First, Bijan Robinson signed an extension. Then, it was Jonathan Taylor. Now, it’s Jahmyr Gibbs — and the Detroit Lions star is making history with his deal. 

Gibbs has agreed to a three-year, $67.75 million extension with $51.5 million guaranteed with the Lions, NFL Network reported on Thursday. With a $22.5 million average annual value, Gibbs is now the highest-paid running back in NFL history. The contract could reportedly be worth up to $75.75 million. 

This deal comes mere hours after the Colts reportedly signed Taylor to a two-year, $44 million extension and two days after the Falcons signed Robinson to a three-year, $66.75 million extension ($22.25 million AAV), which made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history at the time. 

Gibbs, a Pro Bowler in each of his three seasons in the NFL (2023-25), has rushed for 1,317.5 yards and 14.5 touchdowns per year on 5.3 yards per carry over the last two seasons (2024-25). Over that span, he has also averaged 64.5 receptions for 566.5 yards and 4.5 touchdowns per season. 

Last season, Gibbs was third among running backs with 62 forced missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, the Lions star back led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024.

The Lions selected Gibbs with the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Alabama. Earlier this offseason, they also extended linebacker and 2025 All-Pro Jack Campbell, who was in the same draft class as Gibbs (No. 18 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Iowa), on a four-year, $81 million deal.

Detroit is coming off a 9-8 season that saw it miss the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

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The 2026 NFL season is almost here, and the buildup starts with the Hall of Fame Game before the real thing kicks off in September. Here is everything to know about when the season starts, the season-opening matchup and the biggest games of Week 1.

When Does the 2026 NFL Season Start?

The 2026 NFL season will start with the Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots at Lumen Field on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. It is a rematch of Super Bowl LX, which the Seahawks won to claim the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy, and it continues the NFL’s tradition of having the defending champion open the season. It also marks the first time the league has opened a regular season on a Wednesday since 2012.

Before the regular season begins, the preseason gets underway with the Hall of Fame Game, which pits the Carolina Panthers against the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio.

2026 NFL Week 1 Schedule

Wednesday, Sept. 9

[–>
• New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks – 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

Thursday, Sept. 10

• San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams – 8:35 p.m. ET (Netflix) in Melbourne, Australia

Sunday, Sept. 13

Monday, Sept. 14

Check the NFL schedule for updates throughout the season. Fans can watch FOX’s Week 1 Sunday slate and more NFL coverage in one subscription with FOX One.

Jalen Hurts ‘under most pressure in 2026’, Can he lead the Eagles back to the Super Bowl? | FTF

Jalen Hurts was named the player under the most pressure entering 2026. Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes ask if Hurts can thrive under pressure.

When Was the 2026 NFL Schedule Released?

The NFL announced several marquee Week 1 matchups, including the season opener, ahead of the full schedule release. The complete 2026 regular-season schedule, covering all 272 games, was unveiled on Thursday, May 14.

NFL Related Stories

How Is the NFL Schedule Determined?

The NFL has detailed rules about how the schedule comes together. Check out the specifics below.

[–>
• Each team plays 17 regular-season games.
• Each team receives a bye week.
• Teams alternate seasons where they host nine regular-season games and one preseason game or eight regular-season games and two preseason games.
• Each team has six games against divisional opponents, two against each team, one at home and one on the road.
• Each team has four games against teams from a division within its conference, two games at home and two on the road.
• Each team has four games against teams from a division in the other conference, two games at home and two on the road.
• Each team has two games against teams from the two remaining divisions in its own conference, one game at home and one on the road. Matchups are based on division ranking from the previous season.
• The 17th game for each team is an additional game against a nonconference opponent from a division the team is not scheduled to play. Matchups are based on division ranking from the previous season.

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GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Los Angeles Rams are the offseason Super Bowl champs because of their blockbuster moves through the draft and free agency, and the actual defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks, also play in their division.

So, should the lowly Arizona Cardinals even show up to play this year in the best division in football, the NFC West?

I posed that question to receiver Michael Wilson, one of the last players to leave the field after running routes with starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett, coaxing raised eyebrows and a smirk.

“The Cardinals have always not gotten a lot of respect,” Wilson told me. “Since I’ve been here, we’ve never been a team that people thought were going to win a bunch of games. But it is what it is. 

