Chairshot NFL News Report (8/15/2026): Klubnik Shines, Mariota Injured and Tua Stumbles

Cade Klubnik shines after Geno Smith is scratched, Marcus Mariota leaves injured and Tua Tagovailoa struggles in his Falcons preseason debut.

Friday’s preseason slate produced a surprise rookie start in New York, a concerning quarterback injury in Washington and a rough first night in Atlanta for Tua Tagovailoa.

Elsewhere, Pittsburgh locked up a key defensive lineman and Arizona received the diagnosis it feared on Chase Bisontis.

It’s the Chairshot NFL News Report for August 15, 2026!

Cade Klubnik Makes the Most of Surprise Start

Jets rookie Cade Klubnik unexpectedly started Friday’s preseason opener after Geno Smith was scratched with ankle soreness, and the fourth-round pick led New York to points on both of his possessions. Klubnik completed five of seven passes for 56 yards as the Jets built an early 10-0 lead before Tampa Bay rallied for a 24-16 victory. Head coach Aaron Glenn described Smith as day-to-day and said there is nothing alarming about the injury.

Klubnik could not have asked for a better opportunity. He entered August fighting for the backup job and suddenly received first-team snaps in a live game. Rather than looking overwhelmed, he moved the offense twice and gave the Jets something useful to evaluate.

The conversation now is if New York just became considerably more comfortable with the quarterback one spot behind him.

Marcus Mariota Leaves Commanders Win With Leg Injury

Washington quarterback Marcus Mariota left Friday’s 20-7 preseason victory over Miami during the first quarter with an apparent leg injury. Head coach Dan Quinn did not have an immediate postgame diagnosis. Miami’s Malik Willis impressed on his only possession, completing four of five passes for 43 yards during a 93-yard touchdown drive.

This is why preseason playing-time decisions make coaches miserable.

Mariota needed game repetitions far more than an established superstar might, but Washington may now spend the next several days waiting to learn whether one quarter of August football affected its quarterback depth for September.

For Miami, Willis provided the opposite feeling. One possession is not proof of anything, but a 93-yard scoring drive is exactly how a new quarterback should introduce himself.

Tua Tagovailoa Has Rough Falcons Debut

Tua Tagovailoa completed four of five passes for 22 yards across two series in Atlanta’s 27-7 loss to Denver, with the Falcons generating only 19 total yards during those possessions. Tagovailoa also mishandled a snap, while Michael Penix Jr. remained unavailable for 11-on-11 work as he continues recovering from knee surgery.

Friday did not settle Atlanta’s quarterback competition, but it certainly did not help Tua end it.

The numbers themselves are not especially damaging. Five passes in an exhibition game mean almost nothing.

What matters is that Atlanta wanted to see its starting offense operate cleanly, and it did not.

If Penix eventually becomes healthy enough to participate fully, performances like Friday ensure the Falcons still have a reason to keep the competition open.

Steelers Give Keeanu Benton $72 Million Extension

The Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to a four-year, $72 million extension with defensive tackle Keeanu Benton. The 2023 second-round pick is coming off a career-high 5.5 sacks in 2025 and is now under contract as a major piece of Pittsburgh’s defensive front.

This is Pittsburgh doing what Pittsburgh traditionally does well: identifying a defensive player before he reaches the open market and paying him to remain part of the structure.

Benton does not have to become the biggest name on the Steelers defense for this deal to work.

He needs to become one of the players who keeps that defense from needing to rebuild every offseason around the stars everyone already recognizes.

Chase Bisontis Expected to Miss Most or All of Rookie Season

Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Chase Bisontis suffered a torn MCL during Thursday’s preseason game and will require surgery. The injury is expected to cost the rookie most, if not all, of the 2026 season.

Thursday’s initial “not good” assessment unfortunately became exactly that.

For a rookie offensive lineman, losing the first season hurts beyond the missed games. Bisontis loses practice time, technique work and the hundreds of live NFL repetitions that usually accelerate a young lineman’s development.

Arizona now has to solve an immediate depth problem while Bisontis begins a much longer rehabilitation process.

Saints First-Rounder Jordyn Tyson Sidelined

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is dealing with a hamstring injury and currently has no timetable to return to practice. Head coach Kellen Moore said the issue is unrelated to the hamstring problems Tyson experienced during his final college season at Arizona State.

That distinction is encouraging, but hamstring injuries and wide receivers are never a combination teams want to rush.

New Orleans invested the No. 8 overall pick in Tyson because it expects him to become part of the offense for years, not because it needs him to win a preseason rep in August.

The Saints can afford patience now. They will want clarity before Week 1 gets much closer.

NFL Transactions — August 14, 2026

Friday’s transaction wire included Buffalo adding defensive-back depth, Baltimore formally placing a veteran tackle on the retirement list and several injury settlements around the league.

• Atlanta Falcons – Waived OT Jack Nelson with an injury settlement
• Buffalo Bills – Signed DB Wande Owens
• Buffalo Bills – Waived LB Otis Reese
• Cleveland Browns – Placed DB Tyron Herring on injured reserve
• Houston Texans – Waived K Chris Freeman
• New York Giants – Placed DB DJ James on injured reserve
• New York Giants – Waived WR Beaux Collins with an injury settlement
• Seattle Seahawks – Waived DB Brandon Johnson with an injury settlement
• Baltimore Ravens – Placed OT Kendall Lamm on reserve/retired list

Klubnik turned an unexpected opportunity into a legitimate argument for the Jets’ QB2 job. Willis gave Miami a promising first look. Tua showed Atlanta there is still work to do.

For NFL fans, Saturday expands the sample dramatically with six more games. Every snap creates more evidence about rookie readiness, roster depth and which summer competitions are actually beginning to separate.