NFL Eyeing 2026 Game In Rio de Janeiro
The second game of the 2025 regular season took place in São Paulo, with the Chiefs-Chargers contest marking the second straight year in which an NFL game was played in Brazil. The league intends to continue that trend in 2026, but another city is being targeted. 
The NFL is expected to play a game in Rio de Janeiro next year, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports. Each of the league’s first two Brazil contests took place at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo, a venue which has a capacity of under 50,000. Playing at the legendary Maracanã Stadium in Rio would represent a notable contrast.
The Maracanã has a capacity above 70,000, and it has hosted a pair of FIFA World Cup finals along with the 2016 Summer Olympics. Jones notes the NFL has long shown interest in staging games in Rio, so it would come as no surprise if that were to take place next fall. A mutual interest is known to exist for a long-term arrangement in Brazil, and discussions have taken place about multiple games per year taking place in the country.
Brazil has long been one of the NFL’s largest international markets. As such, expanding the league’s presence there would be logical given the major investment made in global outreach over recent years. The CBA allows for as many as eight international regular season games per year, and seven will take place over the course of the 2025 season.
Next year, Melbourne will host a game with the Rams operating as the designated home team for the NFL’s first contest in Australia. The 2026 season is also likely to include at least one Brazil game, and it could very well take place in Rio.
Packers Extend P Daniel Whelan
SEPTEMBER 7: Providing details on the pact, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Whelan’s extension is two years in length and has a total value of $6.2MM. Whelan is now on the books through 2027, and he received a $2.2MM signing bonus.
SEPTMEBER 4: After extending their long snapper last week, the Packers have now locked in their punter for the foreseeable future. The team announced that they’ve signed Daniel Whelan to an extension. Terms of the deal have yet to be reported.
Undrafted out of UC Davis in 2022, Whelan had a brief stint with the Saints before having to settle for a job with the XFL’s DC Defenders. After impressing in that gig, the special teamer earned a preseason contract from the Packers ahead of the 2024 campaign.
He ended up beating out Pat O’Donnell for the job, making him the first Irish-born NFL player since Neil O’Donoghue in the 1980s. Whelan has spent the past two years as Green Bay’s full-time punter, appearing in all 34 regular season games and all three of their postseason contests.
Whelan has been consistent over that span, with his yards per punt (46.2 in 2023, 46.1 in 2024) and net yards per punt (39.4 in 2023, 39.6 in 2024) generally staying the same across both campaigns. This past season, he became the first punter in Packers history to average 46-plus yards per punt and 40-plus net yards per punt in a single season. He also sits atop the franchise all-time leaderboard in punting average and net punting average (among players with at least 100 punts).
With long snapper Matt Orzech inking an extension in late August, the Packers have now committed to all of their special teams leaders for the next few years. To kick off the offseason, the team signed kicker Brandon McManus to a three-year, $15.3MM extension.
Buccaneers Move Graham Barton To LT
The Buccaneers are without left tackle Tristan Wirfs to begin the season. It has long been known their All-Pro blindside protector will miss time in September, with veteran Charlie Heck viewed as the top option to replace him on a temporary basis. 
For at least Week 1, however, that is not the case. General manager Jason Licht revealed shortly before Sunday’s game (via team reporter Scott Smith) that Heck would not be used as a starter. Instead, center Graham Barton was shifted to left tackle for Sunday’s contest. Ben Bredeson moved from guard to center as a result, with Michael Jordan taking on guard duties.
Barton primarily played as a left tackle in college, but the Duke product was viewed as an interior blocker upon entering the NFL. Indeed, Barton handled center responsibilities during his rookie season, finding immediate success in that role. The 2024 first-rounder will no doubt return to the middle of the O-line when Wirfs recovers from meniscus surgery.
That could take place at some point in September, although there is no firm timeline in place. If Barton manages to provide Tampa Bay with adequate play on the blindside, he could help stabilize the offensive line until Wirfs is back in the fold. The play of that unit will depend as well on Bredeson successfully moving to center. The sixth-year veteran has spent the majority of his career as a guard, including exclusively working there with Tampa Bay last season. Bredeson has spent limited time at center in the NFL, though.