“Truthfully, we really don’t care because in Week 1 we’ve got to play the Chargers. The following week we play Seattle and the next week we have to play San Francisco. So, none of that matters. It’s just all optics and fluff to us.”

Yes, the Cardinals have the longest odds to reach the Super Bowl and are led by their fourth different head coach in a decade. Former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur is now leading the show, and he showed the same energy as Wilson as he high-fived players and bounced around the field. Arizona lost nine straight games to finish the 2025 season, losing by an average of 16 points a game and resulting in the firing of defensive-minded head coach Jonathan Gannon after three seasons.

Still, there’s a belief here among core returning players that they have enough talent to hold their own this season. NFL observers will get their first look at the Cardinals as they take on the Carolina Panthers in the Hall of Fame Game. LaFleur will sit most of his starters, including No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love. 

“The Super Bowl is not tomorrow,” Brissett told me when asked about his team’s low expectations nationally. “Everybody’s 0-0 right now. We’ve had a long offseason getting ready for the preseason and training camp. The teams that look forward that far ahead, that’s where you think about how far you’re getting from the end goal. I think for us, our mindset is just getting better each day. You stack up days, keep putting one foot in front of the other and the end goal kind of comes to you, rather than you having to go run to it.” 

The reason for that optimism in the desert is the offense, which returns most of the starters from a group that finished seventh in passing offense last season. Brissett, 33, will be playing with core players for a second season in a row for the first time in his 11-year NFL career, which means the Cardinals do not have to reestablish chemistry and rapport among their playmakers. 

However, Brissett is behind in learning the offense after a contract impasse that kept him out of offseason work and lasted until the start of training camp. Brissett, who represents himself, eventually agreed to a reworked deal that provided him a deserved pay bump to $15 million in base salary that could be worth up to $21 million if incentives are met as the team’s starting quarterback. 

Brissett has plenty of playmakers at his disposal, including one of the best tight ends in the league (Trey McBride), a player looking to make a jump in (2024 No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr.) and versatile wide receiver Kendrick Bourne.

The Cardinals also have one of the deeper running back rooms in the league, led by the explosive Love, free-agent pickup Tyler Allgeier and bruising veteran runner James Conner. Allgeier and Love split reps with the first group during training camp as Conner works himself back from a season-ending leg injury.

But perhaps the best example of the Cardinals’ potential is Wilson. The Stanford product had just eight catches for 52 yards and a score through the first five games of last season. Wilson turned it on after that, though. He finished the year with his first 1,000-yard season, totaling 78 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns.

Wilson earned an expanded role in the offense when fellow receiver Harrison suffered appendicitis that required surgery and a foot issue that forced him to miss a handful of games in the second half of the season.

“After last season, it was like ‘Holy sh–,” Wilson told me. “I think over an eight-game stretch I was second in every receiver stat to Puka Nacua. And in my book, Puka Nacua was the best receiver in the NFL last year. And so now I know that’s the standard and I’m capable of being a top 10 receiver in the NFL.

“I’ve always had such a high standard for myself. In high school, within my community and region, I was always one of the best receivers. In college, within my team, I was always one of the best. When I went to the Senior Bowl, I was always one of the best. So, I feel like regardless of the room I’m in or the situation, I feel like on a long enough timescale I’ll find a way to rise to the top.” 

Wilson has earned the role as the team’s No. 1 receiver and will be used in a similar manner to Robert Woods and Nacua in a Sean McVay-style offense brought over by LaFleur. 

Tasked with helping to implement the offense will be new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. A former head coach himself who served as an offensive coordinator for Mike LaFleur’s older brother, Matt LaFleur, in Green Bay, Hackett will be upstairs in the booth and not call plays.

And Hackett will help take some of the offensive game-planning responsibilities off LaFleur’s plate. He offers a wealth of experience in the West Coast offense. One of the originators of the innovative offense developed by Bill Walsh is Hackett’s father, Paul Hackett, who was at practice during my time at Arizona’s training camp.

“He’s the original O.G.,” Hackett told me about his father.  “He’s been around some of the best, so he knows what it looks like and what you have to do to be great in this league. So, it’s fun to have him come in and talk about why things were originally started. He was there when some of our protections were invented the very first time. To have a guy like that is just unbelievable, and the players he’s coached.” 

