KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 28: Jalen Milroe #6 of the Seattle Seahawks stiff arms Cole Christiansen #48 of the Kansas City Chiefs while scrambling in the second quarter of an NFL preseason game between the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs on Aug 28, 2026 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs played to a 9-9 tie that was as ugly as the final score suggested, but it was not a totally disastrous night. There were some great moments from quarterback Jalen Milroe, such that I don’t think there should be too much discussion over whether or not he makes the 53-man roster. Rookies like Emmanuel Henderson and Andre Fuller made some nice plays, while cornerback Trevon Diggs’ Seahawks debut saw him make an immediate impact with an interception.
If there was one worrisome story from Friday’s game, it was Jason Myers. Seattle’s longtime kicker has not been his usual self all preseason, and his two misses against the Chiefs included an extra point and a game-winning walk-off field goal. Five total misses through three preseason games for Myers, is it time to worry?
Myself and The Hawks Eye Podcast host Bryce Coutts are live at 8:30 pm PT with analysis and takeaways from Seattle’s preseason finale. Are we going to talk about Jalen Milroe? Of course. But there will be other things worth discussing as we now turn our attention to roster cuts and opening day of the 2026 regular season.
Javier Mogollón’s standout night and strong August explain why he’s crept up on the White Sox prospect rankings. | Sam Phalen
Memphis Redbirds vsCharlotte Knights (Postponed due to rain) Charlotte’s date with the International League East leader has been postponed due to rain. The Knights and Redbirds will play a doubleheader on August 29.
Birmingham Barons 3, Rocket City Trash Pandas 2 Thanks for coming out of hiding, Barons pitchers, we’ve missed you all season! It’s better late than never, as despite a terrible, 54-70 season record, Birmingham remains one game out of second-half postseason qualification, at 28-27.
Barons pitchers were shoving. Rocket City had to settle for just one run during starter Jake Palisch’s five innings, as he allowed just six hits, two walks, and that sole run while punching out five. Mathias LaCombe built off the pitching momentum and blanked Rocket City while adding three strikeouts of his own, and Liam Paddack followed in step with two whiffs and a strikeout looking in the eighth. But the ninth was a whole other ball of wax. Paddack’s no-nonsense eighth was a distant memory, as he walked two and hit two batters and gave up the tying run with two outs and the sacks packed. Though it was an admirable night on the pitching front, it came to a disappointing close.
The mostly lights-out pitching provided Bham’s offense enough leniency to survive with hits that were few and far between. Colby Shelton got a break from being an RBI workhorse, but he still scored on a Jose Colmenares sac fly in the third. Alec Briley, as expected, generated the second run with a sac fly in the fifth, scoring Dylan Campbell. For much of the game, the Barons did nothing else to produce runs, going 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranding nine on the bases. However, in the bottom of the ninth and the game knotted at two apiece with runners on the corners, Caleb Bonemer came through with a walk-off single to remind fans why he’s still the top shortstop on the farm.
The Dash needed a team-wide effort to keep up with the Hot Rods at the plate and offset their own pitching blunders. Although they did get some help from George Wolkow’s sac fly in the sixth and a bases-juiced walk in the eighth, Javier Mogollón’s exceptional three-hit evening and home run sent the game to extras:
By the start of the 10th, Justin Sinbaldi’s costly pickoff error and Drew Conover’s three-run relief outing were forgotten. But Winston-Salem wasn’t anywhere close to out of the woods.
Landen Payne, who has been exceptional this year with eight saves and 42 strikeouts, didn’t deliver the closeout everyone expected. After allowing the ghost runner to steal third, Payne secured one out before giving up the go-ahead run on a competitive pitch almost in the dirt. His confidence shaken, he was pulled from the game and replaced by Carlton Perkins, who did worse. The next three batters walked and were hit by pitches, turning the 7-7 tie into 9-7 within moments. By then, the writing was on the wall, and all the Dash could do was figure out the fastest way to end the game.
Although it ended unceremoniously and the Hot Rods pulled back ahead of the Dash in the second-half standings, notable performances by Riley Gowens and Mogollón helped Winston-Salem keep the game within arm’s reach.
