFL players, Cleveland's Dae'Quan Wright and New Orleans' Zxavian Harris, were cut by their respective teams to join the roster at LSU. A court order has recently granted players like Wright and Harris an unexpected extra year of eligibility. Players can regain their college eligibility if they terminate their NFL contracts and repay any pro earnings. After the recent court order, the SEC and Big Ten approved new rules on Tuesday that prevent players from leaving the NFL to join college teams.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
NFL Pro Bowl to be Eliminated
The NFL Pro Bowl will no longer have a standalone game or games, be it tackle or flag football, according to The Athletic. Eighty-eight players will receive the Pro Bowl honor with no alternates, which will corral a key aspect of the All-Star event that had "gotten out of whack in recent years." In place of the games, Pro Bowlers will be invited to visit Los Angeles for an in-person celebration in February. The process of selecting Pro Bowlers will stay the same. Ballots cast by fans, players, and coaches are weighted equally to determine the selections of the 88 players on offense, defense, and special teams across both conferences. "You start doing it over and over again, and now what we've compromised on becomes the standard," NFL vice president of football operations Troy Vincent Sr. told The Athletic. "And that is not the product the fans deserve nor the way the players want to be celebrated." The biggest issue for the Pro Bowl recently has been the lack of competitiveness in the game.
Source: The Athletic - Jonathan Jones
Source: The Athletic - Jonathan Jones
Ravens Don't Have "Definitive Answer" on Nnamdi Madubuike's Status
The Baltimore Ravens don't have a "definitive answer" regarding defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike's (neck) availability for Week 1, head coach Jesse Minter told Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. The team isn't sure whether there will be enough time for him to get ready over the next couple of weeks, and at the moment, they're just focusing on the defender's day-to-day improvement. A serious neck injury limited Madubuike to just two games last year, but he has been productive in years past, such as when he recorded 99 tackles, 19.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles between 2023 and 2024. Madubuike, a 2020 third-round pick out of Texas A&M, is expected to be a key piece of the Ravens' defense this year, but as it stands, there's a real chance he misses the team's season opener Sept. 13 against the Colts.
Source: Jeff Zrebiec
Source: Jeff Zrebiec
Steelers at Contract "Impasse" with Joey Porter Jr.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (back) have reached an "impasse" in contract negotiations, head coach Mike McCarthy told Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. Porter is currently on the PUP list, and while his back injury isn't expected to linger into the regular season, the contract issue could have an impact on his workload for Week 1. The 26-year-old defender is coming off a solid season in which he tallied 52 tackles, one sack, and one interception across 14 games. McCarthy said that he hopes to have the opportunity to coach Porter soon, and teammate Jalen Ramsey also delivered public comments in which he said the Steelers "[have] got to pay" the Penn State product. We'll see if that comes to fruition within the next couple of weeks, though. If not, there's no guarantee that Porter suits up for the Steelers' season opener Sept. 13 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Source: Brooke Pryor
Source: Brooke Pryor
Myles Garrett Misses Practice on Monday
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett (knee) did not practice on Monday, according to Stu Jackson of the team's official website. The extent of Garrett's injury is unknown, but head coach Sean McVay did say that the star defender is "doing good." The 30-year-old was traded from the Browns to the Rams during the offseason, offering a major boost to Los Angeles' Super Bowl-caliber roster. Last year in Cleveland, he amassed 60 tackles, three forced fumbles, and a career-high 23 sacks. He was the top-scoring defensive lineman in fantasy football, in addition to setting a new NFL single-season sack record. Fortunately, it doesn't sound like Garrett's injury is too serious, so he should be able to play in the Rams' season opener Sept. 10 against the San Francisco 49ers.
Source: Stu Jackson
Source: Stu Jackson
49ers Owner Arrested on Disorderly Conduct and Possessing Criminal Tools
San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York was arrested over the weekend and found guilty of two misdemeanor charges, according to WKBN 27 News. York pleaded no contest on Monday morning to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools. He was already sentenced to two days in jail and $1,150 in fines. After his arrest, York will presumably be subject to NFL discipline under the personal-conduct policy. Columbiana County Municipal Court records show that York was initially taken into custody on a charge of engaging in prostitution, but that charge was later dropped.
Source: WKBN 27 News - Josh Frketic, Kristen Hephner, and Laurel Stone
Source: WKBN 27 News - Josh Frketic, Kristen Hephner, and Laurel Stone
Bills Brass Happy With New Field After Preseason Opener
The Buffalo Bills' new Highmark Stadium showed signs of wear and tear before, during, and after the team's preseason opener on Saturday against the Carolina Panthers, but president Pete Guelli is not worried about the grass field. "From a playability and safety perspective, everybody's very happy," Guelli said. "It's Year 1. So it's a brand new field, and it's going to take time for the foundation to build up. So some of the things people saw in the game, those will dissipate over time." "Our grounds people were aware that was a possibility. Until it actually happens in a game as the field is maturing and the root system is setting, those things can happen," Guelli said about the field getting torn up. The Bills' new stadium has been criticized on social media based on seats with obstructed views by guardrails and stairs. With the move to a new stadium, the Bills switched from artificial turf to grass, with their old surface routinely panned by Bills players for being among the league's worst. The team went with Kentucky bluegrass, and it was also installed on the team's practice field.
Source: The Associated Press
Source: The Associated Press