Hackett said expectations are high for Love, who will not play in Thursday’s Hall of Fame game but has looked good running the football during training camp.

“It’s a lot like the stuff he’s done in the past,” Hackett told me when I asked about Love’s transition to a new offense. “We’re a combination of outside zone, downhill runs and all kinds of stuff. He’s got to learn the system and get comfortable with it. Learn the intricacies, the footwork and where his eyes are. As a rookie, it takes them some time, but he’s got some amazing talent and he works hard, so it’s going to be fun to watch him grow.”

Hackett told me he’s also been pleased with the growth and development of rookie third-round draft pick Carson Beck, who will start at quarterback for the Cardinals against the Carolina Panthers in Canton. Hackett said the Cardinals were attracted to Beck’s 43 college starts and the adversity he faced in leading Miami to the National title game after transferring from Georgia. 

“That’s unbelievable experience,” Hackett told me. “Because when you get to this league, if you have one bad game it’s a fascinating experience (laughs). I think just to see how he operated in that way. He’s very talented; he’s also very smart. 

“And those are some of the things that we’re very excited about him. But just being out here, it’s been great to see when he makes a mistake, he doesn’t get in the tank. He appreciates it, and he doesn’t make that same mistake twice. I really like that about him.”

Third-round rookie Carson Beck will start for the Cardinals in Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

–>

But in my conversations with Arizona players about the upcoming season, they emphasized that the Cardinals are not waving the white flag and playing for draft position to potentially select a franchise quarterback in 2027. The Cardinals believe they can challenge the rest of the NFC West — even if the rest of the league has serious doubts. 

“I remember when we were in Jacksonville, and we were supposed to be the worst team ever,” Hackett told me. “We came out, won the division and went to the AFC Championship Game and almost went to the Super Bowl. So, the season is so fluid. The season changes so much. What we look like this moment might look different in Week 10. 

“Of course, people are going to have their predictions and say what they’re going to say. And they’re going to think about us how they think about us. But in the end, we just go out and do our job.”

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Mateo Kovačić has thrown his support behind Manchester City’s record-breaking summer acquisition, Elliot Anderson, following the midfielder’s high-profile move to the Etihad Stadium. The Croatian international believes the former Nottingham Forest star possesses the necessary attributes to thrive under the tactical demands of new manager Enzo Maresca.

Kovacic Excited By Anderson’s Arrival

Kovacic has shared his enthusiasm regarding the club’s latest recruitment drive, specifically highlighting the impact he expects from Anderson. The 23-year-old midfielder completed a sensational £116 million transfer from Nottingham Forest after a stellar campaign where he appeared in all 38 Premier League fixtures. His arrival represents a significant statement of intent from the reigning champions as they look to evolve their squad under the guidance of Maresca.

Kovacic expressed his admiration for the youngster’s physical and technical foundations. “I think a lot of quality, a lot of physicality because he has shown that he is capable of running a lot, being good on the ball, being good off the ball,” the Croatian midfielder noted. “He is young, so he can improve a lot still at City, and I think it’s a great signing for us.”

Filling The Void Left By Rodri

A significant subplot for the start of City’s season is the absence of Rodri, who is recovering from back surgery. The Spanish international is unlikely to feature in the opening weeks of the campaign, creating a tactical vacuum in the heart of the midfield. Kovacic, who featured for 45 minutes in a recent friendly against Inter, sees this as an opportunity to demonstrate his versatility and reliability. Additionally, Rodri has been linked with a summer transfer to Real Madrid.

Maresca has already indicated that he will rely on the experience within his squad to navigate this period. “I’ve played together with Rodri and without him as well,” he explained. “So with him not being here now I can of course fill that spot, but let’s see when he comes back.”

The Lure Of The Premier League

Kovacic believes the Premier League remains the pinnacle of global football. He pointed to the recent influx of high-priced midfield talent as evidence of the league’s unmatched strength and depth. The Croatian believes the standard of competition has never been higher. For Kovacic, the challenge of competing against the best players in the world every week is what keeps him motivated at the highest level of the game.

