Week 1 of the preseason is in the books, and the NFL already has a little bit of everything: a rookie quarterback flashing big-time upside, a blockbuster extension that resets the market, and a growing injury list that could reshape a few teams before the real games begin.
Ty Simpson grabbed the loudest spotlight of the opening weekend. The Rams rookie, taken 13th overall in a draft pick that surprised plenty of people, delivered a debut that looked anything but tentative.
Simpson finished 21-of-25 for 190 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, and while the setting was only preseason, the performance showed exactly why Los Angeles spent that kind of draft capital on him. The size of the moment didn’t seem to bother him.
He wasn’t the only rookie quarterback to turn heads, either. Steelers rookie Drew Allar also put together a strong showing, completing 10-of-13 passes for 153 yards, throwing two touchdowns and adding another score on the ground. Even so, Simpson’s night stood out because of how clean and efficient it was, and because of the attention that came with being the No. 13 pick.
Seattle, meanwhile, made a statement of a different kind by locking up Devon Witherspoon on a four-year, $132M extension that includes more than $101M in guaranteed money, the most ever for a cornerback. The Seahawks had already shown they were willing to pay top dollar, making Jaxon Smith-Njigba the highest-paid wide receiver in the league months earlier.
Now they’ve done the same on the defensive side for Witherspoon, the No. 5 pick in the 2023 draft. He’s earned a Pro Bowl selection in each of his three seasons, picked up second-team All-Pro honors and won the Super Bowl last season.
He also finished with 72 total tackles in 2025, fourth-most on the team, for the league’s top-ranked scoring defense from a year ago.
The injury report brought a much rougher tone to the weekend. Minnesota Vikings defensive back Jamal Adams is set to miss the entire 2026 season after the team confirmed Sunday that he suffered a knee injury. For a player whose career has already been defined by injuries, it’s another brutal setback.
There was better news for the Jets, at least relatively speaking, after running back Breece Hall picked up a groin injury in practice. Head coach Aaron Glenn said the expected timeline is 2-3 weeks, which doesn’t sound like a major alarm for a back coming off his best season.
The Saints also took a hit when rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson suffered a hamstring injury in training camp practice on Aug. 13.
He’s expected to miss “roughly two months.” And in Arizona, third overall pick Jeremiyah Love dealt with a high-ankle sprain that could keep him out of the team’s Week 1 opener against the Los Angeles Chargers.
With two more weeks of preseason action still ahead, the caution flag is already out around the league. For teams still sorting out position battles, the risk is obvious. For everyone else, protecting key players may be the smarter play.
In Other News...
Trevon Diggs Gives Seahawks A Needed Answer With One Big Catch
The Seahawks added some much-needed cornerback depth during training camp by signing Trevon Diggs, a move that immediately makes sense on a roster that had been looking for help at the position after Riq Woolen left in free agency. Diggs also arrives with some built-in familiarity, since he has prior connections with several Seahawks players and coaches, which should help him settle in quickly as camp competition picks up.
Even with that background, the real question is how much he can give Seattle right away. Diggs has spent the past stretch trying to reestablish himself, and the Seahawks are clearly betting that a fresh start and those existing relationships can help him become more than just a camp addition. For a defense trying to shore up its cornerback room, the signing is a worthwhile swing, but the bigger answer still depends on how the rest of his comeback unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Just Took On A Controversial Gamble With Terrion Arnold
The Seahawks made a head-turning addition at cornerback, reaching an agreement with free agent Terrion Arnold in a move that surfaced during a recent episode of HBOs Hard Knocks. Seattle is treating it as a developmental swing for the long term, with no immediate on-field expectations, but the signing still lands as one of the more unusual roster bets of the offseason for a team trying to balance future upside with present-day depth.
Arnolds situation is what gives the move its uneasy edge, and why the details around his status matter so much to Seattle. His legal case is still unfolding, which means the Seahawks are taking on a player whose availability remains uncertain while the organization waits for the next step in a process that could keep this gamble in limbo for some time. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Still Searching For Answers At Fullback After Brutal Injury
The Seahawks are still piecing together their fullback room after Robbie Ouzts went down with a season-ending injury, and the search has already led them to Jackson Acker. Seattle is working out Acker, who was recently released by the Bills, as the team keeps sorting through options at a position that has suddenly become a moving target. The group also includes Brock Lampe, Brady Russell and a few tight ends who can help bridge the gap while the staff looks for the right fit.
Lampe has already gotten some game action in the preseason, but the competition is far from settled and the Seahawks do not appear ready to hand the job to anyone just yet. With Ouzts unavailable, every candidate is being judged on how well he can handle the blocking, versatility and physical edge Seattle wants from the spot, which makes this one of those late-summer battles that could linger a while longer. [Read more 🡒]