Jordan, meanwhile, was among the Buccaneers’ roster cuts but was quickly retained on their practice squad after clearing waivers. The 27-year-old was elevated to the gameday roster for Week 1, and he will serve not as depth up front but rather as a starting presence. Based on how the first few games play out, Jordan could find himself on the active roster by the time Wirfs is healthy and Tampa Bay’s preferred offensive line setup comes into focus.
Patriots Notes: Peppers, Woods, Wilson, Belichick
The Patriots overhauled their approach to the safety position this year by cutting Jabrill Peppers and benching Kyle Dugger, their starting duo for the past few seasons.
The two veterans are better at playing downhill than covering the deep areas of field, the latter of which is what new head coach Mike Vrabel looks for in his safeties. Those roles will now be filled by former Falcon and Charger Jaylinn Hawkins and fourth-round rookie Craig Woodson.
New England put Dugger on the trade block before roster cut-downs, but his $9.75MM guaranteed salary was likely a significant obstacle to a deal. The Patriots also looked into moving Peppers, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, but similarly received little interest despite a more tradable contract with only $4.3MM in guaranteed salary remaining.
Pepper has yet to catch on with another team, though he will have a better chance at signing after Week 1 when veteran salaries are non-guaranteed. Dugger, meanwhile, seems headed out of New England within the next year. The Patriots could try to re-bait the hook at the trade deadline if there are safety injuries around the league; if no club bites, he’ll likely be a cap casualty next offseason.
- New England was the only team to claim Rams cornerback Charles Woods off waivers, according to Reiss. He worked closely with new Patriots vice president of football operations and strategy John Streicher on Los Angeles’ special teams unit in 2024. The Patriots also claimed Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones with priority over the Bears, but they rescinded their claim after securing Woods.
- The Patriots were also the only team to claim quarterback Tommy DeVito, per Reiss, despite reports that he would receive more interest on the waiver wire.
- New England is entering the 2025 season with almost $47MM of cap space and won’t come close to hitting the ceiling this year. However, they will be able to roll over this year’s space to set up more spending next offseason, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Hearld.
- Head coach Mike Vrabel named rookie Jared Wilson as the Week 1 starter at left guard. The third-round pick out of Georgia will line up between fellow rookie Will Campbell and veteran Garrett Bradbury.
- Bill Belichick addressed his decision to ban the Patriots from North Carolina’s facilities during a recent press conference, saying (via The Athletic’s David Ubben), “It’s clear I’m not welcome there at their facility. So they’re not welcome at ours.” His dispute with his former team has continued over perceived slights on both sides, per Ubben’s colleague Dianna Russini, including a charge that a Patriots staffer was told not to wear UNC gear in the team facility.
49ers Want To Retain RT Colton McKivitz, Have Initiated Extension Talks
49ers right tackle Colton McKivitz signed a one-year extension last March, so he is entering a platform campaign. As opposed to many impending free agents who publicly downplay the appeal of a massive payday, McKivitz is a bit more upfront.
“It is a big deal. You see what guys are getting (paid) now so it’s hard to not be thinking about it, right?” McKivitz said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). “It is a lot of money. You’re in the NFL for, obviously, winning and being good. But money is a hard thing to not think about.”
McKivitz, 29, was selected by the Niners in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. He played sparingly over his first three years in the league but was anointed the starting RT in 2023 after Mike McGlinchey defected to the Broncos in free agency.
Just before McGlinchey signed with Denver in March 2023, McKivitz inked a two-year, $4.65MM re-up, and he then agreed to the aforementioned one-year add-on in March 2024.
As such, he has earned “just” $10.27MM in his career to date, and he is due to make $3.19MM in base salary this year. So it stands to reason that he is hungrily eyeing the booming OT market.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the club would like to retain McKivitz, and Branch indicates San Francisco thinks more highly of him than former starting guard Aaron Banks, who was allowed to depart via free agency this offseason. McKivitz, who presently ranks 25th among the league’s right tackles in terms of average annual salary, said the Niners have contacted his agent to discuss an extension, but “nothing crazy is going on at the moment.”