“I think it is the best league and the best players are here,” he asserted. “There are some amazing midfielders. Newcastle’s Bruno [Guimaraes], Aston Villa have many good midfielders. United are now bringing midfielders. So I think every club has some great midfielders.”

Croatia Star Addresses Future Plans

While the focus has been on new arrivals, Kovacic has also had to navigate speculation regarding his own future at City. With interest reportedly stemming from Serie A giants Juventus and his former employers Inter Milan, the 32-year-old is entering the final year of his current contract without a renewal yet on the table. However, despite managing only nine appearances last term due to persistent Achilles and ankle injuries, Kovacic remains adamant that he has a significant role to play in Manchester.

The midfielder was quick to dismiss rumors, stating that the communication from the club has been consistently positive. “I didn’t feel the question marks from them. I spoke with them, it was that they count on me, which was important for me to hear that from them,” Kovacic clarified.

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New users on Polymarket can enter promo code FOX to receive a $20 trading bonus before the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame Game between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers, the first game of the new NFL preseason.

Rookie quarterback Carson Beck is expected to make his first NFL start for the Cardinals. On the other sideline, Carolina will turn to Kenny Pickett for the opening snaps before undrafted rookie Haynes King takes over later in the game.

The Hall of Fame Game gives fans their first opportunity to evaluate rookie quarterbacks, backup players, and roster battles before the regular season begins. 

Use the Polymarket promo code FOX to receive a $20 trading bonus and trade on the opening NFL preseason action, and other game markets as the 2026 season gets underway.

For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Polymarket promo code page.

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Cardinals vs. Panthers

*Probability is subject to change*

Carolina Panthers	54%	54¢	47¢
Arizona Cardinals	47%	47¢	54¢

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How can I watch the Hall of Fame Game? What channel is it on?

The 2026 Hall of Fame Game will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock. Any cable or streaming service that carries NBC, or an antenna in range of a local station, will carry the game.

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New users on Kalshi can use promo code FOXSPORTS to unlock up to $500 in bonuses when trading on the first NFL action for the 2026 season.

The NFL Hall of Fame game between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers kicks off the action for traders.

The spotlight will be on rookie quarterback Carson Beck, who is expected to make his first NFL start. Carolina will send out veteran Kenny Pickett before undrafted rookie Haynes King gets his chance at leading the offense.

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Cardinals vs. Panthers

*Probability is subject to change*

Carolina Panthers	52%	53¢	48¢
Arizona Cardinals	48%	48¢	53¢

More games markets are available on Kalshi.

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Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders loves everything about taking his Colorado Buffaloes 113 miles south of Folsom Field to Fountain Fort Carson High School for a week of workouts, tune-ups and team bonding that featured a stay at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs campus and a visit to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

One thing would make it even better: scrimmaging with or against the Falcons, something Sanders is hoping the NCAA will soon allow teams to do in the offseason as he first suggested a couple of years ago when Syracuse wanted to visit Boulder for a spring scrimmage.

“That’s something I’ve been suggesting for quite some time,” Sanders said after Thursday’s practice. “And the NCAA felt compelled to allow FCS schools to do what we thought of quite some time ago. So, we’re not involved; they won’t allow that. But even if we could just practice at the same location would do it justice. We don’t have to compete against one another.

“But I wish one day we could have a spring game against one another. It would be wonderful for the state. It would be wonderful for the cities if we did home and away. It would be a great look, I think for college football and Colorado football. I would love that.”

This is the first time in Sanders’ four seasons with the Buffaloes that he took his team out of town on an NFL-style training camp trip away from the distractions and responsibilities in Boulder.

“We wanted to go somewhere away that was significant, not around the corner like 30 minutes, 45 minutes,” Sanders said. “We wanted to get away so they couldn’t have really the contacts or urge to drive back home — even though we’re on buses, they’re not doing that — no visitations or anything like that, no outside foot coming in. They’re doing a great job of feeding us.

“They’re off the phone. We monitor that and they’re really getting to know each other and really getting a bond. Like, I sat at a table with a group of guys yesterday and they they were telling me stories about some of them were sleep-walking and walking out of the room and one of the coaches fell out of bed … there’s been some wonderful stories that have transpired.”

Sanders even has his story to tell, about “coming face to face with a deer” and quickly turning around on his morning walk.