Runners-Up Drew Conover: 1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, K Blake Perkins: 2/3 IP, H, 2 R, BB, K George Wolkow: 0-for-4, RBI, 2 K Landen Payne: 1 1/3 IP, H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Hill City Howlers 5, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 1 Hill City got the best of Kannapolis in a match where nothing went in the CBs’ favor. The lineup tallied 15 strikeouts and managed just five hits, with Efran Teran accounting for three. Jaden Fauske and Grayson Fitzwater created plenty of wind energy, the former striking out thrice and the latter earning a golden sombrero. Landon Hodge drove Jake Berkland in to score Kanny’s only run in the second, but the rest of the offense was dead. Considering only three runners got into scoring position, it’s a miracle the Ballers didn’t get blanked. While things couldn’t have gotten much worse with hitting, the pitching crew didn’t do their best, either. Fabian Ysalla exhibited another disappointing start, but at least he lasted five innings. By the time Ysalla was pulled and Andrew Berg and Frankeli Arias came into the game, it was clear the bats couldn’t rally, so surrendering two more runs didn’t make a difference for the struggling relievers.
MVP Efran Teran: 3-for-3
Runners-Up Landon Hodge: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 K Jake Berkland: 0-for-2, R, BB, K Frankeli Arias: 2 IP, 2 H, R, 3 K
Cold Cat Grayson Fitzwater: 0-for-4, 4 K
Runners-Up Jaden Fauske: 0-for-4, 3 K Fabian Ysalla: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, K Steven Lancia: 0-for-4, 2 K Crew McChesney: 0-for-3, 2 K
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jazz fans have had one of the most eventful offseasons I can remember. Arguably the greatest prospect in team history was drafted while a massive trade for their starting center surprised everyone. So how do Jazz fans feel about it? Well, that was the point of this week’s Jazz Reacts survey.
So there you have it, the vast majority of Jazz fans gave an A or B to the offseason. The majority of fans gave a B, but because there are so many As, I think you could say the grade is either a B+ or an A-.
It’s a fair assessment for a team that is on the verge of starting one of the most exciting chapters in team history. Yes, they’ll be without Walker Kessler, but they also won’t be with Kessler’s albatross of a contract going forward. In a league with an incredibly restrictive cap, the Jazz kept their best players and have the flexibility to move forward with multiple options.
If you go to FanDuel, you can see that the NBA hasn’t caught on to how good the Jazz offseason was yet. The Jazz aren’t favored to win 40+ games. They’re currently a +140 to win 40+ games and +360 to win 45+ games. Personally, I’d be shocked if Utah didn’t win at least 40 games this year. In a month, we’ll find out if I’m wrong or right.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 28: Kyle McCord #18 of the Green Bay Packers warms up before a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field on August 28, 2026 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Green Bay Packers won a thriller, if there can ever be one in August, in their preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals. Mike LaFleur, trying to best his older brother, called two timeouts in the final five seconds of the game, trying to set up a Hail Mary after receiver KiSean Johnson’s second fourth-quarter touchdown for the Packers.
The Cardinals’ Hail Mary attempt fell short, though, and was batted away by a crowd of green and gold as Arizona fell 42-38 with zeroes on the clock.
The Packers did not play their best players on Friday Night, as 37 were held out. 32 of those players were among the 46 we listed as Packers “roster locks” earlier this week, with the remaining five comprising four players on Green Bay’s physically unable to perform list and tight end Thomas Yassmin, the Packers’ international exemption player who is currently dealing with an injury.
On top of that, others who were “active” were held out as reserve/emergency players, like backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor — who didn’t play a single snap in the game. Instead, it was Kyle McCord, Green Bay’s QB3, who played under center for the offense today.
The most interesting part of the game, from a players participating standpoint, was probably that the second-team offensive line was able to go for the game and mid-round picks Chris McClellan and Dani Dennis-Sutton (who was inactive for the first two preseason games) suited up on the line of scrimmage.
The second-team offensive line was made up of John Williams, Donovan Jennings, Jager Burton, Travis Glover (who hasn’t been getting work with the second-team up to this point) and Anthony Belton (from left to right). Glover was later kicked out to replace Belton, and Darian Kinnard, who was the team’s sixth offensive lineman in the second half of the Packers’ 2026 season, came off the bench to play right guard. Kinnard has had maybe the biggest drop on the depth chart of any returning player on Green Bay’s roster.
Defensively, the standout was easily Dennis-Sutton, who recorded one sack in his NFL debut, several pressures and a couple near-sacks, too. He looked like an NFL rookie playing against a group of practice squaders, so he’s checking the box there.