Branch believes the team is likely offering McKivitz far less than what he would stand to earn on the open market. And after accepting several modest deals, McKivitz may have a bigger goal in mind.
In terms of Pro Football Focus’ evaluations, McKivitz improved across the board from 2023 to 2024. His uptick in play was particularly noticeable in his pass-blocking efforts, as he surrendered nine sacks and 59 pressures in 17 games in 2023 but just two sacks and 36 pressures in the same number of games last year. His 72.2 overall PFF grade placed him 37th among 140 offensive tackles.
Further improvement, or even a reprisal of his 2024 performance, should allow McKivitiz to rocket up the RT pay scale.
NFC North Rumors: Hafley, Thielen, Ratledge
In 2024, Jeff Hafley’s first year as the Packers’ defensive coordinator, Green Bay ranked fifth and sixth in total and scoring defense, respectively, while also finishing third in interceptions and seventh in sacks. That performance garnered Hafley a head coaching interview with the Jets this offseason, and more such interviews could be on the horizon.
Per Jeff Howe of The Athletic (subscription required), Hafley is viewed as a legitimate HC candidate in some league circles, and he has a chance to elevate his stock even further given the Packers’ addition of star edge defender Micah Parsons. Howe already expects teams in search of a defensive-minded head coach in next year’s cycle to do their homework on Hafley, and another strong showing from his unit will solidify his place on the HC radar.
Now for more from the NFC North:
- A trade at the end of August brought WR Adam Thielen back to the Vikings after a two-year stint with the Panthers. In a comprehensive look behind the scenes of the swap, Joseph Person of The Athletic (subscription required) says Carolina was not actively looking to deal Thielen, who became an important veteran leader. Given that, and given the Panthers’ leverage – Minnesota’s need for a veteran wideout was well-documented – Carolina originally asked the Vikes for a third-round pick in exchange for Thielen and a fifth-rounder. The Panthers wanted to get the equivalent of fourth-round value in a Thielen trade, and they eventually got there while shaving off $7MM in cap space they can roll over to next year. The Vikes, meanwhile, did not have to give up a third.
- Rookie Tate Ratledge was initially penciled in as the Lions’ starting center in the wake of Frank Ragnow’s retirement, but that experiment lasted all of three training camp practices before Detroit shifted Ratledge to right guard and veteran Graham Glasgow to the pivot. However, that had less to do with Ratledge’s performance than Glasgow’s existing rapport with QB Jared Goff, and as Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network writes, GM Brad Holmes still sees Ratledge as the long-term center, where he may have an even higher ceiling (despite his success at guard in college).
- The Lions waived sixth-round rookie Ahmed Hassanein with an injury settlement during final roster cutdowns at the end of August, but Holmes still expects the defensive end to suit up for the team this year (via Jeremy Reisman of PrideofDetroit.com). Holmes said there is a handshake deal in place for Hassanein, who has cleared waivers, to return to Detroit once the length of the injury settlement term (plus an additional three weeks) is complete. That term is presently unknown.
- Former Lions long snapper Don Muhlbach will serve in a game management role for the club this year, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Muhlbach, a two-time Pro Bowler and the second-longest-tenured player in franchise history, joined the team in an administrative role shortly after his 2021 release. He will now assist HC Dan Campbell with replay reviews, rules interpretations, and “other gameday trends.”
Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez Sidelined For Week 1
The Patriots will be without star cornerback Christian Gonzalez in Week 1 due to a hamstring injury, but rookie offensive tackle Will Campbell will make his NFL debut.
Campbell was listed as questionable on New England’s final injury report, but the No. 5 pick will play through an ankle injury to protect Drake Maye‘s blind side.
Head coach Mike Vrabel said (via Chad Graff of The Athletic) on Friday that Gonzalez would be sidelined for the Patriots’ regular season opener against the Raiders.
“Everybody heals differently,” said Vrabel this week (via Graff), adding that he wants to make sure that his players can “do their job with confidence…protect themselves on the field and…can’t make it any worse.”
Gonzalez’s absence will leave the Patriots without their best cornerback and arguably their best defensive player against a new-look Raiders offense. Third-year corner Alex Austin will likely be the next man up at boundary cornerback opposite veteran Carlton Davis with Marcus Jones in the slot.