“So, we love it,” Sanders said. “We’re bonding. We’re getting closer. We’re getting to know each other a lot more because we are one unit night and day. It’s been phenomenal.”

Sanders reminisced about some of his NFL training camp days, although, being a two-sport star, he missed some of them altogether.

“Well, I was thankful not to go through many because of this game called baseball,” Sanders said. “But, we bonded. man, and we had a good time. It was hot, extremely hot with the Cowboys in Texas. But it was a bond that you can’t replace by anything because you’re just there thinking, ‘Football, football, football. You’re waking up together, you’re going to sleep at the same locations. It’s a beautiful thing.

“It really is a beautiful thing and I’m glad we’re able to come here and do it.”

The Buffaloes are coming off a trying 3-9 season that began with Sanders undergoing surgery to remove his cancerous bladder. He’s now cancer-free, has his energy back and is leading a staff that features new offensive (Brennan Marion) and defensive (Chris Marve) coordinators.

“This is not to demean any of the former coaches, but this is the best staff I’ve had ever in my coaching career, from youth football all the way up,” Sanders said. “These guys are good, fundamentally sound, creative, innovative. They’re born leaders. They’re head coaches who are coaching the offense and defense.

“The young men are responding to them. Even special teams, we’re doing that in a collaborative effort. We’re unified on that. … It’s been great. I love the energy that these coaches are providing and a new group of kids helps out tremendously.”

The Buffs feature 45 players who transferred into the program this season.

Sanders bristled when asked if he feels pressure to bounce back in 2026: “I apply pressure, I don’t feel pressure.” He said pressure is being a single mom trying to make ends meet. “This is football; I’m really good at this. I can play this. I can coach this. I can do this.”

Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Layne Riggs hasn’t been shy talking about his hopes for an eventual NASCAR Cup Series ride.

It likely won’t happen full-time in 2027, but he hopes that, if he keeps winning truck races, a team will look at him and say he’s ready for Cup. That could very well be his current team, Front Row Motorsports. 

But like most young drivers, time is of the essence.

And that’s because a young driver must strike when they’re hot but also make sure they remain positioned for success no matter the level.

“All I can do is impress the right people and from everybody I talk to, all I can do is just keep doing what I’m doing — getting poles and winning races and trying to impress everybody,” Riggs said after winning the pole at North Wilkesboro last month.

“That’s all I’ve got to worry about, in a nutshell. If I just keep doing what I’m doing right here, hopefully the right opportunity will come to me.”

So which drivers will be the ones who have the best chance to make it in Cup and be a regular Chase contender at NASCAR’s top level?

Here is my mid-season prospect list. It is based on performance and it also factors in drivers’ ability to obtain and keep funding.

Some parameters: no driver who has had a season in Cup — or is about to have a full season in Cup — is on this list. 

For example, Corey Heim, who earned two Cup victories this season, dropped off of eligibility on my list with his two Cup victories. Also, all drivers must be younger than 28 to be included.

20.

Meza has six TransAm TA2 victories this year and sits second in the point standings. He was the top rookie in the Mazda MX-5 Cup last year. 

19.

Retzlaff sits ninth in the O’Reilly Series standings as he has shown to be consistently top 10 in driving for Viking Motorsports. He is expected to be back there next year and if he continues to run well, it wouldn’t be a surprise for him to get a look from one of the top teams in that series or a Cup team.

18.

Caruth is 14th in the O’Reilly Series points as a rookie, where he has run the majority of races at JR Motorsports. Having online racing as his roots, Caruth looks like he needs a little more time to get comfortable as he moves from series to series. Assuming he gets another season at JRM next year, that is one where he will need to start challenging for wins.

17.

Eckes is fourth in the truck standings and has had the best results from the Chevrolet truck stable. For the most part, he’s doing the most with what he has, but he really could use some wins.

16.

Mayer has had a disappointing season when it comes to results, as he sits 10th in the O’Reilly Series standings. Where he races next year is yet to be announced, although he will most likely remain in the O’Reilly Series. He needs more consistency to get a good look from a Cup team.

15.

Lewis has shown promise in his six truck starts and if he runs the full season next year as expected, that will be pivotal in his quest for a Cup seat in the upcoming years. Lewis also has a CARS Tour late model stock win this year.

