It might have only been a preseason game, but Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza had a chance to start his first NFL game on Thursday night against the Houston Texans.
These brawls are starting to become a common occurrence in joint practices, and it is a problem the NFL is going to have to find a way to address.
The workhorse back returned to practice after sitting for a while with an injury, but he may still not take the field for the season opener, though not for a physical impediment.
Tight end Sam LaPorta played in only nine games last season for the Detroit Lions. He's now at risk for missing time in 2026.
Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon remains sidelined by a persistent soft-tissue injury, and questions are growing about whether he will be ready to contribute when the regular season begins.
Games like this are why Las Vegas is taking a calm, patient approach with Mendoza.
The opening of 2026 NFL training camp brings big hope for all 32 fan bases. These are the 25 developments to watch as we progress toward Week 1.
John Harbaugh has been forced to make a lot of tough decisions for the New York Giants this season.
Quarterback Drake Maye and the New England Patriots are hoping to make it back to the big game.
A joint practice between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints this week turned into a football fight club, with several brawls breaking out throughout the course of the day.
Tagovailoa also failed to impress in the Falcons' preseason opener against the Denver Broncos on Aug. 14.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor believes one less visible trait separates quarterback Joe Burrow from nearly everyone else in the NFL.
Shortly after Kyler Murray was named the team's Week 1 starting quarterback, whispers surfaced suggesting that Wentz could enter the regular season as the Vikings' primary backup over McCarthy.
Be it stars returning from late-season injuries to starter-level players who missed most or all of last season, the NFL features a host of rehab odysseys to follow as training camps near.
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes isn't really known for giving out huge contracts. But there's one deal where Holmes, head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions may have paid too much.
Patrick Mahomes watched on as the Kansas City Chiefs opened up the preseason with a 20-12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, sitting a majority of their starters in the process. The Chiefs will likely do the same in their final two preseason matches, when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday and the Seattle Seahawks on Aug.
The move gives Denver more depth at an important position. However, the type of player the Broncos can expect from Rapp remains a question.
It's believed Monken could name his Week 1 QB1 as soon as Sunday or Monday so that the Browns' preseason finale against the New England Patriots on Aug. 27 can serve as a "dress rehearsal" game.
Joe Burrow is done treating a Cincinnati Bengals championship as something that can always wait another season.
Crosby has played only for the Raiders since they drafted him in 2019, so he is quite familiar with going up against the division-rival Chiefs and Mahomes.
Future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers will begin the 2026 regular season as the starting quarterback of the Steelers, but he is expected to retire following the campaign.
After earning the starting QB job for the North Texas Eagles in 2025, the former walk-on tied for second in the country in passing TDs (34) and ranked first in passing yards (4,379).
Dallas Cowboys second-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer hasn't loved what he has seen from right tackle Terence Steele in training camp and the preseason.
Mahomes is coming off the first major injury of his career.
Vita Vea is back in the fold with the Tampa Bay Bucs after signing a one-year extension, and he suggests he will stay in Tampa as long as Todd Bowles is coach.
Warren exited Wednesday's joint practice with the Atlanta Falcons prematurely with a reported groin injury.
Williams' accuracy issues have remained a significant talking point through the summer.
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