McCord continued a solid summer for the rising quarterback, completing 22 of 35 for 226 yards and four touchdowns versus the Cardinals. In total, his preseason has amounted to 70 passes for 37 completions, 446 yards (6.3 yards per attempt) and four touchdowns. Meanwhile, Taylor was 8 of 16 for 38 yards (2.4 yards per attempt) this preseason, but it appears that Taylor will be Green Bay’s backup — barring an outside addition — as he was shielded from contact tonight.
Receiver J. Michael Sturdivant, who is the most likely undrafted free agent to make the Packers’ 2026 initial 53-man roster on Sunday as a seventh receiver and special teams contributor, led the team with six receptions for 112 yards, despite Johnson hauling in one more touchdown. Meanwhile, Isaiah Neyor, who is pushing Sturdivant for a roster spot, dropped a wide-open deep ball from McCord. Will Sheppard, who has been ninth in the receiver pecking order this preseason, returned a punt for an 81-yard touchdown against the Cardinals, too.
Rookie kicker Trey Smack continues his perfect stretch of play, as he hit two more field goals and four extra points versus Arizona.
Unfortunately, the reserve defense was lunch, as they gave up 326 yards in the air (including sack yardage) and 166 yards on the ground. Obviously, an 80-point game isn’t going to have much defense played in it, but the Packers could have been much better in that department tonight. Notably, rookie cornerback Domani Jackson, who had an alright NFL debut last week after missing the preseason opener, played pretty poorly opposite Jaylin Simpson, who himself hasn’t looked good as either an outside cornerback or a slot defender this preseason.
Maybe Green Bay should just keep four true cornerbacks, if you consider Kamal Hadden a “safety” now that he’s playing in the nickel spot and” third-safety” packages on the team.
The Packers end the preseason 2-1, with more good than bad put on tape. If we’re going to crown anyone a preseason MVP this summer, it’s probably McCord, who will likely be offered a practice squad job in Green Bay this upcoming season, assuming he clears waivers on Monday. Initially, McCord battled with undrafted rookie Kyron Drones for third-team offense snaps until Drones took three sacks in four dropbacks in the preseason opener and was quickly waived — giving McCord the clear runway as the QB3.
Aug 6, 2026; Canton, Ohio, USA; Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill (right) and general manager Monti Ossenfort on the sidelines prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Arizona Cardinals’ preseason is officially over and the regular season kicks off for them on September 13th in Los Angeles against the Chargers.
However, the first order of business for the Cardinals is to cut their 2026 roster down from 90 to their initial 53-man roster by Sunday, August 30th at 3:00 p.m. Arizona Time.
Here is something that is wild for the Cardinals even before roster cuts happen for every team in the NFL… According to our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook, no team has longer odds to make the playoffs in 2026 than the Arizona Cardinals at +1600.
That is an insane number when you remember that the Miami Dolphins exist and are only +1500. In the NFC, the next team with the lowest odds is the Washington Commanders at +285.
No one believes in the Arizona Cardinals.
With the preseason over, the Arizona Cardinals will begin their roster cuts to get down to their 53-man roster on Sunday and we will update it as we get the information.
The Cardinals are historically one of the last teams to announce their cuts, but maybe this year will be different.
With preseason finally over, the Dallas Cowboys and the rest of the league have to now get down to the nitty-gritty of roster manipulation to get under the league mandated 53-man limit. New additions via the waiver wire or trade will surely shake some things up, but as things stand right now below is a final 53-man roster prediction for the Cowboys.
Quarterback (2)
Dak Prescott, Joe Milton
Prescott is the unquestioned QB1 and a MVP candidate this year, and Milton will once again be his primary backup after outperforming Sam Howell. Ideally Howell is traded, if not, hopefully clears waivers and re-signs to the practice squad.
Running back (4)
Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue, Hunter Luepke
Williams and Davis are the Cowboys top two backs and Luepke will reprise his role as a Swiss Army knife FB. Blue provides an explosive element and could have a specific package just for him. Phil Mafah and Israel Ibanikanda hopefully revert to the practice squad.
Wide receiver (6)
CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo, Camden Brown
After the top four, a tough decision will have to be made. The Cowboys are high on both Mingo and Brown, the former due to his blocking/special teams ability and the latter due to his upside. Both stick with Anthony Smith and Jordan Hudson hopefully re-signed to the PS.
Tight end (4)
Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Luke Schoonmaker, Michael Trigg
Both Ferguson and Spann-Ford are the unquestioned top TEs for the Cowboys, and as such, are roster locks. We believe Schoonmaker and Trigg will round at the group. No. 86 for insurance and Trigg due to his upside and the fact he likely won’t make it through waivers.