14.

Avedisian has three top 10s in her four ARCA starts this year as she continues the transition from sprint cars. One of the Toyota Racing Development drivers, she will continue to get opportunities as she is showing a lot of promise.

13.

Buice has finished in the top five (including one second-place finish) in all four of her ARCA Series starts this year. She is part of the Chevrolet program and is proving she’s deserving of more opportunities.

12.

Brown has finished in the top three — including one win — in all six of his ARCA starts this year. A Richard Childress Racing development driver, he very well could end up in an O’Reilly Series car for RCR next year. He makes his series debut with Jordan Anderson Racing this weekend at Iowa.

11.

Ruggiero has shown steady progression this year, as he sits fifth in the truck standings while also having won four ARCA wins this season.

10.

McKee has an ARCA win and a runner-up among his five starts in the series, as well as three ARCA East triumphs this season. He sits second in the standings. A Spire Motorsports driver, he will make select truck starts later this year.

9.

Harvick has two top fives in three CARS Tour pro late model starts and sits second in the CARS Tour West standings. He won two CARS Tour West pro late model races this year. For such a young driver, his race craft is impressive, which shouldn’t shock anyone considering he has his father (former Cup champion Kevin Harvick) to guide him.

8.

Gray has one victory in the O’Reilly Series but is battling to make the Chase field. He’s already signed to race for JGR in the series again next year, and as long as he shows improvement, he will likely have a ride and an eventual move to Cup is quite possible. 

7.

Smith is third in the truck standings with two victories this year. He is expected to make his return to the O’Reilly Series next year at Richard Childress Racing. If he can perform well there, he could have a Cup ride in a few years.

6.

Kvapil, who earned his first O’Reilly win at Indianapolis, sits second in the series standings. His path forward to Cup still seems a little unclear, as JR Motorsports has had to piece together sponsorship for him (and even have him run a handful of races for another team) just to get him a full season.

5.

Honeycutt sits a spot behind Riggs in the truck standings, where he earned his first career victory earlier this year. He will likely get another year of trucks at Tricon. Here’s a question: As long as he wins races, is a year of O’Reilly in his future or will he jump straight to Cup? If he sticks with Toyota, Legacy Motor Club would be the most likely option in 2028.

4.

Day is fifth in the O’Reilly Series standings. He has two wins as he continues the transition from full-time sprint cars to stock cars. He is doing almost everything Hendrick Motorsports could ask of him. A little inconsistency should be expected considering his lack of stock-car experience. He should have eyes on a Cup ride in 2028, but whether that is at Hendrick or another Chevy team (Spire?) is still to be determined.

3.

Layne Riggs has five victories in the trucks this year and has all but clinched the regular-season title. His path to Cup is most likely through Front Row. But as mentioned earlier, it appears that 2028 will be the first full season and not 2027.

2.

Love, the defending O’Reilly Series champion, is third in the series standings. He’s still looking for his first win this year, but he already knows what he’s doing next year; he’ll replace Josh Berry in the Wood Brothers No. 21 Cup car.

1.

Crews is battling for a Chase spot in the O’Reilly Series, despite missing four races this year. He still seeks his first win in the series but has been impressive. He appears to be a candidate for the No. 11 Cup car in 2028, although that will likely be contingent on his performance over the final portion of this season and the start of 2027. Even if he isn’t in the JGR Cup car in 2028, as long as he does perform, there should be a path for him to Cup.

25 Others To Watch: Thomas Annunziata, Luke Baldwin, Austin Beers, Jake Bollman, Gavan Boschele, Cole Denton, Parker Eatmon, Luke Fenhaus, Jake Finch, Jake Garcia, Conner Jones, Isaac Kitzmiller, Caden Kvapil, Treyten Lapcevich,  Ben Maier, George Phillips, Max Reaves, Tyler Reif, Taylor Reimer, Isabella Robusto, Nick Sanchez, William Sawalich, Lavar Scott, Sammy Smith and Mason Walters.

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Finally, we have a real taste of football.

The first preseason game of the 2026 season took place on Thursday, with the Carolina Panthers taking down the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game. Cardinals rookie quarterback Carson Beck was the storyline from Thursday’s game, impressing in his unofficial NFL debut.

