Chairshot NFL News Report (8/9/2026): NFL Hall of Fame Welcomes Five, Tunsil Suffers Torn Triceps and Jets Get Bailey Scare

Five legends enter NFL Hall Of Fame in Canton, Laremy Tunsil suffers a torn triceps and Jets rookie David Bailey escapes a potentially serious ankle injury.

Five football careers received their permanent place in Canton on Saturday, but the NFL’s current stars provided a much harsher reminder that the regular season is approaching quickly.

Washington may have lost one of football’s premier tackles for an extended period, while the Jets received better news after an injury scare involving the second overall pick.

Five Legends Enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig were enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

Brees, Fitzgerald, Kuechly and Vinatieri entered as modern-era selections, while Craig finally reached Canton through the seniors category. The five additions bring together one of the NFL’s most prolific quarterbacks, one of its greatest receivers, a dominant linebacker, perhaps the league’s most accomplished postseason kicker and a running back whose versatility helped redefine the position.

Craig’s induction carries particular weight after such a long wait. His 1985 season made him the first NFL player to record 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same year, yet he spent decades outside Canton.

Brees and Fitzgerald were obvious first-ballot caliber candidates. Kuechly packed Hall of Fame production into a relatively short career, while Vinatieri’s résumé contains some of the most important kicks in league history.

Different positions, different eras and different paths—but very little debate about whether Saturday’s five belong.

Roger Craig Reveals Vascular Dementia Diagnosis

Roger Craig used the end of his Hall of Fame induction speech to reveal that he has been diagnosed with vascular dementia.

The 66-year-old said he believes concussions suffered during his 11-year NFL career contributed to the condition and encouraged current and former players to seek medical attention when something does not feel right. Craig received a standing ovation after the announcement.

The diagnosis adds a difficult layer to a weekend that Craig waited nearly three decades to experience.

Football can celebrate what players accomplished without ignoring what some of them paid for those accomplishments. Craig choosing Canton—the moment designed to honor his career—to discuss his health ensures that conversation becomes part of his Hall of Fame legacy as well.

Laremy Tunsil Reportedly Tears Triceps

Washington Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil suffered a torn triceps during Saturday’s practice and is expected to undergo surgery.

The injury occurred during a one-on-one drill against Odafe Oweh. Tunsil recently signed a two-year extension worth more than $60 million after joining Washington in a 2025 trade with Houston. The five-time Pro Bowler started 14 games for the Commanders last season.

Washington built its offensive line around Tunsil because dependable left tackles are among the NFL’s hardest assets to replace.

Losing him for a significant stretch would force the Commanders to alter both personnel and protection plans before the season even begins. Backup tackles rarely replicate elite starters one-for-one; offenses compensate with tight ends, backs and quicker passing concepts.

The injury therefore affects more than one spot on the depth chart. Washington may have to change how it protects its entire offense.

Jets Avoid Major Injury to David Bailey

New York Jets rookie edge rusher David Bailey suffered an ankle injury during Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage, but head coach Aaron Glenn described him as day-to-day.

Bailey, the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, reportedly produced two would-be sacks before leaving the session. He was able to jog off after receiving medical attention.

For the Jets, “day-to-day” is about the best phrase they could have heard after seeing their most important rookie leave a preseason practice.

New York finished near the bottom of the NFL in sacks last season, making Bailey central to the attempt to rebuild its pass rush immediately.

There is little reason to rush him back in August. The Jets drafted Bailey for Sundays that count, not for additional training-camp repetitions.

First Full Preseason Weekend Arrives Thursday

The NFL moves into its first full preseason weekend beginning Thursday, August 13.

The opening slate includes Denver at Atlanta, Philadelphia at Baltimore, Carolina at Buffalo, Cleveland at Chicago, Detroit at Cincinnati, the Chargers at Houston, the Rams at Kansas City and Indianapolis at New England, among other games running through August 16.

The first preseason game is rarely about established starters playing extended snaps. The useful information comes lower on the depth chart.

Rookies get their first opportunity to translate practice success into game situations. Backup quarterbacks begin separating themselves. Undrafted players start making legitimate cases for roster spots.

With the league’s roster reduction to 53 players coming August 30, those snaps carry considerably more weight for the players fighting at the bottom of each roster than the final score does for anybody watching at home.

NFL Transactions

• Buffalo extended G O’Cyrus Torrence for four years and $78.4 million, including $46 million guaranteed.

The deal keeps Torrence under contract through 2030 after he started 50 of his first 51 regular-season games.

The Hall of Fame weekend provides the annual bridge between celebrating the NFL’s past and turning attention toward its next season.

For fans, the shift is already happening. Tunsil’s injury could alter Washington’s offense before Week 1, while the Jets received an early reminder of how quickly a promising camp can change. Next weekend finally puts nearly every roster into game conditions.

The names at the top of depth charts are mostly secure. August now belongs to everyone trying to earn a place beside them.