Offensive line (9)
Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, Terence Steele, TJ Bass, Nate Thomas, Nick Leverett,, Drew Shelton
Dallas’ starting five OL is set with Thomas backing them up as the swing OT and Bass as the backup iOL. Leverett has proven to be a solid backup C/G, but could be replaced by an outside addition. Shelton makes the cut for now purely based on his draft status, but hopefully can be stashed on IR to make way for a more proven vet swing OT.
Defensive tackle (5)
Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Otito Ogbonnia, Jonathan Bullard, LT Overton
The top three are easy predict, but after that less so. Overton and Bullard make the cut for now, but the latter could revert to short-term IR to be recalled later. Keep an eye out for an experienced vet DT to add to the mix and look for Tommy Dunn and DJ Withers back on the PS.
Outside linebacker/Edge (5)
Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malachi Lawrence, Von Miller, James Houston
The top four are locked in with Houston rounding out the group. Marist Liufau or Sam Williams could force the Cowboys to go six and deep here, but neither has looked particularly impressive. A waiver wire addition or trade wouldn’t be shocking here.
Inside linebacker (5)
DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters, Jaishawn Barham, Shemar James, Justin Barron
Overshown, Winters, and Barham will rotate as the starters with James and Barron backing them up. No. 55’s pass rushing ability also helps going a little short at OLB. Adding a veteran such as Bobby Wagner to solidify things could still be very much in play.
Cornerback (5)
DaRon Bland, Cobie Durant, Shavon Revel, Devin Moore, Reddy Stewart
Dallas’ top three CBs are locked in, but the depth behind them is still in question. Moore, much like Drew Shelton, makes the cut due to his draft status and we believe Stewart rounds out the group with Ameer Speed barely missing out. Hopefully Speed slips through to the PS.
Safety (5)
Caleb Downs, Malik Hooker, Jalen Thompson, P.J. Locke, Markquese Bell
The Cowboys love for Bell forces them to go five deep here with the top four already locked in. They would love to find a way to hold on to Julius Wood, also keep an eye on Alijah Clark to return to the PS. He was on the first team kick return unit in practice.
Special teams (3)
Brandon Aubrey, Bryan Anger, Trent Sieg
Nothing new here. There’s no questioning these three are roster locks.
Odell Beckham had a lot to smile about Friday night. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The New York Giants finished their preseason on Friday with a 23-6 victory over the New York Jets. Odell Beckham Jr. had a big night. Dominic Zvada learned he had won the placekicking job. Let’s review the action in our unique ‘Kudos and Wet Willies’ style.
Kudos to …
Odell Beckham Jr. — Is anyone still questioning whether or not Beckham is making the 53-man roster? Beckham nearly had a 73-yard touchdown reception, but Jameis Winston slightly overthrew him and the ball fell incomplete.
Beckham still had an outstanding night. He caught three passes for 53 yards, an average of 17.7 yards per catch, with the longest being a 23-yard grab. He has enough juice to be a useful player for this Giants team.
John Harbaugh said after the game that Beckham has done enough to make a roster, but stopped short of anointing him as part of the Giants’ 53-man roster.
"Super grateful for the opportunity. At this point, it's in God's hands. I know that I have a good feeling about myself – there's ball to be played, plays to be made."
Tyrone Tracy — The third-year running back needed a big night after mishaps in the first two preseason games. He got one with four carries for 37 yards, including a 16-yard run, and a 6-yard touchdown. He also survived an injury scare, passing a concussion test and seeming to be fine while on the sideline in the second half.
Offensive line — There were holes to run through and pockets to pass from all night. The Giants traded offensive linemen Daniel Faalele and Josh Ezeudu over the past week, because they liked their depth. Friday night you could see why. Sisi Mauigoa was outstanding in his brief stint. Guys like rookie J.C Davis, Evan Neal, and Jake Kubas all played well. It was fun, and sort of mystifying, to watch Neal push guys backwards all night. Where has that been for the last four years?
Zaire Barnes — Barnes capped off an excellent summer with a tremendous, athletic interception. The fact that he was also a game captain was a massive pre-game hint that he is making the 53-man roster.
Trace Ford — I don’t know if there is a place for Ford on the 53-man roster, but he certainly made a case on Friday for the Giants to find one. Ford, an edge defender, had five tackles, three for loss, a sack, two quarterback hits, and two passes defensed. Question is, will he have a roster spot on Sunday night?
