Week 1 of the regular season is finally here, and teams across the NFL are putting the finishing touches on their rosters while others are dealing with last-minute injury news before the season begins Wednesday with the Super Bowl between Patriots and Seahawks.
The Atlanta Falcons officially named Tua Tagovailoa as their Week 1 starting quarterback, while the Dallas Cowboys suffered a blow to their offensive line with All-Pro guard Tyler Smith slated for thumb surgery.
Below, the Niners and Rams are preparing to play the first NFL game in Australia, and one side is confirming the return of a pass rusher while the other is being more secretive about theirs.
Here’s the latest news from around the league on Monday.
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald remained noncommittal Monday about whether he will travel, let alone suit up for the team’s Week 1 opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia.
Speaking to reporters after practice, the recently retired veteran offered vague answers when asked if he plans to make the trip and play Thursday.
“I feel so good. I feel good,” Donald said when asked about the trip to Australia. “Come up with a game plan and see what happens.”
Donald, who ended his retirement on August 30 to rejoin the Rams, continues to work through a progressive increase in conditioning.
While coach Sean McVay previously showed the whole list is expected to make the flight, Donald’s current playing day count and active availability remain a day-to-day assessment as kickoff approaches.
Meanwhile, Myles Garrett looked like he was trying to add more power to his shots, so the Rams’ pass rush will still be enough to handle opposing offenses.
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris he told reporters On Monday, star defensive end Nick Bosa will play in Thursday’s season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
Bosa, who tore his right ACL in Week 3 of last season and dealt with knee tendinitis during training camp, returned to practice last week before flying with the team.
“He’s going to play. We don’t hide that.” Morris told reporters.
Bosa’s return provides a key boost to a San Francisco pass rush that finished last in the NFL in sacks last season. While the team can manage his rapid volume as he continues to build his conditioning, his active status anchors the 49ers’ defense for Australia’s historic start.
Browns’ Todd Monken hints Taylen Green could be QB2
Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken he told reporters On Monday, sixth-round rookie quarterback Taylen Green could be active for Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, potentially serving as the primary game-day option behind starter Deshaun Watson.
When asked if Green could win the active game day spot over Shedeur Sanders to run specialized athletic packages, Monken left the door open.
“Could be,” Monken said. “There may be a package where we have it.” Monken added that while activating three centre-backs on matchday remains a possibility. Green, a sixth-round pick in April’s draft, made the Browns’ 53-man roster as QB3 after Dillon Gabriel was placed on damaged reserve due to a back injury.
Monk named Watson the starting quarterback on August 24 after a training camp contest between him and Sanders.
While the Dallas Cowboys’ offense has undergone constant changes in recent seasons, guard Tyler Smith has remained a consistent anchor.
Now, the Cowboys must survive without him after coach Brian Schottenheimer announced Monday that Smith will be leaving the field. He is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks after undergoing thumb surgery.
The surgery will force Smith to miss at least the first four games of the regular season while opening up a spot on the active 53-man roster.
“Tyler Smith will have thumb surgery tomorrow morning.” Schottenheimer said during his press conference. “It’s something he’s just dealt with.”
With Smith sidelined, forward TJ Bass is slated to take over as the starting left guard.
Bass joined the organization as a free agent and has made 10 career starts, including five last year. The Cowboys kept Bass this offseason after putting one second round free agent tender on it.
The Cowboys will open their season on Sunday night when they travel to New York to face the Giants on Sunday Night Football.
The New York Giants officially released veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton on Monday, ending his seven-year tenure with the organization.
Selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the 29-year-old was the longest-tenured player on New York’s roster before his release. Slayton had 296 catches for 4,435 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in seven seasons in New York.
The decision clears roster space as the Giants finalize a receiving corps led by Malik Nabers, Odell Beckham Jr., Darnell Mooney and rookie Malachi Fields ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
Slayton posted a farewell message on Monday X thanking the organization, officially becoming an unrestricted free agent.
The Giants signed Slayton to a three-year, $36 million deal before last season. He needed $13 million this season.
The move creates just over $3 million in cap space for this year.
After a competitive quarterback battle, the Atlanta Falcons are naming Tua Tagovailoa the starter for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Head coach Kevin Stefanski did proclamation official Monday morning.
Michael Penix Jr. is still recovering from season-ending knee surgery, though he is expected to return to the field later this year. Until he is fully cleared, Tagovailoa will take the reins as Atlanta’s starter.
With Penix’s return still unknown, Stefanski is expected to play Cooper Rush as the backup to start the season.
Tagovailoa is coming off an up-and-down recent season in Miami. Over 14 starts with the Dolphins, he completed 67.7% of his passes for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while adding 43 yards on the ground.
Injury news and notes
- Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales remains optimistic Jonathon Brooks will suit up for Sunday’s opener against the Chicago Bears despite missing his third straight practice due to general soreness.
- Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur expressed optimism on Monday first-round pick Jeremiah Love was slated to play in Sunday’s opener against the Los Angeles Chargers as he completes his recovery from a preseason high-foot sprain.
- Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is expected to play in Thursday’s Week 1 game against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia after being held out during August practice sessions while recovering from a psoas injury.
- Six-time Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith has agreed to terms on a new deal with the Minnesota Vikings, officially turning into a franchise for his 15th NFL season after considering retirement during the offseason.
- The New York Giants agreed to a two-year, $13 million extension with the veteran backup quarterback Jameis Winstonkeeping him under contract until 2028.
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