While we finally had game action on Thursday, though, more contract matters dominated the news in the NFL. We saw a pair of star running backs agree to pricey extensions, including a record-setting deal. Meanwhile, in Tampa Bay, the news down there is about a pair of stars who haven’t received pricey extensions.

Here are the headlines to know from Thursday around the NFL. 

There typically aren’t too many highlights or takeaways from the Hall of Fame Game, but this year’s edition brought us one. 

Beck completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown in Thursday’s game. The rookie made all sorts of throws in Arizona’s loss, completing deep balls as he helped the Cardinals put up 17 points. Kedon Slovis played the second half for the Cardinals.

Beck’s showing adds some intrigue to a Cardinals team widely viewed to be one of the worst in the NFL entering the season. It could also add some heat on veteran Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew, who didn’t play in Thursday’s game.

Undrafted rookie free agent Haynes King had the best outing of any quarterback on Thursday, though. After replacing Kenny Pickett, King completed 21 of 34 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. But he made the play of the game with his feet, rushing for a 5-yard score as time expired to give the Panthers a 33-30 victory. 

Running Backs Keep Getting Paid

Shortly after the Atlanta Falcons made Bijan Robinson the NFL’s highest-paid running back, the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions secured their own star halfbacks to massive deals.

Jahmyr Gibbs agreed to a deal that made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. The two sides agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $75.75 million with $51.5 million fully guaranteed, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, ESPN reported.

Gibbs had a massive year for the Lions in 2025. He racked up 1,223 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground, while making a huge impact in the passing game with 77 catches for 616 yards and five receiving touchdowns.

Hours before news of Gibbs’ deal broke, the Colts and star running back Jonathan Taylor agreed to a two-year, $44 million extension, per ESPN. The deal is worth up to $47 million and also includes $39 million in guaranteed money for Taylor as he enters his age-27 season. 

Taylor is coming off one of his best seasons since entering the league in 2020. He ranked third in the league last season with 1,585 rushing yards and a league-leading 18 touchdowns, while adding 46 receptions for 378 yards and two receiving scores.

No running back appears to be an imminent threat to break Gibbs’ record. No running back taken in the 2024 or 2025 drafts has been as productive as him. Of course, that could change in the coming years.  

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht addressed the status of two key veterans on Thursday, stating the team has no plans to trade Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea amid ongoing contract discussions. 

“We love Vita,” Licht told reporters. “We’ve been engaged with his agent recently. I don’t know how it’s gonna end, but we’ve been engaged and that’s at least some progress.”

Licht also discussed quarterback Baker Mayfield, noting that while placing the franchise tag on Mayfield in 2027 remains an available tool if necessary, it is not the team’s primary plan. He emphasized that the franchise’s main objective remains securing a long-term contract extension with Mayfield.

“I’m not going to get into specifics about the contract and all that stuff, but yeah — we do think he is [a franchise quarterback],” Licht told reporters. “We love Baker. … Baker’s in a great place right now. We’re in a very good place.”

Mayfield is entering the final season of a three-year contract. 

 

Tensions flared on the practice field between New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez and wide receiver A.J. Brown on Thursday. 

Gonzalez and Brown have repeatedly sought out head-to-head matchups and exchanged words throughout training camp practices, according to reports at practice. 

Following lockdown coverage by Gonzalez, competitive back-and-forth trash talk between the two players escalated, nearly requiring the pair to be separated as the team transitioned to a new drill. 

“It’s good on good,” Gonzalez told reporters following Thursday’s practice. “He’s a No. 1 receiver in this league going up against a No. 1 corner. That’s how it’s going to go. It’s football at the end of the day. There’s never no disrespect or anything. We’re just battling and getting each other better. He’s going to face corners like that, that are going to yap at him and going to try to get in his head, and I’m going to face receivers like that who are strong and come right back at me. It’s great work for the both of us.”

The Houston Texans and head coach DeMeco Ryans are doing whatever it takes to keep the young nucleus of their defense intact. The Texans and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o have agreed to a two-year, $16 million extension, first reported by NFL Network.

Entering his age-25 season, To’oTo’o can earn up to $1 million more in incentives in the deal.