Dominic Zvada — Zvada has won the placekicking competition with Ben Sauls. Zvada made field goals of 23, 46, and 53 yards, and added two extra points. It didn’t hurt that short-time Giant Jason Sanders missed an extra point and was short on a 54-yard field goal try. John Harbaugh made it official after the game that Zvada will be the placekicker.
Jake Haener — After just joining the Giants a couple of weeks ago, Haener was impressive in his only game action of the preseason. He went 6 of 7 for 101 yards, a touchdown, and a perfect 158.3 passer rating. Haener’s touchdown was a beautifully directed and thrown ball to wide receiver Xavier Gipson. Did Haener do enough to take a practice squad spot away from Brandon Allen?
Jordan Stout — Thanks to a penalty, Stout was forced to re-kick after a 63-yard punt. He responded with an amazing 81-yard punt that was nearly downed at the 1-yard line by Darius Muasau and Dalen Cambre.
Najee Harris — The newly-signed running back got his first game action, and looked good. He carried 11 times for 39 yards, with a long run of 9 yards, as the Giants got him ready for Week 1.
Wet Willies to …
Run defense — Not sure that the Giants need to be scouring cuts for defensive line help? All you had to do was watch the Jets’ opening 10-play, 36-yard drive to know that the answer is absolutely. The Giants need rotational players to join D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris, and they are sorely lacking in capable run defenders on the interior defensive line.
Darius Alexander, Bobby Jamison-Travis, Leki Fotu, and pretty much everyone the Giants put out there left a lot to be desired in run defense. Jamison-Travis and his sack celebration are fun. His job, though, is run defense. He needs to get better at it.
Turnovers — The Giants committed two. One, a Jameis Winston interception after a pass bounced off Beckham’s hands, set up the Jets’ touchdown. The other, a red zone fumble by Braxton Berrios, denied the Giants a scoring opportunity.
Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned to Miami on Friday night, for a preseason game. The crowd of Dolphins fans gave him an earful of boos.
Did he hear it?
"Well, of course I did," Tagovailoa told reporters after the game. "But, you know, needless to say, like, being able to come back here, like, I've had six years here, and those are probably some of the best six years of my life, being able to, you know, play for Miami, being able to be in front of the crowd.
"You know, I mean, [I] had a Pro Bowl here, like, had a good amount of accolades. So, regardless of the reaction, like, I mean, I love the city. We have a home out here. Like, we still have our house and whatnot. But, I mean, it is what it is. You know, I can't change any of what they did and whatnot, but, you know, it was really cool to see a lot of the guys after the game, and then, you know, talk to some of the guys during the game. So it was a cool homecoming, if you will."
Tua won't return to Miami during the regular season. The more immediate question is whether he'll be the quarterback when the regular season begins in 16 days with a trip to Pittsburgh — the site of his final start as the Miami quarterback.
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 13: Cincinnati Bengals running back Jamal Haynes (24) walks off the field after the preseason game between the Detroit Lions and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Cincinnati Bengals’ third running back spot has been one many assumed would go to Tahj Brooks, but after a forgettable training camp and preseason, could someone else take that spot? Or could the Bengals surprise everyone and keep four running backs on the 53-man roster?
In Friday’s preseason finale vs. the Philadelphia Eagles, college free-agent running back Jamal Haynes made a play that could make the front office at least consider keeping him on the roster or the practice squad.
It truly was a sight to watch, even for a preseason game.
That run had everything. He danced around when the initial hole wasn’t there. He created his own cutback lane as the defense overpursued to contain him, breaking it outside. Tore through an arm tackle and took a few ankles before letting it rip to win the footrace to the end zone.
Haynes has had a decent camp after coming out of Georgia Tech as an undrafted product. At only 5’7, he can certainly get lost behind that huge offensive line. However, a third or fourth running back would be relied on more for special teams as either a returner or coverage player.
Maybe he catches on the Bengals’ practice squad, but he certainly will be on at least someone’s practice squad in the NFL after that one.
Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, appeared on the Fan Duel show “Run it Back” and explained why they chose the Timberwolves and also what happened with the rumored three-year, $75 million extension with the Warriors.