Gonzalez suffered the injury during the Patriots’ first day of padded practices on July 28. He hasn’t practiced since, making it unclear if he’ll even be back for Week 2, which brings a tougher set of receivers in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
The 2023 first-round pick endured a disappointing rookie year that ended after just four games due to a major shoulder injury. He came back to start 16 games with 978 defensive snaps, two interceptions, and a 71.7 passer rating when targeted. That earned him a second-team All-Pro nod as well as a fifth-place finish in Comeback Player of the Year voting, setting up a highly-anticipated third campaign ahead of his extension eligibility next offseason. Those expectations will have to wait at least one more game while Gonzalez gets back to full strength.
49ers ‘Aren’t Overly Concerned’ With RB Christian McCaffrey’s Calf Issue; McCaffrey Will Start In Week 1
SEPTEMBER 7: McCaffrey will start in the Niners’ regular season opener, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A source told Schefter that CMC is “good to go.”
SEPTEMBER 6: When star running back Christian McCaffrey‘s name appeared rather suddenly on the 49ers’ injury report Thursday, a lot of fans (and fantasy owners) likely experienced some PTSD remembering McCaffrey’s 2024 campaign. For whatever it’s worth to those people, “the 49ers aren’t overly concerned” about his status this year, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. 
Following a season in which McCaffrey delivered a first-team All-Pro season and won Offensive Player of the Year, McCaffrey was a surprising scratch for the team’s Week 1 matchup after being limited in practice the week before with a leg issue. He had remained optimistic throughout the week about his ability to play, but when he tested his calf the day of the game, it “didn’t feel right” and the team and player opted to let him rest.
When he still couldn’t go in Week 2, the 49ers opted for an injured reserve stint. A headline-grabbing trip to Germany hinted just how bad things might be, and after returning for a four-game stretch, McCaffrey was shut down again in Week 14, this time for the remainder of the season.
The year, the offseason buzz has been all about how McCaffrey had moved past the injuries and had no physical limitations in offseason workouts. In addition to the prior offseason’s promise to reduce his regular season workload — a promise perhaps made on a monkey’s paw — the team was dedicated to reducing his offseason workload this year, as well.
Then, on Thursday, McCaffrey removed himself from practice after “tweaking his calf,” per Vic Tafur and Matt Barrows, also of The Athletic. McCaffrey asserted that the decision was precautionary in nature and not indicative of his availability, saying, “I feel great about where I’m at. Unfortunately, when you have an injury history like I have, sometimes when you don’t practice, things get, uh, blown out of proportion. But, like I said, I feel great.”
The optimism mirrors similar sentiments displayed a year ago, but Tafur and Barrows point out some differences. They say that last year, McCaffrey was frequently bothered by flare-ups of Achilles tendonitis in both legs, requiring sporadic practice appearances throughout the summer. This year, aside from the occasional veteran rest day, McCaffrey hadn’t needed to limit himself at all until Thursday.
Still, the player and team claim his rest yesterday was done out of an abundance of caution. He warmed up with the team on Friday but worked out with trainers off to the side as a non-participant in practice. He’s listed as questionable for tomorrow afternoon’s season opener in Seattle, but according to multiple sources, he’s not in a lot of pain, and he feels great about where he’s at. Even if he does miss some time, though, the team feels comfortable that newcomer Brian Robinson can help fill in.
Browns, Round 2 RB Quinshon Judkins Agree To Fully Guaranteed Deal
SEPTEMBER 7: In an update on this matter, Schefter reports Judkins will meet with the NFL this week as part of the league’s investigation. However, Cabot says Judkins is not expected to be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, and one source tells Schefter it is likely Judkins will make his professional debut against the Ravens in Week 2.
SEPTEMBER 6: Quinshon Judkins‘ off-field situation continues to cloud his NFL career, even after a recent resolution. But the second-round Browns draftee is moving toward an early-season debut.
