Chairshot NFL News Report (8/27/2026): Austin Lost for 2026, Chase Sidelined & Seahawks Sold

Calvin Austin tears his ACL, Ja’Marr Chase sits with a knee issue and NFL owners approve the sale of the Seattle Seahawks.

Wednesday delivered the confirmation the Giants feared.

Calvin Austin III will miss the entire 2026 season with a torn ACL, while Cincinnati is being cautious with Ja’Marr Chase after a knee hyperextension and Houston suffered another potentially significant injury along its offensive line.

The league also made one of the biggest business moves of the year official.

It’s the Chairshot NFL News Report for August 27, 2026!

Calvin Austin III Will Miss the 2026 Season

New York Giants receiver Calvin Austin III suffered a torn ACL during Tuesday’s practice and will miss the entire 2026 season. Austin was carted off after going down during a one-on-one drill and had been competing for a role in New York after spending his first three NFL seasons in Pittsburgh.

Tuesday’s concern is now Wednesday’s worst-case scenario. Austin did not simply lose a roster competition. He lost an entire season.

For the Giants, the injury creates another opening in a receiver room that was still being sorted out anyway. For Austin, it is the kind of setback that instantly turns everything from depth charts and targets into rehabilitation. That is the cruelest part of August football.

Ja’Marr Chase Sits After Knee Hyperextension

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase missed Wednesday’s practice after hyperextending his left knee during Tuesday’s workout. Chase said he was okay and indicated he could have played if Cincinnati had a game, while the Bengals have already decided their starters will sit out Friday’s preseason finale against Philadelphia.

This is exactly how Cincinnati should handle it. Chase has absolutely nothing to prove Friday.

There is no preseason route, catch or drive important enough to test a knee that already gave the Bengals a scare. The absence becomes meaningful only if it starts extending toward Week 1. Until then, Cincinnati should be as boring and cautious as possible.

Texans Lose Braden Smith During Practice

Houston Texans right tackle Braden Smith was carted from Wednesday’s practice with what is believed to be a foot injury. Houston also lost defensive end Ali Gaye during the same session, while Dylan Horton was placed on injured reserve.

Houston has had an awful run of August injuries. Jayden Higgins is already gone for the year. Now another potential starter leaves practice on a cart.

The offensive-line injury is particularly concerning because C.J. Stroud does not benefit from Houston solving its receiver depth problem if he does not have enough time to throw to those receivers. The Texans need better news from Smith’s evaluation.

NFL Approves Sale of the Seattle Seahawks

NFL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Seattle Seahawks from the estate of Paul Allen to the Khosla family, led by billionaire Vinod Khosla. Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed the approval Wednesday.

Ownership changes do not produce fantasy-football alerts. They can reshape franchises considerably more than most roster moves. Seattle has operated under the Allen estate since Paul Allen’s death in 2018. A new ownership group eventually brings its own expectations around spending, facilities, leadership and patience.

Fans probably will not see those changes immediately. They will feel them eventually.

James Conner’s Week 1 Status Is Still Uncertain

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner continues working back from the foot injury that ended his 2025 season, but head coach Mike LaFleur said it remains unclear whether Conner will be ready for Week 1.

Arizona does not need to manufacture a deadline here. Conner is coming back from a season-ending injury. If his recovery requires another week, give him another week.

The Cardinals will obviously prefer having him when the regular season opens. They should prefer having a healthy version of him for the rest of the season even more.

Kenneth Walker III Dealing With Swollen Ankle

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III is dealing with a swollen ankle, according to head coach Andy Reid. Patrick Mahomes and several other starters will sit out Friday’s preseason finale, while rookie quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is scheduled to start.

That makes Friday’s plan very easy. Walker should be nowhere near meaningful preseason work. Kansas City already knows what the offense looks like with Mahomes. The Chiefs need to determine which players around him deserve roster spots while protecting the veterans who already have them.

August is evaluation season. It should not become damage season.

Commanders Add D.J. Humphries

Washington officially signed veteran tackle D.J. Humphries after losing Laremy Tunsil to a torn triceps. The Commanders also released safety Will Harris and placed linebacker Drake Jackson on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. This is not Washington replacing Tunsil. There are only so many players capable of doing that.

Humphries gives the Commanders an experienced fallback who has played enough NFL football that Jayden Daniels should not have to spend September learning whether his new tackle understands the assignment.

That matters when the starting quarterback’s health is one of the biggest variables in Washington’s season.

NFL Transactions — August 26, 2026

Wednesday brought another wave of roster adjustments with final cuts only days away.

• Baltimore Ravens – Signed LB Michael Barrett
• Baltimore Ravens – Waived LB Reid Williford with an injury settlement
• Buffalo Bills – Signed C Sincere Haynesworth
• Buffalo Bills – Released WR Mac Dalena
• Denver Broncos – Signed OT Foster Sarell
• Denver Broncos – Signed DT Israel Antwine
• Denver Broncos – Released S Taylor Rapp
• Houston Texans – Signed DE Derek Parish
• Indianapolis Colts – Signed CB Kenneth Harris
• Indianapolis Colts – Waived CB Mekhi Blackmon
• Kansas City Chiefs – Waived OT Kellen Diesch
• Miami Dolphins – Signed RB Coleman Bennett
• New Orleans Saints – Signed DB Michael Davis
• New Orleans Saints – Signed DB David Long
• New York Giants – Signed WR Kobe Prentice
• New York Giants – Signed TE Josiah Deguara
• Seattle Seahawks – Signed OT Derrick Graham
• Seattle Seahawks – Signed DB Tysheem Johnson
• Seattle Seahawks – Signed RB Justin Jones
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Signed WR Jha’Quan Jackson
• Washington Commanders – Signed OT D.J. Humphries

Roster cutdown week is doing what it always does. The big names generate headlines. The real consequences show up everywhere else.

Austin’s season is over. Houston may have another hole to fill. Washington had to find a veteran tackle because its original plan disappeared. The final preseason weekend is no longer really about the games. It is about which players reach Week 1 healthy enough to participate in them.

This report includes information from: NFL.com, Reuters.com, and NFLDraftDiamonds.com.