“With the [three-year, $75 million deal] it was to me, he had to get to a spot to make long-term money, or past this contract, where the basketball was set,” Turner said. “With the basketball comes the money, right? If you understand this business, it’s ‘If it’s a good basketball fit, the money follows.’ The money coming before the basketball is not really how you’re going to continue to make more and more money.”
Jonathan Kuminga will not reunite with Steph Curry (right) after agreeing to a deal with the Timberwolves. Jason Szenes for New York Post
Turner said if Kuminga took a longer deal, he would no longer have control of his future and insisted that he would have less control. Last season, when he was traded ahead of the NBA trade deadline, Kuminga didn’t have a choice in being moved to the Hawks.
Kuminga’s deal with the Timberwolves is for two years and worth up to $12.4 million, including player options after the 2026-2027 NBA season.
Turner said next year’s free-agency option gives Kuminga higher leverage when looking for the right contract that fits him.
“There’s a lot of teams with money, and if you’ve paid attention to JK’s recruiting saga over the last few years, those teams that have been trying to sign and trade for him, Sacramento, Chicago, these teams have a lot of money next year,” Turner said. “Who knows, but the game board is set very, very well for JK for 2027.”
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Jonathan Kuminga suited up for the Hawks after being traded by the Warriors. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
After Kuminga chose the Timberwolves, NBA ESPN insider Shams Charania reported the Lakers had a sign-and-trade offer “that would have been in excess of three years for at least $12 million per year.”
Draymond Green gave a warning to Kuminga about the deal he took with Minnesota; as he alluded to, Kuminga could see his role reduced if the team struggles early in the season.
If Kuminga doesn’t perform up to expectations, he and Turner could likely see their high payday go down the drain.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 28: Evan Hull #43 of the Arizona Cardinals breaks a tackle from Murvin Kenion III #39 of the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter of a preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 28, 2026 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It is finally over and now the Arizona Cardinals and the rest of the NFL prepare for the real thing.
It was another offensive showcase for the Cardinals, as Gardner Minshew and Kedon Slovis combined for 309 yards passing and two touchdowns, but Slovis did throw two interceptions in his audition for the rest of the league.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals running game was phenomenal, as the running backs ran for 166 yards on 32 carries and two touchdowns, led by Evan Hull who had 16 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
Of course, in what we hope is not a preview of what is to come, the Cardinals defense gave up a late lead as the Cardinals lost 42-38. Kyle McCord threw for 226 yards and four touchdowns including the game winner to Kisean Johnson.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 28: Quarterback Jalen Milroe #6 of the Seattle Seahawks throws a first quarter pass during an NFL preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 28, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Seattle Seahawks ended their 2026 NFL preseason on a meh note, with the rare 9-9 tie with the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Much attention was paid to Jalen Milroe’s second full start in as many Seahawks preseason finales. Would he struggle? Would he show enough to have people believing in his potential again? I’d say 16/26 for 223 yards and a touchdown does the trick, especially when he lost completions and yards on numerous drops and penalties throughout the night.
Jason Myers, though? In a contract year? A missed extra point and a missed game-winning field goal capped off a nightmare preseason for the veteran kicker, whose historic five-field goal Super Bowl performance garnered some talk that he could’ve been game MVP. Hopefully we’re not seeing Myers have a drastic fall-off and that this is just an August funk.
Unlike the Seahawks, Kansas City opted to play some starters in the early going, including Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy, Creed Humphrey, George Karlaftis, and Chris Jones. One pass by starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier intended for Worthy was way off target and into the arms of new Seahawks corner Trevon Diggs!
Jalen Milroe was backed up in his end zone following a celebration penalty and a Beau Stephens hold, but he made perhaps his best play as a Seahawk by finding Cody White down the field for a 40-yard gain.
Milroe ripped one over the middle to Elijah Arroyo for another 24 yards, putting the Seahawks in scoring position. An end zone shot to Cody White just missed, while a third-down throw was tipped for an incomplete pass. Jason Myers capped off Milroe’s second series (and arguably his best as a Seahawk) with a 46-yard field goal.
Some poor kick return coverage allowed Brashard Smith to get into Seahawks territory, giving Kansas City a short field and a chance to tie or take the lead. A screen pass to the 1-yard line was called back for holding, which stalled out Nussmeier and company in the red zone. Harrison Butker knotted the score at 3-3.
There were some more good plays from Milroe, who completed a dart over the middle to Cody White into Chiefs territory. Unfortunately, a fluky turnover occurred when a screen to Jacardia Wright was dropped. It was close, but the replay booth upheld the initial call that Milroe’s pass was a lateral and the Chiefs recovered the loose ball.
