Chairshot NFL News Report (7/30/2026): Taysom Says Goodbye, Nabers Returns and Cousins Takes QB1

Taysom Hill says goodbye to New Orleans, Malik Nabers returns to the field, Kirk Cousins opens as Raiders QB1 and injuries hit NFL camps.

The first full wave of NFL training-camp practices delivered immediate injury concerns for the Saints and Bengals.

New Orleans fears Bryan Bresee could miss the entire season, Cincinnati is awaiting answers on Shemar Stewart and the Raiders have established Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback entering camp.

It’s the Chairshot NFL News Report for July 30, 2026!

Taysom Hill Says Goodbye to New Orleans

Taysom Hill has announced that he will not return to the New Orleans Saints following nine seasons with the organization.

Hill remains undecided about whether he will continue his playing career, but he did not want his absence from training camp to be misinterpreted. He thanked the franchise, the city and Saints fans for embracing his family throughout his time in New Orleans.

General manager Mickey Loomis praised Hill’s intelligence, versatility, leadership and willingness to fill whatever role the team needed.

Hill’s departure closes one of the NFL’s most unusual individual runs. New Orleans used him as a quarterback, runner, receiver, blocker and special-teams contributor rather than forcing him into one traditional position.

Another team may still believe his versatility can help its offense, but Hill’s message left open the possibility that his playing career is over. Either way, the Saints will need several players to replace the collection of roles he performed.

Malik Nabers Makes Encouraging Return

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers participated in more individual work than expected during the team’s first training-camp practice.

Nabers is nine months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee. Head coach John Harbaugh said the Giants will determine his workload daily based on how the knee responds.

Nabers earned a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie after catching 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns. The knee injury limited him to four games last season. Running back Cam Skattebo also returned to the field after recovering from the major ankle injury that ended his 2025 season.

The Giants do not need Nabers to win training camp. They need him healthy enough to regain his explosive ability when the regular season begins.

His participation is an encouraging first step, but consecutive practices will provide a better test than one workout. New York’s medical staff must balance rebuilding his conditioning against creating unnecessary risk in July.

Maxx Crosby Returns to Full-Team Practice

Maxx Crosby completed a full-team practice Wednesday for the first time since December.

The Raiders defensive end underwent surgery on his left knee in January and missed the team’s voluntary workouts and mandatory minicamp. Crosby said the early portion of his recovery left him unable to bend the knee and made routine daily activities difficult.

The five-time Pro Bowl selection has recorded 133 tackles for loss, 69.5 sacks and 164 quarterback hits since entering the league in 2019.

Crosby’s return gives the Raiders more than their best pass rusher. His intensity establishes the standard for a defense attempting to support an offense that may undergo a quarterback transition during the season.

Las Vegas should still manage his workload. A healthy Crosby in September matters more than allowing him to treat every July practice like a regular-season game.

Saints Fear Bryan Bresee Suffered Torn ACL

The New Orleans Saints fear defensive tackle Bryan Bresee suffered a season-ending torn ACL during the team’s first training-camp practice.

Bresee is undergoing additional testing to determine the severity of the injury. The 24-year-old started all 15 games he played last season, recording 37 tackles, 2.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits.

New Orleans exercised Bresee’s fifth-year option during the offseason, keeping the former first-round pick under contract through 2027 at a scheduled salary of $13.9 million.

Losing Bresee would remove one of the Saints’ most established interior defenders before the team has even reached padded practices. New Orleans can add another veteran, but replacing a former first-round pick entering what should be the prime of his career will not be a simple transaction.

The Saints must wait for confirmation before determining their next move. The early fear, however, is that the defense will be forced to restructure its interior rotation for the entire season.

Shemar Stewart Carted From Bengals Practice

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart was carted from Wednesday’s practice after suffering an apparent injury to his left leg during 11-on-11 drills.

Stewart’s leg appeared to buckle and hyperextend as he went to the ground. He was initially unable to place weight on the leg and was later seen using crutches while wearing a protective brace.

The 22-year-old recorded one sack and two tackles for loss across eight games during his rookie season after Cincinnati selected him with the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Cincinnati does not yet know how much time Stewart will miss, making any projection premature. The scene itself was concerning, particularly for a player expected to take a significant developmental step during his second season.

The Bengals have invested heavily in rebuilding their defensive front. A serious injury to Stewart would remove one of their most physically gifted young defenders before he could establish a larger role.

Kirk Cousins Opens Raiders Camp as QB1

Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has named Kirk Cousins the team’s starting quarterback entering training camp.

Cousins will receive the majority of the first-team repetitions, although Kubiak still expects first-overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza and Aidan O’Connell to push the veteran throughout camp.

Cousins already has experience operating within Kubiak’s system and handled the first-team offense during the offseason program. Mendoza worked primarily with the second-team unit during Wednesday’s opening practice.

The Raiders are also rebuilding an offensive line that allowed an NFL-high 64 sacks last season, creating another reason to allow Mendoza time to develop rather than immediately placing him behind an unsettled protection unit.

Naming Cousins the starter does not make the quarterback competition meaningless. It establishes the standard Mendoza must reach before the Raiders consider turning the offense over to him.

Las Vegas did not use the first overall selection on Mendoza to keep him on the bench indefinitely. The organization is choosing patience over forcing its future quarterback into the lineup before the rest of the offense is prepared to support him.

NFL Transactions and Camp Notes — July 29, 2026

• Atlanta Falcons – Signed quarterback Cooper Rush
• Atlanta Falcons – Released quarterback Trevor Siemian with a non-football injury designation
• Atlanta Falcons – Running back Bijan Robinson did not participate in practice while seeking a new contract
• Carolina Panthers – Signed wide receiver Casey Washington
• Carolina Panthers – Wide receiver Chris Brazzell II reportedly suffered a moderate LCL tear and could miss up to eight weeks
• Cleveland Browns – Agreed to a three-year, $48 million extension with safety Grant Delpit containing $35 million guaranteed
• Detroit Lions – Running back Jahmyr Gibbs did not participate in practice while seeking a new contract
• Houston Texans – Signed wide receiver DJ Turner
• San Francisco 49ers – Signed defensive linemen Quinton Bell and KJ Henry
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Agreed to a one-year contract with safety Ifeatu Melifonwu
• Washington Commanders – Signed wide receiver River Cracraft and punter Matt Haack
• Washington Commanders – Released tight end Anthony Firkser and outside linebacker Andre Carter II

The opening of training camp has already shifted several depth charts. Rush gives Atlanta another experienced quarterback, while Delpit’s extension keeps another established defender in Cleveland after the Browns completed Denzel Ward’s deal earlier in the week.

Robinson and Gibbs are taking a different approach. Both teams must decide whether paying a premium running back provides enough long-term value to justify the investment, while the players are protecting themselves from injury during negotiations.

The injuries to Bresee and Stewart provide the harshest reminder of how quickly an offseason plan can change. Neither the Saints nor Bengals expected to be evaluating a potentially serious injury to a young defensive lineman after one practice.

Las Vegas has more encouraging developments. Cousins gives the Raiders a veteran capable of running Kubiak’s offense while Mendoza develops, and Crosby’s return restores the identity of their defense.

New Orleans is dealing with change on two fronts. Bresee’s injury could significantly weaken the defensive line, while Hill’s departure removes a player whose unique collection of responsibilities cannot be assigned to one replacement.