The Browns agreed to terms with the running back on a fully guaranteed rookie contract Saturday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Judkins is not expected to play this week but could see his debut come in Week 2, Rapoport adds. He will fly to Cleveland to sign his deal this afternoon, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who confirms the former Ohio State and Ole Miss back’s debut date is not yet known.
Chosen 36th overall, Judkins was ticketed for a fully guaranteed contract based on where the line of demarcation for such deals settled back in July. Tyler Shough receiving a fully guaranteed Saints deal — as the No. 40 overall choice — always pointed to Judkins securing such terms. But charges of battery and domestic violence led to this process dragging to the eve of Week 1.
Even with prosecutors deciding not to move forward with this case, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot notes the NFL is still conducting an investigation — one that could lead to a suspension under the personal conduct policy.
Cleveland is expected to receive a temporary roster exemption for Judkins, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. This can last up to two games. Judkins, 21, has not practiced since the Browns’ offseason program. Needing a ramp-up period before being deemed ready to play, Judkins may well be sidelined beyond Week 2. But this agreement puts an early-season debut in play while also finalizing the 2025 rookie class’ contracts. It is an $11.4MM slot deal.
Suspensions typically void guarantees, which led to the Judkins contractual slowdown. That remains a matter to monitor, but the Browns may have inserted language — as they did with Deshaun Watson — to protect the rookie RB in the event of a ban. For the time being, Jerome Ford and fourth-round rookie Dylan Sampson will be expected to lead Cleveland’s backfield. But Judkins will have a say soon.
One of the impact transfers for the Buckeyes last season, Judkins heard his name called before teammate TreVeyon Henderson. The Browns chose Judkins two spots before the Patriots drafted Henderson. While the latter has received far more buzz ahead of his rookie season, Judkins drew extensive interest during the draft runup — after a college career that included three 1,000-yard rushing seasons in three years. He amassed 1,567 rushing yards and 16 TDs as a true freshman, and after leading the SEC with 15 rushing scores a year later, the former high-end recruit formed a 1,000-1,000 duo with Henderson in Columbus.
The Browns bid farewell to longtime backfield stalwart Nick Chubb this offseason, letting the former Pro Bowler walk in free agency. Chubb joined the Texans, who are expected to give the former Browns second-rounder a key role in light of Joe Mixon landing on the reserve/NFI list. Cleveland has Ford — Chubb’s primary fill-in over the past two seasons — under contract for one more year. Judkins and Sampson, however, represent longer-term solutions in being contracted through 2028.
Jaxson Dart Will Be Giants’ QB2; Team Has Designed Package Of Plays For Dart
One month ago, it was reported that the Giants were willing to let rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart sit out the entirety of the 2025 campaign. However, after an impressive training camp and preseason, Dart could see the field as soon as Week 1.
As Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post observed earlier this week, the Giants listed Dart as the No. 2 QB on their unofficial depth chart, behind starter Russell Wilson but ahead of Wilson’s fellow veteran passer, Jameis Winston. And, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, the team has designed a package of plays for Dart, whose status as the QB2 will allow him to enter and exit the game at will (as opposed to the third, emergency quarterback, which is the role Winston will occupy, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan).
Of course, there is no guarantee the package of plays will be utilized, as that will be dictated by situational strategy. It is nonetheless noteworthy that the Giants’ coaching staff would take this route.
As Dan Duggan of The Athletic points out, Dart is more athletic than Wilson at this stage of the two players’ careers, but he is not a Taysom Hill-esque threat as a runner. So if he is simply going to enter the game and run a series of “traditional” plays, the team risks getting Wilson out of rhythm while also relying on a rookie to effectively run the offense without the opportunity to develop a rhythm of his own. And, if Wilson struggles but Dart shows promise (however limited his cameo might be), the coaching staff could be facing a full-blown QB controversy this week.
Rapoport and Garafolo also acknowledge the fact that Dart does not pose the type of athletic threat that players like Hill and Jalen Milroe do. Instead, they believe the goal of the “Dart package” is simply to get the young signal-caller on the field and get his feet wet in regular season action.
In three preseason games, Dart connected on 32 of 47 passes (68% completion rate) for three touchdowns. He did not throw an interception, and he added six carries for 52 yards and a score.