Nussmeier marched the Chiefs into the red zone again, but consecutive quality reps from Nehemiah Pritchett shut off any thought of a touchdown. Harrison Butker’s second chippie put KC up 6-3.
Seattle’s last drive was promising up until the Seahawks committed two penalties on one play, both of which were declined because Logan Brown and Elijah Arroyo got whipped and gave up a strip sack to second-round rookie R Mason Thomas. Somehow, the Seahawks recovered but had to punt.
After Harrison Butker missed a 58-yard field goal early in the second half, the Seahawks were blessed with great field position for a chance to tie or retake the lead. Milroe hit a big-time throw to Emmanuel Henderson Jr in the face of pressure to set up first-and-goal at the 1. A read-option keeper by Milroe ended up in a negated touchdown due to a holding penalty on Nick Vannett. You know how you atone for the error? You catch a touchdown from Milroe. Jason Myers missed a PAT so the Seahawks lead was just 9-6.
Jalen Milroe and Nick Vannett put the Seahawks ahead
The Chiefs seemed poised to take the lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Seahawks defense made a heroic goal-to-go stand on a night when they were struggling to stop the run. D’Anthony Bell, who was flagged for a harsh personal foul penalty, stymied Brashard Smith on 2nd and goal, then Jalan Gaines swarmed from the backside to deny Smith on 3rd and goal. Andy Reid decided to kick a 19-yard field goal with Butker for some trollish reason to knot it up at 9-9.
With a chance to atone for last Sunday’s limp finish to a game-winning drive, the Seahawks hit one more explosive pass play to get into fringe field goal range. Jalen Milroe hit an over route to rookie Emmanuel Henderson Jr for 30 yards for his final completion of the evening. A few runs gave Jason Myers a 52-yarder from dead center with a chance to end the preseason with a win. He pushed it wide right in a total screwball kick. Game over.
The games count for real starting Wednesday, Sept. 9. It’s the Super Bowl rematch against the New England Patriots at 5:20 pm PT on NBC and Peacock. There will be a new banner unveiled at Lumen Field!
The Falcons still haven't named a starter for their Week 1 game at Pittsburgh, even though Michael Penix Jr. only recently received clearance to participate in team drills after his latest ACL tear.
On Friday night, Tua Tagovailoa got the start in the preseason finale at Miami. Although the assembled Dolphins fans booed him, his current head coach offered a more favorable assessment.
"I thought Tua did a nice job operating," Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters after the game. "Obviously, [he] moved the football there for a couple drives, plenty to clean up. You know, unavoidable center-quarterback exchange, which we have to clean that up. And we will. But I thought, by and large, operated."
The center-quarterback exchange to which Stefanski referred resulted in a fumble, which the Dolphins recovered.
For the night, Tua completed seven of eight passes for 95 yards. In three first-quarter drives, he led the Falcons to a touchdown.
"Tua's a pro," Stefanski said. "I thought he handled the game really well. You know, there's a lot of emotion that comes when you come back into a place that you've been before, and he compartmentalized it, and, you know, other than being on an opposite sideline, I thought he really did a nice job of handling all of it."
Whether that's enough to make him the starter to start the season remains to be seen. If he's getting the assignment, he hasn't been given it yet.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 29: A closeup view of the Miami Dolphins logo on a sweatshirt prior to a game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on December 29, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Miami Dolphins lost to the Atlanta Falcons earlier tonight, ending an ugly preseason schedule in which the team failed to win a game. In fact, other than the opening drive of their first game when the starting offense was on the field, Miami did not score a touchdown this summer. Is that a sign of things to come?
Miami is not expected to be a good team this year. They have the second-longest odds of any team in the league to be named Super Bowl champions. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Dolphins are +50000 to claim the Lombardi Trophy, only ahead of the +100000 Arizona Cardinals.
The Dolphins are the youngest team in the league as they reset their roster from the Mike McDaniel era to new head coach Jeff Hafley’s vision of the club. They are probably going to spend plenty of time this year churning the bottom of the roster and trying to find hidden gems that will shine in the future.
Waiver claims are likely to be a favorite roster move for the Dolphins this season. When a team releases a player, he may be subject to waivers. If so, any team can put in a claim to acquire the player and assume his contract. With the 6 p.m. Eastern deadline on Sunday, August 30, for roster cuts to be made looming, waiver claims are about to take center stage.