To’oTo’o is coming off his first full 17-game season with Houston, establishing himself as a big contributor for one of the league’s premier defenses. He recorded 95 total tackles, with 42 of them being solo, along with 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.

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For years, the NFL backfield felt like a high-risk, low-reward market.

The running back devaluation era has officially reached its breaking point. Powered by historic, market-shattering extensions for Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson and Detroit Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs, the NFL backfield is officially back in the big-money business.

Gibbs became the NFL’s highest-paid running back on Thursday, landing a three-year, $67.5 million extension. His deal follows a three-year, $66.75 million payday for Robinson earlier in the week, locking in a combined $102.5 million in guaranteed money between the two stars.

We’ve seen the evolution of running back pay play out all offseason, not just over the last few days.

Plenty of running backs have secured massive paydays recently. Just this offseason, the Chiefs’ Kenneth Walker, Dolphins’ De’Von Achane, Jets’ Breece Hall, Saints’ Travis Etienne and Indianapolis Colts’ Jonathan Taylor all signed major multi-year deals.

The value is officially back for NFL running backs. The Arizona Cardinals made that clear in this year’s draft, taking Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love No. 3 overall and handing him a contract with $53 million guaranteed.

Love hasn’t played one snap yet in the league, and he has the most guaranteed money in the league at the position. Not only does it show how much of a talent he truly was coming out of South Bend, but how valuable teams are willing to go to bring in a game-changing playmaker.

As of Thursday, Aug. 6, here are the highest annual salaries among NFL running backs, (data courtesy of Spotrac):

Highest Annual Salaries Among Running Backs:

10. Jeremiyah Love – $13.25 Million

After being selected with the No. 2 overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals, Jeremiyah Love earned quite the payday before even taking a snap with the league. Love earned a four-year, $53 million rookie deal with the contract being fully guaranteed.

9. Kenneth Walker – $14.35 Million

Walker left the Seattle Seahawks in free agency after helping them win the Super Bowl last season and earning MVP honors in the game. This offseason, Walker signed a three-year, $43 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency with $28.7 million guaranteed.

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8. Breece Hall – $14.50 Million

With plenty of speculation about the New York Jets either trading or franchise tagging running back Breece Hall, both sides came to an agreement earlier in the offseason on a long-term deal. Instead of using the franchise or transition tag, the Jets and Hall agreed on a three-year, $43.5 million deal with $29 million guaranteed.

7. Derrick Henry – $15 Million

Not only has Derrick Henry established himself as one of the league’s most dominant and consistent running backs, but his contract status places him as one of the most valued. He earned himself a two-year, $30 million extension with the Baltimore Ravens last offseason with $25 million guaranteed.

6. De’Von Achane – $16 Million

After entering the league as a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, De’Von Achane has established himself as one of the league’s most explosive playmakers. Even with a rebuilding Miami Dolphins team, the two sides agreed on a four-year, $64 million deal with $32 million guaranteed.

5. Christian McCaffrey – $19 Million

Christian McCaffrey revived the market value of elite running backs. In 2019, he became just the third player in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He signed a two-year, $38 million extension with $24 million guaranteed in the 2024 offseason.

4. Saquon Barkley – $20.60 Million

Once Saquon Barkley left the New York Giants in free agency to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles, the market truly once again found its value for the position. Barkley was one of the biggest factors in the team winning Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs.

After winning the Super Bowl, Barkley received a two-year, $41.2 million extension with the Eagles, with $36 million guaranteed.

3. Jonathan Taylor – $22 Million

After establishing himself as one of the league’s most consistent running backs, the Colts once again gave Jonathan Taylor another massive extension. On Thursday morning, Taylor signed a two-year, $44 million deal with $39 million guaranteed.

2. Bijan Robinson – $22.25 Million

The Atlanta Falcons and star running back Bijan Robinson reset the market earlier this week after he signed a historic three-year, $66.75 million extension. He also received $51 million guaranteed, which is now ranked as the third-most guaranteed money in league history for a running back.

1. Jahmyr Gibbs – $22.50 Million

The king of all running backs is officially Detroit Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs. 

After securing a massive three-year, $67.5 million extension with $51.5 million guaranteed, Gibbs completely reset the market and established himself as the most valuable back in the sport. His game-changing versatility and elite playmaking make him worth every single penny.

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