But, what are the full rules of the waiver process and what is the waiver order?
What are waivers?
Waivers are a labor process under which a team may release a player from their roster. The player’s contract becomes “claimable” by any team in the league and, if the team is granted the waiver claim, the player moves to the new team under their current contract. It is almost like a trade with no compensation sent to the old team.
How are waiver claims made?
Once a player is waived, the rest of the teams around the league have 24 hours to exercise a claim. This is not a full free-for-all, though. Player waivers are processed at the same time each day (usually 4 p.m. Eastern), and claims are processed at the same time the next day. Teams can submit a waiver claim at any time during the 24-hour period; the league collects all claims and processes them in the order explained below.
For this year’s roster cuts, they are due by 6 p.m. Eastern on Sunday. The league will process waiver claims at 1 p.m. Eastern on Monday.
Are any players exempt from the waivers process? What is released vs. waived?
Players who have accrued four seasons of service time do not have to go through the waivers process. Those players are classified as “released” rather than “waived” and they become free agents immediately rather than having to wait to see if a team claims them.
A player receives credit for an accrued season if they are on a team’s active roster for six games in a season. Players on injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list still receive credit for their service time.
What happens when a team is awarded a waiver claim?
Teams are limited to their 53-man roster size. If they receive a waiver claim and are already at 53 players, they must waive or release another player.
How does the waiver wire impact practice squad players?
Teams cannot start building their practice squads until after the waiver wire processes on Monday. Once players clear waivers without being claimed, they are free to sign with any team in the league, including the team that waived them. This could be on the 53-man roster, or on the 16-man practice squad.
A player on a team’s roster cannot be signed directly to the practice squad. The team will have to waive him, allow the next process deadline to pass, then, if he was not claimed, he can be signed to the practice squad.
What is the waiver order and what happens if multiple teams make a claim?
Waiver claims are processed in the inverse order of league standings. For the first three weeks of the season, the NFL uses the previous year’s standings – which basically makes the waiver order match the draft order, without any trades factored into it.
If multiple teams put in a waiver claim on a player, the higher listed team receives the waiver claim. For example, if a player is waived and both the Las Vegas Raiders and the Miami Dolphins claim him, the Raiders will receive the player and his contract because the Raiders are first in the waiver order while Miami is 11th.
For the waivers that will start being processed on Monday after the cuts have been made, the order is:
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Arizona Cardinals
Tennessee Titans
New York Giants
Cleveland Browns
Washington Commanders
New Orleans Saints
Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
Carolina Panthers
Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars
Chicago Bears
Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams
Denver Broncos
New England Patriots
Seattle Seahawks
Miami is in a decent position to be able to put in waiver claims, but there are still some needy teams in front of them that could block any move the Dolphins try to make.
Who could be subject to waivers from the Dolphins?
The Dolphins have to make some tough decisions over the next couple of days, dropping 38 players from their current roster. If these players are cut, they will be subject to waivers rather than being immediate free agents.
I removed players who are virtual roster locks and should not find themselves waived.
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - JULY 29: General manager James Gladstone speaks with Head Coach Liam Coen and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli of the Jacksonville Jaguars during Training Camp at The Miller Electric Center on July 29, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sunday is cut day, which is always a tough one. Hundreds of players across the NFL suddenly find themselves looking for a new opportunity.
For many, the next stop is the waiver wire. It gives teams the chance to claim players released by another club before they become free agents. Players with fewer than four credited seasons generally must go through the waiver process, while vested veterans with at least four credited seasons can typically become unrestricted free agents immediately when released.
Once a player is placed on waivers, teams have a limited amount of time to submit a claim. If multiple teams want the same player, the team with the highest waiver priority gets him.
Waiver priority is based on the NFL’s waiver order, which is determined by team records and draft position depending on the point in the season. Unlike fantasy football, teams do not automatically drop to the bottom of the list after making a successful claim. This means a team with a high waiver priority can potentially claim multiple players if it has the highest priority for each one.
NFL 2026 waiver wire order
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Arizona Cardinals
Tennessee Titans
New York Giants
Cleveland Browns
Washington Commanders
New Orleans Saints
Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
Carolina Panthers
Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars
Chicago Bears
Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams
Denver Broncos
New England Patriots
Seattle Seahawks
Jacksonville currently has +2700 odds to win Super Bowl LXI, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Based on the Jaguars’ position in the waiver wire order, those odds might be too high.
